Buffet Town in Greenhills Offers Unique Buffet Dining Experience

There are so many all-you-can-eat restaurants around the city, but I just discovered this new buffet restaurant in Greenhills that offers a unique buffet concept combining beautiful aesthetics, sustainable dining, and an unlimited selection of Japanese and Asian favorites all in one charming venue.

Buffet Town is the newest buffet restaurant that foodies are now talking about. It recently held its soft opening last January 28, 2024 and can be found along Annapolis Street in San Juan, right where UNO Seafood used to be. The Hungry Kat was invited to visit Buffet Town last week and the first thing we were amazed with was the free Valet Parking that was available for guests. This is a very welcome bonus especially inside the very busy Greenhills shopping area.

The restaurant comes with a Japanese-insipred setting and offers a cozy and relaxing dining ambiance for families and friends. It has a very spacious dining area that also has several semi-private rooms for bigger groups. I love the colorful Japanese murals and designs you can find all around the venue.

We were hosted by Michelle Chan, one of the owners of Buffet Town who also happens to be a classmate of my husband, Dexter. Michelle is also the owner of 8 Spoons, a catering business that is a favorite among the local community, and they decided to expand further with their first new restaurant venture.

So what makes Buffet Town different from the rest? Unlike other restaurants which bombard you with long lines and a pile full of dishes on your plate, Buffet Town lets diners experience more by offering small individual potions served on cute plates. Each station comes with its own specialty dishes and you can simply get the ones that you want to try.

Let’s start at the Appetizers station where a variety of Korean and Asian appetizers await like the Kimchi, fish cake, spicy Korean chicken, tangsuyuk, and assorted banchan.

There’s also a Salad Station where you can find specially-prepared salads and greens displayed on the table. Other items include ohitashi okura, kabocha goma, and the popular Nasu Miso which is a baked eggplant with cheese on top.

For those who love sushi, Buffet Town has a Sushi Oasis where you can pick your choice of sushi, rolls, and maki topped and filled with all kinds of ingredients. Items are always replenished quickly at Buffet Town so you don’t have to line up and wait for your servings.

There’s plenty of salmon and tuna sashimi as well, including some spicy tuna and spicy salmon mixed with tempura flakes. If some of the portions seem too small for you, don’t worry because you can always ask the chefs to prepare your own personalized serving with the quantity and size that you prefer.

My favorite here was The BT Aburi station where you can ask for a serving of their aburi dish for the day and see it prepared and blow torched at their live cooking station.

I ordered the Salmon Aburi which was so good especially with its torched cheese melting into the fresh salmon slices. They also had the Beef and Mushroom Aburi which is an item you don’t often expect to see in buffets but rather in high-end Japanese restaurants.

The Tempura is always a must-have so you can still get a many pieces as you want. There are also a lot of other fried Japanese items like tonkatsu, fried ika, tori karaage, kakiage, and tofu furai. Offering these dishes is smaller portions also helps in lessening food wastage as diners don’t get overwhelmed when they suddenly get more than they can handle. This promotes food sustainability and helps the industry and the environment as well.

The Teppanyaki Station is also a popular destination with several dishes to choose from. These can be ordered from the server and they will prepare your dish and deliver it to your table fresh and hot off the grill.

Here are just some of the items you can find at the teppanyaki station. The Beef and Shrimp Roll Teppan comes in a beautiful plate combining meat and seafood. There’s also the Yasai Itame with its combination of healthy veggies.

The Mix Seafood Teppan is also a great dish combining tuna, shrimp, and squid with vegetables all in one plate.

There’s also a Yakitori Station and you can have chicken, beef, king oyster mushroom, or shrimp skewers cooked and delivered to your table.

Tracing its roots as a caterer, you will also find several cooked dishes on chafing trays here at Buffet Town. Among those on display were the Roasted Hainanese Chicken and Rice, seafood salpicao, steamed suahe, Laing, braised beef, and more.

The highlight of the buffet would be the carving station where two very meaty items are featured. The Bellychon is a pork belly lechon roll that comes with crispy crackling skin and juicy lechon meat. Add some liver sauce to complete the experience.

Just beside this is the Angus Lechon Baka, a glorious chunk of roasted beef that is just so delicious with its very tender beef slices. There are really so many dishes to choose from at Buffet Town but I didn't really feel overwhelmed because everything was served with the right portions.

But if you thought that was all, there's actually even more because each table at Buffet Town also comes with a hotpot bowl where guests can cook their own hotpot items. First, choose two from among the four soup flavors provided including Pork Bone, Sukiyaki, Tomato and Mushrooms, and Spicy Kimchi.

Then head over to the Hotpot Station to get your preferred items like fishballs, cheese balls, mushroom balls, shrimp, dumplings, veggies, and more.

Diners can also get unlimited servings of sliced beef and sliced pork so you can have a full hotpot experience together with your full buffet selection. What more can you ask for?

Beverages are included in the buffet price so guests can have bottomless glasses of fruit juices, chocolate, and yogurt drinks. There's also unlimited UCC Coffee which is something you don't often find in buffet restaurants.

To make your dining experience even more festive, live dance performances are held every hour or so around the venue, with special numbers for birthday celebrants or those celebrating special occasions.

To complete your wonderful dining experience at Buffet Town, head over to the dessert station where you can prepare and choose your own Hanami Dessert Box. Customize your box with nine assorted mini Asian delicacies including matcha cheesecake, panna cotta, creme brûlée, fruits, and ice cream with flavors like cheesecake, chocolate, mocha and lots more.

We would like to thank Michelle Chan for inviting us and hosting our delightful visit to Buffet Town. We really had a unique dining experience that is quite different from how we usually eat at buffet restaurants. It's a great place to meet up with friends and family since you can take it easy and bond over good food and good company. I'm surely going back here soon!

Buffet Town

43 Annapolis Street, Greenhills, San Juan

(0908) 396-3009

Facebook Page

Instagram: @buffettownph

Requested by Anon: can I request hcs with xiao, albedo, and childe x reader (separately) about the reader asking them to play truth or dare, just the two of them? it went slightly towards nsfw because the reader teases the character a lot and thus SEXUAL TENSION!!

Pairings: Albedo x GN!Reader ; Childe x GN!Reader ; Xiao x GN! Reader

Warnings: Sexual Content! Nothing graphic but mentions of sexual acts

A/N: My first request! Thank you for asking! I had so much writing these. Teasing these beautiful boys and how they might reacting to it during a game of truth or dare.

You were bored. The reality didn’t match the fantasy you’d had when you decided to accompany Albedo up to his camp in Dragonspire. He actually wanted to focus on work, instead of you.

Which honestly, you shouldn’t have been surprised by. The man was obsessed with his work.

Sitting on a stool, you simply stared at his back as he pondered over the pinned papers on the board. How could one man look so sexy while reading? But you were still bummed that he wasn’t paying attention to you.

“Hey, Albedo?”

No response.

“Albedo?”

Still nothing.

Getting off the stool, you snuck over him, admiring and hating how focused he was. “Albedo!” You nearly shouted his name, throwing your arms around his waist, pressing your face into his back. “Let’s play a game!”

He agreed to play only to satiate you, because although his work meant a lot to him, he also had such a hard time saying no to you. You’ll have to explain the rules to him, as he’s never played before.

Once he has a basic understanding, Albedo plays the game seriously. He leans toward truths in the beginning. He asks strange questions, sometimes pertaining to his work. It was cute, and you let him get away with it.

But when it was his turn, you teased him endlessly. Truths were riddled with leading questions, and dares were filled with some kind of touching or kissing. You started out small, daring him for a kiss or asking for the truth of how much he thinks about you when you are apart.

Albedo isn’t stupid. While at first, he isn’t fully aware of what you are doing, he quickly puzzles it out. He’ll play dumb, calculating the best way to deal with you being so brazen.

And when he does. Oh, you are in for it. You leaned toward dares, wanting to see how far he’d take it. You’re obviously fake innocent smile as you waited to hear what he’d dare you to do only fueled him to make the dare something dirty.

“I dare you to touch yourself.”

You.exe has stopped working.

You were not prepared to hear those words come from his lips. But he was staring at you without an ounce of joking, completely serious. Your silence prompted him to tilt his head. “I believe that’s within the rules, yes? Are you refusing my dare?”

Oh, you were in for it. It was freezing up in the mountains. And he wanted you to expose yourself and masturbate? The thought did thrill you, and you realized that this was an inevitable outcome.

You comply with the dare, and things only become more heated between the two of you. Dares becoming the only thing you both chose, becoming bolder with each one.

“Perhaps next time you’ll think again before attempting to fool me, hmm?”

Occasionally, late at night, you could find Childe at Northland Bank, on night duty. He needed no assistance from the other Fatui, as the single Harbinger was more capable than a dozen of his subordinates. You weren’t supposed to bother him while he was working but you’d caught him talking to himself in different voices, showing how utterly bored he was.

 In your hands was a bottle of wine and some snacks you’d swiped from Wanmin Restaurant. Childe wasn’t the best influence on you, apparently. You tended to do some shady things after spending more time with him. “I come bearing gifts.”

Childe is absolutely thrilled that you came. He hates having to be on guard, all alone. He’s a sociable person. “Oh, I see you brought some wine and food too.” You were always a treat to be around, and the Harbinger found himself wanting to spend time with you.

The two of you spend a little time talking and drinking, snacking, and more drinking. The wine had gone to your head a little, and you thought perhaps his guard was a little down after an entire bottle. “Wanna play a game with me?”

He’s ready when you suggest a game of truth or dare. He’s played with his younger siblings often and he loves the idea.

Childe takes the game very seriously but wasn’t ready for you to take such bold actions against him. He finds it utterly adorable that you are trying to trick him. But he allows it for a little while.

He’ll pretend to not notice that your dares are getting more and more intimate, and he’ll play dumb when you ask him to tell you the truth on how much he cares for you.

It’s the tipsy side of you that is unaware that is totally playing with you, biding his time before he could turn the tables on you. Childe is the puppeteer, and you are simply the marionette, but you were always unaware.

I dare you to kiss me anywhere but on my lips. A test. To see how far the harbinger was willing to go. You'd expected the neck, maybe. Where he'd find that sweet spot to nibble on. Or he might try for your chest, as a way to return your taunts.

The world flipped, and you were flat on your back against the floor. Blue irises staring at you with such intense lust. His mouth hovering above your most sensitive part of your body.

"Ah, the look on your face is so adorable. I could just eat you up."

And he follows through with his promise. Both of you secretly glad that he always works alone. Otherwise, someone might overhear all the pretty noises you make for him.

You liked taking overnight trips to Wangshu Inn, begging Boss to go along with your little white lie that the inn was full, and you had no room to stay in. Which meant you made a plate of Almond Tofu and went to the top floor to find the resident Adeptus.

“Xiao, I made your favorite,” You said, casting a glance around the seemingly empty balcony. He was here. You could tell, since you spent so much time with him, despite his constant complaining about tainting the human world.

“You are trying to bribe an adeptus? Humans are so brazen.” But he lacked the typical irritation that he had when speaking to anyone else. He could fake it all he wanted, but you knew he liked being around you.

You snickered, offering him the plate. “Inn’s full, so you’ll let me stay with you, right? You wouldn’t want me to sleep out here in the cold and get sick, would you?”

Xiao sighed, but accepted the dish. “I would not wish to see you fall ill. I’ll allow you to stay the night, as long as you behave.” He hadn’t intended the words to be received as you took them. 

The more you thought over it, the more you wanted to twist them just a smidge. Alone in his room, you sat on the bed and waited for him to finish eating. “Xiao, let’s play a little game! To pass the time.”

What is this game you speak of? It sounds childish. He doesn't partake in silly human games.

But your bottom lip sticking out in a pleading fashion paired with your big puppy dog eyes, and the adeptus caved, unable to say no to you.

"I surrender. Explain this game to me."

