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[ After a flash of consideration, he decides that it would be better than some of the alternatives. ]

Maybe even talkative enough to rival you.

[grakraka]

[Sipping his coffee, he wonders what things Akira might talk about unfiltered. The idea sounds especially interesting.]

You say that now but when I'm rambling about Hegelian dialectics later, you're going to take that back.

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I'm not sure I'd even understand any of that when I'm drunk.

[ The term kind of flies over his head right now, completely sober, though there's something familiar about it. ]

[grakraka]

[He does wonder if it would be something Akira would understand sober, though he has faith in his ability to grasp it.]

I probably wouldn't explain it well while drunk, admittedly. I would say a lot of words but they might not have much meaning.

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[ That would just be funnier, if Akechi babbles nonsense at him while he tries unsuccessfully to understand. ]

For all we know I might understand nonsense better while drunk.

[ Akira pushes himself away from the counter, thinking it's about time to set the rice to cook. ]

[grakraka]

[Something about it is both so stupid and fun sounding at the same time that he can't help a brief, soft giggle.]

So we're going to get drunk and see if we can have a Hegelian discussion. Wonderful. I've dreamt of that day.

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I know that's the kind of deep discussion you've longed for.

[ The sound of it draws a glance from where he's preparing another pot of water. ]

We have to record it to see if we're successful. [ Mostly he just wants a record of drunk Akechi in case they go overboard to the point where he can't remember it. ]

[grakraka]

All right, I admit that would be fun to watch, so that would be fine. But you can't show that footage to anyone else. I'm trying to build a reputation.

[Only Akira can know how stupid he is capable of sounding.]

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Okay, deal.

[ A small price to pay. Besides, he finds it interesting, in a way that draws out a small smile aimed at the rice as he measures it out, that Akechi would allow him alone to be privy to that side of him.

The rice is set on the stove to cook, the curry pot uncovered, and then Akira returns to take another sip of his coffee. Almost there. ]

[grakraka]

[Even though Akira hasn't been through the same events, he can't quite go back to how he was with him before meeting him in Shido's palace, at least not entirely. He can't simply pretend he didn't spill all of his ugly guts to him. Letting him see something stupid feels almost too trivial to even note.

Akechi peeks over at the pot, feeling more excited.]

Is it almost done? It smells amazing.

[Different in some ways, yes, but delicious.]

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Patience, my apprentice.

[ He says it sagely, as if he taught Akechi more than just chopping vegetables. Again: patience. ]

It's almost done. It needs to reduce more.

[grakraka]

You aren't allowed to call me that if you're not directly teaching me.

[Unless this is the Yoda method of teaching which he guesses works.]

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[ Akira sips his coffee before speaking up again. ]

I can show you more next time. You handled the vegetables well.

[ He wasn't kidding about thinking that Akechi would be good at it. It's just a matter of learning. Akira isn't exactly a wealth of cooking knowledge, but he's developed a solid grasp of the fundamentals that he's happy to share. ]

[grakraka]

Hmm... All right. I suppose I should learn to cook now that it is almost unavoidable...

[Before, he could be independent and still not know a thing about doing it practically but now, unless he wants to eat out constantly, he should probably know some basic recipes at least.]

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It's not too hard once you get started.

[ A hand comes up to rub at the fur on his ear, a habit he's been developing to rival the way he plays with his hair, as he gives a humorous look. ]

Or you can just hire someone to cook for you once we make a fortune from inventing steak sauce.

[grakraka]

[The gesture makes him want to pet his ears again but he glances away before the urge gets too caught in his thoughts.]

What, you think I picked my roommates based on compatibility? [Who needs to hire a cook when you can charm people into cooking for you?] But it would be nicer to not rely on that, either.

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[ That gets an amused noise out of Akira. Of course Akechi would. ]

Well, I made a lot. I can send you home with some for later. [ It's reminiscent of making a big batch to haul into the Metaverse; it only feels natural to make Akechi take some with him.

Speaking of, he moves to check the pots on the stove again. Whatever Akira sees there must satisfy him because he spends a few minutes removing the pots, gathering plates, and dishing up a healthy serving for each of them. Akechi's is passed over to him, but he tilts his head towards the doorway. ]

Let's go sit down.

[grakraka]

[Watching him plate it somewhat like a child containing his excitement, he accepts it and follows him to sit down. It really is lucky for them that, for the most part, these homes were left with what they would need.

As eager as he is to eat, he hums as he sets his plate down in front of him.]

Should we taste it on three?

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[ Akira gathers his cup by the handle and heads to the dining room with Akechi in tow. If the rest of the house doesn't give away the fact that it's made to house much more than three people, the length of the table should say enough. He chooses to sit across from Akechi, scooping up a spoonful of the curry and holding it with anticipation bright in his eyes. ]

Sure. [ He waits until Akechi is ready as well, then starts the countdown. ] One... two... three.

[ The end of it is a bit muffled as Akira goes in for his own bite right at the tail of the word. It's been a while since he's had Leblanc's curry, but the flavor is so ingrained in his taste buds at this point that he can immediately discern the difference in the notes. Overall, though, it's definitely good—and similar enough that it sends a warm wave of nostalgia rolling through him. ]

[grakraka]

[On Akira's cue, he takes a bite as well. Back home, he didn't order the curry too often. He liked it well enough but he preferred to just nurse a coffee and relax that way. But he did like it and remembers the unique taste well enough to judge it. Not the same, no, but similar. Akechi savours it for a moment before smiling at him.]

Mm... If you had served me this back then, I would have assumed it was one of your experiments.

[In other words, he came close enough to the taste, in his opinion, to stay true to the spirit of Leblanc curry.]

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[ Picking up on the underlying meaning to Akechi's words, Akira gives him a warm smile before going in for another bite. Having something like a taste of home, the smell of coffee and curry mingling between them, is worth the effort, but like he said before, seeing Akechi enjoying it as well is even more rewarding. He may not voice it directly, but it's obvious that Akira is happy with the outcome. ]

It's your experiment too. [ Since it was only with Akechi's food knowledge that they managed to obtain some of the ingredients. ] We made a good team.

[grakraka]

[Flush with pride, a giggle escapes before he can bite it back. Praise like that always gets to him but seeing Akira so happy about it makes it feel like some kind of high honour.]

Well, you did most of the work, but... Yes, I think we do. Whenever you want to experiment with a recipe from home, let me know. I'd be more than happy to assist you.

[His food knowledge has to benefit someone and it certainly won't benefit him until he has actual cooking skills of his own.]

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Sure. We can work on those tonkatsu sandwiches next time.

[ Honestly, it's more fun experimenting in the kitchen with company than it is alone—and all the better if it's Akechi, who is capable of giving valuable input. He is the tonkatsu sandwich connoisseur, after all. ]

[grakraka]

[Akechi nods after taking another bite of curry, eyes lighting up.] We are absolutely going to have to bake our own bread for that. Nothing here is as fluffy as Japanese bread.

[But he actually likes the challenge of that idea. If they fail a couple of times, that's fine. He doesn't mind it this once.]

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[ That declaration has Akira glancing up with his spoon halfway to his mouth. And here he thought they would just be making a sandwich? He doesn't know the first thing about baking bread or even what makes Japanese bread fluffy. But he supposes that's where Akechi comes in. ]

You just made this hard mode...

[ But he's not put off by the idea of a challenge. Something about it seems fun, even if he suspects it might result in several ruined batches of bread. ]