Title: Yuichiroâs Counterattack!
âWow, Mika-San⌠Your lunch isâŚâ
On Mikaelaâs lap was a boxed lunch whose aesthetics Yoichi could only describe as pitiful. The rice was chunky, held together by a pasty-substance. The underside of the bread was soggy, yet burnt. Hiding beneath a dry assortment of vegetables were pieces of chicken that, too, didnât escape the tide of poorly contained miso sauce.
Yuichiroâs face contorted, and he took to observing the scenery.
Second Shibuya Highâs rooftop provided a picturesque view of the city. The sky was a lovely gradient and, having dropped their supply of rain, the clouds rolled off towards the horizon. The shower lifted the essence of mulch planted around the shrubbery.
What a shame, he mused, that enjoying it was impossible. Â
âYouâre being too kind, Yoichi!â Shinoa cried, feigning emotional turmoil and clasping her convenience store sandwiches.
She hovered over Yuichiro to gaze at the tragedy one lap over.
He didnât have to stare at Mikaela to know he wore that smile; his lighthearted, âpleased-with-himselfâ smirk.
âDuh! What happened to the perfect ratios of carbs, protein, and vegetables!? The color diversity!? And who needs rice and bread!? The dressing wasnât drained, either! Could it be Yu-Sanâs bad cooking is contagââ
âEnough already!â Yuichiro said, pride in shambles.
His assumption had been correct. There Mikaela sat, lips curved and brows raised as if to say, âWhy are you looking at me? Iâve done nothing to you!â
To feign innocence when it was his idea they make each otherâs lunches the previous night⌠he refused to let him get away with it.
âI-I never said I was a great cook! Mika wanted a lunch from me!â
Yoichi, his sole ally on the rooftop, got to work tending to his ego.
âCâmon guys, I know it doesnât look the best, but maybe it tastes good!â
âSure!â Shinoa chimed, not out of agreement, but an eagerness to prove the contrary.
âGo ahead, Mika-San!â
The second Mikaela collected a sample of rice and chicken, they all inched closer to their object of interest, awaiting his every word.
Yuichiro was especially fixated.
âWell?â He said right as his food was swallowed, âHowâd I do!?â
âLetâs see⌠for starters, the rice is gloppy, like it was stirred a lot.â
It was. Quite vigorously.
âAnd itâs under-cooked, ironically from cooking it too fast. Low heat wouldâve kept the kernels intact.â
That wasnât his fault. The first batch was ruined through happenstance.
âThe chickenâs kinda tough, too. ButâŚâ
To Yuichiroâs surprise, however, he lifted another helping into his mouth.
Mikaelaâs grin turned into something gentler, a promise he was incapable of any real malice towards his family.
âYu-Chan worked really hard on it, so Iâm going to finish it, anyway.â
Yuichiro let out a bashful chuckle, massaging the back of his neck.
âAw, you donât have toââ
âWell?â Shinoa broke in, drumming her fingers across the lid of his own box, âLetâs see what yours is like!â
She unlidded his meal at once, revealing a stunning display that earned a gasp from both her and Yoichi.
The perfection she had come to expect from Mikaelaâs lunch had returned.
Rolled egg filled with eel, daikon with tomatoes, glazed salmon on handpicked watercress, and strawberries sprinkled with sugar were divided into colorful, silicone cups.
Upon the rice was a design composed of leftover seaweed: the phrase âI ⼠Mika,â with the heart crafted from red pepper.
âWoah⌠what loving craftsmanship,â Yoichi said under his breath.
At this, Mikaela laughed, grabbing the chopsticks he had packed with it.
âIf you want, I can feed it to youââ
He swiped back his eating utensils, stuffing his mouth with golden rice that was seasoned to an exact science.
He knew what this game was.
Mikaela picked a grain off Yuichiroâs chin, popping it into his mouth and taking joy in the blood rushing to the latterâs face.
âSheesh, youâre not a little kid anymore.â
For someone who shrank away from the smallest displays of romantic affection, he certainly had the boldness to tease him.
His boyfriend was all talk.
And thatâs precisely why he wouldnât lose.
He snuck a couple grains from Mikaelaâs lunch, noting the difference in texture and sticking them on his cheek.
âYou missed a spot, too.â
âHa! What was thatââ
He cut Mikaelaâs words short, halted his breath, when he removed the rice with a kiss.
Mortified, face burning, and in the presence of Shinoa and Yoichiâs âoooâs and âahhâs, Yuichiroâs counterattack was flawless.
He may have dished out a lot, but he definitely couldnât take it.
âReally, Mika. Thanks. Your food was incredible!â He said, voice brimming with tenderness and wearing the grin he knew he loved most.
âSorry mine wasnât very good. Next time, Iâll work even harder! I love you after all.â
Mikaela was speechless, eyes darting until he retreated to his crudely made lunch, eating it without a word.
Thoroughly impressed, Shinoa and Yoichi exchanged multiple glances of incredulity.
â⌠That was evil, Yu-San.â
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