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"Ryou-san, what are you doing?"
After hearing a "Get in!" from inside of the apart, Momose is greeted with an outlandish excerpt sight when he opens the unlocked door and invites himself over. At a glance, the place is as meticulously tidy as it has always been. Air clean and stuff well-kept.
He can see it across the hall, as where there is Ryou-san on the sofa, laying down on his back with head hanging at the edge though. Face upside down staring straight on without breaking eye contact. Mauve hair falling over.
"Yaaaa, Momo! Welcome~"
Ryou-san's intonation are his usual exaggerated one laced kinda flat with enthusiasm. It's either in his imagination or not, but Momose thought it had a hint of wear-like fatigue.
He settles to approach and place down his bags on the counter, then from some distance away go to levelly kneel on a seiza, sitting down.
Peering back tilting his head to the side, he ask lightly.
"Is this a new method to destress? Like a yoga position?"
"Ahaha! I hope so!"
Saying that, Ryou-san puts both hands on the floor, elbows bend on rest. Shimmy a bit to raise his heels. Then he kicks up.
A third quarter rotation to few seconds of headstand. A swing, a gush of wind. After that-
Bam!
Ryou-san landed on two feet. Hands outstretched like after a great presentation.
Momose scrambled up from his ducking earlier, actually impressed. He closes his dropped jaw clapping fervently.
"That's- so cool, Ryou-san!!"
"Hum hum! Like I said, and we all know, I'm also quite athletic!"
He proceeds to twirl with glam, then points both finger to Momo.
"Enough about me for now! Hiii Momoo, long time no see? Didn't I told you before to visit some time in this week?
Are you trying to make poor me feel abandonded? After getting what thou requireth from ol' me too? Ohh what cruelty! Ol' me is so hurttt-"
Ryou-san's clutching at his heart, petulantly wiping crocodile tears.
Momose stood up, placating. Waving arms in the air animatedly.
"No way, not like that Ryou-san! I had just been busy- Y- Re:vale's new song just got out so we're out town shooting for MVs and lately for shows too which take up like the whole afternoons this week- Anyways! I'm here and, Oh! I brought some stuff,"
He got to zoom past. Ryou-san tailed half curiously when Momose is unpacking some bags and taking out boxes.
"What you got there?" He asks trivially.
"Here are some peach pudding for dessert! I like these. I suggest it's fridged though before eating!
And here, souvenirs from Fukuoka! This one's an... antique abacus,"
It really is an old wooden abacus, beads black and dark brown. That either looks worn or rustic, ligneous frame has scratches and discoloration from use. Ryou-san took it and examine the apparatus.
"Old lady from the store gave it to me... She said it shall bring of good luck and that I might need it..? We bought these sweets as well so it's like the bonus stuff,"
Saying that, Momose lay out the square packages of confectionary.
Ryou-san is still tinkering with the quaint adder. Making tak tak tak noises with the beadings. He hums and prances.
"Oohhh, looks straight up from Edo period or something! Centuries old! Humanity's contrivance! I like it!"
Momose nods in approval because he did find the giveaway to be riveting as well. Although he's not sure about the bringing good luck part.
Ryou-san did put the questionable item down, then hand-clapped as though being reminded of something.
"Oh wait! We have to prepare now otherwise it would be too late!" He then jogs up to the kitchen.
Momose took with him foodstuff that should stored in the fridge.
"Prepare? Are we cooking, Ryou-san?"
Now it's Momose who's peeking about.
"Go wash your hand, Momo! Today! We are makingggg- Monjaaa!"
Ryou-san took out appliances and ingredients after rolling up long sleeves and tying on a light apron.
"Monja?! You mean Monjayaki? Making them at home??"
Because you usually have them in diners, on tabletop griddles, atmosphere rowdy, all the mess like that no?
Ryou-san did have the hotplate stove set up and their little spatulas and everything, all set.
"Yes!! We are going to; chop chop veggies, meat... Mix mix mix sauces, and seasonings, combine them with flour and water- Tadaaa! Batter!
