Shards of War: Eclipsian Secrets

Chapter 21

The morning sun filtered through the curtains as Matsu woke up to the soft, persistent swatting of Azzy's tiny paw against his face. He blinked, groggy but slowly coming to, and saw his fluffy black cat staring at him with wide, insistent eyes.

"Good morning, Azzy," Matsu mumbled, his voice thick with sleep. He gently picked her up, holding her close for a moment. "What is it? Are you hungry?"

Azzy meowed in response, her little body wriggling in his arms as if to say, "Come on, follow me!"

With a small chuckle, Matsu set her down, watching as she trotted out of the room. Curiosity piqued, he followed her out the door, stretching his arms as he walked down the familiar hallway of his childhood home. The scent of something delicious wafted through the air, guiding him toward the kitchen.

When he arrived, he found his sisters already up and bustling around, busy preparing breakfast. The kitchen was filled with the sound of clattering pans, the sizzle of something frying, and soft laughter as they worked together.

Yumiko, who was stirring a pot of miso soup, noticed him first. "Good morning, big brother!" she greeted with a warm smile. "We were just about to—"

Before she could finish, Matsu crossed the room, gently taking the wooden spoon from her hand. "No, no, you all sit down," he said, his tone firm but affectionate. "I'm cooking breakfast today."

Iyomei, who was carefully chopping vegetables, raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Are you sure, Matsu? We can handle it, you know."

Matsu shook his head, already moving to take over. "When was the last time I cooked for you all?" He paused, trying to recall. "It's been...forever, hasn't it?"

Kamenei, seated at the table, watching the scene unfold, smirked. "Forever sounds about right," she teased. "I was starting to think you'd forgotten how."

Matsu rolled his eyes playfully at his sister's remark, but there was a hint of truth in her words that made him pause. It had been so long since he'd had the chance to do something as simple as cook for his family. Life had pulled him in so many directions, and with all the responsibilities and obligations, moments like these had become rare.

"Well, today, I'm making up for lost time," Matsu said, his determination clear. "You all deserve a break, so please, sit down and relax."

Yumiko and Iyomei exchanged glances before nodding and taking seats at the table beside Kamenei. Matsu quickly set to work, moving through the kitchen with a practiced ease that belied the years that had passed since he last cooked for them. He took the ingredients they had been working with and began preparing a spread that was both comforting and nostalgic, something that would remind them all of the simpler days of their childhood.

Azzy, satisfied that Matsu was now attending to breakfast, hopped up onto a nearby windowsill, curling up contentedly as she watched her human with half-lidded eyes.

As Matsu cooked, the kitchen filled with the mouthwatering aromas of grilled fish, rice, and tamagoyaki, accompanied by the earthy scent of miso soup. His sisters chatted amongst themselves, the atmosphere light and filled with laughter.

Matsu couldn't help but smile as he worked, a sense of peace settling over him. Despite everything that had happened—the challenges he faced, the responsibilities he bore—right now, in this moment, he was simply Matsu, a brother cooking breakfast for his sisters. And that, he realized, was something truly special.

When the food was finally ready, he carefully plated everything and brought it over to the table, setting it down with a flourish.

"Breakfast is served," he announced, taking a seat with them. "Dig in!"