[ Fast forward to Saturday. Yuuko waits for her father to leave the house, making sure she hears the hum and growl of his car as it zooms out—her cue to start preparing for her long-awaited cooking lesson. She even bought a frilly apron for herself in the hopes that it will help the lesson sink in! It's the first thing she reaches for the moment her father leaves.
But more than her excitement, there's that lurking fear. What if her father comes home earlier than he should? What if he sees Yato? And what should she say when he finds him then?
The doorbell rings, and she panics.
Thundering steps can be heard once more as she scrambles for the door. Flustered and hurried, she speaks in formal Japanese, ]
[ Yato stands at the door with an eyebrow raised. His Japanese is rusty, but he still understands it well enough to notice the utter formality of her speech. He replies in English. ]
Daddy's proper little princess, huh? Cute.
[ He briefly wonders why she thought he was her dad... Should he be worried about looking old... ]
[ The door is slammed on him. Another thought occurs to him. Is it Yato that looks old, or is it Yuuko's dad who's really good-looking--
Oh hi it's Yuuko again. She's clearly trying to erase what he just saw and heard, which only makes Yato want to lord it over her. He grins slyly and forms two finger guns, which he pokes at her in succession. ]
Too late, too late! I know Yuuko's secret double life!
i mean he's the one who asked if she could ride in his car but anyway ]
No! [ Yes. But since he brought Mikoto up, she's even more flustered, tugging on the hem and fidgeting. ] I just thought I should get in the mood. Food should be made with love, or something...
[ Too bad, Yato thinks. Mikoto would probably love the apron, the loser.
The chronicle of cute, off-beat Yuuko continues. Yato takes it as his cue to take charge. He snaps his fingers and points at her from on high in exaggerated commendation. ]
Correct! It's a cliche, but it's absolutely true! There's no point to home cooking if it isn't made with love.
[ He noses his way into her house and kicks off his shoes. Straight to the kitchen he goes. ]
[ Rude. Yuuko follows rather helplessly, hoping he doesn't set something on fire or worse, laugh at her baby pictures framed somewhere in the living room. ]
I can fry things... And I'm pretty good at making rolls!
[ She pouts, upset that she'd been judged so ruthlessly. ]
... Okay.
[ It's not her fault she's not good at anything but studying...
But he's here to help, and in a good mood, too. Is it because he teased her earlier? Or the food? For such a small fee, it's always been little strange for Yato to be so enthusiastic about the jobs she has for him. It's not like she hates it, though. With her father busy with work and her aunt living on the other side of the city, to Yuuko, Yato's been like... a guardian angel with a switchblade.
Well, she's kind of averse to religion, so she'll settle with "fairy godmother". ]
Where did you learn how cook, Yato? Did your father...?
[ The word comes down like a knife on a chopping block. It's harsher than intended, so he continues while laying out ingredients and tools to soften the edge. ]
There's always a demand for kitchen jobs. And cooks are always happy to teach, so it's easy to learn. Here, beat these eggs. It'll be your job to bread the meat. I'll walk you through it.
[ He holds out a pair of eggs and a bowl. Yuuko knows how to crack an egg at least... right... ]
[ Did she imagine that tone? It might be best not to dwell on it for now. She has a dish to make and lessons to learn! ]
Alright. [ She takes the eggs and the bowl.
Now what? Um, um.
God, she feels more than useless! Yato has so much life experience. Things such as cooking and cleaning are beyond her. She and her father usually have the maids do it... But they're not on duty right now. Ugh, whatever. All she has to do is crack a stupid egg. She's not that sheltered!
On the edge of the bowl, Yuuko taps an egg twice.
... That's weird. There should be a larger crack by now, right? She turns the egg around to try and force it open— ]
[ ... and laughing. Also whipping his phone up at lightning speed to take a picture. ]
Hahahaha! I know you're level 1, but you just got killed by a slime! I didn't even think it was possible!
[ Amazing?? The most amazing way to fail at breaking an egg. He takes another egg, gives it a sharp but delicate tap against the countertop, and then hinges it open with two hands, letting the yolk and whites slip into the bowl. He could crack two eggs in one hand if he wanted to, but then Yuuko would just try to emulate him and maybe shoot the eggs directly into her eyes instead?? ]
You get eight more tries. Good luck, chef!
[ In the meantime, he'll slap the meat onto a cutting board and trim the fat. Slice out the right portions, pound them flat, season with salt and pepper... ]
[ Yuuko's cheeks burn in embarrassment, and her arm shoots for his phone—and misses. Damn, she'll have to delete that picture before this is over. ]
Ooh! That's why I asked you to tank me... [ is all she mumbles before washing her face and wiping it dry. Her next attempt isn't perfect—she has to fish out some bits of shell—but it passes.
Hee hee.
Yuuko's in a better mood as she whisks the eggs. ]
Do you know what kind of food Mikoto likes? Um... What's your favorite dish to make?