And thennnn, we cook them per batches on the griddle! Aha~ what fun, what fun~"
Cabbages are being chopped meticulously fast. The knives used are especially sharp and of high quality material, everyone who sees can do tell and appreciate.
Momose did join in preparations too after ditching his outer jacket and having his hands washed. Dry seasonings like dashi, salt, pepper, are added to flour and sauce mixed with water. He was in the middle of stirring when a handful of freshly chopped cabbage is thrown to the mix. It made a splat sound but luckily the stirring bowl is like, big, so nothing spills out. A pair of tongs is passed around deftly.
"Somehow this is like, the vibe of a cooking show or something.." he couldn't help but mutter out loud, amused.
"-And now! Here comes the Nit-Pick Point on Ryo's-Kitchen tonight!! Dear guest Momo-chan, what do you think it is??"
A clacking tong is shoved like a mic to guest Momo-chan by host Chef Ryo.
"Eh?! Umm- To cook up the meat first!" Momo-chan guessed fairly.
"Bzzztt bzztt! Almost!" Mr. Chef Ryo tuts in response, then pointing forward to imaginary camera.
"The Pointtt is the sizzlee of the griddle! Shhhh... Listen up," he cupped a hand behind the ear, leaning slightly. Momose follows through.
Hot iron stove heats up cooking oil in degree. As temperature rises gradually, so does the sizzling noise it makes.
"Do we hear that? Now, then it is ready!"
Cut up meats are tossed to the griddle, soon fat and smoky aroma wafts about. Ryou-san is humming offhandedly while cooking.
Not long after, the crispy cabbages are picked up and thrown in as well, caramelization taking place almost immediately. The smell right now is rather mouth-watering from the pile, as they start to layout donut-shaped makeshift dam signature of Monjayaki.
The both of them are surprisingly silent, low-key intent as when the pouring of concoction trickles. The creamy batter runs partially being cooked, oil hiss more apparent. Reaching to the end of veg-meat barrier wall, it stalls and doesn't seep through.
"Uey!"
"Yay!"
They couldn't help but high five each other. The dam is secure.
It's left to cook like that for awhile until some boil bubbles show up.
Everything is further mixed again then a platter of chunks to bit pieces are combined, evenly spread. Dried seaweed and katsuobushi are sprinkled on top. Hmm.. like this visually it looks strikingly similar to...
"A heap of puke appears!" Ryou-san pokes spatula to an edge protruding off.
"Noo! I get it Ryou-san, but it is not nice after all to talk about food we eat like thatt," Momose crosses both arms to an X, emphasizing disapproval.
Shrugging it off, the classy man saunters away to the kitchen cabinet, taking out two glasses.
"I'll prep some drink then~ Maybe Viognier? Or brandy?"
But Momose wasn't really paying attention because, huh? Is that smoke that's steaming from the stove? And did he smell faint burnt-like bitterness elsewhere...
"The heat! Aaah, where's the setting dial??"
It needs to be on low now. Flustered, Momose bends down to look around the sides of rectangular stove plate. He's finding none. Someone, Ryou-san, is approaching, standing nearby. He motioned with his chin, hands occupied.
"It's electric- See here, right side of the griddle. Plain sight."
"Wher- Ack!" And Momose stood up. Which, because they are close by, he headbutted someone's elbow.
Something sploshed and splashed.
Some liquid went flying. It hit forward.
Whooshhh
A pale blue flame and yellow sparks flare up.
"OhMyGod! The puke is on fire!!"
Momose cried out.
The flame died down.
"..."
"....."
"Pfffttt-"
"Don't! Laugh!!"
Someone guffaws and the other one is exasperated. By themselves.
.
"-... I can't breathe.." Ryou-san waves a hand limply.
"..enoughh." Momose covers his head feeling defeated.
.
