House In Darkness -2

With that, we head back downstairs, turning off the lights in the lounge and kitchen before making our way to the door, putting on our shoes. Closing the door behind us as we exit Kaede's house, she locks it behind her as we start walking back to my house. The sky now dimmed as night is approaching, when suddenly a cool breeze crashed against me, sending slight shivers down my arms. I didn't realize how cold it had gotten, I should of been more prepared when I was rushing over here, but the urge to see Kaede was stronger. As if right on time, I feel something wrap around one of my arms, as Kaede comes up close to me, her arm now snuggly wrapped around mine.

We continue to make our way with our arms linked as we approach the intersection. The train signals start blaring, before we see the train start coming into view. As we turn right to head towards my house, the train passes behind us down Kaede's street as we continue walking away from it.

Kaede: "You're lucky that you don't have to deal with that train coming past your house every day"

Yui: "Then lets find a place where there is no train around to bother us. With my job now secured and I can help you look around some more"

Kaede: "Mmm! But still... its hard to find an affordable place to stay, like you said back at school everything good has already been taken"

Yui: "We'll keep looking till we find it"

I turn my head to my side to face her as we continue the walk to my house, smiling at each other. I can't get enough of that smile. "I don't ever want to see her in that state she was again" I promise to myself.

After some time passes, we finally make it back to my home. The sky now darker than it was when I left and on our walk back. We get to the door with our arms still linked as I open the door. Unlike before when I stepped out of Kaede's house only to be hit by a wave of cold air, I now get hit with a nice, comforting warmth. We step inside, closing the door behind us before taking off our shoes.

Mom: "Welcome back you two! I'm just cooking dinner now"

Dad: "Yui, help me with the table"

Yui: "Yes, you can wait up in my room if you like?"

Kaede: "It's okay, I wanna help too"

We both head in the direction of my parents, Kaede heading towards the kitchen with my mom, whilst I head towards my dad to help out setting the table. Kaede seems to enjoy spending time with mom lately, learning how she cooks, I suppose she is also trying to in her own way to become what people call an adult. As for me I know very little on how to cook, I'm very much like my dad in that way. Seeing Kaede helping mom with the cooking while I'm setting the table puts a bright smile on my face.

Dad: "You got yourself a good wife there Yui"

Yui: "Yeah-"

...

Yui: "Ehhh?!

I absentmindedly answered my father without much thought, my face now beet red as I imagine Kaede and I married, thankfully I don't think the other two heard us. I'm not opposed to being like that with Kaede, but we only been together for a year, plus I'm unsure if we are even allowed to marry in the first place, however. As long as I have her by my side, that is all I need.

Dad: "Haha! So my Yui can still make an expression like that"

Yui: "T-that's because you said something outrageous"

Dad: "Oh? So you don't want Kaede as your wife?

Yui: "I..."

My dad gives me a cheeky expression as if I'm like a game to him. "Kaede as my wife huh" I think to myself. When we start living together, that's basically the same as marriage right? Do we even need to get married in the first place? Those thoughts rattled in my brain with a smile creeping back on my face as my dad speaks up

Dad: "I trust you'll look after her, you're my daughter after all. And if you ever need help, be sure to rely on your mother and I"

Yui: "Mm, I will"

I'm truly thankful to have such supporting parents, but I know I can't rely solely on them, I need to better myself in order to stand on my own two feet, together with Kaede. As my father and I are approaching the end of setting the table. A faint sound of rain hitting against on top of the roof could be heard, getting more heavier as time past. Its a good thing we came back when we did, I couldn't imagine getting Kaede or I sick before our date tomorrow. I thank the rain gods for giving us safe travel on our way home.

Finally after some time, the table has been set. The food looks delicious as always, my mom really does know how to cook. I then notice pieces that seemed slightly different than the rest, thinking that it must be Kaede's. She has improved so much with the help of mom, that seeing the somewhat sloppy pieces when compared to mom's just brings me even more joy as I smile from the sight of it.

Mom: "You did marvelous Kaede, your tempura look better than mine"

Kaede: "No no, I still have much to learn! I only followed your instructions"

Yui: "Its beautiful Kaede"

Dad: "MMM! Looks delicious!"

K/M: "Thank you"

With that exchange we all sit down, mom and dad sitting next to each other, with Kaede and I sitting on the other side of the table also side by side.

Everyone: "Thank you for the food!"

We all start to eat away at the food presented to us. The gentle, crispy crunch from the tempura fills me with satisfaction which echoes throughout the room as we all share this wonderful dinner together, in celebration of Kaede and I's graduation to adulthood. After some time into the dinner a loud thunder cracked outside as the rain starts to pick up.

Dad: "Did you want to stay over for the night Kaede?"

Kaede: "Can I?"

Mom: "Well we can't have you going out now with the rain picking up now. I'm sure your parents wouldn't mind, just send them a text letting them know"

Kaede: "Mhmm! I will, thank you for having me"

Dad: "Anytime! You're like family to us now, so it's not a problem having you over"

Family... that word stuck in my head like a fly to a wall. Kaede as family? The thought made my chest all fuzzy. I'm so happy to know that my family accepts her enough to even consider her like that.

After we finished having dinner, we all helped up in cleaning up the table and washing the dishes. Our family couldn't afford a dishwasher yet so we still have to hand wash everything, mom and Kaede were the washers, with dad and I on wiping and putting away the dishes. After we finished cleaning up, we each took a shower. Kaede had to end up wearing some of my clothes as she only came wearing her uniform for graduation. She's worn my clothes before, but not exactly like in this situation straight from the shower, seeing her come out fills me with a bit of embarrassment. After seeing such a sight, I went to take my shower next.

Upon getting out from the shower, I enter my room to see Kaede already making herself at home, already snuggled up in the bed as if she owned it. I close the door behind me as I slide myself under the covers into the bed next to her.

Kaede: "I'm happy that I can end my graduation like this"

Yui: "Mmm! So am I"

Smiles appear on our faces as we both shuffle closer together, sharing our warmth with each other as the sound of thunder and rain continue from outside the window.

Yui: "Did you hear back from your parents?"

Kaede: "Nothing yet, they probably doing what we are doing right now fufu"

Yui: "We can check on them tomorrow then. We should get some sleep so we can start OUR celebration early in the morning"

Kaede: "Mhmm! I'm looking forward to it~"

We look at each other for a moment before sharing one final kiss before I turn myself around to turn off the bedside lamp. Seizing the opportunity, Kaede bring herself up against my back, wrapping her arms around me, pushing her body firmly against mine as I feel the softness of her chest.

Kaede: "I love you"

Yui: "Love you too"

Those words still make my heart race even after almost a year. She could probably feel my heart beating with her hands around me like this.

Kaede: "Hehe, Goodnight"

Yui: "Goodnight"

With that, we slowly drift off to sleep, as we await our long awaited anniversary tomorrow.