17 The Hand of a Dreamer (1/2)

Soon after, Yukari decided to walk with Arata home that day. Attori would come, but she wanted to practice for Dance Class so she could wow him on Wednesday. However, Ruby offered to give them a ride home, and it was nothing Yukari would want to miss. Riding a luxury car was quite in her bucket list. Since it was out of goodwill, and that Ruby was a very close friend of the king, they agreed and got home faster than they planned. The school queen also picked up the dishes from yesterday, and left with a kiss on Arata's lips.

The king's right hand was advised to be not moved or used for a few days, and so Yukari volunteered to make him food for dinner as long as he needed her to do so. She was left to her devices in the kitchen while Arata was spending some time in the forum, typing down with only one hand since his hand was bandaged into one cup.

He posted in his own post, disregarding most of the other replies in it. ”I hereby declare Devin's tips as absolute! Laughing emoticon. A few items saved me from Attori's Jello Slash with only 5 HP remaining. One-shot-kill is real.” It was followed by a barrage of laughing-crying emoticons.

Devin posted with a bowing emoticon next to the crown one.

”I hate how that diluted ketchup over there kept on hiding things unless Arata opens a post and ask! We should have succeeded, too!” Horsepower replied again, as if picking a fight with the dataminer. ”If he was a route, he would be Attori's!”

”Hey, now, don't be like that.” Devin replied with a line of differently colored smiley, from yellow to green to blue. ”It's only out here because Arata said I post it here. I have no intention of telling you guys directly.”

”By the decree of the king, you shall tell us everything!” Mumumu replied with crown emoticons and some devil laughters. The same combination of emoticons were posted by Botan.

”These people think so highly of me...” Arata whispered to himself as he struggled to keep up with their conversation. He tried to match their speed with one hand and posted. ”Laughing emoticons. Whew, you're now more popular than me, Devin! Devil laughters.”

”Borrowing this from Pantsu.” A barrage of sweat emoticons started the next reply Devin gave as an answer. ”OP one, I only want to serve you, though.” The next reply was a barrage of laughing-crying emoticons.

Horsepower answered with some sweats as well. ”Ew. Someone wants to be Arata's date-able.”

”Kiss emoticon! Kiss emoticon! I love you, big brother (at) TheKing Arata!” Devin replied a joke to which most had replied with 'LOL' and laughing crying emoticons.

”Don't call me big brother; you're older than me!” Arata had to shut him down even though he was cracking so loud, Yukari even knocked on his door.

”The little sister trope!? You gotta be kidding me!” Horsepower sent in a line of growling devils.

Nothing productive happened in the forum. It was only filled with their chitchat since there was no public chat in the game. For some reasons, Arata noticed that even Horsepower was joining their antics despite not liking anyone of them. His other friends must have stopped playing the game, leaving him on his own so he had to yap like a stray dog to be adopted. It was unnecessary if Arata was asked; but due to his bad reputation, he could not be blamed.

Ring! Ring! Arata's phone started ringing again, and the man decided to take the phone call. It was from Keiko, who he had not seen every since the stabbing incident. He greeted the caller, who answered with a sobbing voice.

”Arata, can I come see you today? Is anyone else around?” Keiko almost whispered in an inaudible voice, but the king managed to hear her. ”I want to talk to you...”

”Yukari is here, but don't worry about it. She was just as shocked as you with what happened.” He gave her a reassuring tone. ”She won't do anything bad if you won't do anything not nice. Even Attori wants to talk to you about your behavior. Both of them knows you, and they want to help out if there's something bothering you.” He paused and smiled through the phone. ”I- want to help you out.”

Silence came from her end of the line, before she hung up the call. Arata pulled the phone away so he could look at the screen before getting off the computer. He went downstairs and saw Yukari stirring the soup in the casserole.

”Smells like good food!” He greeted her and raced to her side to get a whiff of the stew.

”It's just meat-potato stew.” She frowned and pouted, before looking at the white ball of a hand he had. ”Can you eat with just one hand? Do you want me to feed you?” Yukari asked with a faint blush. ”You didn't eat lunch earlier, too, so you must be starving.”

”Feed me, mother!” Arata flashed a teasing grin before getting smacked by his best friend. He rubbed his head and hummed. ”Yukari, Keiko might drop by later. Just focus on feeding me, okay?”

”Well, if she trashes my stew, I'm cooking her instead.” Yukari grumbled, sighing at the man's kindness to his girls. She could not complain anymore, now that she had become one of them.

Dinner had come, and Keiko was still out of sight. Arata was being fed by Yukari using the same spoon and chopstick she was using. The television was on, the news covering random events happening around. Then again, no matter how Arata squinted, the screen was too blurry to see. It was not like he needed it in the first place.

His attention came to the girl who was so focused on the news, she left her chopstick in her mouth. She was not making a sound at all before she noticed she had to eat. Yukari's eyes widened as she remembered about Arata and his temporary disability. She pouted again and began feeding him rice and the small meat chunks in the stew.

[The date-able had accepted your gift: Spoon-feed Me! You have additional 50 points! Secret Admirer Ginmachi Yukari now has 48% Affection Rate! Congratulations!]