He was eating a pumpkin muffin once? Pretty sure he's into junk food, too.
[ He really only assumes junk food because it's the classic gamer diet. And Mikoto probably only took one bite of that muffin before Yato ate the rest for him, to be honest... He takes the beaten meat slices which I will call pork, slaps them onto a plate, and passes it all over to Yuuko along with containers of flour and panko crumbs. ]
Lightly layer the pork with flour, dip it into the egg, then cover it with panko.
[ Oh right, he needs to start some rice... He'll just get that going while Yuuko's breading. ]
As for me, I'm a fan of making pizza. Ever had it made from scratch?
gmail says this tag is 6 days old... i'm sorry, offers u all my 5* fire emblems
Mikoto sure sounds like uncultured swine. That's fine, though. She'll make and eat anything for and with him. If you ask her, that's true love. In reality, it's just her gluttony...
Anyway, she covers one slice of pork in too much flour, another with too much egg, and another with too little panko. The last one she salvages quickly, but it seems she hasn't noticed her other failures. ]
I've never seen anyone make it from scratch... Not outside TV. [ Oh, oh! ] Do you toss it up in the air like they do on the Food Network? [ GESTURES ]
[ Yato misses all of the breading failure... rip ]
I sure do, little lady!
[ Because it's the most showy option, therefore the Yato option. ]
We can make some another day. I bet Mikoto likes pizza to go along with his chips, candy, and soda.
[ What!! a loser!! Yato puts a pot on the stove and cracks a few eggs into it (ain't got no time to have Yuuko crack more, sorry), mixes it up, and starts adding soy sauce, sugar, mirin... ]
Haha, I wonder. [ A pretty lackluster answer for someone who claimed to be in love. ]
He's funny, kind and really cute, but it's not like we've known each other for long. Yet when he stretched his hand out to me, I saw... let's call it a flashback. Yeah. It was as if I was seeing something from the past, although I don't remember it happening at all. But the memory was so warm and happy... [ Warmth she hasn't felt in a while. ] And on that day, Mikoto's hand was the same.
[ Her breading work slows to a halt. ]
I'm not superstitious. I don't usually believe in things like this, but... [ shyly, sheepishly ] I wonder if it's fate?
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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But more than her excitement, there's that lurking fear. What if her father comes home earlier than he should? What if he sees Yato? And what should she say when he finds him then?
The doorbell rings, and she panics.
Thundering steps can be heard once more as she scrambles for the door. Flustered and hurried, she speaks in formal Japanese, ]
Father, is something the ma—
[ ...
That's not her dad. ]
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Daddy's proper little princess, huh? Cute.
[ He briefly wonders why she thought he was her dad... Should he be worried about looking old... ]
1/2
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My, my! I wonder if I should let this stray cat in.
[ Please just forget that ever happened. ]
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Oh hi it's Yuuko again. She's clearly trying to erase what he just saw and heard, which only makes Yato want to lord it over her. He grins slyly and forms two finger guns, which he pokes at her in succession. ]
Too late, too late! I know Yuuko's secret double life!
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She opens the door wide, revealing her frilly apron over her usual black dresses, and puts her hands on her hips with a huff. ]
Oh, knock it off! Father said I should speak in keigo, so it's a force of habit... Is something wrong with that?
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[ Now that he thinks about it, it's rare to see Yuuko so completely flustered about something. It really is kind of cute. ]
Nice apron! Are you wearing that for Mikoto later too?
[ wink wink
(don't get mikoto arrested either tho) ]
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i mean he's the one who asked if she could ride in his car but anyway ]
No! [ Yes. But since he brought Mikoto up, she's even more flustered, tugging on the hem and fidgeting. ] I just thought I should get in the mood. Food should be made with love, or something...
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The chronicle of cute, off-beat Yuuko continues. Yato takes it as his cue to take charge. He snaps his fingers and points at her from on high in exaggerated commendation. ]
Correct! It's a cliche, but it's absolutely true! There's no point to home cooking if it isn't made with love.
[ He noses his way into her house and kicks off his shoes. Straight to the kitchen he goes. ]
What's your level? Your cooking level, that is.
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I can fry things... And I'm pretty good at making rolls!
[ She says in that unfamiliar nervous tone. ]
... If the vegetables are pre-chopped.
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In other words, level 1. Well, have no fear! Master Chef Yato can boost you by five levels in one day, guaranteed!
[ He starts digging around for pans and ingredients. ]
I can take care of the chopping. Just follow my instructions closely.
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... Okay.
[ It's not her fault she's not good at anything but studying...
But he's here to help, and in a good mood, too. Is it because he teased her earlier? Or the food? For such a small fee, it's always been little strange for Yato to be so enthusiastic about the jobs she has for him. It's not like she hates it, though. With her father busy with work and her aunt living on the other side of the city, to Yuuko, Yato's been like... a guardian angel with a switchblade.
