Chapter 32: A Crash Course In Cooking & A Huge Serving Of Competition (Part 1)
"First things first, we're gonna start with breakfast," I say, gesturing to the counter that's now got various sorts of breakfast items sprawled across it. "Polt, Draco!" I call on.
"Yes, Ryuta?" Polt and Draco say.
"You two are gonna watch my example," I say.
"Understood," the two say.
"What do I get to do, Ryuta?" Lilith asks.
"I'll let you know once I'm done with these two. Right now you'll just observe," I answer.
"Fine by me," she says.
"Anyways, Polt and Draco. You two are gonna prepare one of my simple go-to breakfast meals which is three scrambled eggs with cheese, one sausage patty, and two pancakes," I explain.
"That's it? Doesn't sound too hard," Draco says.
"Don't get ahead of yourself now," Polt remarks, smirking.
"Oh? You think so, Draco? Allow me to demonstrate then," I say, cracking my knuckles.
"First up, crack the eggs into this bowl and thoroughly whisk them before adding a splash of water. Second, crank the stove to max setting…," I list off as I move swiftly.
"W-Wait, you cook on max?!" The three shout with disbelief in their voices.
"But of course. High risk for high reward! Did you three never notice that?" I chuckle.
"Not at all!" They answer.
"That's how I crank out large quantities of food like clockwork. Moving on, oil up the pan and set it on the stove," I continue. "Pour the beaten eggs in like so and listen to that wonderful sizzle."
Whipping out a rubber spatula, I quickly scramble the eggs, watching them turn from liquid to a solid and fluffy mush. "Look at that. Not too soft and not too hard. A perfect middle ground. Next, remove from heat and sprinkle on some salt and pepper then add some shredded cheddar cheese."
"How come you're able to move so fast?!" Lilith asks.
"No kidding! I swear you only started like a minute ago!" Draco adds.
"Not even I move that fast while cooking!" Polt marvels at my skills.
"Practice of course! One can't afford to slowpoke when working with max heat! Scrape these delicious eggs onto a plate and season with a little salt and pepper or whatever you prefer. Now while I would use ground sausage to make my own sausage patties typically, that would dirty up our hands as well as potentially cause problems for Polt and her fur while going through the motions so we're using frozen patties for ease of use," I elaborate. "This shouldn't need a big explanation. Just thoroughly cook both sides. Cook too long and you risk getting a dry patty or worse, it gets burnt." After the sausage finishes cooking, I add it to the plate.
"Finally, the pancakes. Rather straightforward since we're not focusing on making my special mix today. Just pour some mix into a bowl, crack an egg into it, add some water but not too much or your batter will be very runny, and mix it all together. Presto! You now have your batter to work with," I say, watching them closely observe my expertise as I share with them how it should look.
"Now to ensure they won't stick, just apply a new light coat of oil to the pan. Use too much and at that point you'd be basically deep frying pancakes as well as highly likely to get burned from the scalding oil popping at you which we certainly don't need, do we?" I ask.
"No sir!" They answer.
"Good to hear. Now you take the bowl of batter and a spoon and pour it onto the center of the pan while using the spoon to push it out faster as it will quickly cook with the max heat and all," I say, watching the pancake form into a nigh perfect circle on the sizzling pan.
Crap! I only made enough batter for one! Maybe they won't notice it.
"The size and amount of your pancakes all depends on your preference. As long as you can flip it with ease and without it breaking apart, it doesn't really matter," I flip it over onto its other side, revealing that sought after golden brown color.
"Uh, I think you accidentally burned that side a little bit, Ryuta," Lilith says.
"Actually—," Polt starts to speak.
"Don't answer that, Polt," I interject swiftly. "Let's see if Draco happens to know first."
"M-Me?!" Draco questions, surprised.
"Mhmm. What do you think?" I ask.
"Well… it's supposed to be golden brown like that, right?" She questions, unsure.
"That's correct. Bonus points if you can get the crispy edges like this one too," I reply.
"And here I thought, I had messed up," she sighs, relieved.
"Well, I stand corrected then. At least that means I know what to aim for now," Lilith says.
