That Friday was pretty uneventful until lunch, when Nishikata and Senpai were permitted to use the school's kitchens.
Senpai: "I'm still surprised that that worked."
Nishikata: "I know, right? How can you bake cookies academically? In any case, Let's get started!"
Senpai got started by sketching an outline of a flower cookie cutter.
Senpai: "I've got a friend in the metalworking club, so he should be able to make a pretty high quality cookie cutter for you."
Nishikata: "This school has a metalworking club?!"
Senpai: "Yep."
Senpai began sketching out several lines on the other outline.
Senpai: "Anyways, here's a pattern for icing if you want to make it like a tulip."
Nishikata could already envision the pattern on the cookie.
Nishikata: "By the way, thanks for everything, Naoto."
Senpai: "No problem. Besides, what are friends for?"
Nishikata: "True! You know what, you'll be the first taste tester. First, you get the packaging, then you get the cookie cutter, then you get the icing design! All I gotta do now is adapt the recipe a bit so it's not too sweet."
Senpai: "I mean, I'm not the one making the cookie cutter-"
Nishikata: "Still. I couldn't do this without you."
Senpai: "T-thanks, Nishikata."
Senpai got the cookie cutter back by the time lunch was over.
Friend: "So anyways, here ya go. See ya later, Hachioji!"
Senpai: "S-see ya!"
The rest of the classes were, as always, uneventful. Before long, it was time for art club. Everyone had actually made it to the room at the same time this time, a rarity since Senpai was always so eager to get to his "oasis".
Nishikata: "Hey, do any of you know a good cookie recipe that uses icing?"
Takagi: "I can't say that I have, but why don't you talk to Mina or Kimura? They're pretty good with baking. Where'd the sudden interest come from, Nishikata?"
Nishikata: "I-I was just trying to expand my horizons."
Takagi saw right through him, but decided not to press it further. Nishikata took out his phone and began to text Kimura.
Nishikata: *in text* "Hey, do you have a good iced cookie recipe? I wanted to bake some for Takagi."
Kimura: "I'm on my way."
Nishikata: *not in text* "Uh… Kimura said that he's on his way here. Are you ok with that, Naoto?"
Senpai: "Well, seeing that Gamo and Yoshi make this place their home quite a bit, I'd say yeah."
Nishikata: "Perfect."
Shortly, Kimura and Mina arrived.
Kimura: "Sup, guys!"
Mina: "Sup!"
Everyone in the room: "Sup."
Kimura: "So Nishikata, I never really got the hang of cookies, for some reason, but Mina's really good at making them."
Mina: "Yep!"
Nishikata looked relieved.
Nishikata: "That's good. I guess we can head to my place after clubs are finished?"
Kimura: "Yeah, that sounds good. We're going to get back to the cooking club now. See you after club ends!"
Nishikata: "See ya!"
The 2 of them walked out of the room and everyone, including Nagatoro, returned to their drawings. Before long, art club was over and it was time to head home.
Takagi: "Hey Nishikata. What do you think of my drawing?"
Nishikata's eyes bulged when he turned and saw an exact replica of the fruit bowl that stood in front of them.
Nishikata: "I-it looks amazing."
Takagi: "Aw, thanks Nishikata! Are you complimenting my artistic ability?"
Nishikata: "Wha-no! I mean yes! I am. I guess."
Takagi smiled at him again.
Takagi: "Well, thanks!"
With that, they packed up and left for the school kitchens.
Kimura: "Hey guys. Let's go to Nishikata's house."
Nishikata: "Oh, right. Yeah." Damn… How do I shake Takagi? You know what, maybe…
Nishikata: "T-Takagi?"
Takagi: "Oh that's right I just remembered, I told Mano I'd go over to her place after art club for a little girl talk with us and Houjou. See you tomorrow, Nishikata!"
Nishikata: Well… That was convenient.
The 5 of them started walking back to Nishikata's house.
Mina: "You know, this'll be the first time I've come over to your house, Nishikata-kun."
Nishikata: "Huh. I guess it is."
Kimura: "You know, the Nishikata I know would've probably turned completely red at that coming from any girl."
This caused Nishikata to ironically blush.
Nishikata: "W-what? I… I guess so? I mean, I've changed, so…"
Kimura: It's just with Takagi, isn't it.
Nagatoro: "Hey Nishikata, mind if I tag along?"
Nishikata: "Huh? I guess I'm ok with that."
Nagatoro: "I gotta keep an eye on Senpai to make sure he's not doing anything lewd the moment he's left alone!"
Senpai: "In any case, we're here."
Nishikata grabbed his key and opened the door. He then gave a tour of the kitchen to his visitors. After this, Mina rummaged around in her bag and came up with a sheet of paper.
Mina: "Alright, this should help you! You should probably make a copy of this."
Nishikata: "Gotcha. Thanks, Mina"
Nishikata headed to the printer to make a copy before returning.
