Archive of Our Own ^beta

   “Thank you for loaning Myunna use of Lord Kuromi’s kitchen, Myunna really appreciates it, Kurode-san.” Myunna said as he floated through the kitchen.

   Kurode shrugged, “It’s no big deal, the least we can do to offer hospitality to your visitation as a Fragaria of another kingdom.” He sat down on a chair in the corner and observed the kitchen.

   The kitchen was a lively, well-used part of the castle. The colour palette of the walls and floors were the same blend of lilac, white, and black as the rest of the castle. The oven and refrigerator were adorned with the pointed ears of a jester and there was a clock that cackled every hour on the hour. It was a quirky, eccentric place and yet a welcoming one nonetheless. Whether it was staffed or not. 

   Though, admittedly, Kurode had not used it much. Whilst his title was underwhelming, being a mere squire, all his meals were accounted for nonetheless. Thus, Kurode didn’t have much reason to venture here as part of a hobby or from an inclination of curiosity. He would visit from time to time as his role ever expanded to managerial positions as the Kuromi Kingdom’s culture was not what he was used to and his stick-in-the-mud demeanour brought conflict. He liked to oversee but not micromanage, count inventory and send for orders. That sort of thing.

   Not personally cooking nor baking, not like Myunna did.

   Here, unlike in the battlefield, Myunna was deep in his element with a smile on his face. It was nice to see him like that, flourishing. He hummed to himself and made lightwork of his preparation. He washed his hands first and then preheated the oven. There, he did something which piqued Kurode’s interest.

   Myunna knelt in front of the oven. He lovingly turned the knob so that it would heat and smiled at his own reflection in the glass before reciting a little prayer.

   “Kira-kirarun… May you rise to your fullest potential and taste better than my wildest dreams.” Myunna murmured under his breath.

   And yet, just enough for Kurode to hear him clearly. His ears pricked up.

   “What was that?” Kurode asked.

   Myunna, in surprise, his clothing flounced and bounced as he shot back up, “Oh, nothing!” he squeaked. Then smiled a small smile, “Er, well, it is something. In Myunna’s homeland, we pray to our bread and pastries so they may taste as they should.”

   “Heh, that’s cute.” Kurode praised him. “I’m sure with you making it, it absolutely will.”

   “Don’t tease Myunna, Kurode-san!” Myunna playfully complained, unable to accept the compliment.

   “I’m not. I mean it. I wouldn’t tease you like that but carry on, don’t let me distract you.” Kurode replied, figuring it would be better for Myunna’s nerves that he was released rather than further conversed with.

   A call which appeared to be the correct one as Myunna calmed down and continued on. 

   Myunna proceeded to whip up some kind of treat in a ceramic bowl, pinched and scattered various powders, mixed wet ingredients. All measurements done in the blink of an eye. Soon enough, there was some dough for Myunna to further shape. So, he floured the bench, and then got to kneading.

   It was a process that could be quite intensive and yet his small, delicate body did not seem overexerted. Kurode, for one, would be tired by now after all that treating of the dough, kneading it and flattening it with a rolling pin. All until he was satisfied with how it had turned out.

   The resulting dough was smooth and sweetly scented. A pale brown in colour and without din to its sticky exterior. Myunna gathered it up and placed it on a tray lined with baking paper. He dusted it with a pinch of extra sugar with an impish giggle: perhaps an alteration to the original recipe, for his own indulgence, Kurode wasn’t sure as he craned his neck from where he sat.

   “It has to bake for forty minutes but at the twenty mark, Myunna intends to take it out and season it with fruits. Myunna thinks they’ll taste nice and roasted when they come out together. A perfect balance of sweet and savoury.” Myunna announced his intentions. “It should still be gooey in the middle, that way Myunna can stuff it then but it’ll be very hot so Myunna will be very careful to not burn Myunna’s fingers.”

   “An astute observation.” Kurode remarked.

   And so, into the oven blessed by a Cogimyuun Kingdom prayer, the pastry went inside.

   There was a blast of warm air, the noise of it a sleepy roar and Myunna closed the door hard once his tray was inside. He smiled, satisfied at his hard work so far but now began twenty minutes. He found an egg timer nearby and gave it some twists so it would remind him when the interval was up.

   Myunna looked around and when he failed to find a chair, Kurode politely got up and indicated his little wooden one.

   “It’s only fair.” Kurode said. “We can take turns, if you like…”

   “Oh, you are too kind, Kurode-san.” Myunna replied, overjoyed.

   He sat down, like Miss Muffet on her tuffet, in place of Kurode as he got up. In the meantime, Kurode leaned against the corner of the bench beside Myunna, his arms folded against his chest. He looked around idly, searching for something to say or do. For now, he couldn’t think of anything.

   Nor could Myunna apparently as he kicked his legs, patted his lap. All little fidgets that amounted to nothing.

   “So, um, the baking powder… I’m glad we were able to get more for you and your Kingdom after the debacle with the Twin Star Kingdom.” Kurode said.

   “Ah, yes, me too.” Myunna agreed.

   Another awkward beat of silence.

   “And the baking powder, it’s good, right?” Kurode asked.

   “Absolutely, the best in the continent, no the world!” Myunna chirped.

   “Huh, interesting? Any reason for that? Like, if baked goods are the Cogimyuun’s main export, why not manufacture it in-house?” Kurode inquired.

   “Oh, um, it's actually quite scientific, Myunna doesn’t fully get it… But one of the ingredients, the acid can only be sourced from below the Twin Star Kingdom and then it is processed using their machinery, and they manufacture the base ingredients and then can it for us to use and then we sell it back to them in the form of cake or bread. ” Myunna explained.

