Chapitre 20: Playmate- II
They settled into their respective corners as Kurumi and Yuuta returned home, laughter echoing through the door. Alaric felt a sense of belonging wash over him, a warmth he hadn't experienced in so long.
"Hey, you two!" Yuuta called out as he stepped through the door, Kurumi right behind him, her arms laden with bags. "What have you been up to?"
Alaric straightened up, brushing his hands on his pants, suddenly feeling a bit shy under Yuuta's scrutinizing gaze. Mikasa, however, was unfazed. She jumped up from the low table where they had been sitting and rushed to her father, excitement bubbling over.
"We played outside, Dad! We climbed trees, and Alaric is super fast! He almost caught me!" She demonstrated with her arms, mimicking the chase, her eyes shining with enthusiasm.
"Is that so?" Yuuta raised an eyebrow, a proud smile creeping onto his face. "Seems like you've made a new friend, Alaric."
"Yeah," Alaric replied, his voice slightly unsteady. "Mikasa's really good at climbing trees."
"Is she?" Kurumi chimed in, placing the bags down with a soft thud. "That's wonderful! You must have had a great time." She looked at Alaric with a motherly warmth that felt both comforting and strange.
"It was fun," Alaric said, trying to keep his tone casual, though he could feel the heat rising in his cheeks. "We… we talked a lot."
"About what?" Yuuta asked, leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed. He seemed genuinely interested, a trait Alaric appreciated more than he expected.
"Just stuff," Alaric answered, unsure how to summarize the whirlwind of emotions and experiences that had unfolded between him and Mikasa. "Like… what we like to do. Games, climbing trees, and… other things."
Kurumi chuckled softly, exchanging a knowing look with her husband. "It sounds like you two have a lot in common already. That's great for both of you."
"Yeah!" Mikasa interjected, bouncing on her feet. "Alaric is going to be my friend forever, Mom!"
Alaric's heart swelled at her words, a warmth flooding through him. Forever. The idea felt surreal, like a dream he was afraid to wake up from.
"That's quite a promise," Yuuta said with a chuckle, ruffling Mikasa's hair playfully. "Friends like that are hard to come by. You should cherish it."
Mikasa nodded vigorously, her hair bouncing with the motion. "I will, Dad! Alaric is the best!"
Alaric couldn't help but smile at the praise, feeling a sense of connection blossom further. It was strange, being so quickly accepted into this family, especially after everything he had gone through.
Kurumi gestured toward the bags she had brought in. "I picked up some things for dinner. Why don't we all sit together and eat? I made some stew that I think you'll like, Alaric."
"Sure, I'd love that," Alaric replied, glancing at Mikasa, who was already eyeing the bags with excitement.
As they gathered around the dining table, the atmosphere shifted to a more comfortable intimacy. Alaric settled in, feeling the warmth of the hearth nearby, the flickering flames creating a cozy ambiance. Mikasa bounced in her seat, her enthusiasm palpable.
"What kind of games do you like to play, Alaric?" she asked, her eyes wide with curiosity. "I love playing pretend! We can be anyone we want!"
"Pretend?" Alaric echoed, a grin breaking across his face. "I used to play pretend a lot when I was younger. I would be a knight saving the day, or maybe even a hero!"
"Really?!" Mikasa exclaimed, her face lighting up. "You have to show me! We can be heroes together!"
"Absolutely!" Alaric chuckled, the thought bringing back memories of his childhood. "But you have to promise to let me save you if things get tough."
"Deal!" Mikasa replied, her expression serious. "But you have to promise to be brave!"
Alaric nodded, his heart swelling with a warmth he hadn't felt in years. "I promise."
The stew Kurumi had prepared was served, and they dug in, the savory aroma filling the room. Alaric savored each bite, the flavors a comforting reminder of home.
"This is really good," he said, his mouth full. "I haven't had anything like this in a long time."
