The faint orange light seeped through the curtains.
Ren's eyes blinked open slowly, his body still feeling that soft haze of sleep. The scent of something warm and familiar drifted in from the kitchen — miso soup and maybe… tamagoyaki?
He rubbed his eyes and sat up.
Ren (thinking): Morning again. Another normal day. Or… a second chance at a normal day.
He stared at his hands for a moment before letting out a breath and standing up.
Ren (softly): "…Alright. Let's make today count."
He stretched his arms overhead with a small grunt, pulled on his uniform shirt, and padded toward the kitchen, drawn by the clinking sounds of plates and the low hum of a TV in the background.
As he stepped into the dining room, he saw his father already seated at the table, newspaper folded beside him, and a steaming cup of tea in hand.
"Morning," Ren greeted.
"Mm," his dad grunted, eyes on the TV for a second before looking toward the kitchen. "Your mom's already almost done cooking. Like always."
Ren sat down as the delicious smell hit him full force.
A moment later, his mom appeared, wiping her hands on a towel, cheerful as ever.
"Good morning, Ren!" she smiled.
Before Ren could reply, his dad took a sip of tea and said casually, "You know, your mom's really hardworking."
His mom paused, surprised but clearly pleased. Her eyes sparkled as she turned slightly toward him.
"Oh, it's nothing," she said with a bashful smile, then added softly, "But… thank you."
Ren blinked. It was rare to hear this kind of exchange between his parents.
Then his dad added, with a straight face, "I mean, after the hard work we put in last night, it's no small thing to be up early, making breakfast like this."
Mom froze.
Ren blinked.
"…Huh?"
His dad continued, calm and proud, "She's got real stamina. Strong woman. Good for some hardcore too, huh?"
He turned to Ren and grinned.
"You got yourself a strong mom, kid. I'm lucky I got such a tough wife."
Ren stared blankly, mouth slightly open.
Ren (thinking): …Did he really just say that?!
Mom's face turned bright red. Not just a light blush — she was glowing like a tomato. She clutched the towel in her hands tightly and tried to keep her voice calm, though it cracked slightly.
"A-Ahh, you—! Don't say weird things in front of Ren in the morning!"
She quickly turned back to the kitchen, clearly flustered.
"And stop acting like a boy showing off! Honestly... embarrassing me like this," she mumbled, barely audible.
But there was a soft smile on her face.
A moment later, she came back with steaming plates of food and set them in front of both of them. Her movements were fast but gentle.
"There. Eat up, both of you," she said, pretending not to look at either of them directly.
Ren watched her for a moment, then looked down at the food.
It smelled amazing.
Ren (thinking): They're… kind of ridiculous. But I guess they really love each other.
He picked up his chopsticks, smiled faintly, and muttered, "Itadakimasu."
The morning sun glowed a little brighter.
Ren took a bite of the tamagoyaki.
Soft, slightly sweet, perfectly warm.
Ren (thinking): She really hasn't changed… Even now, her cooking's still amazing.
As he continued eating, his dad finished his tea and leaned back in his seat, glancing toward the kitchen again.
"This miso soup's really tasty," he said, voice casual but appreciative. "And the tamagoyaki's just the right amount of sweet today."
Mom turned halfway toward him, slightly surprised again by the sudden compliment. She smiled shyly, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
"Oh, thank you… I tried a new soy sauce mix."
But then—
Dad smirked, tilting his head as he added with a teasing tone, "Still doesn't taste better than you, though."
She froze.
Ren immediately choked on his rice.
Ren: "Kh—!"
He coughed violently, waving a hand in front of his mouth as he reached for water.
"D-Dad!!"
His mom was already blushing all over again, hiding her face behind her hand as she turned away in embarrassment.
"Wha—! Y-You idiot! What are you saying in front of Ren?!"
His dad chuckled smugly, folding his arms behind his head.
"Well, it's true," he said, grinning. "If I could, I'd take this lovely lady with me to the office every day. But since I can't…" He stood up, fixing his tie and walking toward the door. "I'll just make sure to come back home early for some more delicious—"
He paused and gave a cheeky glance over his shoulder.
"—food, of course."
Mom quickly tossed the dish towel at him. "Go already!!"
The towel bounced harmlessly off his back as he laughed, grabbing his briefcase.
"See you two later!" he called, stepping out with that same carefree energy.
The door closed behind him.
Silence filled the room.
Ren quietly finished chewing his rice, still stunned.
Mom, flushed and trying to keep her dignity, began gathering the empty plates.
"…He really hasn't grown up at all," she muttered, still flustered.
Ren stood up and grabbed his school bag.
"I-I'm going now," he said, averting his eyes.
"Alright," she said gently, calming a little. "Be safe. And don't skip lunch!"
Ren nodded. "I won't."
As he stepped out into the warm morning light, a soft breeze brushing through his hair, he couldn't help but smile faintly to himself.
Ren (thinking): They're embarrassing. But maybe… I kinda like mornings like this.
He tightened his grip on his bag and headed toward school, unaware of just how many things the day still had in store for him.