Next Day – Usagi's POV:
"Mom, my friends are coming over today! We're going to practice making pancakes," I said excitedly.
"Oh? Who's coming? Mei-chan and Hina-chan?" Mom asked curiously.
"They're coming, but Okami-kun, Rentarou-kun, and Izumi-kun are also joining!" I added.
"Eh?! You're bringing boys over? That's so unlike you!" she teased with a playful grin. "Hehe~ Isn't Okami-kun the one you talked about on the first day of college? And the one you make lunch boxes for… along with Rentarou-kun every day?" she asked, giving me a knowing look.
"Mom!" I pouted, feeling my face heat up. "It's not like that! We're just friends!"
Mom smirked, clearly enjoying teasing me. "Hehe~ but you talked about Okami-kun a lot on your first day of college, and now you make lunch for him and Rentarou-kun every day... Seems special to me."
I crossed my arms. "Mooom, stop making weird assumptions! We're just practicing for the competition, that's all!"
She chuckled, wiping her hands with a kitchen towel. "Alright, alright, I won't tease you… much. But I'm happy you're making good friends. Just make sure to behave yourself, young lady~"
I rolled my eyes. "Mooom!"
She laughed and patted my head. "Alright, go get things ready. I'll prepare some snacks for everyone before they arrive."
I smiled. "Thanks, Mom! You're the best!"
With that, I rushed to the kitchen to start preparing for the practice session.
After a while, the doorbell rang.
Ding dong!
I rushed to open the door, and the moment I did, Mei clung to me with a teasing grin. "Ahh! Usagi in house casuals… so cute!"
"Ahh, Mei-chan, you're making me self-conscious now," I mumbled, pouting slightly.
Hina-chan stepped inside with a polite smile. "Thanks for having us," she said.
Right behind her, Rentarou-kun entered excitedly. "Whoaa, Usagi-chan! Your house is so cute from the outside! Even the nameplate was adorable!"
"Hehe~ thanks," I chuckled.
As I turned to look at Okami-kun, he stepped in hesitantly, while Izumi-kun dramatically followed, fake-sobbing. "Ahhh… hmm hmm… I'm so happy! I finally have friends! And now I'm even visiting their house!"
"You practically forced yourself into being our friend," Mei deadpanned.
I giggled as Izumi kept up his dramatic act, wiping imaginary tears. "Ehh, details, details! Friendship is all about persistence!" he declared proudly.
Mei rolled her eyes. "More like being a shameless idiot."
Hina sighed, shaking her head. "Alright, stop crowding the entrance. Let's go in."
I turned my head and noticed Okami-kun still standing outside, hesitating. His hands were in his pockets, and he seemed unsure whether to step in.
I tilted my head. "Okami-kun?"
He blinked and looked at me. "Ah... yeah." Then, with a small sigh, he finally stepped inside.
Rentarou grinned. "Whoa, I never thought I'd see the day Okami-kun would visit someone's house!"
Okami shot him a look. "Shut up."
I giggled. "Alright, alright, let's move to the kitchen! We have pancakes to make!"
As we were heading inside, the door suddenly opened. We all turned to see Mom stepping in, carrying a bag of snacks and a pastry box in her hands.
"Oh my, my! Everyone's already here?" she said with a warm smile.
She placed the snack bag and pastry box on the table near the entrance before turning to the group. "Oh dear, let me introduce myself! I'm TakahashiRikona, Usagi-chan's mother!"
Rentarou's eyes sparkled as he immediately bowed dramatically. "Whoa! So this is where Usagi-chan gets her kindness and cooking skills from! Nice to meet you, Takahashi-san!"
Izumi, ever the dramatic one, wiped fake tears again. "Ahh, what a warm welcome! A true motherly presence!"
Mei rolled her eyes. "Izumi, stop being weird."
Hina just bowed politely. "Thank you for having us, Takahashi-san."
Okami, on the other hand, gave a simple nod. "Nice to meet you."
Mom chuckled warmly at everyone's reactions before turning to Okami-kun with an amused expression. "Oh, you're Okami-kun, right? Usagi-chan talks about you a lot!"
I felt my face heat up instantly. "M-Mom! Don't say weird things!"
Okami-kun hesitated for a moment before offering a small, polite smile. I quickly tried to change the topic. "A-Anyway! What's in that box, Mom?"
Mom smiled knowingly but let it slide. "Oh, I brought some sweets for you all!"
Hina looked a little surprised. "Takahashi-san, you really didn't have to. We're already using your kitchen and ingredients..."
"My, my, Hina-chan, as considerate as ever," Mom said fondly. "But please don't think too much about it. You're all here to help Usagi prepare for the competition, and I'm really happy she brought her friends over!"