Surely, the rest of the evening went on without anymore particular incident. The monjayaki wasn't really burnt. Just charred slightly on some part. It's gooey and warm. Flavor rich especially in the meat part. A tad of crispiness with savory aroma.
"Cheers~" They did have brandy on the rocks accompanying said meal.
The conversation finally steers away from fire puke and shifts to the usual? complaints slash rants slash sometimes tales Ryou-san had that are dubious at most as they are quite frankly interesting.
"-the 'handyman' I tasked with did good job securing those seats, literally! Hahahaha! The safety belt won't budge the entire ride. So. Like the nasty pirate wannabe those crafty privateers try on us anywaysss, let's rock 'em back and forth! On the Pirate Ship for thirty full minutes! Ahahah, you should see their faces!"
"What a company trip... Won't your face start to go green if it's that long?? When we went to amusement rides on summer vacation- Wait. Ryou-san. Is this a puke story??! Are you making fun of me?!"
"Ahahhahaha!! You caught on!"
The usual pace and stories session it is indeed. They did ate up, drank up, and cleaned up too.
Time flew by fast, because one took brief peek at the watch tells aloud.
"Oh welp. It's already so late, it's almost time for last train too!" Ryou-san stands up.
"Ah right.. I did not realize- Buwh! Wha-"
Someone, pulls Momose by the arms up.
His things and bags shoved to unceremoniously.
"Shoo. Shoo, shoo, shoo,"
His back is pushed, scampered steps forced through the corridor.
He's out the doorway in a breath.
"Bye~ Momo, see you next time 'kay!"
An abrupt bid waved off.
Before getting any chance to answer,
The door is shut.
.
Speechless...
Whaaatt? Is that how you see someone off?
Unbelieveable... But it's believeable because it is Ryou-san?
No questioning logic, Momose sighs in acceptance. He bid farewell while walking off as well.
"Bye Ryou-san! Thanks, until next time!"
Clutching his belongings, Momose went down the floor.
Pass the lobby, pass the entrance plaza. Out the parking perimeter, to the merging sidewalk.
The road outside is not busy anymore, but vehicles still zoom by here and there. Late night air is on the chillier side as well.
A text message buzz from his phone.
It's Yuki-san checking in, and asking about tomorrow's lineup. Momose stop by to type replies, and they ended up chatting for awhile. Topics kinda straying away too.
Walking while texting would be dangerous right? So Momose did inform of the soon to be AFK mode and stuff his phone in the pocket away.
It's really late. He should go home.
Actually, it's cold after all.
"...ah."
His jacket is left at Ryou-san's place...
What to do? It would be bothersome to go back now.
"..."
Ehh, it would be alright.
He'll just get it the next time they meet.
.
Tsukumo Ryou is laying on the sofa. Properly this time.
Orange strips and black fabric hoodie jacket are stretched up. Ryou is examining.
Momo left it on the chair back. What a forgetful careless fella, tsk tsk tsk.
Hmm. He thinks the fabric is made of usual fleece. It's soft, but not like quality soft soft. It looks rather shabby too. Not skimpy or lame, still stylish but ehh, not really his taste at all.
He's balling the piece of cloth up, extending it back. Roll it up again. Unfold it open. Ball it up. Toss it in the air a few times.
"..."
It's late. He should go to sleep soon.
Tossing it up the last time, the insipid clothing flapped down to drape over Ryou's face.
Hmm. This fabric did well enough to mask overhead emitting light. It's dark now. And warm.
Though upon sniffing, ugh, it smells like those EDP floral-like fragrance. The one with citrusy hint and some kind of sophisticated wood. Totally not to his taste at all. Plus it did also smell day worn.
Well, whatever.
It will do as eye mask.
Hm?
It did feel so very warm now like flushes up of heat rises or something.
"..."
Ryou thought that, he'll make sure to sue Re:vale altogether if he ever dies from suffocation or has sort of respiratory problems later. Hmph.
.
Ryou did fall asleep with said eye mask draped over his face until morning.
He had slept soundly.
.