An Otterbiography!

Caught off guard with the hair tuck, she swallowed thickly and got herself busy with something else, the heat in her cheeks was beyond saving now. She hadn’t actually spent much time alone with him, but he was kind of charming in his own, strange way. “Ah..” she looked around the kitchen, a little flustered at the moment before she remembered what they were cooking. 

“W-we need to blend up all the strawberries first” she smiled and carried the box over to the blender, “Cut the top off and just place them all in” Gou showed him with one what she meant then moved out the way, standing back to watch him. This was a easy bit, he couldn’t mess this, right.

Gou wondered just how bad he was when cooking to be failing the subject as she watched him concentrate hard on the fruit. It was almost cute. “The best thing about baking,” Gou hummed, reaching across to take a berry from the packet, “Is that we get to have the best bits”. Lips wrapped around the strawberry as she bit the end of it off, smiling at the taste. 

The last thing he remembered--before the pain--was her lips, pursed against that succulent fruit. Kawaii ne... He would have given anything to be that berry, to taste her kiss, sweet and soft and full of unspoken things.

Gou was unaware of the eyes on her as she took the tin out of the cupboard, standing up and tilting her head when she saw Momo on the floor. “Uhm, Momo?” she questioned, putting the tin on the side before going to help him, squatting beside him. 

“Is this what you’re like in class?” she asked, giggling softly, her hand on his back to help her balance, “Use some tissue to pick it up” Gou suggested, getting up to grab him some tissue, “We can use the spray to grease the tin, since the butter is now floor butter”. 

There was no annoyance or anything in her voice, she had patience when she wanted. “I got some pots out as well, so you can weigh everything and put it in seperate pots ready for use” she explained showing him the little area she had set up while he was trying with the butter.

A solemn nod answered her question.

Her eyes were haunting. They held him there, transfixed, unable to think. At this distance it was impossible to ignore the difference in their heights. Even kneeling, she was so much smaller. He liked that. He couldn't help but reach out to tuck a strand of scarlet gently behind her ear. "Thanks for putting up with me."

“Hey! Rin got me that one, it looks good on you” she defended her trusted kitty apron, and in all fairness it did highlight how much slimmer his waist was to his shoulders and chest. Standing beside him, she washed her hands and dried them before bursting out with a laugh, looking over at Momo and his grin. 

“Ooh man, you’re funny” she laughed, going over and standing in front of him, “Let me just help you out a little” Gou mused, taking off the oven mutts for him. “A little tip though, you don’t need these on until you’re taking it out of the oven” she laughed softly, putting them down. 

“But you’re close, first thing to do it pre-heat the oven to 350F and grease up the cake tin so it doesn’t stick to it” Gou blinked, realising just how close they were still standing so she cleared her throat before going to get the tin out of her cupboard. 

"I totally knew that." He lied, laughing nervously as the mitts were pulled from his hands. He felt somehow vulnerable without them.

Everything was going well until she turned to rummage through the cupboard. His eyes followed her slender form, tracing over curves heightened by the taught waist of her apron bow. He tried not to stare. He tried to pick up a stick of butter--something to grease the pan she was getting--and in a distracted state he dropped it on the floor.

Dragalia Lost:

The Alberian Royal Family:

Leonidas the First Heir

Phares the Second Heir

Chelle the Third Heir

Valyx the Fourth Heir 

Mysterious Fifth Heir (not shown)

Emile the Sixth Heir

Main Character the Seventh Heir

It was another cute trait that Gou had noticed in Momo, the dumb expression on his face as he looked around the kitchen. It was very endearing how in awe he seemed at just a standard kitchen. She found herself just looking at him, smiling to herself. A laugh left her lips when her words finally reaching his ears, “Heh, of course! I can’t do exams for you now can I?” she hummed and reached into the kitchen cupboard. 

“You can have the kitty one” she hummed, it was the less girly of her aprons, and she sported the one that her mother had gotten her for christmas. It was brown with cupcakes on the front, wrapping around her waist showing off just how slim she was. “First thing first… wash your hands” she winked, turning round to put her apron on over her clothes and washed her hands in the water. 

The kitty one!? He stared awkwardly at the apron, half willing and completely lost. How was he supposed to impress her in something like that? He pulled it on and secured the bow with a pout. "Well, at least one of us looks good." He teased, rolling up his sleeves.

