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Characters: Yu Narukami (P4 Protagonist), Nanako Dojima, Original Character
Summary: One day Annika begs for cooking lessons and Yu doesn't know what to do. He found a compromise in the heat of the moment, sure, but it is still confusing. Why does she want to learn how to cook? ... Well, maybe it is obvious. And besides, Nanako can get the answer out of Annika very easily!
Words: 1,405
“Please Narukami–San! Teach me how to cook!”
Annika was desperate, to say the least. Never had Yu ever imagined seeing her on her knees, right at the entrance door of the Dojima residence… On a Sunday of all things. Yet that's what happened.
When the doorbell rang and Nanako had called out for him Annika was right there, glaring at Yu. And the glare was so sharp that it was almost scary. Or screaming ‘What did Yosuke do this time?’ She tended to vent some frustrations sometimes and was bad at hiding it. And yet, it wasn't even close to that. Especially once she had gotten on her knees and bowed her head down, overwhelming him in the process and leaving little Nanako confused.
Honestly, Yu had to carefully consider. He knew of the rumors, how bad Annika was at cooking. She was so bad that she had been banned from the home economics room. Not just was her cooking poisonous but also her talent for nearly destroying the kitchen with an explosion. And… Well, with a child in the house it sounds very unsafe. He was in a predicament here.
On one hand Annika was desperate and she seemed earnest. And he didn't want to leave a friend in need, especially after begging like this. And yet, knowing the risks involved it didn't sound like a safe option. Especially regarding Nanako herself. If she had only one bit of Annika’s food things could end horribly. And he couldn't risk her safety. First off, how would Yu explain the ambulance to his uncle!? It would be his fault and who knows what Annika would be arrested for! It would be a lose lose situation! That is if the trio and the house survive an explosion to begin with! This might be their funeral!
But Annika was, unfortunately, also stubborn. So saying ‘no’ would be hopeless. But he can't expose his niece to this atrocious cooking (’Sorry Annika but your cooking sucks… It's worse than Chie’s and Yukiko's.’). Nor should she end up in an explosion. What to do here? What to do? Yeah, just what to do?
And that's where it had hit him! And also how the two ended up with their very first cooking lesson. And what would that be? Well…
Have Annika sit down at the table with a notebook, make her watch him as he was preparing something simple, like Omurice, and make her note down each step first before anything else. All while he was explaining everything in great detail. Yet from the corner of his eyes he could see that she wasn't too approving of this, pouting and looking a little sulky… But silently. So she maybe understood why he was doing this. Then again, it was simple logic. A person can't write without learning how to write each sign in the Japanese alphabet, right? Also it was the only way to not let her down while not endangering Nanako.
Speaking of Nanako, she had also joined in by sitting next to Annika, waiting for lunch to be prepared. She hummed, swaying from left to right with her usual smile, one which was contagious in its own right. But in a good way. And as much as he would have loved to look at it longer he had an Omurice to get back to. Yet he still overheard the conversation of course.
“Big bro’s cooking is the best!” He heard Nanako say, making even said big brother catch a light smile on his face. “You’ll love it!”
“Yeah, Narukami–San is really good.” He heard the older one admit though sounding… Rather quiet. Now she wasn't the loudest but she wasn't this quite either, this soft–spoken. “I’ve heard.”
The silence following after was almost a little awkward. All in his own ears was the sizzling of the oil in the pan. None spoke a word, not even a peep. What was going through their heads? And weren't they both uncomfortable? Surely–
“Say Annika, why do you want to learn how to cook?” Nanako herself would break that silence though in that usual sweet tone she had, all upbeat and cheerful. The childlike curiosity she was known for all the same.
“Huh!? Well… That…” He heard Annika almost stutter, something she always did when caught off guard and searching for an answer. Or she was a little too embarrassed to admit to something. “I just… Uhm…Well… It's important to know how to cook, right!? For your health I mean!”
“Yeah. Dad and big brother say so too! But…”
“B… But?”
“There's another reason, isn't there?” It was probably very unintentional but Nanako most likely hit the nail on the head. No one would be that desperate if it was just that. And oh boy, Yu didn't even need to look to imagine his upperclassman fumbling in her chair. She was probably just in her usual state of denial. Something she didn't want to say but probably had to.
A quick glimpse to the side again, Nanako looking over at Annika with curious, wide eyes, awaiting an answer. And the older girl struggled to come up with anything. It was almost funny. Of course the omelette needed the attention more so Yu turned back yet he was still listening.
“Uhh… Don't laugh, ok?” The older one sighed in defeat before continuing, to be all bashful. “I… Want to be able to… Make lunch.”
“Lunch? Why?”
“For… Well… Someone! Someone maybe… Like…”
“Haha, if you want to make lunch for someone then you must really like them!” Oh Nanako, never change.
“Ah– I… Well… I gue–”
“It's Yosuke, isn't it?” A sharp interruption from the only guy in the room yet one which was made from mere observation. He had a hunch and Annika… Well, her crush wasn't exactly a secret. In fact it was one secret she was beyond terrible at keeping. She tries to act all serious and dismissive, as if she didn't like Yosuke. But it was clearly forced, anyone could see it. She got soft around him, quicker than she realizes sometimes. Not just that but during that one time she joined lunch (Yu had invited her alongside since she had been around and he saw no reason not to). Yosuke was there too and he said something which sent her nearly into a pouting frenzy.
“Man, this stuff’s awesome Partner!” A compliment to Chef Narukami. Yet the last part Yosuke had added made her extra curious, enough to glance over for a moment. “The only thing which could top that is if a cute girl made me lunch!”
Annika had then turned away and Yu could hear her mumbling under her breath from a mile away. Yet when she had been asked what was wrong she stood up with her back turned, excused herself and ran off. A sign that she was trying to hide how flustered she was. And the only one who hadn't caught on was of course Yosuke himself.
A memory vivid in his own mind. And yet, even with that his upperclassman was trying to deny it. He could hear her hands hitting the table and the chair screeching backwards. “Who said anything about him!?” She then shouted a little, a failed attempt to hide her embarrassment. He didn't even need to look to know about her flustered state. “I… It's not–”
“Oooh! That makes sense!” Nanako spoke up, the smile audible. “After all, Annika really likes Yosuke! I think big bro said that you like like him!”
“That's– Wait, you said what Narukami–San!?” Oh boy, there we go. Almost. He didn't even respond, only humming. He didn't lie after all. Besides, Nanako had asked why Annika always gets so red around Yosuke so… Not his fault.
“Oh why you…” Despite the growling it was just an empty threat.
“Hehe, I think it's cute! Who knows maybe you’ll get married someday!” Oh to be an innocent child…
“Married!? Hold on, no one said anything about–”
“Good luck Annika! I’m rooting for you! Go go!”
“N… Nanako–Chan…” Another defeat and probably a slump back into the chair. Then again, this wasn't anything new. Besides, she has the right idea…
To get to a man’s heart you have to win over his stomach first! Or so the saying goes. … Only that Annika will have a very long way to go…
my Persona 4 female protagonist, Inazuma Hina! I've been drawing her a lot, and hope to make her 'real' someday.
she is a trendy, confident carnivorous girl from the city. I wanted to make her as cool as Yu but with a brighter look. Her first name means great vegetables
