On a bright Saturday morning, Shika stretched and yawned as she glanced around her empty home. Her mother had left early, leaving a note on the table saying she wouldn't be back until late in the evening. As Shika skimmed the note, she noticed a list of household chores scrawled in her mom's handwriting. Her gaze shifted to Ichigo, her younger sister, who was still asleep upstairs. It seemed they had the house to themselves, and Shika was determined to tackle the chores.
Just as she began to heat up breakfast, there was a knock on the door. Shika opened it to see Sota and Tenshi, his little sister, standing on the front step, their usual beaming smiles welcoming her.
"Morning, Shika!" Sota greeted with a wave.
"Hey! Come on in," Shika said, motioning them inside. Tenshi followed her brother, giving Shika a cheerful hug before trotting into the living room.
The faint smell of burnt toast began to waft through the air, and Shika dashed back to the kitchen. She pulled the toast out, but it was already a bit too dark. Embarrassed, she tried to scrape off the burnt bits, hoping her guests wouldn't notice. Unfortunately, Sota was quicker to catch on. He picked up a piece and took a bold bite, pretending to chew thoughtfully before smirking.
"Wow, Shika, I didn't realize you were aiming to make charcoal for breakfast," he teased, stifling a laugh.
Shika rolled her eyes but couldn't help laughing. "Yeah, yeah, laugh it up, chef. It's not as easy as it looks, you know."
Seeing her flustered expression, Sota softened his tone. "Hey, don't worry about it," he said, giving her a reassuring smile. "Why don't I help you out? Just show me what needs to be done."
Shika blinked, surprised by the offer. "Really? You don't have to do that," she said, feeling both grateful and a little embarrassed.
"Come on, what are friends for?" Sota replied with a grin. He grabbed an apron and started rolling up his sleeves. "I'll take over the cooking; you can handle the cleaning."
Shika felt a wave of relief as she smiled at him. "Thanks, Sota. I owe you one."
As Sota whisked together ingredients for a fresh batch of breakfast, Shika started cleaning up the burnt crumbs from the counter. Meanwhile, Tenshi and Ichigo giggled from the living room, peeking in now and then to watch the playful banter between the two.
"I'll admit, I'm not sure if I'm brave enough to try your cooking again," Sota joked as he scraped the last bits of burnt food from the pan.
"Fine! I'll leave breakfast to you," Shika replied with a playful huff. "I'll stick to washing dishes from now on."
The two shared a smile before finishing the breakfast prep and setting up a cozy little feast in the dining room. As they settled around the table, Ichigo couldn't resist sharing a funny story.
"I remember the last time Shika tried cooking alone," she started with a smirk. "She nearly set the whole kitchen on fire."
"Hey, Ichigo!" Shika protested, her cheeks flushing. "You promised not to mention that again!"
The table erupted into laughter as Sota grinned, turning to Shika. "Wow, you almost burned down the house? Guess I really do need to keep a closer eye on you in the kitchen."
"Oh, ha-ha. Very funny," Shika replied, nudging Sota with her elbow, which only made him laugh harder.
Tenshi, who had been quietly observing their exchange, suddenly piped up. "It's nice to see you two having fun together," she said with a sweet smile.
Shika and Sota exchanged a look, realizing how much they enjoyed their shared moments. Shika's laughter softened, and she nodded thoughtfully. "Yeah, it's really nice to have moments like this. Sometimes I get so caught up in responsibilities that I forget to just relax and enjoy the little things."
Sota nodded in agreement, his usual playful expression turning gentle. "We all need a reminder to take it easy now and then," he added. "Life gets busy, but times like this remind us what matters."
After breakfast, Shika and Sota teamed up to clean the kitchen while Tenshi and Ichigo scampered off to play. By the time they finished, they were ready for a break themselves. They decided on a board game, and soon enough, they were in the living room, battling it out in a friendly match. Shika and Sota paired up against Ichigo and Tenshi, with each team making daring moves and cunning strategies. Hours passed in laughter and concentration, with neither team willing to concede defeat.
As the day drifted into evening, Shika's mother returned home, surprised to find the house tidy and everyone enjoying themselves. She smiled at the scene, grateful for the sense of family that filled her home.
