Middle Child Syndrome - Chapter 144

Chapter 144: Ch 144: Like a sibling
Rika had every intention of skipping the dinner that day. But when it came time to lie down and close her eyes, her stomach protested, and Rika ended up heading down.

The people around the dinner table looked calm and happy. The atmosphere was as it usually was – happy and smiling.

It made the tension in Rika’s body disappear, and she felt her worries melting.

“I made your favourite today, Rika. Hare, eat a lot.”

The dorm lady placed Rika’s favourite dishes in front of her, and somehow, it felt like a bribe in Rika’s mind.

Not that she minded the bribe, but she could not help but question why she was getting this treatment.

“Is today a special day or something? I don’t think most of these items were on the menu today.”

Rika asked the dorm lady with a tired sigh.

Confronting Charon earlier had taken a lot out of Rika, and she had not even realised it until now.

Rika finally felt exhausted, sluggish, and out of energy. Yawns interrupted her speech and her eating actions.

“Your school will start tomorrow, so I wanted something special today. I did the same for Fey and Fluorite’s first college day last year.”

The dorm lady made it seem like it wasn’t a big deal, but it felt a lot for Rika.

She had seldom had her favourite food prepared by their family’s servants, and when they did, it could have been done better.

The effort those people put into Rika’s special meal was not even 1/10th of what was being put in today.

“I tried my best to make these dishes. But since this was my first time making dim sums, they might not be as good as you are used to getting.”

Seeing how Rika’s standard for eating was a convenience store and side stalls, the bar could have been higher.

Rika took the first bite, and the flavours exploded on her tongue. It was juicy and left Rika wanting more.

“H-How is it? I tried my best to make something edible. Do you like it?”

The dorm lady looked nervously at Rika, eager to hear her reaction to her food.

“This is good. I don’t think I’ve had better in my life. There is no way this is the first time you made this.”

Rika’s praise was genuine. This looked different than the work of someone making something for the first time.

The dorm lady let out an amused chuckle at Rika’s words, and pride filled her face.

“Ah, but this is my first time. I am good enough to get it right on the first try.”

The bragging was awkward but charming. Rika even chuckled at that awkward pose and the grin.

“I should take some of this up for Charon to try. She said she did not want to eat but would be hungry soon. Snacking at night can be harmful to her health.”

Rika commented, and the atmosphere suddenly turned stiff and grim.

“Ugh, Rika. How is Charon doing? We went to call her down, but the door was locked tight. We did not want to impose and stress her out even more, so we did not enter her room.”

Fey commented first, breaking the ice that had settled down.

It seemed these people knew something was wrong with Charon, but they did not try to help her even after knowing her condition.

“Fey, I told you that this was alright. Rika, don’t mind Charon much. She usually gets a little depressed and lonely during these days every year. It is a sensitive time for her, but she will deny it if you ask her.”

“It’s best to leave her alone for the time being. She will bounce back in no time and be her usual self. So don’t worry too much.”

The dorm lady interrupted before Fey could ask Rika for help.

The dorm lady did not want anyone to interfere with Charon’s condition.

Rika felt a little unnerved by this behaviour. But the sadness behind the dorm lady’s eyes told Rika that there was much she did not know about her.

After that, the dinner turned sober. Even the dim sums lost some of their taste, and Rika swallowed them with much thought behind her eyes.

Once dinner was over, Rika knew she needed to head to her room, but she felt nervous.

She did not want to face Charon and her dark eyes.

Rika felt scared and nervous about heading to her room and confronting the older female.

“Hey Rika, wait a minute. I need to talk to you about Charon. Can you spare me some time? I don’t want the dorm lady to know what we discuss.”

Fey quickly came to talk to Rika about what was happening and the situation.

Rika felt worried but also wanted to know about Charon’s condition.

She looked out to check where the dorm lady was, but Fey gestured toward her twin brother and made a ‘don’t worry’ gesture.

“Flourite will monitor the form leader for us, so there is no need to worry. For now, follow me, and we can talk more about Charon.”

Rika followed Fey out into the garden.

It did occur to her that this could be a trap. But who would be foolish enough to set one up for Rika, of all people?

“Hey, do you also think that Charon is behaving weirdly? She behaved the last year around this time, but the period of her episode was much shorter. I am worried about her since she is like my big sister. Don’t you think so as well?”

Fey asked Rika this question out of the blue.

Rika did like Charon, but was it to the point of calling her a sibling?

‘I can’t even compare Charon to either Mark or Suzie. My frame of reference for sibling care could be better. But I do understand where Fey is coming from.’

“I know what you are talking about. Honestly, Charon’s behavior worries me as well.”

Rika confessed outright.