In a Love Letter

Why So Serious?

Ayano Aishi POV

The sun was already setting by the time we reached my doorstep. The street lamps provide a cold glow to the cracked asphalt road and people around us were bustling in what could be called the night life of this town. It's the same view as always.

"This is my stop."
I announced to the woman beside me.

But I didn't intend to go in yet. I need to ask her first.

"Kei?"

She looked surprised for a second, then a smile appeared on her face.

"Yeah? What is it?"

She was bouncing with happiness for whatever reason. Even her voice was slightly higher than usual.

"Why did you stare at me so intensely when we first saw each other?"

The smile on her face became a little stiff and forced.

"That... Ahh, it's too embarrassing to talk about that."

Seems she doesn't want to talk about it but this is exactly why I came with her.

"I'm using my favor here. So you have to answer."
This was my plan all along.

She looked surprised. She didn't expect my favor to be something like this, but as quickly as that shocked face appeared, it melted into a defeated expression before she cleared her throat and hesitantly saying—

"You're just.. so pretty. I was smitten the first time I saw you. It was love at first sight."

Her words slowly devolved into murmurs but I heard them clearly. Her face was slightly flushed and her feet shifted from where she stood. She averted her eyes from mine while subconciously running her fingers through her black hair, revealing an earring on her left ear that I've never noticed before.

(Yall can imagine what kind of earring, drop your ideas in the comments)

The neon lights of the nearby shops dye her face in a cold blue color, but her eyes didn't reflect anything at all. I'd previously thought that her eyes were brown but no, they're completely black. Almost like a black hole in the way it swallows the light around it.

My eyes widened from such a sudden confession and I didn't know what to say. She, too, was quiet. It seemed she was waiting for me to say something, but perhaps I was taking too long to respond. She covered her mouth and giggled— no, that's inaccurate— she cackled while pointing at me.

"You should really see your face right now, Yan-chan!"

Huh, so it was a joke? I see... It was just a joke to get a reaction out of me.

(I mean, Kei never said it was a joke 👀)

I sighed and-
"Give me a serious answer, Kei."
-said in a whispered but serious voice.

She promptly stopped laughing, alarmed by my sudden change in tone.

"Ah well, aside from being pretty, it was just that you looked kind of familiar so I was trying to figure out if I've seen you before."
Now with a composed voice and a small smile, she spat out the answer I was waiting for.

So it was just that after all?

"Oh."
I said simply then walked through the door of my house, leaving her alone without another glance.

π—π

When night fell completely, I was preparing ingredients for my meal when my doorbell rang all of a sudden.

Who'd come here so late at night? Mother didn't say anything about coming home today, did she?

Just in case, I took the kitchen knife that I had just been using and hid it behind me while slowly inching towards the door. I opened it just a crack and on the other side was... Kei. Still wearing her uniform and her bag hung on her shoulder.

Upon realizing that it was that woman, I fully opened the door and said-

"Kei? Why are you here?"
I asked with a suspicious look towards her.

She sighed with a frustrated expression on her face.

"My mom has a date with her boyfriend tonight and locked the door. Probably forgetting that her daughter doesn't have keys. Right after I bought the bread she wanted too. Damn it, why couldn't she just give me a copy of the key. So irresponsible. Did she even think about—"

She kept rambling about her grievances towards her mother. I listened for a while but there was no end in sight so I just cut her speech short.

"Alright. Come in."

As I went back to what I was doing, Kei closed and locked the door and made herself comfy on my couch.

Back in the kitchen, I looked at the ingredients I've prepared. Enough for one person...

With a bit of hesitation, I increased the portions to make up for the second mouth I'd have to feed today.

At one point, Kei sneaked up behind me and placed her hand on my shoulder.

"Is there anything I can do to help you, dear?"

She asked while leaning forward to look at what I'm making. I could feel her figure lightly press against my back as she does so.

"Then can you help me set the table?"

"Sure thing!"

She immediately took two plates and two sets of utensils and enthusiastically carried out the task I assigned for her.

"But why did you call me 'dear' just now, Kei?"

I wasn't going to just ignore that.

"Hehe. I just felt like we're a married couple now, doing this. Also, you look hot in that apron, Yan-chan!"

She shouted from the dining table.

I'm starting to reconsider if her confession earlier was really a joke or not.

On the dining table, Kei ate with vigor. She had a big smile plastered onto her face and her eyes were closed in what seemed to be bliss.

"Is it good?"

Although, I can already predict what she'll say.

"Hmmhm, it was made with Yan-chan's love and hard work, of course it's good."
She said while making a heart shape out of her hands.

"When will you go home, then?"

The words came out bluntly.

I didn't hear anything wrong with my tone but the atmosphere tensed all of a sudden. When I looked up at her, she had a complicated face.

Oh. Was I too hostile?

"Kei?"
I called her name.

"Hmm, I don't know. It depends on how well mom's date goes whether she'll get home earlier or later. She might not even go home at all tonight."

She said with a bright smile, as if she wasn't frowning just a moment ago.

"I see."

After finishing the meal, Kei offered to help with the dishes but I refused and told her to go take a bath instead. I provided her a new towel, new toiletries, and clean clothes. Kei was mumbling something about taking a bath together but I ignored her puppy eyes and went back to the kitchen.

Minutes later, Kei came out from the bathroom in my pajamas, phone in one hand and towel on the other. With an off puttingly solemn expression on her face, she bowed slightly towards me.

"Aishi. My mom messaged me just now. She said she'll come pick me up by tomorrow morning. I apologize for intruding upon your home so much. I recognize that I am overstepping your kindness."

It seems my earlier words did affect her... More so than I thought.

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Poor Kei. Had her confidence beaten down again. She does care about what others say, she just doesn't show it often.