 Honestly, bless this man. He tries so hard, but he is taking the game way too literally. You have to explain again that he can ask whatever and dare anything. It's easy to take advantage and get away with a lot of teasing.

You start out with daring him to let you sit in his lap and touch his hair, and for the loner Xiao, this is considered a treat. It's rare that he lets you be so affectionate.

 You up your game and start asking for lingering hugs and kisses. Just give a few wiggles in his lap and you'll have him turned on. He's a bit embarrassed but finally catches on after some questionable dares. Why were you wanting him to kiss your thighs? Not that he minded because he quite liked them.

It's so cute how unaware he is. He's got a band of pink across his cheeks, finding it harder and harder to resist you. Until he finally understands what is going on. Bless him for being so naive to human teasing.

"I see." He'd ponder his next move and be brutal about his execution. You choose dare simply to see how he'll react. "My dare for you is this. Strip, completely."

 You eagerly comply, doing it ever so slowly. Revealing your bare skin bit by bit. His golden irises watching every moment.

 Xiao is quite annoyed that you managed to confuse him for so long and get in a lot of teasing. He plans to skip your turn for a while, giving you more and more risky dares until the game ends but the night has only just begun.

I just. I just need to talk about Buck realising that Eddie very rarely ever does anything for himself. Rarely ever does anything because he's the one who's going to enjoy it most.

Movie nights are whatever Chris wants to watch and when Chris isn't there its whatever movie Buck spent the week rambling about wanting to see.

The truck might be the closest thing, but Eddie so clearly had Christopher's comfort and accessibility in mind because the backseats are roomy enough for spindly teenage legs, the flatbed has more than enough space for a skateboard scaffold and Chris' telescope, and there's a custom-installed ramp to aid Christopher in getting in and out.

They order Thai and Mexican most often but that's because, while Eddie does love Thai and Mexican, those two restaurants offer the most vegan options for Buck, and Eddie makes a point to rarely ever eat meat in front of him, even though Buck knows that Eddie's love affair is with the KFC a few blocks from the station.

And Buck? Buck decides that's gonna to change, and its gonna change today.

He enlists the help of the others and Eddie's family to find out what little he doesn't already know about Eddie's favorite foods, what fabrics he likes the most, what movies he loved watching growing up. He recruits Christopher as his secret spy agent because the kid is surprisingly sneaky and incredibly observant and immediately has no qualms in selling out his Dad for the greater good.

On Monday, they have a BBQ at Athena and Bobby's house. Buck proudly helps because he can actually cook now, thank you, Maddie, and Eddie arrives to more mozzarella sticks, fried chicken dippers, crispy chicken bites and breaded cheese balls than he could ever hope to eat in one day. (There's vegan mozzarella sticks, fried tofu dippers and crispy tofu bites for Buck. Eddie gets BBQ sauce in his eye and Christopher laughs so hard he almost falls off his seat.)

Friday rolls around and Chris is more than happy to stay the night with Hen and her family so Buck and Eddie can settle down and binge the entire list of cult classics that Eddie nerded out on for his surprisingly geeky childhood, before he became Eddie The Soldier and Eddie The Father.

Eddie rarely does any activity that isn't accessible and safe for Christopher, but Buck is nothing if not determined and it takes him less than a week to collaborate with the local rink so they can all go ice skating, because Eddie loves it but the closest he's come to skating in years is when they had that call about a skate buried in a dancer's chest. (Buck spends most of his time sprawled on the ice and is one giant bruise by the time their hour slot is over, but its totally worth it to see the way Eddie smiles the whole night.)

Buck even manages to pester the station into switching the fabric conditioner to the strawberry and lily scented one, because Eddie always complains about the powdery smell of the generic one.

Just Eddie being treated like the King he is and being able to do things/having things done for him not because its easier for everyone else, but because its what Eddie wants. What Eddie likes to do. Eddie has always put everyone else first but damnit, no longer!

Firstly thank you for this ficlet of some nice Eddie love which is coincidentally perfect timing for Eddie Diaz Week that's going on. Not participating sadly, I'm busy being backlogged a bit lately.

Buck and Christopher along with the others all loving and supporting Eddie doing what he wants and loves for a change. You're right in him doing a lot for other people and his boys would see and rope his family in to help. They'd show the Eddie that they love how much he's appreciated.

Secondly feel free to share thoughts about characters because even if I have a different headcanon it's nice to get some different perspective and views, plus might adopt yours too.

It was wonderful waking up to this in my inbox and I loved this.

Some more Eddie love in here.

Let him be taken care of by the one he loves and trusts the most. He doesn't have to always be tough and in charge with them. He's allowed to relax and live a little. They've got him and now he just needs to try doing some himself even it it's not easy. He'll take his time and they'll be right there beside him. Buck and Christopher love him so much and want to see him just as happy as he makes them and others.

Crying this morning but these are happy tears for these boys.

Consideration and Generosity

----------------

Fandom: Miraculous Ladybug and Chat Noire, DCU

Characters: Marinette, Damian

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She sat on a park bench that day; the weather was hot yet, cloudy.

Despite the uncomfortable sweat clinging to her being and the buzzing noise of her surroundings, she smiled happily. She would do anything for inspiration, even endure the blistering feeling of the sun.

Soon enough it has been hours since she began to sketch and draw designs for clothing she wishes to make true.

She feels her head is off, so she takes a break to answer a text from her mother.

----------

(Mom) Marinette, are you still at the park? It's been five hours.

(Me) Yep! Just taking a break.

(Mom) Just now? It's really hot outside, have you eaten? What about water?

(Me) Don't worry! I'm fine! I stayed in the shade the whole time.

(Mom) Okay, but I want a picture of you eating.

(Me) Okay, I will. I love you!

(Mom) I love you too.

----------------------

Marinette, packs her sketch books and other materials a way in her bag. She stands up, only to tip over onto someone walking past her.

"Hey, you-"

The person stops to keep her from falling all the way down.

"Uh... I'm sorry, I guess I should have taken a break earlier."

She tries to break a way from the strangers grip. They let her go easily. They began to walk a little further a way with a eye in her direction. She sits down again to collect herself. She takes a few breaths and thinks about how to get up without falling and embarrassing herself.

"I wish I packed a water bottle or something, I knew it was hot but I thought I would be fine....", she thought to herself.

She checked her bag in case she just forgot. Lo and behold there was a water bottle in one of the outside pockets.

"Huh....? That's strange, I was sure I......oh well.", she shrugged it off as her forgetting.

Feeling a little better, she carefully stood up. Having not fallen, she smiled and picked up her full bag. She walks in the direction of a small restaurant to eat, since she wouldn't make it home before hunger got to her.

She walked like she wasn't being followed. Casual and slow, she took in the buildings a round her. The same as her memories told her, but still just as beautiful.

Once she got to an empty table, she sat her bag down in front of her. The waitress walks up to her with a smile.

"Hello! Here is the menu, please take your time. Though I do suggest today's special! Mushroom soup with broccoli, carrots, and rice."

"Thank you."

"No problem!"

The waitress leaves her be and she focuses on the menu. It seems that this restaurant is all about healthy living.

She hums to herself as she thinks of her order. However, everything sounded wonderful and she couldn't decide. Then she heard a waitress bring someone's order of a tofu and veggie stuffed bell peppers with a side salad. So she looked over to see the meal and found that it looked delicious. She also saw they ordered tomato juice.

Looking at the menu one more time, she located the meal, drink and picked out a dessert on her own.

As soon as she put her menu down, the waitress came up to her with her pen and notepad out.

"Ready to order?"

"Yes, I would like the Tofu and Veggie stuffed Bell peppers with a side salad, tomato juice, and the vanilla, soy bean ice cream."

"Would you like a topping?"

"Yes, let's see....oh! The coconut sprinkles and strawberry drizzle."

"To repeat: Tofu, veggie stuff bell peppers, side salad, tomato juice, vanilla soy bean ice cream with coconut sprinkles and strawberry drizzle?"

"Yes."

"Okay, we will right on it!"

Marinette took out her phone as she waited. She texted her mom, that she was at a restaurant nearby. Her mom reminded her to send a picture of her eating.

A few minutes later and her food was brought to her.

"Thank you so much!"

"It's no problem, dear, tell me if you need anything!"

The waitress leaves to let her eat. She sends a picture of her food to her mom, who responded with the words 'smile and heart'.

--------

Change perspective

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His day was normal. He woke up and dealt with the hooligans that plagued his life. He was currently in Paris as a part of a stake out group. His family dispersed during day to do individual actives. His father wanted him near by, but he argued that he didn't need to be monitored.

His father conceded by saying he must practice being considerate of other people and to update him on how it is going and if he needs help. He was more than reluctant to agree. Regardless, he did.

He didn't like the loose nature of his apparel for the day, but had no chouce due to the heat.

Though by no means is his clothing loose in comparison to others definition. He prefers to be dignified at all times.

Most of the day, he had nothing report to his father that was particularly considerate until he notice the ragged look of a girl a round his age. She looked dehydrated and ill. He scoffs at her lack of self preservation until he notice she was immersed in some kind of sketching. He also remembered his has to be 'considerate' today so he will say she was lost to passion. After all, this is Paris, the city known for passion.

He watches her as she unconsciously squints and makes a grim expression at times. She sways ever so slightly.

In his observations, she stopped her work to look at her phone. Her condition is not well. He walks a little closer with a water bottle he bought. The moment he walked next to her and she stood, he stabilized her and slipped the water bottle in her bag as she spoke, trying to clear her head. She was drenched in sweat.

"Father better be grateful, I am being more than generous with being 'considerate', disgusting.", he thought with distain.

He hurried a way from her only to stop a short distance a way to watch her more and to sanitize his hands; to rid himself of the horrid feeling of her sweat.

The girl swayed less than before, but after updating his father of what happened, he was ordered to tail her. What if she collapsed? His efforts would have been in vain if that was so.

He was slightly frustrated and her slow pace did nothing to help. He only felt a bit better at her choice of eatery. He saw that she was heading for a Healthy Living Restaurant and went a head of her to sit down. He typed to his father that the girl was trying to decide what to eat. He was instructed to do what he thought best if he were to interfere at all. So he picked the most sensible option for her condition, in return, she followed and added something to her order.

He ate quietly and finished before her. He then left a large tip; the service was quick, the food palatable, atmosphere was pleasant and he doubted the girl had much on her. Enough to pay perhaps, but she would then be left with nothing else.

She seemed to be middle class, and the middle class does not make much little wealth, to him at least. Sure, her clothing was quite good with quality, but her manners weren't all that remarkable and nothing else about her was either.

Polite, is what she was. Quiet, unnoticeable, and polite.

To him, she was a foolish girl that dreamed too much and did little for her own well-being. Truly the epitome of moronic whelps.

After he left the restaurant, he watched from a distance. Through the window, he saw her tempt to pay, only to be denied. He smirked, perhaps he should visit this particular restaurant again and maybe even invest a bit?

He felt his phone buzz, his father typed, wanting to be updating on the status of the girl. It became apparent that some of the hooligans are now aware of his sudden punish- mission. Yes, this is a mission.

Protecting such weak plebeians is the duty of his father and him, also the unsightly hooligans- not well in his opinion- but he shall add them this once.

"Father is surely proud of how 'considerate' and 'generous' I am.", he believes, "Excessively so."

------

The day ends with Marinette safely returning home and the still mysterious young man facing his mismatched family.

The young man remained considerate as he ignored the jeers of the hooligans until he realized, he didn't have to any more and retorted as though his words came from the high heavens.

---------

The next time he checked in on the young lady, he had some knowledge of her background he shouldn't and decided to continue to see to it that she is well taken care.

"It's called being an arrogant, egotistical xsshxle with a God complex. She doesn't need your 'consideration', she is not a charity case!"

One loud problem claimed as he tuned him out.

---------

The young man did visit the restaurant once more and she was there. She would visit often and order the same thing as he had the first time. There were times she ordered something else and he would try things she experimented with, minus the meat.