Rentarou clapped his hands together eagerly. "Woohoo! Bonus snacks before we even start? This is the best practice session ever!"
Izumi dramatically placed a hand over his heart. "Truly, a house filled with warmth and kindness! I may never leave!"
Mei smacked the back of his head. "Stop being dramatic and help unpack the stuff."
"Oh dear, you don't have to!" Mom said with a gentle smile. "Please, you all wait in Usagi's room. I'll bring you sweets and drinks."
Before I could respond, Okami-kun spoke up in a low voice, "No, ma'am. We should start practicing pancakes."
Mom chuckled, shaking her head. "Oh, don't worry about it, dear. You should enjoy each moment—after all, apart from the destination, the journey is just as important. Besides, I need to tidy up the kitchen a little before you can use it, so please feel free to rest in Usagi's room for now."
Okami-kun hesitated, as if he wanted to argue, but Mom's gentle yet firm tone left no room for debate.
Hina nodded. "That's true. We should at least wait until the kitchen is ready."
"Well, if Takahashi-san insists, who am I to refuse free sweets?" Rentarou grinned.
Mei rolled her eyes. "You would never refuse food, to begin with."
Izumi gasped dramatically. "Ah, a rare opportunity to see Usagi-chan's sacred space! I am honored!"
I crossed my arms. "It's just a normal room, Izumi kun.
I hesitated, glancing at Okami-kun, who looked like he wanted to protest, but Rentarou had already pumped a fist in the air. "Woohoo! Free snacks and a break? I'm not complaining!"
Izumi dramatically clutched his chest. "Ah, a kind motherly figure who insists we rest before our noble task! Truly, I am blessed!"
Mei smacked the back of his head. "Quit it already."
Okami-kun, however, still seemed reluctant. His fingers curled slightly, as if holding himself back. But seeing Mom's unwavering smile, he sighed and nodded. "Alright…"
Mom beamed. "That's better! Now, go on and relax a little. I'll call you when everything's ready."
Hina nudged my arm. "Well, guess we're heading to your room. Hope you cleaned up, Usagi."
I huffed. "Of course, I did! What do you take me for?"
As we made our way upstairs, I couldn't help but glance at Okami-kun. He was quieter than usual, lost in thought. I wonder what's on his mind…
As we stepped into my room, Rentarou's eyes widened with excitement, sparkling as he looked around.
"Whoaa!!! Usagi-chan! Your room is so cute and girly!" he exclaimed.
I giggled. "Hehe~ maybe because I'm a girl?" I teased playfully.
Izumi flopped onto my bed dramatically. "Ahh, this bed is such fluffy and bouncy"
Mei yanked him up by the collar. "Don't touch her bed like that, you weirdo!"
Hina chuckled as she looked around. "It's neat and organized as always, just like you."
Meanwhile, Rentarou was still admiring everything. "You even have little bunny plushies! So cute!"
I scratched my cheek, feeling a little shy. "Well… I do like bunnies."
Okami-kun, on the other hand, simply leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, his eyes scanning the room but not saying much.
Hina nudged me. "So, Usagi, where do we sit?"
"Oh! You guys can sit anywhere—on the bed, the floor, the chair—just make yourselves comfortable!"
Rentarou immediately plopped onto the fluffy carpet. "Ahh, so soft! I could take a nap here."
Izumi, still rubbing the spot where Mei had grabbed him, muttered, "I was thinking the same, but someone rudely interrupted me."
Mei rolled her eyes. "Because you're annoying."
As they all settled in, I glanced at Okami-kun again. He was unusually quiet. Is he still thinking about his mom?
Mom walked in with a tray of drinks and pastries, and Hina quickly stepped forward to help her.
"You should've asked for help, Takahashi-san," Hina said gently.
"Oh dear, thank you," Mom replied with a warm smile.
As they placed the tray on the table, Mom gestured to everyone. "Please feel free to take any flavor you like!"
Rentarou was the first to reach out, his eyes sparkling. "Whoa! So many flavors! Takahashi-san, you really went all out!"
Izumi dramatically grabbed a pastry and held it up like it was a rare treasure. "Ahh, a feast fit for royalty! I shall savor every bite!"
Mei smacked the back of his head. "Just eat it normally, drama king."
Hina, ever the polite one, carefully picked a strawberry-flavored one and nodded in appreciation. "Thank you for this, Takahashi-san."
I took a chocolate one for myself, smiling at my mom. "Thanks, Mom!"
Okami-kun hesitated for a moment before finally reaching for a simple vanilla pastry. "Thank you." His voice was quiet, but there was warmth in it.
Mom chuckled, watching all of us enjoy the treats. "I'm just happy Usagi has such wonderful friends."
I felt my cheeks heat up. "M-Mom, stop embarrassing me!"
