K: Bittersweet Flames

Chapter 39

Weeks passed and the world had entered its last few days of the year before the people on earth each celebrates the coming new year.

Schools were currently on winter break and companies were giving lighter hours on their workers as most of them were spending their last few days with their families and friends or just using up the paid leaves they have saved up to be used in a row.

A phone vibrated on the study table, its screen lighting up with a new notification pop up. It vibrated a few more times as more messages were sent. Placing the book in their hands down, a hand reached out towards the phone, picking it up and swiping at the screen to look at the notification message.

The sound of a door being pushed opened sounded before a voice called by the door that just opened. "Nee-san, don't keep studying, have some tea and take a break."

Kaiyo turned her head towards the door, seeing Rimu standing there holding the door open. "I will get the tea and snacks, so sit by the kotatsu." With a nod of her head, she stood up from her seat by the table and walked out; not without leaving her room with her phone and the Chemistry book she was flipping through. She brought along a notebook, a practice book, and a pen as well.

As she left their shared room, her eyes glanced towards the door at the end of the hallway. After a moment of staring, her eyes flickered away and moved to Rimu's figure who was heading to the kitchen. Walking to the living room, Kaiyo pulled a zaisu chair over to the kotatsu and sat on it by the table; cosily snuggling herself to the heat.

Rimu came not long later with a tray carrying two cups of steaming tea, a bowl of bite-sized roasted sweet potatoes and a few manjus. When he placed the tray down, Rimu fretted over Kaiyo. "Nee-san, you have been studying since early morning! Lunch had just finished a while ago and you're still studying! I know you're aiming to go to medical school, but your health comes first! If you don't take better care of yourself, how do you expect to care for others? Here," Rimu took up a cup of tea from the tray and placed it in front of his sister, "drink this first and take a bite of the manju. ... Nee-san?"

Blinking her eyes, Kaiyo glanced up from the page she was reading off. "Hmn?"

Rimu blanked. "Were you listening?"

Kaiyo blinked once again before speaking. "You said something?"

"Nee-saaannn!"

Chuckling, Kaiyo apologised. "Gomen gomen. Alright, I will take a break. There's a practice paper I want to do later after reading this section." She said, tapping her finger on the practice book once.

"... Ha, here, eat a manju, you need the energy to study," Rimu pushed out the plate holding the manjus, taking one for himself. Rimu wanted to say something about it because he had seen the amount of practice papers she had already done. It was being stacked on the study table, increasing each passing day. Seeing her so diligent and the reason why she was driving herself to go to med school, Rimu could only close his mouth back and silently support her through small means like these.

Stuffing the manju into his mouth, he went back into their shared room and pulled out his homework and extra study materials. Seeing his sister so determined, he needs to buck up too!

Setting his materials on the table and sitting opposite Kaiyo, he got to work while chomping on the snacks.

The phone on the kotatsu table vibrated once and Kaiyo picked it up to see the message. She contemplated for a moment before replying with the message. She then looked up at Rimu.

"Rimu-kun. Sakura-chan asked to study outside tomorrow. She asked if you want to tag along as well? Since Father will be on an overseas trip till the end of the year, do you want to head out to the library in the early morning?"