Kiriai breathed out on her hands, watching the water vapor forming in the cold air. She’d just gotten off the city bus and was walking down the street, a couple blocks from the apartment. It was not that late in the day, only about 13:00; Time she would have spent studying at college before now she just had to spend at home. She passed by a couple joggers on the sidewalk, and there was the occasional car driving past, but otherwise the scene was vacant. Winter had just started, and the cold seemingly kept everyone indoors.

For her own part, Kiriai appreciated the cold. Last summer had been far too hot, and the cold was just more bearable. Plus, if it was cold enough, she’d have a nice snowy December, and that would be nice. It just makes it feel more cozy when you get home, anyways.

And thinking of ‘home’, there it was- at least for now. She stopped in front of the apartment, jangling her key in her pocket before climbing up the stairs and unlocking the door. This was the first time she would be at the appartment alone; Her sister wouldn't be home for… Four whole hours, huh? Well, I guess plenty of time to study, anyways.

But first, there was lunch. She wasn’t that hungry, but it was a good idea to get a snack before studying; especially since she didn't usually like to eat in the afternoon, so it would typically be the last meal of the day for her. So, she strolled over to the fridge and opened it, only to make a sigh of disappointment.

…Right, of course there’s nothing here. I only picked up enough for breakfast this morning. She shook her head, unsure what she had expected. Shutting the refrigerator door, she gets her laptop out and sets it up on the kitchen counter, navigating over to her bank account to check her finances.

Should be able to afford a little bit for groceries. Gonna need to take more commissions, though. Kiriai groaned. She still had a couple that she really should have finished yesterday, but had instead spent the whole day just lazing about at the new place.

Well, better get some work on them done before I go shopping, or it’ll never get done. Kiriai sighs as she thinks this to herself and, nodding in affirmation to her own thought process, rummages through her luggage until she finds her drawing pad and, hooking it up to her computer, gets to work on the one she was closer to finishing; A drawing of someones DnD character, which she had already finished the first pass on and just needed to edit based on the client’s request.

She worked slowly, only half-focused, undoing her changes occasionally as she reviews the clients notes. Fortunately, there wasn't too much more work to do, so she finished it up and forwards it to the client in about an hour, yawning and stretching. Alright, just one more. I think I can justify going to get groceries now, though.

So, after checking the local map on her computer, she went and grabbed her wallet and put on her coat and hat, swinging the door open and- double checking she had her key- strolling out into the cold.

[...]

It is 16:53 by the time that Kiya arrives home, opening the door with a tired sigh, but brightening up as she saw Kiriai, sitting hunched over her laptop at the kitchen counter.

“Gooood afternoon! And how’s my favorite sister?” Kiya announced cheerily, sweeping over to where Kiriai was and throwing her arms around her shoulders, which made her little sister blush in embarrassment and shrink in place.

“Just doing some studying, how was work?” Kiriai responded, meekly, as she ducked out of Kiya’s arms. Her drawing tablet was plugged in but positioned off to the side and turned off, so she wasn’t using it just then. Kiya wanders over to the fridge and swings it open, looking for leftovers, but then turned on her heel and looked at Kiriai with a chiding expression. “Kiri! I told you, it’s my job to pay for you while you’re here, you can’t afford buying all this food while you have school! I mean I get that you needed to buy lunch but you should have let me buy the rest of the groceries.” Kiya scolded, narrowing her brow.

Kiriai started and retreated away a bit. “Well, you can’t afford it either! And besides, I got paid for a commission today, I can afford to spend at least a little!” Kiriai protested.

Kiya huffed and crossed her arms in a judgemental stance, opening her mouth to continue scolding before suddenly stopping. …I sound just like our mother. She realized, letting her arms drop down to her sides and slouching in place. “Alright, well, at least let me make you dinner to pay you back.” She murmurs, sullenly, opening the fridge and looking through the shelves.

Kiriai blinked up at her, the tension of an argument unexpectedly vanishing. It was such a strange reaction, that honestly made her feel even more concerned than before. “U-um, sis, if it's really that big of a deal, I’ll make sure to only buy enough for myself going forward…” She murmured, backpedaling out of concern for Kiya’s reaction.

Kiya looked over at her, looking oddly weary as she flopped a wrapped up tray of chicken thighs down onto the counter and opened it with a knife. “...No, it’s fine. You can make your own decisions. Just make sure that you keep enough to live on, alright? And if you ever need any help paying for classes, don’t hesitate to ask me, ok?” Kiya absently replied, as she rummaged through the very small quantity of kitchenware she had on hand to grab her only frying pan.

“A-alright.” Kiriai meekly responded, unsurely. Just what had gotten into Kiya, all of a sudden?

