Author's note: I'm a bit nervous about posting this because I don't always finish stories, even when I know I should. Regardless, I'm going to try to eventually bring this story to at least a somewhat satisfying conclusion. I appreciate criticism, as the point of posting these types of things is always to improve. Also, this story is going to go for a somewhat different take on Natsuki's father.

Natsuki trots into my house slowly, eyeing my living room. She carries with her plastic bags stuffed with everything she might need for cupcakes, save an actual oven. Did she not think I would get the stuff she asked for? She walks into my kitchen without a word, evidently eager to begin an investigation.

I follow after her. "A hello would be nice before we get started."

She scoffs. "I just want to make sure you've got everything I need. We can talk while the cupcakes are baking."

She seems rather serious about this. How long is it going to take exactly to make these? That seems like something I probably should have looked up before she came. Regardless, I back off and let Natsuki get to work. She issues some simple commands to me, making what I can only assume is full use of the extra pair of hands. I enjoy helping Natsuki and all, but I was kind of under the impression that there would be a bit more to us working together than dead silence in between orders. Did I misread the situation? Is Natsuki really not interested in anything besides getting the cupcakes done and then leaving?

I finally decide to pipe up. "Hey, Natsuki... don't you want to talk or something?"

She looks over to me from the counter, seemingly caught off guard by my sudden question.

"Talk about what? I'm just here to bake, remember?"

"Yeah, I know but... we're friends, aren't we? I feel like we should at least be making small talk."

"I-I didn't say we were friends! What made you think that?"

Oof. I knew saying that plainly wouldn't get the best reaction from her but I wasn't expecting to be totally shut down.

Natsuki notices the dejected look on my face. "I didn't say we weren't friends, either, just... don't make assumptions, you know?"

I smirk. She left an opening. "So we are friends, but you don't want to admit it? Is that right?"

Natsuki turns away from me, thinking carefully over her response. If she just stutters something like "N-no! We're definitely not friends!" now, she'll just be proving my point. If she can't renege her only option is to-

Suddenly, something hits my face. I snap to and see a bit of batter on Natsuki's finger and a big grin on her face. I trace a finger down where the substance connected to find batter on my finger, as threw it at me.

"H-hey! What do you think you're doing?" I ask. Natsuki only giggles in response, and I see her move to get some batter to flick at me. With no choices I step towards her a grab her hands, pinning her against the wall.

"Hey, that's no fair! You're stronger than me!"

I chuckle. "I don't see how that's my problem."

Natsuki struggles for a moment before giving up. "Fine, I surrender."

I think it over for a second, but decide to let Natsuki go. I can see that once she's free she debates for a second whether to not try to for another attack. Ultimately, she decides against it and returns to make the cupcakes. We get back to working as we were before, but the air feels lighter. Natsuki even tags a "please" onto some of her requests.

As the cupcakes are left to bake Natsuki and I step out of the kitchen. I plop down on the sofa in the living room and Natsuki takes the chair next to me.

"How long do they need to bake?" I ask Natsuki. She shoots me a look that tells me I should already know.

"20 minutes. I already told you that, didn't I?"

"Oh, uh, did you? I must have forgotten."

Natsuki lets out a "humph" and turns away. I guess I better pay more attention from now on.

"Uh, anyway, what should we do until they come out?"

Natsuki's eyes light up and she hops out of her chair and runs into the kitchen. "Hey, wait!" Why did she run off like that? Should I go after her? Before I can decide, she comes back in with a volume of Parfait Girls.

"Here! I brought this so we could read some more. That's fine with you, right?"

She wants to keep reading manga... I had assumed we would just watch TV or something, but I guess she really wants to pick up where we left off.

Natsuki sits down on the couch next to me and hands me the book. I open it and begin to read, as Natsuki silently watches. I'm not particularly interested in this manga, but with Natsuki next to me I begin to feel time slip away. Most of what I'm reading goes in one ear and out the other, but having Natsuki so close is enough to completely consume me. I return to reality when I hear a timer go off. Before I can even register what it means, Natsuki has already gotten out of her chair and run to the oven to retrieve her sweets. I put down the book and move to join her.

Natsuki packs up her things and places a bookmark where I left off in Parfait Girls. She starts to walk over to the door, but I can see she's hesitant to leave. I decide now's a good time to take a chance.

"You know, Natsuki, you don't have to leave just yet. I know we were only supposed to meet up for the cupcakes, but that doesn't mean we can't just hang out, too."

Natsuki turns to me and looks conflicted, as if she can't decide what she wants to do. "Well... I would like to stay a little longer, but I don't think I can. I really did enjoy today, but my dad would kill me if I stayed here too long."

A rapping of knuckles suddenly sounds from door. Surprised, I cut short my conversation with Natsuki to answer it. I pull open the door to find a man in a nice suit, with short brown hair and steely gray eyes. For a moment, surprise flashes across his face, before being replaced with a friendly smile.

"Hello, there. I'm here for Natsuki. I take it you're the one she came to bake cupcakes with?"

I nod, a bit taken aback by the man's initial hardness, before a transition into surprise and then friendliness.

Natsuki pushes by me to get to her father. "Uh, sorry I wasn't outside, dad. Let's go."

The man doesn't respond, but I notice he grabs Natsuki's wrist and simply pulls her outside. That seemed a bit more rough than necessary. Before I can think on this, I hear the muffled voices of Natsuki and her father coming from the other side of the door. I carefully place my ear against the door in the hopes I can listen in.

"Natsuki, you didn't tell me it was a boy you were going to be baking with. You must know I wouldn't have approved."

"Dad, it's no big deal. All we did was a little baking, nothing happened. You don't need to worry so much."

"No talking back. Now get in the car, we'll discuss this later. I'm sure you've already had plenty to eat at his house, so just a bit for dinner tonight."

I can almost hear Natsuki pouting as car door opens and then shuts. I'm left only with my thoughts as I consider what just happened.