She ordered meat less and less the more she came to the restaurant, he noticed. He had no clue why, since she obviously had no problem eating it.

He didn't order sweets as often as she did, but he would on occasion, get something with a little bit of sweetness to it; like the dried fruit sandwich with any type of sauce it can come with. The sandwich had fresh, and air dried fruit. There would be other ingredients and such to change the flavor of the sandwich, making it a popular item on the menu.

------

Change Perspective

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She felt like she has seen the same guy a lot over the past two months and is slightly worried. After some thought to it and the more she believed she was over thinking it and that it was pure coincidence. She did know, however, he had good taste in food and art. Plus that animals are so cute!! He couldn't be all bad if animals liked him.

She would walk a little closer and sometimes walk a little farther from him and since he never moved, she felt better. It really was a coincidence to her knowledge.

Eventually, she would would stop seeing him. He was a tourist, so of course he would leave at some point. Still, she was a little sad.

Oh well, school is starting soon, maybe she'll make friends to fill the loneliness her pretend friend left her.

She liked to pretend this stranger was her friends and that they hung out, since she saw him in most places that she was. She saw him at the restaurant and sometimes the park and rarely he would be at the museum. Technically he wasn't everywhere and not as frequent as she made it seem like he was, but if was often enough to remember him.

"You should have talked to him, get his number."

"But then he might have thought I was hitting on him! I just wanted a friend..."

"Sweetie, look on bright side! Either you can cherish memories that made you happy or you can forget him and move on. You don't know what life has in-store for you, it could be fun!"

"Thank you, mom. You too dad, I will see what happens."

"On that note, want help me frost some cakes?"

"Yes!!!"

-----

The end.

tiny love || vi

➵ as tooru’s younger sister, falling in love with iwaizumi hajime was easy. iwaizumi ultimately decided to rebuff you. through a few strange twists of fate, you’ve ended up living with the very boy who’d broken your heart. but, perhaps it’s not as bad as you thought it’d be

warnings: f!reader, depictions of implied social anxiety 

wc: 5.3k

m.list | ch. 5 ↞ ch. 6↠ ch. 7

The restaurant was tacky, but it was enough to remind you of home – even if it was in the most cliché ways possible. All of the cultural ‘nods’ are cheesy as a tourist trap, but Iwaizumi had told you that it was run by a family of Japanese migrants. Apparently, the food made that obvious.

“What do you recommend?” You asked, peering closely at the menu.

It was written in both English and Japanese, much to your relief. Most of the dishes offered seem like staples, too; you could grab most of these at some little outlet near your home in Miyagi.

“The rice bowls are pretty good,” Iwaizumi said.

“Should I get one with karaage or vegetable tempura?”

“You prefer karaage, right?”

You blinked at him for a moment. He remembers that?

“Both are good,” he shrugged, as if he hadn’t just made your heart jump.

“What are you gonna get?” You asked.

“Probably just some agedashi tofu and then an oyakodon.”

“Ah,” you nodded. You remembered that he’d shown a fondness for both dishes several years ago. Some things didn’t change.

Another silence fell over you. You wanted to say more, to think of something interesting to say. But nothing came to mind.

“Ah, Iwaizumi!”

You looked towards the source of the voice.

The owner was a cute girl with long black hair tied up in a ponytail, with bright and an apron wrapped around her waist.  

Iwaizumi turned to smile at her. “Hi.”

“How’ve you been?” She asked in perfect Japanese.

“Good,” he nodded. “Just trying to get ready for uni.”

“Of course, of course…” She hummed. “Did you just get back?”

“Yeah.” He turned to nod in your direction. “This is my new roommate.”

You blushed, giving the waitress a little wave as he introduced you.

She turned to you and beamed, giving you a little nod in return. “It’s nice to meet you!”

“You too,” you smiled.

The waitress fished a notebook and a pen out of the front pocket of her apron, turning back to Iwaizumi. “The usual, I presume?”

“Mhm,” he chuckled.

“And what would you like?” She asked, turning to you.

“I’d like a karaage rice bowl, thank you.”

“Perfect,” the waitress beamed once more. “I’ll let Youta know right now.”

With that she hurried off in a flurry, making a beeline straight for the kitchen.

Once you were sure she was safely out if earshot, you turned to Iwaizumi.

“How often do you come here?” You teased. You couldn’t help it.

“More than I should,” Iwaizumi chuckled. “My wallet doesn’t thank me for it.”

You smiled, folding your hands in your lap.

“It reminds me of home,” he said quietly.

You didn’t know what to say to that. It’s a vulnerable statement, one that caught you off-guard. You felt like there was more to it, more woven between those words. Should you respond to what you thought was unsaid? Or to the simple statement he’d said out-loud?

You never knew what to do when it came to Iwaizumi.

“I’m glad you found it,” is what you settled on, your voice soft against the din of the restaurant. You meant it.

Iwaizumi smiled at you. “Me too.”

He was making an effort. A real, genuine effort to make this as smooth as possible.

And you were trying to return that energy, to help the two of you make this unfortunate arrangement work. But you knew it wouldn’t be easy. Perhaps this strange energy would hang over the two of you for the rest of the semester, until you found someone to escape with.

But God, was it hard.

✧ ✧ ✧

“Thanks for this,” you blushed, digging your hands into the fabric of the skirt.

“No problem,” Iwaizumi smiled.

Fall was in full swing as the two of you drove down the street, the air temperate enough as you made your way towards university. Iwaizumi had told you it wasn’t long until it got quite chilly.

“What class have you got?” He asked.

“Uh… PSYCH 9A,” you said. You were stuck firmly between excitement and dread, the conflicting emotions grappling for space in your heart. All your classes would be in English and while you certainly weren’t bad at it – you’d been one of the best in your grade – you knew that what was taught in a classroom was very different to what was actually used in practice.

“I did that last year,” he said.

“Oh, really?”

“Yeah,” he nodded. “I did it as one of my general education courses.”

“Right,” you replied. The world flew by your window, a flurry of brown and green and beige. There was a lot to think about; too much, in your opinion. It was hard not to get caught up in all your anxieties, letting them eat away at you like a pack of rats.

“You worried?” Iwaizumi’s voice was far more understanding than it had any right to be.

You sighed, looking at the bag plopped between your feet. “I’m scared I won’t be able to keep up.”

He nodded. “That’s understandable.”

You pressed your lips together, frowning. “If I fall behind in the first week, then…”

“You’ll pick it up quicker than you’d expect,” he smiled, “I promise.”

Most of your conversations over the past few days had been in English, per your request. Iwaizumi had complied. You were jealous of just how comfortable he seemed speaking the language. But the upside was that it’d only been a year for him. If he was already this good, then perhaps you could be, too.

“If you need help, just ask,” he said. He’d been saying that a lot recently.

You bit your lip, your gaze still turned towards the floor.

You couldn’t deny that he had, in fact, been exceptional. Anything you needed, he provided. Any question you had, he answered.

He’d helped you find your way around, showed you the best (and cheapest) places to hang out at, recommended the best dictionary apps, and he’d made you dinner every night.

He was looking after you. Well.

Perhaps that was why Tooru had been so keen on the idea of the two of you living together. If only he knew…

The car slowed to a stop. You jumped, too lost in your own thoughts to realise what was going on. Your head flew up, looking around like a meerkat.

Iwaizumi unbuckled himself and got out of the car, leaving you alone. You leant down and grabbed your bag, placing it in your lap.

Deep breath, you thought. You can do this.

Your door opened.

Iwaizumi was holding it open for you. Of course he was.

Part of you wouldn’t be surprised if he’d laid out a bloody carpet for you so you didn’t have to worry about the dirt.

You gave him a little nod of thanks as you got out of the car and slung your bag over your shoulder.

Oh. Oh.

“Well, this is it,” he said, gesturing to the cluster of buildings that laid before you.

It looked so clean, a concrete forest of russet. And it was so big. So ludicrously big.

How many people were here? How many people could fit on this campus? How easy was it to get lost? Just how many classrooms were there?

Seijoh had felt big to you, once. Now it seemed like just a blip.

“Where’s your class?” Iwaizumi asked, closing the door.

“Uh…” You fished your phone out of your pocket, showing him your timetable.

He looked at it for a moment before nodding. “Follow me.”

You scurried after him, trying to take stock of your surroundings as best you could. It was all so different – so big, so official, so… grown-up. This was certainly a place you could get lost in; would you even see most of it in the next four years? That seemed impossible.  

Iwaizumi walked slowly, letting you take your time. You said nothing as you ambled on, your mind racing. What did the inside of all these buildings look like? Which ones would your classes be in? What sorts of people would be in your classes? Would you make friends? Would you get a boyfriend?

“Hey.” Iwaizumi’s voice had that gentle firmness it always had when he was scolding Tooru.

“Hm?” You looked at him, a little confused.

“We’re here,” he nodded towards a big building to your left. You weren’t sure if you would’ve been able to distinguish it yourself if you’d been left to your own bearings.

“Thank you,” you smiled up at him. “You really didn’t have to.”

He shrugged. “I remember being intimidated by campus when I first came here. It’s easy to get lost, especially when you’re not fluent in English.”

That much was true. You were speaking to each other in Japanese, after all.

“Right…” You nodded.

“Good luck,” he nodded in return, stuffing his hands in his pockets.

“Thank you,” you said, giving him a small bow. It doesn’t feel like enough of the thanks for the last week.

Iwaizumi shook his head. “You don’t have to do that here.”

You straightened up and blinked at him. “Right.”

“Will you be able to get back alright?” He asked.

“Yes,” you said, with a little too much confidence. In all honesty, you have no idea if you could – something to do with buses, probably.

You couldn’t keep relying on Iwaizumi like this. It’s not that you’re humiliated, per se, but more that you didn’t want to be a burden.

You could do this. You could grab this new life of yours by the throat and take control.

But you also couldn’t ignore the hammering in your chest as you took your first steps into your undergraduate career.

✧ ✧ ✧

“Sorry about this,” you mumbled, biting the inside of your cheek as you slipped into the passenger’s seat.

“It’s fine,” Iwaizumi said, offering you a warm smile. Somehow he even managed to make the interior lighting of his car seem flattering.

You’d managed to make your way home on public transport well enough for the first few days, but all of your classes had finished before three in the afternoon.

Tonight’s class finished at six. The idea of trying to navigate your way back to the apartment had been more nerve-wracking than you could bear.

Your first instinct had been to call Iwaizumi.

A small irritation scratched at the back of your mind. It felt independence had just been in reach, tantalisingly close. But all of that bravery had ended up being an illusion. That’s how you felt, at least.

You bit back a sigh, gazing out the window.

The streetlights cast a warm glow on the pavement as a few students ambled along, rapt in conversation. Occasionally, their faces would light up with laughter – a cruel yet unintentional reminder that your own social life had been dead on arrival.

But you’re happy for these people, at least; loneliness was probably the hardest burden you’d had to bear so far. And you were living with the Iwaizumi Hajime.  

“How was your first week?” He asked.

“I’m doing okay,” you admitted. “Sometimes I don’t get what they’re saying, but… the lecture slides make it easier to follow along.” It got a little easier with each class, but you had the suspicion that it would take a while for you to properly adapt.

“Are your lecturers nice?”

You nodded. “Thankfully.”

“Good,” Iwaizumi chuckled. “And your classmates?”

You shook your head. “I haven’t spoken to any of them. Too scared.”

“Ah…” He was silent for a moment, seemingly turning something over in his head.

“What about you?” You asked, desperate to shift the attention away from your failed social life.

“It’s going well,” he nodded. “I’ve been able to get into the rhythm of it pretty quickly.”

“Good,” you smiled.

It’s understandable enough. He’d had a year to get used to the whole university thing.

How long was it going to take you? Were you ever going to get used to it? Or had this whole move been a big mistake, a risk you shouldn’t’ve taken just to prove you could do it?

