I've got an interesting A/N at the end of the chapter I'd love for you to read. But for right now...enjoy the chapter.

This is Lotus

This is Saiki

This is Saiki and Lotus

~The thoughts of others~

Cooking Time With Mama Saiki - She Has a List?

"Good Afternoon!"

"Good Afternoon!" Lotus greeted back cheerily.

Before the pink-haired teen was none other than Kurumi Saiki. The housewife was aglow, a smile beaming as she let Lotus into the home.

"Oh, this is so exciting. Thank you so much for all the help," Kurumi said.

Lotus smiled as she slipped off her shoes, switching them for the pink house shoes Kurumi had gotten for her.

"You're basically family, so you need your own pair." The woman had said one day as she presented Lotus with the shoes.

Lotus held several grocery bags in hand, carrying them over to the kitchen, following a cheerful Kurumi.

"I bought ingredients to make some lemon squares and fudge brownies. What do you think?" Lotus asked.

Kurumi's smile grew as she clapped her hands. "Oh, that sounds lovely. I bet they'll be a killer at the local fundraiser."

I bet you're wondering why Lotus was over at the Saiki household spending time not with Kusuo but rather with his mother. Well, it was about a week ago when Lotus had run into the woman at the market. The older woman was excited to talk about a local fundraiser to raise money to help improve a local playground. Lotus, witnessing the woman's excitement, couldn't help but offer her own cooking expertise.

"I've got everything we need to make the cookies," Kurumi said.

"Great. I'll get started on the brownie batter because that'll take the most time."

"Great and I'll start the cookies!"

Dawning her pink apron, her own that made its home at the Saiki residents, Lotus got to work.

"Hmmm, I wonder where Kusuo is anyway? Do you think he would've teleported here at the mention of fudge. Well, he can't read my mind unless I project to him, but still….Well, I bought a little extra to make him his own batch."

Lotus hummed as she mixed her ingredients, the batter becoming thick, calling for more force to stir. Kurumi was on the other side of the kitchen, smiling as she chopped up a fresh bar of chocolate to toss into her cookie batter. Lotus finished prepping the batter and was pouring it into a pan.

As Kurumi mixed the chocolate into her batter she paused, remembering something.

"Oh! I almost forgot!" She turned to Lotus. "We'll be having someone else join us today."

"Huh?" Lotus blinked confused. "Who?"

"Well it's a bit last minute but since we were planning on baking today I thought it'd be the perfect opportunity for some lessons."

"Le…ssons?" Lotus questioned confused.

The doorbell rang, signaling someone had arrived.

"Ah, there she is! I'm coming!"

"She…." Lotus went still.

The teen blanched as a sudden realization hit her.

"Her? Lessons? Oh, no!"

The pan slipped from the girl's hand, and she yelped, diving to catch it. She hit the floor, landing on her stomach. Lotus groaned not only from the sudden impact of the floor but also due to the fact that the pan was hovering above her head, no need for her to have dive-bombed to catch it.

"Oh my!"

Lotus snatched the pan out of the air as Kurumi came in.

"Are you okay?" She asked.

"Yeah, just dropped the pan."

"Why don't you pop those in the oven and take a little break? We've got company."

"No, please don't make me."

Unable to deny the woman, Lotus was pulled into the dining room.

"Look Lotus. Kokomi came to cook with us, and Kusuo brought Yuuta and Kisho."

The moment she caught sight of the taller girl, Kokomi's face twisted into that of shock. She quickly composed herself, but the raging thoughts that swarmed about in her mind boomed loudly in the heads of Saiki and Lotus.

"~What is she doing here! With Saiki's mom no less! And-And in that apron, looking like a housewife! How dare she!~"

"Hello, Teruhashi." Lotus greeted with a strained smile.

There was a tugging on Lotus's apron, and she glanced down to find Kisho.

"Hello, Kisho. How have you been doing?"

Kisho huffed, looking away. "Fine."

"Hi, Lotus!" Yuuta smiled and waved at the teen.

~What?! They wouldn't even greet me!~"

"I wasn't planning for these two, but I think we can spare some treats for them. But only if you boys are well-behaved," Lotus said.

"Whatever," Kisho said, still holding onto Lotus.

"Yay!" Yuuta cheered.

"Oh how cute!" Kurumi chuckled. "You're like a mother already, Lotus."

"Oh, haha," Lotus awkwardly chuckled.

The burning she felt in the back of her head had to have been caused by the heated glare Kokomi was sending her.

"~Mother! Mother!? Mother?! She thinks Lotus makes a good mother!? Does that mean she thinks she's a good match for her son!?~"

"I'll go set up the other things. I'll be right back," Kurumi said.

