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[ The trip back to the Haven is quieter than the one out. Akira doesn't mind it; the intermittent silences doesn't feel like gaps that needs to be filled but rather comfortable reminders of days at Leblanc with Akechi seated at the counter and him behind it, the rare moments when he would be quietly focused on a book or case notes rather than talking at Akira while he worked.

For Akechi not to be speaking, it means that there's probably something going on inside of his head. A glance over reveals the smile on his face, not the sort he's used to seeing, evidence that perhaps his suspicion is correct. ]

... What are you thinking about?

[grakraka]

[Although he could lie, he doesn't put much thought into it this time.]

Your curry. I knew the smell of it really well. Coffee and curry... [He shuts his eyes for a moment and breathes in.] I can still smell it even now.

[But more than just that, he can hear the quiet sounds of the TV, either news or some variety show or, occasionally, Featherman. The uncommon sounds of another patron. Akira's quiet voice when he did speak. Sometimes, the rain outside.]

I'm looking forward to it. Ah, especially because you're making it.

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[ Suddenly he understands the nature of Akechi's smile all too well. The comment expands on the previous memories, a span of months pressed into one nostalgic smell, the mingling of spice and coffee. ]

I can, too. [ It makes Akira feel terribly homesick, but he tries to keep that out of his voice, soft though it becomes.

Knowing that he's about to smell it for real, removed from Leblanc, both lifts his spirits and makes his chest clench. He doesn't really want to focus on the latter, so he regards the last bit with quiet humor. ]

I thought you found my curry too spicy.

[grakraka]

A bit, yes. But I don't really mind it. It's how I can tell you made it.

[Though, saying it that way feels like it reveals too much but it's true—he loves knowing that it was made by Akira. Akechi brushes some of his hair back behind his ear, toying with the ends of it.]

In general, what makes that curry so good is that it doesn't taste like any other curry. It's unique and memorable. Even when you make it too spicy, that too is part of why it's good.

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[ It's like that night in the basement: a rare glimpse of unguarded, unfiltered honesty. If Akira's caught off guard (which he is, a little—he's still adapting to the idea that he can openly trust Akechi, after all), he doesn't let it show on his face, only offering a smile. ]

... Thanks. I'm always happy to make it for someone who appreciates it.

[ He'll still try to adjust the spice level more to Akechi's taste, even if he claims it's fine. ]

[grakraka]

[He doesn't expect Akira to after he said it was fine. But he smiles back.]

Do you like cooking that much?

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It's calming. [ The methodical chopping of vegetables, the smell of the spices washing over him while the pot bubbles in the quiet of the cafe. ] But my favorite part is seeing people enjoy something that I made.

[grakraka]

How very sentimental. [He isn't condescending about it, though.] Watching food made by your own hands eaten by someone grateful to taste it imparts good memories for both parties.

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Exactly.

[ There's only the barest pause before he continues. His smile shows that he's fully aware of how cheesy this sounds and is leaning into it full force. ]

Let's go make some good memories.

[grakraka]

[It's so cheesy that after half of a second, he bursts into laughter.]

Right, right. But if I help with the cooking, it won't be a very good memory anymore, so I'll be moral support.

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Not even chopping vegetables? [ He breathes out a laugh of his own. ] Fine, I'll allow it since you helped pay for it.

[ They're nearing the Haven now, so Akira leads the way along the now-familiar path to his house and lets them inside. ]

I'm home. [ He calls out the customary greeting as he steps through the doorway, but no answer returns from farther inside the house. Looks like they're alone for right now.

Akira takes off his shoes, pure habit, and moves towards the kitchen. ]

[grakraka]

[Akechi does as well, following him into the kitchen.]

If you really want me to try chopping, I can make an attempt, but if it has to be a certain way for it to taste right...

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If you want to try. It doesn't have to be perfect.

[ The more uniform the cuts are, the more evenly everything will cook, but if Akechi can be even a quarter as precise with a knife as Akira knows him to be with a sword, it won't be anything to worry about.

