Kitchen Chaos

It became more and more difficult to find a good night for stargazing. But since we didn't want to waste our nights, we started to spend more time at each other's houses, watching movies or playing board games.

Tonight, we met at Maria's house, as her parents were gone for the weekend. Inside it was warm, even though the rain outside drowned out all the noise. But Arisu seemed to grow more accustomed to the rain, as she didn't glance outside every few seconds now.

Maria clapped her hands together to get our attention.

"Okay, everybody, pick a recipe," she said.

She held out a few pieces of paper, turned on their backs so we couldn't see which recipe we would get. It was a fun idea, really.

"I'll go first."

It wasn't like I had anything to lose. While I wasn't the best cook in the world, I could follow a recipe, right? So I grabbed the first paper.

"Udon?" I read the title out loud.

Suddenly, I lost all confidence.

"Ah, so you're making our main dish! Wonderful."

"I- I've never prepared... Well, aside from the instant stuff..." I stammered.

Maria grinned at me.

"You got this. It's not that difficult. Plus, I'm here for you."

I knew she said that to calm my nerves. But being responsible for the main dish? That wasn't something I had anticipated. It's just too much responsibility! What if I mess it up? Maria didn't notice my panic, and turned towards Arisu.

"Do you want to go next?"

"Sure," she replied.

Using her hair, Arisu picked one of the recipes. She squinted her eyes, trying to decipher the text.

"M-ma...?"

"Macarons," Maria completed it for her.

Her smile wavered a bit.

"If you need help with that..."

Arisu looked at her, brows furrowed.

"Why would I need help for that?"

"Well, it's not an easy recipe, and..."

"And human?"

Maria shook her head.

"No, that's not what I meant."

She seemed just as frustrated as Arisu.

"Sure."

Arisu took a few steps back, her hair still clutching the recipe. Without saying a word, she read over the instructions again and again. Her lips moved as if she said something, but I couldn't hear a word coming from them. Maybe that was better.

"You got this," I whispered to her.

She nodded, still not saying a word. As the others chose their recipes - Erica being responsible for the entree, and Pudding taking over the drinks - I focused on my task as well. Oh wow. I'm still not sure how I'm supposed to get this right. Maria explained the kitchen to us quickly, ending with a "Just call me when you need help, okay?", before she retreated, setting the table and watching us with interested eyes.

Slowly, I walked up to the little station Maria had prepared for the main dish. She had already put down the washed ingredients. Even though I had to make the noddles, which felt more like baking to me, somehow it seemed more manageable now. I glanced around and saw Maria at the dining table, still watching us all. While the water cooked, I strolled over to her.

"You're glad not to be the one cooking and baking this time, huh?"

She blinked at me.

"Huh? No, I truly enjoy doing it. But it's also nice watching you all."

She laughed, tilting her head.

"Do you need help with anything?"

But I shook my head.

"Thanks, I'm good."

That's when I saw that my pot was almost boiling over.

"Ah!"

Thankfully, the kitchen was big enough that I could run over to my spot without bumping into one of the other girls. With my noodles saved, the rest of the cooking went over without a problem. But the longer the evening went on, the messier it got. Once I was finished, I had flour all over my clothes, and bits of dough and vegetable peels were stuck in my hair. 

I went to the bathroom to get myself presentable again, and only then did I notice how much my hands hurt from the unfamiliar motions. Maria must be really strong, I thought, even if she doesn't show it. 

Finally, I got out again and joined Maria at the table as my noodle soup simmered on the stove. Now resting, I understood why Maria wasn't cooking herself: she either helped one of us out with our tasks or was busy bringing more ingredients. Even though we were the ones cooking and baking, she probably still did most of the work. And while she did all that, she was either chatting, singing along to the radio, dancing, or doing all three at once.

That way, it felt like only one or two hours had gone by until everything was ready, even though it was long nighttime. And yet, as we all were gathered around the big table, eating and chatting, I felt more energized than ever. That's what a good, home-cooked meal can do for you, huh? Maybe I should do it more often. I watched my friends laugh, getting closer together. Or maybe it's just the time we spend together.

I enjoyed course after course, but then, Arisu came with her plates of macarons balanced on her hair. The small, french sweets looked mouth-watering. And, true to her style, she had topped them off with glitter and a few star-shaped sprinkles. She set a plate of them in front of each of us with care.

"What flavor are they?" I asked her.

"Lemon and vanilla."

With that explanation, she ate one, a pleasant smile spreading across her face. And as I took my first bite, I could see why. The lovely aroma of fresh lemon and soft vanilla seemed to spread through my whole body, the sweet and sour flavors mixing to become something entirely new. If I didn't know it was Arisu who had made them I would have certainly thought they came from a patisserie.

"This is fantastic," Maria said out loud.

She seemed completely stunned.

"Arisu, these are the best macarons I had in my entire life!"

"Of course," Arisu replied with a grin, "I made them."

It was difficult for me to focus on the conversation. So, instead of eating another one, I turned to Arisu.

"Do you bake like that back at home, too?"

She shrugged, but there was a small smile on her face.

"You could say that, I guess."

I shook my head at her, in complete disbelief.

"What, and you never told us? I could have eaten sweets like this the whole time?"

"But I don't wanna work this much." She pouted. "Also, I still don't know what is and what isn't edible here."

I lay a protective hand over my phone.

"True. And I don't know your recipes..."

It would probably just end in disaster without Maria around. But Arisu certainly enjoyed being the center of attention as everyone bombarded her with questions. Even with PURIRIN helping her measuring everything and helping her track the time, it seemed like she had a natural talent for baking.

"I should make some of the sweets from my home for you."

"Yes, please do!"

That sounded exciting, but she tilted her head.

"I just need... ah, what's it called here?" She quickly consulted PURIRIN. "Yes, Titanium."

"Uh..."

We started to laugh, and even though she seemed confused for a moment, Arisu quickly joined in. Our evening continued with lots of laughter, warmth, and full bellies, as the rain slowly stopped.