The Witch and the Zodiac | Kyo

Chapter 13- Breakfast

Aki breathed in the smell of breakfast as she descended and her stomach growled.

It feels like I haven't eaten in weeks.

She stepped into the room and Tohru smiled as she set her plate down in an empty spot next to her own.

"Oh, good! You found it."

Aki smiled and nodded, glancing down at the bag. "Thank you for looking after my stuff for me. I really appreciate it."

"You're welcome!" Tohru smiled and sat, then poured Aki a cup. "It was really no trouble."

Aki sat and inhaled deeply and looked down at her plate. "It looks amazing." She set her bag beside her, then took a small bite.

So good.

"And it tastes even better." She turned to the brunette. "You really are a great cook."

"I wouldn't say that I was great at it, but I do enjoy cooking things that people enjoy." Tohru smiled and started to eat her own breakfast.

After a few moments, Aki glanced at the clock, then at Tohru.

"Um... aren't you all going to school?"

"Huh?" Tohru looked up at her. "Oh, we're off school for a little while."

"Because somebody caused an explosion inside of a bathroom." Yuki said, smiling slightly more taking another bite.

Aki frowned slightly and looked at the grey-haired boy.

Sure, he's smiling, but it's a cold expression all the same.

"Hmph." Aki stuffed another mouthful of omelet into her mouth and chewed bitterly as she muttered. "It was an accident..."

"The important thing is that nobody was hurt." Tohru looked between Yuki and Aki, and then scratched her head. "W-Well... you were hurt, though, Aki-san."

"Don't worry about me." She looked up at the brunette with a small smile. "I'm back to normal now. Which is great, because there's a lot that I need to do." After another bite, she looked at Tohru. "I guess since there's no school, what are you going to do?"

"I've got plans later to go shopping with Hana-chan and Uo-chan, and then tonight we'll be having a sleepover at Hana-chan's house." She paused. "Although, Hatori-san did ask me to take care of you... I wonder if it would be alright if I told them I couldn't make it."

"What?" Aki blinked and straightened. "You can't cancel. They're your friends, and you want to go. Don't skip on my account."

"But..." Tohru paused again in thought. "What about you? And if I go, I won't be here to make dinner, either."

"Tohru, Tohru, relax." Shigure waved his hand. "We don't mind getting delivery or going out once in a while."

"Well..." Tohru smiled faintly. "Maybe it would be alright." She turned back to Aki to repeat her question. "But, what about you?"

"I'll be fine." Aki smiled. "I can handle being alone with three weird guys by myself. Since I'm healed, it's actually good if I start tracking and doing my job now. You don't have to worry about looking after me anymore."

Aki shrugged. "Besides, when was the last time you did something for yourself?"

Crap. I have to be careful what I say. Even though I know these people almost better than I know myself, I can't let them know that. I have to act like I just met them.

"I mean," Aki started again. "I don't know you well, but you seem like the type to put others first at the expense of yourself and rarely take time for yourself. If you want to go to a sleepover, you should do it. It's fine to be a good person, but you also need to be a little selfish sometimes and do what makes you happy."