012 - How to prepare a feast and woo your stay-at-home introvert

There are many people who consider making a nice meal, the sort that's prepared for a special occasion with rare ingredients, elaborate processes and deliberately over the top final result a pleasant pastime. Some even consider it more a form of art than an actual chore.

I've never really seen the appeal, my own artistic leanings going in a very different direction.

This, of course, doesn't mean I can't deliver when I feel the situation calls for it. In fact, I like to believe that going through the bother when not high on dopamine all through the process gives it an additional depth. I'm not enjoying cooking this feast, but I'm doing it anyway, because I feel the goal is worthwhile.

That's probably a particularly petty sort of wishful thinking, but being aware of it doesn't change how I feel.

"Ashikabi-sama?" Haihane walks into the kitchen, a delighted smile on her lips as she takes in the scent. "That smells wonderful!"

"Ah, Haihane." I greet back without looking away from what I'm doing. "I was preparing a bit of a surprise for the recent addition to our roster."

"She getting her wings tonight? Kochou sure is a lucky bitch!"

I hum in confirmation, feeling pleasantly surprised she got that much from so few words. I already knew Sekirei had some generic psychic abilities to complement their more specialized ones, but their ability to understand what's left unsaid goes a step beyond anything I had expected. It's incredibly reassuring, both at a professional level and for more… personal reasons.

"But, uh…" Haihane shifts in place nervously, tongue darting over her lips as she steals a glance around the kitchen. "You aren't going to eat all of that just between the two of you, right?"

"The occasion is Kochou's date…" I trail off, not quite managing to hold back a flash of mischievous amusement at the way my words make her deflate. "But I'm not so cruel as to leave you without anything."

"So I can have the leftovers!?" She immediately perks up again.

"Indeed, just remember to leave enough for Karasuba. She'll be running late and she'll probably be famished once she finally gets back home." I don't need to look at her to know those words put a bit of a damper on her enthusiasm, but leaving Karasuba out would make her grumpy and snippy for days, all the while trying to pretend she doesn't actually care. "Now, think you could distract Kochou for a while so I can finish up here?"

"Sure! I will—!" Haihane immediately agrees, only to immediately cut herself off. "Uh… I was just with her, actually. It will be suspicious if I just go back there."

"Not if you have a good excuse." I point out, humming as I take a glance at the oven clock. "Maybe show her the big bathroom? She's been surviving on showers so far and I'm not sure she's even aware of what she's been missing."

"Skinship with the newbie?" The huge smile on her lips can be heard without a need to spare a glance. "You got it!"

With that, Haihane rushes out of the kitchen, leaving me to shake my head in amusement. That girl has way too much energy when it fits her.

Now, I should be adding salt in thirty seconds for optimal flavoring, but that would cause a sub-optimal loss of liquids. On the other hand, delaying it to ensure a perfect texture would leave the savoriness at a sub-optimal level instead.

Ugh… this is why I hate questions without a flawless, single answer. What should I sacrifice in the name of compromise this time? Decisions, decisions…

Kochou didn't suspect anything when Haihane flitted right back into the command room no five minutes after leaving. It did fit pretty well with already observed behavior, after all. She was a bit frustrated when she found herself getting dragged into the bathroom, but not overly suspicious either. All things considered, she could use a break, and Haihane's glowing reviews had piqued her interest. A bath couldn't be that different from a shower, could it?

Turns out, she couldn't have been more wrong and she probably won't ever take a shower again unless strictly necessary. She also suspects Haihane used the excuse of skinship to get overly handsy with her, but (rubbing her superior breasts on Haihane's face was kinda nice so it gets a pass) that's neither here nor there. The point is, still nothing suspicious.

She didn't really realize there might've been ulterior motives behind this whole plan until they were getting dressed again and Haihane let slip something suspicious about dinner within her constant flow idle chatter. By then though, Kochou was feeling far too relaxed and comfortable to fret about the realization, so she simply decided to go along with it and see what happened, thus ensuring that everything would happen as Haihane wanted. Truly a devious plan.

After all, all the suspicion in the world couldn't have prepared her for what she found once she walked into the dinning room.

"Ah, Kochou." Her future Ashikabi greets with a small smile. "I'm glad you could make it. Please take a seat."

The big table for group meals that used to dominate the room is nowhere to be found, replaced by a small round table clearly designed for two people. If the size and cutlery distribution wasn't enough of a clue of that, the two chairs around it would've been a dead giveaway. There's a bottle of Champagne in the middle, a series of covered trays on the side counter and the whole place is lit with candles.

She doesn't even notice when Haihane slips away with a smile, leaving the door closed so the two of them are left alone inside.

Her Ashikabi has changed out of her usual dress suit, she notes as she looks around, not quite managing to hide an expression of wonder behind her usual stoic mask. A form-fitting black sweater and some loose and stretchy-looking jeans, obviously designed for comfort and home use. How can she look so beautiful in clothes so mundane?

"Is this…" She ventures after swallowing thickly, slowly walking towards the offered seat. "My Date?"

"I can practically hear the capitalization in that word." Her Ashikabi shakes her head… ruefully? "Haihane is going to make it into some sort of ritual, isn't she?"

"And I might just help her along in her task." Kochou admits as she finally takes her seat, there's nothing wrong with rituals, especially if this is the result. "But I don't understand? I had resigned myself to waiting…"

"In an ideal world, I would've taken more time to do things properly." Her Ashikabi admits as she moves to serve the plates. "But alas, the world is what it is and it's up to us to make the best out of it."

