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Joe had been acting suspicious. Ever since he’d gotten back from New York, it seemed as if he was hiding something. Cherry had tried to get it out of him, of course. But all the other had told him was that he’d made it into the final round.
“That’s all I’m allowed to say,” Joe offered once again as he picked up two large bowls of snacks and brought them into the living room. He set them on the coffee table and checked his watch. “The kids should be here any minute.”
It had been a few weeks since Joe had jetted overseas to participate in a cooking competition and it was finally going to be televised. It was nearly ten in the morning, so the show would be starting soon. Cherry was glad he’d configured Carla so she’d be able to stream it.
“They’ll be disappointed it won’t have subtitles,” Cherry noted as he joined him, taking a seat on the couch. “If we waited an hour or so, Carla could--”
“Like hell you’d be willing to wait,” Joe cut him off with a smirk. “You’ve been pestering me for the results for weeks, so don’t pretend like you’re not eager.”
Cherry opened his mouth and then shut it, looking away. He had him there. Then, as if perfectly timed, there was a knock on Joe’s front door. “Go answer it, you inhospitable gorilla.”
Joe snorted and walked over to let everyone in.
“This is so awesome!” Reki cheered as he burst into the apartment with his arms raised above his head. “I’ve never seen anyone I know on TV before!”
“Actually,” Langa began from beside him, “Cherry and Adam have--”
“I mean on American TV,” Reki corrected, mussing Langa’s hair. “But I’m sure you’re used to it.” In response, Langa just shrugged and the two sat down on Joe’s loveseat.
“I, for one, am waiting for them to crown Joe the victor,” Shadow said proudly while strutting toward the armchair.
Joe placed a hand over his heart, obviously touched. “Aww, Shadow, that--”
“I’ve got a lot riding on you, after all,” Shadow finished and Joe deflated, if only slightly.
Cherry rolled his eyes. “Which one of you bet against him?” He glanced around the room. Reki and Langa looked confused, but Miya was averting his gaze. “Miya?”
“Don’t look at me,” he said. “Shadow’s little wager is with his boyfriend.”
At that, Shadow’s face turned bright red. “He’s not my boyfriend!” he screamed and then cleared his throat. “...at least...not yet, anyway.” He blinked up at Joe. “So, can you tell us if you won yet?”
Joe shook his head. “You’ll have to wait until the end of the episode,” he offered and then took a seat next to Cherry on the couch, placing an arm around his shoulders. “Not even Kaoru knows.”
“Not for lack of trying, I assure you,” Cherry replied, moving a bit closer so Miya could sit on his other side.
Joe puffed his chest out proudly. “Hey, I wouldn’t want to spoil it.”
Cherry regarded him for a moment before sighing, “Carla, projector mode.”
This was probably one of Cherry’s favorite shows. It took knowledge and training, but also quick thinking on the spot. It really tested the chefs’ abilities. And tonight’s episode was made all the more exciting because Joe was participating.
‘Chef Kojiro,’ the host said, ‘You flew all the way from Okinawa for today’s competition,’ he paused. ‘How are you feeling?’
“What’s he saying?” Reki whispered to Langa, who filled him in.
“Shh!” Miya hissed. “I missed what Joe said.”
Beside Cherry, Joe shifted, withdrawing his arm and lacing his fingers in his lap. He was bouncing one of his knees, his gaze on the screen. Aww, he was nervous. That was cute.
The show continued. The first to go was obvious, as they’d left off an ingredient on their appetizer dish and the portion was far too large, anyway. Cherry knew they’d get the boot before the cloche was removed, revealing their failure of a dish.
It was the second round, however, that was the most frustrating. Not because Joe had done anything wrong, but because the judges were acting ridiculous.
“They seriously thought his treatment of the red snapper was better than yours?” he growled, pointing his fan at the screen. “And he barely did anything to transform the ketchup.” He shook his head. “Fools, all of them.”
Joe chuckled and patted Cherry’s knee before returning his attention to the screen. Cherry knew that he made it through this round, but so help him if that joke of a contestant beat him in the final.
The dessert round had one of the most challenging baskets Cherry had ever seen. None of the ingredients really paired well with the others. He peeked over at Joe, who was sitting with a hand over his mouth. His knee was bouncing again.
‘I’m very familiar with all of these ingredients,’ the Joe on the screen said and then laughed. ‘I’m not sure they really go together, but I figure, I might as well go for it.’
“You’re making an ice cream?” Cherry gaped, turning away to look at him properly. “You know there’s only one machine.”
“And I got there first.” Joe side-eyed him. “I also made cake.”
