Mirrors Of The Soul

As Sota entered the house, a familiar yet unexpected sight greeted him. His father, who was rarely home during the week due to his extensive travels for work, sat in the living room, seemingly waiting for him. It was a rare moment. His father's usual schedule kept him far from home, leaving Sota and his younger sister Tenshi to manage on their own.

"Hey, Dad, what are you doing here?" Sota asked, setting down his backpack, still surprised by his father's presence.

His father looked up from the magazine he was casually flipping through and smiled, motioning for Sota to sit beside him. "I wanted to talk to you, son," his father began, his voice calm but serious. "I've been thinking about my travels, and I've decided to stay a bit longer this time. But there's more—I've also made some arrangements for you."

Sota furrowed his brow in confusion, sitting down slowly. "What kind of arrangements?" he asked, a mix of curiosity and apprehension in his voice.

His father took a deep breath, carefully choosing his words. "I've arranged for you to stay with your Aunt Mika at the restaurant for a while. I know it's sudden, but I think it'll be a good experience for you to spend some time with family, and you can learn about the business too."

Aunt Mika's restaurant had always been a family treasure, a cornerstone of his father's culinary journey. Sota had grown up spending some weekends there, but the idea of working there full-time took him by surprise. He had never imagined himself getting more involved in the family business—until now.

"I understand, Dad," Sota replied, offering a small smile as he tried to process the news. "I'll do my best to help out at the restaurant and make you proud."

His father's eyes softened, clearly relieved by his son's understanding and support. "I knew I could count on you, Sota," he said, his voice filled with warmth. "Your aunt will be thrilled to have you there. And I'm sure you'll learn a lot from working at the restaurant. It's a good opportunity."

"I'll start this weekend," Sota replied, already mentally preparing himself for the challenge ahead.

"I'm proud of you, Sota. Always remember that," his father added, reaching out to ruffle his son's hair affectionately, something he rarely did.

Just then, little Tenshi, who had been sitting quietly on her father's lap, looked up at him with wide eyes and an eager smile. "Papa, I want to hear your stories!" she exclaimed, her voice full of excitement.

Sota's father chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "Of course, Tenshi," he said, wrapping an arm around his daughter. "Let me tell you about the time I visited the Amazon rainforest. It was one of the most breathtaking places I've ever been to."

Tenshi's eyes sparkled with wonder as she listened, imagining the lush greenery and exotic wildlife. She loved hearing about her father's travels—his stories painted vivid pictures of far-off places she dreamed of visiting someday.

"And then there was the time I met a wise old man in the mountains of Tibet," their father continued, his voice taking on a softer, more reflective tone. "He taught me so much about meditation and inner peace. It was a life-changing experience."

"Wow, Dad," Tenshi breathed, completely entranced by his tale. "Did you ever feel scared being so far away?"

Her father smiled down at her. "Sometimes, sweetheart. But those adventures taught me how important it is to be brave and open to new experiences."

Sota sat quietly, listening with fondness. Although he had heard some of these stories before, there was something comforting about hearing them again. It reminded him of his father's unwavering sense of adventure, a trait he both admired and sometimes resented due to how often it took him away from home.

Tenshi, piped up again. "Can I come with you on your next trip, Papa? Please?"

Sota's father chuckled, giving her a gentle squeeze. "Maybe when you're a little older, Tenshi. For now, you can live through my stories."

As the night grew later, their father glanced at the clock and sighed. "It's getting late, kiddos," he said, stretching his arms. "Time for bed."

Tenshi pouted but obediently nodded, and Sota followed suit, feeling the weight of the day start to settle in. They both said goodnight, heading off to their respective rooms.

---

The next day, after school, Sota walked briskly towards the restaurant, ready for his evening shift. Heizen and Ryoku had invited him to hang out and play video games, but for the first time in a long while, he had to decline.

"Hey, Sota, we're heading to my place to play some games. You in?" Heizen asked, slinging an arm over Sota's shoulder.

Ryoku chimed in, "Yeah, we're having a tournament. We need one more player."

Sota shook his head apologetically. "Thanks, guys, but I can't tonight. I've got work."

Heizen looked surprised. "You? Working? When did that happen?"

"Yeah, since when are you too busy to game?" Ryoku teased, raising an eyebrow.

Sota shrugged with a faint smile. "It's a long story. Maybe next time."

Heizen and Ryoku exchanged curious looks as they watched Sota walk away. It was unlike him to skip out on fun, and they couldn't help but wonder what had changed.

As Sota donned his waiter's uniform and started serving customers at the restaurant, he couldn't help but reminisce about his childhood spent there—watching his father cook, learning about the complexities of the kitchen, and helping out in small ways. It felt surreal to be officially working alongside his aunt and the other staff, taking on more responsibility.

---

The next day, while Ryoku, Luna, and Shika were chatting in the playground, Ryoku brought up the topic that had been on her mind.

"Have you noticed that Sota's been acting a bit weird lately?" Ryoku asked, glancing towards Shika.

Shika looked up from her phone, a small frown forming. "What do you mean?"

"I don't know. He just seems... different. More distant," Ryoku explained, leaning against the bench.

Luna, grinned mischievously. "Maybe he's got a secret lover!"

Shika's heart sank at the suggestion. "I don't think so," she said softly. "Sota's not like that."

Luna raised an eyebrow, her grin widening. "Oh? Worried someone's stolen your man?"

