The next day was Sunday, and Kael had the rare opportunity to sleep in a bit.
When he walked out of the bedroom, he found Kiana and Mei already sitting at the dining table.
Kiana was frowning at a bowl of mushy oatmeal in front of her, while Mei was sipping from her own bowl, which looked relatively normal.
"Kael! You're finally up!" Kiana complained immediately upon seeing him. "The porridge Mei made... it seems a bit overcooked..."
Mei's face instantly turned red, and she lowered her head awkwardly: "I'm sorry, I... I'm not very good at controlling the heat..."
"It's okay, it's already very good for a first attempt."
Kael gently comforted her, then walked into the kitchen, preparing to make some new breakfast.
He noticed Sirin hadn't woken up yet, presumably having stayed up late last night.
Just as he was frying eggs, Sirin emerged from her room, rubbing her eyes.
She looked well-rested, with a satisfied, lazy expression on her face.
Seeing Kael busy in the kitchen, she naturally walked over, hugged his waist from behind, rested her face on his back, and mumbled affectionately: "Big brother, good morning..."
This scene was witnessed by Kiana, who had just brought her empty bowl to the kitchen to get more porridge.
Kiana's steps halted at the kitchen doorway. Seeing Sirin's naturally intimate posture, and then seeing Kael, who seemed used to it and didn't push her away, that inexplicable sense of sourness and suffocation welled up in her heart again.
She pouted, let out a heavy "Hmph," placed her bowl in the sink with a considerable clatter, then turned and walked back to the living room.
Sirin seemed to neither hear nor see, still leaning on Kael's back.
Kael, helpless, gently patted her hands clasped around his waist: "Alright, go wash up and get ready for breakfast."
At the breakfast table, the atmosphere remained subtle.
Kiana turned her indignation into appetite, fiercely biting into the sandwich Kael had made.
Sirin, on the other hand, enjoyed her portion in good spirits, occasionally placing tomato slices onto Kael's plate, which he accepted as a matter of course.
Mei ate quietly, trying to minimize her presence.
After the meal, Kiana announced she was going to conduct an "important investigation," and retreated to her room with her precious map and student handbook. Mei, meanwhile, voluntarily started clearing the dishes and went into the kitchen.
Sirin watched Mei's busy back in the kitchen, her eyes flickering, and suddenly said to Kael: "Big brother, the weather is lovely today, shall we go for a walk? Just the two of us."
She specifically emphasized "just the two of us."
Kael glanced at the bright sunshine outside the window, then at Sirin's expectant eyes. Remembering her unpleasant experience at the amusement park yesterday, he thought it would be good to spend some time alone with her, so he nodded: "Okay, where do you want to go?"
"Just a casual walk is fine." Sirin immediately smiled and linked her arm through his.
The two greeted Mei and then left the apartment.
Below the apartment building was a small park, shaded by green trees, with many residents strolling and exercising.
Sirin held Kael's arm tightly, strolling along the tree-lined path, seemingly in a good mood, a faint smile constantly on her lips.
"Big brother, look over there."
Sirin suddenly pointed to a large tree not far away, where several children were playing with a ball. "Before... you often took me for walks like this too."
"Mm."
Kael responded, his memories drifting back.
Back then, Sirin, who had just left the laboratory, was filled with fear of everything. Only when she was by his side did she dare to cautiously interact with the outside world.
"At that time, I felt that as long as I held big brother's hand, I dared to go anywhere." Sirin said softly, her voice filled with nostalgia.
Kael smiled, and just as he was about to say something, his gaze was drawn to a figure on the other side of the park.
It was a tall figure wearing a gray trench coat and a hat. Although the brim of the hat was pulled low, that familiar aura and silhouette... Siegfried?
Why was he here?
And, he seemed to be secretly observing the direction of the apartment building.
Sirin also noticed the change in Kael's gaze and followed his line of sight. When she saw that figure, her golden eyes narrowed slightly.
She recognized Siegfried.
"Big brother..." Sirin tightened her grip on Kael's arm slightly, her voice lowered, "Should we go over?"
Kael was silent for a few seconds, then shook his head: "No, not yet. Let's go back."
He couldn't rashly approach Siegfried, especially in such a public place, and with Sirin still by his side.
Siegfried also seemed to have noticed their gaze, quickly pulled down his hat brim, turned, and blended into the crowd, soon disappearing from view.
(Kael: Tsk... why didn't he even say hello.
Siegfried: If I went over, that unfilial son would definitely make me call him Dad, so I'm not going over!)