"~There's no way she thinks Lotus is a better fit for her son! Not like I would ever marry him! I'm just saying between the two choices, I'm the best one!~"

Kokomi looked at Yuuta, the boy just blankly staring at her.

"~Why is that kid just staring at me? Oh, of course! I must be his first crush.~"

Kokomi knelt closer to Yuuta holding up a hand.

"Hello, Yuuta."

Yuuta simply just turned away, tucking into Saiki's side. This was a huge blow to Kokomi's ego, a sharp gaze pointed at the boy's back.

"~You little brat! Well, then there's always the other one!~"

She looked at Kisho, the boy still clinging to Lotus's side.

"~He's at the ripe age where crushes are normal. I bet he's sticking so close to Lotus because he's too nervous to be near me. I bet once his little brother sees how much he adores me, they'll both adore me.~"

"She really can't handle this, can she?"

"Nope."

"Hello there, Kisho," Kokomi greeted the other boy.

He just blankly stared at Kokomi before slowly sticking out his tongue.

Double K.O. for Kokomi's ego. "~He's an even bigger brat!~"

Kokomi's glare did a 180 as she pulled out a box.

"~That's right, I got this!~"

"I brought cake. Does that sound like something you might like?"

"Cake?" Yuuta asked excitedly.

"~Yes! He took the bait!~"

"There's an extra one for Yuuta and Kisho if you guys want some," Kokomi said.

"Yay cake," Yuuta cheered.

"And what about you, Kisho?"

The little boy was now deadpanned, staring at Kokomi.

"Lotus said she was making something, I want that."

A vein of anger popped in Kokomi's forehead as she shook.

"~That little-No way something I bought could be less appealing than something she cooked.~"

"Well, it won't be for a while before everything is made. How about cake now, and I can wrap up the treats for you to take home later?" Lotus suggested.

"Fiiiiine," Kisho agreed.

"~Don't make my cake seem like a chore!~"

Kurumi came back in the room, with plates and silverware, for the cake. Yuuta kept chanting "cake" happily as the woman opened the box.

"~Good thing that guy at the pastry shop threw in a few free ones.~"

"Wow. They look delicious!" Kurumi said.

Inside the box were four cakes and one cupcake. One cake was very distinct from the rest, heart-shaped with a red glaze and a chocolate candy piece with the word "Love" printed on it.

"~What?! That's what he gave me!~" Kokomi gaped, looking horrified by the love cake.

Kurumi stared at the heart-shaped cake, examining it.

Before she could say anything, Kokomi was up waving her hands looking rather frazzled.

"The chef picked those out! None of the cakes mean anything!"

"Oh, okay!"

The group took their seats around the table, Kokomi at the head of the table with Kusuo across from her. To the left of Kusuo were Lotus and Kisho, and to his right–across from Lotus and Kisho–were Kurumi and Yuuta.

The younger boy was cheering, thrilled at the prospect of cake.

"Please pick whichever one you like," Kokomi said.

"Yay!"

"~Of all things, I can't believe they gave me a heart cake! But still, I hope that's the one Saiki chooses.~"

Kokomi looked up and practically screeched when she saw Yuuta munching down on the heart-shaped cake.

"Yummy!" He grinned as he stabbed the cake with his fork.

The sharp gaze came back, piercing the little boy.

"~Ugggh!~"

Kisho had gone for the cupcake, eating it with his hands. Lotus, who opted to not have a cake, watched as the boy got some frosting on his nose.

"Oh, you got something there, Kisho."

Lotus pulled out a napkin, wiping at the boy's nose.

"H-Hey," He pulled away from Lotus. "I'm not a little kid, you know!"

Lotus paused before chuckling. "I know, but that doesn't mean I can't help you. Here you go." She handed a new napkin to Kisho.

"F-Fine, but don't think I'm some little kid."

"Of course."

"Oh how cute! Such motherly instincts!" Kurumi gushed.

"~What?!~"

"Oka-san I love you, but please stop!"

Saiki just watched, eating his cake silently with his usual blank face.

After all of the desserts had been finished, nothing but plates with crumbs were left on the table.

"That was great!" Yuuta said.

"As delicious as it looked," Kurumi said.

"Yes. Not bad."

"I've had better," Kisho said.

"~Brat!~"

"I'm glad you liked it," Kokomi said, putting on her best smile.

"Did you like it, Yuuta? Kisho?" Kurumi asked.

"Yeah, it was the kind I liked most!" Yuuta said.

"It was fine," Kisho said

"You two should say thank you to Kokomi," Kurumi said.

