Matchmaking Pros
“That was delicious!”
“It’s all thanks to Kiko, she’s a great cook.”
“It was a lesson, you helped a ton.”
Yuki smiled.
“She did? You’ll end up being the cook of the house if you’re learned from Kiko. Because, I’m terrible.”
Rika smiled uncomfortably, and itches her cheek.
“I really didn’t do that much... Just poured the wine...”
“Nonsense! You helped with...”
Kiko hesitated, that looked at her empty plate.
“You really didn’t help at all.”
“You wouldn’t let me! And, you did everything so quickly I couldn’t keep up!”
Rika crossed her arms and pouted.
“Ahhhhhhhhh.”
Yuki looked at both of them. Thinking of how to get away from the land mine she’d just stepped on.
“There can always be more lessons! At some point you’ll be a fast a Kiko!”
Rika blushed.
“You think?”
Kiko nodded.
“With your palette and knowledge of Wine, cooking will be natural to you!”
Rika smiled.
“Thanks.”
Kiko had been sitting silently.
Hidetake tapped her shoulder.
“You’re a good cook, even better than me...”
He looked at Yuki and Rika.
“Did she tell you how awesome of a cook I am?”
They nodded.
“Awesome.”
Kiko rolled her eyes.
“...you’re always super prepared and really quick.”
Kiko blushed.
“You’re so good a cooking that you may have to slow down for the filthy casuals.”
He looked at Yuki and Rika.
“No offense.”
Kiko smiled and nodded. Rika was less amused.
“I’m thoroughly offended.”
Hidetake didn’t hear what she said, he continued talking to Kiko.
“When you teach, just dial it back a little?”
Kiko nodded slowly.
“I didn’t think about it I guess.”
“Thanks, and when not teaching you can go back to killing it like the pro you are.”
Kiko blushed and smiled. She leaned over and kissed his cheek.
Rika felt Yuki rest her head on her shoulder.
“They’re so romantic.”
“That was romance?!”
“In their own way.”
“It was basically net speak in real life.”
“Usually it’s just IRL.”
“You too?!”
Yuki wrapped her arms around Rika.
“My second biggest love is Twitter.”
Rika blushed, and held Yuki.”
“T- Thank you.”
Kaede and Mary had quietly been watching the rest, hiding their laughter behind their wineglasses. They suddenly didn’t know what to do when the other couples had their own romantic moments.
“Um. Would y-“
Mary felt Kaede’s hand delicately hold hers. She was blushing and looking straight ahead.
“I like you.”
Kaede winced as if she was waiting for a rejection.
Mary was blushing.
Everything about Kaede was delicate and graceful, like a flower.
“I like you too.”
Kaede looked nearly shocked, then relieved.
Mary took Kaede’s other hand, Kaede eyes were shy at first, but then she looked into Mary’s.
“You don’t need to be like that. I’m not going anywhere.”
Kaede diverted her eyes again, embarrassed.
“I’m sorry. It just in the past she... You don’t want to hear about that... Sorry, I’m bad at these things.”
“It’s okay, I’m not too good with these things either
“Really? I mean you’re so famous. It seems like it would be easy for you...”
Kaede eyes widened, she looked panicked.
“That was rude, I didn’t mean it like that. I’m sorry.”
She bowed her head, embarrassed again.
Mary smiled sadly.
“It’s okay. I know what you mean.”
Kaede followed Mary’s eye upward. Her own glistened by the flickering candles from the table.
Mary’s eyes looked slightly pained.
“I’ve been hurt before, a long time ago. It was difficult for me to be truly close to someone. Dates with people felt empty in a way... But, with you.”
Kaede was entranced, Mary was slightly intimated by how pretty she was. Her mind raced trying to find the right words.
“I... You...”
She took a deep breath. Kaede’s eyes still looking into hers.
“With you, I feel like my heart is complete.”
Kaede’s cheeks turned bright red, her delicate voice was so quiet Mary couldn’t even hear it. Yet, she knew Kaede’s response.
Kaede’s lips were, like everything about her. As gentle as flower petals.
Mary’s memories of her past experiences with romance felt like distant dreams. Her heart had warmed again, and it’s scars faded.
Kiko, Yuki, Rika, and Hidetake all sat in silence. They had all silently considered leaving the room, but the atmosphere felt so fragile, any movement would break the moment.
Rika and Hidetake looked at Kiko and Yuki, to not ruin the moment. The both of them wouldn’t have dared though, they were etching the moment into their memories. Kiko was already drafting her next illustration, and Yuki began taking notes for her fan fiction.
Rika looked at Hideatake who was also drafting an illustration.
/Sometimes, I forget they're all like this./
Yuki whispered as she typed.
"This is great material, we're all totally going to trend."
"I can't entirely approve of this, but they are romance novel level cute."