She just laughed and patted my head. "Alright, alright. But really, it's nice seeing you all together. It reminds me of my school days."
As everyone enjoyed their drinks and pastries, I noticed Okami-kun was lost in thought again, his eyes flickering between his pastry and the table. Is he thinking about his mom again?
I nudged Okami-kun lightly. "Hey, is the pastry not good?"
He blinked and looked at me, startled. "Huh? No, it's good." He took another bite, chewing slowly. "Really good."
But his eyes still held that distant look.
Rentarou, completely unaware of the shift in mood, grinned. "Of course it's good! Even the pastries Takahashi-san picks out are amazing!"
Izumi leaned back dramatically. "Ahh, I wish I could be born into a family with such great taste! My mom buys the weirdest snacks ever—last time, she got wasabi-flavored chocolate!"
Mei sighed. "That's because you always ask her to get 'something unique.'"
Hina chuckled as Izumi let out a fake gasp of betrayal.
I turned back to Okami-kun, lowering my voice. "Are you okay?"
He glanced at me, hesitating before nodding. "Yeah… just remembering some things."
I smiled gently. "Good memories, I hope?"
He looked down at his pastry, a soft smile tugging at his lips. "Yeah... mostly."
I didn't push further. Instead, I just picked up another pastry and placed it on his plate. "Then eat up! We need you at full strength for pancake practice!"
His smile grew a little as he picked up the pastry. "Yeah… thanks."
"The kitchen is all set for you to use, so you can start after eating!" Mom said with a smile before leaving the room.
As we finished eating, we gathered our dishes and glasses, stacking them neatly on the tray.
"I'll take it downstairs," I said, lifting the tray carefully.
"We're coming too!" Rentarou announced enthusiastically, and just like that, everyone followed me toward the kitchen.
The moment we stepped in, Mom had already tidied up the counters and set out some extra bowls and utensils for us. She smiled as she saw us enter.
"Well, the kitchen is all yours now," she said cheerfully. "Feel free to ask if you need anything!"
"Thank you, Mom!" I beamed.
She gave a warm nod before stepping aside, letting us take over.
"Alright, let's get started!" I clapped my hands together, feeling the excitement build up. I turned to Okami-kun. "Sensei, what's our first step?"
Okami-kun blinked. "Sensei…?"
Rentarou laughed. "Ohh, I like the sound of that! Okami-sensei, please guide us on this sacred pancake journey!"
Izumi dramatically bowed. "Master of Pancakes, we are at your service."
Okami-kun sighed, rubbing his forehead, but I caught the small smile tugging at his lips.
"…Alright, alright. First, we need to gather all the ingredients."
And with that, our practice session officially began.
Okami-kun cleared his throat, slipping into a more focused mode.
"Well then, first we need purpose flour, sugar, baking powder, a cup of milk, one egg, and melted butter," he began, glancing at the ingredients laid out. "The amount depends on how many pancakes we're making, but for the competition, a good ratio is one cup of flour, one egg, and a spoonful of sugar."
As he spoke, his hands moved automatically, measuring out the ingredients with practiced ease.
"First, we sift the flour into a bowl," he instructed, demonstrating as he went. "This helps make the pancakes fluffier."
We all watched closely, following his movements.
"Next, add the sugar and baking powder, then mix the dry ingredients well."
I grabbed a spoon and stirred, making sure everything was evenly combined.
"Now, in another bowl, whisk the egg, milk, and melted butter together," he continued.
Rentarou cracked the egg into the bowl, a bit too forcefully. "Oops—"
Izumi sighed dramatically. "And that's why you shouldn't be trusted in the kitchen."
Mei smirked. "I second that."
Okami-kun just shook his head with a small chuckle. "It's fine. Just whisk it well."
As Rentarou recovered and mixed the wet ingredients, Okami-kun continued.
"Now, slowly pour the wet mixture into the dry one, stirring gently. Don't overmix—it's okay if there are some lumps."
I took over this step, carefully folding the batter together. "Like this?"
"Yeah, that's perfect," Okami-kun nodded. "Now, let it rest for a few minutes. This helps the batter settle and makes the pancakes softer."
Hina smiled slightly. "You sound just like a professional chef, Okami-kun."
He scratched the back of his head, looking away. "Well… I just remember how my mom used to do it."
His voice softened at the mention of her, and for a brief moment, the kitchen felt quiet.
I quickly spoke up, trying to lighten the mood. "Then let's make sure these turn out just as amazing as hers!"
Okami-kun blinked, then gave a small smile. "Yeah… Let's do that."
With the batter ready, we moved on to cooking, the atmosphere filled with the warm scent of pancakes and the quiet excitement of making something special together.
