Flour, Photons, and Feelings

Yui stood alone, absentmindedly adjusting her blonde ponytail. She nervously glanced at her MAG floating diligently to her side, prompting the small device to activate it’s quick-glance display:

2:16pm, 2nd January.

"It's fine. Everything's fine," She muttered to herself, turning to check the already clean counter with a finger. "I'm just casually asking if he wants to have the baking lesson. No big deal. Just a normal, everyday question between... housemates."

She had spent the last hour meticulously cleaning every surface of the already immaculate kitchen, reorganizing kitchen towels that were already perfectly arranged, and checking the calibration of the adaptive-zone photon-duction cooktop that didn't need checking.

Piyo! Piyoyo piyo! Mochi reported from his indoor perch, tilting his small head as Yui wiped the counter for the fourth time. (ALERT! Primary Airfield execution loop detected! Potential buffer overflow! Recommend immediate reboot before system crash!)

The baking lesson had been on Yui’s mind ever since the Secret Santa shopping. She glanced out the smart window again; the same light dusting of snow still clinging to the same edges of buildings and tree branches, the environmental overlay displaying the same external reading of -1°C—

Gacha!

The front door opened, sending a jolt through Yui’s body.

"—and that's why Japanese tree frogs can actually survive being partially frozen in winter. Their bodies produce a natural kind of antifreeze!" Akari's cheerful voice drifted in from the foyer.

"Fascinating," came Ash's deep, measured response. "I didn’t know frogs have such technology."

Yui turned towards the foyer, her hands clasping anxiously before her chest. Her heart pounded as Ash and Akari appeared, their hair and shoulders lightly dusted with snow.

"O-oh! You're back!" Yui's voice came out an octave higher than intended. She cleared her throat. "How was your walk?"

"It was great!" Akari beamed, her reddish-pink eyes sparkling with excitement. "We went to the nearby park! The pond there was frozen, but we spotted some adorable little birds with fluffy winter feathers!" She stepped forward to gently tug at Yui's sleeve. "Yui-nee-san, want to see the pictures I took of them?"

"Sounds lovely! Umm, let’s look at them later…" Yui managed, her heterochromatic eyes flicking between Akari and Ash.

Just ask him normally. It's not a big deal. Just a casual baking lesson between friends. NOT a date. Not at all.

"Um, Ash-san," Yui began, focusing very intently on a spot on the counter rather than meeting his eyes. "Do you... remember when we talked about... about baking lessons? At the mall during Christmas shopping?"

"Of course," Ash replied, his expression warming slightly. "I've been looking forward to it."

"Well, I was wondering if... if today might be a good day? For the first lesson, I mean. If you're not busy, of course! Which you probably are. It was just a thought—"

"Today would be perfect," Ash cut in, saving her from her spiral of self-doubt. His tone was matter-of-fact, but there was a genuine eagerness in his eyes that made Yui's heart skip.

"R-really?" Yui's face lit up before she caught herself and attempted to regain her composed demeanor. “O-Oh! Wonderful!” He agreed! He actually agreed!

"Ooh! Can I watch?" Akari clasped her hands together. "Yui-nee-san has taught me how to bake before, she’s a really good teacher!"

"Ara!" Emi's melodious voice suddenly floated in from the hallway. She appeared in the doorway, her glasses sliding down her nose as she peered into the kitchen with interest. "Is Yui-chan giving Ash-kun a private lesson?"

"E-Emi-chan!" Yui's blush deepened. "It's just a normal baking lesson!"

"Ufufu~ Then I shall supervise!" Emi declared with a knowing smile, her lavender hair swaying as she stepped into the kitchen. "For safety purposes, of course!"

"Nya! I’ll supervise too!" A voice declared from the open living room. Narumi's head popped up excitedly from behind a couch, her tail swishing eagerly behind her. "Somebody needs to taste-test, nyaa!"

The pristine kitchen was soon transformed into a functional workspace. Yui had laid out a familiar array of baking items on the kitchen counter—flour, sugar, butter, eggs, vanilla, a tray labelled ‘MISC’, and various measuring tools. Though now closed, the cabinets she had rummaged through continued to glow—their integrated screens refreshing to display a shortened inventory list, before fading off into standby.

Behind the kitchen island, Akari had spread out her favourite frog encyclopaedia, while beside her Emi had settled in contentedly, giggling softly at the light novel that was her latest obsession for the week.

Meanwhile, Narumi was sprawled across the living room couch, her focus entirely consumed by the Beam Deck clutched in her hands.

Womp womp! The device blared for something like the twentieth time in five minutes.

"Nya–" the catgirl muttered, frantically spamming the controls.

Womp womp!

"Nyaaa–" Her ears twitched in frustration.

Womp womp!

"NNNNNYANYANYANYA—!" she exploded, almost hurling the device across the room. Instead, she flopped dramatically back onto the couch, limbs splayed like a defeated starfish.

“Nya.”

[git gud]

Back in the kitchen, Yui dangled an apron before her.

