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One thing Maeno Aki feared, almost alongside the sea and baths, was broccoli.
That pungent stench, that overwhelming bitterness, they were proof that mother nature hated humans. Why else would she grow something like that?
What would never fail to shock him, however, was the fact that some people had actually been brainwashed into liking that abomination of a plant. What poor souls.
To make matters worse, one of those poor souls was living with him and cooking his meals.
“They’re not that bad!” Bullshit. They might have fooled Tsugino, but they could never fool Maeno.
“Why do you hate them so much?” Why did Tsugino not?
“They're really healthy for you…” It had been nearly two decades since the last time Maeno had eaten that abomination, and he was still alive and kicking. He could go longer without them.
“Maybe I can find a way to make them taste better for you?” Ending ZENO once and for all would easily be a more realistic goal.
“I'll make some broccoli tonight, please give it a try!”
Telling Tsugino about his disdain for that poor excuse of a food had been added onto Maeno's long list of regrets.
Pacing around his bedroom, he was desperate for an escape. What should he do? Barricade the door? Jump out the window? Lie and say that he was actually allergic to broccoli? Like hell Tsugino would buy that!
He would call the bluff so quickly and proceed to look like a kicked puppy for getting lied to by Maeno.
Maeno's heart could not take it.
But neither could he take that green horror.
What was he to do?
“Doc, dinner's ready!”
The terrifying words had been uttered. His fate had been sealed.
—
Maeno had to admit, Tsugino really tried.
As opposed to all the other curries made by Tsugino, the only vegetables in it this time were potatoes and broccoli.
Maeno did not mind potatoes. They were the least vegetable-tasting vegetables.
If only they were not placed into the same pot as that failure of a vegetable. What a waste of potatoes.
Besides those two, there was beef and other ingredients that Maeno also did not particularly mind.
‘It would've been so much better if there were only meat,’ Maeno's eyes said.
“Don't knock it till you've tried it!” Tsugino must have heard Maeno's eyes, “Broccoli is one of the most nutritious vegetables out there, it would really be a shame if you completely missed out on it.”
Was it that bad to miss out on poison?
“Alright, let's dig in! Thanks for the food!”
“Thanks for the food…”
Maeno was not subtle in avoiding the poison as he ate the curry.
“Doc…”
Maeno looked up, only to be met with Tsugino’s infamous kicked puppy doe eyes. He instantly looked away.
“Doc.” Maeno ignored him as he continued eating.
“Doc, look at me.” Maeno hesitantly did, and he saw Tsugino reach into his plate of curry with his chopsticks, picked out a broccoli and held it in front of Maeno's mouth.
“Try it.”
Was he getting fed? By a guy six years his junior?
By his own patient?
Now, that was humiliating.
“Wha– I'm not a kid! I can eat that myself!”
“Clearly not. It's okay, the first step is always tough, so let me help you through it! Come on, ‘ah~’!”
“No!”
“‘Ah~’!” Maeno pulled away when Tsugino pushed the chopsticks closer towards his mouth.
“Tsugi–” He should not have opened his mouth.
“There!”
Accepting his fate, Maeno could only chew into the cursed plant.
It was disgusting, but…
Well, not as disgusting as he thought it would have been. It was soft, but not mushy. Curry gravy oozed out with every bite, which helped in covering the original taste of the broccoli. It was adequately seasoned too, since it did not taste too bitter.
Without looking, he could already feel the anticipation from hopeful black eyes.
“I prefer meat…”
Tsugino waited for a continuation.
“...But I guess this is somewhat acceptable.”
The puppy beamed brighter than any sun.
“That's good! Have some more, here–” He picked up more broccolis to hold in front of Maeno's lips again.
“I said I–”
“‘Ah~’!”
“...”
Maeno wanted to feel annoyed, but looking at Tsugino's face… He just seemed so relieved and happy. He could not bring himself to push Tsugino away.
He mumbled an “ah~” as he was fed another one of them. He tried his hardest to focus on the taste of the curry instead of the plant itself.
“You don't have to feed me, I can feed myself just fine. I'm older than you, y’know?”
“Sorry, sorry, I got carried away. It's just…”
Tsugino gave a sheepish smile, “You should take care of yourself and your health more. Meat is good, but it's also important to include other nutrients in your diet too! We have to stay healthy, so that we can keep…”
Living.
“...Keep continuing our everyday life, right? I know that. You nag too much.”
Tsugino smiled again.
In a world that was oblivious to their existence, they lived in peace, under a roof with just them both bantering over broccolis.