I balanced the tray of dinner carefully in my hands as I made my way to our room. Yep — I still couldn’t believe it. Our room. My heart was doing somersaults like an idiot high school boy confessing to his crush behind the gym after class.
Rin… that little devil. She really did it.
-Flashback to earlier that evening.-
I was in the kitchen, cleaning up after lunch when Rin came in like she owned the place. Arms crossed, serious face on, looking like some tiny mob boss about to give me orders.
“Hey, dad,” she called, tilting her chin up.
“I’m letting you sleep with Mom again from tonight.”
I nearly choked on my drink.
“I said you can sleep in your room again. With Mom.”
I stared at her like she’d grown another head. “A-Are you sure? I mean, isn’t it kinda… you know… weird for you to watch?”
Rin sighed like I was the dumbest person alive. “Look. I’ve been watching you for months. You act like you’re our guardian now, you take care of Mom when she’s sick, you cook for us everyday, you scold me when I sneak snacks before dinner — even though you do it too — and you worry about us like some overprotective old man.”
“And I’ve been a brat to you, sometime...” she added quietly, her voice softening. “I… I’m sorry, okay? For everything.”
Her words hit me like a sucker punch. I wasn’t expecting an apology from the little terror.
But honestly… part of it was my fault too.
I scratched the back of my neck, awkwardly. “Nah… I was kinda a jerk too. Sorry for failed you back then. I hope I can be… A better father figure for you.”
That little gremlin gave me the weirdest look I’ve ever seen.
“Can you, like… not say stuff like that while you’re still in Ryuko’s body? It’s freaking weird.”
I turned as red as a tomato. “R-Right. Yeah. My bad.”
And honestly, it felt good. Like some invisible tension between us finally cracked.
I grinned to myself as I reached the room and opened the door.
Keiko was sitting up now, propped against the pillows, her hair a little messy but her skin looking much healthier than this morning. She smiled when she saw me. That smile — so soft, so warm — it made my heart skip.
“Dinner’s served, madam,” I announced dramatically, setting the tray down on her lap.
“Wow, thank you, Ryusei,” she giggled.
As I started feeding her, though, something weird happened.
I… kind of… zoned out.
I didn’t look at her, didn’t speak. I just fed her like a robot on autopilot. Scoop, lift, feed. Scoop, lift, feed. My mind was a complete mess. I’m really sleeping here again tonight. Right next to her. On the same bed. Under the same blanket.
Her voice pulled me back to earth.
I flinched so hard I nearly dropped the spoon.
“Are you okay? You’ve been acting kinda… absent.”
Damn it. She noticed. I’m so obvious.
I scratched my cheek, trying to think of an excuse.
There was a long pause.
And then I blurted it out.
She tilted her head, concerned. “What is it?”
“C-Can I…?” I stammered.
Her eyebrows furrowed. “Can you what?”
I took a deep breath. “R-Rin told me… that I could sleep here with you again tonight.”
I couldn’t look at her. My hands were shaking, my heart pounding so loud I swear she could hear it.
And then… Keiko chuckled.
That soft, affectionate chuckle that made my chest feel tight.
“Why are you asking? This is always your room,” she said, her voice gentle.
Her words echoed in my head like church bells.
This is always your room.
“Damn. Omg. Oh. my. God! This girl is really my angel. What the hell was I doing before?”
I was so touched, I felt like I could cry.
Keiko’s chuckle became a full laugh.
“What’s so funny?” I asked, confused.
She smirked. “Really? I am your angel?”
My soul left my body.
“H-How do you know that?! I-I didn’t say that out loud, did I? Are you a psychic? You can read my mind now?!”
Keiko was practically dying of laughter.
“You just said it really loud, idiot,” she wheezed, wiping tears from her eyes.
“I… what?! No! When?!”
“You’re a mess, Ryusei,” she giggled, shaking her head.
I was so dumbfounded I started pacing around the room like a headless chicken. “No way… I’m doomed. I didn’t mean for it to come out. I’m not thinking straight. What even is my life…”
Keiko couldn’t stop laughing. And honestly? Seeing her like that made me happy too. I’d rather be embarrassed a hundred times if it meant hearing that laughter.
Once we both calmed down — okay, mostly me — it was time for the hardest part: actually lying down next to her.
Keiko had already snuggled into her sleep position, phone in hand, watching some cat compilation video or whatever. I quietly slipped under the blanket beside her, careful not to make a sound.
Okay, just… breathe. Just act normal.
I took a deep breath.
I frowned. “What now?”
She shook her head, grinning. “Sorry, I just find you really funny tonight.”
“Funny? How? I’m not even doing anything.”
“I don’t know,” she smiled. “I just think you’re funny today.”
“Well, if it makes you smile, I’m fine with it,” I shrugged.
I glanced at her, and for a second, just admired her side profile — the way the light from her phone screen lit up her face, how her eyes crinkled when she laughed, how peaceful she looked now.
So I decided to tease her.
“Or maybe you finally realized how cute I am.”
Keiko immediately gave me the most cringe judgmental look I’ve ever seen.
“No? Okay,” I said, pretending to pout.
She burst out laughing again.
“Seriously,” I grinned. “Are you sure you’re okay? Maybe you hit your head or you took the wrong meds or something like a happy pills? You're laughing too much.”
Keiko wiped her eyes, still giggling. “Maybe… I took my happy pills back.”
Did she mean… because of me?
I stared at her, my face on fire. She noticed, of course, and gave me a warm, knowing smile.
I quickly turned over, pretending to be busy settling into bed.
“A-Anyway, let’s get some sleep,” I mumbled. “You’re still recovering.”
She nodded. “Yeah. Goodnight, Ryusei.”
And just before we drifted off, I whispered.
“I’ll make sure your happy pills never run out.”