Chapter Thirty-Seven: The Stalking Log of Kokomi Teruhashi (Part Two)

Aoki was absentmindedly handling the food before him, unable to shake the feeling that the two girls sitting at the dinner table seemed oddly peculiar. Sora was always silent, that was nothing new, but why had Kokyo become so quiet as well?

Turning his head to sneak a glance, he saw Sora and Kokyo staring at each other intently, as if exchanging messages with their eyes about something that Aoki himself had no idea about.

"Why are you here?" Sora narrowed her eyes ever so slightly, a trace of puzzlement in her gaze.

Kokyo didn’t speak either, only let her eyes sweep over Aoki in a subtle gesture, the meaning clear: "Wasn’t it you who asked me to help investigate what he does at night?"

Sora remained silent, but her brows furrowed a little: "Then why did you follow him all the way home?"

Kokyo’s gaze drifted to the living room window, watching the wind lift fallen leaves into the air. She raised her brow at Sora: "It’s so cold outside. Did you want me to wait out there?"

Sora turned her head unobtrusively. "Tch..."

The two managed a seamless, wordless conversation, communicating everything with only their eyes.

Afterward, both stared directly at Aoki as he prepared dinner, saying nothing.

Feeling uncomfortable under their gaze, Aoki couldn’t help but break the silence. "Kokyo, didn’t you come to see Sora?"

"Oh, that’s right!" Kokyo beamed at Aoki and then turned toward Sora, her tone gentle as she asked, "How are your studies, Haruno? We’re nearly finished with our coursework now. Are you confident about the exams?"

Sora pressed her lips together, waiting several seconds before replying in a calm, distant voice, "I’ve already finished self-studying."

"And your health? Are you feeling better?" Kokyo continued to ask with concern.

"Mhm." Sora answered briefly, and the two once again fell into silence.

Aoki, unable to stand the awkward atmosphere, took out a box of X-brand dark chocolate sticks he’d bought from the fridge and handed one to Sora. "Here, Sora, have one—but don’t eat too many, dinner’s almost ready."

The moment Sora saw the chocolate stick, her usually composed eyes lit up with unmistakable joy. Rarely, she reached out eagerly, took the chocolate, tore open the wrapper, and, holding the biscuit end, took a bite, her eyes closing in satisfaction.

Aoki saw her lips curve into a faint smile, her eyes squinting in delight, a fleeting happiness shining through. He couldn’t help but smile himself. "You really love chocolate sticks, don’t you, Sora?"

Sora nodded lightly, a soft hum escaping her lips.

Kokyo watched Aoki’s radiant, gentle smile. For reasons unknown, a subtle jealousy stirred within her. She took a few breaths to steady herself, pressed her lips together, and said nothing.

After a short while, Aoki placed the finished eggplant with garlic sauce on the table and smiled. "You two start eating—I’ll finish the rest of the dishes and join you."

Sora, holding her chocolate stick, ate slowly, clearly taking Aoki’s words to heart and deliberately eating less so she’d have room for dinner. Yet she didn’t pick up her chopsticks, silently nibbling away. Obviously, if Aoki didn’t eat, she wouldn’t start either.

Kokyo looked at the unfamiliar dishes before her and uttered genuine praise, "Wow, this is Chinese cuisine, isn’t it? My mother and I have been to a Chinese restaurant run by immigrants—it had this dish!"

"Yes, it’s called eggplant with garlic sauce," Aoki said, holding the pan in his left hand and expertly tossing it, sprinkling in seasonings. In just a few seconds, he brought out another dish. "This one’s candied sweet potatoes... I noticed Sora seems to love sweets, so I made a few more sweet dishes. I hope you don’t mind."

Kokyo, resisting the urge to dig in, inhaled the aroma and praised him from the heart. "I never imagined your cooking skills were so remarkable, Aoki!"

"You flatter me. I only know a few home-style Chinese dishes." Aoki smiled, placing the final dish—scrambled eggs with tomato—on the table, serving the rice, and sitting down. He watched Sora still holding the chocolate stick, loath to finish it, and smiled tenderly. "Alright, Sora, time to eat. It’s better not to eat too many snacks. From now on, I’ll buy you a box every day—no need to be so pitiful."

Without expression, Sora swallowed the chocolate stick, raised her chopsticks, and responded softly, "Okay."

"Let’s eat!" Aoki raised his chopsticks as well and said quietly, "I’m starting."

Unable to wait any longer, Kokyo did the same.

"This is delicious!" Kokyo tasted the candied sweet potatoes, finding the sweetness delightful; the strands of white sugar stretching from the pieces were both fun and tasty.

"Wow!" she exclaimed. "It’s even better than the ones I had at the restaurant!"

Aoki chuckled with a hint of pride. "You flatter me, truly."

In his previous life, he’d burnt his pan trying to make this dish.

Heh, it'd be a lie if this wasn’t tasty!

Aoki recalled how he’d once turned the sugar into a charred mess and, with lingering anxiety, took a bite.

Yes, even though I made it myself...

It’s truly delicious!

"And this... eggplant with garlic sauce, it’s wonderful as well!"

"You flatter me."

"Scrambled eggs with tomato... it’s such a simple dish, but how can it taste so good?"

"Hehehehehe..."

Sora watched the two chat and compliment each other as they ate, growing impatient. She shot Kokyo a quick glare: If this person weren’t here, Aoki would probably talk to me so much more...

Really...

Sora watched Aoki and Kokyo chatting happily, feeling a sudden pang of envy, and though she couldn’t say why, a faint anger rose within her. Silently, she converted her frustration into appetite, increasing her chopsticks’ frequency.

Dinner passed in a pleasant atmosphere—Kokyo praised the food, Aoki modestly responded, and Sora quietly ate, bite after bite.