But that was neither here nor there, Kiya had said she wanted to make dinner, and she didn’t want to distract her any more than she already had- plus, she still had some studying to do, so she went back to try and focus on her work.

[...]

Kiriai leaned over backwards from her laptop, her vision becoming blurry momentarily as it defocused before she rubbed her eyes. It was difficult to get back to work on studying after she was distracted by Kiya getting back, and she’d barely even gotten started before then- having spent most of the day prior to Kiya getting home doing a mixture of lazing about doing nothing in particular and drawing. I’m gonna fall behind in my classes if this keeps up… Kiriai thought to herself, frustrated. Well, nothing for it. I might as well just try to relax until after dinner, I won’t be able to get focused in that timeframe. But after that, I have to focus.

Having said that, that was easier said than done; There was nothing that stressed her out quite like feeling like she wasn't doing something she had to get done, and then that stress only made it harder to focus still, compounding the problem further. But of course, if she kept focusing on that… Well, she could keep making it worse and worse by overthinking it endlessly, so she just shook her head and tried to clear her thoughts as she stood up from the table abruptly and went over to the kitchen to see how dinner was coming.

“Why isn’t it changing color, why isn’t it changing color-” Kiya was muttering frantically, stooped over a pan of rice, mixed veggies, and chicken, a spoon in one hand while the other was firmly rested on the handle of the pan, making a bit of a mess as bits of rice left the pan while she tried to toss the mixture to keep it from burning on the bottom.

“Having trouble?” Kiriai asked, coming up behind her and resting against the counter. Honestly, with how frantic Kiya’s movements were, she was surprised there wasn't more of the food strewn across the stove; at least most of the meal was still in the wok.

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“Kiri!” Kiya jumped a little, surprised. “My am I glad to see you! The rice still doesn't taste or look right, I can’t figure out why, it should be done by now! And it’s getting stuck to the sides-”

Kiriai takes the spoon from Kiya and tastes it, blinking. “Um, sis..? Did you add any sauce?”

Kiya blinked at Kiriai, blankly. “...Sauce?”

Kiriai giggles and takes the wok from Kiya, turning off the stoves and moving the wok where it’s cool. “Here… Ah, you didn’t even open the sesame oil, either! Sis, you know you’re supposed to add sesame oil and soy to fried rice, right? That's why your rice isn't the right color.”

Kiya crosses her arms and looks away sheepishly. “I thought it just changed color while cooking…” she mumbled, quietly.

Kiriai shook her head, making a ‘tut tut’ sound as she took over, adding sauce and oil and stirring the contents of the wok vigorously. At least the cast iron wok wasn’t too sticky, and the fried rice was still quite palatable. “You should’ve just let me make it, you know I’ve made this before-”

Kiya leans back against the fridge, staring away and down. “Sorry… I just wanted to make something nice for yo- us.” She stammered as she corrected herself, before shooting a wary look at Kiriai. “Plus, I’ll need to learn to cook for myself if I want to save money when you’re not around anymore…”

Kiriai ponders for a moment. “Well, you can still have my cooking whenever you come around, you know. I’ll make something special for you.”

Kiya tightened her grip on her own arms and looked at Kiriai, balefully, before shaking her head and sighing. “...Come on, let’s just go eat dinner.”

Kiriai frowns as she watches Kiya dish up two plates of fried rice, with microwaved brussel sprouts on the side, and carries them away to the living room. Guess she isn’t going to take me up on that offer, then.

[...]

Thankfully for both of them, the uncomfortable energy had dissipated by the time that the sisters had sat down. Kiya leaned back, slumping down in the chair as she relaxed and stretched out her arms, rolling her neck, before twirling the fork in her hands with an unnecessarily elaborate flourish. “Well now, time to eat! Just too bad I couldn’t surprise you with my cooking-” Kiya pronounces, sounding halfway proud and halfway sheepish.

“You did fine, Kiya, you just gotta look up the ingredients beforehand. I remember when we were kids you set off the smoke alarm every time you tried to cook, so you’ve definitely made progress since then.” Kiriai stated encouragingly, to which Kiya puffed out her chest proudly.

“Yeah well, I always do my absolute bestest when I’m spoiling my baby sis.” Kiya replied, teasingly smirking as Kiriai blushed, Kiya reaching forward to pinch Kiriai’s cheek, giggling.

“Siiiis, stooop- You’re always treating me like a kid. And you’re only a couple hours older than me, you don’t have to call me ‘baby sis’...” Kiriai protested, though she didn’t look too offended.

