[Belated or not, the response is welcome! He isn't about to say it, but he's smiling at his screen. Just a little.]
Matcha, then. A good choice.
I've mentioned before that I like to cook, right? My Mom's a professional chef, so it rubbed off on me as a hobby. I wanted to surprise you with something you'd enjoy, but I figured it would be best to make sure you liked whatever I made, so...
How does a matcha roll cake sound? I won't make the cream as sweet as I usually would.
Really? It's always more fun to cook with someone else, so I'd really like that.
How about my apartment? I'll have all of the ingredients ready before you come over. On whichever day you decide we should do this, of course. I'm sure you have a busy schedule.
[ it rings a bell but he won't know what'll hit him until he comes over again with a sick makoto in his arms, fufu ]
in that case, maybe tomorrow? it's short notice but i'll be doing some errands and tbh i hate putting off favors for too long especially when the city's all... you know
[ and true to his word, sena arrives at the apartment complex right on the dot. huh, this certain building looks familiar... it sure is ringing a bell in his brain...
but no, he's literally going to ring the bell in to let kouhei know he's here. it's been a while since he'd been to someone else's place that isn't one of his closer friends... he was the one who proposed the idea that they should bake together instead though, so. hm. ]
[Thankfully, since Birch Hills is within walking distance of the Rec U campus, it shouldn't be too far off of Sena's radar whether he knows why this particular building looks familiar or not.
Strangely, the doorbell doesn't look or sound like a normal doorbell; the chime is accompanied by a buzzing noise and lower in pitch despite being loud, and upon answering the door with his phone vibrating in his hand, it becomes evident that Kouhei has a pretty elaborate system set up. There's even a light flashing by the door.... at least the setup works pretty effectively, complex as it may be.]
Thanks for stopping by, Sena.
[It's honestly pretty rare for him to have visitors, so he's already smiling a bit as he turns the door notifications off and steps aside to allow Sena to enter. Kouhei's apartment is nothing special, but it's noticeably clean and well organized, and suits his personality well.]
Come on in. As promised, I got all of the ingredients beforehand, so I've already set out everything we'll need in the kitchen. Um, can I get you a drink or something?
[ it is pretty elaborate and sena's taken aback for a second there, but then exhales at the sight of kouhei greeting the door. ]
Water, thanks. [ don't mind if he looks around his dorm room with a curious eye. ] ...No roommate?
[ probably explains the unique doorbell. kouhei should really have one though, considering his mild deafness. the fact that nobody would want to room with someone like him made his fist clench for a millisecond, though. ]
[Kouhei is so used to everyone being stiff and polite around him, walking on eggshells for what's honestly no real reason, so Sena's brusque attitude is a breath of fresh air.]
No, it's just me. I know what you're thinking, but I'm fine. I'm still not very good with people, after all.
[Is that reassuring? Probably not. Heading toward the kitchen to pour a glass of water, his expression turns just a hint sheepish.]
It might be easier to live with someone who can hear the things that I can't, but I'm used to living this way. I've learned what works for me, I guess.
[ kouhei's probably gotten the same old looks from unsuspecting people a thousand times over, so sena's not going to react the same way for his sake. he's not here for a pity date or whatever, the guy deserves more than that. rather, he's here to bake, and he slips into the kitchen so that he won't have to speak too loudly to him. ]
So you didn't grow up here? [ just normal small talk. ]
[Believe him, it's hardly the first time Kouhei has had to go through this same song and dance, but it's also incredibly refreshing to not see that look of pity he's gotten so used to over the years.]
I'm a transfer student. I'm studying abroad through Rec U, so I've been here for around three years now. Up until then, I'd never left Japan. How about you, Sena?
[Quirking a small smile, he holds out a spare apron.]
Here. It's not very fashionable, but I'm sure it'll suit you anyway.
[ hm, no skin off his nose, he'll take the apron and put it on before taking a couple of bobby pins from his pocket to clip back his bangs. ]
Transferred here from Japan when I was around fourteen? My mother's already taught me English when I was still in Japan just in case something like this ever happened.
[Kouhei's hair isn't quite long enough to get in his eyes like Sena's, but he puts his apron on anyway, nodding at the explanation and gesturing for Sena to follow him to the kitchen counter as he speaks.]
You've been here for a while, then. I started learning English when I was really young too, so it came in handy.
[Just as promised, all of the ingredients they'll need are either set out neatly on the counter or in the refrigerator.]
They're all here. Have you ever made a roll cake before?
Crepe cakes take a lot of time and hard work. I haven't made one myself, but that's something to brag about.
[Plugging in the mixer and taking the first bowl, he turns back to Sena.]
Could you get the eggs? The first step is to separate the whites. And it's actually my Mom's recipe. She's a culinary artist, so I grew up cooking with her.
[ he does a good job at it, cracking them open and separating them with ease, as if he can do this with his eyes closed. ]
But mm, aside from taste-testing them to see if they taste good enough, I haven't actually eaten a whole slice of by myself. I've been eating too much these days and I'd just tire myself out if I keep going to the gym every time I feel bloated. [ sigh. just modeling things. ] At least you know how to cook by yourself though. Which should be a given if you're living on your own.
Not even one slice? I can't believe you're letting me make this for you when your diet is so strict. But I should have guessed.
[Sena's definitely good at this, which Kouhei is thankful for. He's had more than one person in this kitchen who he had to make sure didn't accidentally burn the whole place down. Once the eggs are separated, he takes the bowl of the whites and brings it over to the mixer. Way better than beating them by hand.]
