The quiet rhythm of their lives continued, a peaceful, productive hum of magazine meetings, study sessions, and shared, silent dinners. The chaos of the past few months had receded, leaving behind a new, stable landscape.
One evening, Kofi was in the kitchen, attempting to follow a recipe for chicken katsu that he had found online. The process involved breadcrumbs, hot oil, and a level of coordination he did not naturally possess.
Thea was at the dining table, not with her sketchbook, but with a history textbook, her brow furrowed in concentration. She had decided, in a quiet, unexpected declaration a few days earlier, that she wanted to "catch up" on all the school she had emotionally missed over the last few years. Ruby had immediately, and with great enthusiasm, appointed herself as Thea's personal tutor.