Well, she's kind of averse to religion, so she'll settle with "fairy godmother". ]
Where did you learn how cook, Yato? Did your father...?
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[ The word comes down like a knife on a chopping block. It's harsher than intended, so he continues while laying out ingredients and tools to soften the edge. ]
There's always a demand for kitchen jobs. And cooks are always happy to teach, so it's easy to learn. Here, beat these eggs. It'll be your job to bread the meat. I'll walk you through it.
[ He holds out a pair of eggs and a bowl. Yuuko knows how to crack an egg at least... right... ]
1/3
Alright. [ She takes the eggs and the bowl.
Now what? Um, um.
God, she feels more than useless! Yato has so much life experience. Things such as cooking and cleaning are beyond her. She and her father usually have the maids do it... But they're not on duty right now. Ugh, whatever. All she has to do is crack a stupid egg. She's not that sheltered!
On the edge of the bowl, Yuuko taps an egg twice.
... That's weird. There should be a larger crack by now, right? She turns the egg around to try and force it open— ]
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goes the yolk on her face. ]
...
[ Honestly, she's more shocked than anything. ]
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1/2
2/2
Hahahaha! I know you're level 1, but you just got killed by a slime! I didn't even think it was possible!
[ Amazing?? The most amazing way to fail at breaking an egg. He takes another egg, gives it a sharp but delicate tap against the countertop, and then hinges it open with two hands, letting the yolk and whites slip into the bowl. He could crack two eggs in one hand if he wanted to, but then Yuuko would just try to emulate him and maybe shoot the eggs directly into her eyes instead?? ]
You get eight more tries. Good luck, chef!
[ In the meantime, he'll slap the meat onto a cutting board and trim the fat. Slice out the right portions, pound them flat, season with salt and pepper... ]
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Ooh! That's why I asked you to tank me... [ is all she mumbles before washing her face and wiping it dry. Her next attempt isn't perfect—she has to fish out some bits of shell—but it passes.
Hee hee.
Yuuko's in a better mood as she whisks the eggs. ]
Do you know what kind of food Mikoto likes? Um... What's your favorite dish to make?
no subject
He was eating a pumpkin muffin once? Pretty sure he's into junk food, too.
[ He really only assumes junk food because it's the classic gamer diet. And Mikoto probably only took one bite of that muffin before Yato ate the rest for him, to be honest... He takes the beaten meat slices which I will call pork, slaps them onto a plate, and passes it all over to Yuuko along with containers of flour and panko crumbs. ]
Lightly layer the pork with flour, dip it into the egg, then cover it with panko.
[ Oh right, he needs to start some rice... He'll just get that going while Yuuko's breading. ]
As for me, I'm a fan of making pizza. Ever had it made from scratch?
gmail says this tag is 6 days old... i'm sorry, offers u all my 5* fire emblems
Mikoto sure sounds like uncultured swine. That's fine, though. She'll make and eat anything for and with him. If you ask her, that's true love. In reality, it's just her gluttony...
Anyway, she covers one slice of pork in too much flour, another with too much egg, and another with too little panko. The last one she salvages quickly, but it seems she hasn't noticed her other failures. ]
I've never seen anyone make it from scratch... Not outside TV. [ Oh, oh! ] Do you toss it up in the air like they do on the Food Network? [ GESTURES ]
god please give me a mage or healer
I sure do, little lady!
[ Because it's the most showy option, therefore the Yato option. ]
We can make some another day. I bet Mikoto likes pizza to go along with his chips, candy, and soda.
[ What!! a loser!! Yato puts a pot on the stove and cracks a few eggs into it (ain't got no time to have Yuuko crack more, sorry), mixes it up, and starts adding soy sauce, sugar, mirin... ]
What do you see in that guy, anyway?
take all my healers, omg
He's funny, kind and really cute, but it's not like we've known each other for long. Yet when he stretched his hand out to me, I saw... let's call it a flashback. Yeah. It was as if I was seeing something from the past, although I don't remember it happening at all. But the memory was so warm and happy... [ Warmth she hasn't felt in a while. ] And on that day, Mikoto's hand was the same.
[ Her breading work slows to a halt. ]
I'm not superstitious. I don't usually believe in things like this, but... [ shyly, sheepishly ] I wonder if it's fate?
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[ He wasn't expecting that answer, though. So it isn't just about Mikoto's killer charm... Yuuko really is such a romantic. ]
It would be like something straight out of a romance novel. Lucky you if it's true. Mikoto might cut a decent Prince Charming.
[ Visually. In personality, though......... ]
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We'll see. I don't like things like destiny. They get my hopes up.
[ And before the conversation veers into tragic territory, Yuuko raises her hand and loudly announces, ]
I covered them in panko, chef! What do I do next?
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