You looked up at the sky. The stars weren’t as clear or bright as they were in Miyagi. You always looked up when you and Tooru walked home of an evening, after those long practice sessions he insisted on doing. Or when you and Amaya walked to either of your houses for a sleepover as she pointed at different constellations and told you the stories behind them.

Home felt so far away.

Would you ever feel like you belonged here?

“Hey,” Iwaizumi murmured.

“Hm?”

“Is it okay if I have some friends over tomorrow?”

Your stomach twisted. You weren’t sure why.

People you didn’t know in your house… It felt silly, finding it so scary.

But you weren’t going to deny him his social life.

“Sure,” you answered.

“Cool,” he breathed. He sounded genuinely relieved.

You bit the inside of your cheek. You were sure he was asking to be polite, but the guilt had already seeded itself in your mind. Did he really feel like he couldn’t have people over because you were there? Granted, it’d only been a week. Maybe he thought you weren’t quite settled yet.

God, why’d he have to go and be so considerate? He really was setting the standard too high.

“What do you want for dinner tonight?” He asked.

“I’m fine with anything,” you shrugged.

The least you could do in return for all the help he’d given you was be a respectful roommate.

✧ ✧ ✧

The sound of people engaging in conversation outside your room made your stomach swell.

A few hours ago, Iwaizumi had asked you if you’d like to introduce yourself to his friends. You’d agreed – it would probably do you some good to actually meet some people. He’d said they were all Japanese exchange students themselves, so communication shouldn’t be a problem.

Although, that didn’t make it any less stressful.

You took a deep breath, reaching for your door handle.

You could do this. You just needed to get over the awkward introduction.

The sound of laughter heightened as you pushed your door open, allowing yourself to catch sight of the small group gathered in the living room.

“Hey,” Iwaizumi waved at you, smile on his face and beer in hand.

“Hey,” you said quietly, holding a hand up in greeting.

His friends turned to look at you. You recognized some of the faces from the photos on the wall. Three guys, two girls.

“Hello!” One of the girls called out to you with a wave.

You nodded at her with a smile, taking a few tentative steps towards the group.

“This is Ren,” Iwaizumi said, gesturing to a guy with wavy black hair and bright eyes. He’s far too pretty to meet without a warning.

“Taiki,” Iwaizumi gestured to the boy standing to the left of Ren. He had close-cropped hair and muscles that almost gave Iwaizumi some competition. Almost.

“Mei.” She had long red hair and an enviable sense of style. She looked like the sort of girl you’d be terrified of approaching in high school, simply because she was far too cool for you.

“Haruto.” The guy with the kind smile and brown hair so soft you wanted to touch it. There’s something about him that almost reminds you of Tooru – if Tooru wasn’t such a brat.

“And Yuna.” The other girl, with a brown bob and such sharp eyeliner that you couldn’t help but wonder how stable her hand must be when applying it.

You felt a little embarrassed, just standing there in your lounge clothes; thank God it’s wasn’t your pyjamas, but they’re certainly not clothes you’d wear on a fun outing somewhere.

“It’s nice to meet you,” you blushed, looking at the floor.

A chorus of ‘you too’s erupted from the group, much louder than you’d expected. You managed to supress the urge to flinch.

“What’re your plans?” You asked.

“Oh, we’ll just be playing some board games,” Ren said, waving a hand at you.

“Right,” you nodded. You weren’t quite sure what you were expecting. They all had some kind of beer in hand, so you might’ve expected something a bit more… rowdy. But, you weren’t complaining.

“You should join us!” One of the girls – Yuna, was it? – smiled at you, the expression illuminating her entire face.

You considered it for a moment, each pro and con rushing through your head at lightning speed. You didn’t want to be rude, and it would be nice to spend some time with people other than Iwaizumi…

But they were his friends. Wouldn’t you be intruding? You didn’t want to just barge in and expect to be included just because you happened to live with him.

Yet at the same time, Yuna was smiling at you so kindly. Turning her down would feel rude.

“Sure,” you nodded.

Yuna ushered you over towards the couches, sitting you down next to her. Mei sat on your other side, offering you an unbearably pretty smile.

“What’re you doing?” You asked.

“It’s this card game,” Haruto explained, “each card has a symbol on it, see?” He held two cards up for you to see. Sure enough, both cards had a yellow diamond on them.

You nodded.

“So, they each have a category on them,” he said. You looked between both cards. It took you a moment as they were English words, but one said ‘film’ and the other said ‘animal.’

“Mhm.”

“Now all the cards are placed in a deck in the middle, and on your turn, you take a card and place it face up. If the symbol matches another card on the table, then you need to call out a word that belongs in the category of the other card,” he explained.

You nodded slowly. “So… if I had the animal card and you had the film card, I’d need to call out a film?”

“Exactly right,” he smiled.

“You’ll pick it up as you go along,” Iwaizumi reassured.

“Do I have to say it in English?” You asked.

Haruto shook his head. “You can say something in English or Japanese. No stress.”

“Thanks,” you smiled, breathing a sigh of relief.

“Alright, is everyone ready?” Taiki barked. “I wanna start!”

Suffice to say you didn’t do particularly well for the first few rounds.

It took you a little longer than everyone else to translate the English to Japanese, but you did manage to secure a few wins. Although, that was mainly won off the backs of other people’s mistakes – Taiki, for example, yelled out ‘plant’ for the category of ‘vegetable’.

After the second round, you got up and headed to the kitchen, intent on getting yourself a drink of water.

You opened the fridge door as quietly as you could, not wanting to disturb your guests. You grabbed the water jug, grimacing at how heavy it was.

When you closed it, Iwaizumi was standing right there.

“Fuck!” You jumped, a hand flying to your chest.

“Sorry,” he grinned. “Didn’t mean to scare you.”

You glared at him for a second, only to give up as soon as your wrist started to ache.

“Are you doing alright?” He asked as you plunked the jug on the countertop.

“Yeah,” you nodded, opening one of your cupboards and grabbing a cup. “Yuna’s really nice.”

“Okay, good,” he smiled. From the look on his face, you guessed that he was relieved. “Don’t feel pressured to stay out here,” he said.

“It’s okay, really,” you shook your head, pouring some water into your glass. Some splashed onto the counter despite your best efforts – and you didn’t even have the excuse of being tipsy.

Iwaizumi nodded slowly, still smiling at you. His cheeks were a bit flushed; a key indicator that he was likely a handful of drinks away from ‘well and truly drunk.’

You held the water out to him instinctively. He took it from you, only for confusion to blossom across his face.

“Huh?”

“You should probably drink some,” you said, rather lost yourself. “So you don’t get a hangover.”

“Oh,” he swallowed. “Right.”

He brought the cup to his lips and tipped it back. You busied yourself with getting another glass – there was no way you were just going to stand there and watch him drink. God knew where your mind might go, and you didn’t like it.

“Let me know if you need anything,” Iwaizumi said, placing the now-empty cup back on the counter.

“Thanks,” you smiled.

Once you’d finally gotten your own cup of water (that you hadn’t handed to Iwaizumi for no good reason), you scampered back to the couch and settled down in your spot between Yuna and Mei.

They’d swapped the first card game out for another – the rules were that one person had a card with a word on it, and they had to try and explain it without using said word.

They cycled through a fair few games, burning through casket of beer after casket of beer. The hours burned on faster than you could keep track, but you didn’t mind. You were laughing too much to care.

“Oh, shit,” Iwaizumi mumbled, staring at his phone.

“Hm?” Taiki sniffed. His face was bright red, but he didn’t seem to care. “Is it Misaki?”

Iwaizumi nudged him with his knee as he grumbled something under his breath. Whether you liked it or not, the name Misaki was lodged firmly in the back of your brain.

“I was gonna say it’s three in the morning,” Iwaizumi grunted.

“Oh,” Yuna gasped, whipping out her own phone. “Fuck.”

“Do buses even run this late?” Mei grimaced.

“I have no idea,” Yuna bit her lip, her brow creasing.

“You guys can crash here if you want,” Iwaizumi offered.

“All of us?” Mei raised an eyebrow at him.

“Why not?” He asked.

“I don’t know about Yuna, but I don’t want to be snuggled up against any of these fools,” Mei grimaced, waving a hand at the three guys.

“What do you mean?” Ren whined.

“There’s only so much room on these couches,” Mei shrugged.

“I guess we can sleep on the floor,” Haruto mumbled.

“I’ve been told you snore,” Mei said.

“And?”

“I’m a light sleeper.”

Haruto scoffed. “How do you even know whether or not I snore?”

“Well, Maka—”

“Alright,” Haruto held his hands up, shaking his head.

An idea brewed in the back of your mind. It’s not a perfect solution, but it could certainly save any of them an early morning trek back to their own apartments.

You took a deep breath, trying to build up the confidence to speak up.

“The girls can stay in my room, if they’d like,” you said quietly.

Every head turned to face you. Yikes.

“Are you sure?” Iwaizumi asked.

“Mhm!” You nodded, trying to look as enthusiastic as possible. “I don’t mind. And I can promise you I don’t snore,” you said, turning to Mei.

She giggled, shaking her head. “You’re an angel.”

You beamed at that little affirmation.

“I owe you one,” Iwaizumi grinned, ruffling your hair fondly. Your cheeks bloomed red; although, that didn’t really stand out amongst this bunch.

You nodded at him, turning on your tail and fleeing to your room.

The girls were already in there, inspecting the wall above your desk. You’d stuck some photos up the other day on a whim; a bunch of polaroids and four-by-sixes arranged in something that resembled a neat collage.

“These are so cute,” Yuna cooed, turning to pout at you.

“Thanks,” you giggled.

“Look at you!” She whined, pointing at a picture of your graduation. Amaya and another one of your friends stand either side of you, your smiles bright and brilliant as you each cradled a bouquet of flowers. It might only have been a few months ago, but you felt like you looked far younger.

“You’re adorable,” Mei pouted.

It felt a bit weird, having people you barely knew in your space like this. But this was at least an echo of the college experience, right? Two drunk girls calling you cute while you were strikingly sober… Sounded about right.

It kind of reminded you of all those sleepovers during your school years. There’s something comforting in that.

Yuna suddenly froze.

“Everything alright?” You asked, tensing up yourself.

“Who is that?” She hissed, pointing at a new photo.

You stepped forward to get a better look at who she was talking about.

Oh. Tooru.

It’s a photo you’d taken with him last winter, when he’d come back to Japan for a week. By that time, he’d gotten quite tanned, and he’d really bulked up. Whatever he was doing in Argentina, it was paying off. Although, you could do without his bragging.

“That’s my brother,” you said, fighting the urge to roll your eyes. You didn’t mean any ill will; you were just quite used to girls asking you about your brother. Usually, you just told them they could do much better.

Yuna gaped at you. “Your brother?”

“Mhm,” you nodded. “He’s currently in Argentina.” You didn’t really know what else to say.

“That’s not that far away,” Mei mused.

“I’m pretty sure it’s still like… a twenty-hour flight away,” you giggled.

“But it’s closer than Japan,” Mei tsked.

“If your brother ever comes to visit,” Yuna said calmly, “let us know.”

You were about to respond when Yuna gasped loudly.

“Is that Hajime?” She hissed, pointing at another photo.

It’s one from Tooru’s graduation, this time. It’s also the only photo of Iwaizumi on your wall. Makki and Mattsun are also in it, grinning brilliantly as they held Tooru in a headlock. You were at the side, laughing at your brother, as Iwaizumi watched the scene fondly.

“Yeah,” you chuckled. “He’s best friends with my brother.”

“Aw, that’s so cute,” Mei cooed. “Why didn’t he ever tell us that his best friend looked like that?”

“You never looked at the photos out in the living room?” You asked.

“Oh,” Mei blinked. “Well, it looks like a bunch of men from far away, so I wasn’t interested.”

“I didn’t even realise there were photos in the front room,” Yuna mumbled.  