"Okay," Yuuta beamed, staring at Kokomi. "Thank you for the cake, Ma'am!"

Kokomi choked as if she had been hit in the stomach. She shook, trying her best to contain her rage.

"~Ma'am!? Who are you calling, Ma'am?! How old do you think I am?~"

"Yeah, thanks for the cake lady," Kisho said.

Kokomi almost fell out of her seat, struck again by the words.

"~Lady! That's even worse than Ma'am!~"

"You're overacting."

"~Those little pipsqueaks said number four and number seven on the list of things no one would ever say to me!~"

"That's a weird list."

Kokomi was now wafted by a dark aura of gloom, sulking. The phone started to ring, grabbing the matriarch's attention.

"Oh, the phones' ringing!" She ran off to answer the device.

Kokomi glared at the boys, her dark energy invading the whole room.

"~I shall not forgive them! I'll get my revenge ten years from now! When you can appreciate my beauty, I'll find you!~"

There was an image of Yuuta and Kisho, both teenagers, walking home from school.

"~I'll walk up to you all sexy-like.~"

The boys were struck by the older Kokomi's beauty, declaring their love.

"~And then I'll whisper, oh no I can't be with either of you since I'm an 'old lady'. In your faces!~"

Kokomi looked thrilled, almost enthralled by her master plan, while both Lotus and Kusuo blanched at the girl.

"That's by far the most disturbing thing I've ever heard her say."

"I don't enjoy seeing Teruhashi like this, but I could use this as a weapon against her."

Kurumi appeared phone in hand looking rather troubled. "Lotus! Kokomi! I'm so sorry, I completely forgot I had a town council meeting!"

"That's okay. I can come back some other time," Kokomi said with a bow.

"If you don't mind waiting, it should only take half an hour or so. Ku, Lotus, entertain her while I'm gone." Kurumi said.

Kokomi softly gasped, looking at Kusuo. "~I will be alone with Saiki?~"

"Did she forget I was here?"

Kokomi whipped around to look at Lotus and the two boys. "~Except for her and those brats!~"

"Never mind."

"Hey, can we watch some TV now?" Yuuta asked Kusuo.

"~Watch at your own house.~"

"What?" Yuuta questioned, turning to Kokomi.

"Oh nothing, let's watch some TV, okay!" Kokomi said

Yuuta posted up on the couch, bouncing in his seat.

"~I need to be careful! Can't get myself worked up over some kids.~" Kokomi thought as she turned on the TV. "~There, they are distracted now, Lotus will be too busy in the kitchen, so Saiki and I can have some grown-up conversations while the twerps watch TV.~"

Kokomi's plans were quickly derailed when she saw Saiki take a seat next to Yuuta.

"~You're watching it with him?! Seriously, what are you doing, Saiki?! So much for our grown-up conversation.~"

Kokomi decided to try and interject herself, sliding up to Yuuta.

"He's pretty cool, right?"

"Be quiet, I'm trying to watch," Yuuta said.

"You're kind of rude," Kisho said as he took his seat.

Kokomi looked horrified. "~What? They just said numbers 31 and 29 on my list!~"

"How long is this list?"

Lotus, despite the fact that Kokomi was there, chose to take a seat next to Saiki on the couch.

"Um, I just remembered something. I need to go home. Okay bye." Kokomi said, turning to gather her things, so she could leave. "Please apologize to your mom for me."

Kusuo smirked, as his hand slid over to subtly grab Lotus'.

"I kind of feel bad, but I won. I owe Yuuta and Kisho a coffee jelly...Huh?"

Yuuta was staring intently at the TV screen, captivated by the newest female character, who looked suspiciously similar to the blue-haired girl who just left.

"Hey, what are you thinking! They're two totally different people!"

Happening at the same time Saiki felt something, and he glanced over his shoulder to see Kisho glaring daggers at him.

"That's the girl who was just here!" Yuuta said.

"They look nothing alike!"

"Hey, Yuuta I bet if you ran real fast you could catch her before she leaves," Kisho said with a sly smirk.

"Yeah!"

Yuuta ran out of the room, slipping on his shoes, to chase after Kokomi.

"Wait, come back Peach-T Girl!"

Saiki and Lotus sighed.

"We can't catch a break, can we?"

"Nope."

A/N: Okay! So I love the Saiki fandom so much that I have started writing 3, that's right 3 other Saiki fics! I think I might post another one soonish, but I'm not sure. But that doesn't mean this story will be forgotten, but I've got 3 characters that I've created and love, that would fit perfectly in the Saiki universe all different from Lotus. So I'm excited I hope you are too!