Family First

Lucas hummed a soft tune to himself as he stirred the pot on the stove, the smell of tomato sauce and fish filling the small kitchen.

The sizzle of frying onions on the side made the space feel warm and alive.

Cooking was always a grounding activity for him, something that tethered him to the real world after the immersive experience of Ethereal Nexus Online.

He glanced at the clock — almost 3 PM.

Mia would be back from school any minute now, and he wanted to have lunch ready before she arrived. Setting the pan aside, he began to plate the spaghetti, sprinkling grated cheese on top just as he heard the sound of keys jingling outside the door.

The door swung open, and Mia's cheerful voice echoed through the apartment. "Big Brother! I'm home!"

Lucas grinned, setting the plates down on the counter. "Perfect timing!"

Mia appeared in the doorway, her dark brown hair tied into a messy ponytail, her cheeks flushed from the cold air outside.

Her schoolbag hung loosely from her shoulder, but she dropped it onto the chair without a second thought.

Behind her, a shorter girl with curly hair and glasses followed, offering Lucas a shy smile.

"This is Lily," Mia said, gesturing to her friend. "She's staying for lunch."

"Hi, Lily," Lucas said warmly. "I hope you like spaghetti."

Lily nodded enthusiastically. "It's my favorite!"

Mia ran into the kitchen, the excitement in her eyes making Lucas chuckle. "Smells amazing! Can I grab some now?"

Lucas handed her two plates. "Here. One for you and one for Lily."

Mia took them eagerly and turned to her friend. "C'mon, Lily, let's eat!"

The two girls settled at the small dining table, digging into their meals with the unrestrained hunger of kids after a long day at school.

Lucas leaned against the counter, watching them with a fond smile. Mia had always been the light of his life, her energy and optimism a constant source of strength for him.

"So, how was school?" he asked, pouring himself a glass of water.

Mia looked up, her cheeks puffed with food. She swallowed quickly before responding. "Pretty boring. We had math for like, two hours. But! Don't forget, we have the doctor's appointment later."

Lucas paused mid-sip, the reminder bringing a familiar weight to his chest. "Right. What time again?"

"Five," Mia said, pushing a stray noodle around her plate with her fork. "But remember, Lucas, they're still not going to finish my treatment until..."

Her voice trailed off, and an awkward silence filled the room. Lily looked between them, her expression puzzled but polite enough not to ask questions.

Lucas forced a smile, walking over to ruffle Mia's hair. "Don't worry about that. Just focus on the check-up for now, okay?"

Mia gave him a small nod, though the tension in her shoulders didn't fully ease.

After lunch, Lily's parents came to pick her up, leaving Lucas and Mia alone in the apartment.

Lucas cleared the table and began washing the dishes while Mia sprawled on the couch, flipping through the channels on the TV.

As he scrubbed a particularly stubborn plate, his mind wandered to their financial situation. Mia's treatment had been dragging on for months now, the clinic refusing to proceed with the final steps until the remaining balance was paid off.

It wasn't a life-threatening condition, but it was serious enough that it affected her daily life — and by extension, his.

The raid earnings from Ethereal Nexus Online flashed in his mind.

Between the loot he'd sold and the Nexus Coins he'd converted to real cash, he had managed to scrape together enough to pay off the clinic debt.

It wasn't a permanent fix to their struggles, but it was one less burden to carry.

Lucas dried his hands and glanced at Mia, who was laughing at some cartoon on the screen. He couldn't help but smile.

She deserved so much more than this cramped apartment and the constant stress of bills.

"Mia," he called, breaking her focus from the TV.

"Yeah?"

"Do you want to walk to the clinic or take the bus later?"

Mia thought for a moment. "Let's walk. It's not too far, and it's nice out today."

Lucas nodded. "Sounds good. I'll get everything sorted before we leave."

At 4:30 PM, Lucas sat at his computer, transferring the necessary funds to the clinic's account. The process was straightforward, but the weight on his shoulders lifted with every click of the mouse.

[Transaction Complete.]

He leaned back in his chair, exhaling a deep breath. It felt surreal to finally clear that debt, a weight that had loomed over him for months.

He glanced over at the modest amount left in his bank account. It wasn't much, but it was enough to keep them afloat for now.

When the clock struck 4:45 PM, Lucas grabbed his jacket, calling out to Mia. "Time to go!"

Mia bounded to the door, her schoolbag replaced with a small backpack she always brought to the clinic.

She slipped on her sneakers and pulled on her jacket, looking up at Lucas expectantly.

"Ready," she said.

The walk to the clinic was peaceful, the late afternoon sun casting a warm glow over the city streets. Mia chatted about her day, her mood noticeably lighter now that the appointment was just a check-up.

Lucas listened attentively, laughing at her stories and teasing her about the antics of her friends.

When they reached the clinic, Mia glanced at him nervously. "Are you sure everything's okay with the payment now?"

Lucas placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Everything's taken care of. You don't have to worry about that anymore."

Her eyes widened with relief, and she threw her arms around him in a tight hug. "Thank you, Big brother."

He hugged her back, his heart swelling with emotion. "You're welcome, kiddo. Now, let's get this over with so we can grab some ice cream on the way home."

Mia giggled, and they stepped into the clinic together, the tension that had weighed on them for so long finally beginning to fade.