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Hayate was left alone. He pondered, "I have the rest of the day off... I hadn't planned for this though. What should I do now?" He thought for a few moments. "The fridge is getting empty. I should pick up some groceries." He proceeded to go to the nearest supermarket.
Hayate walked through the aisles, thinking about what they were missing back home. Turns out though, the fridge and pantry were not so understocked after all. "Pork, we have that. Lettuce, got that. Soy sauce... do we have soy sauce? The bottle is nearly empty I think."
The shelves were empty, it was nearing nightfall after all. Signs on the wall indicate a sale that took place which meant a mass panic shopping festival. Luckily, one bottle remained unpurchased. As Hayate reached for it, he noticed that another hand was already reaching for it, and slightly ahead of his. Hayate quickly withdrew his arm, turned and apologized to whoever was next to him without looking.
A familiar voice, "Hayate?" A pink haired girl stood in front of him. Hayate was equally surprised, "Hinagiku? What are you doing here at this hour?"
"Was about to ask the same. A student council meeting finished later than expected and it turns out that Mom's coming home very late today. The fridge's empty too. So what are you doing here Hayate?
"Well... long story. Basically I have the rest of the day, or night rather off. So I'm here to pick up a few things. What was the meeting about?"
"The school cultural festival is coming up, and we have to organize and supervise preparations."
"School cultural festival..." Hayate didn't have too fond memories of one. Nagi getting hypnotized, wanted to sell her manga, and all the nonsense that followed.
He smiled, "I'm sure this year's festival will be a fun one. Take the soy sauce too. You were here first."
"Thanks. Do you want to come over for dinner?"
"No, I really cannot. They might be expecting me back home for dinner, though I haven't asked yet."
"It's already approaching 7:00 PM." Hinagiku glanced at her watch. She said, "Do you think you can make it back to your home in time?"
Hayate thought for a moment and recalled, "Mistress usually has dinner at 7:00 PM sharp, not that she actually wants to eat at 7:00 PM on the dot."
He did not change his stance, "No, I really cannot."
A growl. Closer inspection reveals it was coming from the abdomen area.
She smirked, "Something else is saying yes. Besides, I already have rice enough for two people cooking in the rice cooker."
Seems Hayate had to accept anyway, he realized that he had no extra money to pay for any convenience food after paying for the groceries and there might not be anything left for him at home when he gets there.
"Al right." Hayate gave up but with a smile.
Back at the mansion, Maria wandered around the expansive corridors of the house, checking room after room looking for Nagi. She wanted to ask Nagi about what she wanted to have for dinner, but she was nowhere to be found, not even in front of a video game console, or in the study reading manga. Maria eventually gave up and headed to the kitchen to prepare one of Nagi's usual favourites. However, beyond expectation, Maria was surprised to see Nagi already in the kitchen with an apron.
She asked, "What are you doing mistress?"
Nagi answered, "Cooking for Hayate of course. Don't you think this is a nice day to cook for him?"
Maria didn't understand, "Yes, but why mistress?"
"He saved my life again Maria. This is the least I can do to thank him. Speaking of Hayate, where is he?"
Maria was hesitant to answer, "He's... not here right now."
"Where is he then?"
"I gave him some times off. I thought I wanted to thank him a little. I was expecting that he would be back by now."
Nagi was surprised and exclaimed, "Call him right now and tell him to come home right now!"
Maria quickly snatched the phone from the wall and made the call.
A few long seconds interrupted only by beeps passed.
"The number you have dialled is currently not available."
It was only when Hinagiku had finished leading Hayate to her house that she realized the full consequence of her actions. She was alone with a single male, again. The two were sitting across each other in the living room and it was quiet. Hayate sat there Hinagiku as she grew redder and redder as she tried to recall the previous dozen or so minutes. Apparently she was on an auto-pilot until now, there was a sudden urge to invite Hayate for dinner and of course she didn't expect it that it would complicate so much.
She regained her composure and finally broke the awkward silence, "I guess I want to thank you for cooking my favourite dish the last time you were here."
"We kinda cooked together that day."
"I still want to thank you nonetheless. I'll return the favour today. So what's your favourite dish Hayate?"
"My favourite dish.." Hayate wondered into thought. Did he have a favourite dish? There were many dishes that he liked, but just about everything he ate so far as a butler was delicious, save Nagi's cooking. thinking back, did he have a favourite dish when he was a younger kid? Mom or dad never cooked for him, and he had lived off cheap convenience food for most of his life, so that's a no.
Unsure of what to answer, Hayate blurted out, "Curry and hamburger patties." If he was going to eat at Hingaiku's expense, at least make it her favourite dish so she could really enjoy eating too.
"Curry and hamburger patties? But that's my favourite dish too and what we've cooked together that day."
Hinagiku stood up and dismissed any wild thoughts that she may have had. She thought, "Definitely just a coincidence." She headed to the kitchen, "Wait here okay? Make yourself at home."
"Home?" Hayate thought. He had actually called this house home for a period of a few says. Something told him that it might not be the last.
Hayate caught himself wandering the room, and came across what looked like a family photo of the Katsura family. The picture contained Hinagiku's parents, Hinagiku herself and Hinagiku's older sister Miss Katsura. All younger versions of them.
Hinagiku emerged from the kitchen door, "Apparently there's two packages of instant curry lying around. Do you want sweet or spicy...?" She noticed Hayate holding the picture frame at the corner.
"Sorry." Hayate apologized, realizing that she saw him holding and looking at the photo. "Sweet would be nice."
"She looks like another person there doesn't she."
"Who?"
"My older sister."
