Chapter Text
Today was a beautiful morning in MILGRAM prison. Everyone was enjoying their time—talking about food and lifestyle, especially enjoying food. A few prisoners: Mahiru, Fuuta, and Haruka, are requesting stuff for the guard to bring to not get bored of what they have now.
Shidou, Kazui, and Mikoto sat together in the cafeteria. They were enjoying the food the prison has made. For breakfast, Shidou had something light with eggs included. His plate was halfway done. Kazui already finished his plate since and was sitting beside Shidou on his right. Mikoto sat across Kazui. His eyes looked drowsy and his plate of grilled fish had not been touched since. He felt like he wanted to go back to sleep with his body slouched onto the table.
"Maaan... why did last night have to be so loud???" Mikoto complained. "I don't even know what was happening!!"
"From what I heard, probably chaos happened," Kazui mentioned. "Be lucky that there wasn't any drama."
"Huh? W-Well true... but I just heard so much voices last night..."
"Now that you mention it... I did hear a few people talking about something last night..."
"You seem tired Kayano-kun," Shidou pointed out. He was a bit concerned about Mikoto since he looked drowsy. "You should rest up after you eat."
"Oh no no no no no!!" Mikoto hesitated. "I'm totally not going to rest just yet! Besides, I heard Mappy is gonna be making delicious food today!!"
"Food...? But we're eating right now...?"
"No, like desserts... or possibly dinner!! Wait that's what I heard the girls talk about last night... I think."
Shidou remembered he also heard the voices last night. He remembered Mahiru and Yuno talking to each other next door. He also heard that planned on making Amane something sweet for her to enjoy... or was that a different topic? Shidou lowered his gaze as he fidgeted with his hands for a bit.
"Oh, so Shidou-san also heard them talking last night!" Mikoto pointed out. "Looks like I'm not wrong!"
"I wonder if the other prisoners know about the conversation...." Kazui thought.
"Hey Kazu-san, once we all finish eating, we GOTTA ask the girls!"
"Hm... I heard they're taking requests for food..."
"Exactly! And you should also come with us, Shidou-san!"
"Helloooo!!!" Mahiru came to Shidou's table along with Yuno, who waved at the group.
Mikoto's plans were immediately ruined. He was surprised that Mahiru arrived at the table real quick. Kazui noticed his disappointed face, but he paid no mind to it.
"Mahiru-san will be taking some requests! Care to share what you want to eat?" Yuno asked. "It's never too late to request!"
Mikoto instantly recovered. "Oooh yes yes! Yun-chan, I would like to request pasta!"
"Any specific type?"
"Um... I actually have no clue, haha..."
"Requests?" Kazui was interested. "Then I'll take anything that's not too sweet."
"I'd also like the same thing as Mukuhara-san," Shidou requested. "By the way, what did everyone else request?"
"It took a while for Haruka-kun to get what he requested, but he was able to request omurice!" Mahiru clapped her hands once and smiled. "From the look on his face, he looked pretty excited~"
"Oh?"
"Muu-chan wanted to eat crepes!" Yuno exclaimed. "I wonder if she has a sweet tooth... oh, also..."
Shidou's eyes were not focused on anyone, but his gaze seemed to be focused on the wall. This time, he remembered making pancakes for Amane three times already—yet it had failed. Suddenly, he also remembered he took a little walk when he couldn't sleep and overheard that tonight, they would eat Mahiru's cooking—especially a dish for dinner if they requested a sweet treat they aren't allowed to eat during dinner. Shidou wondered if he could try once again–one more time with making pancakes for Amane. Suddenly, Yuno caught Shidou off guard.
"Shidou-san? Is something bothering you?" Yuno asked. "Just when I was explaining what Kotoko-san and Amane-chan requested, you seem to be lost in thought!"
"Apologies Kashiki-kun," Shidou apologized. "I just–"
"Anyways!" Yuno cut Shidou off. "Kotoko-san wanted a protein shake... again!!!"
"What, is that a problem?" Kotoko appeared behind Yuno. Yuno flinched as she saw Kotoko behind her.
"Good morning, Yuzuriha-chan." Kazui greeted Kotoko as she arrived.
"Morning, Koto-chan!" Mikoto shouted. "Don't ya wanna eat something delicious???"
"No," Kotoko replied.
"Come onnnn, Kashiki seems like she's tired of hearing the same things from you!!" Mikoto tried to get Kotoko to request something else.
"No I'm not???" Yuno intervened. "If she doesn't want sweets, that's fine with me!"
"Me too~!" Mahiru joined in. "At least everyone requested something~"
"But wouldn't Koto-chan get hungry????" Mikoto worried.
"Me getting hungry is none of your concern," Kotoko argued.
Mikoto was at a loss of words and had no clue how to continue the argument. Kotoko kept bombarding Mikoto about protein shake facts, which made Mikoto have the urge to crash out for no reason—or possibly hoping for her to eat something proper.