Once inside the kitchen, he sets the bag of vegetables and his school bag onto the counter space and begins unloading the ingredients, setting them out so that he can easily find what he needs when he needs it. ]

[grakraka]

[Although he could not be more out of place in a kitchen, he does at least want to do this much. Well, he has seen people chop vegetables, so he does have some frame of reference. He finds a knife and starts. It isn't nearly as elegant as he can be with a sword and slower than he'd like to be, but it is the quarter "good enough" that Akira hoped for.]

Ah, hm. Are these good enough?

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[ He's gathering up the rest of what he needs—a pot, a spoon to stir with, and so on—when Akechi's question draws him over to where he's started to work. ]

Yeah, not bad. [ Akechi's seen the curry enough to have an idea of the size he should be going for, after all.

Akira does reach over to give a little nudge to the fingers holding the knife before he begins chopping again, showing him exactly how to pinch the top of the blade between his fingers. ] It's easier to control like this.

[grakraka]

Ah...

[Akechi watches him, head tilted. Whenever Akira did anything like this, he was always back in the kitchen, so Akechi couldn't see him work.]

You're rather good at it.

[He has no idea if it is a difficult skill or not, so he says it sincerely.]

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Sojiro showed me how. [ The words are colored with fondness. ] And then he put me to work, so I got a lot of practice.

[ With the tip imparted, he leaves Akechi to the cutting once again. Akira doesn't go far, only over to where he's about to start getting things going.

He may still be of the opinion that the house is too large for three people, but the upside of living in such a wealthy neighborhood is that these places are outfitted with the best magitech available. There's actually something that resembles and functions like a stove, which makes the idea of trying to recreate curry in this decidedly not modern kitchen much more approachable. ]

[grakraka]

[While Akira works on that, Akechi focuses on cutting the vegetables the way Akira showed him. It does feel easier than before even if it takes him a little bit to get into a good rhythm. He smiles to himself once he finishes and feels good enough about it to turn to Akira.]

Ah, Akira, look! They turned out better.

[Dog demands that his work be admired.]

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[ Good timing—it's about time for the onions to come into play, so he passes by again to check out the chopped vegetables. Akira picks up a piece of potato to inspect it. ]

Pretty good. Thanks for taking care of those. [ There really is some improvement, the pieces more uniform. He figured Akechi would be decent at it.

And don't mind him, he's just going to take those onions over to the pot. ]

[grakraka]

[He grins. It doesn't matter if the task might be easier for other people; Akira praised him for his work, so he's happy. But with his part of it over, he still lingers in the kitchen to watch Akira cook.]

Did you ever cook before you came to Tokyo? You haven't been there long, right?

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[ There's some time spent just watching the pot and stirring to ensure that nothing burns, so he doesn't mind the chatter. ]

Not much. My mother handled most of the cooking. [ Akira nudges at the contents and then glances over. ] I only learned how to do some basic things when she was busy.

[grakraka]

I see. [He supposes that makes sense, though he doesn't have much frame of reference.] It kind of looks fun. Well, a little challenging. But the way you do it, I mean. You look like you're enjoying it, like when you make coffee.

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I am. It's relaxing to just follow a recipe. [ Therapeutic, almost. It's probably one of the only times he appreciates adhering to a strict routine. Akira aims a smile towards the pot as he checks on the onions again. ] And I like working with my hands.

[ That look turns towards Akechi. ]

Are you interested in learning to cook?

[grakraka]

[At a certain comment, his gaze lingers on Akira's hands. But then he feels Akira actually looking at him. Surprised, he tries to refocus himself with a smile.]

Ah... Well, I've never done it before, but I did think about trying it sometimes after watching you so often.

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[ Hearing that watching him inspired Akechi to be curious about it triggers a pleasant little warmth that has nothing to do with the fact that he's so close to the stove. ]

... I think you'd be good at it.