"I remember that night so well. Everyone smiling as they weaved baskets. Telling scary stories around the fire. Though as this happened, i heard the sound of a flute. My eyes grew heavier and heavier, i couldn't manage to stay awake. All i remember...
Everyone in the room had the same question on their mind when they heard Yashiro ask Shiki that question. Soon Shiki looked at his own hand with a serious expression.
"The body that Roa is currently occupying belongs to the real Shiki Aozaki, my adoptive brother."
Everyone was surprised to hear this. As Arcueid processed this, it explained why Roa knew so much about Shiki and why he wanted to kill him. It was the original host of the body that was in control. As Shiki tries to stand up, he grunts in pain.
Arcueid soon pushed the boy back down so he could rest. As she looked at him, she said only one thing to Shiki.
"Look Shiki, you should rest up while you still can. After all, you nearly died after your encounter with Roa. You shouldn't go after him in your condition."
Teru and Yashiro nodded as they agreed with Arcueid. Soon Arcueid was about to leave in order to patrol the area to see if any Dead Apostles were roaming the city. However, Teru grabbed her by the shoulder and shook his head.
"I'll patrol the city tonight and walk Yashiro back to her home. You should stay with Shiki and make sure he doesn't try anything stupid."
"Yes sir!"
Arcueid looked at Teru and gave him a salute as she saw him and Yashiro standing up. As they both left Shiki's home, Yashiro said one thing to Shiki.
"Please be careful."
Having said that, Yashiro and Teru were now leaving Shiki's home. Now it was just Arcueid and Shiki alone in the house. Soon Shiki decided to speak up.
"Well it's getting pretty late. You should probably get going Arcue-"
"You idiot."
Arcueid suddenly hugged Shiki. While he was shocked by this action, he noticed Arcueid was crying. When he looked at her, he saw her body shaking.
"I was so worried that you would never wake up. If you died.......i would never forgive myself. This is all my fault. If i never got you involved in this, then you wouldn't have been so close to dying."
Shiki merely puts a hand on Arcueid's head. As she looked at Shiki, she saw a tired smile on his face as he spoke to her.
"Calm down for a moment. What's important is that i DIDN'T die. Besides, its not like this was the first time i came close to death."
When Shiki said this, Arcueid's eyes widen a bit. The way Shiki said that made it seem like that he didn't care if he lived or died. Soon Arcueid decided to ask Shiki something.
"Shiki.....how did you feel when you almost....you know?"
"Well....i didn't feel fear, sadness, or even hatred at that moment. To be honest, i didn't really any negative emotion. But i realize that whenever i feel close to death, giving it my all to live another day.....its the only time i actually feel like a normal person."
Arcueid couldn't believe what she was hearing. She knew that Shiki wasn't a normal human but she never expected him to be so.....empty.
"Anyways, i'm going to start cooking dinner. After all, i'm starving and i missed out on ice cream so...."
Shiki walks out of the room as he puts on an apron. Right now, he was in the greatest battlefield that wasn't marriage, that battlefield.............was the kitchen. Curious about what Shiki is doing, Arcueid just looked at him from a distance.
"What are you making?"
"Soba."
"Soba? I've never eaten that before."
Shiki smiled as he heard this. Finally, someone he can share his talent with that isn't Teru. Soon Shiki turned around as he starts cooking.
"Finally......all the time i used to be better at cooking is going to pay off."
Soon Shiki began to cook as Arcueid watched. She was actually interested in what was happening as she watched in curiosity. Soon she started to talk to Shiki.
"Hey Shiki, why did you learn to cook?"
"Two reasons. One dumb reason and a serious reason. Which do you want to hear first?"
Arcueid thought about it for a moment. Soon she decided to listen to the serious answer first. As she said so, Shiki kept focusing on his cooking.
"As for the serious reason, since i live alone it was either i learn how to cook or order take out all the time."
"Okay, so what's the dumb reason?"
As Shiki was close to finishing the dish, he didn't turn around to look at Arcueid. If he did, she would see that his face is turning red.
"............you promise not to laugh."
"Cross my heart and hope to- I mean, yes. I promise."
"Well.................i thought it would make me seem more presentable to girls and make me a least a little more popular."
Arcueid blinked a few times. Shiki was expecting her to laugh at any moment, but was confused when that didn't happen. As he turned off the fire, he looked at her as she had a confused look on a face.
"I think that's a cute reason, but are you really not that popular Shiki. I think you're wonderful person and you look great in my opinion."
"How can you say that out loud without being embarrassed?!"
Shiki quickly turned around and got two bowls out. Despite how he looks, Shiki gets embarrassed easily when someone compliments him and is actually sincere about it. Soon he exits the kitchen as he placed down the bowls of food.
"Well, here you go Arcueid. Tempura Soba made by yours truly."
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Arcueid looked at the food with stars in her eyes. As she started to take the first bite of the food, she suddenly looked at Shiki with a serious expression.
"What the hell?"
".........um. Context please."
"YOU CAN MAKE FOOD THIS GOOD YET YOU'RE NOT POPULAR! ARE THE GIRLS AT YOUR SCHOOL BLIND?! WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH THEM!!!!"
"Calm down!!!!!"
Shiki tries to calm down Arcueid the best way he could. He threatened her by saying he wouldn't give her seconds. As soon as he said that, Arcueid stopped shouting.
"So food is the ultimate weapon to bribe people with....good to know."
"Anyways Shiki, the way you are now seems pretty sad. You don't feel anything unless your life is on the line. Is that really how empty you feel? That doesn't sound like a good way to live. Well since you're not going to be busy tommorow and you never answered my calls lately, i know exactly how to make you pay for it AND how to help you out."
Arcueid soon walks to the door of Shiki's home. As she turned around and looked at the boy, she smiled.
"You and me will go on a date tomorrow to put a smile on that face of yours."
Having said that Arcueid left Shiki's house as she went home with a smile on her face. As this happened, Shiki just sat in his home in silence. After finally processing what Arcueid said, Shiki said one thing.
