Amidst the shadows and the secrets

Night Sixty-Three

"Tomorrow breakfast in the garden again," tried Yui. "The idea was nice, and the table was set and all." 

"That is was," confirmed Chisana. However, Shu and Ayato made it possible. Why not Reiji? Did something happen? Or did something come up that was more important for him? She ate her dinner in silence while questioning why it wasn't Reiji, who made them breakfast. Finishing the last plate, she realized there was no watermelon in her fruit salad. Was there watermelon or melon mixed in the fruit for breakfast? She checked further in between her salad. No, nothing. Is it up because of dessert? I doubt it because when you all finish dinner, everyone is excused for the rest of the night.

Subaru caught her searching her salad. "Is something wrong?"

"No, it's probably nothing." Chisana let him know and ate the rest. Is it up or are you punishing me? You would tell me if I did something wrong, right? Please, you give Kanato his sweets, Laito his macarons, Ayato got takoyaki... Shu has steak. It's obvious everyone gets their favorite meal because you only eat once a month.

Shu turned his head a little. "No one would mess with your food, Chisana."

"Not now, it's something small or just nothing. It's fine, really." Still, she couldn't shake the feeling something was off.

Seeing Yui finish her plate, Reiji heard enough and knew she was the last one. "That would be all for tonight."

I'm not the one to let you do it all by yourself. Chisana started stacking the plates and collected the cutlery. Taking it to the kitchen, she sneaked into the pantry. There is still melon but it wasn't used? What gives, Reiji? I like that the most and found it in my previous meals during family dinner. Did I do something wrong to you? A cold shiver ran through her body upon discovering a few water melons.

"Chisana?" Reiji knew she entered the kitchen before him. He found her in the pantry.

It's vacation, so there is plenty of time. I'm sure he always gets started on dinner hours before. Is it something I did? Swallowing, she knew someone was behind her and that somebody was Reiji. "Did you not have enough time?"

"What are you talking about?" Reiji didn't know what she was looking at.

"Did I do something wrong?" She couldn't look at him so she didn't turn around.

He had no idea what she meant. "No, not that I know of."

"Then how come everyone had their favorite meal while I couldn't find a single piece of water melon in my fruit salad?" Was I wrong and that I missed something? Did I overlook something? Is it because I didn't come to his room for tea or to make a move on the chessboard? Reiji, please? At the same time, she didn't want to know the answer and ran out of the pantry and out of the kitchen.

"What..." His eyes land on the watermelon. "I didn't make dinner this time." He called for the butler and instructed him to clean up. For the first time, he was banished from the kitchen by his brother. "Get your ass down here, stupid Deadbeat."

"What do you want?"

"If you insist on making dinner, you should have given Chisana watermelon in her fruit salad. That's her favorite fruit." Now he understood why Chisana was feeling down. "Are you making me look bad on purpose?" He pushed his glasses up with his middle finger. "She doesn't even know that you made it. Now, she thinks it was me who forgot about her."

Shu didn't open his eyes but teleported elsewhere. "You wear glasses but you are still blind."

"I know, right?" Laito heard it and knew where he would go. "But it's not nice for Chisa-chan. Even I know watermelon is her favorite, and you forgot about it. It's alright to tease him but don't put him entirely on the sideline. How is that going to help? If you made dinner then you should apologize because it's your mistake and not his."