"Indeed… aaannd it's finished," I toss the pancake onto the plate with the spatula and put the pan on the counter. "For the final touch, add a little square of butter and drizzle on some syrup and that's it! A breakfast meal flawlessly arranged on a glass plate! Behold!" I exclaim, showcasing the finished product to them.
"Another amazing meal as expected of our Sweetheart," Polt smiles, clapping.
"N-No way! Just like that?! That's actually insane!" Draco says in disbelief.
"To think it only takes you a couple minutes to whip stuff like that together. That's a really tough act to follow," Lilith says.
"Do remember that with mastery like this there were a lot of mistakes to learn from so it's okay to mess up as long as you grow from it," I say.
"And just because you're extremely good at cooking doesn't bar you from still messing up now and again seeing as how Ryuta only made one pancake when he said two," Polt adds, making an observation.
"Oh wow! She's right. He only made one," Draco says.
"I didn't even think about it," Lilith says.
"P-Polt! I was hoping you wouldn't point that out!" I whine, blushing from embarrassment.
"Sorry, but I just had to, especially when you're trying to be all inspirational with your words," she chuckles.
"A-Anyway, are you two ready?" I ask.
"Yessir!" Polt and Draco respond.
"Good! Polt, since you're the one with the highest experience and can reliably stand in for me if I don't cook. It has to be much harder for you," I say.
"Ooh, sounds like a worthy challenge. Throw it at me! I'm game!" Polt says, getting excited.
"You're gonna cook everything at the same time and in one large pan with max heat! The real way I cook!" I say.
"S-Say whaaaaat?! At the same time?! That's ridiculous! I've never even seen you cook like that!" She shouts, shocked to her core.
Didn't think Polt would be one to be perturbed by it.
"That's because I only do it when none of you are in the kitchen. It's a nice little secret as to how I crank out a hot ready to eat breakfast without letting anything lose its heat," I explain.
Even then, I really don't put this method into practice as much as I used to. Always nice to have varying ways to cook.
"Sounds like it's too much for you to handle," Draco snickers.
"No one would blame you for dropping out. Kihihi!" Lilith joins in, giggling.
"N-Nonsense! I can take it! As Ryuta's first, I would lose all honor and pride to accept defeat!" Polt retorts, exuding confidence.
"Excellent to hear. Draco, you'll do everything exactly as I demonstrated. Cook them one at a time," I instruct.
"Sweet! This'll be a piece of cake!" Draco says.
"Careful there. You may have it easier but underestimate the task too much and you'll surely fail," Polt warns.
"The results will speak for themselves," Draco says.
"Now onto you, Lilith," I put my attention on her, moving out of Polt and Draco's way as they set up to cook.
"Whatcha got for me?" Lilith questions curiously.
"See that small table with the saucepan and portable stovetop?" I point to the opposite end of the kitchen.
"That I do," she says.
"We're gonna sit there and while I eat, you're gonna take that saucepan and boil water in it," I simply explain.
"Wait, really? That's it? Fine by me," she chuckles.
"I'm sorry. WHAT?!" Polt and Draco yell, turning around with a furious look on their faces.
Oh boy.
"Ha! I got it the easiest! Proof that I'm the favorite!" Lilith gloats.
"You best explain, Ryuta!" Polt and Draco shout.
"N-Now now, you two! Despite how it looks, I'm not going easy on Lilith. I'm just going a different way with her," I elaborate.
"Mhmmm," Polt and Draco squint at me with heavy skepticism before turning back around.
"Let's get you set up, Lilith," I sigh.
After filling the saucepan with lukewarm water and turning on the portable stovetop, Lilith and I take a seat.
"So this is really it? I just gotta wait for the water to boil?" Lilith inquires.
"That's right," I answer, stuffing a slice of pancake in my mouth.
Goddamn, this will never stop being delicious!
"Feels like there's something you're not telling me," she says.
"So you think. Would you like some?" I offer her a bite of my breakfast.
"Sure," she opens her mouth for me.
Shooting her a quick devilish grin, I immediately slam my mouth against hers.
"S-Sweetheart," she murmurs, touching my right thigh.
Breaking the kiss, she pants, her eyes glancing at my crotch.
"Lilith," I mutter, rubbing her ass while going for another kiss.
Catching on to what I'm doing, she pulls away.
