How to Cheer Up an Otaku, Part I

Three days after the talk in Yamada’s office, Hinako had finished her preparations and waited at the entrance. It was half six in the evening and Kuro should come home soon. Hinako knew that, because she had looked up his Oshi’s livestream schedule and one was planned for six o’clock. She heard the elevator arrive on their floor and footsteps getting closer to the door. Hinako checked herself one last time and went in position. She heard the key getting inserted into the keyhole, the turning and finally the door opened.

“Welcome home, Darling!”, Hinako said, kneeling at the entrance step. “Would you like to take a bath? Would you like to eat dinner?... Or would you prefer… me?”

Kuro stared at her with wide eyes and open mouth, standing at the entrance. Only the sound of the door closing behind him made a brief noise, breaking the silence for a moment, before it returned. Hinako looked at him, Kuro stared at her. Nobody said a word for what felt like an eternity for her. Hinako’s facial muscle began to twitch, and she started to fidget slightly. Still silence.

“Could you say at least something… this is getting really embarrassing here!”, Hinako blurted out, because she could not endure the awkward silence any longer.

“I… what… is… the meaning of… this?”, Kuro finally uttered the first words in over a week to her.

“I’m your Oshi for the evening!”

Hinako wore the exact same outfit as one of the costumes of his Oshi Vtuber. It was a mixture of a Kimono and a Maid outfit. She had a purple wig on, with the hairstyle of his Oshi and the matching cat ears. Even a purple tail came out of the back, and she had purple contacts in. The cosplay was perfect.

“Why are you doing this?”, Kuro asked still perplexed.

“To get you to finally talk to me again!”, Hinako said with a friendly smile.

“Well damn, you really went all out…”

“Right? It wasn’t easy to find all the things! This was also the only costume of her, that I could find on such a short notice… I know it isn’t one she uses that often, but I hope you’ll like it either way.”

“I love it! It’s perfect! And the hair as well, with the ears! And the purple eye color… and the tail as well! Wait… where is the tail…”

“It’s attached to a waist band! Don’t get any funny ideas!”

Both began to laugh. Hinako felt relieved to finally see him smile and laugh again.

“Okay, now that we got the awkward start done, let’s move on… Soo, what will it be? Bath? Dinner… or me?”, Hinako asked.

“How about dinner, I haven’t eaten anything today yet...”, Kuro replied immediately.

“Ah … Dinner isn’t exactly ready yet… I have prepared everything, but I wanted to make it fresh, so you would have to wait a bit on that, while I finish cooking…”

“Then maybe you first!”

“Huh? But then I can’t cook!”

“So, I don’t really have a choice here? I have to take the bath?”

“You could have chosen the bath first, like any reasonable person… then at least the illusion of choice would have been there…”

Both laughed again.

“Okay then I will soak for a bit, that does sound like a lovely choice.”, Kuro said with a smile.

“Great, then take you time and relax a bit, while I finish with the dinner.”, Hinako replied happily and got up.

She quickly went through the door to the studio room. Kuro went into the bathroom still smiling.

Forty minutes later he came through the door into the studio room.

“Ah, perfect timing! I just finished cooking!”, Hinako exclaimed as she spotted him.

Kuro went to the table, where she had already placed everything, even a candle was lit. He looked at the plates. His eyes widened and mouth opened in utter surprise a second time this day.

“What’s wrong? Not taking a seat?”, Hinako said and even held out his chair for him.

“What… is… this…”, Kuro stuttered in amazement.

“Huh? You can’t tell? Shit, did I fuck up? I looked carefully at the recipe!”

“No, it… looks amazing… just, how did you know?”

“I wanted to make something from your home, so of course it had to be Wiener Schnitzel!”

“You even got Erdäpfelsalat as a side dish! And a lemon slice! And is that Preiselbeermarmelade?!”

“Sure is! That was the hardest one to find here in Tokyo… But enough with being amazed at how great I am! Sit down and dig in before it gets cold!”

Kuro shaking his head in disbelief over what was in front of him took his seat. Hinako quickly brought him a beer to drink and then seated herself across from her.

“Well then… Mahlzeit!”, She said with a wide grin.

“Mahlzeit…”, Kuro replied still slightly stunned.

He grabbed the lemon slice, squeezed its juice over the Schnitzel, then cut a bite off, placed a bit of the Preiselbeermarmelade on top of it and finally shoved it into his mouth. He closed his eyes and a single tear ran across his cheek.

“Damn! Is it really that good?”, Hinako gasped after watching him closely.

“It’s perfect! It tastes just like back in Austria… you even used veal and not pork… I mean pork is tasty and works well too, but veal is the traditional used meat.”, Kuro explained with joy on his face.

“Hehe, I wanted to do it right.”

“You absolutely did!”

Hinako began to eat as well, and they finished their meal in silence.

“That was absolutely amazing! Thank you very much for the food, Hina.”, Kuro said after eating the last bite.

“I’m happy that you liked it. You’re not allowed to ever talk bad about my cooking again, just so you know!”, Hinako replied smiling brightly.

“Wouldn’t dream of it!”

“Good. Then it’s time for the next part!”

“Huh? There is more?”

Hinako grinned and got up from her seat.

“Of course there is. Didn’t you listen at the beginning? You had your bath. We finished dinner just now, so that means the only thing left is…”, She said and twirled around, presenting her whole cosplay again. “Me.”

“But… that’s… isn’t that… a bit… wasn’t that a joke?”, Kuro stuttered perplexed.

“Nope, I was dead serious!”

Hinako went to Kuro’s bed and sat down on it.

“Come here.” She said invitingly.

“But… that’s… we’re not… we shouldn’t…umm…” stuttered Kuro flustered.

Hinako gave him a strict look.

“Kuro! Stop overthinking things and get your ass over here!”, She said sharply.

“Yes, ma’am!”, Kuro replied and came over to her.