As Okami-kun carefully demonstrated how to flip the pancakes, we all watched attentively. His movements were precise, almost second nature, as he skillfully flipped one in the air and landed it perfectly back in the pan.
Just then, Mom walked into the kitchen, a warm smile on her face. "Ahh! Such a wonderful smell!" she said cheerfully. "Oh, Okami-kun, you really do know your way around the kitchen, huh?"
Okami-kun gave a small smile, his usual quiet demeanor softening just a bit. "Yeah… Mom taught me how to make pancakes when I was a kid."
Mei suddenly perked up. "Oh! You know, Takahashi-san, Okami-kun's mother is Tsukiyo Kurokawa!"
Mom's eyes widened slightly before she smiled warmly. "My, my! No wonder you have such great skills, Okami-kun."
For a brief moment, Okami-kun's expression was unreadable. He simply gave a small, awkward smile, but I could tell he wasn't sure how to react.
Sensing the mood, Mom gently continued, "Usagi did tell me that you're living apart from your family… You're staying with Rentarou-kun, right?"
Okami-kun and Rentarou both nodded.
Mom placed a hand on her hip, smiling fondly. "Such a wonderful friend you are, Rentarou-kun!"
Rentarou quickly shook his head, grinning. "Oh no, Takahashi-san! I actually live alone anyway, so it's nice having Okami-kun around. If anything, I should be thanking him!"
Mom's expression softened as she looked at the two boys. "Usagi also told me a little about you, Rentarou-kun. Despite losing your parents at such a young age, you've grown up to be such a cheerful and lively person."
Rentarou blinked, caught off guard for a moment, before rubbing the back of his head sheepishly.
Mom continued, her voice filled with warmth, "Listen, both of you… If you ever feel like you need a mother figure to talk to, don't hesitate to come to me, alright? I already like all of you so much."
There was a pause.
Okami-kun, who had been flipping a pancake, froze for just a second. When he turned back to the stove, I noticed his eyes glistening slightly, though he quickly blinked and focused on the pan.
Rentarou, on the other hand, gave a wide, heartfelt smile. "It already feels like home, Takahashi-san. Thank you."
Okami-kun simply nodded, his expression quiet but grateful.
The kitchen, filled with the warm scent of pancakes, felt just a little more like family in that moment.
As Okami-kun finished up his pancakes, I quickly followed suit, making sure mine turned out just as good. The golden-brown pancakes sat neatly on our plates, their warm, fluffy texture looking absolutely perfect.
Okami-kun wiped his hands on a kitchen towel and glanced at my plate before nodding slightly. "Not bad… but presentation is just as important as taste," he said.
I tilted my head. "Presentation?"
He gave a small nod. "Yeah. My mom always said that how you serve food matters just as much as how it tastes. A beautifully presented dish makes people even more excited to eat it."
I thought back to how carefully he arranged his own plate, placing the pancakes neatly, adding just the right amount of syrup, and positioning the fruits so they looked inviting rather than just thrown on.
I grinned. "Alright then! Teach me your ways, Okami-kun!"
He sighed, but I caught the small amused smile on his face. "Fine, watch closely."
And with that, we began the final touch—turning our pancakes into a masterpiece.
After we finished plating, we brought the pancakes to the living room, setting them down in the center table. Okami-kun and I had each made two pancakes, so everyone took a small bite from both to compare.
Rentarou was the first to react, his eyes widening as he dramatically held his hands together. "Ohhh! Usagi-chan's pancakes are soft and fluffy, and the syrup blends perfectly! But Okami-kun's… it has that extra depth! Is this the power of a legendary chef's bloodline?!"
Izumi, already on his second bite, sniffled. "I'm gonna cry… This is too good… I need pancakes like this every morning."
Mei, who was chewing thoughtfully, crossed her arms. "Hmm… Usagi's pancakes are slightly sweeter, and Okami's have that professional touch. Honestly, both are amazing. I'd eat either of them any day."
Hina took a delicate bite and smiled softly. "They both taste wonderful. Usagi's have a more homemade warmth, while Okami's feel more refined. It's hard to choose between them."
Mom, who had been quietly tasting both, finally spoke with a bright smile. "Oh my, I can really see the difference in styles! Usagi's pancakes are full of love and comfort, and Okami-kun's have a balance that speaks of experience. Both of you did an amazing job."
I swallowed my bite and looked at Okami-kun, who was quietly eating. He didn't say much, but I could tell from his relaxed expression that he was satisfied with how they turned out.
Feeling proud, I clapped my hands together. "Hehe~ Looks like I had a great teacher! Now I just need to refine my skills a little more before the competition!"
Okami-kun glanced at me, his lips curving into the smallest smile. "You'll do fine."
And with that, our pancake practice session ended with full stomachs and happy hearts.