You giggled again, shaking your head. You had no idea how you were going to get these two to settle and go to bed, but you’re pretty sure you don’t regret letting them stay here.

This was the most fun you’d had ever since you landed in California.

✧ ✧ ✧

You’d balked when Iwaizumi had first promised to ‘teach you’ how to go grocery shopping.

But standing in the middle of the Asian Grocer, surrounded by more cuts of meat than you could ever conceive, you realised that it was wise to listen to what he had to say.

You’d spent an absurd amount of time going through each isle as Iwaizumi pointed out the bargains – many of which had to do with bulk buying – and discussing what the cheapest version of each item was, and when it was best to sacrifice cost for quality.  

“Oh, by the way,” he said, interrupting your intense observation of the swath of shaved pork staring at you from the freezer.

You turned to look at him expectantly.

“I didn’t say thanks for letting Yuna and Mei stay in your room.”

You shook your head. “It’s fine.”

“I’m sorry for putting that on you,” he sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I didn’t expect everyone to stay so late.”

“I said it’s fine,” you chuckled. “I offered. And I wouldn’t have felt good about them all heading home that early in the morning.”

Iwaizumi smiled at you softly for a moment.

You swallowed, turning back to the meat. “They seem nice,” you said. You weren’t sure what else you were supposed to say.

Iwaizumi nodded. “Yeah. Taiki can be a brat though.”

“More or less of a brat than Tooru?” You grinned.

“Oh, less,” Iwaizumi answered immediately.

You giggled, opening the freezer and grabbing a random Styrofoam pallet of meat. You’d spent far too long in this section; long enough that you were getting cold.

“Where’d you meet them?” You asked, putting the pallet in the basket slung over Iwaizumi’s forearm.

“Uh, Taiki’s from the gym. The others are from the Japanese Students Association.”

Your ears perked up at that. “The Japanese Students Association?”

“Yeah,” he nodded. “That’s where I met most of my friends, actually.”

“Really?”

“It’s much easier than making friends in your classes,” he smiled.

You chewed on your cheek for a moment. Admittedly, the whole ‘making friends in class’ plan wasn’t going well for you. There was hardly any time to properly socialise, and you never knew when it was okay to strike up a conversation. Maybe if you were still in Japan, you’d have an easier time navigating this torrid new social landscape.

But you just didn’t know what was considered rude or weird or even creepy here.

“You should join,” he suggested. When you caught his eye, he was already looking at you, a touch of concern on his brow.

“You think?”

“It’s a good way of getting to know people,” he shrugged. “I joined when I felt lonely last year.”

The words hit you harder than you thought they would. “I’m sorry,” you frowned.

“It’s fine,” he chuckled. “Anyway, they’re having a party soon.”

“Are they?”

He nodded. “To ‘kick off’ the semester or something. It’s really just an excuse to get shit-faced.”

You laughed. “Really?”

“That’s what all uni parties are for,” he grinned.

You considered it for a moment.

A party… you’d never really been to one before. Not an Americanised party, anyway. Not one where everyone got absurdly drunk.

Alone, surrounded by unfamiliar drunk people, in a city you don’t know…

Your stomach lurched.

You wanted to be brave. You wanted to put yourself out there. But the thought did nothing but make your skin crawl. Maybe you were just being paranoid, but it sounded dangerous.

“You okay?” Iwaizumi asked.

You blinked up at him. “Oh, yeah, I…” You turned your attention to the floor. “I just don’t think I’ll go.”

“Why not?”

“I think I’d just feel…” You paused for a moment, trying to think of the mildest way to say what you were feeling. “I think I’d feel a little uncomfortable.”

You braved a glance at him.

He was pressing his lips together, a thoughtful frown on his face.

A knot of guilt twisted in your stomach. You were making him worry again. That’s all you seemed to have done since you’d been here. You knew he’d offered to live with you, but it’s like you’ve been nothing but a burden ever since you’d arrived.

And you hated that more than anything. You hated making him worry. You hated giving him reason for concern. All because you couldn’t go to a stupid party on your own.

“I could come with you, if you’d like.”

His offer surprised you.

Maybe you should’ve expected him to say something like that. And usually, the thought of going to a party with him would make you feel like you wanted to throw up.

But you’d survived the past few weeks. And Iwaizumi looked like that. No weird asshole was going to try and approach you or make you feel uncomfortable if he was standing next to you.

“If it’s not too much trouble,” you said sheepishly.

Iwaizumi smiled, shaking his head. “Not at all.”

On My Plate:

1. Yum Cha Iced Tea 🍊🧊

2. Dipping Sauces: Soy, roasted pumpkin, chili oil (they also had cute, individual sauce plates) 🧅🌶

3. Corn & Waterchestnut Dumpling (the yellow one) 🌽🥟

4. Handrolled Avocado Spring Roll 🥑

5. Vegetables & Chive Dumpling 🥦🥟

6. Tofu & Wild Mushroom Clay Pot, Bok Choy 🍜🍄🥬

7. Vegetable Yang Chow Fried Rice 🍚🌽

Notes: 

Zao Cha House had been tucked in my Instagram ‘Saved’ section for a while. We finally decided to grab a meal there. Tucked in an alley, this cute little dumpling restaurant won our hearts with its woody, Zen interiors that remind you a of meditation cave. 

With asymmetrical windows panning their walls, they seated us on the first floor. We watched the sunlight play on red, orange and green leaves while sipping on Yum Cha Iced Tea--- a mandarin-based orange cooler which is refreshingly tangy and sweet. 

We asked Andrew, our server, in order to recommend vegetarian dimsums. His recommendations turned out to be really tasty. We started with the Corn and Waterchestnut Dumpling. I’ve had this pairing before, but Zao Cha surprised me. They created a harmony out of these two vegetables in a way where the crunchiness of the waterchestnuts almost blended with sweetness of the corn. 

I say this to my friend very often, “You know it’s a good dumpling when you can eat it just as it is. No dipping sauce needed.” 

I tried a bite of this with their roasted pumpkin sauce and the combo was stellar. Next, we had their Handrolled Avocado Spring Roll. The fried skin was light, flaky and crunchy. Served on a bed of avocado pieces, they sautéed these with salt, pepper and butter. But the standout was dunking the spring roll in that Sriracha Mayo. Damn, that was good. Surprisingly, there was a certain cheesiness to the filling without there being any cheese in it.

Let’s come to the Vegetable and Chives dumpling. This was a bit on the sweeter side. However, I love a slight sweetness in my dimsum fillings. This one went beautifully with both, the chili oil and the roasted pumpkin one. 

I am going to take a moment and applaud the Vegetable Yang Fried Rice because it was so well-made. With a stickiness similar to sushi rice, this one was cooked in the wok to perfection, lending it a smoky, light fragrance. I ate a couple of servings of this rice just as is. So good. 

Their Tofu & Wild Mushroom Clay Pot, Bok Choy was beautiful. Again, it was a bit sweet versus salty, however, I loved the mild kick of Thai chili and the lovely root-flavor of the mushrooms. The Bok choy was cooked in a way where the crunch of the stem wasn’t lost. So delicious. Lastly, *that* tofu. Oh man, it literally made me sigh out of pleasure. Melting straight away on my tongue it was a delight to eat.

I don’t think I can forget this meal. And I am very grateful for the restaurant and Andrew, our server, who made our lunch such a memorable experience.💕

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Where: Zao Cha House, Bandra (W), Mumbai

When: 26.02.2022

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| Food Log: 65 |

The Neighbour [0.1]

Masterlist

Everything had played out like the rising action in a horror movie. And before the whole world's eyes, life on Earth had slowed to a snail-like crawl. Covid 19 was ravaging through cities and countries faster than a salmonella outbreak at a restaurant even Gordon Ramsay couldn't attempt to save. It was terrifying to watch, and even more terrifying to see work and interaction dry up so quickly. Especially for those who relied on social interaction to stay sane.

Luckily for Remington, he happened to be stuck with his brother when quarantine measures went into full effect.

It was no big deal living with Emerson, if anything, it was relatively more calm with two out of the three of them sharing a space. Sebastian and Larissa were staying well and safe in their own house, popping by now and again at the gate to check in on his little brothers. No doubt, it sucked. The album was pushed back, the tour called off, the only thing keeping the hype for 'The Bastards' release was social media.

At least Remington had comfort in the fact that he wouldn't have to endure this quarantine alone. Living in his own house all by himself, he'd probably drive himself up the wall and find himself hanging off the rafters (literally).

Tuesday morning was bright and warm, as they tended to be in LA. Emerson was sat comfortably at the kitchen table, drinking his usual cup of tea and reading the depressing headlines coming out of the news. Pepper was curled up at his feet, snoring softly and her little marshmallow body rising steadily. The neighbourhood was quiet, it always was, but it was especially tranquil these spring days in April. He simpered sardonically when he read the latest quote from the president, promising that the pandemic would pass come July.

His attention was gripped suddenly when he heard the low squeal of car tires. The youngest brother glanced outside the window, his dark eyes falling over the little blue Waivecar that had pulled up at the opposing apartment complex. Those cars had been coming back and forth for the last four days, with the same girl coming and going. And at night, the apartment facing the house would keep the lights on until two or three in the morning, but she wasn't partying. The most noise this girl made was the hum of her radio drifting out of an open window.

Clearly, whoever she was, she was still in the weeds of moving. Perhaps when she was settled, Emerson would go by and introduce himself, make her feel welcome. Considering how warm the climate was, this particular neighbourhood had a tendency to be quiet cold and private towards neighbours. No doubt many of them weren't a fan of the band and their at home antics.

Emerson was startled when his brother came bounding in, dressed in the same moppy grey sweats he had been practically living in for weeks. Thank goodness he wasn't wearing his heelys this time around; the other day he had crashed into the couch and flipped over onto the cushions, nearly smashing his head on the coffee table.

"The guys will be by in about half an hour," he said. Emerson narrowed his eyes at his older brother.

"He says as we're under strict orders from the state health officials to not see anybody," he murmured.

Remington pouted, running a hand through his evidently growing blonde hair. He pulled up a seat next to his brother, "Hey, you were the one who said it's getting too quiet around here. And besides, it's not like we're coming from opposite counties. Seb lives like four blocks down from us,"

"I'm just getting a little nervous, is all," Emerson shrugged, showing him the article on his tablet, "The numbers are still going up,"

"And they'll keep going up until they find a cure. And while they're doing that, we're going to be in the backyard playing soccer and eating pizza," Remington smiled.

"Who said we're having pizza?"

"I did. I just decided,"

"Maybe I want Mexican? Did you think about that?"

Across the street in the fresh red brick and black-trimmed apartment, three floors up from the ground and in direct line of the sun sat Eva. The twenty-four-year-old literary bachelor sat comfortably at her newly furnished desk, typing away at her laptop that was due for a battery change -- Eva just hadn't found the time to physically take it into the store. On her right she had a lukewarm cup of coffee, on the left her speaker which was softly blasting Tove Lo's new album. All the while, her bony fingers flew over the keyboard, her big stormy blue eyes skimming the words that sprinted across her document.

Eva got by as a writer, not a novelist or a poet, but as a ghost writer. She was hired to write materials for would-be authors and journalists, all of whom either didn't have the drive or commitment to write to the extent Eva did. Surprisingly, she made some pretty good money just off that. And while that work tended to be dry and bleak, Eva had spent her free time writing various fanfictions -- mostly for Hannibal and Criminal Minds. She happened to be quite prolific on Tumblr because of her literary fantasies.

And while her work was often isolating, Eva didn't live alone by any means. She had her pale tabby, Pluto, to keep her company. He was snoozing on the couch, despite how often Eva had trained him not to do that when he was a kitten.

She had just returned from an early morning run from the grocery store -- having learned the hard way that despite the pandemic, people will continue to flock to the stores in droves and it's almost impossible to social distance within them. As if moving out of her old apartment wasn't hard enough, now she had to deal with hastily late movers, jumbled lease agreements, and a pandemic.

