My Cat Girl Neighbor Is Impossible to Understand

Chapter 36: Chapter 36 - Cooking Together ?

She got the invitation on a Friday afternoon.

"My parents are going out for dinner today," Yuiko said, her tail wagging nervously. "Thought... maybe we could cook together?"

"Cook?"

"I mean if you want to. I’m bad at it, but it could be fun."

He smiled. "I’d love to."

"Really?"

"Really. But just one thing."

"What?"

"Don’t let me burn the kitchen down."

She chuckled. "No promises."

Saturday evening. Sui stood in front of Yuiko’s house with a small bag of ingredients he bought just in case. His heart was beating nervously.

"It’s just cooking. Nothing difficult," he told himself.

The door opened. Yuiko stood in front of him in an apron which was clearly too big for her, strings hanging loosely from her waist. Her ears were pricked forward, tail wagging enthusiastically.

"You came!" she exclaimed.

"Of course. I promised I will."

"I know, just... I’m so excited."

"So am I."

He entered the room. The kitchen was already a complete mess. There were scattered ingredients all over the countertop, boiling water in the pot, a chopping board with partially chopped vegetables.

"Okay," she said, clapping her hands. "We’re making curry. Got everything. I hope."

"You hope?"

"I might have forgotten the carrots."

"I’ve bought them."

Her eyes brightened. "You did?!"

"I thought you might forget something."

"You’re awesome."

"I know."

She flung her arms around him for a quick hug and then moved away, grabbing the carrots.

"Okay! Let’s get started!"

The first ten minutes was total chaos.

Yuiko was slicing the onion like a professional defuser, her tongue poking out, ears flat, tail high.

"You’re going to cut yourself," Sui said.

"I know what I’m doing."

"You’re holding the knife wrongly."

"I’m doing it right."

"Your fingers are in the way."

"They are not—" She yelped in pain as the knife slipped and the onion rolled off the board.

Sui caught it before it touched the floor.

"Okay," he said soothingly. "Let me help you."

He stood behind her, guiding her hands. His chest pressed to her back. Ears twitching.

"Hold the knife like this," he said softly. "And curl your fingers under. Like claws."

She let him change her grip. Tail looping around his wrist.

"Just like this?" she asked, voice a little bit breathless.

"Exactly like this."

She sliced the onion flawlessly. And another one. And another one.

"Woah," she breathed. "I did it."

"You did it."

She turned to look at him. Inches away. Ears pricked forward.

"Thanks," she whispered.

"Anytime."

They parted, both a bit flustered. Yuiko moved back to the stove, coughing awkwardly.

"Okay! Next we put the meat. And vegetables. And curry roux."

They worked in silence, side-by-side. Sui stirring the pot while Yuiko was preparing the rice. The kitchen filled with the scent of curry.

"It smells amazing," he said.

"Right? I’m a natural."

"You set the timer for twenty minutes."

"I know what I’m doing!"

"Your timer says ten."

She looked at the timer, then at him.

"I knew that."

"Sure you did."

She pouted, sticking her tongue out at him. He chuckled.

In twenty minutes, the curry was ready. Yuiko served it with the rice, her tail wagging happily.

"Here," she said, passing him a bowl. "Have some."

He took a bite. His eyes widened.

"This is... actually really good."

"Actually? Are you surprised?"

"I’m surprised. You almost burned down the kitchen three times."

"Only two. Third time was just a false alarm."

He laughed, having another bite. She watched him, her tail wagging.

"It’s really good," he said again.

She smiled, having her bite. Her ears perking.

"It’s good!"

They ate in comfortable silence, feeling the warmth of the curry filling them up. The evening sunlight shining through the window of the kitchen.

Then Yuiko took a bite of her rice and froze.

"Sui."

"Yeah?"

"The rice."

"What about it?"

She passed her bowl to him. "Have some."

He took a bite. His face went through a series of expressions. Confused, understanding, and barely suppressed laughter.

"It’s... a little crunchy."

"A little? It’s completely raw!"

"Okay, it’s very raw."

She groaned, resting her head on the table. "I knew I’ve forgotten something. I’ve forgotten to put the water."

"How can you forget water?"

"I don’t know! I was distracted!"

"Distracted by what?"

She looked at him, cheeks flushing red. "You. Of course."

His laughter subsided a bit. "Yuiko..."

"It’s not funny!"

"A little bit funny."

"It’s not! I’ve ruined the dinner!"

He leaned across the table and grabbed her hand.

"You haven’t ruined anything. The curry is perfect. The rice is... a little bit crunchy. We’ll fix it."

"We can’t fix it. It’s already cooked."

"Then we’ll make another rice. Together."

She stared at him. "You want to make the rice?"

"Of course. I won’t let you eat raw rice."

"I would have eaten it. For a point."

"I know you would have. That’s why I’m making another one."

She laughed, wiping her tears. "You’re ridiculous."

"Ridiculously in love with you. Now, let’s fix it."

They made the rice together. This time Yuiko checked the water level three times. He watched her, feeling full.

Finally sitting down again and having the dinner, the rice was perfect. Fluffy. Steamy.

"See?" he said. "Perfect."

"It’s just rice."

"Our rice. Cooked together. Makes it special."

She looked at him, golden eyes soft.

"I love you," she whispered.

"I love you too."

They ate their dinner. The imperfectly perfect curry and rice. The kitchen was a mess. Rice was made twice. None of that mattered.

Because they made it together.

And that made it perfect.