Yayyyyyyy 22 reviews! Thanks guys :3
As promised, chapter seven.
Chapter 7: Cooking, Part 2
Mai scowled at the wall. Why was Naru always like this? He always changed his mind about how he felt for her. It was infuriating and stressful to keep up with. And now, she had stupidly triggered it again. The mood swing.
If he really did dislike her, then maybe she should move out?...
Mai shook her head. This was all completely insane. It seemed that everyone at Shibuya Physic Research knew about her crush on Naru, apart from the man himself. Heck, Mai was pretty sure Lin even knew.
Maybe he was just ignorant?...
Mai stayed in her room for a while, thinking everything over. She couldn't really hear anything coming from Naru's room.
He probably doesn't even care that I'm upset.
…
Naru groaned. Why had he snapped? It was always like this. I always changed my mind about how I should act around her. Mai. It was so infuriating and stressful, the things that she made me feel. And just seeing her smiling, happy face, that was what triggered it. His feelings towards her. But he always pushed her away, and that was because he thought that she didn't like him and a relationship between a boss and his his assistant would be completely inappropriate. It seemed that everyone at Shibuya Pysic Research thought that he had a crush on Mai, apart from the girl herself.
Heck, Naru was pretty sure even Lin knew.
Maybe she was just ignorant?...
Naru only stayed in his room for a few minutes, then decided he had to do something to say sorry.
She probably doesn't even care about me.
…
Naru cracked the eggs into the bowl already filled with butter and sugar and mixed quickly. He was running out of time, and wanted this to be a surprise. To show that he really did care about Mai…
…
Just as he had finished writing the letter and mixing the icing, he heard Mai stir in her room. Panicking, Naru quickly depositied his icing on his present for Mai and left the letter nextto it, then walked back to his room, trying not to be too noisy.
…
Mai stirred from her uncomfortable position. She must have fallen asleep leaning on her wall (she was already sitting down on her bed). A strange smell hit her. It smelled a bit like cake, but… odd.
She stood up, groaning as her stiff joints complained. When Mai opened the dor ,Naru was no where to be seen.
"Typical." She muttered under her breath.
When she reached the sitting room, she found a tin on the table. It was one that you would use to bake a cake in. The cake inside said tin was iced. It said 'sorry'. Mai smiled and blushed. Next to the cake was a letter.
Dear Mai,
I believe that my actions towards you were uncalled for. I'm sorry but at this current time I can't say why I acted in this way. However, I do want you to know that I care about you, and I hope that you will forgive me. I am not sure how to act in a situation like this, as most girls think that I'm so handsome that they daren't say anything rude to me, thus causing an argument.
-Naru
Mai wasn't sure if she should be angry or happy. But then she decided it was probably the best apology she would get from Naru anyway. He just had his own particular way of doing it, in his narcissistic way.
She picked up a knife that had been left next to the cake tin (why was it still in the cake tin?) and attempted to cut it. However, her knife went straight through the icing and into a runny cake mixture. Mai stared at the cake for a second, then smiled. It seemed Naru had a weakness after all.
…
Mai knocked on Naru's door softly.
"Naru?" The door opened quickly. Naru stared at her for a second, analyzing her expression.
"I liked the cake, Naru… It's just I think it's a bit undercooked… And you forgot a few ingredients…" Mai smiled hesitantly. Naru glared back. "D-did I do something wrong?"
"No, Mai." Naru sighed, running his hand through his hair. "I just…" He looked away in embarrassment.
"Go on, tell me." Mai said pleadingly, staring up him with her big brown eyes.
"I… I can't stand it when I'm wrong." Naru turned his face away, hoping that Mai wouldn't see the blush. He didn't usually admit that kind of thing, even to Gene, when even when it was usually written all over his face.
Mai laughed a little. Naru turned back, surprised.
"That's so cute." She said smiling.
Cute? What the actual?... Naru thought.
"C'mon, I'll help you make another one." Mai said, taking his hand.
"But it's already ten o'clock…" Naru muttered, only out of habit. The truth was, his heart had leapt when Mai had suggested that.
"Come on, lighten up." Mai said, dragging Naru to the kitchen.
Mai gasped when she went into the room. Cooking instruments were left everywhere, and some form of cake goo had got everywhere.
"We need to clean this up first." Mai sighed, letting go of Naru's hand. Naru sighed, but not because of the fact that they had to clean.
…
When they were finished, Mai began laying out the ingredients.
"Eggs, butter, flour, sugar…" She muttered under her breath. Then she instructed Naru to measure the right amounts. He obeyed, but soon enough couldn't stand being given orders and made Mai make him some tea.
As she poured the hot water into the cups, he leaned against the counter, mixing the ingredients in a bowl.
"I… I liked your letter." Mai said, blushing slightly.
"Thank you. It was a bit childish and stupid, not saying it to your face, but…" Naru stared at the ceiling, willing the words to form in his mouth.
"…I do care about you. I don't want to see you hurt." He said.
"Oh. So is that why you stayed with me in the hospital?" Mai asked, not looking at Naru.
"Yes."
An awkward silence followed.
…
The cake smelled delicious as it cooked in the oven. While it was cooking, Mai made some butter cream icing. Naru watched her intently.
"How do you know so much about cooking?" He asked, glaring at her bowl of perfect icing.
Mai laughed a little in response. "It's quite simple stuff, cake. I honestly can't believe you don't know how to make it." Naru exhaled sharply at these words, but didn't comment.
"I'm surprised you haven't poisoned yourself yet." Mai continued, not noticing the narcissist's glare becoming more and more intense.
"Mai." He growled. "I… I don't enjoy you insulting my cooking skills." Mai looked up, and her smile disappeared when she saw how angry he looked.
But then, she burst out laughing. Naru's angry glare quickly left his face, only to be replaced with shock. The look on his face only made Mai laugh harder.
"You really… Can't stand being bad at something, can you?" She gasped, clutching her sides.
Naru grabbed her arms, and held her still.
"That is true. I didn't think it was that easy to figure it out…" He murmured.
"Hey!" Mai protested, squirming in his arms. "Are you calling me stupid? That's so like you! Just when I'm-" Naru cut her off by pulling her into a tight hug. Mai was surprised, but eventually recovered and put her arms round his back. Naru smiled. This moment was perfect. He leant down and put his face in her hair, daring to take a small whiff of it.
Strawberries. It smelled so sweet and was so soft that-
The timer went off.
"Buggar." Naru muttered as Mai pushed him away. She threw him a quick smile and then pulled the cake out of the oven and set it on a heat proof mat.
…
"So what do you want to write on it this time?" Mai asked. The cake had now cooled down.
"Shibuya Physic Research?" Naru suggested. Mai turned around and smiled.
"Good joke, but seriously. I have no ideas."
"It wasn't a joke…"
"Oh. Erm. Awkward turtle much?" Mai laughed, and Naru glared at her.
What the hell are awkward turtles? I've got to get Mai to teach Naru awkward turtle sometime XD
"Actually, that's not such a bad idea." Mai said, tapping her chin with her finger. "We could bring it to work tomorrow and share it with everyone." Naru nodded in agreement but mentally kicked himself. This was their cake, he didn't want to share it.
Aaaaaawwww! Naru doesn't want to share their love cake :3
I'm not really sure what was going through my head when I wrote this… Oh well, at least it's long!
Read and review :)