“Spoiler!” Reki called him out and they all laughed. Then, after what was probably the most nerve wracking few minutes of Cherry’s entire life, the round ended. Joe’s dessert was beautiful. Flawless. There was no way he’d lose.
‘Chef Kojiro, please present your dessert,’ the host said.
“I knew you’d win,” Cherry whispered before Joe had finished explaining he’s creation.
Joe leaned closer, his lips nearly brushing Cherry’s ear. “And what makes you think mine is the winning dish?”
Cherry placed a hand on Joe’s shoulder and pushed him back. “Nevermind that you executed every component perfectly,” he began, “I also told you not to come home if you lost and...here you are, so…” He raised an eyebrow.
Joe mock-gasped. “You were serious about that?”
“Hey!” Shadow interrupted. “Some of us are trying to watch the show.”
‘If you were to win,’ the host said. ‘What do you plan to do with the prize money?’
The Joe on the screen smiled softly then and, for some reason, Cherry’s cheeks heated. ‘Well, I have something planned, but I’ll have to wait and see if my dishes have beaten my worthy competitor’s first.’
“How professional,” Langa murmured in awe and Cherry had to bite his lip to keep from laughing. Especially considering the stars Reki had in his eyes as he nodded in agreement.
Suddenly, the judges had finished deliberating and Joe and the other chef were invited back in. Cherry’s heart was thundering in his chest, his pulse racing. He wasn’t sure why he was so anxious. Joe had to win. He just had to. His dishes had been perfect.
But the judges were only human. And all humans make mistakes…
However, when the cloche was removed, it was not Joe’s that was beneath it. The entire room erupted in cheers as the other chef shook hands with the judges and walked out of the room.
‘And that means that you, Chef Kojiro, are our champion,’ the host announced with a bright smile.
The strange thing was, even with everyone celebrating Joe’s victory, the winner in question looked even more nervous than before. He was wringing his hands and bouncing both knees now. “Koji--”
‘Now, I’m sure the judges are just as eager as I am to hear about those special plans of yours,’ the host said.
The Joe on screen gave an awkward little laugh and rubbed at the back of his neck. ‘I guess I have to go through with it now.’
Cherry blinked. Go through with what?
‘I know that weddings can be pretty expensive,’ Joe continued. ‘And my partner deserves only the best.’ There was that soft smile again. But it barely registered because What?! What was Joe saying. He couldn’t actually…
The host and judges clapped their hands. ‘Well, ten thousand dollars will put you well on your way toward a fantastic wedding.’
Joe beamed and ducked his head. ‘I think so. But first...’ He faced the camera. The room grew silent. Cherry knew all eyes were on him. And he vaguely registered that the actual, in-the-flesh Joe beside him had gotten off of the couch. But he was focused on the screen. ‘I know you told me to win this competition for myself,’ he said. ‘But I was thinking about you the whole time.’
“What’s he saying?” Reki hissed, only to be hushed by the others.
‘I was always looking for the perfect time or way to ask you, so I figured...might as well do it on television.’ He bit his lip. ‘And at the risk of running out of time...Kaoru, will you marry me?’
It took a few seconds for Cherry to register that he’d asked in Japanese. And a few more to realize that Joe had gotten down on one knee in front of him. “Kojiro…”
“Well, how about it?” Joe asked, voice shaky and palms sweaty as he took Cherry’s hands in his. “I promise to take you on one hell of a honeymoon.”
Cherry looked into those warm eyes of his. The same eyes that would fill with tears when he’d scrape his knee as a kid. The eyes that would narrow when Cherry would steal the best parts of his bento during lunch when they were in school. The eyes that lit up after they’d confessed. And the same eyes that could see right through him.
“For the love of--Cherry, answer the man!” Shadow’s voice broke through his stupor.
“Yes,” he breathed, gripping Joe’s hands tighter. “Yes, Kojiro, yes!” He gasped as Joe stood back up, wrapping his arms tightly around his middle and spinning him around. When he finally set him down, the others joined in for a group hug.
“I call ringbearer!” Miya shouted, wiping the tears from his eyes. “Shadow can be on flower duty.”
“That’s not the insult you think it is,” Shadow challenged, elbowing him. They all laughed, but then drew back to give Cherry and Joe some space.
“Really?” Cherry said, after a moment. “On television?”
Joe gave a half shrug, but his smile didn’t fade. “It worked, didn’t it?”
Cherry rolled his eyes, looping his arms around the back of Joe’s neck so he could pull him closer. “You idiot,” he said. “No matter how or where you asked me, I would have said ‘yes’.” And before Joe could respond, he kissed him.
The room once again exploded in raucous cheers and congratulations, but Cherry could worry about being embarrassed later. For now, he had an engagement to celebrate.