"Um, Ash-san," she began. "I think this one would fit you best." She wiggled the frilly lavender garment—unmistakably Emi's—with a wry smile. "It's the largest one we have."

"Thank you," Ash replied, accepting the apron with a solemn nod.

Yui turned away, heart pounding as she reached for her own apron—the beautiful bird-decorated one Ash had given her for Christmas. She slipped it on, feeling a flutter of self-consciousness as she tied the strings behind her back.

She turned back and almost choked.

The tall, lean ARKS operative stood before her in Emi's delicate lavender apron, the frilly edges barely reaching mid-thigh on his long legs, the thin straps stretched across his broad, masculine shoulders.

"Very kawaii," Yui commented with deadpan sarcasm, even as her brain short-circuited at the absurd juxtaposition of his imposing frame and the dainty feminine garment.

“Thank you.”

Wh-Wh-What is thaaat?! I mean, it's just Ash-san in an apron! An extremely frilly, slightly too small apron that has no business looking anything but absurd on him! So why is my heart doing this?! Why is it... WHY IS HE... mooou!

"Ara, Ash-kun looks surprisingly good in that apron!" Emi exclaimed, whipping out her instant camera. "I think you should keep it!" Kacha! Kacha! Kacha!

Akari giggled, leaning over to observe the emerging photos. "Ash-nii-san does look funny! But also very capable!"

Narumi's head popped up from behind the couch, womp womps momentarily forgotten as she caught sight of Ash. Her laughter rang through the apartment. "Ashley-chan! Nyaharroooo!"

Ash merely gave a hint of a smile, unbothered by their teasing. "I take training seriously, regardless of the uniform," he stated, adjusting the frilly apron with dignified precision.

"So, Ash-san, for your first baking lesson, we should start with something simple..." Yui met his attentive gaze before quickly looking away. "W-would you like cupcakes or cookies?"

"CUPCAKES!" Narumi's head popped up from behind the living room couch, eyes sparkling. "Vanilla cupcakes nya! With the glowy frosting!"

Yui shot an exasperated glare at the catgirl. "This lesson is for Ash-san, not to satisfy your sweet tooth!"

Ash considered for a moment before nodding. “Vanilla cupcakes sounds good.”

Yui sighed, though a small smile tugged at the corner of her lips. "Fine. Vanilla cupcakes it is."

She turned back to Ash, her expression brightening. "I have lots of really nice baking recipes saved. Would you like me to send them to your MAG?"

"That would be helpful," Ash replied with a grateful nod.

"MAG-chan," Yui addressed the device bobbing beside her. "Please send all our baking recipes to Ash-san."

Pikon! "Transferring recipe files to the MAG unit assigned to ARKS Operative Ash. Transfer complete!"

Pikon! Ash's MAG chimed in response. "Recipe files received and cataloged! Would you like me to display the vanilla cupcake recipe now?"

"Yes, please," Ash responded, his tone as serious as if accepting a critical mission briefing.

A holographic projection materialized in front of him, showing the recipe. His eyes scanned over it, while Yui began explaining.

"For vanilla cupcakes, we'll need cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt for our dry ingredients. Then eggs, butter, sugar, vanilla, sour cream, oil, and milk." She gestured to each item laid out on the counter. "Importantly, you should have all your ingredients at room temperature. It helps them mix better."

"Room temperature... noted," Ash responded, studying each ingredient with the same intensity he might analyze enemy weaknesses.

Piyo piyo! Mochi fluttered down from his perch to inspect the ingredients. (Conducting preliminary survey of potential hazards in operational zone!)

"Now, the leavening agents—baking powder and baking soda—are what make the cupcakes rise," Yui continued, picking up the small containers.

"Ara~" Emi glanced up from her light novel. "I think by the time you’re done with him, Ash-kun will be very skilled at making things rise all big and fluffy!" She beamed, truly genuine in her compliment.

Yui's face flamed instantly. "E-Emi-chan! Wh–!??"

"Nyehehe," snickering could be heard coming from the couch.

Womp womp!

"A-Anyway!" Yui stuttered, desperately trying to regain composure. "Let's start by measuring the dry ingredients. We need cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt."

"What's the difference between baking powder and baking soda?" Ash asked, examining the two containers.

"W-Well, baking soda needs an acidic ingredient like sour cream to activate, while baking powder already contains the acid component, so it can... um... r-rise… on its own..." Yui trailed off.

"I see," Ash nodded solemnly. "Why does the recipe need both if baking powder already rises on its own?"

The unexpected technical question caught Yui off-guard. She tucked a stray strand of blonde hair behind her ear, collecting her thoughts.

“Umm, it’s a little complicated but it’s mostly about balancing the acidity with fluffiness” she explained, hoping that was sufficient.

“Balancing acidity and fluffiness” Ash looked thoughtful.

Akari looked up from her book, "Isn’t baking fascinating? It's science but yummy!"

