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“It looks so good!” Satoru gushed excitedly, seating himself, hands clapped together in enthusiasm. “I’ve been waiting for this ever since you mentioned you’ll make it!” In his eyes was pure joy and happiness from awaitfulness, as Nanami settled down opposite him, the steaming pot of cream stew with cut carrots, caramelized onions, chicken, shiitake mushrooms and potatoes between them. Nanami looked proud of himself staring onto the dish with a content smile.

He made sure earlier that Satoru didn’t get tease of it, despite knowing the wait being pure torture for the white-haired. Earlier, Satoru tried to sneak a spoonful as the cream stew still sat on the stove, but Nanami caught him, swatting him away from the kitchen like a pesky fruit fly.

“Try it.”, Nanami offered, clapping his hands together in a similar manner, Satoru doing the same as they both nodded slightly, before digging in. Yet Nanami didn’t eat it immediately, chopsticks still in air. Instead he waited for Satoru to try the first bite. Said person stuck a spoonful of creamy good food into his mouth—almost dropping the spoon as the flavor hit. All he could do was staring at Nanami wide-eyed in surprised, slowly chewing, savoring every taste.

“Don’t give me that look.”, Nanami prompted with a slightly embarrassed expression, looking at Satoru with enough nervousness Nanami could physically show. He was unsure if Satoru liked it, his insecurity of his cooking was present, something Nanami didn’t openly like to show.

“Why not?”, Satoru asked, lifting a spoon of piping-hot food contents to his pinkish lips again.

—“I can’t tell if you like it or not.”, Nanami absently rubbed his one cheekbone with his index fingertip.

“Huh? This is so good!”, Satoru exclaimed with a full mouth to immediately express his enthusiasm, holding a hand over it out of decency, his eyes were still wide with shock from the taste.

Nanami’s cheeks grew hot, either flustered or from the alcohol, Nanami believing the latter. “Thank you.”, he whispered, flustered—feeling validated and supported—rubbing the back of his neck with a soft smile as Satoru took another spoonful to himself, still complimenting the food while actively chewing.

Satoru swallowed the cream stew and rice with a satisfied smile and warm feeling, placing the chopsticks over his bowl, asking his boyfriend a question out of curiosity to get to know him better. “When did you learn how to cook?”

Nanami looked at his bowl, putting some food on his rice from the shared pot between them, still smiling, his cheekbones still blushed pink. He then paused in thought, carefully choosing his next words. “My mother taught me the basics.”, his smile fond from nostalgia as he recalled key moments of his childhood. “She gave me this recipe. It was one of my favorites. She made it on my graduation day as well.”

Satoru’s face softened, seeing how Nanami acted all vulnerable and open to him and it warmed something in his chest. “I’m honored to have it.”, he expressed his gratitude out loud.

“She’d be happy seeing you eating it.”, Nanami continued to smile, and Satoru couldn’t help admire the rare sight, dazed by his soft rare smile, the redness at his cheekbones, his tousled blond hair effortless.

“You’re so cute right now, can I kiss you?”, the question came out almost randomly as he exhaled dreamily, leaning on one side. He supported his head with his elbow propped up on the table, letting out a content sigh from his upturned lips.

“I’m drinking alcohol. One drop of this will have consequences.”, Nanami reminded him, after taking a sip of his sake, something he saved until a special occasion—instead opening it for tonight, feeling self-indulgent for once.

“I’m not that much of a lightweight.”, Satoru pouted, already knowing he’s been teased by the overdramatized exaggeration. You don’t get drunk from kissing some who just drunk alcohol.

Nanami chuckled at that into his spoon of rice. “Our college days contradict that.” He said, smiling a bit teasingly, first time trying to get a rise out of Satoru. He was referring to a few parties they had when they were younger during their college days, how Satoru would just collapse after a two cheap beers on the couch. Or how he’d find him in the bedroom flopped on the bed all hot and red, or how he’d find him in the bathtub with another unconscious and wasted person lying on top of him.

“It’s just a kiss!”, Satoru’s face was red as he recalled the awful morning headaches and mockery from their friends. He pouted, but that quickly changed into a sly smile as he leaned over the table, hovering over the low pot between them, the steam still rising and brushing his bare neck. “Or are you finding an excuse not to kiss me?” He spoke sing-song like, licking his lips. He then formed his mouth into a small kiss-pout, watching entertained as Nanami rolled his eyes in exasperation at the older’s antics. But he couldn’t hide the already present small smile that played on his face.

“You’re insufferable.”, he commented.