In the throws of bittersweet silence, Eva's concentration was broke when a shrill alarm had her nearly jumping out of her seat. It was only her phone, the screen lighting up with a 'Blocked' ID. Eva smiled wickedly and declined the call.

The young writer pushed her rolley chair away from the desk and did a stretch, her head turning towards the house across the street. She figured a couple of frat boys shared the place, they had a few of their friends over from time to time but they were relatively quiet. The most she would hear out of them is some smack talk coming from the backyard.

Pluto's head popped up from the couch, then he leapt onto the floor and trotted over to the window sill, hopping up to spy on the unfamiliar car that was pulling up to the house. Eva could hardly care less. There was a statewide order to see only a small group of people as little as possible, and as long as the neighbours wouldn't bother her, she wouldn't bother them.

It was a shame, as if having to meet new people wasn't difficult enough for her...

A few hours passed and soon the silence in the Los Angeles neighbourhood was broken by the grunts and thwacks of a backyard game of pool basketball. The boys and a few of their friends were all the more engaged in their game while their girls sat aside on deck chairs under the beating sun. Under the shade of the pergola, their friend Andrew was grilling some sausages -- beef and tofu -- on the barbecue.

Remington was taking the piss out of Sebastian for being all over his girl, but who the hell could blame the kid? There was a new rush of life in the guitarist's face whenever the topic of Larissa came up. The same could be said for Emerson and Shy. Remington wouldn't dare admit he was a little jealous of his brothers' happiness, so he'd settle for loving his brothers but torturing them at every opportunity.

Breaking out from the cold water, Emerson gripped tightly to the rubber red ball in his hand. Just as Sebastian came to take a running dive into the pool, he reared the ball back and hucked it at his older brother, nailing him square in the chest. Instead of a graceful dive, Sebastian flailed sideways and crashed into the water. The ball ricocheted onto the deck and bounced away towards the front yard.

"Oh my God!"

"Emerson!" Shy scolded, a little horrified and yet not surprised at her boyfriend's actions. Sebastian broke out of the water and shook his hair out of his eyes. It was more his pride and the laughter of his friends that hurt than the fading sting of rubber against skin.

Emerson meanwhile just giggled happily as he high-fived Remington.

"You guys fucking suck!" Sebastian glowered at the younger boys.

At the same time, Eva had given up on work for the day. As random as it was, she decided she'd try to make bread: the apparent trend that was surging during this quarantine. She bought all the things she would need this morning.

Stepped a few feet into the kitchen, she pushed open the window a brisk breeze flooding in and freshening up the air. Her attention was skewed to the house across the street, hearing some mild echoes of conversation and the thrum of a radio in the air.

She went to gather her ingredients and tools, however, as she turned to fetch an apron she realized something was missing: the patter of feet behind her. Pluto was usually Eva's shadow whenever he was in the kitchen, always the opportunistic cat he was. However, he wasn't on the couch. He wasn't in his bed. He wasn't snooping around in her closet or hiding under the desk.

"Where'd the ball go?" Daniel called, clinging to the ledge of the pool.

"I'll get it" Remington swam to the ladder and pulled himself out of the water. He shook out his sopping blonde hair, unintentionally shaking his ass in his colorful swim trunks. Their friend, Michael, whistled from the pool. Remington only smirked on him.

"Flattery will get you nowhere, hunny," he sassed, waving his hand and ducked off to fetch the ball.

Puzzled, Eva grabbed Pluto's favorite bag of cat treats and shook it, the sound was always able to bring him out -- when he was within ten feet of the treats. The fact that he didn't appear told Eva that he must've gone out the window once again to wreak havoc.

With an irritated huff, she switched out her house slippers for her sandals and hightailed it out with the bag of treats.

The red rubber pool ball had rolled across the grass and lodged itself into a bush at the fence. Remington was awash in frigid goosebumps, not even the California heat could will away the pool's chill quick enough. Nevertheless, he crawled down and retrieved the ball from the brambles, swatting off what little dirt he could. However, his fixation swerved to the complex across the street when he heard a heavy slam.

"Pluto!" a young girl came charging out of the apartment complex, dressed in a slightly wrinkled white t-shirt and her jaw-length hair swivelled smoothly around her face as she frantically looked up and down the street, "Pluto!" she was shaking a little yellow bag.

Remington looked up and down the quiet street, almost expecting to see Pluto the Dog standing at the corner like Cartoon Cat. He glanced down quizzically at the ball, then back at the young woman.

Eva rubbed the stress lines on her forehead out of pure frustration. This wasn't the first time Pluto ran off, he always came back. However, the damn cat would always find ways to stir up trouble; rowling up dogs, plucking fish from little ponds, scratching at hanging laundry.

"Pluto!!" she shook the bag of treats.

"Hey!" Remington called, waving his hand to the stranger, "You alright?"

Eva glanced at the owner of that soft, yet scratchy voice. She hadn't even noticed the bleach blonde kid standing in the glint of the sun. Eva crossed the street and stood a few feet from the gate, keeping more than two meters distance.

"I'm sorry. Have you happen to see a cat running around? He's a pale tabby, couple black stripes, likes to chew shoes," she shrugged.

Remington only shook his head, "Sorry. I'm afraid not," he smiled sheepishly, "Did -- did you say he was a cat?"

"Yeah,"

"And you named your cat 'Pluto'? Like -- the dog?"

Eva smirked, but shook her head, unable to help but glance at the tattoos that crossed over this boy's torso, "He's named after The Black Cat," she said, "You ever read Edgar Allan Poe?"

Remington smiled sheepishly, "Oh right, right! I haven't read that in a while, actually. He named the cat after the Roman God for death,"

Eva smiled pleasantly, not having pegged this boy to know so much about EAP, "That's right. I wanted a black cat to fit with the theme but the damn tabby stole my heart,"

"He knew what he was doing, obviously," Remington grinned, "I'll keep an eye for him though, if I happen to --" he was cut short however when he heard Pepper start yapping from the backyard. The yapping was followed by the clanging of metal and a screeching yrowl.

"What the fuck?" Andrew suddenly shouted, “Where’d this cat come from!?”

Panic flooded over Eva's face and Remington didn't think twice to open the gate and let her in. Social distancing aside, they two of them rushed into the backyard to find a tray of sausages had crashed onto the floor, the meat had rolled everywhere. Shy clung to Pepper as the little pomeranien yapped and growled incessantly at the scruffy tabby on the patio table, back arched and hissing at the dog while he guarded his captured sausage.

Eva was understandably horrified.

"What the hell happened here?" Remington asked, just as in shock over the mess.

"Cat came out of nowhere and dive bombed our lunch!" Daniel replied, having just crawled out of the pool.

"Pluto!" Eva ran to the table and scooped up the snarling cat, Pepper was still yapping away, "What is the matter with you?" she scolded at Pluto before turning to Remington and Andrew, who still wielded the metal tongs in his hand, "I am so frickin' sorry!"

"No, no, it's okay," Andrew shook his head, glancing at the lost sausages longingly, "I was kind of craving sushi, anyways,"

"It's no big deal, honestly," Remington assured her, "Five second rule applies, I'm sure,"

"It's been about thirty-seven seconds," Sebastian spoke flatly.

"Since when were you counting?"

Larissa was the only one who didn't seem annoyed or surprised at the feline intruder. She smiled warmly at the young girl, "Is this your cat?"

"Unfortunately," Eva grinned sheepishly, "I should know better. He's in a new area and he tends to get into trouble. Also, if anyone happens to lose a shoe, he did it, and I'm apologizing in advance," she pointed a finger at the now calmed tabby.

Shy smiled, "Well, Pepper's no better. She tends to think she's a way bigger dog," she held up and coddled the fluffy pomeranian. Eva smiled awkwardly, only now noting that she forgot to grab a face mask. And here she was: in a backyard full of strangers in a pandemic.

"Wait, I recognize you," Emerson said, "You just moved across the street, right?"

"Yeah, that's me. Eva," she nodded, "Great first impression, right?"

"You couldn't do any worse than Curcio over here," Sebastian grinned, "Remember the split pants?"

"You're going to hang that over my head for the rest of my life, aren't you?" Daniel glowered.

"Maybe," Emerson turned back to Eva, "I'm Emerson, that's Sebastian, Daniel, Larissa, Michael, Shy, Andrew... and you've already met Remington, I see,"

"The best looking one," Remington grinned.

Eva nodded, "Well, it was very nice meeting you all, I should get going, though. And again, I'm so sorry about the cat,"

Remington shrugged, "It's just sausages. We can get more," he assured her, "Here, I'll walk you out,"

"Thanks," Eva smiled, keeping Pluto close to her chest as she passed Shy and Pepper. Pepper gave one last fleeting bark as the cat passed by. Pluto simply licked his lips.

Michael couldn't help but lean over as he caught one last glance at the new neighbour, then turning to Emerson, "How come you get the pretty neighbour?"

The drummer shrugged, reaching over to grab the rubber ball that Remington dropped at the end of the pool, "Dumb luck?"

flavour to my fantasy

Kim Seokjin is an aspiring food vlogger, loved by thousands on all social media platforms. While he marvels around Seoul one day, he enters a burger place where he meets Jang Nara and a whole new culinary experience begins.

♦ Pairing: food vlogger!Jin x vegan restaurant owner!OC (Jang Nara)

♦ Genre: fluff, comedy, romance

♦ Words: 5k

Kim Seokjin was wandering around the downtown area of Seoul, searching for a hidden place that hadn’t yet caught his eyes. He was constantly looking for new places with new foods and new drinks to try. Considering that his job required him to always evolve, to always come up with new ideas and new recipes, he liked getting inspiration from random visits at Seoul’s food places, let them be popular ones or hidden gems.

This was also a district he wasn’t familiar with, and he decided to go with his gut feeling, and chose a random, cosy-looking place called ‘Burger & Land’ and stepped inside. He was immediately welcomed by the scent of mediterranean herbs and freshly cut veggies, lovely little plants all over the place from the ones on the tables to the ones on the counter and by the windows, the variety ranging from cactuses to tulips in all colours of the rainbow.

The place was rather small, only a few tables with wooden chairs, but considering that it wasn’t a franchise, it couldn’t have been any larger. There was tranquil music being played in the background, not too quiet to go unnoticed, not too loud to disturb any customer. The atmosphere was friendly and homey, not like the nosy burger place he had expected but he was genuinely surprised in a good way, he had to admit.

As he sat down at an unoccupied table, he was immediately welcomed by a pretty waitress with the widest smile he had ever seen who handed her a menu. The options were both in Korean and English, and the range of burgers, side dishes, sauces and other meals such as seasonal soups and cream soups and desserts made his mouth water. He hadn’t expected such a variety, especially after seeing that everything was fresh and made on the spot. He had indeed come to the right place, there was only one thing he didn’t catch sight of.

“Good afternoon! What can I get for you?” The pretty waitress came back with that trademark smile of hers after leaving a few minutes for him to decide on his order, making Seokjin smile in return. He didn’t want to sound rude or inappropriate, so he flashed his best charming smile as he leaned forward, almost as if he had wanted to know a secret.

“Perhaps, do you have something with meat? As I can see, you only have tofu, seitan, mushroom and veggie-based burgers,” he inquired curiously, putting his elbows down on the table.

Something akin to amusement flashed across the woman’s face, but she didn’t show any signs of confusion, she answered patiently.

“It’s because we are a vegan place. You can also see on the menu that our burgers are 100% plant-based.” She pointed at the little line on the bottom of the menu.

“Oh really?” Seokjin chuckled a bit nervously, ashamed that he had made such an amateur mistake. Though when the meaning of her words actually kicked in, he shrieked as if he had seen a ghost. “OH REALLY?” he repeated, totally bewildered, and his sudden loud exclaim made the girl jump a bit.

“Well, yes.”

