C-24

"Auntie?" Ashi blinked in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

Her aunty stepped inside with familiarity, carrying a neatly packed meal in her hands. "I noticed you were coming home later than usual today," she said kindly. "So I prepared some dinner for you. I figured you'd be exhausted."

Ashi stared at her, wide-eyed. "Wait… you cooked for me?"

"Of course," Auntie said as she set the food on the table. "I know your routine, dear. You're always home on time, so I guessed today must've been a rough one."

Ashi still stood frozen at the doorway, processing the unexpected kindness.

"But you shouldn't have gone through the trouble," she finally said, feeling a pang of guilt.

Auntie waved a dismissive hand. "Nonsense. I did it because I wanted to."

Ashi bit her lip. "I'm terrible… I made an old lady look after me, even at this age."

Auntie chuckled, shaking her head. "Oh, don't you start with that." She patted Ashi's arm gently. "Since the day you moved in, you've always shared your cooking with me. It's only fair I return the favor every once in a while."

Ashi felt her throat tighten. Without thinking, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Auntie from behind, resting her forehead against her shoulder.

"…You remind me of my grandma now," she murmured. "She was always worrying about me… even in her last moments, she was still thinking about how I'd manage on my own."

Auntie smiled softly, reaching up to pat Ashi's head. "Silly girl," she said warmly. "Acting like a child now, huh? Hurry up and eat before the food gets cold."

Ashi let go, rubbing her eyes as she sniffed lightly. "Hm…" She sat down at the table and opened the meal—steaming hot basmati rice, a bowl of dal tadka, and some crispy pakoras on the side. The comforting aroma of ghee, spices, and fried goodness filled her senses, making her stomach growl even louder.

She eagerly dug in, savoring every bite.

After finishing, she leaned back in her chair, completely satisfied. "That was so good… I feel alive again," she sighed happily. Then, she grinned up at Auntie. "Thanks, Grandma."

Auntie paused mid-sip of her tea. "…Huh?"

Ashi smirked. "You're just like my grandma, so I can call you that, right?"

Auntie let out a surprised chuckle. "Well, why not?"

She stood up and started gathering the dishes.

"Alright, now go take a shower. I'll wash these."

Ashi immediately shot up. "Wait, no! I can do that myself, Grandma! You've already done more than enough."

Auntie simply waved her off. "Don't argue. Just go."

"But—"

"Go," Auntie repeated firmly.

Ashi let out a dramatic groan. "Fine… but don't overdo it, okay?"

"How many times are you gonna say that?" Auntie laughed.

Ashi gave her one last look before heading to the bathroom. As soon as the door closed behind her, Auntie smiled to herself and started washing the dishes.

Auntie hummed softly to herself as she tidied up the kitchen. As she reached for Ashi's purse to put away her lunchbox, she paused.

"Hm?" She blinked in surprise.

There were two lunchboxes inside.

"That's strange…" she murmured, lifting them both. "She doesn't eat this much… Did she forget she already packed one?"

Her curiosity grew when she spotted something else inside—a jacket.

Auntie pulled it out and examined it closely. It was a men's jacket, slightly oversized and well-worn, carrying a subtle scent of cologne and the crisp air of the night.

"This definitely isn't hers…" she mused, narrowing her eyes.

Then a realization struck her. Could it be—?

Before she could dwell on it further, the bathroom door creaked open, and Ashi stepped out, wrapped snugly in a towel. Her damp hair clung to her shoulders, and wisps of steam curled around her from the lingering warmth of her shower. She stretched lazily, sighing in contentment.

"Haaah… that felt amazing," Ashi muttered before glancing at Auntie. "Huh? Grandma, you really don't have to wash my dishes. I can do it myself."

Auntie didn't respond immediately. Instead, she turned to Ashi with an unreadable expression.

"Ashi…" she said, her voice carrying a hint of mischief.

Ashi blinked. "Hmm? What's wrong? Why are you looking at me like that? Do I have something on my face?" She instinctively touched her cheeks, frowning. "I know I washed myself properly."

