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Mutsumi had many talents. She had recently learned to make her guitar sing, and maintained a healthy garden at school. She had a fondness for ballet, and did well with her studies.
Despite all this, she couldn’t help the trepidation that filled her as she paced the small kitchen in Umiri’s apartment. She looked at her phone, reading the words on the screen for what felt like the hundredth time: Simple Chocolate Cake.
Was it simple? Mutsumi couldn’t be sure, but the website’s preface assured her that it was. Cooking was not a talent she possessed. For most of her life, it hadn’t been a necessary skill. Her parents’ fame and wealth had ensured a steady supply of professionally prepared meals for as long as she could remember.
You could just save yourself the trouble and buy one you know.
Mutsumi shook her head. Mortis was right, buying one would absolutely be easier, but it wouldn’t be the same. This was a gift for Umiri, and she was determined to make it from scratch. Just thinking of her girlfriend was enough to make warmth bloom in her chest.
Umiri had been an unexpected blessing in Mutsumi’s turbulent life, a steadfast source of comfort and protection. The bassist had managed to chip away at Mutsumi’s stoic exterior with patience and a determination that was uniquely hers. When she finally saw the shattered mirror that was Mutsumi’s heart and mind, she hadn’t shied away. Hadn’t judged. Didn’t shame.
Umiri had accepted her for all that she was, and cared for her in ways no one ever had. When the nightmares came, Umiri chased them away. When tears ran hot down her cheeks, Umiri dried them. When the others within her mind got too loud, Umiri kept her grounded.
For these reasons, and too many others to count, Mutsumi wanted to show her thanks. She had given Umiri gifts before, of course, but nothing made with her own two hands. Why a chocolate cake? Well, that had been Mortis’s suggestion.
I suggested buying one though, not making one
Mutsumi ignored her. Umiri had recently been making an effort to eat things that didn’t come in the form of a shake or prepackaged bar, thanks largely to Mutsumi’s quiet but firm encouragement. One of the discoveries that resulted from this was Umiri’s sweet tooth. The girl had a fondness for chocolate, so what better way to show appreciation than with a chocolate cake?
She turned her attention back to the ingredients laid out on the counter. Umiri had a photoshoot today with Nyamu, which gave Mutsumi the perfect opportunity to enact her plan. Thinking about it wouldn’t get her anywhere, she might as well get to it.
She rolled up her sleeves and looked to the recipe for the first steps.
-Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C.
-Butter, or spray with a non stick vegetable spray, two cake pans.
Easy enough. She pressed the appropriate buttons on the oven, which hummed to life.
Good job Mutsumi-chan!! You’re looking like a pro already.
Mutsumi couldn’t tell if that was sarcasm or not, but chose to ignore it. As for spraying the pans… she wasn’t quite sure how much was enough. She settled for one spritz in the center of each pan. Next up were the dry ingredients.
The measurements in the recipe were quite specific, but she managed to get the amounts mostly correct. Surely being off by a few grams here or there wouldn’t make much difference. Now for the liquids.
The recipe called for two eggs, and she carefully removed one from the carton. She tapped it lightly on the side of the bowl, but the shell remained intact.
You gotta hit it harder Mutsumi-chan!!
That much was certainly clear. For her second attempt she used more force. Too much force, apparently. The egg imploded on the rim of the bowl, half ending up in the dish and half on the counter. She ignored the sound of Mortis’s laughter as she cleaned the mess.
After a few more were sacrificed in the name of trial and error, she managed to get two intact eggs into the bowl. The rest of the liquids were thankfully more cooperative.
To Mutsumi’s relief, the next few steps went much smoother. Add the liquids to the dry ingredients, mix well, pour into the pans, and place them in the oven. It wasn’t nearly as bad as she had feared.
Thirty minutes later, the apartment was filled with the warm aroma of chocolate. Once the pans had cooled, it was time for the moment of truth. She inverted one over a wire rack. Nothing. She gave it a shake, still nothing.
