Chapter 87: A Fun Day.
Chapter 87: A Fun Day.
After leaving Dun’s office, Kael made his way back to his mother’s hospital ward.
Pushing open the door, he found Lyra exactly where he had left her. She sat quietly beside the hospital bed, gently holding their mother’s hand as if hoping the warmth of her own would somehow reach the unconscious woman.
Hearing the door open, Lyra looked over her shoulder and smiled.
"Done already?"
"Yeah."
Kael walked over and stood beside her, his gaze naturally falling onto the frail figure lying on the bed.
Nothing had visibly changed.
The monitors continued to beep rhythmically while the machines quietly performed their duties.
Even so...
The atmosphere felt different.
For the first time in years, that room no longer felt like a place where one merely waited for death.
It had become a place of hope.
The two siblings remained there for a while longer.
Sometimes they talked.
Sometimes they simply sat in silence.
Neither of them minded.
Eventually, after spending enough time with their mother, they finally decided to leave.
Stepping out of the hospital building, Kael instinctively reached for his phone.
"I’ll book a transit."
Before he could finish, Lyra suddenly reached over and gently stopped his hand.
"Hm?"
Kael looked at her in confusion.
She stared at him for a moment before tilting her head.
"You’re planning on going home already?"
"What else is there to do?" Kael asked.
Lyra looked at him as if he had just asked the world’s most ridiculous question.
"Duh."
"We’re celebrating."
She spread her arms dramatically.
"Mom finally has a chance to recover."
She narrowed her eyes at him.
"Don’t tell me you’re cold-hearted enough not to celebrate something this important."
Kael couldn’t help letting out a helpless laugh.
"Okay, okay."
"You didn’t have to guilt-trip me."
"Let’s celebrate."
Lyra immediately pumped a fist into the air.
"Yes!"
Her excitement was so infectious that even Kael found himself smiling.
"So..." he asked. "What’s the plan?"
Lyra placed a finger under her chin and pretended to think deeply.
"Hmmm..."
"It’s almost lunchtime."
"So food comes first."
"After that..."
She shrugged.
"We’ll just see where the day takes us."
Kael chuckled.
"Sounds like a solid plan."
Without another word, he booked another transit.
This time...
Not toward home.
But toward one of the best restaurants around.
The ride itself was relatively quiet.
Well...
At least on Kael’s side.
Lyra, on the other hand, chatted almost the entire journey.
She pointed out random buildings through the window, talked about things she wanted to try someday, brought up embarrassing childhood memories, and even laughed at jokes that weren’t particularly funny.
Kael simply listened.
Occasionally replying.
Occasionally smiling.
He understood why she was acting this way.
Today wasn’t just another ordinary day.
It was the first day in years that their future no longer looked hopeless.
Not long afterward, the transit came to a stop outside the restaurant.
The building wasn’t particularly luxurious.
It couldn’t compare to the extravagant establishments found in the Tier One Districts.
Still...
For a restaurant located in a Tier Three District, it was exceptionally well maintained.
The exterior carried a modern design while the interior combined warm lighting with polished wooden furnishings that gave the entire place a comfortable atmosphere.
The aroma of freshly prepared food greeted them the moment they stepped inside.
After finding a table, the two quickly placed their orders.
The food arrived surprisingly fast.
Plate after plate was set before them, filling the table with delicious aromas.
Neither sibling held back.
Between the conversation and the laughter, they enjoyed one of the most relaxing meals they had shared in a very long time.
Once lunch was over, Lyra wasn’t finished.
"Shopping next."
Kael raised an eyebrow.
"I should’ve guessed."
The rest of the afternoon quickly turned into a shopping spree.
Although Lyra remained as considerate as ever and constantly insisted she didn’t need expensive things, Kael ignored almost every protest she made.
He quietly paid for it before she could stop him.
Eventually, Lyra gave up trying to argue.
"If you keep spending like this," she complained while carrying another shopping bag, "you’re going to spoil me."
Kael looked completely unconcerned.
"I think it’s already too late for that."
Lyra puffed out her cheeks.
"You’re impossible."
After shopping came the arcade.
Unlike before, this time Lyra insisted on competing against Kael in nearly every game they could find.
Racing games.
Basketball machines.
Shooting games.
Rhythm games.
Anything that looked interesting.
To Kael’s surprise...
She was ridiculously competitive.
Whenever she won, she’d proudly celebrate as though she had defeated some legendary boss.
Whenever she lost...
She demanded an immediate rematch.
By the time they left the arcade, both of them were carrying armfuls of plush toys and random prizes they had won from various machines.
The fun didn’t stop there.
They wandered around the district without any real destination.
Trying street snacks.
Watching random performances.
Stopping at interesting stores.
Taking pictures.
Laughing over the smallest things.
It wasn’t some grand adventure.
Nor was it filled with unforgettable spectacles.
It was simply...
A normal day.
Something both siblings hadn’t experienced in far too long.
Time slipped by almost unnoticed.
Only when the evening sun began sinking below the horizon, bathing the streets in shades of orange and crimson, did they finally decide to head home.
Kael booked one last transit.
The ride back felt much quieter than before.
Lyra leaned comfortably against the window, looking outside while absentmindedly humming to herself.
She looked tired.
But happy.
Before long, the familiar apartment building came into view.
The two climbed upstairs before finally arriving home.
The moment they stepped inside, exhaustion washed over both of them.
Even Kael had to admit...
Today had been surprisingly tiring.
Lyra stretched lazily before letting out a long yawn.
"I’m heading to bed."
She turned around and waved.
"Goodnight."
Kael smiled.
"Goodnight."
"Sleep well."
Lyra had already begun walking toward her room when Kael suddenly called out again.
"And Lyra."
She stopped and turned around.
"Hm?"
Kael looked at her for a brief moment before smiling.
"...Thanks."
"Today’s been nice."
For a second...
Lyra simply blinked.
Then a bright smile slowly spread across her face.
"Hehe."
"What can I say?"
"I’m your cute and considerate little sister after all."
Kael immediately felt goosebumps crawl across his skin.
The words sounded unbelievably cringeworthy.
Ironically...
He was usually the one who teased her using those exact words.
Now that she had thrown them back at him...
He finally understood how she must have felt every single time.
Still...
He couldn’t help smiling.
"You really are."
Lyra grinned proudly before disappearing into her room.
The apartment became quiet once again.
Kael remained standing in the living room for several moments, staring at the closed bedroom door.
A soft sigh escaped his lips.
"I’m... truly lucky."
He wasn’t dense.
The celebration...
The shopping...
The arcade...
Every stop they had made throughout the day...
It hadn’t been because Lyra simply wanted to have fun.
She had noticed the change in his mood back at the hospital.
She had seen through the smile he tried to put on.
And instead of asking difficult questions...
She had quietly chosen to spend the entire day trying to cheer him up.
Kael lowered his head, a faint smile lingering on his lips.
He truly had been blessed with an incredible sister.
With that thought lingering in his mind, he slowly turned around and made his way toward his own room.