Auntie smirked. "Are you hanging out with someone?"

"Huh? Hanging out?" Ashi repeated, tilting her head.

Auntie's smirk widened as she crossed her arms. "So? What does he look like? What's his name? And more importantly, when are you going to introduce him to me?"

Ashi's mouth fell open.

"HUH?!"

"You heard me," Auntie teased. "Your boyfriend."

Ashi's face turned several shades of pink. "W-Wait, what?! Where did you even get that idea?! I don't have a boyfriend!"

Auntie chuckled, clearly enjoying this. "Oh, come on. You don't have to hide it from me. It's not like I'm going to tell anyone."

Ashi groaned, pressing her palm against her forehead. "Grandma… seriously, you're misunderstanding. I don't have a boyfriend!"

Auntie raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Then explain this."

She lifted the two lunchboxes with a knowing look.

"You never eat this much on your own," she pointed out. "So it's obvious you made one for someone else. Care to explain?"

Ashi opened her mouth, then closed it. She sighed in defeat.

"Oh… that. I made an extra lunch for a friend of mine," she admitted. "He doesn't like to cook and always eats outside, so I just… started making an extra one for him."

Auntie's eyes gleamed with curiosity. "Hohhh? And who might this friend be?"

"You know him," Ashi said casually.

Auntie's curiosity deepened. "I do?"

Ashi nodded. "It's the same guy who saved my life. You remember, right?"

Auntie's expression shifted as realization dawned. "Oh! Him! What was his name again?"

"Haari Kichiro."

Auntie snapped her fingers. "That's right. Haari Kichiro… Hmm." She tapped her chin thoughtfully.

Then her eyes darted back to the jacket she had pulled from Ashi's purse.

"And what about this?" Auntie lifted the jacket with a raised brow. "Whose is it?"

Ashi froze.

For a full second, her body remained completely still. Then—

"AHHHHHHH!!!"

Auntie jumped at the sudden scream. "Hey! What happened?!"

"He gave it to me yesterday when I was feeling cold, I forgot to give it back to him!" Ashi wailed.

Ashi flailed, arms windmilling in a panic—and then it happened. The towel slipped, pooling at her feet with a soft thud.

Auntie's eyes widened a fraction, a glint of surprise. "Ashi…"

"H-Huh?" Ashi blinked, a sudden shiver prickling her skin. "Why am I feeling cold all of sudden—?"

A beat of dead air hung between them.

Then Auntie, calm as ever, pointed at the floor. "Because you dropped your towel, and you're completely naked right now."

Ashi's brain flatlined. Her face flared crimson, a strangled squeak escaping as she lunged for the towel, yanking it up in a frantic scramble to cover herself. "D-DON'T LOOK!!" she yelped, clutching it tight, arms crisscrossing her chest.

Auntie erupted into laughter, rich and rolling, shaking her head. "Oh, relax—It's just you and me here."

Ashi's pout deepened, still red-hot. "T-That's not the point!"

Auntie tapped her chin, eyes glinting mischief. "Gotta say, though—you've got a killer figure. Way better than mine back in the day. You must of have lines of man's behind you"

Ashi's flush climbed to her ears, voice pitching high. " No I don't and don't say that! Forget you saw anything!"

"Why?" Auntie tilted her head, feigning innocence. "It's not like I'm going to tell anyone… or a man about it." Then, her grin widened. "Besides, men already notice. When they first meet a woman, before even looking at her face, they—"

Ashi snatched a pair of folded clothes off the table and flung them at Auntie's face, cutting her off. "I said stop!"

The fabric flopped down, but Auntie peeked out, unfazed, her grin turning wicked. "I wonder… if Haari saw you like that, what would his reaction be?" 

Ashi froze.

Auntie's eyes twinkled with amusement as she imagined. "Would he pass out from shock with a nosebleed? Or maybe, just maybe—he'd give you a thumbs up in approval?"