"This looks ideal enough for me…" Kochou mutters breathlessly while accepting an offered plate. The scent alone is enough to have her salivating.

"A lifelong bond isn't something to take lightly." Her Ahikabi replies, taking her own seat and looking Kochou straight in the eye. There's an intensity there that could make blood run hot and a heart rate spike up. "I'd rather get to know you better before making the commitment. In the same fashion, I'd rather carefully get all my ducks in a row and make sure everything goes smoothly in an important event that means so much to you."

"…Oh." Now she's kind of disappointed she'll never see her Ashikabi going all out for her Winging. Just a bit, of course, she'd still rather get winged tonight than keep waiting for that nebulous 'perfect' chance, but the niggling hint of regret is still there.

"Fear not, I'm confident I have a good enough bead on you to make this… memorable." Her Ashikabi continues, a knowing glint in her eye as she uncorks the Champagne bottle. "Shall we make a toast?"

There's a small 'pop' sound as the cork ends up on her Ashikabi's hand and the contents of the bottle bubble up a bit, threatening with but not quite overflowing the bottle before it's deftly poured into a pair of flute glasses. Isn't uncorking Champagne supposed to be a bit of a messy affair? For some reason, Kochou can't help feeling a bit disappointed that the process was so flawless.

Before she knows what's going on, there's a glass on her hand and her Ashikabi is looking at her expectantly. What… Right, toast. She knows what toasting is about. Drinking, generally alcoholic beverages, to the health or in honor of someone or something by raising one's glass together with others. The purpose is clear from a social point of view, increasing togetherness within a group, strengthening ties through increased awareness of common ground and…

… That has nothing to do with the problem at hand.

"I…" She trails off, feeling her cheeks heat up as her mighty brain draws a blank on what to say next. "I'm not quite sure what to toast for."

"For a long and fruitful relationship, maybe?" Her Ashikabi effortlessly picks the conversation right back up, the growing awkwardness vanishing like mist in the morning light. "One can't really go wrong with the classics."

"I guess I can drink to that."

And that's that. There's no teasing, impatient, frustrated or mean words. No snide comment questioning her intelligence and status as a Brain-Type triggering a round of (hurtful) laughter. Maybe a hint of amusement, but Kochou can't really bring herself to begrudge it. She's pretty sure she would've been amused too, if it was someone else fumbled like she just did.

The Disciplinary Squad really is a step up from the lab, in a way the old library tried but didn't quite manage to be.

She takes a sip from her glass in silence, taking another glance around the room (because she doesn't have the nerve to look straight at her Ashikabi from this close) appreciatively. Her Date is certainly going well, though she still has to wonder about the venue.

She knows the Disciplinary Squad isn't hurting for funds, so why not take things somewhere fancy? Maybe a five-star restaurant since her Ashikabi considers this so important, or even a luxury H-hotel room?

"Oh, I could have taken you to the city, found a nice terraced restaurant to wine and dine you under the stars and then go for a night stroll alongside the Sumida-gawa Promenade before escorting you to a luxury room full of rose petals and scented candles." Her Ashikabi speaks up again, apparently having picked her questions up straight from her mind. "I'm sure it would have been… sufficient. And you would've liked it well enough. But… that's just what you think you should be enjoying, how romance is supposed to work, isn't it?"

She doesn't answer, suddenly finding the food on her plate incredibly fascinating. Why did she think she wanted to be taken out for her Date? Just because that's what she's used to read about when it comes to romantic settings? She doesn't like going out! She doesn't like people or social situations, it would've been a horrible idea!

"Kochou, I take these Dates very seriously." In spite of the suddenly serious mood, Kochou finds herself fighting back a snort. Who is now capitalizing that word? "They are all about having a good time as we get to know each other better. That said, this Date is between you and me. There's no place in it for conventions or for other people's expectations. Just what you want to have and what I'm willing to give."

What she wants… Alright, maybe going out wouldn't have been a horrible idea, but her Ashikabi is right that it could be substantially improved simply by… not going out at all.

"I think a private dinner here at home, followed by some nice cuddling on the couch with a romantic movie in the background will work much better for us." Her Ashikabi continues smoothly. "If everything goes well, we could then move things to the bedroom."

This time, salivation isn't prompted by the scent of delicious food. Or rather, by a whole different sort of food. The mere thought of cuddling with her Ashikabi on a soft surface, romantic movie optional, sounds like a delightful prospect. Why, that sweater she's wearing looks like it would feel very nice to the touch!

And maybe, if things go well enough and she can find her courage, she could even check out whatever lies underneath soft black fabric?

…Wait, didn't Haihane mention something about their Ashikabi's choice of clothing before?

"Kochou? Is something the matter?"

"Well, it's not really a problem, but… Haihane mentioned you are always on the clock?"

"Ah, the suit?" Her Ashikabi asks knowingly. "I'm still on the clock. But concessions must be made when work clothes become a hindrance for the task at hand. A dress suit isn't very nice to cuddle against on the sofa, is it now?"

"…"

"Kochou?"

"… I might not last until the bedroom."

"Please do your best to hold it for now." Her Ashikabi replies, somehow managing to sound even more serious than usual all of a sudden. "Winging can get messy and I would hate for my hard work to be ruined by a sudden indoors storm."

A bit nonplussed about the sudden tone shift, Kochou still has no trouble agreeing. And she's soon glad she did, because damn if her Ashikabi doesn't know how to organize a Date. The dinner is exquisite, the cuddling that follows just perfect and the conversation after that first part, blissfully scarce. Kochou really can't imagine how the night could get even better.

But, according to Haihane, it would…

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