It was a beautiful evening. The sun dipped low, casting a golden glow over the snow-covered streets. The world felt quiet… except inside the house, where chaos had a name: Alya.
She was bouncing off the walls, yelling loud enough to wake the neighbors.
"Let's play, you big meanie!" Alya shouted, chasing Sera around with a controller.
"It's a 3-player game, you goblin!" Sera snapped, clearly at her limit.
Ding-dong.
Sera sighed in relief. "Thank God," she muttered, heading to the door.
Haruta stood outside, snowflakes in his hair, holding out some notes.
"The ones you needed," he said quietly.
"Oh, thanks... Come in!" Sera offered.
"I'm good. I'll head back," Haruta replied, already turning to leave.
Before he could take another step, Alya zoomed in like a blur and grabbed his wrist.
"Oh no, you don't!" she declared, grinning.
"Wait—what?" Haruta blinked, confused.
"She needs a third player," Sera explained, defeated.
Eventually, Haruta caved. They all flopped onto the floor, controllers in hand.
Alya lost five matches in a row, and every time she screamed like her life depended on it.
Time flew...
Then, suddenly, Alya jumped up like she'd just won a Nobel Prize.
"I'm making you two something amazing!" she beamed, puffing her chest proudly.
"No, Alya—" Sera warned.
Too late. Alya dashed into the kitchen, already humming a chaotic tune.
Sera groaned. "She makes the worst food."
Haruta just stared blankly ahead. "...We're going to die."
A while later, Alya returned. She placed two plates down like she was serving a five-star meal. But the steam coming out of the food clearly spelled two words: "Don't eat."
"Eat up!" she said, sparkles in her eyes.
Sera leaned over to Haruta and whispered, "If you value your life, don't eat it." Then louder, she added, "Alya, could you grab me some water?"
Alya skipped off cheerfully.
Haruta stared at the plate. Then, quietly, he said,
"She made it for us. She looks so happy… Even if it's horrible, I'm not wasting that smile."
Sera glanced at him, surprised.
"That's... kinda sweet, actually."
She took a small bite and instantly regretted it.
"It's a total war crime."
Haruta ate anyway. Every bite hurt. But somehow, the moment didn't.
Because Alya returned, saw the empty plates, and her whole face lit up.
"You actually ate it?" she said, wide-eyed.
Haruta nodded, managing a small smile.
"Yeah. It was… good."
Sera's eyes shined with happiness. "Reallyyy, thanks a lot, Haru."
"Haru?" he asked.
"Yeah, she gives nicknames to everyone close to her... like she gave Rei the name 'Bread,'" said Sera.
"Pleaseeeee come here again to play, Haruuu!" Alya screamed with excitement.
Haruta didn't respond. But the look on his face said everything.
He didn't mind losing his appetite… not if it meant seeing someone smile like that.
Maybe the snow was melting,
And his past, buried under it, was slowly starting to become visible.
---
To be continued
~ Yash