Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Cove ❯ A Nice Evening Dinner ( Chapter 5 )

Training ended at five in the evening. Ryuji, Haruko, and Kasumi all headed home. Life in the neighborhood had settled down for the evening. The setting sun added a warm glow to the atmosphere. Kasumi couldn't help but to feel a sense of belonging in this town. But yet, she knew she couldn't stay long. He might come back for her. The woman shuddered to herself at the thought of dragging these nice kids into her headache.

No! I can't let him do that!, she thought. I just can't! No!

"Something wrong?" someone asked her. Kasumi looked up to see Ryuji looking her right in the face. He looked at her with a serious look on his face.

"You look so pale," he said. "Is something bothering you?" The woman calmed herself down and shook her head.

"No, no," she lied. "I'm good." Ryuji would've interrogated her more if his sister hadn't cut in just in time.

"Say, do you have anywhere to go tonight?" Haruko asked. Kasumi gave her a blank stare.

"No..." she said. The spunky redhead clapped her hands together.

"Great!" she cheered. "Stay with us tonight! I'm a good cook!" The other woman still looked confused.

"Okay..." she said. Haruko leapt up and down, squealing.

"Sweet!" she cheered. Then, she grabbed her brother and guest by the hands. Kasumi's face still went blank. She turned to the boy for help. He gave off a nervous chuckle.

"She's gets like this when we have guests," he mouthed at her.

"Ah," Kasumi mouthed back. Haruko sang to herself as she raced all the way home with the other two.

Back at the house, the kitchen had opened up for business. Haruko got right to work making dinner. Her singing made her younger brother quite nervous.

"Ryuji, could you get the chicken at the sink?" she asked.

"Yes, yes," he said. Kasumi watched then from the dining room table.

"Should I help out?" she offered. Haruko glanced over her shoulder at her.

"No, no," she said. "We've got it covered."

"You sure?" the other woman asked.

"Yes! We're covered!" Haruko insisted. "You're the guest. Guests shouldn't have to do work, isn't that right, Ryuji?"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," he mumbled.

"Sorry?" his sister asked.

"Yes!" the boy said.

"See?" Haruko asked. "You just sit there and relax until dinner's ready, okay?" Kasumi nodded uneasily.

"Okay..." she said.

"Good," the cook said. "Dinner will be ready in twenty minutes." She went back to happily singing in the kitchen while cooking. Her brother rolled his eyes. Every damn time!, he thought.

Haruko served the bowls to her guest and brother once the chicken curry was ready.

"I hope you don't mind curry," she said. "I don't go grocery shopping until next Monday and I didn't have time to fully prepare."

"I don't mind it," Kasumi said. Then, she picked up her chopsticks and took a bite. Haruko and Ryuji watched her, waiting. The guest swallowed with a smile on her face.

"This is just like home!" she cheered. The cook's eyes filled with stars.

"Really, you like it?" she asked.

"Yep," Kasumi replied. The other woman giggled aloud.

"I'm so glad you like it!" she cheered.

"Of course she would!" Ryuji said. "You never screw up on this dish!" His sister only smiled and took a bite. Ryuji ate up as well.

Kasumi may have enjoyed the meal and the peace now, but she knew that she couldn't stay too long. She knew that he had her scent and was on her heels now.

"Tell us all about yourself," someone in reality spoke up. Kasumi returned from her thoughts and looked up over her empty bowl.

Chapter Six: A Nice Evening Dinner