"Hey, Dad said to take the box to the kitchen."
As she spoke, she gestured to the kitchen, but I was completely focused on the motion of her lips.
"Hey, Da~d said to take the box to the kit~chen," I said, attempting to copy her.
Did she mean to take this box to the kitchen.
"Yes"
"Yes"
"...what's with that strange look? Also don't repeat my words"
"strange look? Don't repeat my word" I said as I made my way to the kitchen.
I placed the box on the table and sat in the chair next to me. After a short while, the young lady entered. She approached me, and I thought she was trying to talk to me, but she just ignored me and opened the box that was on the table.
"Crab, nice! Dad! "What's the occasion?"She exclaimed, giddy with anticipation.
I was tempted to check the box for myself after witnessing her excitement. There was a red creature inside the box.
I thought it would excite me like it did her, but when I saw that red thing, all I felt was nothing.
I looked away from the box and focused on the fridge, wondering why this human was so excited about a creature.
"Since Mom is arriving late, I thought it would be a good idea to surprise her."
The man said this as he entered the kitchen.
"You can cook this, dad?"
"We just need to boil it; it's easy."
"Maybe I could lend you a hand?"
"That would be great."
While they were speaking to each other, all I did was look at their faces. Then they picked the box with the red creature started cooking.
"Rika boil the water and some salt"
"Ok"
Rika? Is that the name of the younger woman?
"Rika,"
I tried to get a response by calling the name.
"What!" Rika said, sounding agitated.
She glanced at me and then returned to her work, realizing that I was not responding.
"Dad, let me help."
Rika grabbed the knife from the man and began chopping.
"It reminds me of old times."
"It does."
Knowing nothing of what they were doing, I just sat in the chair and stared at them. All that was known to me was that the red creature was being cooked.
The food preparation process took a while. I experienced an odd sensation that something was off. Perhaps it was the fact that I sat there the entire time and they said nothing to me.
"I'm home and sorry for being late."
A woman's voice spoke from the doorway.
"You came early, Tatsu."
"Yes, the work ended early."
"About the food, how about we go to some restaurant?"
"Sigh, Izumi wanna join us?"
She spoke loudly, as though she believed me to be upstairs.
"Hmm"
I used 'Hmm' since it felt like she was calling.
"Huh, you are in the kitchen?"
She walked towards the kitchen, sounding confused. She opened the door and then remained silent for a moment.
"...You ordered it?" The older woman said, looking puzzled.
"No, the kids helped and we made it."
"Izumi as well?"
"Hmm"
"You just sat there, don't lie."
Rika answered, standing next to me and glancing in my direction.
The woman approached us and gave me and Rika a firm hug.
"Thank you, sniff,"
"Mom, you cry so quickly."
"Sniff, I'm just happy."
"Also, I'm not crying; something got into my eye."
"Hey, okay, okay, we got it; now leave us."
Again I'm going with the flow since I don't understand anything.
"Let's eat, also thank you, Tatsu."
Everyone settled down to eat at the table after that rather strange atmosphere. I waited for others to begin eating so I could watch their eating technique.
I noticed that after grabbing one of the red creature's legs, each person began eating the white, inside portion that was hidden by the hard red skin.
"mmmm! It's delicious"
"It is"
"We have not eaten these in years."
"We did actually eat some last month."
"Fu, fu I don't remember."
Rika remarked while wearing a smug expression.
"You don't have to force yourself to eat with us."
Gazing directly at me, the man said with a straight expression.
I ignored him because I don't like talking to him and focused on eating the red creature. Using their technique, I removed the red skin and took a bite.
The flavor was excellent and entirely unlike anything I had imagined. I took another piece after quickly finishing my first because it left me wanting more.
"What were you guys up to this afternoon?"
Asked the older woman looking at our direction.
"we watched a movie"
"You and Izumi?"
"Yeah, unlike any other day, he forgot how to get to his room. Maybe the incident from yesterday put his mind in the right place."
The moment she said those words, the room fell silent. They stopped eating, and the expressions on their faces indicated that something was amiss.
I noticed that the aura around them was turning grey, indicating that they were feeling negative emotions.
"Rika, don't say it like that. You know how worried your mother has been about him for the past few months."
The old man replied with a slight grimace and a disappointed look.
"It not like I'm saying anything wrong."
"Rika, we agreed not to bring up that topic in the morning."
"What? So, just because he showed up for breakfast this morning, you expect me to forget about all the pain and suffering he caused you two?"
"Rika—"
"I understand you are concerned about us, Rika, but it is a parent's responsibility to worry about their children. It brings me great joy to see my daughter concerned for us, but nothing will make me happier than to witness your happiness."
"How can I smile when you two are suffering only because of his selfishness?" Ruhi said, her eyes welling up.
"He is making an effort to put whatever was bothering him behind him. It seems like he is changed since this morning."
"..."
"Also I thought I was a good actor."
"Sniff, you aren't."
Rising from her chair, Ruhi went to the older woman and gave her a tight hug.
"Uff, easy there"
"Izumi, you are sorry for making your parents concerned about you."
"Hmm"
I said since she took my name. I tried to figure out what was going on, but all I could notice was that they were talking about me.
"Give him some time."
Then the woman gave Ruhi a gentle pat on the head.