After one last firm shake, it finally came loose. Well, some of it did. Mutsumi frowned at the results, the cake had split in half, chunks left behind in the pan. Apparently one spritz of cooking spray was not enough.
Don’t worry Mutsumi-chan! Taste is the most important part after all.
Mortis was right. As long as it tasted good, she could work around its appearance. She picked up a piece and popped it into her mouth… then nearly spat it out. Salty. Why was it salty? She forced herself to swallow the bite, mentally retracing her steps. Clearly, she’d made a mistake somewhere. Frustration bubbled in her chest. She would just have to try again.
Let me try Mutsumi-chan, I bet I can do it!
Mutsumi hesitated but eventually gave a small nod. Mortis did have a knack for doing things she herself could not. What was the worst that could happen? She handed over control.
xxxxx
Umiri was tired. The photoshoot had gone well, but Nyamu had found endless ways to pester her. Thankfully, she’d been texting Mutsumi throughout the day and knew her girlfriend was waiting at the apartment. That thought alone melted away her exhaustion. She unlocked the door and stepped inside.
“Mutsumi, I’m ba—” She froze mid-greeting.
It looked like a bomb had gone off in the kitchen. Dishes were piled haphazardly in the sink, the counters were dusted with flour and cocoa, and the scent of chocolate mingled with something distinctly burnt.
At the epicenter stood Mutsumi, covered in what looked like equal parts sugar and regret. She blinked at Umiri, wearing a grin Umiri recognized immediately.
“Mortis?!”
“Hi Umiri-chan! I bet you want to see Mutsumi-chan, huh? Here she is!”
The grin vanished, replaced by Mutsumi’s familiar stoic expression, though her eyes now shone with embarrassment and guilt. Her gaze dropped to the floor, fingers fidgeting with the hem of her dress.
“This wasn’t supposed to happen, it was meant to be a nice surprise.” She mumbled quietly.
Before she could retreat any further, Umiri crossed the room and pulled her into a tight hug.
“W-wait…I’m a mess, your clothes will get dirty.”
“Don’t care, I’ll wash them.”
That was enough for Mutsumi, who melted against her. Umiri cradled her head to her chest, making sure Mutsumi knew she wasn’t upset.
“So,” she asked softly, “what happened here?”
Mutsumi sighed. “I was trying to surprise you by making a cake. I failed the first time… and then Mortis happened.”
That certainly explained the state of the kitchen. Still, Umiri couldn’t help but feel her heart swell. Mutsumi had gone far outside her comfort zone just to do something special for her.
“What brought this on? You’re not usually one to experiment in the kitchen.”
Mutsumi peeked up from where she’d hidden her face. “You’re always so good to me. I wanted to show my gratitude by making you something myself. Clearly that was a mistake.”
Umiri stopped that train of thought with a kiss. She combed her fingers through Mutsumi’s flour-dusted hair, the faint scent of cocoa clinging to her. When she pulled back, Mutsumi looked flushed and uncertain.
“It wasn’t a mistake,” Umiri said gently. “You tried to do something special for me, and it’s the thought that counts.”
Mutsumi still looked doubtful, so Umiri continued, “How about this—let’s clean up this mess, and then we’ll make it together.”
Mutsumi’s eyes softened. “You… wouldn’t mind? And you’re not upset?”
“No, I’m not upset at all. I’m not much of a cook either, but between the two of us I’m sure we can manage somehow.”
The last of the tension melted from Mutsumi’s shoulders. “Okay,” she whispered. “I would like that.”
“Alright!” Umiri grinned. “Let’s get to it then. Also, Mortis is definitely not helping this time.”
“Agreed.”
It took a few hours to clean the mess and complete the cake, but by the end it all seemed worth it.
As they both enjoyed the fruits of their labor, they found that cake was even sweeter when made with the one you love.