Chapter 74

As the sun rises in City A, Gabriela quickly got out of the bed, filled with energy, she dashed to the kitchen.

Setting foot in the kitchen, Gabriela smelled a delicious aroma filling the kitchen.

"Hmm, smells so good!" Gabriela said, dancing around the room.

"Don't be too rowdy in the morning now, you might destroy the kitchen," A tall woman with white hair similar to Gabriela's said as she handles the stove.

Gabriela pouted, "how rude... And here I am just excited to have you here,"

The woman let out a small laugh, "sorry, it's been really busy these past few days, but I'll try my best to visit as much as I can!"

Gabriela smiled, "anyway sis Rafaela, what's for breakfast?"

"You're favorite fried chicken," Rafaela smiled, then placed a plate filled with fried chicken on the table.

"Not just that," after a short moment, Rafaela quickly placed another plate on the table.

"Is that!?"

"Yup! It's my special fried rice,"

"Thanks for the food!" she cheered, looking completely enthusiastic.

And so, they began to eat.

"So what's your plan today?" Rafaela asked.

"Hmm... Hang out with Yukina,"

"What if she's not there again? Are you going to hang out with that man you kept blabbering about last night?"

Gabriela stops for a thought, "probably... Yes, I find it comfortable around him for some reason…"

"Isn't that nice," Rafaela smiled, "but it's really rare for you to just get along with someone, in fact, I don't think you ever got along with someone that fast before,"

"I don't know... I'm aware of that part of me myself, but... I'm not really sure what this feeling is..." Gabriela looked troubled.

She began to think back, "the first time I actually made eye contact with him from up close... I felt as if, it was a familiar presence... A presence of someone I'm comfortable about. After feeling that, I instinctively backed down. Why did I back down? Why did I feel afraid of that connection? The way he talks and his attitude doesn't ring a bell... Is it the aura he's emitting? Am I simply getting comfortable by the thought that he's there?"

Rafaela stared at Gabriela, as she notices her struggling with a thought, "she seems to be thinking hard, yet..." She thought looking at Gabriela more intensely, "she's eating nonstop!"

"I wonder what's on her mind?" Rafaela thought, "she suddenly began acting like this when I mentioned..." Suddenly, a shocking thought went through her head, "don't tell me... This guy..."

"Gabriela... You're... Growing up..."

"Hm?" Gabriela said, going back to reality, "s... sorry, I was lost in a thought, what do you mean by growing up?"

Rafaela shook her head with a worried expression, "no... It's nothing,"

"Oh yeah! I have a picture of him, I want you to see,"

"She already has a picture of him!?" Rafaela thought.

Gabriela dashed to her room and grabbed the laminated photo of them from the Maximum rider, "here!"

"He's... What expression even is that?" Rafaela said, not knowing how to react.

Gabriela laughed, "I know right! Haha! Ah! Wait that's not..."

Pulling back the photo, Rafaela tilted her head in confusion.

"Uhm... This is the only photo I have," looking worried, she suddenly got a grasp of an idea, "I'll just take a good photo of him today!"

"I... I see, don't go too crazy..." Rafaela said, being worried.

And so, they finished their breakfast.

As Rafaela was cleaning up the table, Gabriela walked out of the bath.

"Ah, that was a nice bath!" Gabriela said, slowly walking out of the bathroom with only a towel for cover.

"Done already?"

"Yep! I'm going to change now," Gabriela ran towards her room, going upstairs.

After a short moment, Gabriela ran downstairs wearing a new set of clothes.

"I'm going out now!" Gabriela said, walking towards the outside door.

"Be safe!"

"You too! Careful not to overdo things at work!" Gabriela then ran outside.

Rafaela followed her to the door and watched her leave, jumping from building to building.

"Did she not notice?" Rafaela thought, "she was hugging him in that photo, right?"

Meanwhile, nearby A2B, where Yuji and Yukina live, Layla and Erina were making their way to see them in person.

Erina's heart began to start pounding as they get closer to the condominium.

Layla glances at Erina, "Erina... You seem nervous,"

Erina grabbed her chest, feeling anxious about her overwhelming excitement, "It's been a while... And I'm just really glad I could see him, so I'm trying to stop myself from acting out too much,"

Layla tapped her shoulder, "I don't think someone from your situation could overreact about this, whatever you feel when you see him, just let it out,"

"I... I'll try,"

Layla smiled, "she seems much livelier today, I'm glad I get to see this," she thought.

"By the way, your dress looks really cute Erina! I can see you spent so much effort for this moment!"

"T... that's... I just thought I should look decent for this..." Erina mumbled.

"Hehe, I'm glad I get to see you like this,"

"What about you!? I never saw you in that stylish attire before,"

"I just haven't found the occasion to use it," Layla faced Erina, showing off her clothes, "well? What do you think?"

"You look good..." Erina glared.

"Thanks!" Layla smiled, "ah! We're here,"

Suddenly, sensing something above them, Erina pulled Layla closer to her.

Dasshhh*

Suddenly, a middle schooler-looking girl drifted her feet as she landed in front of Layla and Erina.

"Whoops! Sorry!" Gabriela bowed, "though I was sure I wasn't going to hit you so..." As she raised her head, all of them reacted in surprise at seeing each other.

"M... Ms. Gabriela!?" Layla said.

"Hm? Why if it isn't you two," Gabriela walked closer to them, "what brings you two here?"

"More importantly, why did you come from above us? What's going on?" Erina said.

"I see, such a sharp sense, but this is nothing, I'm just really excited to hang out with my friend today so I ran all the way here... Well, more like jumped from building to building,"

"J... jumped?"

"Don't worry, I don't cause damage when I'm traveling, I try my best not to," Gabriela turned around, "now then,"

Suddenly, Gabriela's phone rang.

Picking it up, she answered, "Hello, good morning!"

"Good morning Gaby... Are you coming today? Sorry I wasn't there yesterday,"

"It's ok! Yuji wasn't too bad to be with,"

Layla and Erina reacted in surprise.

"Really? I suppose you two got along?"

"I guess you could say that,"

"That's rare... But in any case, I'm glad! Go to Yuji's room today, we've prepared a special breakfast,"

"Ok!"

And so, they hung up.

"Now then..." As Gabriela was about to make her way inside.

"Wait!" Erina shouted, stopping Gabriela.

Meanwhile.

"Yukina... Why is there this much food?" Yuji asked, looking at the table filled with multiple dishes.

"I... Got excited..."

"About what?"

"Well, I thought Erina was going to come here last night so I bought all this so we could celebrate..."

"But why cook it now?"

"Gabriela's coming today, might as well use it now than leave it in my fridge for who knows how long,"

"You could have just cooked it another day..."

"We're eating this morning! And if we can't finish it by then, then we'll eat it all by today,"

"So, you just cooked our breakfast, lunch, and quite possibly dinner... I guess that isn't bad, I won't have to cook too,"

"There are still some on the stove right now..."

"There's more!?"

"The noodles are the only thing that's left,"

"I'll take care of it, might as well help prepare," Yuji headed towards the kitchen, "just wait there till Gabriela arrives,"

"Sure, Thanks!"