"N-no more than that. You're trying to distract me so I can fail," she says.
"Who says you can't boil water and mess around at the same time?" I whisper in her left ear, lightly nibbling on it.
"F-Fine… j-just a little more," she caves in.
Our lips meeting again, I slip my tongue in her mouth and slather the sweet maple syrup taste in my saliva around. As I withdraw my tongue, she shuts her lips around it, opting to suck on it. Only a little more, huh? Seems more like she's wanting to go further instead. Grabbing her left wing, I tug on it hard, making her gasp and free my tongue. Going for her neck, I bite her.
"R-Ryuta," she yelps softly, her body shuddering with arousal. Moving onto me, she straddles my lap with her hands against my chest, grinding against the growing tent in my pants. "Give it to me," she pleads, completely letting lust take over.
Man, she's soaking wet with how damp my crotch already has gotten!
I thought she would show a little bit more resistance than that. Guess it proves my point though.
Catching the smallest whiff of burning metal, I know it's time for the distraction to end.
"The saucepan has boiled dry, Lilith," I point out casually.
"H-Huh?!" Her head snaps to the pan almost instantly, realization hitting her. "Oh no!" She disembarks from my lap and snatches it off the stovetop. "T-That's not fair, Ryuta! You were distracting me on purpose!"
"Guilty as charged! If I can throw off your focus that easily, then it's possible you would easily forget that you're cooking at one point and burn the food. That's why you're boiling water instead. Work on concentrating and start over," I say.
"Sounds like someone made a huge fuck up at boiling water," Draco chuckles while scrambling eggs.
"No one asked you!" Lilith remarks, heading to the sink to get more water.
Hmm, maybe I should mess with Polt and Draco too. I mean it's only fair, isn't it?
Scarfing down the rest of my food, I get up and slowly sneak up on Polt.
"Heyyy, Polty," I whisper seductively in her ear while hugging her from behind, noticing her body flinch.
"H-Hey, Sweetheart. Is that the nickname you came up with?" She asks, trying not to turn her head to me.
"I'm sure I could come up with something less cheap," I reply, my left hand going under her tank top with my right hand slowly entering her shorts while I let her feel how hard Lilith got me.
"T-That's okay. It makes me very happy just to hear you try," she says, trying to ignore what I'm doing.
Her wagging tail and rapidly beating heart tell no lies though. It's definitely getting to her. "R-Ryuta," she murmurs and flinches harder, feeling her left breast get caressed and her pussy rubbed.
"Polty, how about we go ahead and make our firstborn child?" I question, her pussy getting instantly wetter at the mere mention.
"N-No… no need… to rush things… r-remember?" She reminds me, her voice struggling to stay together while she almost messes up trying to flip a pancake.
Looking at Draco from the corner of my right eye, she's doing the same to us. I know she's getting mad jealous but her time will come in just a minute.
"Very well," I say, kissing Polt's lips while aggressively targeting her clit with my fingers.
Her muffled moaning and shuddering legs tell it clear as day that she just came from that so with that, I move onto the last target.
"Love you," I say, pulling away.
"L-Love you too," she stammers, taking deep breaths.
Guess I shouldn't be surprised that Polt managed to show restraint. I don't think it'll go the same way for Draco though.
Noticing me coming over, Draco puts her eyes forward.
"Don't feel left out, Draco," I say, giving her the same hug from behind.
"D-Didn't say I was," she stutters, her composure already giving way.
I haven't even started yet.
"Didn't have to when I can just sense it. Once again, you're being dishonest with me," I mutter, throwing on the feminine voice for her.
"Y-You can't do that! T-That's cheating!" Her face ignites with red.
"I wouldn't call that cheating. This is me cheating," I start licking those sensitive scales on the back of her neck.
"R-Ryuta!" She stifles her gasp by clasping a hand over her mouth, her other hand still working on cooking.
"How about you take your mind off that and put your mind on me instead?" I question, pulling her left wing and stroking her tail just shy of the tip.
"If… this is how you wanna play, then let's see how you like it!" She whips herself around and picks me up to my surprise, sweeping her utensils and ingredients to the side before plopping me on the counter beside the stove.
Before I can say anything, she bites my neck hard.
"D-Draco!" I yelp.
