Chapter 8: Helping Mom

Putting the extra butter popcorn into the microwave, I set it for three minutes and waited.

[Quest: Help Mom with Dinner]

- Accept: Reputation Increase

- Decline: Another chore

'Why is the Record so random?'

[Once again, just how it is.]

'Right. Right. Accept.'

[Accepted: Start within three minutes.]

I nodded, and thankfully, the popcorn was almost done at a minute and a half. I grabbed a popcorn bowl and poured it in. Then, I walked into the living room and handed it to Katelyn, her golden eyes locked onto it hungrily.

Making sure she had it, I turned around, but I was stopped.

"Where are you going?" Katelyn's question caught me a little off guard, but nonetheless, it had a simple answer.

"Help Mom, of course."

"That's so—" she started, but I was already walking away.

As soon as I entered the kitchen, I immediately joined Mom in her work. "What can I do, Mom?"

"No, no, go hang out with Kate and your siblings."

"If it was just my siblings, sure, but we have to make dinner for an extra person, so I'll help. I did bring her over, after all."

"Alright then! Wash the vegetables for me, and after that, cut them into thin slices—like this." She pinched her fingers together, leaving just a bit of space between them to show the size.

I grabbed a cutting board and positioned myself to the left of Mom. While she did her thing and I did mine, we just talked about random stuff.

"How was the first day of school?" Mom asked, splitting noodles into the boiling water on the stove. It was a good question—I couldn't really sum it up in anything but one word.

"Unexpected."

"Hehe~ I bet."

"N-Not because of her, Mom."

"You can try hiding it~"

"Fine, she made today much more enjoyable, but she still isn't the reason today was unexpected!"

"Then what happened, dear?"

"I… had a sudden shift in perspective?"

"Uh. What does that mean? Oh, for the cucumber, cut it a little thicker!"

Listening to her, I spaced the knife out a bit more and resumed slicing.

"I don't know... At some point, I just had a different appreciation and understanding of life."

"Like?"

"I can't describe it to you. At one point, I was somewhere else, and now I'm here."

"Not too weird, in all honesty. Some people just have inspirations or epiphanies that change them! I wouldn't worry too much about it."

I didn't respond, instead just focusing on my task, keeping my thoughts to myself.

'If only she knew this wasn't a mere inspiration.'

I tried to be as truthful with her as possible, and it helped me feel closer to her. I definitely felt like I could come to her with anything and not be judged—a wonderful feeling. A trait I feel that all parents should have. 

"On a brighter note, though, I made a friend that you may or may not have already met!" Changing the topic, I dispersed the seriousness and uncertainty of the conversation.

"Bhahaha~ you think? How'd that even happen?"

We were obviously talking about the golden-eyed beauty in the living room, watching the TV intently as the countdown for that premiere she'd been so eager about was almost at 00:00.

"After our exam today, w—"

"An exam on the first day?!"

"I know..."

"Was it like some diagnostic exam to see where you stood?"

I nodded. Mom had a pretty good brain herself.

"Like I was saying, after the exam, I was going to leave, and I had to cross past two friends blocking the pathway."

"I'm sure you could have gone another way..." I could feel her head turn, her eyes scrutinizing me.

"Focus on the food, Mom!" I didn't need her getting hurt on me. I continued after feeling her focus shift back. "Beautiful things attract people!"

"So I was right!"

"DuDu~" I whistled and didn't even look at her. That was until—

"Gumph?!"

She jabbed me in the side!

"M-MOM! I literally have a knife in my hand! That isn't safe!"

"You'll be fine! Just don't drop it... I don't want blood in my spaghetti."

"..."

"Don't look at me like that, mister!"

"Tch. I have to make sure Euphi doesn't learn from you. Gumph!"

'AGAIN?!'

"Hmph! I'm the best person she should learn from!"

'MY ASS!' I didn't dare say this aloud but I think I conveyed my intent through my eyes.

She, on the other hand, lightly tapped the counter, looking at me with "Get back to work" eyes. To which I did—without any questions. I also made sure to scoot over a bit so she couldn't get my side again!

"Ah. Eiz, go grab the spaghetti sauce. I forgot to grab it."

"Do you want me to open it?"

"No. I just want it so I don't have to look for it later. After you grab the sauce, get a strainer out of the cabinet to the right of the sink and put it in the sink."

"Yes, Ma'am."

Mom was super efficient at giving out orders. I didn't really know how to describe it, but it was something you could feel—like the difference between a new boss and someone who's been running things for a long time.

I listened and got everything done quickly. After that, I stepped out of her way and let her do her thing. She switched between tending to the noodles and organizing everything else so efficiently that I honestly felt like I wasn't needed.

"Eiz, dear, how many classes do you have tomorrow again?"

"One for sure..."

"Check for me."

I grabbed my phone and opened my photos. I was really hoping the previous Eizkel had done what I used to do—take screenshots of my schedule.

'One... two... both morning classes.'

"I have two. I should be out by 11:30 AM."

"Great! I should be able to catch you before we leave. I need you to take care of the house from tomorrow onward until next week."

"Huh? Why?"

"Euphi and Cain have a field trip to the beach resorts in Veylora!"

"Veylora?" I still wasn't familiar with the geography of this world, so her excitement didn't really hit me.

She turned around after setting the noodles in the strainer, her eyes practically sparkling at the thought of this Veylora place.

'I... kinda want to go now…' I was starting to feel a bit jealous. Her excitement was infectious, even though I had no clue what made this place so special.