"It certainly has more technicalities than I expected," Ash agreed, his expression remaining focused as he picked up the measuring cups. "I'm ready to begin when you are, Yui-san."

Yui nodded, eager to move on. "Right! Let's begin with the dry ingredients," she slid the bag of cake flour towards Ash. "We need to measure and sift the flour first."

Ash nodded. "How much do we need?"

"One and a half cups," Yui replied, sliding a measuring cup toward him. "You'll want to spoon it in gently, then level it off with—"

Before she could finish, Ash had already gripped the flour bag with both hands and gave it a decisive tug—opening it with approximately ten times the necessary force.

POOF!

A spectacular white cloud erupted, engulfing Ash's face and shoulders in a fine, powdery mist. For a brief moment, he stood perfectly still, his expression unreadable behind the mask of flour.

Yui's eyes widened. She pressed her lips together, desperately trying to maintain her composure, but it was a losing battle. A tiny snort escaped, followed by another, until she dissolved into uncontrollable giggles.

"Ara, that may be too much flour, Ash-kun!" Emi commented from the kitchen island.

Akari bounced excitedly in her seat, "Ash-nii-san looks like a snowman! Herrokero!"

A small smile tugged at the corner of Ash's flour-covered mouth. "I... overestimated its structural integrity."

Yui's laughter bubbled up even more at his deadpan assessment. For the first time since he'd arrived for the lesson, she felt her shoulders relaxed, the nervous tension constricting her chest loosening.

Piyo? Mochi launched forth to investigate the commotion, having decided that careening through the flour cloud was the best plan of action. Piyoyo! Piyoyo!! (Visibility zero! Emergency altitude adjustment required!!)

DOKA!

Straight into a wall cabinet the tiny bird flew, before falling to the counter in a small, flour-dusted heap—the cabinet’s integrated display flickering on. [That wasn’t very tactical now, was it Mochi?]

"Mochi-chan!" Yui gasped, immediately scooping up her feathered companion with gentle hands. "Are you okay?"

Mochi shook himself, sending little puffs of flour in all directions. Piyo pipiyo! (Minor navigational error! Air Traffic Control temporarily functioning at reduced capacity!) he chirped, looking dazed but otherwise unharmed.

After placing him back on his perch, Yui turned her attention back to Ash. The flour caked Meteorn had found a kitchen towel and was attempting to wipe his face clean.

"Here," Yui said, grabbing another towel and stepping closer. "Let me help."

She reached up—standing on her tiptoes to bridge their height difference—and began carefully brushing flour from his dark hair and broad shoulders. As the white powder drifted away, Yui suddenly became acutely aware of just how close they were standing. She could feel the warmth radiating from his body, and catch the subtle scent of his cologne beneath the cloud of flour.

Her cheeks warmed, and she found herself unable to meet his gaze. "U-Um, you still have some..." she stuttered, her voice dropping to a near whisper as she reached up to wipe a smudge of flour from his cheek while trying not to make eye contact.

"Thank you," Ash said quietly.

"R-right, um, next," Yui stammered, desperate to move past the moment, "we need two eggs. You can crack them into this bowl." She slid a glass mixing bowl towards him.

Ash, apparently eager to redeem himself, picked up an egg with surprising confidence. "I've seen people do this," he said, holding the egg aloft. With a swift, smooth motion—completely at odds with his earlier admission of kitchen inexperience—he attempted to crack it one-handed.

CRUNCH! The egg cleaved into crumpled halves as he smashed it into the bowl’s rim. Raw egg and tiny shell fragments splashed onto the counter, onto his frilly apron and onto the floor–with only a pitiful amount dripping down into the actual bowl.

"Oh." Ash blinked down at the mess.

Yui couldn't help but grin.

"Sorry," Ash apologized, reaching for a paper towel. "Usually I eat at the ARKS cafeteria or use the QuikFood stations. So, my culinary skills are... limited." He hesitated before adding with a shrug, "I saw someone crack eggs one-handed in a video that had thousands of likes. Assumed it was the standard method."

"Here, let me show you," Yui offered, moving beside him. She picked up another egg and demonstrated the proper technique. "Hold it gently, tap it against the edge of the bowl to create a crack, then use both thumbs to pull the shell apart."

Ash watched with intense focus, his eyes following her movements as if memorizing combat maneuvers. He nodded. "I see. May I try again?"

His second attempt was much more controlled—the egg cracked nearly perfectly along the equator, though a small piece of shell still fell into the mixture.

"That's great!" Yui encouraged, showing him how to use a larger piece of shell to fish out the fragment.

By the fourth egg, Ash had practically mastered the technique.

"Heh, you’re already better than Narumi-chan," Yui couldn’t help but quip.

From behind her couch in the living room, the catgirl’s black-haired head popped up, tail swishing with excitement.

"Nyani nyani? Are the cupcakes ready?" Narumi called out, eyes sparkling with anticipation, having heard her name but nothing else.

Womp womp!

Ash's brow furrowed slightly. "Reverse creaming?"

