Heartbeats and Illusions

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Before we begin, Thank you very much Najicablitz for your support.

2nd, thank you guys, our book was on the power rankings this past week and I have 5 extra chapters as promised.

I'm going to do 2 chapters a day for this week starting tomorrow to compensate y'all!!

Finally, this week's goal is 20 powerstones a day. Despite it being a big leap, I'm sure we can achieve it.

Let's get reading then

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"River eel or sea eel? Which one should I choose..."

Standing before the frozen section, Natsukawa Kanade weighed his options for dinner.

It was early summer, the season when fresh seafood began to flood the markets. For most people, this meant indulging in sushi and sashimi, the quintessential summer delicacies in Japan. But for Kanade, nothing could rival the comfort of a meal paired with rice.

Thus, eel rice became the obvious choice.

The thought alone was enticing: large, succulent pieces of eel glazed in a rich, savory sauce, placed atop a bowl of steaming rice. The flavor of the tender, mellow eel meat, paired with a refreshing bowl of fish soup, was the kind of simple joy he looked forward to after a long day.

"So, eel it is," Kanade muttered to himself, nodding as he made his decision.

Lunch earlier hadn't been particularly enjoyable. The meal itself might have been a delicacy, but bad moods had a way of sapping the taste out of even the finest food. Tonight, he was determined to treat himself, both to satisfy his stomach and to lift his spirits.

"Instant noodles, bread, toilet paper... Oh, and I need to grab the sauce," he murmured, mentally ticking off his shopping list as he pushed his cart forward.

The instant noodles were for emergencies, a staple for anyone living alone. Preparation was key to maintaining some semblance of order in life. But the sauce—this was crucial. A well-made eel rice depended on it.

Soy sauce, mirin, honey—these ingredients came together in the perfect balance to create that quintessential eel sauce. While bottled versions were readily available, Kanade preferred to make his own. The ability to adjust the sweetness or saltiness to suit his preferences was part of the experience.

"After all, I don't like it when things are too sweet," he mused, inspecting the shelves for anything he might have overlooked.

"Good afternoon, Natsukawa-kun."

A familiar voice broke through his concentration, soft and soothing.

Kanade turned his head toward the sound, already certain of who it was before his eyes confirmed it. Only one person greeted him like that.

"Good afternoon, Kato."

Standing beside him was Kato Megumi, her calm demeanor accentuated by the slight tilt of her head and the shopping basket resting on her arm. Her understated elegance made her seem like an ordinary passerby to others, but to Kanade, there was a warmth in her presence.

She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear with practiced ease, a gesture so effortlessly feminine that it seemed almost deliberate.

"Shopping for snacks?" Kanade teased, noticing her basket's contents.

"Running errands for my mom," Kato replied, lifting the basket slightly. It held a collection of cooking essentials—seasonings, a bottle of green tea, and a box of Pocky.

"So there are snacks," Kanade remarked, feigning surprise. His guess had been offhand, but it turned out to be spot-on. "Guess my luck isn't so bad today."

Kato's expression didn't shift, but the look in her eyes clearly conveyed the message: I'm a girl too, you know.

"Eating too many snacks isn't good for you," Kanade said, turning back to the shelves, pretending not to notice her pointed gaze.

"It's fine. Someone will help me finish them," Kato replied nonchalantly, unbothered by his remark.

"I half-expected you to say something like, 'Don't talk about a girl's weight, or she'll hate you,'" Kanade joked, glancing at her.

"Is that what you wanted me to say?"

"Not really," he admitted with a chuckle. "It just seemed like the kind of line that would make you sound like royalty."

"But I'm not the royal type," Kato replied with a small shake of her head.

"Doesn't matter," Kanade said, shrugging. "Kato is already charming enough as herself. No need to pretend."

As they chatted, Kanade continued browsing, adding items to his cart.

"Instant noodles again?" Kato's voice took on a slightly reproachful tone as she noticed the familiar packaging.

"These are just for emergencies!" Kanade quickly defended himself. "I only buy them in case I run out of real food. Lately, I've been eating well, I promise..." His voice trailed off, the faintest hint of guilt creeping in.

Kato's skeptical gaze lingered on him for a moment before shifting to his cart. Seeing the fresh ingredients he'd chosen, she relented.

"Is eel rice on the menu tonight?"

"Yeah. What about you?"