"Seems you forgot that I can wear the pants when I want to. Same goes for Polt and Lilith too. Like hell am I gonna let you try to throw me off! Understand that?!" She exclaims.
"U-Understoo—aahh!" I gasp, having felt her hand deliver a strong swat to my ass.
Polt and Lilith are not so subtly chuckling at Draco pulling a switcheroo on me. Still not as shocking than the fact that Draco is effortlessly handling cooking while entertaining me!
"I bet you're impressed with my multitasking right now, aren't you? Go on and praise me like the cool Dragonewt I am!" She demands, smugly grinning.
"S-Shameless show-off—," she interjects my stumbling insult with a kiss.
"Damn straight! Don't act like you don't love it," she teases.
Man, I can't even get a moment to catch a break let alone fire back at her. She won't even allow it. I'll… accept my defeat.
"L-Love you, Draco—ah!" I mumble reluctantly, only for Draco to swat me again.
"What was that? I didn't hear ya,"
"I love you, Draco!" I say clearly, blushing.
"There you go. I love you too, Sweetheart," she chuckles, turning off the heat to the stovetop burner she was using. "Now go sit your ass back down at the table. I just finished. Can't say the same for Polt though," she says, completing her plate by adding the sausage to it while I hop off the counter.
"I actually finished while you were putting up with him despite me starting just a smidge later than you. See?" Polt proudly shows her nicely arranged plate of eggs, sausage, and pancakes. "If you weren't over there taking your time at the start and giving Ryuta so much direct attention, then maybe you would've been done already," Polt points out.
"Sh-Shut up! The only thing that matters is that I'm done!" Draco presents her plate to Polt.
"Look at that! Not too bad, Draco," Polt smiles.
"Not too bad?! It's a goddamn amazing job! Right, Ryuta?!" Draco questions, seeking my validation.
"Well, I mean it looks good but presentation won't matter if the food doesn't taste great," I answer, switching back to my regular voice.
"Then I have nothing to fear! I know it's gonna be good!" She says, brimming with confidence.
For Draco's sake, I hope she's right because I'm starting to doubt it.
"It's done, Ryuta! Couldn't have been better timed!" Lilith announces, hurrying over to me with the saucepan in hand. "A pan of boiling water just like you asked!"
God, that almost sent me into a panic.
"Excellent but how about let's avoid moving fast with hot objects especially boiling liquids so none of us get severely burned," I chuckle nervously, patting Lilith's head.
"Oh yeah. That's a good point… then again, if I got myself hurt then you would surely nurse me back to health or vice versa. Kinda don't wanna pass it up," she giggles with a mischievous grin.
"If you do that, then you'll be forced to stay here while we go to the fireworks festival and on top of that, Draco will take your spot in line for children," I warn gravely.
"Oh r-really?! Be my guest then, Lilith!" Draco eagerly encourages her.
"Like hell I'll miss out on our big event and give up being second in line! Ugh! You win, Ryuta," Lilith concedes.
"That's what I thought," I say.
"Damn! Was looking forward to bumping up on the list," Draco says.
"Anyway, what's Lilith gonna do now that she successfully boiled water?" Polt asks.
"Hey! That's supposed to be my line!" Lilith shouts.
"That's a simple answer, Polt. She has exactly five minutes to whip up the same breakfast meal you two made," I chuckle.
"Wait what?! Only five minutes?!" Lilith yells with disbelief.
"What's wrong? It should be doable for you. I mean you were paying attention when I was cooking, right?" I tease, pinching and pulling Lilith's left cheek.
"O-Only half the time! You didn't exactly tell me I had to watch and listen closely for everything in your demonstration!" She whines.
"That's no good. A good cook should always be paying attention to everything going on in the kitchen. Understand?" I chastise, pinching her cheek just a tad harder.
"Ow! Okay okay! I understand!" She replies.
"Excellent," I let her cheek go. "Your five minutes start… now!"
"Damn it! I don't even get to properly set up first?!" She questions, taken aback.
"Time is ticking," I say nonchalantly.
"Best get on it," Polt smirks.
"Chop chop," Draco grins.
"Alright, I'm movin'! I'm movin'!" Lilith quickly scrambles to start cooking.