   “I see.” Kurode nodded his head.

   He could understand where Myunna was coming from. The Twin Star Kingdom was quite technologically advanced in ways other societies weren’t and he had to imagine there was some pedantry with things like patents, too. Still, as long as the outcome was equitable, and more importantly delicious, then he wouldn’t dream of butting his head where it didn’t belong. Even though he was only a squire.

   “Myunna, um, is really grateful to Kurode-san, by the way.” Myunna piped up and Kurode briefly turned flustered.

   How long was in his own head for? Immersed in some kind of economic reverie. 

   “You are?” Kurode asked.

   “Of course, if it were not for you and Willmesh-san, Myunna and his kingdom wouldn’t have our precious baking powder.” Myunna rambled. “Of course, Willmesh-san and Cielomort-san were invaluable to aiding the budding alliance to the Twin Star Kingdom’s Knights, you were… very heroic, Kurode-san.”

   Myunna’s already naturally high pitched voice turned even higher. T’was not grating on the ears, however, instead it tugged on Kurode’s heartstrings as Myunna only spoke with purity. The utmost earnestness and overwhelming, sweet emotion.

   Unsurprisingly, his eyes had begun to water. He took a breath and Kurode swore, if he strained his ears, he could hear Myunna’s little heart racing in his chest, like a rabbit being chased. 

   “Thank you, Kurode-san, Myunna hopes that you will enjoy this treat when it is ready as Myunna has baked it with all the love Myunna has for his kingdom a-and… Kurode-san, also.”

   Did… Myunna mean what he just said or was Kurode misunderstanding?

   They hadn’t known each other for very long. Though, they were united as being Fragaria of the Blue Continent and were very much companions by now, having gone through thick and thin in that short amount of time but was that enough? For friendship to feel like something more, something else?

   Or was Kurode so starved of love and affection, his heart would twist and turn and force a misunderstanding as… as… he truly considered Myunna to be his first, true friend. A kind, cheerful soul to added sunlight to his once dreary, shadowy existence.

   Kurode swallowed a lump in his throat, “Myunna…”

   He hadn’t fully collected his thoughts as he strove towards asking for clarification before… the waterworks.

   Myunna burst into tears. Unable to wait any longer for a reply, a response, or maybe overwhelmed by his own thoughts and emotions, he began to cry. Bawl and sob as he did as a renowned crybaby. It ought to be annoying but Kurode only ever found it cute. What an unconventional quirk to have and be endeared for, to wear one’s feelings so openly on a sleeve, Kurode almost envied it.

   Almost being an operative word. The snot and scratchy throat was unappealing as Myunna did, indeed, throw himself into such places as his face turned shiny and slick with all his tears shed. His shoulders shuddered and his chest panted. He pawed at his face.

   “Myunna is sorry, Myu-Myunna doesn’t mean to but-”

   “Myunna feels so very much and it has to come out somewhere, huh?” Kurode guessed, finishing his sentence for him.

   He gently took Myunna’s hand and held it. He gazed upon him softly, without pity in his eyes.

   “Mm.” Myunna agreed, groggy. He swallowed a lump of his own and took a deep, seemingly centred breath. “Myunna likes Kurode-san a whole lot.”

   That was all the clarity that Kurode needed to know for certain Myunna’s intentions. He rubbed his thumb over Myunna’s tiny knuckles on his hand and drew in closer. With his other hand, Kurode wiped Myunna’s face from his tears and leaned in.

   “You don’t need to cry, Myunna, I… feel the same way.” Kurode confessed.

   He hesitated, for a few microseconds, then sealed his requiting of Myunna’s confession with a kiss. It was not an overly sweet kiss, funnily enough. It was salty instead but neither Kurode nor Myunna would have it any other way as Kurode took the lead. He deepened the kiss against Myunna’s soft lips and Myunna all but melted against him.

   “Thank you… Kurode-san.” He sounded genuinely calm and looked into Kurode’s eyes with his red and puffy ones. 

   “I’m glad.” Kurode whispered.

   He kissed Myunna again after this pause. A breath of fresh air and the second coming of their kiss was more delicious than the last. Kurode couldn’t get enough of how buttery Myunna was, for lack of a better word. Sun-warmed and gentle, like wheat swaying in a sunbeam-hued breeze and then…

   Ding!

   Kurode and Myunna could have jumped out of their skins as the egg timer went off with a frenzy of sharp, cackling laughter: recorded from Lord Kuromi, of course. They pulled back from another, sharp as tacks and twice frightened. Only to laugh at themselves, like the duffers they were.

   “Myunna will keep baking now.” Myunna giggled, cherubic.

   Kurode smiled, lovestruck, “I can’t wait.” he replied.

   He allowed Myunna to get up - and he gathered himself, too. He smoothened out his flowy, fluffy clothing and gave himself a pep talk, smacking his ruddy cheeks playfully and smiled. Kurode sat down again and all too carefully watched as Myunna completed the next set of tasks his mental recipe.

    He removed the tray from the oven and played it atop its hot-plates. He gave it a moment too cool and used the opportunity to chop up some strawberries and blueberries. Kurode watched, Myunna’s determined little expression all too adorable for his now racing heart. Myunna hummed to himself as he cracked open the bread and just as expected, it was still doughy in the middle: perfect for his fruit to be added so they could be roasted.

   Though, that did leave him and Kurode with another twenty minutes, and the fact they were still sharing a chair but somehow, that didn’t seem as daunting as before. They could definitely think of more ways to fill in the time until they could enjoy Myunna’s baking.