Thank you

The sun had begun rising in the sky. The birds were up early singing their morning songs and people had already begun to step out of their homes, preparing for the long day of labour ahead of them. In one such houses, a young blond girl lay on her couch facing the ceiling with an empty void in her eyes. Her hands covering a letter over her stomach.

'I've gone out to buy food. Rest for now. Remember that I am here for you.

-Asuka.'

She stood up and walked around the first floor of the house looking at different spots and reminiscing about the moments she shared with her parents. Moments like the countless conversations held at the dinner table. The corner where she fell and lost her first tooth and her mother consoled her. The The bottom of the staircase where she dropped and broke a vase and was scolded by her father. She then looked back at the couch where all three of them sat in the evenings, and her dad would tell stories of legendary heroes and foul villains and the rise and fall of empires.

Her father would always to the right of her, and her mother always to the left. There was a constant assault on her nostrils with the scent of fish from their jobs. The smell was never good, but after so many nights she couldn't help but associate that smell with those precious moments.

Amelia's head turned towards the window and she looked outside towards the backyard. Two small graves could be seen right outside of the forest. The girl made her way to the backyard and walked up to the graves. She knelt down and place her right hand on the one for her father and the left hand on her mothers.

She remained quiet and unmoving with a blank expression for a long time until a voice coming from behind called out to her.

"Hey Amelia. I bought some fish and somw other stuff and I...uh... I'm gonna try my best to cook a meal okay."

The girl did not look back. The only showing that she even heard what Asuka said was the slight nod in acknowledgement.

"It...uh...may not be very good. Or...more like not good at all. I've never, really been good at cooking," Asuka said while scratching the back of her head im emba. Then she continued, "But I promise to try my hardest."

Asuka tried to sound uplifting, but due to Amelia's stoic expression, it only came off as awkward. Not sure of what else to say Asuka walked back inside the house.

Amelia remained by her parents graves for a while before she smelled something burning inside the house. Thinking something had caught fire, she quickly stood up and ran inside to see what was wrong.

"Oh...um...h...heeyyy Amelia."

Amelia for a only a moment forgot about her parents and all the sorrow she felt. Asuka was in the kitchen trying to make some food with the ingredients she got from the market. Key word 'trying'.

"Now I know this looks bad, but I promise I've got this completely under control."

As if planned, the pan she was cooking on ignited as soon as she finished her sentence and an orange flame launched from the skillet spooking Asuka.

"Okay maybe not completely," she said with with an embarrassed laugh.

Amelia hadn't moved from her for a couple seconds until she lurched over with her hands covering her stomach. Her body also started to convulse with little sounds coming out of her mouth. Asuka was at first concerned for the girl, her concerned look quickly turned into one of irritation.

Unable to contain it any longer, Amelia released all the laughter she tried to contain like a faulty dam finally breaking down. She went on for an embarrassingly long amount of time.

"Y...you weren't joking when you said you weren't good at cooking."

She walked over to where Asuka was cooking.

"Well, it's a good thing you didn't waste all the all the fishes. I can take over the cooking. You should wash the vegetables and set up the table."

Asuka nodded without hesitation and immediately stepped away from the stove and left Amelia to cook the fish.

~

After half an hour, everything had been cooked. The two girls sat on opposite sides of the table. Infront of them, lay fried fish with lemons on top, cooked asparagus, and rice covered in sause.

"This might be the most luxurious meal I've ever had," said the young blond.

"I've only had this a couple times. It's a meal my sister and granny made whenever I performed well in my training. It's one of my personal favorites."

"That's cool. I don't really have a favorite meal or anything."

"Really? Not one that was special to you in some way?"

Amelia thought for a moment before speaking again.

"Well, I guess it would have to be the last one I had with them."

The upbeat atmosphere then shifted back to a somber one.

"I'm sorry Amelia. I should've known what I asked was insensitive."

Amelia chuckled at Asuka's apology.

"You know, you have a bad habit of saying sorry a lot."

"S-sorry about that," she responded with a small laugh.

She then stiffened in realization of what she said and looked at Amelia who had an amused expression.

"She what I mean."

"Y-yeah."

"If you keep that up, people will take advantage of that."

"I know, but it's hard not to be that way."

"Mmh. I think I can guess why."

Having touched Asuka's contra, she had first hand experience of the kind of fear it would put into people.

"Knowing her, the idea of people disliking or fearing her is something she would hate," thought Amelia.

After a small silence, Asuka began to speak.

"So what do you plan on doing now?"

"I'm not sure really. I technically have been able to live on m y own for a good while now. I guess I could go back to that."

"I have a better idea."

Amelia looked up to Asuka with a look full of intrigue.

"How about you move into my granny's orphanage."

The blonds eyes widened in shock at Asuka's suggestion.

"Last I checked, my old room was still free. I'd be more than glad to let you use it."

"You really would do that for me?"

"Of course! What kind of friend would I be if I didn't help another friend out," Asuka said excitedly, "I'm sure granny and Martha would be so happy to have you."

Amelia was left with her mouth agape. But then gave a small, sincere smile as a tear fell from her cheek.

"Thank you Asuka. Thank you so much."