Chapter Text
The day was sunny, it was so nice outside.
In fact, it was so nice that Saiki thought a picnic might just be worth it, even though bugs were always a chance on those types of outings.
So then why was he inside? Away from the calm of a blanket with sweets, without even a lemonade in sight, he sits at the dinig table of the Teruhashis, with Kaidou, Yumehara.
Teruhashi herself was in the kitchen with Nendo. He was suprisingly good at cooking when he has someone to tell him what to do, which seemed to make sense, well, considering how he lives with his mom.
"I feel like i shouldnt even be in Teruhashis home." Kaidou whispered to Saiki, who of course didn't respond as usual. Yumehara, of course overhears this as she always wishes for more gossip. Well, that and she like Kaidou, so theres mutiple possibilities for her good hearing.
"Kaido, you were invited because were all Teruhashis friends! We all want you here." She says witha sweet , and intentional, smile as she leans closer to him.
He, of course becomes all flustered and sputters. Honestly, it shouldnt be as endearing as its become latley.
Since its their last year in highschool and the vulcano has been stopped, its been quite refreshing to see his friends become so comfortable around each other, although the same can't be said for their comfort in Teruhashi's much too luxurious house.
"But i get what you mean.." Yumehara admits out loud because she knows Nendo is keeping Teruhashi buisy. "This place feels kind of exclusive. Im not sure how she lives here every day."
They laugh, their smile reaches their eyes and their thoughts are consumed by a comfortable warmth that Saiki couldnt have imagined underatanding the first time he came to this school.
Saiki decided to check up on Teruhashi, see what shes thinking and uf Nendo is giving her any trouble.
"Gosh. This new recepie is harder to remember than i thought." Ah. Shes making a desert shes only made once before. That ought to make anyone a bit frustrated.
"But it will be worth it when i see my friends faces light up with joy as the perfect pretty girl gives them an amaing meal!" She fires up once again and goes back to mixing the batter.
Since the start of this year she's been thinking more about the group as a whole instead of just Saiki, and her crush has not morphed in to some deeply held connection rather than something silly like love. Although this girl is not without her crushes.
Nendo was behind her, making some expresso schots. Hm... so the desert is coffee flavored. Maybe she does have a soft spot for him.
Not that he's complaining. Its quite nice, seeing my friend so happy.
Although their conversation went quiet for a bit, it resumed its energy and Saiki started listening back in.
After what felt like a few minutes of going back to being consumed in Kaidou and Yumeharas conversations he hears the two chefs cheer at being done with their escapades.
"Wow! That smells delicious!" Kaidou admits before he sees Nendo be the one to bring it out, at which point he feigns disinterest, although his mind is screaming in protest about not expressing his true feelings.
Yumehara, however isnt so shy "you two seem to have really outdone yourselves now." Shes practically slaviating, Kaido finds it cute.
Thats when Terushashi appears in her cooking apron she is in the process of taking off "you guys are just too kind." She gracefully puts all the plates down. Saiki wasnt even sure hed seen someone gracefully deal out plates and forks, but here he was. Even the plates reminded them of how regal everything looked in Teruhashis house.
A perfect house for the perfect pretty girl.
After a weird sudden silance, probably caused by Nendo looking weird or something. Yumehara smiled cheerily at Teruhashi. This desert better be good.
He picks up the fork and takes a careful bite of the gorgeous tiramisu.
Hes in pure bliss.
---
Saiki, clearly savoring every single bite of the sweet, either doenst notice or doesn't care about the picture Teruhashi takes of him eating.
"Kokomi!" Yumehara chides softly at her friends behavior.
Teruhashi puts her phone away, shes been acting more relaxed and unashamed around her friends in private recently. "What, its just for my cookbook. I have to know which of my meals elicit the biggest reactions from people."
Hearing this Nendo decides to dig in "You did such a good job on this."
"You eat like a slob. At least take a napkin or something." Kaidou rolls his eyes "its not exactly ramen you're eating.
Not showing discomfort at her friends frankly impolite eating style Teruhashi responds "We both made it," ah, sharing the credit, how kind, "so lets all enjoy the meal." She slides in to her seat and takes a bite of her homemade Tiramisu.
She mentally checks to see if all the other times Saikis eater her food he was that happy, and...nope! Seems like he liked it more. Could that be the flavor? Maybe the cream? Well theres time to figure it out.
Everyone else seems to be enjoying theirs. Nendo is satisfied, Kaidou is more preoccupied with chatting with Yumehara who is-
Woah her nails are gorgeous.
---
After a taste of the maserfully made tiramisu Saiki didnt even stop to breathe, but did wat the intire thing.
"Thank you for the meal." Saiki claps his hands and bows his head. "Aw, it was my pleasure, really!" Teruhashis mind goes wild with speculation on what exactly he liked so much about this particular dish.
Seems shes still trying to impress Saiki. He should consider telling her his favorite desert maybe. Since homecooked versions are always his favorite.
He then dismissed the idea, remembering just how easy he is to manipulate not only with sweets, which his friends have very likely noticed already, but especially coffee jelly. No, it would be too big of a risk to allowe her to know this. She may not have a crush on him but she still seeks his approval as a friend. A bit more than her other friends.
They're very good friends.
One of them must've said something because theyre just akwardly sitting around when he looks up. Yumehara,is , however, showing Teruhashi her nails. She recently had acylics done because of a suggestion from the fortune teller herself- Aiura.
"They look really good on you, Chiyo." Teruhashi says and Kaidou nods.
"Howd you even paint them on, girl?" Nendo, tactful as ever, adds.
"Theyre not painted, dumbass!" Kaido chides, not actually knowing if theyre painted, so he defaults to look to Yumehara on weather what he just said is even correct or not.
"Yeah, theyre not painted. Well at least my natural nails aren't." The two guys, not including Saiki, lean in.
"Then what are they?"
Yumehara seems exited to talk about her new accessory as she cherrfuly shoves them towards Kaidou. "Theyre plastic! They take these like fake blank nails and pop them on mine, then paint them! You can get really complex designs like this." She explains, then continues rambling "of course, mine aren't as ornate as Aiuras-"
"Well yeah, but thats not your style, but they still look really pretty." Yumehara blushes at Kaido defending her so.
"The runt is right. Theyre very cute. Can you do mine?" Nendo points to himself
"Huh? Really?" Saiki can hear that her suprise is much less in the fact that Nendo asked, but more in that she thought it would be harder to get a guy to agree. Seems both girls seem to want to see everyone with their nails done.
Whatever, doenst make a difference to him, and besides, he owes Teruhashi for that lovley desert.