Looking more closely at the photo Hayate realized, "She does look different."
"It's not just ago you know? That was before she discovered alcohol."
Hayate laughed, "It's changed her that much?"
"Yeah, it's amazing isn't it. At least she's still the same inside though."
The sound of sizzling grew stronger. Hinagiku rushed back to the kitchen, "The hamburger patties!"
She rushed to quickly flip the two patties over and gave a sigh of relief when she saved them, but only just. She turned to the boiling pot of water to put the chunks of instant gravy in, but became surprised at the sight of Hayate behind her who was picking up dishes, spoons and forks from a cabinet.
She said, "What are you doing? I thought I said for you to let me handle everything."
Hayate seemed uncontrolled, "As much as I would like to relax, but I cannot help it. I have to help with something at least."
Hinagiku smiled, "Seems we both have to help out again. Last time you wanted to do the cooking yourself but I insisted on helping to cook. Help set up the table okay?"
"What would you like to drink with dinner?"
"Tea would be nice."
She carried on cooking for a moment.
"Where are the tea leaves?" Hayate asked.
"Top right cabinet from the fridge. Wait, wait? I thought I had some already prepared in the fridge."
"There's none left in the fridge."
She sighed, "Mom must've finished it. In that case just water is fine."
She said it a little too late. Hayate had already put a kettle next to the boiling gravy.
Hayate smiled, "Tea's fine right?"
Several minutes later, both the gravy, the tea and the table were done.
Hinagiku looked at their efforts, "Looks like we end up cooking together again, in a way. How is the gravy? I made sure that I won't lose to you."
Hayate tasted the curry, "It's delicious! It's even better than what I made."
"You're kidding right?"
"No, I mean it."
"No way. Let's see about the tea." She sipped the tea cup. "It's amazing! Did you really use those leaves from the cabinet?"
"Yes? I didn't do anything special." Hayate agreed.
Hinagiku sighed, "I hate to admit it, but seems we're tied again."
Hayate laughed, "Round 3 for some other time then. Let's eat before the food gets cold."
Hayate asked, "I remember you said something about the school cultural festival. The date is already near?"
"Not really." She answered, "The calender should say that there's a few weeks to go. The situation is that a few groups of students want to start of preparations really early, hence the school council meeting."
"Sounds interesting. What do they have planned?"
"Nothing too special actually. The first years just got a little over excited. Class 1B has a play planned. Little ambitious to do a play with a thousand extras. Rika, Izumi and Risa have a maid café planned."
"Maid café?"
"They said that it will bring in lots of revenue. Not that I can stop them. Most profits are going to charity anyway. Most profits are going to charity anyway."
"Well that's good."
Hinagiku pondering , there was one more thing to say. "I also hear class 2C are planning some kind of haunting house or maze."
"John's class?"
"Yeah, it would be already past Halloween by the time the school cultural festival starts but they want to celebrate it nonetheless. We'll see what they have planned."
"Sounds fun."
Their friendly conversation went on.
"Thanks for the dinner." Hayate waved goodbye.
"Thanks for helping to clean up." Hinagiku did the same.
"What's the time? I haven't been checking."
"I haven't either. Let's see."
The hands were at the numbers 12 and 9, not a good sign. She gasped, "9:00 PM?"
The butler was surprised too, "9:00 PM? I should get back now." The next thing she knew, he was already in the distance.
Hayate checked his pockets for some money, and realized that he had used it all up. "No taxi? Do I really need have to walk home? I guess I better call mistress."
The phone screen was blank, and unresponsive.
"Huh? Battery's dead?" Yes, he had to walk home and what horrors awaited?
Hayate made his way to the front door of the mansion. Looking from outside the house was dimly lit, probably because it was already late at night. Outside was equally dim, only a few street adorned the walkway. Perhaps he could've slip in unnoticed before anyone spotted him and interrogate him.
Hayate turned the door knob and pushed forward. A creak echoed, but no one was in sight yet. He crept towards the stairs and was close to being home free. Maybe if he made it back to his room tomorrow would be a new day and everyone would act as if nothing had happened.
"Where are you going?" Or not.
Hayate slowly turned around to see a rather upset-looking Nagi. He cheekily responded, "Just going to bed, that's all. Nothing much."
"Going to bed? Going to bed without dinner?"
"Well, I've already had dinner."
"Already had dinner?"
"No, no. What I mean is that I..."
"So all my love and effort preparing this has gone to waste?" Nagi help up a dish, containing... something beyond description.
Hayate gazed at it, "What is that?"
"It's one of my signature dishes. I've just thought of it yesterday. I call it... call it... the Nagi Special!"
"Very impressive mistress. If you'll excuse me..."
"But I've made it for you Hayate." Nagi pleaded.
"Al right." Hayate submitted. "Let's have a taste shall we?"
A few minutes later, they had turned on the lights in the dining room and Nagi reheated the dish.
Hayate tried to smile as he braced for what he expected.
"It's delicious."
Nagi however, did not respond with delight. Instead her tone changed, "Where have you been?"
"Well, I said that I've had dinner."
"That can't just be it."
Hayate did not want to lie, "I intended to buy some groceries, but I met Hinagiku at the supermarket. She invited me for dinner and I could not refuse."
Nagi became pent up with rage, "You had dinner with her! I come home to prepare dinner especially for you and then you go and eat with some other girl?"
Hayate did not answer but thought for a moment, "I did buy groceries right? But where are they?" He remembered handing a plastic bag to Hinagiku to use it's contents while she was cooking.
Nagi continued her wrath, "As punishment, you must eat it all! I have several other dishes that I have made!"
This might be a long night.