"There. All finished..."

With a contented sigh, I stepped back to admire the giant mound of Inari Sushi I had just completed and began tidying up the kitchen.

It had been a few days since Miyabi's stinging words: "Don't speak so brazenly."

A lowly human, he'd called me—a sentiment I'd always sensed but never heard him voice so harshly. He despised humans, and perhaps there was good reason. Being half ayakashi, Miyabi had endured endless torment, convinced he should never have existed.

The sting of his rejection still haunted me, tugging at my heart every time I replayed that moment.

But wallowing in sadness wouldn't mend our rift.

All I could do was try to reach him, to encourage him to let me in.

"Inari sushi..." Miyabi's voice suddenly broke the silence as he entered the kitchen.

"You said some hurtful things, but I can still tempt you with Inari sushi..." I replied, trying to keep the mood light.

"Yeah, yeah, just hand over the sushi. I'm starving." He retorted with a dismissive wave.

"You don't have to eat them," I teased, feigning indifference.

"Then why'd you make so many? You made them for me, right?" he challenged.

"I could always give them to Ikumi tomorrow or bring them to work and pretend I made too much," I mused aloud.

"...You really are wicked," he grudgingly admitted.

"Takes one to know one," I shot back with a playful smirk.

Despite his grumbling, he sidled up next to me, quickly stuffing his mouth with sushi.

"You like them, but not plain fried tofu?" I asked, genuinely curious.

"Fried tofu's got no flavor. It's like eating air," he shrugged.

"Hey, do you have Inari sushi in the mononoke village?" I ventured, trying to keep the conversation flowing.

"They probably started as offerings from humans at shrines. Loads better than plain tofu. Besides, tofu's not filling. You humans eat a lot for being so small," he replied between bites.

Since our last big conversation—or confrontation—we hadn't really talked.

But now, as he gobbled down the sushi, a semblance of normalcy returned.

Still, Miyabi hadn't so much as brushed against me since that day.

He kept his distance at the library, too, avoiding my gaze.

"Come to think of it... you haven't been around the library much," I pointed out.

"I don't need to be there to protect you. If anything happens, I'll know. You're safe," Miyabi answered coolly.

"Then why were you glued to my side before?" I pressed, wanting to understand.

"I needed to familiarize myself with your environment. I'm done now," he stated flatly.

A heavy silence hung between us.

"But by the way... the sushi's lacking flavor today," he remarked, breaking the tension with a nonchalant complaint.

"Oh? Not enough flavor for you?" I smirked.

"Yeah. Next time, don't hold back," he quipped before turning to leave.

"Wait... Where are you going?" I called after him.

"Do I have to tell you?" he replied, briskly exiting without even a backward glance.

He was different, distant, a barrier silently erected between us.

"Maybe I overstepped, acted like I understood him more than I do..." I silently lamented, knowing the truth often cut deep.

Days passed, and Miyabi's demeanor remained unchanged.

"Samon, give me more," Shinra pouted at dinner one evening.

"Alright, alright, just a second..." Samon obliged cheerfully.

"Steak would've been better than burgers," Kyoga remarked, ever the connoisseur.

"Don't be so picky. It took effort to make this nice meal, right, Luna?" Samon turned, including me.

"Thanks, Samon..." I murmured, trying to muster a smile.

Miyabi was physically present, but his usual perch beside me was conspicuously vacant.

"...This is so depressing." Shinra sighed, reflecting the mood.

"Huh?" I blinked, pulled from my thoughts.

"Yeah. Let’s liven things up, huh?" Kyoga suggested with a grin.

"Sorry, I didn’t mean to bring you all down..." I apologized softly.

"It's not you," Shinra reassured.

"Come on, Chikage, give us a grin," Yukinojo urged, attempting to uplift the atmosphere.

"Excuse me?" Chikage blinked, caught off guard.

"See? Not bad at all!" Shinra laughed.

"Chikage’s smiles are rare and precious," Samon observed.

"Luna’s smile is like sunshine. We need that back," Kyoga added.

Still, everyone was being wonderful, and I couldn't help but feel their subtle support.

"Alright, Yuki, tickle him from that side." Shinra prompted, mischievously.

"I guess we have no choice. Someone needs cheering up," Yukinojo agreed.

"Stop, this is unnecessary..." Chikage objected, though laughter bubbled up around him.

Before the playful chaos could fully erupt, a chair scraped loudly against the floor. Miyabi stood abruptly.

"Miyabi, what’s wrong?" I asked, caught off-guard by his sudden movement.

"I’ve finished. I'm heading to my room," he declared, eyes averted.

"Seriously? You barely ate anything but Inari sushi," Shinra noted, bewildered.

"I'll be in my room. Call if something happens," he reiterated, leaving hastily.

"Huh? Um... Okay." I replied, watching his retreating form.

"He’s really in a mood lately..." Samon mused once Miyabi was gone.

"Did you two have a fight?" Shinra ventured.

"I wouldn’t call it a fight... He’s just... avoiding me," I confessed, my heart heavy.

"Ah, Miyabi, still making girls cry," Kyoga chuckled lightly, though concern laced his tone.

Miyabi's expression just now was so cold, so distant.

Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything...

"The house just isn't the same when Luna’s down," Yukinojo commented.

"So, what? Are we cleaning up now?" Shinra griped playfully.

"Nothing good comes from being blue," Chikage advised wisely.

"Clearly, Miyabi's the one causing this. Let's offer him up to get Luna's smile back," Kyoga joked.

"U-um..." I started, unsure how to respond.

"Don't worry, leave it to us!" Shinra declared confidently.

And with that, they focused on concocting a plan.

Uh oh. What are they up to now...?

(translate to tagalog)