Sunlight filtered though the curtains of Riku's bedroom. The rays landed on his face, causing him to squint from the warmth and radiance.
He fluttered his eyes open and glanced to the side. He expected he would see Miko sleeping by his side, but she wasn't there. However, there was this sweet aromatic smell wafting in the air. It came from the kitchen.
"Someone is cooking?" Riku thought and wondered who was the one cooking. So he swiped his legs over the bed and rose to his feet. He walked towards the door and opened. There he saw Miko's back, cooking in the kitchen.
"Miko?"
Miko turned her head slightly at the sound of his voice. When her eyes met Riku's, she smiled—a gentle, warm expression that seemed to melt the morning chill still lingering in the air.
"Good morning, Riku-san," she greeted softly. The kind of voice that made a person want to stay a bit longer just to hear it again.
Riku blinked and rubbed the back of his neck, a little embarrassed he had stared too long. "Morning… You're up early."
"I couldn't sleep much," she said, turning back to the pan with a light clatter of chopsticks stirring. "So I figured I'd do something useful. Hope you don't mind."
He stepped closer, eyes scanning the room out of habit. The curtains in the living room were gently swaying from the breeze through the open window. The air smelled clean—like soy sauce, a hint of miso, and grilled fish.
It was peaceful. Too peaceful.
He glanced toward the hallway. "Are the others still asleep?"
Miko nodded. "Suzune and Ichika are still in your parents' room. Hana too, she's curled up with the blanket like a little caterpillar."
That made Riku smile a little.
He then looked at the stovetop. "So… what are you making?"
Miko glanced over her shoulder. "Just using what I found in the fridge and pantry. Tamagoyaki, grilled saba, and rice. We still had a few eggs, and I found a packet of instant miso soup too. It's nothing fancy, but it's a decent breakfast."
Riku gave a quiet chuckle and exhaled in relief. "Man… thank god my parents decided to stock up before this whole mess started. I remember them coming home with three bags full of groceries because of some supermarket promo."
"Well, their habit might've saved us," Miko said, plating the golden tamagoyaki with practiced hands. "At least we can still have a taste of normal… even if the world outside isn't—Waah…"
Miko didn't notice that Riku was already behind her, looking over her shoulder to see her cooking. Memories from the night played before her eyes where she was pushed down to the bed, and they were staring one another in the eye.
Her cheek flushed instantly.
"Ah uhm…" she mumbled.
"That looks delicious. You are a great cook, Miko," Riku praised.
"Hmm…"
"Hmm…"
Miko turned her face away slightly, cheeks puffed out and red like a boiled shrimp. She clutched the spatula in her hand and let out a small, unintelligible whimper.
"Muuh…"
Riku blinked. "Uh… are you okay?"
She glanced at him from the corner of her eye and nodded rapidly, but her lips only parted to release more soft, squeaky noises—like a kettle about to whistle.
"Uuuhh… mmnn…"
Her shoulders were hunched slightly, and her whole body radiated nervous energy. She opened her mouth again as if to speak, but only a high-pitched "Mmmm!" came out, followed by a shaky breath.
It honestly looked like her brain had short-circuited.
"…Are you broken?" Riku asked, raising a brow, amused.
Miko let out a small gasp, finally finding her voice—but not words. "I-I'm not! Mmm—I mean—I just… uh… nghh!"
She stomped lightly on the floor in embarrassment, then covered her mouth with both hands, still flushed from the memory of last night. Her eyes darted everywhere but Riku's face, and she looked like she wanted to disappear behind the kitchen counter.
Riku chuckled. "You're acting like I kissed you or something."
"Bwah!?" she squeaked, jumping slightly. "N-No! I mean—y-you didn't, but that's not what I—!" Her voice cracked halfway through, and she let out another frustrated groan. "Muuu…"
Watching her like this, Riku couldn't help but smile genuinely.
"Hey," he said, reaching out and gently patting her head. "I'm just teasing. Thanks for cooking breakfast."
Miko froze at the head pat. Her eyes blinked wide, then slowly drooped in surrender as she let out one final, defeated "Mmm…"
And though she still refused to speak, her lips curled into a shy, proud little smile as she turned back to the pan—her ears red, but her heart at ease.
Suzune, Ichika, and Hana finally woke up, possibly from the smell.
"Something smells… really good," Ichika mumbled, still rubbing her eyes as she shuffled out of the hallway.
Suzune followed closely behind, tying her hair into a loose bun. "It's miso soup… and grilled fish?"
Little Hana yawned and clung to the edge of Suzune's blouse. "Morning…"
Riku turned to them with a relaxed smile. "Morning, everyone. Looks like our chef here beat us all to it."
Miko turned around with a bashful smile and bowed slightly. "I made breakfast. There's enough for all of us."
The dining table had already been set—bowls of rice, miso soup steaming gently, plates of grilled saba neatly portioned, and fluffy tamagoyaki slices arranged in even rows. It wasn't a feast, but it was warm, homemade, and most of all—normal.
They all sat down, with Hana sitting between Suzune and Riku.
"Wow… this feels just like any other morning," Ichika said softly, her chopsticks paused mid-air.
Suzune nodded, looking down at her rice. "Yeah… I almost forgot what that felt like."
Riku picked up his bowl and smiled faintly. "Then let's enjoy it while we can."
They all murmured a quiet "Itadakimasu," and began to eat.
For a while, the house was filled with the sounds of clinking bowls, chewing, and the soft murmur of compliments.
"This tamagoyaki is so fluffy," Suzune commented. "You must've made this a lot."
"I used to help my older sister cook," Miko said, smiling. "She taught me everything."
"I'm jealous," Ichika muttered, pouting a little. "I can barely fry an egg."
Riku chuckled. "Then you're on dish duty later."
"Eh?!"
Hana giggled at Ichika's reaction, and for a moment, it really did feel like the world was still okay.
But the moment passed.
After they finished eating, Riku stood up and motioned toward the corner of the living room. "Let's see if the radio still works."
There was a battery-powered radio tucked beside the TV cabinet. He remembered his dad keeping it for emergencies, and now was the perfect time to test that foresight.
Riku turned the knob.
At first—just static.
He slowly rotated the dial.
"Come on… just one signal," he muttered.
The others gathered around behind him, watching and listening.
Then—suddenly—the static cut out, and a faint voice emerged.
"…To all citizens, this is a government broadcast. Please stay in your homes and do not attempt to go outside."
The girls leaned in.
"This message is being repeated for all regions affected by the incident. Yesterday, August 3rd, a nationwide outbreak has been confirmed. Please do not panic. Secure all entrances to your home and wait for further instructions. Help will arrive in due time."
Riku's grip tightened on the radio.
The voice repeated again, calm and composed but with an undertone of urgency.
"…This is a government broadcast. Please stay in your homes…"
"They're still sending signals," Suzune whispered.
"But… no rescue ETA, no evacuation details?" Ichika frowned.
Miko looked worried. "They said help will arrive. But when?"
Riku turned the volume down. "No mention. Look, this is what we are going to do today. If you have a signal on your phone, I want you to reach out to your parents or anyone you know, to confirm if they are safe."
"Why?" Miko asked.
"I told you yesterday that once we get here, I will help you get to them. I'm sure the signal is back. There's no way cell towers would collapse that instantly. It was probably flooded with calls. We will go to which answer first and get to them."
"But is it safe?" Suzune followed up another question. "There were a lot of zombies yesterday. With the infection rate, I'm sure there will be many today. You only have a Glock 17."
"Let me handle that," Riku said. "Anyways, not all of us are going. I need only one person who will come with me."
"And who is it?" Suzune inquired.
"Miko," Riku answered.