Good Things Make Less Sense

Mizuki confidently walks to the kitchen, partly so she can show Hinata that she's been well-off on her own and also prove that she doesn't always sit around all day.

Hinata quirks an eyebrow at her, a tiny smirk on his face. He expects her to abruptly stop and turn somewhere along her strut. Mizuki does. "By the way, what do you like to eat?"

Hinata chortles, gripping onto his stomach as he does. "I'll eat anything you make for me. It's not like I've seen you cook for me, after all."

"Is there really nothing you don't want?"

Hinata shakes his head. "I'll eat anything."

Mizuki shrugs, turning back around. Opening the bottom cabinets, she pulls out a sack of snow peas and potatoes. From the fridge, she takes wild meat and carrots, expertly cutting them up for the food. Her level of expert, though, means uneven chunks of the vegetables while barely missing her hand with the blade of the knife. Mizuki slides them into a clean pot before grabbing a mallet to thaw the meat.

Now that she's cooking for someone else, she starts to feel like a real chef. Taking a sharper knife in her hand, she dices the meat and dumps it into the pot as well. The pot doesn't react. She stands back, raising her chin in thought.

"Oh, cheese!" she exclaims to herself, straightening her posture upon the realisation. She scampers to the refrigerator, scanning it for cheese. Mizuki frowns. "Is there no cheese?"

Mizuki frowns. "Yasui, I don't know where the cheese is."

"I have some on me but I'm not sure if it's enough to last what you're making," Hinata voices, pulling out a block or two of cheese from the dirty travelling bag next to him. He raises his arms mid-air as a gesture to show he's going to be throwing.

Mizuki stretches out her arms, catching it in her palms. She chirps excitedly at her success, unwrapping the cheese and adding it into the pot.

The pot starts to quiver before breaking into a tremble. Mizuki watches cautiously and in no time, a plate of Shepherd's Pie is seen flying out. She reaches forward, careful to not get scalded by the metal of the pot.

Mizuki catches it, her heart finally returning to its regular pace upon doing so. Proudly, she sets it on the table, beckoning Hinata forward. He hobbles over, grabbing himself a fork from the tray in front of him. He cuts the pie open, a blank, even critical, expression on his face.

Mizuki frowns. Does he not like it?

"Is this Shepherd's Pie?" Hinata questions. Mizuki folds her arms.

"If you don't like it, you—" Mizuki huffs adamantly. Hinata stuffs his mouth with the food. Mizuki blinks, taken aback at this response from him. He covers his mouth as he eats, trying to find the space to chew. He swallows hesitantly, cheeks a warm shade of red. He sticks out his tongue in agony.

"Might've eaten it a bit too quickly," he says regretfully with tears in his eyes. Mizuki doubles over in laughter. She clutches her stomach, laughing loudly upon seeing this. Hinata pouts childishly, flushing red.

"Don't laugh at me!" He tries to be stern. Mizuki falls back against a chair, almost toppling off balance. She laughs even harder. Hinata stifles a laugh of his own, pressing his palm against his mouth to hold himself back.

"I didn't know you liked—my food—that much—" Mizuki gasps for air, losing her mind over his reaction. "Now even your tongue is burned," she jokes, tears wet from laughter. Hinata plays with his food, not because he's annoyed, but rather because he tries to sort out the peas from the rest of the dish. Mizuki takes notice of the pile of peas only once he takes the second bite. This time, he makes sure to blow at the food before stuffing it into his mouth.

"Do you not like peas?"

"You can guess my answer," Hinata raises her head. Mizuki drums her fingers against the table, sitting up when she hears a grumble. Hinata's hand stops mid-air, his fork tilting downwards. Mizuki purses her lips. "Did your stomach just—"

"Shut up," Mizuki hides her face, pressing a finger against his lips. Hinata fails to hide his laugh. Mizuki retracts her hand, quickly grabbing herself a slice of leftover bread from Mocha's to fill her stomach. It's at this point that she's hit with a second realisation that she has an ongoing quest and she was supposed to meet Ether. Mizuki panics, "Oh my god, I forgot I was supposed to pick up the clock from Ether."

Mizuki pulls a cloak over her shoulders, buttoning up high enough till only her chest is seen. She stuffs the bun into her mouth and pulls her satchel towards herself. Hinata cocks his head in confusion, "Why are you leaving so early?"

Mizuki straightens her dress as she turns back to him. "I have a quest to finish. You're going to be fine on your own for a bit, right?"

Hinata sets his fork against the plate, "Do you really have to go?"

"Yeah, once I'm done with this quest, I won't have anything else and I can take care of you if you need," Mizuki promises. Hinata still frowns, leaning his cheek against his hand.

Mizuki takes a step back, a hand on the doorknob and ready to dash. She averts her gaze, finding it too difficult to focus on him for much longer. Hinata keeps his piercing stare on her, pursing his lips as he decides if he should speak.

Would she stay if I asked her not to leave? His mind races. It's probably too early to say anything yet.

Hinata sits up properly, picking up his fork again. "Take care."

Mizuki nods. "I will," and God, her heart is so loud. Her mind lingers on the thought of Hinata even as she leaves the house.

A tiny, almost obvious smile curves onto her lips. She'll never know how they ended up in a position like this. Maybe he hit his head too hard and she has gone crazy from being here for too long. Maybe it's just how fate works, in a way that makes absolutely no sense.