There was a moment of silence before Seokjin could pull himself back together, and start anew. He couldn’t believe that vegan food had never crossed his mind even though he was very well aware that it was a rising trend on the food market, and it had become common that vloggers like him were eating plant-based meals. How could he not think about it before?

He cleared his throat, averting his eyes from the menu to the girl, starting his explanation with a wide smile.

“You may not know me but I’m Kim Seokjin, I’m a food vlogger and I’ve been looking for inspiration for new recipes but I couldn’t find anything that piqued my curiosity,” he shared with her his latest mishap. Being a food vlogger, it was usually fun and challenging, he had a lot of ideas, he was brave enough to try all kinds of foods, plus he was so enthusiastic that he didn’t seem to run out of meals he had wanted to make. However, after almost two years of uploading videos twice a week, countless recipe tastings and restaurant visits,  he felt like he got a bit stuck lately.

“But why have I never thought about vegan food before? I think I found my call!” He continued joyfully, almost ready to bolt up from the table to celebrate his victory, but he decided to stay still in the end. He didn’t want to make a fool out of himself, there were some people at the nearby tables, so he didn’t want to embarrass neither himself, nor the pretty waitress.

“That’s great! I’m really happy to hear that,” she cheered him on equally beamingly, and there was just something about her zealous behaviour that made his smile grow even wider. With her little buns atop of her head (those were the so-called space buns, right?), that broccoli-patterned apron on her and her petite figure, she looked like a fairy, a fairy who was sent by mother nature. She was indeed cute.

“Do you think you could show me how you make your burgers? Or suggest some vegan recipes?” Jin asked immediately, his enthusiastic reaction making her giggle.

“I’d love to, actually, but maybe you should taste our burgers first. You know, there’s always a slim chance that you wouldn’t like it,” she remarked almost playfully, yet he wasn’t one to get mad hearing her words. 

In fact, it was such a nice start to a whole new culinary experience, and the waitress was right, it could also happen that he didn’t like vegan food. Not that he usually didn’t new foods, but he was rather interested this time.

“Yeah, sure, you’re right.” He agreed with a slightly aggraveted laughter and looked down at the menu yet again. He was such a fool really, but he tried his best not to show what kind of emotions were going through him, because that would have made the situation even more awkward. “I’ll take the Broccoli Dream burger then with sweet potato fries and guacamole on the side and as for drinks… one medium strawberry lemonade,” he decided a minute later, and so the pretty waitress disappeared with his order jotted down in her notebook and a smile that lasted until she came back again.

The burger arrived a bit more than half an hour later but it was understandable since the meals were made on the spot with fresh ingredients, thus they couldn’t just put it in front of him like they did at burger franchise places.

However, based on the smell of the freshly made burgers, the fries and even the guacamole, he knew that he was up for a good feast and the nice exterior probably hid a delicious interior.

“I can film here, right?” he asked just in case before he could have dug into his food and record the whole thing.

“Yes, sure,” the waitress responded with a pretty smile and walked back to her usual place behind the counter.

Seokjin turned back to his burger, brought out his camera from his bag, adjusted the angles and the lightning, made a few pictures to test out the waters and then he could finally start the recording.

“Hello, everyone!” He greeted the imaginary viewers on the other side of the camera with a wave of his hands and a wide smile. “I’m Jin, you’re watching Eat Jin, and today I stumbled upon this lovely place called Burger & Land. This is a vegan place, and it’s also my first time trying vegan food, let alone a vegan burger, but I’m curious. Let’s dig into it, shall we?” he introduced the video’s theme enthusiastically, and spoke a bit about the ingredients of the burger he had chosen before showing his order to the camera. He made sure to zoom on the colourful veggies and sauces well, so that the viewers could have the best point of view.

Then, he put down his camera again and took the first bite into the burger, humming satisfyingly when the flavours kicked in.

“Oh my gosh, this is so good! The flavours are so intense, and this sauce resembles mayonnaise so much that it’s almost scary!” He commented zealously between two huge bites of the burger, then reached for the fries as well and digged them into the guacamole sauce. He enjoyed having all sorts of foods at the same time, thus it was no surprise that he decided to eat the burger, the fries and the sauce all at once. “The veggies are really fresh and crispy, they complement each other so well. I especially love the bean sprouts because we don’t use them often but they always give an extra flavour to a meal,” he mused out loud after digging in more, and the more he ate, the more content he was.

He continued his mukbang, talking about the different flavours and how they mingled in so well; that he had never thought a broccoli-based patty could be this good and also the fact that he was genuinely surprised that he didn’t miss the taste of meat. For once, that was for sure, because he couldn’t have assumed the rest. Yet, one thing was for sure, he really enjoyed his feast and didn’t even leave a single fry behind, he ate everything.

Tummy full and content, camera turned off, he wasn’t ready to leave, not yet. After telling the pretty waitress just how much he had enjoyed the meal and asking if he could come by next time and learn a few recipes, it turned out the waitress was actually the owner of the place, the one who had came up with the recipe herself, and she also liked to help out in the kitchen when she wasn’t helping customers.

“I would be really glad if you could show me some basic vegan meals I could make, they don’t have to be burgers. Of course, we can also talk about sponsorship as well,” Jin cut to the chaste after he had been enlightened about the person behind the whole concept of Burger & Land.

She smiled that wide smile of hers that seemed so endearing, almost like the sunshine peeking out from behind the clouds on a rainy day. He couldn’t help but smile back at her, the reaction seeming so natural and easy. No matter how pumped up, confused or overly excited he was, she could handle it well for the time being. He hoped that it would stay the same.

“Yes, sure. Let’s decide on the time then,” she suggested beamingly, and a few minutes later, Jin left the place with a full stomach, a sweet aftertaste in his mouth and a (strictly business-related) encounter for Friday after working hours.

No matter how many places Jin had already visited and no matter how many chefs he had already met, he was always looking forward to another encounter. This time was no different, he was definitely looking forward to meeting Jang Nara again, the petite, fairy-like waitress and the owner of Burger & Land with the widest smile he had ever seen. There was something enchanting about her, her whole persona was radiating warmth and kindness, so how could he not be excited for Friday?

When he arrived at the place at 9pm, it was closed as expected, but she had told him beforehand that he should come by from the backdoor, and so he did, gently knocking on the door before he would have come off as a sudden intruder.

When he opened the door and stepped inside, the girl was already in the middle of rushing to the door but stopped halfway when she caught sight of him and bowed politely.

“Hey!” Nara waved a bit, her smile stretching from one ear to the other. “I still need to do a bit of cleaning, but it won’t take longer than five minutes, so make yourself comfortable in the kitchen,” she suggested zealously and disappeared (probably) into the restaurant part of the place, leaving the boy alone.

He did as he was told, getting rid of his coat, pulling his fluffy, beige sweater’s sleeves up to his elbows and fishing out his little recipe notebook that he always had on himself in case he needed to jot down some recipes or ideas while he was commuting. Then, he looked around a bit in the cozy kitchen with neat, organized cutleries and kitchen essentials on multiple shelves. Cute little cactus pots occupied some empty places, painting the otherwise white and black scenery with a little bit of green. The aroma of some kind of scented candle (maybe vanilla and cinnamon?) lingered in the air, soothing the boy’s nerves with its sweet and warm fragrance.

He didn’t even have a lot of time to look around before Nara came back and put a cactus-patterned apron around her waist. She was so quick that Jin didn’t even have the time to suggest helping her, she was already finished by the time he could have opened his mouth.

“I’ve thought that we could make pad thai with crispy tofu and my favourite peanut butter-based sauce,” she suggested with a wide smile as she started putting the ingredients onto the counter. She was so organized and focused, he was already baffled by her professionalism even before she could actually show him anything.

“Sounds really good,” Jin exclaimed with an impressed whistle. “Can I help you with something?”

“I’m going to bring together all of the ingredients, so I don’t think you can help with it, but maybe you can put on an apron,” she explained and pointed at some aprons on a hanger by the door between the kitchen and the restaurant part of the place. “Though I’m not sure they will be to your liking because they are all for girls,” she added cheekily, and it was so fun to see this side of her.

Though Jin wasn’t one to be intimidated by pink aprons with hearts painted all over the material. In fact, he was actually pretty glad to wear something like that.

“Don’t worry for a second. Pink is my second name,” he joked around and flashed a confident grin. She immediately burst into laughter.

“Alright, Pink Jin. I’ll keep that in mind.” She winked at him before turning to a random cupboard and reaching for a chopping board.

Jin walked to the hanger with a smile plastered into his face, not quite believing what he had just witnessed. He wasn’t sure that she would be so free around him, especially not after his slightly awkward first question that should have probably not been asked at a vegan restaurant. Plus, somehow he always imagined owners of such places to be serious and no fun, he had actually met quite a few of them, but Jung Nara wasn’t one of them. Maybe it was because she seemed fairly young and she had such an authentic, homey place with not too much hype around it that she could let herself loose while still taking everything seriously. Or maybe she was always like this, he couldn’t tell for the time being.

“Are you ready?” Nara clapped her hands when Jin walked back to her and the ingredients were all placed on the counter.

“Yes, I’m ready.” He nodded and clapped his hands just like she did, earning a little giggle from her.

“Okay, so we are going to start by making the tofu because we are going to put them in the oven and bake them for around 30 minutes or until golden-brown,” she introduced zealously, bringing the chopping board, the tofu on a plate and a knife closer to them.

“I’ve never thought about baking tofu in the oven,” he admitted with a little laugh. He already liked this girl, it seemed that she liked extraordinary methods.

“Spicing them and then baking them will make the texture crispier,” Nara explained patiently, exchanging a glance with Jin before letting him chop up the tofu into bite-sized pieces while she was working on the tofu’s coating.

They worked together so well, and Jin really enjoyed that he also had something to do, she didn’t want to make everything on her own. It was much more fun this way. She was also a patient and enthusiastic chef with clear instructions and such hacks that he had never even encountered before. He was in awe more than he would have liked to admit, not just because of the cooking process and the recipe itself but also because of Nara’s personality that was like a ray of sunshine through the cloudy sky. 

She was like a delicate flower growing in a blossoming field but she had her own thorns as well, the responsibility of someone who owned such a place after her grandmother had died. Her mother was never interested in cooking, thus she would have abandoned the tteokbokki place, yet cooking was Nara’s everything and it was because of her grandmother that she had learned how to make her own dishes, so she couldn’t let it just go to waste. Even though no one in her family had their own business apart from her grandmother, she tried her best to make things work, and she learned from her own mistakes during the years. 

It wasn’t always easy, her vegan place was not even the most popular one in Seoul, but she was glad to have motivated and joyful employees and even the regular customers from nearby work places who had lunch at hers almost every day. She even told Jin that the name of the place was one of her friends’ idea: burger standing for the fact that she sold burgers and land for the other plant-based dishes she offered.

After finishing with the meal, they enjoyed a warm and delicious dinner by the scented candle’s light, sharing with each other the hardships of constantly evolving businesses and coming up with new recipes. Nara told him that it was difficult to have a daily lunch offer because she didn’t want to be too repetitive but at the same time it was sometimes bothersome to get every ingredient she wanted for certain dishes, so she had to be very clever with her choices. Plus, local and seasonal ingredients were a must, and she changed most of the burger options seasonally as well which was also challenging. 

He shared with her how many times he usually made something before he would call it a recipe and how he had to give his leftovers to his friends and relatives because wasting food was a big no-no, yet there were days when he made dishes all day and ended up with 16 servings of food all to himself. Plus, sponsors and financing were a tricky thing when he was his own boss and his content wasn’t something that people could directly pay for, so he had to find ways to earn money for his work, but he seemed to be balancing it out well.

Through their hardships and angst stories, they could actually get to know each other a lot better, and by the time they finished with their dinner, they had already agreed on cooking together next Tuesday as well. They even walked to the nearby metro station together after Nara had closed the shop, but they went different ways from there.

