Chapter 864: Siblings’ Ramen Feast and Plans for Bloom Week
The sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the Pedrarruna Forest, surrounding the expansive manor. Inside, in the spacious kitchen, Theo, a man in his early twenties, moved with practiced efficiency. He was preparing a ramen dinner. He carefully measured ingredients – broth, noodles, various meats, and vegetables – demonstrating the precision expected of a head chef and restaurant owner. He simultaneously prepared several side dishes: a simple salad, a plate of gyoza, and a bowl of pickled vegetables. His movements were economical and precise, a long time of experience evident in his actions. Theo paused to adjust the flame beneath a pot of simmering broth; internally, he was pleased with the rich aroma filling the kitchen. He anticipated Aurora’s arrival. He hoped the meal would be a welcome treat after a long school day for his young sister.
Even though there was only the two of them as family, Theo made the effort to take care of her as much as any parent would even though he was only her brother Meanwhile, Aurora, a girl of 16 years old, was riding home with Christina (her personal driver), tired and somewhat hungry after a long day of exams. The car route took a longer path to avoid the rush hour traffic, passing near the edge of the Pedrarruna Forest. Even from a distance, she could almost faintly detect a delicious smell as she knew that her brother would be cooking dinner tonight; the scent of simmering broth and rich spices wafted from the family manor, making her stomach rumble slightly. Inside, Theo, oblivious to Aurora’s journey home, continued his preparations, meticulously arranging the finished dishes on a large wooden serving tray. Theo was still in the midst of cooking dinner when Sylph (the AI Butler of the manor) announced that Aurora’s car had just entered the property.
A few minutes later, a beautiful silver-haired teenager climbed the stairs from the underground garage, following the amazing scent coming from the kitchen.
"Tadaima!" Aurora’s voice rang through the manor, her eyes sparkling with mischief as she took in the mouthwatering spread. "I’m home, and just in time too! My stomach was about to start a revolution." She grinned at Theo, who was stirring the broth with a wooden spoon.
"Welcome back, little one." Theo’s voice was warm and affectionate as he turned to face his sister. "How were the exams? I hope they weren’t too brutal." He gestured towards semi-finished dishes, where it was visible that Theo was making a ramen feast with side dishes. "I thought we could indulge in some comfort food tonight. It’s been a while since we had a proper ramen feast."
Aurora’s eyes lit up at the sight of the food. "You know me too well, bro. Exams were intense, but this spread is exactly what I need to recharge. And your timing is impeccable as always." She took a seat at the table, inhaling the fragrant aromas with delight. "I’m starving, and this looks absolutely delicious."
"Well, I thought you might be hungry, so I made sure to prepare enough for both of us." Theo’s smile was gentle as he continued cooking. "But before we dig in, why don’t you go freshen up? Take a nice, relaxing shower while I finish cooking dinner. That way, dinner will be ready and waiting for you when you’re done."
Aurora nodded, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Deal. But don’t start eating without me or I’ll kick you!" she playfully threatened him before she headed off to take a shower and change clothes; She was desiring a long hot shower to wash off the long day she had today.
As Aurora ascended the stairs, Theo couldn’t help but smile. He knew how much his sister appreciated his culinary efforts, and he took pride in creating delicious meals for them to enjoy together.
In such a way, half an hour later, the dinner was finally ready, and Aurora descended the stairs wearing sweatpants and a T-shirt.
Theo had already placed the dishes on the dining table, so Aurora just needed to sit and eat.
As she looked at the delicious dishes that Theo had cooked, her eyes shone with excitement. "Hmm, everything looks so delicious, bro!" She said as she tried not to drool as she looked at the delicious dishes.
"I know!" Theo laughed, "Come on, let’s eat." He said as he sat down at the dining table.
Soon, the two siblings started their lovely dinner.
As they tucked into their ramen, Aurora couldn’t contain her excitement any longer. "So, how do you think I did on the exams?" she asked between mouthfuls, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. "I mean, I know I studied hard, but you know how tricky those teachers can be."
Theo, who was enjoying the savory broth, set down his chopsticks and gave his sister a warm smile. "Aurora, you’re one of the smartest people I know. I have no doubt you aced those exams. But even if you didn’t, it’s not the end of the world. Grades aren’t everything, you know?" He paused to slurp up some noodles, then continued, "The important thing is that you tried your best, and that’s all anyone can ask for."
Aurora felt a warm glow hearing her brother’s words. She knew he truly meant what he said. "Thanks, bro," she said softly. "I just want to make you proud. You’ve always taken such good care of me, and I want to show you that your efforts are paying off." She took a bite of her gyoza, savoring the crispy texture and the juicy flavor. "But enough about exams. Today I was talking with the girls about the Bloom Week next week. Are we going to the Fire Temple Festival this year?"
"Of course! It’s our tradition, and we can’t miss that." Theo replied with a smile as he served himself with a gyoza.
"I’m glad we’re going," Aurora said enthusiastically, slurping up the last of her noodles. "It’s been a while since we had a good festival, and I can’t wait to see the fire dancers. Also, I want to hang out with Ayia and the others. It’s been ages since we’ve all been together." She paused, a thoughtful look crossing her face. "You know, I was thinking... maybe we could do something special for Ayia. It’s been a while since she’s had a proper girls’ night out. What do you think, bro? Could we plan something fun for her and the gang?"
Theo, who had been quietly enjoying his meal, set down his chopsticks and considered the proposal. "That’s a great idea, Aurora. Ayia and I were actually talking about doing something for you and your friends. But a girls’ night out sounds perfect. We could also plan something fun and maybe even go on a little getaway. It would be a well-deserved break for everyone." He smiled at the thought, his eyes sparkling with amusement.
"Ooh, a getaway!" Aurora’s eyes lit up at the suggestion. "That would be amazing! We could all use a change of scenery. And it would be so much fun to plan something secret. I’m sure Ayia and the others would love it. We can make it a proper celebration." She paused, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. "And who knows, maybe we can even convince them to join us in some shenanigans. A little harmless fun never hurt anyone."
Just like that, the two siblings had a lovely dinner as they discussed what they should do on Bloom Week.