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It's the crack of dawn when Kazutora climbs into Takemichi's bed and slaps a small hand onto the man's face. "Michi-nii!" he yells in his ear. "Wake up! We have to make chicken soup for Hina-nee!"
Takemichi shifts, groans, and buries himself further under the thick covers. It's his day off and he's very tired from standing and working his arms all week long at the bakery.
Kazutora pulls the blanket away and continues to shout like a siren until he sighs and cracks open an eye. "I'm awake," he mumbles.
Satisfied with his work, the child gets off the bed and scampers off to the kitchen to wait for his guardian.
There are many things that he loves to do and one of them is cooking with his Michi-nii.
Once Takemichi finishes brushing his teeth and goes to the kitchen, he takes the chicken from out of the freezer to thaw, then makes a simple and delicious breakfast for Kazutora and himself.
When the two are done eating, they get started with the ingredients for the soup.
Takemichi pulls Kazutora's little, orange stool from the corner of the kitchen and puts it near the worktop. He helps the six-year-old climb onto it and barricades him with his bigger body so that he doesn't fall backwards or to the side.
Kazutora works diligently in cutting up pieces of carrot, green onions and mushrooms as Takemichi guides his small hand with the knife.
The child doesn't say much, only stopping to ask a few questions here and there.
Once he's done his part, Takemichi lifts him from off the stool and places him on the floor, then takes over from there.
Kazutora follows closely behind him like a little duckling, eyes open wide with interest as he watches Takemichi skillfully cook the soup.
It smells very yummy in the kitchen, and Kazutora, despite the fact that he just ate, can feel his mouth water all over again.
He loves chicken soup, it has chicken in it! He loves chicken a lot, it's so tasty!
His Michi-nii always makes the best soups, whether it has meat or not.
_______
Kazutora walks down the sidewalk in his orange t-shirt, black pants, orange sandals, and tiger backpack.
He looks like a little tiger bully with the way he's playfully stomping his feet and swaying his arms, and Takemichi finds it cute and hilarious.
They reach the Tachibana's and ring the doorbell. Hinata's little brother, Naoto, opens the door.
"Oh, hey, Takemichi-kun! Hello, Kazutora!"
Kazutora greets him with a vibrant "Hello, Nao-nii!" and bolts into the apartment like he owns it. Takemichi and Naoto fondly shake their heads.
"Hey, Naoto. How are you doing?" the older asks as he sets into the apartment.
"I'm doing alright, just exhausted due to all of these assignments."
"Well, hang in there! The semester will end soon. I'm sure you'll do great!"
Naoto smiles. "Thanks, Takemichi-kun. My sister is in her room. She's kinda grumpy though, so watch out."
When Takemichi and Kazutora enter Hinata's bedroom with a bowl of delicious chicken soup, they find her in the form of a big lump of blankets in the middle of the bed.
She pokes her head from under the covers upon hearing them and smiles after a moment of staring blankly. "Takemichi-kun, Kazutora, what are you guys doing here?"
"We brought chicken soup!" Kazutora beams. He runs up to her and tries to climb onto the bed, little legs flailing wildly.
"No, wait, Kazutora!" Hinata panics. "Don't come close, I have the flu!"
The child stares at her blankly for a moment before shrieking and turning away. "Ew, no! I hate the flu!" He scampers out of the room, tiger backpack bouncing on his back, and slams the door shut.
Hinata and Takemichi exchange looks, then burst out laughing, but the woman laughs too hard and groans as her headache worsens.
With quick steps, Takemichi rests the bowl of chicken soup on her nightstand and looks at her with deep concern. "How are you feeling? You didn't text me back last night."
His girlfriend smiles sheepishly. "Ah, sorry about that. After Naoto picked me up, we went to the hospital, and as soon as we came home, I cleaned up and went to bed."
She pushes a few strands of hair away from her eyes and continues, "The doctor told me that it's just the common flu, and he prescribed me some medication. I feel a little better than yesterday but still awful. Sorry, I should've told you sooner. You and Kazutora wouldn't have to come here and possibly get infected."
Takemichi shakes his head. "It's okay, don't feel bad about it. I should've called first before coming over."
"It's fine." Hinata smiles at him and points to her nighstand. "Thank you for the soup."
"Do you want to drink it now?"
"No, I don't have much of an appetite at the moment. I'll drink it later."
Takemichi hums and excuses himself to the kitchen to put the soup away into the fridge. When he comes back, he sits at Hinata's desk chair, and they have light conversations until Kazutora's small head pokes into the room.
His wide, golden eyes stare at them adorably, but he quickly disappears when Takemichi sees him. This funny, little act goes on until the man calls him out with a laugh. "Hey, you!"
Kazutora giggles and slips away again.
"He's such a cute kid," Hinata says with much fondness in her voice.
Takemichi smiles at that and agrees. "I know."