Settling In and a Recipe for Trouble

Isagi stood in front of their shared dorm room, the key turning in his hand as the weight of the situation fully hit him. Living together with May — even if it was just for this partner project — felt like a dream. As the door swung open, they stepped inside, greeted by an empty, barebones room.

"No food? No supplies?" May's voice had a hint of disbelief. She spun slowly, taking in the plain room. "They didn't even leave us toilet paper!"

Isagi laughed. "Guess they really want us to learn independence."

After a bit of unpacking, the grumbling of their stomachs made the next step obvious. "Let's go shopping," May suggested, a small smile lighting up her face.

Isagi's heart skipped. This was practically a date! "Sure! Let's make a list first."

The trip to the market was more fun than Isagi had imagined. They walked side by side, laughing over their mutual confusion at what to buy. May held up a bag of rice. "Is this too much?"

"Only if we're feeding an army," Isagi teased.

By the time they returned, their arms were full of bags and their spirits high. As they began unpacking, May's eyes shone with determination. "I'll cook dinner!" she declared.

Isagi froze. He remembered the anime — May's cooking skills were… catastrophic. But he couldn't exactly tell her that. If she knew he somehow already expected her to fail, she'd definitely get upset.

"Uh, great idea!" he said instead, forcing enthusiasm. "But why don't we cook together? It'll be faster."

May hesitated. "You… know how to cook?"

"A little," Isagi lied. "We can make it a team effort."

Together, they started on a simple dish. May, despite her enthusiasm, struggled. She nearly mistook salt for sugar and almost burned the rice. But each time, Isagi subtly guided her without making her feel bad — offering suggestions, demonstrating techniques, and keeping the mood light.

"Wow, Isagi… you're really good at this," May said, her eyes wide as the food finally started looking edible.

"Team effort," he reminded her with a grin.

When they finally sat down to eat, May took her first bite nervously. Her face lit up. "This is actually good!"

The warmth of the moment settled over them as they shared their first homemade meal in their new dorm. And for Isagi, it felt like the perfect start to their new life together.