Kurumi smiled, her eyes twinkling with pride. "Thank you! Cooking is one of my favorite things to do. I love making meals for my family."
"And friends!" Mikasa added, her voice cheerful. "Alaric is now part of our family, right?"
"Of course," Yuuta said, his tone warm and inviting. "As long as you want to be here, Alaric, you're welcome to stay."
Alaric's heart raced at the unspoken promise in Yuuta's words. A family. A place where he could belong. The thought felt almost foreign to him, and yet, it was a dream he had harbored for far too long.
"I… I'd like that," Alaric finally replied, his voice steady. "I'd like that very much."
As they continued to eat, the conversation flowed effortlessly. Yuuta shared stories from his own childhood, the laughter of family filling the room. Mikasa chimed in with her own tales, each one more animated than the last, her excitement infectious.
Alaric listened, captivated by the warmth of their dynamic. It was a family, real and whole, and he found himself wanting to be a part of it, wanting to hold onto this feeling of safety.
Eventually, the meal came to an end, and Kurumi started clearing the table. "Mikasa, why don't you help me with the dishes?" she suggested.
"Okay!" Mikasa jumped up, glancing at Alaric. "You can help too, right?"
"Uh, sure, I can help," Alaric said, feeling a bit sheepish but willing to contribute.
"Let's make it a team!" Mikasa said, her voice bright. "We'll wash, and you can dry! It'll be fun!"
Alaric couldn't help but smile at her enthusiasm. "Alright, I'm in!"
As they worked together, Alaric found himself laughing with Mikasa, the rhythmic sounds of water and dishes filling the air. He felt light-hearted, an unfamiliar sensation after so many heavy days of solitude.
"Do you think you'll stay here for a long time?" Mikasa asked suddenly, her expression earnest as she rinsed a plate.
"Um, I hope so," Alaric replied, glancing at her. "I really like it here, and I like you and your family."
Her eyes lit up at his words, and she turned to him, a smile breaking through. "I like you too, Alaric! We'll have lots of fun together, just you wait!"
"Yeah," he said, his voice filled with sincerity. "I believe that."
They finished washing the dishes, and Mikasa led him back to the living room, where they settled onto the floor, exhaustion creeping in as the night deepened.
"Can we play a game before bed?" Mikasa asked, her eyes wide with anticipation.
"Sure, what do you have in mind?" Alaric replied, eager to prolong the evening.
"Let's play pretend! We can be explorers in a magical land!" she suggested, her hands gesturing wildly.
"Explorers?" Alaric asked, laughing. "What do we explore?"
"Anything! There could be dragons, treasure, and even hidden caves! We'll have to use our imagination!" Mikasa declared, her excitement infectious.
"Alright, then," Alaric said, feeling his spirit lift. "I'll be the brave knight, and you can be the fearless explorer!"
Mikasa nodded vigorously, a grin spreading across her face. "Let's go, brave knight!"
They began weaving a story, their voices filling the room as they crafted a world of adventure together. Alaric felt the boundaries he had built around himself start to dissolve, replaced by laughter and shared dreams.
As their stories unfolded, time slipped away unnoticed. It wasn't until they both yawned simultaneously, the exhaustion finally catching up with them, that they decided it was time for bed.
"Okay, we'll continue our adventure tomorrow!" Mikasa declared, stretching out her arms.
"Definitely," Alaric agreed, feeling a sense of warmth wrap around him.
They exchanged goodnights, Mikasa settling into her bed while Alaric found a spot on the floor nearby, the gentle sound of her breathing lulling him into a state of calm.
As he closed his eyes, he thought about the day, the laughter and the warmth of the family he had only just begun to know.
For the first time in a long while, Alaric felt a flicker of hope. Maybe this was the beginning of something new, something good.
He drifted off to sleep with a smile on his face, dreaming of adventures yet to come.
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A/ N: Give me some good AOT Fanfic recommendation.
I wanna see what I can do with those.
Note:- Comment in the chapter.
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