In the kitchen, Kotoha was covered in flour and batter, her clothes were messy. She looked proudly at the nicely shaped cookies before setting them in the oven.
"Half an hour…" Kotoha checked the recipe.
She looked at her home-made Gyoza, it was time to fry. The pan was already hot and the young chef (in the making) put some oil before putting some Gyoza in. The hot oil splattered and some landed on Kotoha's hands.
"Itai!" Kotoha took her hand away, she looked at the red spot and felt her memories of the children teasing her… Stupid! Slow!
She saw the Gyoza turned brown as they were sizzling, the young vassal hesitated but she remembered how Takuya's words when he taught her: Do not be afraid of the heat! You are the chef! You are in control!
These words inspired her as she slowly took her time to cook the Gyoza, remembering her mistakes from her childhood so she could prevent the Gyoza from burning.
The Kuroko saw Kotoha cooking, their bodies were trembling… Two of them went to the cupboard to take the Digestive Medicine and the stretcher, placing beside them and watched the young vassal cook.
Later, Kotoha set the cookies and Gyoza to one side to cool. The smell was irresistible. This made the Kuroko want to eat but once they thought of Mako, their feet took a step back.
Kotoha looked down at her food, she was proud of them, she slowly take some colored icing and began decorating the cookies. There were five cookies, containing of the respective Shinkengers' Origami and color. She made cartoon faces of Jii, Takuya and Mitsuba. Once she was done, she tasted her Gyoza without knowing the Kuroko anticipating her reaction.
Definitely better than last time! Kotoha thought as she smiled. She saw some Kuroko and offered them some. They looked at each other and then the Gyoza, praying that it would not kill them before tasting it.
Oiishi! The Kuroko thought.
"How is it?" Kotoha asked.
Thumbs up from the Kuroko. "Can you give some of them to Jii-san?" Kotoha handed a plate of Gyoza and a nicely decorated cartoon that almost resembled Jii to the Kuroko.
They nodded. One went to give it to Jii, Two kept away the Digestive Medicine and the stretcher while the others went back to their chores. As for Kotoha, she was preparing the Gyoza and cookies for her fellow Shinkengers and packing some of them for her sister.
When the Shinkengers arrived at the gates of the mansion, they smelt something cooking. It wasn't dinner time yet the smell was so good. They headed to investigate but they found Jii eating Gyoza and cookies.
"Jii-san?" Chiaki asked.
Jii looked up to see everyone staring at him curiously, "Oh… Kotoha is in the kitchen." They made their way to the kitchen to find Kotoha. She was packing some cookies and Gyoza into a plastic box. Kotoha picked up a cartoon face and was admiring.
It almost looks like Takuya… Kotoha thought as she placed it next to a cartoon face of her sister in the box. They are going to have so much fun! She giggled.
Takeru misinterpreted Kotoha's giggle as he thinks about the mysterious guy from the amusement park. She's thinking about him! It angered him as he gripped the banquet of flowers tighter, going into deep thoughts. At the same time, the Shinkengers noticed that Kotoha prepared five small plates of Gyoza and cookies, decorated with their respected Kanji. They also noticed that Takeru's plate is the only one that has a peeled orange.
Kotoha looked up to find everyone standing, "Minna-san! Come try the Gyoza and cookies I made!"
This made the boys hesitate. Mako's cooking is… one word… terrible. Kotoha can eat Mako's cooking so Kotoha's cooking is terrible too as all samurai women have the same taste.
Mako was not hesitating. She went to taste the Gyoza. The guys gulped in anticipated as Mako swallowed. The ShinkenPink held a sigh, "I hate to admit but I lost again!" before eating her cookie, they noticed her grinning and nodding with approval, "Oiishi!"
"Eh?" The boys were surprised. The Kuroko dragged the three of them into the kitchen. As they took a seat, their looks were horrified as to say: Don't send me to the WORST CRISIS! The Kuroko gave their thumbs up as to ensure it is edible before leaving to do their chores.
Each guy took a breath before chucking a Gyoza into their mouths with their eyes closed. "Hmmm… Oiishi!" Their eyes opened in surprise on how it tasted nice.
"Honto ni?" Kotoha asked before noticing Takeru at the corner, holding a banquet of white roses and yellow tulips and a large rectangular wooden box. "Tono-sama?" She called out gently.
Takeru snapped back into reality, "Huh? … Oh! This is for you! I'm sorry for ruining your kimono!" Takeru muttered as he bowed and gave his gifts to Kotoha quickly. As he made his way to the table, everyone including the Kuroko, smacked their foreheads.
Takeru… That is not how you give them to Kotoha! It should be less formal! Mako thought as she sighed at the fact that her plan was poorly executed.
Kotoha's eyes widened in surprise. Tono-sama is sorry? He didn't even ruin my kimono! She turned around to see Takeru flushed and eating the Gyoza too quickly.
"Tono-sama! Please eat slowly, you can choke!" Kotoha showed her concern which caused Takeru's blush to deepen.
"Oi! Kotoha! How come Takeru gets an orange?" Chiaki asked.
"Actually… Gen-chan said that Tono-sama has a weak stomach…. So I peeled an orange for Tono-sama. It would be easier for Tono-sama to digest his food." This reason caused Takeru to secretly smile at the fact that Kotoha was thoughtful about him.
Genta clapped his hands, "Kotoha-chan! You are so thoughtful!"
Kotoha blushed and remembered Takeru's present, she glanced at the beautifully wrapped banquet of flowers and then peeked into the box, and it has a beautiful yellow kimono, made of silk. "Tono-sama! I cannot accept these!"
"Accept them. These are my form of apology!"
"But…Tono-sama didn't ruin my kimono. I was being clumsy!"
"Kotoha…Accept them!"
"Tono-sama, I can't. Tono-sama is too kind to buy them for me."
"Just accept them!"
"Tono-sama, I can't!"
"Accept them!"
"Tono-sama…"
"Just take them already!" Chiaki stood up, clearly frustrated of having to look back and forth from the argument.
Jii came into the kitchen, "Kotoha…The hospital called to remind you of your visit to you sister tomorrow!"
"Hai! Arigatou gozaimasu!" Kotoha bowed.
Jii noticed that Kotoha was carrying a banquet of flowers and a rectangular box, the same items that Takeru was carrying. So these were for Kotoha? "Kotoha… I'll put these in your room." Jii stated as he took the gifts.
Kotoha tried protesting, "Jii-san! These are not mine…"
"Kotoha! As your Tono, I ordered you to accept them!" Takeru stated.
The vassal wanted to protest but as soon as she saw the final look in Takeru's eyes, she admitted in defeat, "Hai…" Kotoha accepted softly.
The Shinkengers sighed and looked at each other. They know one thing: Takeru really needs to tone down his "Tono-ness" and show his softer side to Kotoha.