The faint whiff of olive oil and seasoned vegetables sank into her nostrils as she stood by the front porch.
The lights were on early, a habit of Akashi.
She smiled again, still feeling the faint flutter of her earlier interaction with Yui.
"I'm home," she said, setting her bag by the counter as she removed her shoes.
"Ey, smallie, you're back?" Akashi's voice carried from the kitchen.
"Yeah, I am. I bought you some groceries, thought it might help."
She set down the plastic bag filled with an assortment of meats and snacks.
Akashi turned around, his slightly messy blonde hair brushing past his spectacles. He leaned against the fridge, eyes scanning her, reading her body language.
It was... different.
"How was your day?" he asked, his voice suddenly gentle.
Akira hesitated, the memory of her rough start flashing through her mind.
"It was..." her voice wavered.
Akashi's brows furrowed. "Another bad day?" he asked, already stepping forward to hug her, but then—
"...good."
He paused.
Fully paused.
His breath stilled as he stared at her.
"What?"
Akira raised her hand again, the same one that had shaken Yui's.
"My day was... good."
He stepped back, vegetables protesting with sharp sizzles behind him.
"You had a good day at school? For real?"
Akira nodded, a small but tentative smile forming.
"Yeah, for real. I... I think I made a friend today."
Akashi took another step back, eyes widening.
"Y-You made—" he exhaled sharply, hands digging into his hair in disbelief, "a friend? On your first day!?"
A grin spread across his face.
"Well, it's not like we're friends just yet, I just... we talked, and she didn't seem... completely weirded out by me like most people are, so—"
She didn't finish her sentence before he pulled her into a hug.
"AHHH!! MY LITTLE SISTER FINALLY MADE A NEW FRIEND!!" he yelled, setting her down just as quickly before immediately rummaging through the groceries.
"Where's the tuna? Tonight we're eating BIG!"
Akira laughed softly.
"C'mon, bro, I was just helping her out, and she said she'd ask for help too. It's nothing big."
"Hey, don't do that," he said, turning back to her, "You managed to talk to someone without turning their reaction into your identity for once. That's a win."
That hit a little too close.
She bit the inside of her cheek.
"Yeah, well... not everyone was as nice as she was..."
Akashi placed a hand on her shoulder.
"That doesn't matter, smallie. You made a friend."
"Helped out," she corrected.
He smirked, ruffling her hair.
"Same difference. Now come on! Help me make the best dinner of our lives!"
She finally laughed.
"Okay, okay, fine..."
She moved beside him, helping with the food.
"Maybe he was right," she thought, peeling potatoes slowly.
"Maybe things will be better..."
And for once, the air in the house felt lighter.
...Except for the smell of burning vegetables.