"We're making curry at home, but honestly, I'd rather have something else," Kato said with a slight pout.

"Like?"

"Eel rice."

Kanade smiled. "A summer classic."

"Have you made it yourself before?" he asked curiously.

Kato nodded slightly. "We learned the basics in cooking class, but it's nothing compared to what you'd get at a real eel restaurant."

Kanade nodded in agreement. Schools in Japan placed a surprising emphasis on practical skills like cooking, but their lessons often scratched the surface. True mastery required experience and dedication, qualities he'd come to appreciate more and more in his own cooking experiments.

"I haven't tried it." Kato Megumi shook her head, her tone curious. "Is Natsukawa-kun really good at it?"

"Not bad," Natsukawa Kanade replied modestly. "I'd say it's... barely edible."

"Excessive modesty can be a form of arrogance, you know, Natsukawa-kun."

Kato's words carried a teasing edge, yet they reflected a broader cultural sentiment. In traditional Japanese households, the role of the head cook typically fell to women, with men seldom taking responsibility for domestic tasks like cooking. Though this expectation was shifting with modern trends, finding a man who could cook well without aspiring to be a professional chef was still rare.

"I'm being serious," Kanade said, half-laughing at her doubt.

His culinary skills were far from extraordinary, but they were honed through necessity and inspiration. He had learned them from someone he once considered an angel—a person whose cooking he could never hope to surpass. Originally, he had envisioned surprising her with a meal someday, but life had other plans. Now, the skills he had painstakingly developed were being offered to someone else.

The irony wasn't lost on him.

"It's hard to believe," Kato murmured, tilting her head slightly, a glint of mischief in her eyes.

Kanade recognized that look instantly. It was the same calculating gleam he had seen many times in the equally sly Fujiwara Chika.

"If you don't believe me, why not try it yourself?" he suggested, a playful challenge in his tone.

"Won't that be troublesome for Natsukawa-kun?"

"It's no trouble. I'll just make something simple for you," he said with a shrug.

While Kanade enjoyed cooking for himself, sharing a meal with someone else—especially a friend—added a new layer of enjoyment to the experience.

"How about tomorrow during lunch break? Are you free?"

"I'm free," Kato replied, her lips curving into a small smile. "I'll look forward to it."

"Just don't expect too much. It might turn out terrible," Kanade teased, though his expression betrayed his confidence.

"If it's that bad, I'll leave it all to you to finish," Kato quipped, her calm delivery making the playful jab even more amusing.

"Wow, that's the plan, huh? Guess I'll have to give it my all," Kanade chuckled, adding extra curry and beef to his cart.

Their conversation sparked inspiration, prompting Kanade to adjust his plans for the evening. Instead of eel rice, he decided to make curry rice, a dish he could perfect for tomorrow's lunch.

After paying for their groceries, they naturally walked out of the store together, falling into step like old friends. Their interactions carried an ease that required no overthinking or formalities.

"Let me carry that for you," Kanade offered, gesturing toward Kato's shopping bag.

Kato nodded but paused before handing it over.

"Wait a moment."

She reached into the bag, pulled out a box of Pocky, and then passed the bag to him.

"Snack time already? Aren't you worried it'll ruin your dinner?" Kanade teased, raising an eyebrow.

"It's fine. Mom won't get mad," Kato replied, unbothered.

"You're about to push her patience, aren't you?" Kanade grinned. "Take some time to appreciate your mom's hard work."

His tone was half-joking, but it carried a hint of the older-brother-like care he felt around her.

"Natsukawa-kun, ah—"

"Huh?" Kanade turned his head, only to find a long stick of Pocky being unceremoniously shoved into his mouth.

"Mm..." His brows furrowed in surprise as he bit into the snack.

The flavor hit him immediately.

"Bitter?"

"Yeah," Kato confirmed, popping a piece into her own mouth.

Her reaction mirrored his exactly—a moment of shock followed by contemplation.

"Well, if you don't like it, you don't have to finish it," Kanade suggested.

He could tolerate the bitter taste if necessary, but for Kato, it seemed unnecessary to force herself to eat something unpleasant.

"It's okay. You have to get used to new things," Kato said with a shake of her head, dismissing his concern.

Kanade sighed. The minds of adolescent girls truly were a mystery—one he doubted he'd ever fully understand.

