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When Idia starts dating Malleus, Malleus always give Idia things.
It's nice, sure. The thing is, every time Malleus presents Idia something, Idia feels… weird? Being given things… He did not like that.
It feels like Malleus is trying to make him feel indebted… Even though he knows Malleus is not that kind of person.
Idia is also from a noble family! So he can probably get those things himself if he needs them… probably.
Well, the point is, Idia felt guilty so he wants to give things to Malleus too.
What things can he possibly give him?
"....There's no way I'm handing him a new phone," Idia murmured, because not only Malleus dislikes technology, the phone will break in under a week, so it's a waste.
"Handing someone a new phone, Brother?"
Idia flinched when Ortho talks. He didn't realize his brother was here.
"No… it's just… I want to give something to someone who already has everything, so I'm wondering what can I give him..."
"Do you want me to search for it?"
"Uh, yeah, sure."
"Searching started. Gifts you could give someone who already has everything. Results founded. Reading one of the results. Homemade food."
"Oh, that's a good idea." Idia hummed.
"I'm glad I could help, Brother!"
"But what food?"
"Searching kinds of foods."
"Wait, no, actually, I'll think of it myself." Idia stopped Ortho.
"Searching stopped. So what will you do, Brother?"
"...Hmm." Idia rest his head on his hand.
What food gifts that people usually give their loved ones?
The famous one…
Famous gifts….
For loved ones….
Foods….
Ah!
"That's right! Chocolate!"
"Do you want me to search the best quality chocolate?"
"Search for how to make a homemade one."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah."
"Searching started. How to make a homemade chocolate."
Idia smiled.
He thinks he could do this.
Oh no.
To be honest, Idia is not a bad cook. He can absolutely cook the basics for survival.
But gosh! He did not understand!
"What do you mean I can't just throw it in a pan and let it melt?!"
"It will taste bitter, Brother!"
"Huh?! How is that possible?!"
He usually follows the steps, he swears, but honestly, he didn't understand why waste water for that.
He's stubborn, so he did that, and that's when the chocolate burn.
"Ah…. I see now…."
"Hmph! I told you so." Ortho huffed.
"Uh… yeah, let's try again." Idia sighed.
When he finally did it right the second time and froze it, the chocolate keeps melting easily and it's hard to pack.
"...Brother, will you consider asking others for help?"
Idia gasped.
"How could I? Of course I won't!"
"I think it's easier than wasting chocolate."
"Hey! The second one could be eaten! It only melts faster…"
"Do you want me to call Trey-san?"
Idia shook his head.
"What do you mean? I don't need help." Idia grumbled.
"But Brother–"
"I'll succeed the third time, alright?"
Ortho sighed and let him be.
He did not succeed for his third time.
Nor the fourth, nor the fifth, and he is going crazy.
"D–Dorm leader, Malleus Draconia is searching for you." An ignihyde student pop up.
"Ah, tell him to wait in my room. I'll be there." Idia huffed while taking his apron off.
At this point, he might as well bake some chocolate cake.
Or cookies, great idea, he should note that down.
"Idia." A voice greets him as he enters his room.
"Malleus," Idia greets back as he turns on his air conditioner.
"Where were you?"
"Just in the kitchen… What is it? Do you need anything?"
"Do I need a reason to see my love?" Malleus smiled.
Idia blushed at that then sit beside Malleus on his bed.
"I'm so tired," Idia murmured as he put his head on Malleus shoulder.
"Is that so? Do you want to sleep? Am I disturbing you?"
"No, no, it's okay, just… hah… nevermind…" Idia closed his eyes, still trying to plan how to make perfect chocolate.
"Is there something I could help with, perhaps?"
"...It's okay, I'll find a way soon."
"Please do not hesitate to reach out to me if you need me," Malleus said quietly.
Idia liked how they still respect each other's privacy, even though this is a simple thing like chocolate. The point is, he is glad that Malleus trusted him.
Without his knowledge, Idia fell asleep.
When he wakes up, he's in the bed alone.
He sits up and saw the note that Malleus left, read it and smiled.
But Idia sighed when he remembers about the chocolate.
"Guess I'll have to try again."
Idia is desperate.
He still can't make it.
He needs professional guidance.
In his desperate moments, he said something he never thought he would say.
"...Ortho, please call Trey-shi."
Idia washes his face.
"If I put frozen fruit in it, will it be okay? How about marshmallows? But it will melt and mix with the chocolate… Is it a good thing? How did people do it." Idia murmured.
Idia splashes his face with water once more.
"...At this point, giving him a phone seems like a nice idea." Idia sighed as he gets out of the bathroom.
Only to meet Trey.
"Huh?! W–What are you doing here?? I–Is there a dorm leader meeting?"
Trey seems confused.
"You called me here. Ortho said you need help with chocolate."
Ah… When he told Ortho to called Trey because he is desperate, huh.
"I–It's alright, I–I was just at my desperate moment, so you don't need to–"
"But I'm already here anyway, so it's fine, right?"
"...I guess so," Idia murmured.
So he guides Trey to the kitchen where he makes the chocolate. At least, when he cook or bake, he never makes a terrible mess.
"I've been making the chocolates but I'm not sure how…" Idia sighed.
"Then let's start, shall we?"
"Yeah…"
Idia got it.
First, the chocolate was not tempered.
Second, he should make a variant filling.
"T–Thank you, Trey-shi." Idia bowed.
"No, it's alright. It's a great escape from the chaos in Heartslabyul anyway." Trey smiled.
"C–Chaos?"
"Some first years think it's a good idea to seek problem with Riddle."
"Huh… How bold…"
"I know. Riddle probably already cut their heads off at this point." Trey chuckled.
Idia smiled awkwardly. He never had problems with first years challenging him, so he really can't relate.
"Then, I'll go. Goodbye." Trey waved as he enters the mirror that leads outside.
Idia groaned as he is getting ready to pack the chocolate, only to scream when he found Malleus in his dorm kitchen.
"M–Malleus?! Wh–"
"So this is what you have been doing." Malleus hummed.
Idia calm himself down before he can be sure he won't whisper when his voice is out.
"What are you doing here? You surprised me, you know…" Idia steps closer to Malleus.
"Is this chocolate?"
"You avoided my question."
"And you don't answer mine."
Idia stares at Malleus incredulously.
Malleus sighed.
"You're not in your room when I checked, then I saw you are making something with Clover, so I waited."
"Oh, yes, that's chocolate."
"...I see."
Idia did not know why, but the temperature in the room dropped a few celsius.
"...I make that for you, but I don't understand how to, so I called Trey-shi for help."
Malleus looked at Idia surprised.
"...This is for me?"
"Yeah…"
Malleus tilt his head.
"Is there any special occasion?"
"No…"
"Idia…"
"It's just… You always give me gifts… It's making me feel…"
"Feel?"
"It's like you think that the only way that you can keep this relationship is by giving me gifts… It makes me feel indebted, you know…"
"So that is how you feel." Malleus hummed.
"Y–You're not upset that I complained?"
"No, humans are unique like that after all… I thought that humans will feel loved if they got many gifts."
"...You can't just generalize all humans like that…"
"I know. I am still trying to understand, so you saying how you feel helps me." Malleus smiled.
Idia blushed then push the chocolate he had made to Malleus.
"F–For you."
"Thank you, you have my gratitude."
"Y–Yeah…"
"Then, would you like to eat this with me?" Malleus offers.
Idia smiled.
"Let's go to my room, then."