Sweets Box - Assort - 3

 Location: Dorm Room (Hinata, Hiiro, Niki)

<Ten minutes later>

Niki: Oh! I see, I totally get you!

So basically what you mean is that you wanna treat Yuuta-kun to a homemade meal to raise his spirits, huh?

Hinata: Yeah… I just wanna make up with Yuuta-kun, one way or another.

Shiina-senpai. Would you be willing to teach me how to cook?

Niki: I gotcha. We’re roommates, so we’re friends here. Not to mention that you’ve blessed me with so many sweets before too...so yeah, I’ll cooperate with you ♪ 

Hinata: Thanks, Shiina-senpai. You’re my savior~♪

Tetora: Cooking class! How cool~ I want you to teach me too, Aniki1!

Niki: “Aniki”? Er, I wasn’t really planning on the two of us being brothers… Have we met before?

Tetora: Nnah!? Y-you don’t remember….!? Remember that one time in the staff canteen? I might have forgotten to tell you my name back then, but I said hi to you!2

Niki: Umm, did that ever happ—…

Ahh, I remember now!

You came up to me when I was debating the idea of quitting being an idol, and you were pretty hot-blooded too — If I’m remembering right, you’re that Ryusei Black kid from Ryuseitai, right?

Tetora: Uh-huh! I’m Nagumo Tetora! I’m so honored you remembered!

Niki: Boooy, I only just connected the dots! I’m pretty forgetful when it comes to things that aren’t about cooking, so…

Anyway, Nagumo-kun. What’d you come here for? This is our room, you know~?

Tetora: Ah, I came because Hiiro-kun’s in the same room as you!

But maaan, I didn’t expect that I’d be able to talk to you like this again! I’ve always been super moved by everything you do, Aniki — You’re my cooking role model to this day!

If it’s cool with you, I want you to teach me how to cook too!

Niki: Um. But I’m not your brother… Did I say that title was better than “Shiina-sensei” the last time we talked or something?

Hmm… I’m not exactly the biggest fan of people being clingy with me, but… I guess having a third person is no different from having two, so I may as well teach you while I’m at it.

Tetora: Awright! Thanks so much, Aniki!

Niki: “Aniki”... Hmm. I’m still not used to it, huh… Think about it from my point of view— I can count the amount of times we’ve met on one hand, so it’s sending shivers down my spine!

Hinata: Ahaha. It’s because once Tetsu-kun falls for you, he’ll be completely devoted to you~ He’ll probably stay like this for a while.

Niki: Why is it that both Rinne-kun and this kid give me no space, huh?

...Ah. We got totally off-topic.

So, you were saying that you wanna treat Yuuta-kun to something homemade, but what kinds of foods does he like?

I can teach you how to make anything, from Japanese food, to Western food, to Chinese food, or even something completely new and creative.

Hinata: Ah, yeah… Yuuta-kun likes food that’s super spicy, so I was wondering if I should ask for a recipe with some spice in it?

Niki: Hmm. A recipe with some spice in it, huh? Plus it’s still gotta be relatively easy to give as a gift, too...

Hiiro: How about super spicy omurice?!

Niki: That’s what you like, isn’t it?

Tetora: Aniki! How about we do some manly cooking— what about something like yakiniku?

Niki: I’m not sure if that really counts as cooking!

Hm… This has to be something you can personally deliver, otherwise it seems like it’ll be hard to make up with him. Maybe if we had a dish that’s a little easier to carry...

Hinata: Usually when you wanna put your whole heart into an apology, you bring the person a box of assorted cakes or something like that, huh? But if we’re going for something spicy, I can’t really think of anything…?

Hiiro: Oh, by assorted cakes, you must mean those sweet things Aira often eats. So there’s a spicy version of them as well?

Tetora: Uumyu. There’s all different kinds of spicy snacks. But can you make stuff like that yourself?

Niki: Spicy sweets… Ah, if that’s what we’re going for, I’ve got a good idea!

A spicy sweet that you can carry… We can make hot chocolate!

Hinata: Hot chocolate…?

Hiiro: I have heard of chocolate before, but this “hot chocolate'' is a first. Isn’t that the project that you and my brother did some time ago?

Niki: That’s “Hot Limit”.

Hot chocolate is a dessert made by adding chili pepper to dark chocolate with a high cacao content.

The bitterness coupled with the spiciness yields an absolutely exquisite flavor— it’s delicious!

Tetora: I see. Just as we’d expect of you, Aniki! Your cooking knowledge is out of this world!

Hiiro: I can’t quite imagine it from just hearing about it, but it sounds so interesting!

Hinata: Mhm. Yuuta-kun’s got a soft spot for spicy things, and the creativity of the snack should be a big help in clearing up things between us.

Shiina-senpai! Please teach me how to make hot chocolate! Pretty please!

Niki: I gotcha, but under one condition!

Hinata: One condition...?

Niki: Oh, don’t sweat it. It’s really simple, okay? If you’re gonna cook, you gotta make some for me too!

I can fill up my stomach, you can make up with your brother… It’s just like killing two birds with one stone...♪ 

Hinata: That’ll be no problem at all! If there’s any other odd jobs, or just other kinds of help that you need from me in general, you can feel free to ask, okay?

I work part-time at a Chinese restaurant, after all. I’m pretty confident with this type of stuff~♪ 

Niki: Gotcha. Then I’d be glad if you went out shopping for me ♪ 

The spices they’ve got at the shopping mall are authentic and tasty, but it’s pretty out of the way, so it’s been hard for me to replenish my stash, y’know~?

So I’ll leave that to you ♪ 

Hiiro: What is… a shopping mall? Chief, do you know?

Tetora: Ah, you don’t know what shopping malls are, huh?

Then I think you should get Hinata-kun to show you around ♪ 

Hiiro: But we have club activities tomorrow, don’t we? Is it truly alright for me to forego them?

Tetora: Don’t worry about it. An idol’s health has always been more important than their club activities, plus— 

It’ll be more useful in the future to learn stuff about the world now, after all.

Hiiro: Thank you. I’m grateful for your consideration.

I don’t fully understand what this “shopping mall” place is, but if there’s anything you need help carrying, I’ll assist you!

Also, this may be rude of me to ask, but in exchange for that, could you teach me about the outside world?

Hinata: Alright, then it’s decided! You’ll go out shopping with me tomorrow!

And then we’ll make hot chocolate at night, and I’ll give it to Yuuta-kun, and then we’ll make up! Yup yup, it feels like a beam of light’s shining brightly on my future...☆ 

 

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TL Notes:

1: Tetora refers to Niki with “aniki” in kanji, contrary to Yuuta’s version of “aniki”, which is written in katakana. Yuuta’s version of “aniki” when referring to Hinata is more of a nickname, whereas Tetora’s is more as if he’s calling Niki his older brother/older brother figure.

2: This is a reference to Niki’s 3rd idol story with Tetora, which features their brief first meeting. Tetora has strongly admired Niki ever since he saw Niki star on a cooking show as a child.

 

Proofread by 310mc and Amagiiz.