After the bath, Indra stepped into the kitchen.
...
The aroma of sizzling garlic drifted through the Uchiha household as Indra stirred the pan with serious focus. Oil popped and crackled, threatening to leap from the pan and sting his arms.
"Salt… then soy sauce…" he muttered, carefully sprinkling a pinch. His small fingers tightened around the ladle as he stirred the vegetables and meat together. "And then… a little miso broth."
Steam rose in soft clouds, filling the kitchen with warmth. Indra smiled faintly to himself. Cooking was so fun.
KNOCK KNOCK
Indra froze, ladle halfway through the stir. He turned toward the door, brow furrowing. "Eh? Who would come here now?"
Wiping his hands on a cloth, he hurried to the door and pulled it open.
"Mikoto?" Indra blinked, startled.
Standing there was Uchiha Mikoto, holding a small basket. Her long black hair framed a gentle smile. "Good evening, Indra. I was passing by and thought… maybe you'd want some fresh vegetables."
Indra scratched the back of his head, flustered. "Uh, thanks… but, um—do you want to… join me for dinner? I'm cooking."
"Umm… can I?" Mikoto asked, a little unsure.
"Of course! Anytime!" Indra said quickly.
Within minutes, the kitchen shifted from chaos to rhythm. Mikoto tied her sleeves up and began slicing the vegetables with graceful precision. Indra stood beside her, still stirring stubbornly.
"Not bad," Mikoto said softly, tasting the broth with a spoon. "Needs a little more salt, though."
"Tch, I was just about to add that!" Indra protested, though his lips twitched into a grin.
They cooked together until two dishes were set neatly on the table—steamed rice, stir-fried vegetables with pork, and miso soup. The steam curled invitingly, filling the small house with comfort.
Sitting opposite each other, they clapped their hands together.
"Itadakimasu," they said in unison.
Indra dug in quickly, chopsticks clumsy but eager. Mikoto giggled as she ate at a calmer pace. "Mm… a good meal, Indra."
"Thanks!" Indra mumbled through a mouthful of rice, cheeks faintly red.
For a while, the sounds of chopsticks and laughter echoed in the house.
After eating, Mikoto stood up and began gathering the dishes.
"Wait—let me help!"
"No need," Mikoto said firmly, pushing Indra back with a gentle smile. "After eating a meal, it's courtesy to clean the dishes."
Indra leaned against the doorframe, watching as she scrubbed each plate and wiped her hands dry.
A true housewife, huh… he thought, a faint warmth in his chest.
"Done!" she chirped, turning to see Indra staring. A blush rose on her cheeks. Bowing slightly, she said, "I'll be going now. Thanks for the food!"
Click. The door closed softly behind her.
...
Indra turned off the lights and laid on the bed, staring at the ceiling until sleep finally claimed him.
---
The next morning arrived with pale sunlight spilling across the kitchen floor. After washing up, Indra poured oil into a pan.
When the surface shimmered, he cracked an egg—and gasped. Two yolks sizzled inside the pan.
"Oh! Two yolks? How lucky," Indra whispered, smiling as he flipped it carefully.
He plated the egg for breakfast, then began preparing his bento.
First came the rice. He scooped it carefully into a wooden mold, patting it down with the back of the spoon. A little too much stuck to the edges, but he scraped it off and shaped two neat onigiri, pressing them with determination. One sprinkled with sesame seeds, the other hiding a pickled plum.
Next, he whisked another egg, pouring it into a small pan. Slowly, painstakingly, he rolled it into a tamagoyaki. The sides were uneven, but to him it was perfect. He sliced it into thick pieces, lining them neatly beside the rice balls.
Quickly sautéed carrots and green beans followed, their color bright against the pale egg. Finally, two strips of grilled fish Renji had bought the day before. The savory aroma made his stomach growl.
When everything was packed neatly, Indra adjusted the arrangement with his chopsticks. Slightly crooked, colors mismatched—but it looked like something Renji would have made.
He closed the lid carefully, wrapping the bento in a cloth with the Uchiha fan embroidered on the corner. Holding it up, he smiled faintly.
"There. Now… even if brother isn't here, I'll eat properly."
After finishing the lucky double-yolk egg, he tucked the bento under his arm and left for the academy, steps a little lighter than usual.
...
He reached the academy and walked up to his classroom. As he slid the door open, he caught Haruto lingering just behind him. A faint smirk tugged at Indra's lips—then, without warning, he closed the door abruptly and strolled to his seat like nothing had happened.
Haruto stood there, face twisting with anger. But the memory of his father's stern words chained his hands. Gritting his teeth, he followed in silently, his glare burning holes into Indra's back.
Indra ignored it, plopping down beside Noboru. "Is Minato not here?" he asked, voice tinged with guilt.
Noboru shook his head, then smiled mischievously. "Nope, he took leave for today."
Indra's expression fell.
"But don't worry," Noboru added quickly, chuckling. "I was just joking. He's about to walk in."
As if on cue, the door slid open again. Minato stepped inside, his usual bright smile in place despite the fresh bandage wrapped around his forehead. He caught Indra's eyes and nodded before making his way over.
Sitting down beside him, Minato stretched his arms casually. "Morning."
Indra immediately leaned in, clasping his hands together. "Sorry, Minato. Truly sorry."
Minato tilted his head, then chuckled softly. "Real shinobi get hit many times, don't they? This is nothing. Just a minor scratch."
But Indra couldn't tear his gaze away from the bandage, guilt pulling at his chest.
Seeing it, Minato gently reached out and patted Indra's shoulder. His voice was calm, reassuring. "It's alright, Indra. When training, accidents happen. What matters is that we keep moving forward."
Indra's lips pressed together. Slowly, the guilt in his eyes softened, replaced by quiet determination.
"Wait...he's somewhat right!" And here on cue to ruin a heart moment, Indra glared at noboru
...
Do you like Noboru's cheerful Naruto like personality?
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