Kagami grabbed his checkered potholders (also came with the set) as he bent to open the oven. The pies' crusts were a beautiful golden brown. Just like mom used to make. His mouth was watering even though he'd eaten the rest of the earlier pie only…he glanced at the clock.
Twelve hours ago. It was a good thing he had tomorrow off.
Tendou was hovering nearby so he tossed the oven mitts to him after he'd safely set his own creation onto the stovetop. He took a moment to enjoy the little artwork he'd done.
He'd used the extra dough to make a rough image of a Kabuto beetle. He realized it was probably unbelievably goofy, but it was four am in the morning. He was allowed to be a bit silly if he wanted to. It was probably an unspoken rule, he was sure. Tendou pulled his own pie out; he'd decorated his crust too, though Kagami mentally admitted apple blossoms were a classier subject to use as a decoration. Just how did Tendou manage to make the flowers look so delicate without them getting too brown on the edges?
"Haa. That's pretty cool-looking. Jyuka-chan will love it."
Tendou smiled slightly, gracefully accepting the compliments like he was used to them. And probably was. He set his pie next to Kagami's to cool a bit before walking back to the table. Kagami joined him after turning the oven off. Settling down in his chair he watched Tendou pick up his cup and pause to sniff it. His smile broadened when he heard the other man make a soft surprised sound.
"My landlady gave me some last week. Her nephew works on a high-grade tea leave grove and likes to send her some"
"It's very fine tea." Tendou took a sip…then put the cup down quietly. "You shouldn't pour boiling water on it, though."
Surprised, Kagami's head slipped off the hand he'd propped it against.
"Tendou, you're supposed to make tea with hot water."
"Different teas have different temperatures that they steep best in."
"Oh? Really?" Kagami gambled that if he listened politely, maybe the lecture wouldn't last too long. Tendou crossed his arms and continue his explanation of different types of tea and why it was important to observe basic tea making procedures. Kagami leaned back in his chair, nodding but fully realizing he'd probably not remember a single word the next day.
"…What you've received is what's called a "white tea", which is made from the tenderest top leaves and buds. It is a delicate tea and should be made with water about that is a bit cooler than boiling." Tendou took another sip of tea. "And silver needle tea only needs to be steeped for 30-40 seconds."
"I see." Well the man was more talkative now. And Kagami was kind of interested in the subject, having had to politely listen to his landlady's proud description of every tea she ever shared with him. Kagami took a sip of his own tea.
Well, it didn't taste as "clean as the forest in the last day of winter when the snow has melted" but it was pretty nice. Even a guy like Kagami could appreciate it anyway; even if he'd carelessly used water that was too hot.
"And keep it in an airtight, dark place. Not in a plastic bag near the sink." Tendou scolded.
"Right." Kagami laughed sheepishly. Mrs. Sekihara had already told him that and had even given him a little tin for it the very first time she'd given him tea but…he'd been busy with work to look for it. Not that a guy like Tendou'd accept an explanation like that. With his actually being out there on the battlefield and living in an impeccably taken care of house. And that was on top of tending to his little sister's needs. Haaa. He was comparing himself to Tendou again. And getting depressed. Again. He slumped onto the table, pillowed by his crossed arms. It took him a moment to realize the man across from him had also gone quiet. But at least it wasn't an uncomfortable silence. The whispers of light streaming from the window showed it was almost morning, though. Kagami yawned as the minutes stretched on.
"I think its' cool enough to transport now." Tendou stood and touched the pie tin carefully.
"A-ah." Kagami stumbled up, still attempting to be a decent host. "You can use the box Yumi-san gave me to carry it"
Tendou nodded his thanks, accepting the box Kagami handed him. "I will return the pie tin to you after it is cleaned."
"Oh, uh...thanks." Kagami rubbed the back of his head awkwardly. How did one say "goodbye" after a night of baking and semi-conversation with an enigmatic almost-stranger he'd met a month or so ago? 'See you later whenever you feel like messing with me or my life is in Worm-related peril?'
"I'm going. Goodbye." Luckily Tendou was the type to come to such decisions quickly and efficiently.
"Oh. Yeah. Goodnight" Kagami followed him as he walked to the front door, "Uh. Take care."
"I'm going on ahead" Tendou returned politely, walking out into the twilight. Kagami found himself watching him until he turned around a corner. Shaking himself out of his daze, he shut the door.
"Well, that was an interesting Friday night..." he glanced at the clock on the wall. "Well, Saturday morning." He started trudging to his bedroom, fully realizing his exhaustion. Halfway there, he stumbled back into the kitchen to at least cover his own pie. Rolling his shoulders, he finally wandered back to get some shuteye. Sitting down on his futon, he wondered sleepily what that had actually been about.
He stretched then lifted his legs to slide himself in between the sheets and blanket. He found himself staring at the ceiling, however. His mind demanding an answer to the Important question it had created. He thought back on their conversation. Perhaps he'd wanted to learn more about Yaguruma-san's character? Well, that made sense. The two were rivals after all, he supposed. Thought Kagami didn't think the word perfectly described that relationship. Yawning he nestled further into the sheets, his mind now letting his body rest after finding a reasonable explanation for the weirdness of it all.
Because just coming in the middle of the night to make a pie was crazy. Right? Who'd be that gung ho about learning a tasty recipe?
Kagami laughed to himself as he slipped into sweet unconsciousness. Right. No one was that serious about cooking.