A Meal Packed Full With Love  

Riding over my shoulder like a bat, Mizuki had her nails digging into my shoulders. Somehow this vermin hadn't had enough to eat and was allegedly conserving energy through sleeping. What bothered me more however was her weightlessness and the spine-chilling cold seeping into me through her flesh.

'I can see my own breath…' Panting in response to the cold, I could see my breath clouded in the air. Throughout the walk home from the metro, my body was submitting to the cold as it cripples the muscles in my back. Moving around was enough of a struggle, but climbing up the apartment stairs felt like having a heart attack over each step. 'No wonder she wanted to be called Spider.'

Given her acts, I could definitely see how she must've earned the name especially if she is this clingy with everyone. Either way, it was time to wake her up and get inside Saki's apartment for a fresh warm meal.

"Mizuki get off my shoulders already, we're back at the apartment," grabbing her clipped fingers wrapped around my neck I pulled them apart to let her down finally.

Groaning to herself like an untimely woken child, she settled upright on her feet before rubbing her dreamy eyelids. Seeing her in such a vulnerable state would have almost deceived me if not for my thawing back which was still making me struggle while moving.

"You can come back and rest in the apartment if you want," unlike her, the last time I had a meal was at the hospital, that is, if you can call the gruel they serve edible at all.

Moving towards the door to Saki's apartment, I gave it a few light knocks. As the sound of approaching steps hit my ears, I took a few steps back to greet my neighbor properly. Cracking open the food, Saki looked at me from behind it for a moment, then as her eyes widened in surprise she flung the thing right open.

"It's you, I thought it was a mugger or something this late at night," covering her mouth with her hand, she chuckled lightly in a graceful manner. "So? Here to take us up on the dinner offer I take?"

Seeing right through me and voicing it as well, she made me feel a little bit embarrassed. Scratching the back of my head nervously, I gave her an agreeing nod.

"Yeah…It's really late and I didn't have time to prepare a meal after school," I told her, trying to tie an excuse to my appearance.

"It's alright sweetie," reaching out to me, she gently ran her fingers down to my chin. "I had to apologize for making you lift those weights anyway. I didn't know it'd stress your body so muc-"

The sound of my grumbling stomach interrupted whatever else she had to say. All of a sudden in an attempt to prevent herself from laughing, Saki's cheeks puffed up with air, however, eventually she ended up bursting out in giggles.

"Ahaha, sorry! Sorry!" Pursing her lips, she took a deep breath before gesturing to me to come inside.

Although feeling more than embarrassed by now, I headed right in. The sight that awaited me on the other end was baffling. The whole living room was stringed with red nylon ropes criss-crossing all over with dyed woolly goods hanging down on them to dry. From mufflers, blankets, gloves, and even sweaters, anything and everything that you could make with wool was present there. It almost felt like I'd walked into a mill with a hint of dye lingering heavily in the air.

"Excuse the mess, I don't want my product to be stolen so I dry them indoors," walking forward and in the direction of the dining, Saki led the way while explaining the situation. "Had it happened once, I lost so much money on material it almost made me cry. Ahaha…"

The nervous laugh at the end felt like a serious stab in the gut. From what I remember Sakura mentioning back at the hospital, she and her mother weren't exactly in the best financial condition.

'Could be why she's also neck deep in the drug peddling cycle.' Marking that up as a possibility, I turned my attention back to Saki.

"You said product, do you sell these? To whom?" I asked, genuinely curious.

"First settle down," reaching the dining table with food already laid down and covered with lids and plates, Saki pulled a chair out for me right beside the head chair. "Can't tell how much I've been wanting to share a meal with my daughter, but since she arrives home late anyways, I guess it'd just be us two."

Beaming a warm smile, she patted the chair to motion me to sit down on it before moving around to grab the head chair for herself. Settling right in, she began lifting the lids, and plates off the food. The mouthwatering aroma of tangy curry and another bowl full of some sort of ambrosia dessert drew me in like a moth to a flame.

"It-Everything smells, great…" Biting the insides of my cheeks, I tried to bury the bittersweet memories of my mother from my childhood. She used to love cooking us varied meals, and although at times they were a hit or miss on the taste buds, the love she put into them was enough to fill our bellies.

'Don't cry you idiot…' Taking a deep breath, I looked at Saki with a wide grin on my face.

"Go on, enjoy," she said while passing the bowls in my direction.

"Thanks a lot, and I will," blinded by the aroma, I began hounding on the feast, and by the time I was done wolfing down the rice and curry, I was too full for even a spoonful of dessert.

Even so, she filled up a small empty bowl and handed it to me. The cherry-topped desert smelled as sweet as honey.

"I haven't seen any dessert that looks like this, what is it exactly?" I asked, curious once again.

"Semolina porridge, I thought Sakura would at least try my food if I made something new every once in a while, but…" Pursing her lips, she heaved a hefty sigh. "Never mind, at least someone's enjoying the meal."

"It's delicious, I don't know why she would miss this?" I said with every bit of sincerity.

Once we were done eating, I offered Saki help with the dishes, but smacking my head with a spoon she told me to just go home and get some rest.

"Oh…" Right as I was heading for the door, I heard her call out to me. Turning to her voice, I noticed an awkward expression riding on her face. "About that hospital bill, uhm…"

'Fuck, I'd forgotten about that.'

"I'll have my mom send the money as soon as possible, don't worry about it," I said despite having no way of earning a single yen yet.

"No it's okay, consider it a…" Forcing a smile on her face, she added. "Welcoming gift from the neighbors."

Even though it broke my heart to accept her offer, I nodded in agreement before leaving for my apartment.

'Dammit man, I need to find a way to earn money soon.' Relying on the generosity of others was definitely not for me. The strain on her face while letting her own money go was something I never want to see again.

Deciding to find a job one way or the other while also working my way towards revenge, I headed back into my apartment where a bloodsucking spider was waiting for me.