Shika blushed deeply, quickly shaking her head. "It's not like that," she insisted, though her heart fluttered at the idea.

Luna's teasing didn't stop. "Come on, Shika. Nobody loves him the way you do." Her tone was playful, but her words hit Shika harder than she'd like to admit.

---

The weekend arrived, and Shika found herself waiting for Sota like she did every week, but this time, he didn't show. She texted him, only to receive a simple reply: Busy tonight. Sorry.

Shika couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment. Luna's words from earlier kept echoing in her head. Could there really be someone else? she wondered, staring at her phone. Has he found someone?

Later, as she lay on her bed, her mind spiraled with thoughts of Sota. She sighed, her heart heavy with doubt. "Maybe Luna's right," she whispered to herself. "What if Sota doesn't see me like that? What if he's with someone else?"

---

One evening, Shika happened to be walking through the city with a bag of groceries when she caught sight of Sota in the window of a fancy restaurant. He was sitting across from a beautiful young woman. Shika's heart clenched, jealousy flaring in her chest. She stared, unable to look away.

When Sota noticed her, he smiled, but Shika quickly hid herself, embarrassed by her reaction. What am I doing? she thought, hurrying away before he could approach her.

The next day, after school, Ryoku and Luna invited Shika to grab a bite to eat with them, but Shika declined, her mind too preoccupied with thoughts of Sota and the woman she had seen him with. Determined to find out the truth, Shika made a bold decision—she would follow him.

---

That evening, Shika discreetly followed Sota through the city streets. She kept a safe distance, watching as he entered the same fancy restaurant from before. Her heart raced. Who

 is she?

Just as Shika was trying to blend into the crowd, Sota suddenly appeared beside her, a playful smile tugging at his lips.

"Are you stalking me, Shika?" he teased, his voice light.

Shika, caught completely off guard, turned to him, flustered. "No! Of course not!" she stammered, trying to compose herself.

Sota raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "So, how'd you end up here then? Just a coincidence?"

Shika crossed her arms, feeling her cheeks heat up. "I was just walking by," she replied defensively. "What are you doing here? Are you dating someone?"

Sota's amusement shifted to confusion. "Dating? No. I'm alone tonight. Why?"

"Don't lie," Shika said, her voice betraying her frustration. "What about that girl I saw with you yesterday?"

Sota blinked, realization dawning on him. "Oh, you mean my aunt? She works here."

Shika froze. "Your aunt?" she repeated, feeling both foolish and relieved at the same time.

"Yes," Sota replied, his tone calm. "Why would I need to lie about something like that?"

Embarrassed, Shika bit her lip, trying to salvage her dignity. "Whatever. Do what you want. I don't care."

But Sota wasn't about to let her off the hook that easily. "Why were you following me then?" he asked, his voice tinged with curiosity.

Shika hesitated, avoiding his gaze. "I told you, I was just walking by..."

Sota smirked, leaning closer. "You're kind of cute when you're jealous, you know that?"

Shika's face turned a deep shade of red. "I'm not jealous!" she snapped, turning on her heel and walking away.

Sota chuckled as he watched her retreat. "You sure about that?" he called after her, his teasing tone making her cheeks burn even hotter.

---

The next day at school, Shika did her best to avoid Sota. She felt embarrassed and annoyed at how easily he had seen through her. But Sota wasn't one to let things go so easily. As they walked outside after class, he finally caught up to her.

"Shika, wait up," he called, falling into step beside her. "What's with the cold shoulder? Did I do something wrong?"

Shika rolled her eyes, clearly still upset. "You're such a jerk. You don't care about anyone's feelings but your own."

Sota blinked, taken aback by her sudden harshness. "Wait, what?"

Shika continued walking, but Sota wasn't about to give up. He jogged ahead of her, blocking her path. "Come on, Shika. Talk to me. What's really bothering you?"

Shika let out a frustrated sigh, her eyes avoiding his. "It's just... I don't know. You've been acting weird lately, and then Luna said something that made me wonder if..." She trailed off, unable to finish the thought.

Sota's brow furrowed, genuinely confused. "What are you talking about?"

Shika finally met his gaze, her frustration bubbling over. "Do you have someone else? Is that why you've been avoiding me?"

Sota's eyes widened in surprise. "What? No! Of course not! I've just been busy with work. That's all."

"Work?" Shika repeated, still not fully understanding.

Sota sighed, running a hand through his hair. "My dad's been asking me to help out at the restaurant while he's away. I've had a lot on my plate, and I didn't mean to ignore you. I'm sorry, Shika. I should've told you sooner."

Shika's frustration melted away as the pieces finally fell into place. "Oh..." she said softly, feeling a wave of embarrassment wash over her. "I didn't know. I'm sorry for jumping to conclusions."

Sota smiled gently, relieved to see her softening. "It's okay. I should've explained things earlier. But trust me, you're the last person I'd want to avoid."

Shika looked up at him, a small smile playing on her lips. "I forgive you," she said, her voice light. "Just... don't keep me in the dark next time, okay?"

"I promise," Sota said with a grin.

As they walked together, the tension between them dissolved, replaced by the familiar warmth of their friendship. They laughed and joked, and for the first time in days, everything felt right again.

But as they exchanged playful banter, a small part of Shika couldn't help but wonder—had she really been jealous? And if so, what did that mean for her feelings towards Sota?