Walking into the kitchen, it’s… sadly empty. Not like I didn’t expect it to be empty, but this is just… horribly bad.

  Not that they’re working today, it’s their day off. No, it’s just that there’s a heavy tension in the air. The kind that stifles any simple comforts you’ve come to love.

  The kind that squeezes your heart in a cold bind, and that makes you scared of any interaction with others.

  ‘...I hate it.’

  Clenching my fist, I walk around the kitchen in circles. It’s been a while since I’ve paced.

  I didn’t miss this, either.

  ‘It’s been years, and now I’m back to this? Scared the two people I have left will hurt- no. No, calm down. They wouldn’t hurt one another. They just are hurt.’

  Sighing, I look at the picture we took. The one we took with the imposter.

  Grabbing it, I feel the glass start to strain, then crunch in my grip.

  “Just like home… huh? Goddamnit… all because of a damned ghost that can’t stay dead.”

  Only once my hand bleeds, do I stop crushing the photo. Just staring at the blood as it slowly drips onto the counter.

  “...”

  …

  ‘I need to do something about this. But what? …what would Reta do?’

  Throwing away the now ruined photo, I go and wash my hands of blood in thought.

  ‘I think… I think I’ll try cooking food for them, this time. Neither of them are in the mood to enjoy what the other would make anyways. Most likely, it’ll just be ignored and one or both will go hungry.’

  Sighing as I remember similar situations happening countless times between my parents, I chuckle a little. “Could almost call them a couple with how they act, heh. Ha… why does that thought warm and hurt at the same time?”

  Shaking away the thought and complicated emotions, I direct my focus onto the food. What kind?

  …maybe one my grandma loved to make.

  ***

  Hearing the light footsteps enter, I don’t even turn to look at Lumi as I continue spreading out several different little discs of dough on the counter, an orange color.

  “What is that… you’re cooking, Salka?” Her voice is exhausted, but the confusion is clear.

  Adding a bit of cheese to the ground beef I’m cooking, I nod. “Some food my grandmother used to make for me when I was young. I haven’t really made them before, but it’s not too complicated. Just a bit of beef and dough, and… well, it’s not bad.”

  The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

  Nodding, she quietly walks over and looks at the pot curiously. “...so what is it?”

  “Dinner, plus enough for the next couple of days to pick on. If it’s not all gone tonight anyways.”

  Hearing her chuckle a bit, she stirs the beef and takes it over as naturally as she entered the kitchen. I won’t stop her, it’s probably good for her mind to be focused on something.

  “Think you could take it off the stove? It needs to cool down a bit before I can finish it.”

  “Oh, sure.” She takes the beef off the burner before looking at me- and letting out a surprised little yelp, grabbing my hand before I can grab another piece of dough. “Your hand! What happened?”

  I freeze for a moment, before sighing and looking at the cut up flesh. “...It’s nothing. I just… I crushed that fake memory, that’s all. It’s nothing to worry about.”

  “You…” Her eyes water as she holds my hand, her delicate little fingers trembling around my wrist as tears start to fall.

  “...lumi…”

  Breathing hitching, she looks away. “S-sorry, it’s… it’s not you, it’s… just…”

  Gently, I grab her from the side and pull her into a hug, gently patting her head. “There… I get it… it’s fine…”

  I can feel her body tremble and sink into my grip in no time. “I-I… it’s my fault… I can’t do anything… I should’ve just stayed in that mirror, then maybe Yuna and you wouldn’t be in danger.”

  Frowning, I pick her up in my arms, causing her to yelp in surprise, before I sit on a chair and place her on my lap, petting her more to try and comfort her. I’m not the best at anything, but I know that at least feeling me try should do well. If nothing else, actions speak volumes.

  “Don’t say that. Ever.” My voice is harsh, but I don’t care. Because she needs to know it’s said from my heart, not just for reassuring her. It’s something I mean.

  “B-but-” Before she can even deny it or shoot herself down, I talk over her.

  “No buts, no self doubt. You think it’s that hopeless? Do you know what we would’ve had if you didn’t come back? Do you really think we’d be more safe?”

  “...”

  “We’d be dead already. It was strong as is, but only able to be defeated because you were defying its will. If you gave up and in, you’d have been wiped then and there, and then we’d have been copied and killed next. At least this way, we get to decide our own fate.”

  Slowly, she relaxes a little, leaning into my chest and blankly staring ahead, her tail hesitating in the air.

  “...what’s wrong? What’s eating at you?”

  Her voice comes out quietly, threatening to break out into sobs at any moment. “I’ve been a horrible sister… I’ve been jealous constantly… jealous that she can sleep, that she’s been with Mira for a year without me, that, that she got to spend those weeks safe and enjoying life with you and the Other. And… and even jealous of you, of how strong you are, confident, know so much, and all I can do is hide and hope you make the right choice. I just… I just…”

  Hugging her a bit tighter, she squeaks. “I get it… you don’t need to explain any more. It’s normal to be jealous, to… to hurt, and to want. That’s what makes you human… and when you have no sleep, of course you’d be more negative. More cold. But… that’s what we’re here for.”

  I feel her tail brush against my arm, but fail to wrap it, hesitant. “Are you… are you sure? You’ll just leave as soon as you know you can…”

  Chuckling as if she told a joke, I pet her between the ears. “No… no, if you’ll let me, I’ll stay here and keep you two safe. I have nowhere and nobody else to go to… but keeping you two safe is my own selfish wish.”

  Looking down at her, I see her eyes opened wide as she looks up and back at me… before she turns and wraps her legs around me, her head buried into my chest as she cries, her tail even wrapping around my arm.

  As I pet her gently, her voice comes out muffled from my chest. “Thank you… thank you… thank you…”

  ___

  If you're enjoying this so far, you can read next week's chapters early on Patreon - plus exclusive bonus scenes every Friday! Or even if not, join events on the discord server; find them in my profile!