After a few more rounds, everyone decided it was time to pack up and say goodbye. As they walked out onto the front porch, Shika turned to Sota with a warm smile.
"Thanks again for everything today," she said softly, her gratitude evident. "I don't know what I'd have done without you."
Sota shrugged, his usual laid-back demeanor back in place. "It was nothing. I had a good time." He smiled back, and for a moment, Shika felt a flutter in her chest that she tried to ignore.
---
The following Monday, Sota was walking down the school corridor when he saw Motohiro chatting animatedly with Shika. His cheerful expression faltered as he watched them. It wasn't that Shika was doing anything wrong, but something about the way Motohiro looked at her made Sota's chest tighten uncomfortably.
Shika noticed Sota passing by, her eyes catching his slight frown as he glanced away. She took a breath, realizing she needed to address this with Motohiro. Pulling him aside, she spoke softly, but firmly.
"Motohiro, I really appreciate your friendship, but your flirting has started making me uncomfortable," she said, choosing her words carefully. "I know you may have feelings for me, and I value our friendship, but it's important for me that we keep clear boundaries. Either we stay just friends, or we can stop talking altogether. It's up to you."
Motohiro's face fell, but he nodded understandingly. "I'm sorry, Shika. I didn't realize I was making you uncomfortable," he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. "I just wanted to get your attention, but I see now that I went about it all wrong. I'll be more respectful from now on."
"Thank you," Shika replied, relieved. She gave him a small smile. "I appreciate you understanding."
Later, as she returned to class, she noticed Sota was still avoiding eye contact with her. She sighed, feeling an ache at the idea that he might be upset. As the bell rang, she caught up to him in the hallway.
"Hey, Sota, can we talk for a second?" she asked, her voice slightly hesitant.
Sota stopped, turning to face her with a guarded expression. "Sure."
"I noticed you've been avoiding me," Shika said, meeting his gaze. "I just wanted to check if everything's okay between us."
Sota shrugged, though his voice softened. "I was just... caught off guard. It's nothing."
Shika bit her lip, taking a deep breath before speaking. "I want you to know that I care about you, and I didn't mean to upset you by talking to Motohiro. I value what we have."
Sota's eyes softened as he finally looked at her. "I know. I guess I just didn't know how to react," he admitted with a small sigh. "But I care about you too."
They exchanged a smile, and as the tension between them faded, Shika felt a sense of relief.
---
The following week, Shika had been tirelessly working on her science project, staying up late and putting all her energy into perfecting her mock-up model. On the day of the project presentation, she was walking up the stairs, balancing the delicate model in her hands, her mind buzzing with nervous anticipation. She was so focused that she didn't notice Sota coming down the stairs until they bumped into each other.
"Whoa! Are you okay?" Sota asked, reaching out quickly to steady her and catch the mock-up before it fell.
Shika let out a breath of relief. "Yes, thank you," she replied, blushing at the attention.
"Here, let me help you take it to the classroom," he offered, gesturing toward the door.
As they walked together, she couldn't help but smile, feeling grateful for his help. "Thank you for saving my project," she said with a shy grin.
"Glad I could help," Sota replied, grinning back.
Once they entered the classroom, Shika noticed Rio, Maemi, and Motohiro at their desks, chatting as they waited for the presentations to start. Motohiro approached her, eyes lighting up as he looked at her model.
"Hey, Shika! Your project looks amazing," he said with genuine admiration. "I can't wait to see it in action."
"Thanks, Motohiro," she replied, her nerves calming as she felt the support of her friends around her.
When Shika's turn came to present, she spoke with confidence, her voice clear as she explained her project. Her hard work paid off,
as she received first place. That evening, she celebrated with her family, basking in the happiness of her achievement.
Later that night, her phone pinged with a message. Shika's heart skipped a beat as she saw it was from Sota. She opened the text, her eyes widening as she read his invitation to go on a picnic together over the weekend. Trying to keep her excitement in check, she quickly replied that she'd love to join him.
As she lay down to sleep, Shika felt a warmth bloom in her chest. The anticipation of the weekend made her heart race, and she realized that, despite her best efforts to ignore it, her feelings for Sota were growing stronger with each passing moment.