The Beast of Ikebukuro

“… No. Shizu-chan should get pudding no matter what.” Especially after all of this hype—one way or another he was going to get some!

“Okay, what are the instructions!”

Deciding that he will eat the pudding that she makes no matter how it comes out, Shizuo starts with the instructions.

“Oahh…” that was interesting, and such a beautiful thought! Erika entered and kicked off her boots, shuffling into her kitchenette;

“Shizu-chan, if this pudding doesn’t come out okay will you be angry?”

“No.”

Shizuo follows her lead and takes off his own shoes before entering.

“Maybe you can try it…” she wondered out loud, leading the way to her apartment, “Sort of like opposite day. Maybe for a day you can be the little brother and let Kasu-chii take care of you!”

“Thing is, we already do that. Whenever I get sick or badly injured. That’s how I know he’d make a good older brother.”

“Just because something is hard doesn’t mean it’s not fun.” She resisted the joke. “Does that mean that if you had the choice, you might choose not to be a big brother?”

Erika lead him out, reaching for the bags; “That’s my job!”

Shizuo relinquishes the bags with a chuckle.

“Why…? Don’t you like being a big brother?” If he didn’t think she should be a big sister, there must be something wrong with it…

She waddled with her arms full of items to the merchant, setting them on the counter to count out change.

“I do. It’s just a big responsibility. Being a good older sibling isn’t easy.”

“What’s it like having a brother?” She wondered out loud, thumbing through ingredients when they’d reached the general store, “I always thought it might be cool to be a big sister… but I can’t decide if it’d be cooler to be a big sister, or have a big sister.”

Shizuo shrugs, pointing out the ingredients they needed.

“Does Shizu-chan really know what to do, right off the top of his head like that?” He was an expert! Erika even still needed to read the directions on her rice cooker to make sure she didn’t mess that up.

“Let’s get those things—but you’re not allowed to touch them because if you help me make it, then it won’t really be a gift from me to you.”

“I used to make it plenty of times when I was younger with Kasuka. Always tastes better than pre-made.”

It’d be a good habit to get back into.

“We’re making it from scratch, there’s no way I’m giving Shizu-chan pudding from a box!”

Even if he might not mind that.

After a moment of careful consideration she paused, turning her attention back up to him; “… How do you make pudding from scratch?”

Shizuo feels flattered that she wants to make pudding for him. It’s been a long time since he’s made pudding from scratch.  He’s always used his mother’s homemade recipe.

“I don’t think you can, Shizu-chan–” she waved a hand, walking ahead of him as she headed towards the market, “This is a permanent wound.”

He’ll just have to suffer.

“I’ll think of something.” He decides.

Shizuo follows her into the market and heads down the the baking section.

“I don’t want to share the pudding. I am in a state of shock; I think if I eat I’ll just die. You can have it all to yourself… and I’ll live vicariously through you.”

“Alright, alright. I give. How can I make it up to you?”

Send the words ‘Hit me’ to Shizuo, he will prepare a drink based on your muse’s personality.

Adding two parts of Brandy in the mixture, he includes ice with sweet vermouth and angostura. Shizuo stirs it all together before pouring it in a cocktail glass.

He’d caught on…

“Kinda is. Rather than worry it’s an annoyance, but y’know that already.” He a slight more curious now, and it’s shown by the way he’d step forward a step, “So, you’re just gonna disappear for a few more?”

“I figured.”

Danger must follow Delic just as much as it does him.

This wasn’t much fun at all.

“Fine–” she spun away from him and waved her hand around, leading the way towards her apartment, “But you should know that if I’m in emotional distress then there’s a higher chance that I’ll mistake the teriyaki flavoring for chocolate, and then the pudding won’t be very good at all.”

“I’ll supervise then,” he teases.

He’ll make sure she doesn’t slip.

Send the words 'Hit me' to Shizuo, he will prepare a drink based on your muse's personality.

orihariisms

Mixing in the shaker, he adds ice, vodka, cherry brandy, cream and cherry syrup to prepare the martini. It comes out chilled and pink colored as he pours it in the glass with a cherry garnish.

“Shizu-chan, that’s not how people heal sickness!” she whined, looking dejected at his lack of acting skills, “You’re supposed to… hold me close, and tell me it’ll be okay, and then announce you’ll help me with the pudding!”

“Erika, you’re not sick.”

He loves spoiling her but he needs to put his foot down somewhere. Especially when he wants pudding.

“Well aren’t you pleasant ~ Do you honestly hate me that much, Shizu-chan?”

“You already know the answer to that, bastard!”