Chapter Text
It is currently lunch break on the ES Cafeteria. Three in the afternoon might be a little late for lunch but the heavy traffic during the rush hour makes it hard for any employees to leave, this includes the chef that’s currently occupying in the kitchen-- Niki Shiina. Aside from him, a number of staff also remained on the premises, waiting the tables of occasional newcomers. While it is important to take a break every now and then, it is equally as important to make sure that the establishment never runs empty. The rest of them have already left the kitchen though, off to do their own private businesses.
The gray-haired chef hums merrily as he cleans the counter tops, preparing the space for the next shift, when he hears a sudden loud noise coming from one of the break rooms. He stops what he was doing instantly and hurries to the sound’s source, only to be greeted by a familiar mop of purple hair when he gets to the door. Said person is covered from head to toe in dust and cobwebs, sitting on the carpeted surface while rubbing the part that impacted the floor. He looks upwards directly from the intruder’s position and sees an open vent door, still swaying and creaking from the prior incident.
They make eye contact for a few seconds, then he battles out his shock to speak “Mayoi-kun?!”
“Ee- eek! I’m sorry! I’m sorry!” the one called Mayoi sits upright and then starts bowing frantically, panic and fear seeping through every word that he speaks “I’m not up to anything suspicious, I didn’t mean to barge in here! I’m terribly sorryyy!!”
“It’s alright, don’t worry about it!” he helps the apologizing man up and guides him to a nearby sofa “Did you hurt yourself? I’ll go get a first-aid kit.”
“N-no, it’s fine!” Mayoi grabs his hand before he could move, immediately letting go and looking away once he realizes what he’s done “Please, don’t bother.”
Niki shuts the vent hatch using a stool lying nearby. Then he sits next to the uneasy man, who was still slightly affected by the situation. He gives him a moment to calm down before asking “So, what were you doing up in the vents Mayoi-kun?”
“I...” the other answers weakly, twiddling his fingers in an attempt to alleviate his fright “I wanted to avoid people so...” he pauses, breath catching in his throat “I figured that I’d get in the cafeteria through the vent system. I’m really sorry.”
He sits frozen in place for a while, thoughts processing the words that came out of the other’s flustered mouth to get a better understanding. Once he connected the dots together, he gives a radiant smile to the person beside him “Nahaha~! Well you’re lucky cause I’m the only one here at the moment. I’m also about to make myself lunch so why don’t I cook for both of us?”
“It’s alright.” Mayoi shakes his head vehemently, hands flailing around in all sorts of directions “I- I don’t want to cause you any more trouble.”
“It’s fine~ Rinne-kun does this every time. Just wait here, it won’t take long.” the chef flashes him one more smile before leaving the room.
----------------------------------------------------
It’s true. It really didn’t take him long to reappear with two plates in his hand, setting them down on the small table. Mayoi astonishingly takes note of the amount of food stacked on the other’s plate, which is twice-- no, thrice in quantity compared to his. It was something simple, fried rice filled with ingredients that were probably left-overs from the earlier shift. No wonder he returned quick.
“Thank you for the food~” Niki sings then he starts shoving spoonfuls in his mouth, contents of the plate getting fewer with each passing second.
He, on the other hand, just stares at the dish in front of him, unsure of his next course of action. He begins to hesitate on whether to accept the kindness genuinely presented to him or not. He’s never been on the receiving end of anything so he’s at a loss as to what an appropriate reaction should be to this kind of situation.
The fast-eater sets his now-empty plate down on the table, the crisp sound of ceramic colliding with glass echoing across the room. The unexpected motion nudges him back to reality, then he directs his eyes toward the said object. An enormous amount of food gone before he could even blink, a baffling achievement even for him.
When the chef sees the untouched plate, steam’s streaks starting to diminish the longer it waits, he offers a little encouragement “Try it~ It could help you feel better, at least that’s how it usually works for me.”
He swallows the nervousness that’s accumulating in his throat. In cautious, minimal motions, he grabs his own plate and brings the spoon to his lips with his shaking hands. As the food touches his tongue, the flavors start bursting and spreading on his taste buds. Such a flavorful meal despite it looking somewhat ordinary.
“ It’s delicious!”
Niki could see literal stars dancing in the other's eyes as he continues shoveling through the fried rice mountain.
“I’m glad you like it~!” he claps his hands together, the brightest smile painting his face as he beams with delight “There’s more in the kitchen if you want seconds.”
The gray-haired chef watches him from the side, amusement dancing in his azure blue eyes. The sight of people enjoying the dishes he prepares has always given him a rush of extreme euphoria, even in the past. A simple heartfelt compliment can keep him running for months. The happiness it brings to both himself and other people can be considered as one of the reasons as to why he greatly enjoys cooking, without a sliver of doubt.
----------------------------------------------------
“Thank you, Shiina-san.” Mayoi lowers his head again once they get to the door. The chef had let him use the back entrance of the kitchen, even though it is for authorized personnel use only.
“Nahaha~ Be careful on your way back!” Niki waves while leaning on the door frame, watching his new-found “acquaintance” fade out of sight.