Featuring Tieshipping (Honda x Miho)

"Ah! Honda-kun, perfect timing! Could you pull that pot off the stove?"

Honda had had to stop dead in his tracks for a moment when he stepped into the kitchen, but he quickly jumped back into action at her request.

Miho looked so cute, with her silky purple hair tied up in a bun and the pink apron printed with cartoon cats. He snuck another glance at her as he pulled the pot of what appeared to be chocolate off the stove.

"I didn't know you would be here so early," he said.

"Miho told Bakura-kun and Anzu-chan that Miho would help with the cooking! They had to run and grab some extra ingredients so Miho said that Miho would get the pudding finished for the pie. Is anyone else here yet?"

"Oh, yeah, Jonouchi answered the door...I thought it was weird that he was the one to answer Bakura's door...if Bakura's out getting groceries that explains it."

"Yep! They'll be back soon."

She hummed to herself as she bustled over to the cupboard and pulled out the premade pie crust.

"You look really cute, Miho-chan," Honda said before he could think about it. "That apron suits you."

Miho blushed.

"Oh, thanks, Honda-kun," she said. "Anzu-chan lent it to Miho. Miho doesn't have one..."

"Really? You don't cook often?"

He had always imagined Miho being one of those girls that was really good at all the normal domestic tasks – although he had realized more recently that she was the messiest person he knew and he had had to teach her how to use the laundromat, so he realized he shouldn't jump to conclusions.

"Miho is actually not really good at cooking," she admitted, blushing deeper. "But you can't really ruin pie with premade crust and instant pudding, right?"

"I guess not," Honda said, smiling. "Don't worry, it just takes practice. Cooking I mean."

Miho glanced up at him.

"Are you any good at cooking, Honda-kun?"

"Huh? Oh, well...a little bit. I mean, if I have a recipe...sometimes my mom needs some help around the house so I have to do some of the cooking."

Miho stared down at the pie crust in her hands. She seemed about to say something. Then she shook her head and bustled over to the counter to continue her work.

"You just have to pour the pudding in and then it will set for a while, right?" she asked, looking uncertain.

"As far as I know..." Honda said.

Miho frowned. She reached for the pot and a spoon and made to start pouring the pudding in.

"Oh no," she whispered.

"What? Is something wrong?" Honda asked.

Miho looked up, looking mortified.

"I...it's not coming out of the pot...I think I...I think I cooked it too long, or maybe I didn't add enough milk, but..."

She looked on the verge of tears. Honda took the pot from her and checked it. Yeah, it was almost as hard as a rock. He glanced at the stove. Oh, she had had the heat up too high...

"Is it...is it ruined?" Miho asked.

Honda looked over at her. Her lip was trembling, and she looked like she was going to collapse on the floor right now. He opened his mouth and then closed it. Oh, geez, what was he supposed to say?

"Well...um..."

"I knew it!" Miho said.

She pulled off her apron with an angry yank and threw it across the room.

"I'm no good, I can't do anything right!" she cried, sobbing into her hands. "I'm just stupid! Everyone says so – all Miho can do is go shopping and pick out pretty clothes!"

"Miho! Miho-chan, that's not true! Everyone makes mistakes...Miho-chan..."

Miho shrugged away from his hands and kept crying. He just stood there, a little uncertain. What was he supposed to do? Miho was really, really upset about this – maybe something else was going on.

"No one says that you're stupid, Miho-chan," he said firmly. "And if anyone does...I'll punch them, okay?"

Miho sniffled, but didn't look up.

"Listen, Miho, it's gonna be okay...oh!"

There was another box of instant pudding on the counter. He walked over and grabbed it.

"Come on, let's do it together this time. Sound good? We know what to do now...that's why we make mistakes!"

Miho glanced up between her fingers. She sniffled again.

"Are you sure...?" she whispered. "Are you sure...you want Miho to..."

"Yeah, of course I want you to make it with me! Come on, you have to have a success today. We're both average at cooking, so maybe if we put that together we'll be able to be awesome!"

She giggled a little bit at that, but her voice cracked. She wiped at her eyes.

"Okay. Let's try."

Honda smiled.

Miho went to retrieve her apron, and the pair got to work. The instructions were pretty simple – in fact, the only thing Miho had done wrong was misread the temperature for the pudding to be made at.

About fifteen minutes later, they were pouring a perfect pot of pudding into the pie crust.

"There we go!" Honda said. "See! You can do it. Sometimes we have to mess up, though, and that's how we get better at things."

Miho's eyes were still a little red, but she smiled.

"Thank you, Honda-kun," she said. "The pie's going to be good, right?"

"Really good," Honda promised.

She smiled a little wider, and then moved to put the pie away into the fridge to set. When she came back, she stood in front of Honda with her hands clasped behind her back, hesitating for a moment.

"Honda-kun...thank you," she said. "You know, Miho...I always wanted to be good at cooking. So that I could help my mom too. Because she's always so busy...so...Honda-kun...do you think..."

She ducked her head.

"What?" Honda asked.

"Um...maybe...could you help me learn to cook better? I know you said you weren't very good, but you helped me feel more confident and..."

She looked up at him through her bangs.

Honda felt his cheeks growing warm.

"O-of course, Miho-chan," he said. "If you really want me to help, and not someone better, like Bakura or Anzu..."

Miho's eyes lit up.

"Thank you, Honda-kun!"

She threw her arms around him. Then she popped away, looking embarrassed.

"Um..."

With a shy smile, she lifted the apron off of her neck, and then threw it over Honda's neck instead.

"I think it looks cute on you too," she said.

And then she blushed further and fled the kitchen.

Honda watched her go, feeling his cheeks grow redder by the second.

"We're back, Miho-chan...oh? Honda? Are you cooking now? Why do you have Miho's apron?" Anzu asked.

Honda flushed.

"Ummm...it's nothing, never mind," Honda said.

He took of the apron and ran away into the living room before Anzu could ask anymore questions.