Helping Rieka

Kazuma followed after Rieka, hauling the large box in his arms. Rieka had not said anything since Kazuma had taken one of the boxes. She had seemed annoyed with him, so he wondered if she was giving him the silent treatment.

“So,” he began. “What are in these boxes?”

“Ingredients,” Rieka simply answered.

Kazuma waited a moment, in case she was going to say more. When she didn’t, Kazuma asked another question.

“Ingredients for what?”

“Cooking,” Rieka answered, again without elaborating. The tone of her voice hinted that she might just be shy.

“So, you're into cooking,” Kazuma asked to keep the conversation going.

“My sister is,” Rieka replied. “She is studying at a culinary college.”

“Oh, I see,” Kazuma said. “So, she still lives with you and parents?”

“No,” she clarified, seeming to open up a little bit. “I live with her. My parents are overseas.”

After about ten minutes, the two arrived at an apartment complex.

“I live on the second floor,” Rieka said, indicating the stairs as she spoke. The two made their way slowly up the stairs to the second floor, then walked until they reached an apartment that was in the middle of the hall.

“Thank you,” Rieka said. “I can take it from here.” I guess she doesn’t want me in her apartment, Kazuma thought.

“Excuse me,” a gentle voice said from behind Kazuma. Turning around, he was a young woman standing about a yard behind him. She had silver hair, done in a pony tail, down to her waist. Her face looked very similar to Rieka, but was not as stoic.

Rieka leaned to the side to see past Kazuma. “Hi sis.”

“Oh, Rieka. Is this a friend of yours?” the lady asked.

“Hi, I’m Kazuma Morisawa. I go to the same school as Rieka.”

“Nice to meet you, Kazuma. I’m Ulva, Rieka older sister.”

That’s an unusual name, Kazuma thought. Though Rieka was also a name he had never heard before either, so it’s not too surprising. As he thought, Ulva examined the box he was still holding. “Oh, you were able to pick them up,” she said. “Yeah,” Rieka simply replied. “Sorry, I didn’t realize they would be this big,” Ulva said while lifting one of her hands up in a gesture of apology.

“Let me help you two get these inside,” Ulva said as she slide past Kazuma towards the door.

“No, it’s fine,” Rieka quickly said, her face very slightly flushed. “I can take care of it, so you can go Kazuma.”

“Don’t be silly, Rieka,” Ulva said as she unlocked the door. “We should thank him properly and I would like to hear how you are doing at school.” Rieka opened her mouth to protest, but shortly closed it without saying anything. She lowered her head as she carried her box into the apartment. Kazuma, a bit nervous about what just happened swallowed and followed after her into the apartment.

Meanwhile, at a local hotel.

A young woman with light brown hair entered her hotel room. It was a small room with a single bed. Her luggage was neatly stacked off to the side. Locking the door behind her, she made her way to the bed and sat down. She opened an app on her phone and typed in a message.

Dowsing rods detected a spring. Please advise.