“What drove me to become a chef..?”
Another question, another day and Antoine was once again cooking with you at the sidelines. It almost seems like a normal routine between you two, he would cook, you would come visit and pop a random question when he wasn’t too preoccupied.
Today you ask what his motivation is for his passion.
Antoine paused on rolling the dough and thought for a bit. His tail swaying back and forth and ears twitching little. He looks up at the ceiling while tapping his chin lightly, flour once again staining his chin. The dorm leader would probably scold him if he ever got caught but this was one of the rare moments where the small chef didn’t care. Whenever there was a topic about cooking, he always thought on that subject only.
“I believe it started with a cookbook...” he started, his face turning into a fond look.
“I got that book from a traveling merchant. I think it was the cover that drew me in. I brought it home with me and after looking through the first of the recipes, it got me hooked!” he added, his voicing raising in volume and the sound of excitement showing his voice. It was cute, his tail was wagging back and forth like an excited pup- er, rat... Boy...
“Then I tried experimenting with different flavors like combining a strawberry and cheese. Each of them have their own special flavors but both..”, he lets out a happy sigh and he leans into his hands. His elbows help prop himself up and he presses his body against the counter. Now his face was really covered in flour now. “You end up discovering something new…” he finishes as a soft smile appears on his face before snapping out of that state.
A small blush creeps up his cheek. “Ah, sorry, I must have gone on a tangent… I should really stop that bat habit” he said while he looks away in embarrassment. His ears drooped down a little. Poor Antoine.
You tell him that you forgive him.
“M-merci! You are far too kind” he replied, his posture changing completely due to his raised mood. The blush seemed to grow but it was hard to tell due to the flour tainting his cheeks.
You merely give him a smile.
“But you want to know what was the key point to passion..?” he said, finally looking back at you with flour covered cheeks.
“It was the chef catchphrase… ‘Only the fearless can be great’...” he answered. There was a sparkle in his eyes. “I know I’m not the bravest when it comes to dealing with the predators in this school… But I do know that I can be bold when it comes to cooking!” he said, his tail wagging like crazy. “If I ever want to fulfill my dream, I must have courage” he added as you internally laugh at how adorable he looks right now.
But that sudden excitement dissipates instantly when he realizes what he just did. Quickly, he wipes the flour off his face with a towel and pats the flour off his hands.
“Oh dear I’ve done it again… I look so indecent right now. The Dorm Leader would hate that” he sighs out as he finishes his clean up. The ever looming reminder that his Dorm Leader can come in here at any moment, looms over his head. Antoine looks back at you and approaches you where you were positioned at. Gently, he takes his hands into yours and gives you a closed eye smile. “But… Thank you for asking me that question, it brought back pleasant memories” he said before opening his eyes to look at you.
“And thank you for being my friend”