"GRANDMAAAA!" Ashi wailed, voice cracking, hands flying to her burning face.

"Alright, alright—I'm sorry!" Auntie raised her hands, surrendering, then softened, picking up Haari's jacket from the chair. She folded it neat and slow, a fond smile tugging her lips. "Well, in any case, be sure to return this to him the next time you see him."

Ashi huffed, still reeling, towel clutched like armor. "Y-Yeah… I will."

Auntie gave her shoulder a gentle pat, heading for the door. "Alright then. Get some rest, okay?"

Ashi finally exhaled, feeling the heat slowly fade from her face. She managed a small smile. "Thanks for the food, Grandma. And… good night."

Auntie gave her a gentle nod. "Good night, dear." Their was knowing smile on her face as she left, Little girl didn't what she's doing. 

The door clicked shut, leaving Ashi alone, breathless, the jacket's weight a quiet anchor amid her storm of shame.

"…How did everything turn into this?"Ashi groaned, voice muffled against her palms. The night ticked on, Haari's jacket folded neat on her chair—a silent taunt, waiting for tomorrow.

The next day, a shadow loomed over her workstation. "Nicawa-san," came a smooth voice.

Ashi's head snapped up. "Hm?"

Gita stood there—tall, polished, her black coat crisp over a white shirt, black pants sharp. Dark hair swung in a tight ponytail, just long enough to flick with her stride, and her darker eyes glinted coolly. "Manager's calling you."

"Huh? Why?" Ashi blinked, leaning back in her chair.

"Dunno," Gita said, shrugging. "Just said to fetch you to his office."

 "Alright. I'll head over. Thanks for letting me know." Ashi replied, nodding.

"Don't mention it," Gita said, flashing a quick smile before sauntering off, heels clicking faint.

The manager's office hummed—coffee scent curling through the air, papers stacked in controlled chaos on a dark wooden desk. The AC droned low, a steady pulse. 

A soft knock cut the quiet. "Excuse me," Ashi said, peering in.

Behind the desk sat Mr. Patel, a man in his late forties with a distinct, almost poetic hairstyle—the sides of his head were lined with sparse, uneven hair, much like the last patches of grass on the edge of a harvested field. Meanwhile, the middle of his head shone brightly, gleaming under the office lights like a golden sun at high noon.

Dressed in a neatly pressed gray coat over a dark blue shirt, with matching gray pants, he looked every bit the seasoned office veteran—one who had seen too many reports, signed too many documents, and drank far too much coffee. Right now, he was rubbing his temple, his expression heavy with the weight of workplace troubles.

"Oh, come in," Patel replied, voice even but tinged with relief, waving her forward.

Her heels clicked on the polished floor as she stepped inside, head tilting. "You called for me, sir?"

"Yeah, you're here—good. Thanks for coming," Patel said, exhaling, leaning forward a touch.

"No trouble. So, is there anything you need from me?"" Ashi asked, shifting her weight, one hip jutting, eyes expectant.

Patel sighed, sliding a handwritten list across the desk, ink smudged at the edges. I hate to trouble you, but could you grab these office supplies for me? My assistant is out on a task, and everyone else is drowning in work."

Ashi's gaze flicked to the list, then back to Patel, a spark of disbelief flaring. "What about Densi-san? He's never busy. Why not send him?"

Somewhere in the building, Rafta sneezed suddenly. He paused mid-step in the hallway, rubbing his nose before smirking. "Hah! Looks like some beauties are talking about me. Don't worry, my sweethearts, I'll find you all soon~" He threw his arms up dramatically and ran down the hall, completely unaware of his duties.

Back in the office, Patel's face darkened, irritation flashing in his eyes. "I did call him several time , but he didn't pick up. I even checked his usual slacking spots, but it seems like he's found a new hideout. I don't have all day to chase him down."

Ashi sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. Typical Rafta. "Well, if that's the case, I'll go get the supplies."

"Here," Patel said, handing her the list. "Bring someone with you to make it faster. And don't forget the receipt—I'll handle the cost from here."