"Kato, here." Kanade suddenly remembered something in his pocket. He set the shopping bag down and fished out a small tin.

"What's this?"

"Fruit candies. Random flavors," he explained, holding it out to her. "No bitter ones, but there's a spicy one. Don't worry, I already ate that one."

Kato accepted the tin, inspecting it with quiet curiosity.

"If the bitterness is too much, just try one. It'll help neutralize the taste."

Kanade spoke from experience. After every bitter cup of coffee, he found relief in a sweet candy to balance the flavor. Life, like those candies, was full of surprises and contrasts.

Kato nodded but didn't immediately unwrap one, tucking the tin into her pocket instead.

Kanade didn't press her. Perhaps she was simply curious to see how long she could endure the bitter taste.

"Mom, hurry, or we'll miss the cartoon!"

"Slow down, don't trip—"

The cheerful shouts of a child cut through the air, and Kanade turned instinctively toward the source.

But before he could utter a warning, the accident had already happened. A small body stumbled, a shopping bag toppled, and chaos ensued. 

"Hmm..."

The little girl, distracted while turning back to talk to her mother, bumped straight into Natsukawa Kanade at the corner.

Though she was momentarily dizzy, the collision left her relatively unscathed. Natsukawa, on the other hand, felt a sharp ache in his stomach as her rocket-like headbutt almost knocked the wind out of him.

"You can't just run around on the road like this," Kanade said firmly, crouching down to her eye level. "What if you ran into a car?"

The little girl's lively expression crumbled. Realizing her mistake, she lowered her head, looking as though she might burst into tears at any moment.

"I'm sorry, big brother. I know I was wrong..."

Kanade sighed, softening at her genuinely remorseful tone. He rubbed her head gently and pulled a candy from his pocket, holding it out to her.

"It's okay. Just don't do it again, alright?"

The girl hesitated before taking the candy, her small hands lingering as she studied him curiously.

"Okay, I won't," she said, her tone cautious. Yet something about her hesitation made Kanade tilt his head in mild confusion.

"What's wrong? Is something bothering you?"

The girl looked at him with wide, serious eyes. "Big brother, are you... a masochist? Why would you give me candy after I ran into you? I mean, I'm really thankful, but I'm not going to bump into you again."

"...What?"

Kanade stared at her, speechless. Masochist? Where had a kid her age even learned that word?

"Hey, it's nothing like that!" he managed, feeling a mix of exasperation and disbelief.

Before he could press further, the girl's mother arrived, slightly out of breath and holding her daughter's hand tightly.

"I'm so sorry!" the woman said, bowing repeatedly. "She's been running around all afternoon. I hope she didn't trouble you too much!"

Kanade waved his hands dismissively. "It's fine, really. No harm done."

The woman apologized once more before leading her daughter away. The little girl turned back to wave at him, the candy still clutched tightly in her hand.

As they disappeared into the crowd, Kato Megumi's calm voice broke the silence.

"Does Natsukawa-kun like children a lot?"

"Huh? Not particularly," Kanade replied, puzzled. "Why do you ask?"

"You just seem very patient with them," Kato observed thoughtfully.

Kanade shrugged. "Well, they're just kids. As long as they're not being excessively naughty, there's no harm in cutting them some slack."

"I see..." Kato mused, her tone neutral yet contemplative.

A brief silence passed as they resumed walking. Then, out of nowhere, Kato asked, "Natsukawa-kun, can you hold out your hand for a moment?"

Kanade blinked, confused. "Why?"

"Just do it," she said, her expression unreadable.

Reluctantly, he extended his hand.

The next moment, he felt something pressed into his palm. Looking down, he saw it was the candy he'd given to Kato earlier.

"Wait... why are you giving it back?" Kanade asked, raising an eyebrow.

Kato didn't answer right away. Instead, she fixed him with a serious expression, her tone suddenly authoritative.

"Natsukawa-kun, sometimes you shouldn't ask a girl too many questions."

Kanade opened his mouth to protest but quickly closed it again. Kato's demeanor had shifted so abruptly—from the easygoing girl-next-door to an exasperated older sister—that he decided it was safer to leave it alone.

"Uh... okay," he said, sighing in defeat.

Girls his age really were a mystery, he thought. One moment they were carefree and playful, the next they'd completely change the rules of engagement.

And no matter how patient he tried to be, he was certain he'd never fully understand them.