The vegetable did not fall onto the cold floor.
Orange Quiet Forest was quick-eyed and swift-handed.
Her pale palm steadily caught the piece of leafy green in mid-air.
She smoothly crouched down, bringing her eyes level with Miho, who was standing on a small stool.
Those deep, beautiful black eyes held not a trace of blame, only a smile like a spring breeze rippling across a lake.
“Whoops, that almost fell. But it’s no problem.”
Then, Orange Quiet Forest held the vegetable out to Miho with both hands.
“It’s alright, I’m here.”
Orange Quiet Forest’s gentleness and her subtly meaningful words slowly melted Miho’s defenses.
It wasn’t pity, but companionship.
Miho sniffled, her eyes slightly red, and spoke slowly.
“Because when sister comes home, she talks about daily life… I learned that Quiet Forest sister would be coming home late tonight… When I saw my sister, sick with fever and unable to move, I was really scared, but I didn’t know who to ask for help…”
Orange Quiet Forest smiled gently at her and patted her head.
“So you thought of coming to find me near the company.”
“And… I also know that sister is… um… that… because I’ve seen sister’s photo.”
Orange Quiet Forest understood.
Miho knew she was the theoretical stepmother.
Perhaps with that layer of relationship, it was easier to rely on her, easier to ask for help.
But, she probably felt she couldn’t call her that.
After all, they should have a real mother!
She was just a gamer catgirl meow!
It’s best she doesn’t call her that.
“So you came to ask me for help?”
Miho nodded.
She had thought Orange Quiet Forest would scold her.
But Orange Quiet Forest only felt that Kunimi Miho was a very smart and brave child.
At least she hadn’t tried to tough it out alone; she had asked for help when feeling helpless.
She patted Miho’s head.
“You did great, and you were very brave. Kids should rely on adults more. But going out alone at night isn’t really recommended, especially since the city center can be a mixed bag of people.”
Miho put on a little-adult expression.
“I know. But this time I was really scared. It was just me and my sister…”
Just the Kunomi sisters?
It seems there’s more to the story.
Orange Quiet Forest felt a bit relieved that the man had died right after the marriage.
Otherwise, this complicated family situation could have worn her out.
It would affect her gaming mood meow.
“Really scared?”
“Mhm…”
“It’s okay. Big sister is here. You can come find me in the future too. First, let’s continue cooking.”
Ah, she didn’t say anything about a stepmother’s duties.
Orange Quiet Forest is only eighteen, after all.
Can’t she just treat it as looking after a teammate’s little sister?
Stop thinking about mother-daughter, mother-daughter stuff all the time…
Orange Quiet Forest!
I think you’ve been reading too many weird novels.
While Orange Quiet Forest was lost in her random thoughts, Miho gave her answer.
“Okay.”
“Since the congee still needs to simmer on low heat for a while, Miho, can you help sister keep an eye on the timer?”
Orange Quiet Forest turned the gas stove’s flame to the lowest setting, watched the thick white congee bubble gently in the pot, then turned to her little assistant to assign the task.
“Will complete the mission!”
Miho nodded seriously.
Orange Quiet Forest was amused by her little-adult demeanor.
She washed her hands, found a clean towel under the kitchen island, soaked it in warm water, wrung it out, then quietly pushed open the door to the dim bedroom.
The room still held that unique, slightly bitter, stuffy air of sickness.
Kunomi Umi was curled up in the center of the large double bed, her head completely buried under the covers.
Her long, deep blue curly hair was plastered messily to her cheeks and neck from sweat.
Her originally fair skin now had an abnormal flush, and even her delicate eyebrows were knitted together in pain.
“Likes to act tough… I didn’t see it when she was usually quiet and reserved.”
Ah, wait.
Actually, during the first meeting, she was still being stubborn, wasn’t she? Though Orange Quiet Forest didn’t mind at all.
It was that—
“We don’t need to… get along well… You don’t have to stay with me either.”
~><~
She ran away.
Yeah, she really is that type of person.
Orange Quiet Forest sat gently on the edge of the bed, the mattress sinking slightly.
She folded the towel and carefully placed it on Umi’s forehead.
Then, she extended her slender, pale fingers and, with extreme gentleness, brushed aside the sweat-dampened strands of hair one by one, tucking them behind Umi’s small ears.
The coolness of the towel and the slight chill of her fingertips mingled, making Umi subconsciously let out a soft, comfortable hum in her sleep.
Her previously tense body relaxed a little.
She even turned her head slightly, like a kitten seeking warmth, and unconsciously nuzzled against the back of Orange Quiet Forest’s hand, which was resting near her cheek.
That soft sensation traveled directly from her skin to the depths of Orange Quiet Forest’s heart.
“Well, you’re not stubborn when you’re asleep.”
Orange Quiet Forest used the warm towel to meticulously wipe the cold sweat from Umi’s neck.
Orange Quiet Forest herself, a lazy bum who couldn’t even get up for an eight AM university class, had somehow inexplicably awakened a maternal glow.
If Ms. Orange Peach found out, she’d probably be shocked speechless.
After changing the warm water twice and confirming Umi’s temperature wasn’t spiking further, Orange Quiet Forest finally picked up the basin and quietly retreated from the room.
As the bedroom door closed again, the room fell back into silence.
But this silence didn’t last long.
On the bed, the previously deeply asleep Kunomi Umi’s nostrils twitched slightly.
Soon, the rich aroma of rice, mingled with the savory scents of egg and minced meat, drifted through the air and seeped into the dim bedroom.
That is…
Such a warm smell.
Like a smell from a childhood dream.
“So fragrant…”
She murmured hoarsely, propping herself up to look at the door with light shining from behind it.
Umi was stunned for two seconds.
Her muddled brain suddenly seemed to receive an electric jolt, a thought flashing through it violently.
Wait.
It’s dark.
I fell asleep.
Then what about Miho?!
“Oh no! I haven’t made Miho’s dinner yet!”
A strong sense of responsibility overcame the weakness brought by the virus in that instant.
Umi exclaimed, threw off the heavy quilt, and without even bothering with slippers, stumbled barefoot out of the bedroom.
“Miho! I’m sorry, sister overslept, sister will make you something right now—”
Umi’s voice, as she rushed into the hallway, was cut off as if a mute button had been pressed the moment she saw the scene before her.
The sight before her made her brain freeze.
In the semi-open kitchen, warm yellow ceiling light poured down, like adding a cozy cinematic filter to the entire space.
In that familiar kitchen of hers stood a tall, beautiful figure from behind.
It was Orange Quiet Forest.
She was wearing a light beige apron that was clearly a size too big.
Her silk-like, straight black hair was casually pinned up with a single chopstick at the back of her head, revealing her slender, pale nape.
A few unruly strands of hair fell by her cheeks, adding a touch of domestic, wifely charm to her devastatingly beautiful face.
(Though she technically is a wife now.)
At this moment, Orange Quiet Forest was holding a small bowl in one hand and a soup spoon in the other.
She gently blew on the spoon to disperse the rising white steam, then lowered her head to take a small sip.
She closed her eyes slightly, revealing a satisfied smile.
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