"Hai," Yui nodded, arranging the measured ingredients in mixing order. "We mix the butter with the dry ingredients first"

"What would be forward creaming, then?" Ash asked, his tone as serious as if inquiring about battlefield tactics.

"The traditional way of creaming is mixing butter with sugar, then eggs, then dry ingredients last. The result is more fluffy," Yui explained, warming to the topic. "But with reverse creaming, the butter coats the flour particles first, which inhibits gluten formation. The result is denser with a more velvety, tender crumb."

"Yui-nee-san learnt that trick from a baking video a while ago," Akari chimed in. "Her cupcakes were always good, but then they became even more delicious after that!"

Ash nodded with solemn appreciation, absorbing baking knowledge with the intensity he usually reserved for tactical briefings.

Smiling, Yui turned back to the ingredients—and paused. Her turquoise eye narrowed suspiciously at a series of tiny beak-shaped depressions marring the bowl of flour. Leading away from the crime scene was a trail of distinctly avian footprints imprinted in the fine white powder dusting the counter. Her gaze slowly tracked the evidence to where her feathered companion perched with uncharacteristic stillness, his beady eyes fixed on some fascinating point in the distance.

"Mochi..." Yui's voice dropped to that particular pitch of maternal disappointment. "We can tell you tasted the flour."

Piyo pipiyo pipiyo! Piyo! Mochi puffed his chest out indignantly, head pivoting away with military precision. (Air Traffic Control categorically denies all allegations regarding unauthorized runway incursions on the powder-based landing zone. All flight logs remain pristine and violation-free.) [Sir, your entire face is plastered in flour]

With an exasperated smile, Yui shook her head as she gestured towards a sleek device on the counter. "Anyway, let's mix our ingredients."

The photonic mixer gleamed glossy white under the kitchen lights, its smooth curves interrupted only by a bewilderingly complex looking holographic interface hovering just above its top.

"This mixer generates photonic beaters—so no parts to clean after." Yui explained, pointing at its downwards facing emitters.

"Efficient," Ash commented, leaning closer to examine the technology.

"And nearly silent—you'll only hear the batter churning." Yui positioned the bowl beneath the mixer arm, then grimaced at the cryptic interface. "Unfortunately, it's a cheaper model, so the controls are..."

Ash leaned forward, brow furrowing in concentration as he studied the arrangement of ambiguous icons. His fingers hovered uncertainly over what appeared to be a settings menu—or possibly the self-destruct sequence. It was genuinely impossible to tell.

"Here, let me—" Yui reached over without thinking.

Their fingers touched.

"S-Sorry," she stammered, immediately pulling back as if burned. Her cheeks flushed warm as she pointed instead. "You have to press here first, then here, then—" Her finger traced a pattern through the air, carefully avoiding another touch.

"I appreciate the guidance," Ash replied, his deep voice somehow turning the simple acknowledgment into something that made her heart skip.

The mixer hummed to life. Photonic beaters materialized as translucent white holograms, casting the ingredients in soft light as it quietly swirled them around.

"Perfect," Yui said, grateful to focus on the task rather than the lingering warmth where their hands had touched. She fixed her gaze firmly on the bowl. "Now we need to let this mix until the butter is fully incorporated."

With the batter mixed to perfection, it was soon spooned into the awaiting muffin tray, each portion measured as precisely as the baker in training could.

"Now for the oven," Yui declared, carrying the filled tray to the sleek photonic oven. Its glossy white surface reflected their faces until she tapped its control panel, causing it to illuminate with a soft cerulean.

The glass door slid open silently, revealing a clean white interior. Arrays of glowing lines ran along its walls, a solid cerulean indicating its idle state

"This looks very advanced," Ash observed as Yui placed the tray inside.

"Hai, it’s one of the better models" Yui nodded, closing the oven door and stepping back as its interior sensors began to pulse. "No need for preheating since it doesn’t rely on thermal transfer. Instead it scans the molecular structure of whatever you're baking, then creates a custom modulated thermo-photonic energy field with a distribution pattern physically fitted to your item." [Thermo what now?]

“What?” Ash blinked.

As if on cue, a holographic display materialized above the oven's control panel, presenting a detailed breakdown of their cupcake batter.

Ash watched with undisguised fascination, leaning closer to study the display. "It's analyzing the composition on a molecular level?"

"Exactly," Yui said, a hint of pride in her voice at his interest. "It determines the optimal energy frequency and intensity for every component." She pointed to various parts of the display. "See how it's identifying the flour proteins, butter fat content, and egg proteins separately?"

A moment later, the oven chimed softly and displayed a recommended baking profile: 10 minutes. Yui studied the suggestion briefly before tapping the display and adjusting it down to 9. With a nod, she confirmed the settings.

"I tend to lower the time it suggests by about 1 minute. The algorithms are good, but from experience, their suggested times make the cupcakes just a touch too dry for our tastes."

