/jp/ - Otaku Culture

>>46085186
cute!

>>45396287
Anon… that guy is me. You quoted me.
still don't see it like that, but can understand why some see it that way—and it's okay. It's a community project, and I can't expect everyone to see things like I do.

(1/5)
———
For the past few days, she has been visiting Anon when he's not working, and, although it was hard to feel comfortable with it at first, I can't forget that look of him towards Chen on the first day.

I’ve seen too much, and that look promises only fondness.

Chen is a wild soul She likes to go around, explore, and so on: When she finds something of interest, it's hard to dissuade her from it. Playing around it, however, is another story entirely. So, I let Chen visit him ONLY when he's off the clock.

10 minutes ago, she left the reception to do just that, today being quite slow. Without the main attraction, this place has no shine, so I am on break. Even I need a distraction from having to constantly deal with Tengu and Kappa; they sure know how to wear someone down.

So here I am, by Anon's door, with no better excuse than I don't want to be by myself... Silence is fertile soil for guilt.

Hope I don't regret this.

Rubbing my hands together to dispel the cold of the rainy season, composed and graceful as ever, I open the door, unmaking the magic barriers with dexterity. I've done this so many times that I can do it while asleep.

A bit of maternal anxiety rushes over me, and I quickly look out for Chen inside, about to yell her name if she hadn't popped out of the kitchen.

"Master, it's not time already!" She quickly protests, and I take a moment to delight in her appearance; a white apron with the occasional oil stain and a big cooker's hat. Ah, so that's why he made that special request...

"You look elegant, Chen," I say, approaching the confused shikigami. "Don't worry about time; I've only come to see you two."

Her eyes fill with shine, Anon choosing that moment to appear on the door frame; "Hello, Ran." He wore a similar apron but no big hat. Compared to the sad, broken man she got used to seeing, this man might as well be day itself: cheeks full, posture tall and confident, somewhat emotionally healthy, the pitch darkness of his eyes replaced by— "Is there something in my face?"

H-Huh...? Wait, I was staring?

"No, no, there's nothing—sorry, I was just—"

Chen looked at us, annoyed, before pulling on Anon's apron. "The pastéis aren't gonna prepare themselves!"

Oh? "Pas... pasteies?" I savored the strange word.

"Pastéis!" Chen corrected, and Anon patted her on the head. She looked happy before resuming, "That's food from outside! C'mon, let's prepare it!" Chen started pulling us to the kit—wait, us?!

"C-Chen, no! Your hand is greasy!" I looked wide-eyed at her little hand grasping the pristine white of my dress, struggling to get it off. All the Miko outfits are such a bother already; now even my clothes?!

And they simply laughed in unison, as if they had plotted from the beginning! The gall! I was red with embarrassment, being pulled into the kitchen in such a way, my eye twitching as Chen pushed me to the kotatsu, begrudgingly taking a seat and assessing the damage. Thankfully, nothing a deep wash can't fix...

My petty anger, however, was reduced to atoms as the smells filled the air and buried away the cold of the rainy season. My, my, what is that they're preparing? Chen said something about being food from the outside world, right...?

I don't ever recall eating food from the outside.

I looked over at them, watching Anon by the stove handling a big wok filled with boiling oil and Chen flying by the side on the counter with a... fork? She was using the fork to smash the borders of small, half-moon-shaped dumplings, minced meat in a bowl, and sliced cheese and ham in another, using oregano to season before closing the borders with the fork. Hmm, clever. Then Anon would use a spatula to cook them in the oil, and wow, the smells are just—

"Don't drool on the kotatsu!" Anon yelled, Chen giggled by his side.

I wish I could bury my head somewhere.

They talked about the most random things as they cooked, and it was a treat to just stare and hear in silence. Once again, the comparison came to mind, smile day itself, when otherwise he'd be a night of tears.

But soon they finished, Anon placing two bowels full of pastéis in the center of the kotatsu and Chen carrying a jug of a yellowish liquid that looked similar to water. Filling the cups, she said, smiling, "That's sugarcane juice; Mr. Anon said it goes well with pastel!"

"You have been learning a lot from Anon," I stated, using a paper towel to pick up a pastel.

"Yah—he has so much to tell!"

"Oh? Care to back it up, Anon?" I took a bite after blowing the heat away, and it immediately wanted more. So outstandingly good! And, oh, when paired with the sugarcane juice... so sweet~

"Don't drool on the kotatsu, please." I gave him a death stare; they laughed. Ah, I was smiling... Dammit. "And sure! So, there was this guy I met once—"

Anon told story after story, Chen gave her input, and laughter was plentiful, us three on the kotatsu loading the air with warmth.

So much better than dealing with Kappas and Tengu~