Nishikata: "Thanks again, Mina. Here's the recipe back."
Mina put the paper back into some sort of binder and turned back to face Nishikata.
Mina: "Kimura and I'll help you out while you're baking, just in case you need it."
Senpai: "Nagatoro? You want to help out with making dinner? If that's ok with you, Nishikata."
Nishikata: "Yeah, that's fine. My parents are out for another business trip anyway."
Senpai and Nagatoro got into the kitchen and quickly got to work making chicken karaage, rice, and tamagoyaki with spicy mustard sauce. Meanwhile, Nishikata brought Mina and Kimura down into the basement. He pushed on a bookshelf, revealing a secret door.
Kimura: "Wha…"
Nishikata: "This is kinda my secret baking room. It's where I do most of my baking. I also come here if I just wanna be on my own for a bit. Y'know?"
Nishikata rummaged around for a moment before breaking the silence.
Nishikata: "I also keep most of my ingredients here. You 2 are probably the only people other than my parents who know about this place."
Mina: "Well then, let's get mixing!"
Nishikata began indiscriminately tossing everything into a bowl, proceeding to mix everything together.
Mina: "Uh, Nishikata-kun? Don't you have measuring tools?"
Nishikata: "That's funny, actually. We never had any so I kinda figured out how to eyeball."
Mina and Kimura looked at Nishikata in awe. The way that he seemed to know exactly what was needed in the recipe was almost mesmerizing. Before long, he'd rolled out a slab of dough.
Nishikata: "Alright. I'll bake this while we're eating… As for the leftover dough…"
Nishikata shot the 2 people in front of him a knowing look before they responded with a nod. A good baker never wastes good dough.
Nishikata: "Anyways, as thanks, Naoto, Nagatoro, and I will treat you guys to a meal and dessert. I'll start on my recipe now."
Mina: "What's your recipe?"
Nishikata: "Funny thing actually, I'm not sure myself. I just put in a bit of this, and a bit of that, and boom. Cookies."
Kimura: "Well if it works…"
Again, Nishikata was in his element, whisking, mixing, rolling, cutting, he moved like lightning. Before long, he'd finished rolling and tossed it into the fridge. They headed back up, and Mina and Kimura sat at the table, waiting.
Senpai: "Hey, you guys are here! Come by the kitchen and grab some food."
Mina and Kimura each grabbed a bowl of rice as well as a plate of chicken and tamagoyaki before heading to the table and chowing down.
Mina: "Mmm, these are all so good! You guys should really join the cooking club!"
Kimura said nothing, but gave a thumbs up while eating.
Senpai: "I-I'm glad you like it!"
Nagatoro: "Yeah. Thanks."
Nagatoro was a bit preoccupied being paranoid and jealous about Senpai getting a compliment from a girl but quickly shook that out of her mind before also eating.
Nagatoro: "I always do like your cooking, Senpai."
Senpai braced himself for the tease, but nothing came.
Senpai: "T-thanks, Nagatoro."
In the meantime, Nishikata had set both doughs in the oven before coming back with his food.
Nishikata: "You know, I've already had Naoto's cooking, but you're also really good at this, Hayase. Maybe Mina's onto something."
Nagatoro went slightly red. Looks like Senpai wasn't the only one who couldn't take a compliment. But… why?
Nagatoro: I already get tons of praise from my teammates so why does it feel so weird when it's Senpai or Nishikata? Maybe it's because I'm closer to them or that I know that they mean it? I guess. "Thanks, Nishikata."
Shortly, the cookies were done baking and they were finished. Nishikata gestured for Senpai to follow him into the kitchen.
Nishikata: "So do you think you could ice these? My hands are kinda shaky right now.
Senpai: "Y-you're that nervous?"
Nishikata: *blushing* "Shut up. You have a steadier hand, though. That's part of why you're so good at art."
Senpai picked up the icing and began icing.
Senpai: "You know, you probably didn't need this many different shades of icing. It definitely does help, though, so I'm not complaining."
Nishikata: "Yeah. just ice those ones and not these ones."
Nishikata gestured and the ones that were baked using Mina's recipe for the first phrase and his own recipe for the second.
Senpai: "Alright."
There it was again, that air of determination that came from Senpai whenever he was making art. Before long, it looked as if Nishikata had several flowers in front of him.
Nishikata: "They're… They're beautiful. Thank you so much, Naoto!"
Senpai: "Hey, no problem. Anything to help my friend get with the girl."
Nishikata: "Thanks…"
Nishikata was blushing, but pulled Senpai in for a quick homie hug.
Senpai: "Let's package these now."
Nishikata: "Right! I almost forgot!"
As Senpai packaged them, Nishikata went back to the table with the leftovers. As he did, however, he heard the doorbell ring.
Mina: "I'll get it!"
Mina burst up and ran for the door, only to be met by Takagi.
