Chapter 22

"Here, you can use this one." Shun handed Misaki an apron with a teddy bear wearing a chef hat on it.

"Thanks, but I'm not sure this is a good idea," Misaki said as she glanced around their spotless kitchen, the radio playing soft music in the background. "I'm afraid I might burn the cookies, or burn the house down."

Shun chuckled and shook his head. "That's not going to happen; I'm right here. And for reference, the fire extinguisher is on the wall right behind you, below the light switch."

"Good to know, I suppose." Misaki slipped the apron over her head and fumbled with the ties.

"I'll help you." Shun, with his 'King of the Kitchen' apron on, moved behind Misaki. He looped the strings behind her to the front and leaned in close as he tied it, his warm breath tickling her neck.

Don't react. Don't react! She gritted her teeth as she stood stock-still, her heart racing. "T-thanks."

"You're welcome." He walked to the other side of the kitchen island. "Looks good on you."

Misaki bit her lip, a faint blush forming as she stared at the dessert recipe book in front of her. "Is it an extra you keep around, or..."

"It's actually Ren's."

"Oh?" She looked up with a raised eyebrow.

"You might not expect it, but he thought it was cute, and said since I'd be the king of the kitchen, he could be the bear of the kitchen."

Misaki couldn't help but laugh. He is like a big teddy bear sometimes.

"I think he meant 'cause he'd keep sneaking cookies and eating them if I tried to get him to help."

"That definitely sounds like him."

Shun smirked, a twinkle in his eyes as he watched her laugh. Finally, a moment of peace for her. "So, is there anything you want to try to make?" He flipped the book open in front of her.

"Since I don't have much experience baking..." Or cooking. "What would be the easiest to start with?"

"Probably cookies, but you can make quick breads, muffins, or even brownies. Your choice."

Misaki flicked through the recipes. More choices actually make it harder to choose! I need something easy that I can't mess up.

"If you're up for it and can't decide, we can make more than one type."

"Hmm..." She tapped on the book. "How about these? They look easy."

"I'm home," Ren called out in a singsong voice as he walked through the entrance, the scent of vanilla with a hint of earthy tones drifting his way. "Oh, what smells good? Guys?" He followed the sound of metal bowls clanging and laughter to the kitchen. "Hey..." Ren covered his mouth, holding back his laugh as he stared at the flour on the back of Misaki's head.

"Hey, Ren, welcome home." Shun motioned for him to come in.

"Oh, Ren, hi." Misaki glanced back at him, still smiling.

His eyes widened slightly, and he resisted the urge to take another picture of her in her messy radiance. "Hey, Misa, you've got some flour on you."

"I think I've got it everywhere." She turned to show him the flour covering the apron.

"Yes, and somehow, even on the back of your head." He gently swiped flour out of her hair.

Oh... Seriously, these boys don't even hesitate! It actually feels nice... "T-thank you."

"It's no problem." He brushed his thumb across her warm cheek. "You had some here, too."

"I knew I'd be a disaster in the kitchen," she mumbled. Who gets it on the back of their head?!

"You're not a disaster," Shun assured her. "Just a bit messy."

Beep, beep, beep. Their timer went off for the next set of cookies.

Misaki rushed to put on the matching oven mitts to her apron and took the cookies out.

"What did you make?" Ren peeked over her shoulder at the cookies piped into shapes. "You have me salivating already." His eyes went straight to the ones in the shape of a heart.

"Don't crowd her," Shun warned him as Misaki rushed to set them on the holders. "You have to wait for them to cool first, anyway."

"Yes, we don't want you to burn yourself..." Misaki turned around and almost ran into Ren. "Be good." She pointed at him with the oven mitts still on.

"Okay, whatever you say, Miss Mittens."

"Hmm? Oh." She pulled the mitts off.

Ren shrugged. "Kinda liked it that way, but oh well."

He what?! "I think I'll clean up and take a shower while they cool." Misaki cleared her throat and turned away from them as she pulled on the bow of the apron. Crap, it knotted. She picked at it.

"Misa?" Ren glanced at Shun, who tapped on the bow of his apron. He nodded and moved around Misaki to kneel down in front of her. "I'll help."

"Hmm?" She pulled her hands away and stared down at Ren as he picked at the knot. I turned away to do it on my own, but he still came over. I love that he's so sweet, but he's definitely going to make things hard for me. She bit her lip and looked away at the tray of butter cookies.

"Got it!" Ren cheered as he stood.

"Thank you."

"Cookie as payment," he joked and took one off the pan. "Oh, still hot."

"You knew that," Shun complained.

"But it's so good. Mmm... Hey, what are these green ones?"

"Matcha." Misaki took off the apron.

"Cool, I guess I should've known with Shun here."

"She chose to do half a batch of regular butter cookies and half with matcha."

She ran her hand through her long hair and found a gritty texture. "I'm going to take a shower." Get the flour out of my hair.

"Towels are in the closet in the bathroom," Shun said as she headed out of the kitchen.

"Thank you." She waved back at him.

Once she was upstairs, Ren turned to Shun as he snatched another cookie. "So, how's she holding up?"

"I probably spooked her more by going over the footage, but I think it needed to be done." Shun picked up a warm cookie, admiring how well it turned out.

"So you spotted him?"

"Not only did he show up right after you got home, but he passed by frequently, and hid in the bushes when she came out to go to the bus stop."

"Geez..." Ren took a matcha cookie. "Mmm, that's pretty good, too."

"Naturally."

Ren cleared his throat and glanced back at the staircase for a moment. "I hate to ask, but did anything happen between you two?"

"I'm insulted." Shun ate the cookie in one bite. "I didn't do anything other than go over the footage and teach her to bake butter cookies..."

Ren's eyes narrowed. "What is it? Did you do something?"

"Does tying her apron count as doing something? I think she was flustered from it..." Shun frowned, thinking back.

"Damn... That could definitely make her heart skip a beat, getting close to her like that," Ren mumbled.

"I promise I had no romantic intentions." Shun held his hands up.

"I didn't think you did, but I'd rather not confuse her with both of us making her heart race. I suppose you can't help it. Say, how do you get over a first crush?"

Shun sighed, shaking his head. "I imagine it's different for everyone. And let's get this out in the open before you keep prodding like this, I know she used to have a crush on me during our training days, and you had one on her back then—"

Ren's cheeks warmed. "Hey! When did I ever say that?"

Shun motioned for Ren to zip his mouth.

"Sorry," Ren mumbled and sat on a stool beside the kitchen island.

"Did you think I didn't notice? Of course I did; I'm your brother. I knew she liked me, and you liked her, and I tried to stay neutral about it, despite any feelings." Shun held up his index finger before Ren could interrupt him again. "Again, I plan to stay as her friend and nothing more. I'm sorry if I tease her, comfort her, or get too close, but I will not cross any lines. Do you understand me, little brother?"

Ren flinched back at the anger in his voice he rarely heard. "Yes, sir."

"Good." Shun ruffled Ren's hair. "Here, eat another cookie while I clean up."

He didn't question it, taking the cookie with glee.

"Please be careful with her," Shun said as he put everything in the dishwasher. "I think Aki did more damage than we can imagine."

"I know. I used to think we got controlled a lot in the past, but what Aki did..." He sighed, shaking his head. "He was next level. Controlled her, dated her, and stabbed her in the back. It's no wonder she stayed in hiding for so long. Makes me want to clock that prick."

"I'm certain you want to do worse to him, as do I, but I don't think that'd go over well with the cops." Shun took off his apron, folded it, and set it off to the side.

"Well, as long as we never cross paths, we won't have to find out what I'd do."