When I came to, I was lying on my couch. The soft scent of lavender filled the air. I blinked a few times, my vision sharpening to see Kaede crouched nearby, her brow furrowed with concern.
"You scared me, Mahito," she said, her voice softer now. "You're lucky you didn't hit your head."
I tried to sit up, but Kaede's hand gently pressed against my shoulder, keeping me down. "Stay still. You fainted. Let your body rest."
"What... why are you here?" I finally croaked, my voice raspy.
She smiled faintly, brushing a strand of her orange hair out of her face. "It's been a while, huh? I figured you might need some company."
I wanted to say something witty, but my mind was still foggy. Instead, I managed a weak, "I'm fine."
Kaede gave me a knowing look. "Sure you are. And this apartment is a model home." Her eyes swept over the mess with a mixture of amusement and exasperation. "Let's get you cleaned up, okay?"
"You don't have to," I muttered, embarrassed. "I can handle it."
"You passed out opening the door, Mahito," she replied, standing up. "You're not exactly in a position to argue."
I watched as she rolled up her sleeves and started picking up wrappers from the floor. Part of me wanted to stop her, but another part—the exhausted, overwhelmed part—was grateful. I hadn't realized how suffocating the mess had become until I saw her tackling it.
"Kaede..." I began, but she cut me off with a grin.
"Don't overthink it," she said. "You're stuck with me for a while. Let's get this place back in shape."
The feeling of warmth she eminated slowly made me sleepy, the last thing I saw was her smilling face before i dosed off.
When I woke up again, the room was dim, and the faint hum of activity reached my ears. The apartment smelled different—warm and inviting, like something homemade. I blinked, rubbing the sleep from my eyes, and sat up slowly. My body still felt heavy, but the pounding in my head had dulled.
I shuffled into the living room, where I found Kaede standing in the kitchenette. She was humming softly, her back to me as she stirred something in a pot on the stovetop. The table, once a chaotic mess of wrappers and empty cups, was now clean, set with a single plate, bowl, and a glass of water. A small vase with a single flower sat in the center, adding a touch of brightness to the otherwise plain space.
Kaede turned as she heard my footsteps. "Ah, you're awake! Perfect timing," she said with a smile, holding up a ladle. "I made miso soup and some rice. Sit down, and I'll bring it over."
I hesitated, my eyes darting between her and the table. "You didn't have to do all this..."
She waved her hand dismissively. "Of course I did. You need to eat something, and honestly, your kitchen was begging for mercy."
I sat down at the table, feeling a strange mix of gratitude and embarrassment. The simple meal she placed in front of me smelled incredible, and I realized how long it had been since I'd eaten something homemade.
"Thank you," I murmured, picking up the chopsticks.
Kaede sat across from me, propping her chin on her hand. "It's nothing. Just eat. We've got a lot to catch up on."
For the first time in years, I felt something stir inside me—a spark of normalcy, a glimmer of connection. As I took my first bite, I couldn't help but wonder if this was the start of something new, something better.