Raito stirred the pot silently, the bubbling stew emitting a comforting aroma that masked his rising tension. Each flick of the ladle was precise, almost mechanical—his body working on autopilot while his mind spun in chaos.
What the hell am I supposed to do when she shows up?
Kurai's voice slithered into his thoughts, smug as always.
"You could greet her with open arms. Maybe a Kawai Kitty-themed apron. She might even swoon."
Not helpful.
"Oh, I'm not trying to help. I'm here for the entertainment."
Raito's jaw twitched. He added a dash of soy sauce and checked the heat. The sound of girlish laughter and whispers from the living room filtered in from behind him.
"She said she's on her way!" one of Raika's friends chirped. "Akemi's like, five minutes out!"
Raito immediately turned the stove off.
Nope. Not doing this.
With measured steps, he walked out of the kitchen and toward his bedroom. On his way, he passed Raika, who was balancing drinks on a tray, mid-roll of her eyes at her friends.
He tapped her lightly on the shoulder. "I'm not joining."
"Huh?"
"I'm not hungry," he said flatly. "Tell your friends to enjoy. Don't let them near my room."
Raika blinked. "Wait, are you serious? Just like that?"
He gave her a look.
She got the message.
"Fine. Whatever. Just… thanks for cooking, I guess." But she couldn't hide the little puff of relief in her voice.
Raito shut the bedroom door behind him and exhaled deeply. He pulled a shirt on, tossed the towel into a basket, and sat at the edge of his bed, rubbing his temples.
This is the worst timeline.
Downstairs, the doorbell rang.
"She's here!!" Raika's friends all but sang in unison.
The door opened and Akemi stepped in, casual and flawless as always in her stylish hoodie and designer sneakers. Her eyes scanned the space with a quick judgmental flick.
"Wow," she muttered. "It's worse than my old place… but not bad."
Raika greeted her with forced enthusiasm, gesturing her inside.
Akemi didn't miss the hovering excitement of the girls around her, especially when they crowded in close.
"So, like," Nanami started, "have you met Raika's brother yet?"
Hikari elbowed her playfully. "You have to meet him."
Akemi blinked. "Brother? Raika doesn't have a brother."
Raika let out the most strained laugh in existence. "Aha—no, I do! You just never met him because… he was studying abroad! But he's back now. You know, family stuff."
Akemi narrowed her eyes slightly, unconvinced, but too polite to call her out.
"Oh. That's new," she said, and smiled. "Anyway, I heard you have a baby sister now?"
"Oh, uh, yeah! Want to see her?" Raika asked quickly, jumping at the chance to change the subject.
"Please."
Raika disappeared for a moment, and Akemi took the chance to glance around the villa again. Her gaze lingered on the faint smell of home-cooked food, the open kitchen, the faint but familiar notes of a certain cartoon theme drifting from a paused screen.
Her fingers twitched.
Raika returned holding Emi gently, who had just woken up and was blinking sleepily at the sudden crowd.
Akemi's eyes landed on the baby—and froze.
It was her. The same baby from the convention.
The baby in the arms of that man.
Her surprise melted into a knowing smile.
"Well, well," Akemi whispered under her breath. "Now things are starting to make sense."
She reached out and gently brushed Emi's cheek, smiling sweetly at her—though her thoughts were far from innocent.
So you're here too, mystery man.
And you've been playing house this whole time?