December 10th: Wednesday
Theme: 17. Ornament
"Where did you get those cookies?" Jack asked.
Hiro looked down at the ornament shaped cookies he was eating. These were the cookies Tadashi had given him yesterday. Each one had a unique design on them. They were quite good. Hiro ended up snacking on the majority of them late last night.
"From Tadashi. Want one?" Hiro offered.
Jack took a red one with silver sprinkles from the ziplock bag Hiro had them in. "Tadashi?" he asked.
"The guy I share a table with," Hiro mumbled, gesturing to the empty seat across from him.
"Ah, so you two made up then," Jack said as he took a bite of the cookie. He blinked, recognizing the flavor, and said, "Lucky Cat."
"Huh?" Hiro asked.
Jack dismissed the comment. "Never mind. Remember, if he gives you trouble, I'll kick him out for you." He headed back into the kitchen to resume his duties.
Hiro smiled. A friend! Two days later and he was still adjusting to the concept of having a real actual friend.
"Last day of classes. Ready for your finals?"
Hiro's smile grew a little wider. "Hey Tadashi," he greeted as Tadashi slid into the empty seat. "Can't wait until my finals are over. There's another review for my last final on Thursday and another two on Sunday, but I think I'll be fine."
Tadashi grinned. "That's good to hear. Most students are freaking out right now."
"Do you have finals?" Hiro asked.
"Just one," Tadashi said. "The rest of them are just final essays or presentations."
"Lucky," Hiro said. "Final essays are much easier." As the silence began to descend, Hiro braced himself and didn't let it become a burden. "Thank you for the cookies again," he said. A corner of his mouth twitched upward. "I ate most of them in one sitting."
"I'm glad you liked them. Made them myself," Tadashi said proudly.
Hiro blinked. Tadashi plus baking was something he had never imagined. He tried to imagine Tadashi in an apron in the kitchen mixing a batter and… Hiro lost it. He doubled over in laughter. Wheezing, Hiro tried to get a hold of himself, but Tadashi sat there with a pout on his face and looking offended and Hiro couldn't help himself.
Five minutes later, still choking on the last chuckles, Hiro managed to calm himself.
"Haha, laugh it up," Tadashi said, voice heavy with sarcasm. "I know I don't look like much, but I do know how to cook and bake!"
"I'm sorry," Hiro apologized, grinning widely. "It's just I can't imagine you in the kitchen."
"You're not the only one. My friends expressed similar sentiments," Tadashi said."The joke, however, is on them because I'm the best cook and baker. Honey Lemon can give me a run for my money though when it comes to baking. Mostly because she is a chemistry nerd and what is baking, but proper chemical reactions?"
"That's still better than me," Hiro said, wistfully. Hiro managed simple dishes; eating take out got tiring when one ate it constantly. But they were always lacking in something. The flavors were there, but well, people said love was what made food taste good and no one had cooked for Hiro since he was a boy and there was no one for Hiro to cook for. Empty table and empty chairs were all that waited at home for him.
"If you want, I'll show you how to make them one day," Tadashi offered.
Hiro paused. Was he okay with that? It wasn't like he had anything else to do. Once finals were over, Hiro had three weeks by his lonesome self before the next semester started. He had no desire to return back to New Yosaka and well his current group of friends appear to consist of Jack (whom Hiro did not know what Jack's holiday plans or if the older man, even wanted to 'hang out' but probably not since Jack probably had a family to celebrate the holidays with) and possibly kinda Tadashi.
So… yes, if nothing else, it would fill up one day. "Sure. After finals," Hiro said.
"Great!" Tadashi said with a smile.
Hiro's alarm went off, signaling it was time for his last class of the semester.
"Time for class," Hiro said with a heavy heart. For the first time in his life, he didn't want to go back to class.
"Wait, wait," Tadashi said. "You got a cellphone Hiro?"
"Yeah, why?" Who didn't have a cellphone these days? Even if the model Hiro had was an old flip style and not the new hologram or touch screen versions that were on the market. Not to mention what else did Tadashi think Hiro was using as an alarm? It wasn't like Hiro was wearing a watch. Who did Hiro have to call? The only numbers Hiro had stored on his phone was his apartment, his home back in New Yosaka and his father's work in case of emergency.
"Let me borrow it?" Tadashi asked, hand out.
Okay, so maybe Tadashi's phone was dead? Odd but Hiro complied. To his credit, Tadashi didn't even raise an eyebrow over the older model and swiftly dialed a number.
With a cry of success, Tadashi handed Hiro back his phone. "Do you get text messaging too?" Tadashi asked.
"Yeah, but I don't really use it."
"Great," Tadashi said.
Hiro eyed him warily. Before he could say anything, his cellphone alarm went off again reminding him he had to get going. "Ack," Hiro said. "Gonna be late. The table is all yours Tadashi. Bye!"
"Bye!" Tadashi called after him.
Just as Hiro arrived at his class, his phone went off once more. "I thought I turned it off," Hiro said with a frown.
He pulled out his phone as he took a seat. The professor was nowhere in sight so Hiro wasn't in any danger of being called out. There was a text message on his phone. Who would send him a message? Hiro opened it before a large smile blossomed on his face.
From Tadashi:
Have a great last day!