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Kagiura’s head was spinning.
First reason: He’s been staring at formulas for the past two hours now, trying to memorize them all so that he won’t flunk exams.
Second reason: Currently, he’s sharing his desk with Hirano so that he could guide him through the material. It’s making it hard to concentrate. (Kagiura has been hyper aware of all of Hirano’s small movements that caused them to touch, he couldn’t help it)
The only thing pushing him through all of this was the fact that if he failed, he had to say goodbye to being in the same room as Hirano. Which he admits, he would probably never ready for that ever. But arithmetic has never been his strong point, he felt like if he saw another number his brain would go haywire.
“So in this question, all you have to do is to use the… hey Kagi-kun, are you still listening?” Sasaki notices Kagiura spacing out.
Kagiura finally snaps out of it, “O-oh, yes! Sorry, I feel a little tired.” Tired of having to comprehend the material and control the butterflies he’s feeling while he’s a small distance apart from Hirano. “Is it alright if we take a break Hirano-san? I feel like my eyeballs are about to fall out any second now.”
Hirano hums, “Let’s stop here for now, no matter how much I’ll explain you won’t be able to comprehend it while you’re tired.” He stands up to stretch. It’s alright, we can probably finish this part up by tomorrow. I might have to teach him in a different way to help him understand…
Kagiura feels a little hungry, though it was a little late so the cafeteria wouldn’t be open anymore. He was in a mood for something warm, as it was approaching winter. He glanced at a bag he brought home yesterday beside his desk.
“Hirano-san, do you remember when you promised that you’d cook porridge for me?” He turns to the boy standing beside him.
“Yeah, but I don’t think I can do that now though…” Hirano pauses to think. “Or maybe I can, sit tight, I’ll be back.” He turns to the door and goes out.
Kagiura didn’t expect that Hirano would agree just like that, it made him feel happy that Hirano would go out out his way to do that for him. But, the cafeteria should be closed by now, he wasn’t sure what Hirano had in mind.
After a while, Hirano came back carrying a small rice cooker, “Even if it isn’t allowed, some of the guys in the dorm bring one of these in case they need to cook anything when the cafeteria is already closed. Luckily I was able to borrow one.” Hirano set down the rice cooker near a socket. “We just don’t have the salmon flakes you wanted, I hope plain porridge is fine…”
“I bought some of it in the store, and the plums you mentioned too!” Kagiura proudly presented the bag he brought to the dorm yesterday, it was filled with ingredients and seasonings. He passed by the store yesterday and decided that he would do some shopping especially for the promise Hirano made before. Niibashi just face palmed when Kagiura told him that he should do it in advanced so that he could be prepared anytime. ”You’re just eager to taste his cooking already.” He said.
He couldn’t deny it, really. Who wouldn’t want to try the cooking of someone whom they’re in love with?
Hirano could almost see a tail wagging from behind Kagiura, waiting for praise from him. He laughed and ruffled his kouhai’s hair, “You came prepared, you were excited for this huh?” Hirano knew that he wouldn’t forget the promise he made to him, but he didn’t expect he was that eager to the point where he bought a whole bag of ingredients he could use in advance.
“We’ll only need some seasonings, we don’t have a kitchen to use so we can’t chop anything. Next time maybe we can ask Hanzawa-san if it’s possible to borrow the cafeteria kitchen…” Hirano said as he started to prepare to cook the porridge.
“There’s a next time?!” Kagiura immediately grabbed onto the keywords.
“Yeah, as long as you ask I’ll happily make more for you.” Honestly, he doesn’t mind, as long as he can make Kagi-kun smile. He enjoyed doting on his kouhai.
*
Once the porridge finished cooking, they both sat down on the floor and used the desk they borrowed as a table.
“Thank you for the food!”
Hirano doesn’t cook a lot, for this he looked up a recipe and added his own touch. He wasn’t sure if Kagiura would like it, so he was a little nervous. Even so, Kagiura couldn’t wait and immediately took a bite of the porridge. “Kagi-kun! Not too fast, that’s still hot you know!” Hirano thought that maybe he was a little too eager to try it.
“H-how du I snot want tcho try what you shmade ash squick as posshible?” Kagiura said as he tried to blow the porridge while it was in his mouth.
Hirano immediately grabbed a glass of water and handed it to him, yup he was definitely too eager. He couldn’t help but feel touched at the fact that someone was this enthusiastic to try a taste of his beginner cooking. “Are you okay?” He looked at him with concern.
“I’m fine Hirano-san, don’t worry!” He smiled at Hirano, “That was the best porridge I’ve had, I wouldn’t complain even if I was made to eat that everyday.” He continued to take more spoons of it, “You should,” He swallowed, “... cook more often.” … It tastes like home.
“A-ah, thanks…” Hirano put a hand to his nape, he was a little flushed. He didn’t know why a few compliments made his heart stir.
“Your cooking really reminds me of my mom’s cooking, it makes me miss home.” Kagiura said a little sadly. He remembered the times when he shared warm meals with his family, it was a long time since he ate with them.
Hirano remembered that when he first moved, he also often felt homesick. He would’ve wanted someone to comfort him back then too. He tapped his kouhai’s nose, “Hey don’t feel down, you got me alright? When I said I’d cook porridge again for you, I meant it. Just tell me when you feel a little homesick again and I’ll make some, got it?” He moved up his hand and gently ruffled his hair.
Kagiura's heart rate sped up, he couldn’t handle the intimacy of the moment and turned red as a tomato. “Th-thank you… Hirano-san” He couldn’t meet Hirano’s eyes. Oh god, I love him so much…
What he didn’t know that Hirano was caught in the same predicament, he was equally as red as he was, and his heart beating faster. He didn’t know what made him do that move… it was a little too much for just a senpai-kouhai relationship. “Y-Yeah, it’s nothing.”
Kagiura was first to break the awkward atmosphere, “Ehem, anyway, er… what ingredients did you use Hirano-san?”
For the rest of the night, the two talked and shared stories while sipping warm bowls of porridge.
Both of them wished that the night wouldn’t end.