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“Baking lessons? Saito, what's the meaning of this?” In all his years of commanding the Shinigami, Hijikata hasn't really heard something quite like this. Saito Hajime was a lot of things, an effective assassin, a trustworthy comrade, somewhat of a rascal and a slacker, but this is a bit.... odd. He never stroked Saito as the cooking type, like Keisuke or even Souji, so him asking free time for this is rather peculiar.
“Is a bit of a secret, I just need a bit of time if this is fine with you” Saito looks rather agitated. That is more than enough to raise an eyebrow if Hijikata ever needed a reason. Both in life and in servanthood, Saito had been one that keeps his cards to his chest, but had also been somewhat of a slacker, always with a carefree smile, so seeing him so nervous is anormal. Perhaps a bit too anormal. “You will not leave me off the hook until I tell you, won't you Hijikata?” A raised eyebrow and his perpetual silence are all the confirmation Hajime needs. “.... I want to learn for Master. He had been talking about wanting to open a bakery if we get out of this ordeal call mess with a person he loves, and I really want to learn. Even if I am not that person, I want to help him no matter what” Hajime finally spilled, rather embarrassed. Well, this is certainly amusing, Hijikata thought to himself. Seeing Saito’s usually cocky grin replaced with rosy cheeks over a crush? Yep, he will never forget this sight no matter how many times he is summoned. “H-hey where are you going? I spill my guts here and you just walk away?! Vice-Commander how cold can you-” Hijikata interrupted Saito’s rambling with a simple stomp on the ground “I am going to ask the cafeteria archer if he can help you with this baking thing. You better succeed. Even in this, I expect nothing less than success on your part. Don't waste this. Are we clear Saito?” Well, the dumbfounded face on his underling was not what Hijikata expected. “I SAY, ARE WE CLEAR!!!???”
“Y-yes vice-commander!!” Said Hajime, snapping back to reality. Hijikata may be a lot of things, but he is not cold enough to deny his most trusted assassin some leisure, and he can't deny seeing him jump from joy over something so simple is equal parts rewarding and amusing to him. As he walked away, he could only say under his breath “Never pictured you as a lovesick puppy Saito, it will do you good”.
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A bit in line with what Hajime expected, baking wasnt exactly an easy task for him. His hands had been used to destroy more than to make, but thankfully Archer is way more patient than he has pictured him as. He has been guiding him to the best of his ability and even if he isn't a polymath like his fellow “constantly asked by master to do a lot of things” servant Achilles or a master cook like Beni-Enma, he is getting the footing on this. Everything to see a master’s cute little smile. It is nice to see him more innocent, since he is used to a far more devious, domineering smile from his master, especially at night. Not that he enjoys it any less, far from it, but he also appreciates his master in his cuter moments.
“Very well Saito, you had improved a lot since the first time. I am proud of you” Emiya said pleasantly, taking Hajime out of his daydreams. “Let's try to make something else. What don't you choose this time? It will be fun” If he had to be honest, Hajime wasn't particularly sure what to bake. Sweets tend to be Achilles’ specialty, so he wants to make something to differentiate himself from the rider, something that reminds Ritsuka of him. “What about Senbai? I think master would appreciate a saltier flavor while he does his daily reports with a cup of tea” Hajime finally answered, rather satisfied, although he was puzzled by Archer’s smirk. “Archer, what's with that face? Did I say something funny?” “No nothing. You just remind me of myself when I make sweets for Cu Chulainn. I didn't expect you to be a sucker for master, but very well. I will prepare the ingredients” and with that said, Archer left, leaving a rather flustered Hajime behind. Then again, it is not that he is lying, so he can't complain. Hopefully this will not affect his “Cool suave dude” reputation.
Making Senbai wasn't rocket science, but it did require a bit of strength to make mochiko. Thankfully, strength is the least of Hajime’s issues, and just as he was able to slash through bones and carry master around when he refuses to eat to complete his tasks (seriously, Da Vinci abuses him too much), he can mallet rice to make the sticky substance he needs just as easily. It is just a matter of trial and error to achieve a good mix of saltiness and a bit of sweetness, which after some tries, he manages. “This is delicious. Master will certainly love them” Were the last words Archer gave Hajime before sending him on his way. To say he was happy was an understatement. Now it is just a matter of knowing if his beloved master loved them.
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To say the day was hard for Ritsuka was an understatement. Da Vinci had been pummeling him with dozens upon dozens of reports, Penthesilea for had been breaking walls near the library, so he had to take care of her before she hurt someone, Hector was smoking near the resting area for some reason that escaped him so he had to shut him down before he makes some of his very human co-workers have magic lung cancer or something stupidity, and he had been awfully lonely. Achilles was sent on a scouting mission with both lancer Cus near the area were the batican used to be, Shigen, Shinpachi and Bhima had been organizing a defense against a possible assault against them by the Foreign god’s forces with Iskandar and Lord Waver and Mori had been with Hijitaka watching over Duryodhana and Paris in case those stupid numbskulls decide to cause problems like Hector and Penthesilea before them. And his dear Hajime-chan has been oddly absent all day. Maybe he is beating up Penthesilea to avenge him, maybe is helping Achilles in his recon mission, or maybe he is pulling some stun that he thinks will make him look so cool and suave to brag to him latter (in his defense thought, Ritsuka was very fond of his stylish antics, and they do make him look cool).
But before he managed to keep pondering in his thoughts, Ritsuka got startled by a sudden door opening. “Heyyyyy Master-chan I brought you something. I bet you will like these” Hajime said no longer before barging it, grin on his face and with a suspicious blue box on his hand, and a bottle in the other. “H-Hajime-chan!!?? Where had you been?” “Dont worry about it. Here, I think you need this right now. You look...a bit worse to wear” said Hajime, as he puts the box on front of Ritsuka. “YOU HAVE NO IDEA!! First, I had to deal with that brute again, then the narc.... Hajime what is this, is delicious” Ritsuka kept eating “My dear master, talking with your mouth full isn't polite” Hajime said, with a shit-eating grin the last master of humanity had only come to associate with him after countless hours together “Dont patronize me smartass, just tell me!!” Ritsuka said, thought his threat came more as a bratty demand, given he kept eating the crackers Hajime gave him nonstop, which just made his servant’s smile grow even more. “Fine fine. This are senbei I made myself. I heard you wanted to open a bakery with someone you trust, so...I asked Emiya to teach me how to bake, to maybe help you” Hajime’s cheeks tinted red, while a more serene smile formed in his lips, a smile reciprocated by the now full master. “Oh Hajime-chan, thanks you. To believe you would do it for me. Of course I would love to open a bakery with you, I love you” And without another word, Ritsuka just jumped out of his chair to embrace the taller man, the one that would move sea and land and murder an entire batallion with his peerless sword just to see a smile on his master “I would do everything for you Hajime chan”
“......does that mean I can top tonight?” Hajime asked with a wide grin
“Dont push your luck Hajime!!”