Yeah, I've gotten into cooking more since I transferred here. It's hard to cook for just myself, so I like to make food for others when I can. Whether it's having someone over or just bringing them leftovers or a lunchbox sometime, it's pretty fulfilling.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
6/5
it's one of the few sweet things i can consume without wanting to die
[ this is really belated but hello, kouhei, ]
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Matcha, then. A good choice.
I've mentioned before that I like to cook, right? My Mom's a professional chef, so it rubbed off on me as a hobby. I wanted to surprise you with something you'd enjoy, but I figured it would be best to make sure you liked whatever I made, so...
How does a matcha roll cake sound? I won't make the cream as sweet as I usually would.
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i know how to cook and bake myself but sweets aren't really my forte
you really don't have to do this, though
not that im stopping you
[ why is he contradicting himself... ]
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Really, I want to. Will it sit better with you if I call it baking practice?
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do you need any help for it, then? or can you do it by yourself?
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just tell me where we can do this and i'll be there
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How about my apartment? I'll have all of the ingredients ready before you come over. On whichever day you decide we should do this, of course. I'm sure you have a busy schedule.
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and i don't have any modeling gigs at the moment bc of the
you know
[ the majority of the population going invisible ]
but sure, i can come over
give me your address and i'll be there
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[And he includes his address.... which is, if Sena happens to know it, one floor above Makoto's. Oops?]
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in that case, maybe tomorrow?
it's short notice but i'll be doing some errands and tbh i hate putting off favors for too long
especially when the city's all... you know
ill come around at 9am if that's cool
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I'm looking forward to it, Sena.
action;
but no, he's literally going to ring the bell in to let kouhei know he's here. it's been a while since he'd been to someone else's place that isn't one of his closer friends... he was the one who proposed the idea that they should bake together instead though, so. hm. ]
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Strangely, the doorbell doesn't look or sound like a normal doorbell; the chime is accompanied by a buzzing noise and lower in pitch despite being loud, and upon answering the door with his phone vibrating in his hand, it becomes evident that Kouhei has a pretty elaborate system set up. There's even a light flashing by the door.... at least the setup works pretty effectively, complex as it may be.]
Thanks for stopping by, Sena.
[It's honestly pretty rare for him to have visitors, so he's already smiling a bit as he turns the door notifications off and steps aside to allow Sena to enter. Kouhei's apartment is nothing special, but it's noticeably clean and well organized, and suits his personality well.]
Come on in. As promised, I got all of the ingredients beforehand, so I've already set out everything we'll need in the kitchen. Um, can I get you a drink or something?
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Water, thanks. [ don't mind if he looks around his dorm room with a curious eye. ] ...No roommate?
[ probably explains the unique doorbell. kouhei should really have one though, considering his mild deafness. the fact that nobody would want to room with someone like him made his fist clench for a millisecond, though. ]
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No, it's just me. I know what you're thinking, but I'm fine. I'm still not very good with people, after all.
[Is that reassuring? Probably not. Heading toward the kitchen to pour a glass of water, his expression turns just a hint sheepish.]
It might be easier to live with someone who can hear the things that I can't, but I'm used to living this way. I've learned what works for me, I guess.
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[ kouhei's probably gotten the same old looks from unsuspecting people a thousand times over, so sena's not going to react the same way for his sake. he's not here for a pity date or whatever, the guy deserves more than that. rather, he's here to bake, and he slips into the kitchen so that he won't have to speak too loudly to him. ]
So you didn't grow up here? [ just normal small talk. ]
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I'm a transfer student. I'm studying abroad through Rec U, so I've been here for around three years now. Up until then, I'd never left Japan. How about you, Sena?
[Quirking a small smile, he holds out a spare apron.]
Here. It's not very fashionable, but I'm sure it'll suit you anyway.
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Transferred here from Japan when I was around fourteen? My mother's already taught me English when I was still in Japan just in case something like this ever happened.
[ because they're workaholics, see ]
Anyway, where are the ingredients?
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[Kouhei's hair isn't quite long enough to get in his eyes like Sena's, but he puts his apron on anyway, nodding at the explanation and gesturing for Sena to follow him to the kitchen counter as he speaks.]
You've been here for a while, then. I started learning English when I was really young too, so it came in handy.
[Just as promised, all of the ingredients they'll need are either set out neatly on the counter or in the refrigerator.]
They're all here. Have you ever made a roll cake before?
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[ he's really eager to start though, scanning whatever's needed in the refrigerator. ]
Is it your own personal recipe or did you just look one up on the internet?
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[Plugging in the mixer and taking the first bowl, he turns back to Sena.]
Could you get the eggs? The first step is to separate the whites. And it's actually my Mom's recipe. She's a culinary artist, so I grew up cooking with her.
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[ he does a good job at it, cracking them open and separating them with ease, as if he can do this with his eyes closed. ]
But mm, aside from taste-testing them to see if they taste good enough, I haven't actually eaten a whole slice of by myself. I've been eating too much these days and I'd just tire myself out if I keep going to the gym every time I feel bloated. [ sigh. just modeling things. ] At least you know how to cook by yourself though. Which should be a given if you're living on your own.
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[Sena's definitely good at this, which Kouhei is thankful for. He's had more than one person in this kitchen who he had to make sure didn't accidentally burn the whole place down. Once the eggs are separated, he takes the bowl of the whites and brings it over to the mixer. Way better than beating them by hand.]
Yeah, I've gotten into cooking more since I transferred here. It's hard to cook for just myself, so I like to make food for others when I can. Whether it's having someone over or just bringing them leftovers or a lunchbox sometime, it's pretty fulfilling.