"Shiina-kun, what did Amane request?" Shidou asked.
"Oh, Amane?" Mahiru noticed Shidou's concerned face. "Uhm... let me see... let me see..."
Mahiru looked left and right, wondering what Amane had requested her. Kotoko, and Mikoto were still arguing a bit about the protein shake, while Kazui was just sitting down and chilling. A few seconds later, Kazui decided to calm down the arguing group while Mahiru found out what Amane had requested.
"Well, she must've wanted something that's not really sweet today, so she asked for some kind of tofu pudding~" Mahiru was in a cheerful mood today. She looked like someone who woke up with a new idea in her head.
Tofu pudding...
It was pretty unexpected for Shidou to hear that kind of response from Mahiru. In his mind, he thought kids like Amane would enjoy sweet things. Maybe the reason why Amane hadn't been accepting the pancakes were because of how sweet it was?
"Hey... tofu pudding!?" The topic had gotten Mikoto interested as he no longer argued with Kotoko. "You mean that dish that originated in China right?? Have you made it before??"
"Weren't you arguing with Kotoko-san earlier?" Yuno noticed Mikoto's switch in personality and decided to tease Mikoto a bit. "I see that you are much more interested in tofu pudding than protein shakes!"
"Koto-san just left after I tried to convince her to eat something proper for dinner!" Mikoto explained. "Man... even she's hard to convince..."
"Uhhh... I hope I'm not interrupting anything, but I have not made tofu pudding once in my life!" Mahiru said with a cutesy look on her face.
"I see..." Shidou started to think whether it was a good idea to learn that dish—or to simply have Mahiru learn it first.
However, this raised concerns for Shidou himself. Why does he—a doctor—want to learn how to make desserts all of a sudden? What is with him and trying new things besides making pancakes three times and drawing as a hobby? Is this a new goal Shidou should set for himself—to never give up when it comes with Amane and sweet treats?
"Wait a second, wait a second!!" Mikoto suddenly made an outburst. "Hey hey, do you know what Fuuta-san requested, Mappy?"
"Fuuta-kun?" Mahiru turned her gaze to Mikoto. "We tried to get him to answer but he didn't budge. Do you want to ask?"
"Oh no no no, I don't think I would want to fight y'know! If I said something wrong then for sure he might do something bad..."
"Like...? I'm quite curious~!"
"No wait... should I go for you?"
"You want to ask Fuuta for us!?!?" Yuno was shocked.
"Well I can if you want!" Mikoto stood up from his seat. Suddenly, he realized it might be hard to approach Fuuta. "Maybe I need emotional support..."
From there, Mikoto turned his head and shifted his gaze towards Shidou. Shidou raised his eyes, which left a bit more concern than his own thoughts.
"K-Kayano-kun, I'm no psychiatrist........" Shidou tried to explain, but understood where Mikoto was coming from. "However, I'm assuming if you get hurt, I'd have to treat your wounds?"
"Yeah maybe that's why I wanted you to come..." Mikoto thought. "Wait I also want Kazu-chan to come to protect!"
"I don't think you'd be the type to bring out a fight?" Kazui thought. "But I don't know if someone like me would be of help..."
"Kajiyama-kun is indeed a bit moody today," Shidou mentioned. "Just this morning, I heard him muttering........ and he seemed sleepy."
"So we don't bother Fuuta..." Mikoto pondered.
"Eh, do whatever you want," Yuno turned her back and walked away. "Mahiru-san and I will get ingredients ready!"
"If Fuuta-kun does make a request, do tell us!" Mahiru waved goodbye and walked away with Yuno.
"Welp... we are screwed...." Mikoto sighed. "At least you two agreed to come!"
"I did.....?" Shidou asked.
"You... didn't agree!?" Mikoto was shocked. He thought by what Shidou had said, he'd actually come with him.
"Well... Shidou-kun would be concerned about your health, but I don't think he also wants to get hurt..." Kazui commented. "If you ever need a strong guy like me I would come."
"Yes, yes! However you'd be curious too, right??"
"Hmmmm...."
"Kayano-kun does have a point... maybe I am curious," Shidou pondered. There, he felt like he wanted to make a quick theory. "Hypothetically, if I were to think about what to make for someone when it comes to food—"
"Exactly my point!" Mikoto exclaimed. "Let's find Fuuta-kun you two!"
Although Shidou didn't say he agreed to come out loud, he silently tagged along with Mikoto and Kazui to find Fuuta. Mikoto seemed like he was in a good mood along with Kazui, who was walking behind Mikoto with Shidou, lost in thought. Shidou started to wonder how to not disappoint Amane like he did previously. If he were to not make the same mistakes again, what would he do differently? Should there be less toppings? Should it be less sweet? Who knows what the outcome would be?