The oven hummed to life, bathing their batter in pulses of orange light. The photonic energy ebbed and flowed in rhythmic patterns, precisely targeting different components of the batter.

"I had no idea baking would be so technical," Ash commented, his eyes still fixed on the holographic readouts.

Yui chuckled softly, the tension in her shoulders slightly easing. "It is, isn't it? People think baking is just mixing things together, but it's really a science. Temperature, timing, ingredient ratios—they all have to be precise."

As they watched, the cupcakes began to rise, the batter transforming before their eyes. The photonic energy stimulated the leavening agents while simultaneously setting the proteins and denaturing the egg structure—all processes tracked through the holographic display that continued to update in real-time.

"You can actually see them rise," Ash observed through the oven’s glass door, his voice quiet with appreciation.

The kitchen gradually filled with the warm, rich scent of buttery vanilla as the oven worked its magic. The aroma grew more intense with each pulse of light, sweetness wafting through the air and drawing appreciative sniffs and “nyaas” from Narumi in the living room.

Yui inhaled deeply, closing her eyes for a moment to savor the familiar, comforting smell. When she opened them again, she found Ash watching her rather than the oven.

She quickly looked away, focusing intently on the holographic display's countdown timer.

As the scent of buttery vanilla bloomed in the air, Yui and Ash began clearing the counter to make way for frosting preparation. Across the kitchen island, Akari's small fingers traced lines in her encyclopaedia, while Emi giggled softly as she turned another page of her light novel. In the adjoining living room, Narumi continued to furiously button-mash her Beam Deck.

Pikon!

A sudden electronic chime pierced the peaceful domestic scene.

Narumi's MAG bobbed excitedly in the air, its voice bright and chipper: "SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Boba Bliss releasing Snowflake Crystal Boba with edible glowing glitter - LIMITED TIME OFFER - TODAY ONLY!"

"NYANIIIIII?!" Narumi's heterochromatic eyes widened to impossible proportions. She shot upright, her Beam Deck clattering forgotten to the floor. "We have to go RIGHT NYAOW!"

In a blur of motion that would have impressed even veteran ARKS, Narumi’s legs flashed cerulean as she launched herself into the air. Her black twin tails trailed behind her as she soared in a spectacular arc over the couch, landing in a completely unnecessary combat roll through the foyer, and BATAN crashing through the door. [Is she Special Forces or special needs?]

"Narumi-nee-san, wait for me!" Akari called out, eyes bright with excitement. She slid off her chair, her small feet pattering across the floor as she hurried after Narumi without hesitation.

Emi giggled, closing her book before also bustling after them, almost tripping over her chair. "Ara ara, those two are always so energetic~" She paused in the foyer to collect three coats from the rack–Narumi's, Akari's and her own winter coats.

At the front entrance, she turned back with a smile, "Don't worry, I'll buy boba tea for both of you too~!"

BANG!

The door slammed shut with theatrical finality, leaving Yui and Ash looking at each other in sudden silence. The soft hum of the photonic oven and the beeping countdown of its timer suddenly seemed impossibly loud in the quiet apartment.

Mochi fluttered to the edge of his perch, tilting his head as he observed the hasty departure of the apartment's inhabitants. Piyo? (Unusual mass evacuation event observed. Threat assessment unclear…)

The bird swiveled his tiny head to Yui and Ash, his beady eyes registering the rising color in his owner's cheeks with what could only be described as avian interest.

Yui stood frozen by the counter, eyes fixed on the closed door. The weight of being alone with Ash pressed against her chest like a physical force. Had the kitchen always been this quiet? This small?

Ash cleared his throat. "So... frosting next?"

"H-Hai!" Yui's voice came out squeakier than intended. She quickly turned to the ingredients already laid out on the counter, grateful for her earlier preparation. "We'll start with the butter."

She pulled the mixing bowl closer and added the softened butter. The photonic mixer hummed to life as she switched it on, its cerulean beaters casting subtle patterns of light on the batter.

"For a good frosting, you need to beat the butter until it's light and airy," she explained, her voice steadying as she slipped into teaching mode. "See how it's changing color? From yellow to almost white? That's incorporating air into the fat."

Ash leaned closer to observe, his presence beside her simultaneously nerve-wracking and comforting. "Like combat breathing techniques. Controlled intake changes internal composition."

Yui blinked, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "I... suppose that's one way to think about it."

The mixer hummed steadily, filling what might have been an awkward silence. Yui reached for the container of powdered sugar already measured and waiting.

"Now we add the powdered sugar gradually," she continued. "Starting on low speed to avoid—"

"A sugar explosion," Ash finished, the corner of his mouth quirking up. "Like the flour."

"Exactly." Yui couldn't help but giggle, the shared reference melting some of the tension between them.

As she guided him through adding the sugar cup by cup, the rhythmic process created a strangely peaceful atmosphere. The frosting slowly came together, transforming from separate ingredients into something smooth and cohesive.

"Did you always like baking?" Ash asked suddenly, his voice soft against the background hum of the mixer.

