I watched Ayaka sort through the items like a tornado dressed in red.
The cloth she had spread out on the ground looked like a battlefield: half-opened scrolls, wrinkled clothes, utensils teetering on the edge. Ayaka folded, stacked, chattered nonstop, completely at ease in the chaos she had created herself.
Meanwhile, I picked up the embarrassing undergarments she had proudly pulled out, praying Tobirama wouldn't walk through the door at that exact moment.
— You know, she said, holding up a light robe like a flag, you can complain all you want... but you're going to end up liking your new life.
I raised an eyebrow without responding, silently organizing a stack of towels. The gestures served as an excuse. A wall.
— You've never been very... gentle, Rei, she continued with a sly smile. But right now, you seem weirdly docile.
I stopped.
My back remained turned, but my hands froze on the fabric.
She kept talking, not noticing the tension in my shoulders:
— But as long as you're shouting, hitting things... and throwing out "shut up, Ayaka" like usual... it's reassuring. That's you.
I forced a quiet laugh.
— Really?
— Of course. What, you think I believe you turned into some silent doll just because you're married?
I sat down slowly, placing the stack beside me.
— ... Isn't that what I've always been like?
Ayaka finally paused. She looked at me, surprised. For a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of doubt in her eyes.
— You think you can sell me that? You, the girl who used to beat up boys when we were kids? You tried this act when you became a priestess too. It's not going to work twice.
— Ah...?
She blinked, as if she hadn't heard, then appeared in front of me.
She cupped my cheeks and gave me a blank stare:
— I thought we already had this talk when you became a priestess, Rei. No matter what role you're playing, when you're with me, you can act freely. I know you better than your mother. I'm the one who raised you, remember?
— Are you sure you can repeat that in front of my mother?
— ....
— Thought so.
— Come on, give me some credit. Ever since you became a priestess, you've been playing that role all the time. It's been a pain trying to get you to act like yourself.
— I don't know what you're talking about.
— Then act it out. Until you remember.
Her smile changed. Less teasing. Calmer. More... gentle.
— You always did that, didn't you? Always tried to be the perfect daughter for your parents. Even they can see through it.
— ....
— You never managed to tie an obi without complaining, Rei. You weren't proud of it, but you didn't do it alone either.
She sat down fully, stretching like a cat.
I kept folding the clothes, putting the last ones in their place.
I'd had time to think about Ayaka's words. It seemed I had misjudged Rei's true personality.
Playing the perfect girl... I once tried to be the perfect son in my own life, and I learned too late it doesn't work.
So the memories I have... are of the "false" Rei? No, not exactly. Digging deeper, I could see her moments with Ayaka. Rei really was fairly gentle. It was Ayaka who loved pushing her to the limit.
But where Ayaka was right was that, contrary to what Rei usually showed, her personality wasn't just that.
She tends to be whatever people expect of her, which is a very dangerous trait.
I was pulled out of my thoughts when I felt Ayaka's arms wrap around me.
— Hey, Rei, don't tell me you're philosophizing again? You're too young to overthink like that. You're only 25.
— I now have a daughter-in-law who's only 20... and who has a child.
— That just proves she didn't think things through.
— ....
— Look at me, I'm 28 and in perfect shape. My couple life is perfect, my job is perfect... if you ignore some darker parts, but hey, it's all good.
— You're just immature.
— You're the one acting like an old lady.
— ... Ayaka?
— Hmmm?
— Thank you.
— Awww, mommy said thank you, it's the best day of my life... hey, mommy?
— ... Don't call me like that.
— You haven't forgotten it's your role to cook, right?
Her words hit me like lightning.
Yes, it really was my role to cook in this place, and I couldn't afford to make bad food.
Throwing a glance out the window, I saw the sun had almost set and... I hadn't even done any shopping.
Seeing my horrified expression, Ayaka burst out laughing:
— There we go, now that looks a bit more like my Rei.
I shot her a dark glare.
— Don't worry, I figured you'd be so captivated by my presence you'd forget about cooking. So I brought a few ingredients.
With those words, she opened the last bag.
However, what she said next is something I would come to regret agreeing to.
— Don't worry, I'll even help you to cook...
That was a mistake.
A monumental mistake.
I should have seen the disaster coming the moment she smiled and said "I'll help."
There was that glint in her eyes. The one that usually came before a catastrophe... or a prank.
I won't talk about the exploding onions. Or the molten rice. Or the seasoning even a dog wouldn't eat.
I can state, without a shred of doubt, that Ayaka is not the one who cooks in her relationship.
Under her hands, a good portion of the ingredients were wasted.
Thanks to Rei's knowledge, I was able to salvage what I could and prepare a presentable meal.
A few minutes after the chaos ended, I heard the front door open and Ayaka dash away.
When I entered the living room, I saw Ayaka facing Tobirama, who watched her warily.
When she saw me, she turned to me and gave me a wink:
— Now that my delivery is done, I'll leave you to enjoy your evening with your beloved, Tobirama-sama.
Before he could react, she had vanished.
He gave me a questioning look, and I reported the day's events while omitting personal details or the fact that the house nearly burned down.
He then went to take a shower while I set the table for dinner.
When he came out of the bathroom and sat in front of the table full of food, he seemed slightly amused.
— Tell me, Rei, did you have time to go shopping today?
— No, danna-sama... still that damn reflex.
— Call me by my name, Rei.
— No, Tobirama-sama.
— I suppose Ayaka brought the ingredients?
— That's correct.
— And I assume she helped you cook as well.
— Uh...
— Don't worry, I'm not scolding you. I have a good idea of how you cook, and you wouldn't have served something this... interesting.
I didn't understand what he meant. I began to examine the meal closely.
A bowl of miso soup, a bowl of rice, some fish, and a few side dishes.
It was the standard composition a wife would serve her husband, though the sake was missing.
Then something caught my eye. Rei would have made balanced side dishes, but here, most were seafood.
There were even more than necessary.
Realizing the implications of serving such a meal, I couldn't stop the flush of shame and embarrassment rising to my face.
When I looked up again, I saw Tobirama's amused gaze fixed on me.
— Don't you dare laugh, I muttered.
He raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised.
— Forgive me, danna-sama.
As soon as I left the living room, I could have sworn I heard him laugh.
— Damn you, Ayaka.