Kiya shrugs. “Well, what can I say? I gotta spoil you while I have you around.” She cocks her head at Kiriai a little. “But you do have a point, my little sis is all grown up- You’re further in your classes than I ever got, that’s for sure. I guess I’m not allowed to spoil her anymore.” Kiya shrugs, exuding slyness with a hint of wistfulness underneath.

“I mean, I don’t know if I said that.” Kiriai mumbled, taking a bite of her food. “It is a nice change of pace, I guess. I mean, I haven’t seen much of you in a long while.” She groans, slumping down in her chair “But I still have so much to do, ugh. I mean, thanks for making dinner, even if I had to give a little help, it’s hard to find time for cooking in between studying and trying to make ends meet.” She awkwardly finished her jumble of thoughts, gratefully.

“You cooked for us lots when we were kids, it's about time I return the favor.” Kiya replies. “But alright, I get the message. Don’t worry, I’ll give you plenty of time to study. Do you want me to stay in my room the rest of the night? I can keep the volume down.”

“No!” Kiriai replied, reflexively. “I-I mean, yes, I mean… I don’t know.” She backpedaled, throwing her hands up. “Ugh, I mean it would be a nice change of pace from back home with Riley.” Their older sister would keep her up for hours most days at home, with her never-ending tirade of paranoid accusations at anyone who beat her in any game. It was part of the reason Kiriai didn’t like competing, probably, given how any time she did well would just be met with accusations of cheating.

“Kiriai, it’s fine, really. I can just put on some headphones, listen to music, you won’t know I’m here. Honest.” Kiya said, encouragingly. “Like I’ve told you before, I just want you to be comfortable here.”

Kiriai clenched her jaw, frustratedly. She knew she should take Kiya’s offer, especially with exam’s coming up, but she hated the feeling of keeping her from relaxing in her own house. Not to mention, I don’t want her to go… “And I want you to be comfortable here, too. You’re not going to be locked up in your room with your own apartment off limits on my behalf, ok?”

Kiya held her arms up in mock surrender. “Alright, alright, I can see you’re serious.” She laughs. “I’ll just relax , but still, try to focus on your studies. I don't want your exams weighing on my head.”

Kiriai makes a sound of affirmation, surprised Kiya had given up so easily, but not wanting to make her second-guess herself by questioning it. So instead, she sets her laptop back up and gets back to work trying to study.

Despite her best attempts, her mind swirls with too many thoughts, and she can't seem to bring herself to focus- every sentence she reads, her mind drifts off and thinks of something else. Come on, work, damnit- She hissed frustratedly, as if she could simply order her brain to obey her. She knew from experience that it would never work, of course, but it was all she could really do. Reluctantly, she pressed the play button on her video- Even if she would barely internalize any of it, it was better than sitting there doing nothing.

[...]

Surreptitiously, Kiya withdrew to the corner of the room, looking at Kiriai to make sure she was working on her studies before disappearing into her own room. Sure, she had agreed to not restrain herself to her room, but that was just because she knew Kiriai would never accept it; She had no intention of doing anything that could distract her sister from her studies. So, she dug through her luggage to find her headphones and slipped them onto her head, climbing up onto her bed to watch some videos.

While she did, she pondered the situation. She didn’t think it would be easy to convince Kiriai to stay on the bed after she had woken her up that morning- Even if guilt wasn't the reason, Kiriai seemed rather uncomfortable with how close they had been. She groaned, looking up at the ceiling. It seemed absurd to let Kiriai sleep on the couch out there, when she had invited her here… But at the same time, if she argued over the point Kiriai might just leave then and there. And now that Kiriai knew how little money she had, there was no way she would let her get away with buying another bed.

Why does everything always have to be so difficult? Kiya wondered. She’d moved out, gotten away from the rest of her relatives, but now she felt scared of her sister leaving every day. She wasn’t as sociable as Kiriai, she didn’t have much in the way of other friends, once Kiriai left it would be just her here. I’d have to go to family gatherings and see my worthless mother if I wanted to see her anymore. The thought made her shudder; She’d given up so much, paid all of her carefully made life savings, just to be here on her own, and now the thought of truly being on her own was giving her pause. For a moment, she wondered if she’d made a mistake coming here.

Well, it’s too late to back out now. I won’t go crawling back to my ‘family’, even if I’m left all alone. The thought left a deep hollow feeling in her stomach, but she wouldn’t go back on it, not after sacrificing this much just to be here, dropping out of college and taking up some simple labor job to make ends meet. Whatever it took to be independent, away from those people who claimed to love but showed no care for her actual feelings.

It was just too much. Even outside of the situation with Kiriai, she also had to worry about making ends meet and figuring out what she was going to do with her life, now that she was on her own without anyone to tell her what to do. Sighing, she navigated over to her finance spreadsheets and got to work figuring out how to pay her bills.