He washed his hands and tried to relax, quieting thoughts that threatened distraction. His eyes drifted to the girl beside him--who looked amazing in her apron--which didn't help. He had no idea what to do next, but at least he could fake it. Spying a pair of oven mitts he grabbed them, slipping one onto each hand with a professional grin.

Gou took the twenty with a small thanks, nodding to his words and following him down to the strawberries before going to pay. She paid for her own things separately, and a look from the lady behind the til; “enjoy your evening you two!” the woman told them as they walked off. Leaving a blush on Gou’s face. 

“Well, this is home” she introduced after a short walk from the shop, “Please take your shoes off, mum likes her cream floor” Gou chuckled, opening the door to the cute little home. Pictures of her and Rin when they were younger to present dotted around in frames, little quotes hanging up on the wall, you could clearly tell the two main occupiers were female. “Looks like mum’s gone out, got the kitchen to ourselves” she mused, putting the bags on the table to take out the ingredients. 

“You know, I’m not making them for you, you gotta do it yourself” she added with a little grin on her face, turning back round to him. 

The kitchen was immaculate. Dark cherry cabinets lined the walls, their wood gleaming beneath glowing halogens. A pristine fridge was decorated with shark shaped magnets. Pinned beneath them was a grocery list, handwritten notes and a picture of the Matsuoka siblings from a few years back. The cool of the tile felt comforting beneath socked feet. In the corner, below a double window, a small table sat invitingly, flanked by two matching chairs. Though the room was modest it was cozy, well-kept and obviously loved.

"Wow." He breathed, hardly believing. Compared to his house--which was accident prone and always a bit cluttered, this was a five-star resort. But he couldn't shake the feeling that Rin or Mrs. Matsuoka could be lurking around every corner.

Gou couldn’t help a small laugh that fell from her lips as he confessed he had never tried them either, it was kind of cute how excited he got over them just because they were made from two things he liked. 

“Rin would not kill you” she piped up, yeah he might just threaten something like that, but he would never go through with it… unless they made her cry… then he might just do it. She could tell Rin was making him nervous though, the way he was almost throwing up words to her. 

She blinked at his confession, it wasn’t new information to her that he liked her, but hearing it out loud was something new to her. “Rin wont touch you just because you’re cooking with me” she chuckled as though she didn’t click on the last bit, “And I know you’re not that kind of guy, Momo” she added though, they hadn’t really spent too much time just the two of them. Gou just hoped he wasn’t that kind of guy.

The tension lifted as he listened to her speak. He definitely trusted her. After all, she knew Rin better than anyone. "Thanks, heh. I feel better already." And he did. But one of these days he would have to tell her how pretty her voice was. It was sweet and calming, almost a caress. He especially loved the way she said his name. He'd bet his last dollar it sounded beautiful when she singed.

“I’m sure he’ll reply when he can” she assured, but curious to know what Momo wanted to know from her big brother, “I hope so, or I’ll just tell Rin you said my underwear was cute” she teased with a small laugh leaving her lips after. It was funny, to her at least, the affect her brother had on the guys around her. Well, besides the ones she had know from being a kid. 

She paused her steps when her name was called out again,  “Kou” she muttered to herself, giving up now with trying to correct him. Gou tilted her head at the excitable boy as she walked back over, “I’ve never tried them before… are they that good?” she asked. They must be to cause that reaction from him. Smiling she nodded and held the basket out for him, “Okay! Put them in we can eat them while we bake”.  

“Don’t know. Never tried them.” He admitted sheepishly, though it didn’t deter his enthusiasm. He placed the bag into the basket, which was now rather full. “But they have to be good, right? I mean, it’s a chip made out of peaches!”

With the rush of excitement behind them he’d registered her previous remark. Something about Rin. And panties. And telling Rin what he thought of her panties. He flashed her a pleading look. “Rin would probably kill me if he found out I was with you.” And in typical Momotarou fashion he began to say more than he should have. “For some reason he thinks I’m just after what most guys want from girls. But it’s not like that. Not with you.” When he realized his mistake he fell silent, a flush heating his cheeks for the second time. “I mean--I’m not that type of guy, you know?”