For a moment, Yui's hands stilled. Personal questions weren't typically Ash's style, nor hers, yet she found herself wanting to answer him honestly.

"Not always," she admitted, adjusting the mixer speed. "My father told me my mother loved to bake, though I never got to meet her. She died… after giving birth to me."

She kept her eyes on the frosting, finding it easier to speak without meeting his gaze. "When I was about six, I asked my father to teach me how to bake, hoping to connect with her in some way. He wasn't very good at it himself, but he bought ingredients and recipe books, and we had fun figuring it out together."

"He was so happy the first time I made cookies by myself. They were terrible—burnt on the outside, raw in the middle—but he ate every single…one." Her throat tightened unexpectedly.

"That's a beautiful connection," Ash said quietly.

The simple sincerity in his voice gave her courage to continue.

"My father died when I was eight," Yui continued, surprising herself with her openness. "During the DOLLS invasion. But every time I bake, I feel like both of them are somehow with me."

She risked a glance at Ash, finding his expression thoughtful rather than pitying, which she appreciated.

"I understand that desire for connection," Ash said quietly. "As a meteorn, I don't have memories of any family. Sometimes I wonder if there's someone out there who taught me things I still know how to do without remembering why."

"Like maybe someone taught me how to hold a sword," he continued, "or showed me how to tie my shoes. Basic things most people remember learning."

Yui nodded, a new understanding blossoming between them. They were both searching for connections to people they'd lost—though in vastly different ways.

"Maybe that's why I wanted to learn baking from you," Ash added, meeting her eyes. "To create new memories I know the origins of."

Yui's heart skipped a beat at the implication that he valued creating memories with her. The frosting seemed forgotten as they stood there, a moment of genuine connection stretching between them.

Remembering herself, Yui cleared her throat and turned back to the frosting. "We should add the vanilla extract and salt now." She reached for the small vials among their prepared ingredients. "And here's the special ingredient—"

She picked up a tiny jar from the ‘MISC’ tray filled with what looked like finely ground glitter in an iridescent cerulean hue.

"Ground photon crystals?" Ash guessed.

"Hai! Just a spoonful," Yui confirmed, carefully adding the sparkling powder to the frosting. "It'll make the frosting glow subtly. Not enough to affect texture, but enough to look magical."

She switched on the mixer again, and they watched as the crystal powder diffused throughout the frosting, creating swirls of gentle luminescence that settled into an even, subtle glow.

"Now that's a photon art I can get behind," Ash said suddenly.

As the frosting continued to mix, Yui laughed—a genuine, unguarded sound, surprising even herself.

Ding!

The photonic oven's gentle chime filled the kitchen. The orange light inside faded out as the door clicked open with a soft whoosh. Vanilla-scented steam billowed out, carrying the promise of perfectly baked cupcakes.

"They're done!" Yui exclaimed, then caught herself. She quickly recomposed as she slipped on her oven mitts. "I mean... they seem to have baked properly."

Ash watched as she carefully lifted the tray from the oven, his stoic expression softening at the sight of twelve perfectly golden cupcakes nestled in their paper liners.

"Completely uniform coloration," he observed, leaning closer to inspect them. “Impressive oven." he nodded appreciatively.

Yui felt a flutter of pride at both the cupcakes and his interest in the process. "The thermo-photonic tech provides perfectly consistent heating unlike older technology," she explained, setting the tray on the cooling rack. "But the batter still requires proper preparation and timing."

Mochi fluttered from his perch to inspect the baked goods from a safe distance, his tiny head bobbing as he assessed their quality.

"Right, now we need to let them cool completely before frosting," Yui said, bracing herself for the coming awkwardness. "Frosting them while warm is a common mistake."

Ash nodded in understanding. "The structural integrity would be compromised."

Yui hardly registered his strategic assessment of frosting, her mind already racing through the excruciating twenty minutes of waiting ahead. That was when she had an epiphany.

"U-um, I need to use the bathroom!" she blurted out, voice jumping an octave higher. "So let's take a twenty minute break!" Without waiting for his response, she hurried towards the hallway, ponytail swinging behind her.

"Now for the final touch," Yui said, holding up the piping bag to show its large star tip. "This is a 1M piping tip. It creates a classic swirl pattern."

She positioned a cupcake in front of her and took a breath, centering herself. Her hands moved with practiced grace, applying even pressure as she piped a perfect spiral from the outside edge inward, finishing with a slight upward flick of her wrist.

"There," she said, setting the finished cupcake aside. "Start from the outside, maintain consistent pressure, and lift at the end." With a small nod of satisfaction, she handed the piping bag to Ash. "Your turn."

He accepted it with a nod, grasping the piping bag with his large hands. He stared at the cupcake with great intensity, then began to squeeze.

Yui winced as frosting erupted from the bag in irregular bursts, creating something that looked less like a decorative swirl and more like a photon blast aftermath.

"Slightly… uneven," Ash observed, studying his creation with a slight frown.

