Chapter 6 ~ Reckless?

"Your nikujaga's delicious as always, Mom!"

"I'm glad. How about you, Ren? You like it?"

"Ah, yeah. It's good."

The dining table is a little cramped with the three of us, plus the nikujaga, miso soup, and salad on rice, yet I'm fond of that closeness. Eating with others makes the food so much tastier. Ren even joins us at the dining table whenever Mom's home. It's so wonderful.

That said, Ren seems distracted. She's usually taciturn, but her replies have been even weaker for a bit now, and food keeps falling through her chopsticks in messy clumps.

Mom can't help but notice, asking, "Hey, Ren, you all right?"

"I-I'm fine," she replies, her chopsticks flying out of her hands and onto the table.

What in the world is going on? Ren isn't her usually beautiful, graceful self.

I'm so worried that, in spite of myself, I ask, "You sure? Are you ill somewhere?"

"None of your business, Onee-chan," she replies with her usual curtness.

As cold as ever. Still, hearing her call me 'onee-chan' after such a long time makes me so happy that I feel tears gathering from the sheer emotional whiplash. I might be a little too affectionate toward Ren, or maybe way too much.

"Watch your language, Ren," Mom gently chides.

"I'm sorry," Ren apologizes meekly.

"Hmm, it's like you're trying to hide how embarrassed you are at loving Ai so much."

"T-That's not...!" Ren shouts, louder than ever.

Bang, a muffled sound echoes. The dining table rattles with a jolt. Ren's face turns bright red, anguished like she banged her knee.

"A-Are you okay?"

"Yes, so be quiet, Onee-chan," Ren replies firmly, her expression immediately recovering.

Mom watches us with a smile, then mutters to herself, "That's all well and good, but has Ai gotten big enough to get love confessions? Come to think of it, she's technically old enough to get married if she wanted. I'm gonna have to start getting ready for whenever she wants to moves out."

Ghhk, ack, Ren chokes wildly.

Panicked, Mom asks, "Look, Ren, are you sure you're okay?! You're choking so hard you're about to puke blood."

"I'm fine. Nothing to worry about," Ren says, then vacuums up her remaining food. "Thanks for dinner, going back to my room," she announces directly to the dining table before getting up. Usually so calm, she leaves likes a storm.

"Really, what's going on with her?"

"I have no idea...."

Mom and I say, exchanging puzzled glances.