"It's not bad for a first try," Yui lied, trying not to giggle.

"Can you show me again?" he asked, his brow furrowed in concentration.

Yui hesitated, then took a deep breath. She could do this. It was just a baking lesson. Just teaching. Nothing more.

"A-actually," she said, hating how her voice trembled slightly, "it might be easier if I... guided you."

Was she really suggesting this? Her heart hammered against her ribcage.

"Guided?" Ash asked, his expression unchanged.

She reached around him, her small frame practically engulfed by his height and broad shoulders. The scent of his cologne—subtle, clean, with notes of cedar—filled her senses as she positioned herself close enough that her chest pressed lightly against his back.

Oh gosh, oh gosh, oh gosh, oh noo...

Her arms stretched forward, hands trembling slightly as she placed them over his on the piping bag. His hands were warm, much larger than hers, and she could feel the strength in them as she guided his fingers to the correct position.

"L-like this," she managed, her voice catching. "Gentle but firm pressure."

Together they squeezed the bag, their hands moving in unison as they piped a perfect spiral onto the cupcake. The warmth of his body against hers made it hard to concentrate, but somehow, her muscle memory took over.

"There," she breathed, suddenly aware of how close her face was to his neck. She could see the pulse point there, steady and strong, unlike her own racing heartbeat.

Ash turned his head slightly, perhaps to thank her, and suddenly their faces were mere centimeters apart.

Time seemed to stretch, each second extending into an eternity as Yui froze, caught in his gaze. The minute details of his features drew her in—the exact brown shade of his eyes, the way his jet black hair framed his eyes, the way his lips parted slightly as if he too had been caught off-guard by their sudden proximity—-

Pikon! "Playing 'Mindless Whispers' by MyCool George!"

Sultry saxophone notes filled the air as a slow, sensual melody began blaring throughout their apartment unit.

"W-WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" Yui shrieked at her MAG, finally breaking from her trance and stumbling backward. "Turn it OFF!"

“This music seemed fitting for the detected mood!” the MAG replied, cheerfully tonedeaf to Yui’s suffering. “Would you like to activate Mood Lighting too?”

“NO, TURN IT OFF! TURN OFF THE–”

“Understood! Turning off standard lighting and switching to mood lighting!”

Sexy sax continued as the apartment shifted into a romantic purple-pink gradient. Yui lunged for the MAG, fingers jabbing through it’s holographic UI in blind panic as she attempted to turn off the mood enhancement.

Ash stood watching the entire scene unfold, a rare expression breaking through his stoic facade—a smile betraying his amusement.

Piyoyo! piyoyo! piyooo! Meanwhile, Mochi had launched into panicked flight around the kitchen. (Alert! Alert! Allied drone engaging in unauthorized atmospheric manipulations! Visibility compromised! Unexpected audio interference detected!)

"Stop! Please! Urusai, urusai, URUSAAAAI!" Yui wailed at the MAG, her face burning hot. [At least the mood lighting disguises her blushing]

"Ara, Yui-chan! I didn't know you were so forward!"

Yui froze, the voice cutting through noise and panic like a photon blade. Slowly, with mounting horror, she turned toward the apartment entrance.

Emi stood in the doorway, her lavender hair framing a delighted smile, her eyes twinkling with surprised behind her round glasses. In one hand, she clutched a Boba Bliss cup; in the other, something far more dangerous—her instant camera.

Kacha! Kacha!

"W-W-W-WAIT NO!" Yui spluttered, one hand waving frantically in front of her as the other continued clumsily jabbing at the holographic interface. "THIS ISN'T—WE WEREN'T—"

"It's perfectly daijoubu! Take your time~!" Emi sang, already backing up with a wink. "We'll wait outside~"

"Nee-san, why aren't we going in?" Akari's muffled voice drifted through the door as Emi gently pulled it closed.

Finally, Yui hit the right button. The music cut off abruptly, the lighting snapping back to normal. She stood in deafening silence, in the suddenly too-bright kitchen, mortification radiating from her in almost visible waves.

"IT'S NOT WHAT YOU THINK IT IS!!!" she cried out in desperation, even though the door was already closed.

The girls had gathered around the kitchen island—their boba tea mission successfully accomplished with Narumi obtaining not one but three cups of limited-edition Snowflake Crystal Boba. Her eyes sparkled with triumph as she arranged them in front of her like trophies, all the while dismissing Yui’s attempts at explaining her MAG’s transgressions.

“Hai hai, nyaa! It was definitely all MAG-chan!” Narumi's tail swished playfully behind her as she sing-songed her response.

"Mou… I’m telling the truth!" Yui muttered, face burning crimson as she turned away from their teasing. "Let's just finish the cupcakes."

She grabbed the piping bag and thrust it back into Ash's hands. "Here. You should practice more."

Ash accepted the bag with a nod. Positioning it over an undecorated cupcake, his brow furrowed slightly as he recalled the techniques Yui had lead him through earlier. With surprising grace, his large hands guided the piping bag in a fluid circular motion, creating a neat spiral of glowing frosting that, while not perfect, was much closer to Yui's example.

"That's really good for a second try," Yui said, genuinely impressed.

Ash moved to the next cupcake, his movements more confident. By the third cupcake, his technique had dramatically improved, each swirl more precise than the last.

"Sugoooi!" Akari exclaimed, her eyes wide with wonder. "Ash-nii-san is almost as good as Yui-nee-san already!"

Yui watched him complete another near-perfect frosting swirl, a mix of admiration and mild irritation flickering across her face. What had taken her weeks of practice and countless failed attempts, he seemed to master in minutes. Well…Of course, she reminded herself. He is the legendary meteorn after all…

"You're a really quick learner," she commented.

Ash finished the last cupcake with a flourish, then set the piping bag down gently. "I adapt quickly," he said with a modest shrug. "But I wouldn’t be this fast without an excellent teacher."

"N-No no, I'm not excellent," Yui mumbled, reflexively shaking her head. Yet the compliment warmed her from the inside out as she busied herself with cleaning up the counter.

Narumi pounced on Yui with a grin. "Ooooh! Yui-sensei's first lesson was a complete success, nya? Maybe you should open a baking school! And Ash-kun can be your first enrolled student!” She raised her boba tea with a theatrical flair, taking a loud slurp that echoed through the room as her cat ears twitched with satisfaction. “Mmmmm, oishiiiii!”

"T-T-Teamwork," Yui stammered, the mixing bowl suddenly fascinating. "I-it was teamwork."

"Nyahaha, you mean that teamwork we saw just earlier," Narumi replied smugly.

”NO!”

Akari, who had been studying the completed cupcakes with the serious concentration of a scholar, suddenly looked up. "It's just like baking, isn't it?" she said, her voice carrying the innocent wisdom only a child could manage.

Everyone turned to her, momentarily paused by the non sequitur.

"What is, Akari-chan?" Emi asked with a gentle smile, head tilting in curiosity.

"People," Akari explained, gesturing to Yui and Ash. "All the ingredients need to work together, just like we do. The flour is strong but plain by itself. The sugar is sweet but can't make structure alone. The egg brings everything together..."

She adjusted imaginary glasses with her small finger, mimicking the serious researchers she'd seen. "But when they all mix and share their strengths, they make something beautiful that none could make alone."

A moment of silence fell over the kitchen as her words sank in.

"That's... actually rather profound, Akari-san," Ash nodded appreciatively. “Though in this case, I simply followed instructions from Yui-sensei.”

"Herrokero!" Akari beamed, her academic moment dissolving back into childish delight. "Can we eat them now?"

From his perch on the overhead cabinet, Mochi observed the fluctuating conditions of his primary landing zone.

Piyoyoo... (Primary Airfield readings increasingly unstable. Detecting dangerous thermal variations and unusual atmospheric pressure. Request permission to delay landing operations until conditions normalize...)

The living room had transformed into a scene of contentment. Narumi sprawled across the couch, legs dangling over the armrest as she alternated between slurping her third limited-edition boba and savouring mouthfuls of Ash’s buttery vanilla cupcakes. Beside her, Akari sat cross-legged, carefully breaking apart her cupcake to examine its dense buttery interior before taking tiny, appreciative nibbles.

Emi reclined elegantly in the armchair, indulgently licking frosting from her fingers. "Ash-kuuun, these cupcakes are delicious!" she cheerily called towards the kitchen.

"It was mostly Yui's recipe and guidance," Ash replied from where he stood at the sink, still wearing Emi’s apron as he methodically washed the baking tools.

The soft clinking of dishes and gentle hum of running water created a peaceful backdrop as Yui and Ash worked together. She cleaned the counter while he washed the dishes—an unspoken arrangement they'd fallen into naturally. Late afternoon sunlight spilled through the smart window, its golden rays bathing the kitchen, highlighting the fresh cupcakes and boba cups waiting on the counter.

"Thank you, Yui-san," Ash said quietly—so quietly that only she could hear.

She looked up, surprised by the genuine warmth in his normally stoic voice. A smile spread across her face—not her usual reserved smile, but something warmer and more open.

"It’s ok, I had fun too" she replied softly. Then, studying the pattern of the dish towel with sudden interest, she added: "We... we could do it again sometime. If you wanted to learn more, I mean."

She risked a glance up at him. "Even after your apartment gets fixed and you move out, you could... visit. For baking lessons."

Ash was quiet for a moment, and Yui worried she'd been too forward. But then he nodded, and there was a subtle softening around his eyes that might almost be called a smile.

"I'd love to," he said simply, and in his typically economical way of speaking, those three words carried the weight of a much longer response.

Yui busied herself with wiping down the counter, but the smile remained on her face. Mochi, sensing a temporary stabilization in atmospheric conditions, cautiously glided down from his high perch to land softly on her head.

Piyo~ (Primary Airfield conditions acceptable. Initiating standard landing procedures.)