“See you on Tuesday then,” Nara bid her goodbye with one of her trademark smiles, waving in the man’s direction.

“If anything comes up, you know my number.” Jin winked playfully and waved back, watching as she hopped on the metro, looked out of its window with an equally wide smile he looked back at her.

There was just something about her than made him feel like he was enchanted, but oh how much he enjoyed it!

The more time they spent together, the more Jin liked spending time with Nara, and no matter what they cooked, what they talked about or how long of a silence fell upon the two of them, everything seemed so right. 

Those nights spent cooking together were always fun despite him sometimes being too weary and cranky after shooting videos for long hours or not being able to come up with the perfect recipe. If she could, she liked to help him out, thus the idea of shooting an actual cooking video with her came to his mind. 

At first, she objected fervently, saying that being on camera was really not her cup of tea, but after some little nudges and the ultimatum that if she didn’t like the final outcome, Jin wouldn’t upload the video, she gave in.

That’s how they found themselves in the Burger & Land kitchen, fully equipped and ready to kick off the shooting.

However, Jin noticed that the petite female played with the hem of her apron as if she had been a bit overwhelmed, so he asked playfully:

“Are you nervous?” he inquired with one of his trademark smiles, hoping that his attitude could melt the girl’s anxiety away.

“Yes.” She nodded almost immediately and let out a bit of a laughter. He had never really seen her in such a state and it surprised him. Though he really tended to forget that some people were not as used to cameras as he was, and that he didn’t feel intimidated anymore while shooting, but a lot of people had never really been filmed like this.

“But why?” he inquired further while busying himself looking around, making sure that they really had everything they needed on hand.

Nara giggled a bit hearing his question. She looked particularly fairy-like that day with her messy bun atop of her head and her long, colourful, heart-shaped earrings framing her beautiful face. Even if she would have been frustrated, she would have looked adorable, and one couldn’t change Jin’s mind about that.

“Because you are filming, obviously.” She huffed almost comically but he had the perfect response.

“Not because I’m too handsome?” He wiggled his eyebrows seductively, earning a whole-hearted, genuine laughter from the girl.

“Might as well be because of that,” she joked, her little giggle reminding him of the heartwarming twingles of Christmas bells. Gosh, when did he become so weak for her? He couldn’t quite pinpoint the exact moment, maybe it was already during their first encounter, maybe not. No matter what, one thing was for sure and that was the fact that her whole persona was charming and he couldn’t get enough of it.

“Are you ready?” Jin threw the same question at her as she had done when they first met, and he saw the realization flashing across her face. She flashed a little smile as she recalled the memory of their very first encounter.

“I’m ready.” She nodded confidently, letting out a long sigh before looking up at him again. He couldn’t help but smile seeing her nervousness, it was rather cute, but at the same time he felt a bit guilty for putting her in such a situation.

That’s why he didn’t even think when he put his hands on her shoulders and patted them.

“You’re going to be amazing! I know it!” He said as he gave her a thumbs-up. She smiled that sweet smile of hers, tucking a loose strand behind her ear.

He didn’t know if she believed her but she had done great nevertheless, talking casually and naturally finding a way to look between the camera and Jin’s face. They had made the same pad thai recipe she had showed him during their first encounter but as the food vlogger he was, he needed to add some extra ingredients like lemon zest into the sauce and sesame seeds and kale as additional toppings.

They worked together just as well as they always did, and even when they said something that was slightly embarrassing or unprofessional, they merely laughed it off and moved on. He had a feeling that Nara even forgot about the camera by the end because she stayed the same even when they had finished and he turned off the camera.

“How did you enjoy the recording?” Jin grinned at her, hoping for the best possible answer.

“It was actually pretty fun. At least more fun than I would have expected,” she admitted beamingly, getting rid of her apron and folding it in two, then putting it back onto the rack by the door.

Then, just as she walked back to the counter and stopped beside Seokjin, the food vlogger turned to face her and seriously spoke up.

“You did really well,” he whispered gently and smoothly leaned closer to her, pressing a chaste, soft kiss on her left cheek that turned into scarlet red the moment he backed away. The roses that were painted on her pale skin by his simple action were even more beautiful, almost mesmerizing. He didn’t regret his little kiss in the least, not when a blushful smile stretched across her lips, not when she looked away so coyly.

She didn’t reject him and she didn’t oppose, that’s what mattered the most.

Weeks passed by and after Jin had uploaded the edited video and it had received a massive amount of positive feedback, he decided to make the cooking session with Nara into a series - of course with her own consent. 

They had tried to make a lot of different dishes, not just main meals but desserts and snacks as well with easily accessible, seasonal ingredients, they had even made a video about student dorm-friendly, budget-friendly lunches. With time and practice, Nara got less and less nervous in front of the camera, and Jin’s chest swelled with pride whenever he looked at her while shooting a video together. Her features were much more relaxed and her smile was much more genuine and radiant on-camera than before, and he wanted to believe that he had also contributed to that outcome.

Of course Jin knew very well that he couldn’t make only vegan videos forever because his focus wasn’t just plant-based foods and also because Nara was busier than ever with Christmas getting closer and closer. So they decided to put an end to their collaboration for the time being, but it didn’t mean that he didn’t come back anymore. 

In fact, he had tried to come up with some plant-based recipes on his own and he loved when he could surprise her with his creations after an exhausting work day. Sometimes she finished by the time he arrived, but sometimes he decided to help her with the cleaning or washing the dishes because she could definitely use a helping hand, and he didn’t mind assisting her a bit.

It was after another time when he was helping her out and after Nara calling it a day with a clap of her hands, Jin let out a long sigh and turned to the girl.

“So I was thinking, would you like to go on a date with me?” he inquired out of the blue, the previous topic of favourite scented candles’ fragrances long forgotten.

Nara was apparently taken aback by his question, her eyebrows were delicately elevated after hearing his words. She blinked a few more times, her lips slowly yet surely being lifted up into a smile. The silence was seriously dancing on his nerves, but at the same time he was already weak for her, and he could have just looked at her for hours without getting mad or bored.

“Yes, I would love that,” she admitted with a wide, childish smile and took off her apron to put it on the reck. “Are we going to a restaurant?” she asked as she turned back to him, curiosity filling her beautiful, star-filled eyes.

“No.” He shook his head confidently and took a step closer to her. “I’m cooking for you. In my territory. All vegan, don’t worry,” he concluded his plan with a wide smile that grew even wider when she let out an airy giggle.

“I’d love that.” She nodded zealously, taking a step closer to the young man. 

Then, she looked up at him, the smile never leaving her lips, not even when he planted a kiss onto her rubin-coloured ones, their first kiss as sweet as the aftertaste of the vegan bounty cake they had previously shared.

Ishida’s Q&A comments from YJ compilation, Part 6

2014 is an interesting year since that’s when OG ended and :re began.

I said I’d finish this by the end of April, but clearly that’s not the case lol...I’ve given myself a personal deadline of May 10 which should give me enough time to finish it plus give enough time for people to send in their questions. I’ve also decided to make each part cover an entire year instead of half a year since I noticed I get more questions done that way.

For anyone who doesn’t know about the relevant Questions to Ishida contest, please read here. You can start from Part 1 here.

The recent set of zakki:re and interview translations take a lot of time and effort, so if you enjoyed it please reblog or leave a like. Thank you!

2014

No. 1

Just under a month left of this year! What do you want to do in this time you have left?

I want to go to the dentist.

Same here.

No. 2

What new feature do you want cell phones to be equipped with?

Shaking it to charge the battery.

It’d be great if I could charge the battery by just wishing for it.

No. 3

Only a few days remain of this year! What’s the best movie you’ve seen this year?

Life of Pi.

I was recommended it by a friend who loves movies. I enjoyed it.

No. 4-5

The final issue of this year!! What was the biggest news for you in 2013?

I got my wisdom teeth removed.

Got four of them pulled out.

No. 6-7

First issue sold in the new year! Please share with us your New Year’s resolutions!

Sleeping early and waking up early.

Good luck!

No. 8

What is the rarest item you own?

The handwritten recommendation I received from Togashi Yoshihiro-sensei.

I’ve got it on precious display even now.

No. 9

Already a month has passed since 2014 has begun! What is the tastiest food you’ve had this year so far?

The Chinese bok choy stir fry in my neighbourhood.

This year the grilled pork from this African restaurant has been the most delicious so far.

No. 10

What is your number 1 most unforgettable anime in your life?

Princess Mononoke.

This year it’s Devilman Crybaby and B: The Beginning.

No. 11

What is the most expensive purchase you’ve ever made?

An LCD tablet, I suppose.

The watch I bought for my editor to celebrate his promotion, probably.

No. 12

What place or object do you want to collect data for the most right now?

Tokyo.

Doesn’t matter so long as it interests me.

No. 13

Hinamatsuri is coming soon! What doll or figure do you want the most?

A half-naked figure of Darth Maul.

Yeah, I bought one. I also remember the one whose leg broke early on.

No. 14

What phrase do you often say without thinking?

When I’ve remember something I say, “Got it.”

When I can’t remember something I say, “Let’s seeee...”

No. 15

What game have you been the most addicted to so far?

Gunparade March.

Bloodborne, I guess.

No. 16

It’s that time of year when plants start budding! What’s your favourite plant?

Tropical pitcher plants.

I’ve never even thought about it.

No. 17

When you stop by a convenience store, what do you usually end up buying?

Drinkable yogurt.

Hot hojicha.

No. 18

Which drama have you gone completely nuts over the most?

Aibou.

Game of Thrones and Breaking Bad.

No. 19

It’s back to school season! What school meal did you enjoy the most when you were a kid?

Walnut buns.

This is when I was living in Koiwa in Tokyo, but I really liked the shortcake there that was called “Kamikoiwa Elementary School cake”. I wonder if they still have it.

No. 20

What’s your favourite four-character compound word that you’ve taken a liking to?

“Mumikansou” (dull and uninteresting).

I was just answering whatever for that. For me it would be “shirimetsuretsu” (incoherent).

No. 21-22

Vacation season is coming soon. What vehicle do you want to ride in the most?

A yacht.

I don’t think that at all.

No. 23

What is your favourite ingredient in sushi?

Engawa.

I do think that.

No. 24

This question may seem out of nowhere, but what do you think you were in your previous life?

A stray dog.

I answered whatever for that one.

No. 25

What materials have you found the most useful when making your current series?

Photos of Tokyo taken by my editor.

Myself, I think.

No. 26

If it was possible, what story would you want to enter the world of?

Star Wars or Hunter x Hunter.

I’d die.

No. 27

It’s time to change clothes for the season! What is your favourite costume or attire (that you can appreciate)?

I think cosplay is amazing.

The question and the answer don’t match up...but is this question trying to expose the authors’ fetishes or something?

No. 28

June 18 is Onigiri Day! What’s your favourite onigiri filling?

Hard-boiled egg.

It’s plum!

No. 29

Which works are you eagerly awaiting the sequel for?

I’m curious about how Star Wars Episode VII will turn out.

It turned out that way.

No. 30

The rainy season is in full blast...what do you eat when you want to feel refreshed?

Soumen.

Probably soba, though soumen is fine too.

No. 31

Which manga character do you want to be friends with?

Tsukiyama.

I can tell you like Tsukiyama.

No. 32

What foods do you eat at night without thinking?

Recently it’s been tofu.

Recently it’s been celery.

No. 33

What’s your favourite attraction at an amusement park?

I’m scared of roller coasters.

The food court I guess.

No. 34

What’s the name of a character who you feel has good fashion sense?

Ei Bi from Kingdom.

It’s because his helmet looks like a shrimp.

No. 35

If you became an entertainer/celebrity for a day who would you want to be?

Shitara from Bananaman.

“That’s right”, huh.

[T/N: Probably one of Shitara’s punchlines during the Bananaman skits.]

No. 36-37

Summer II 24 hour television! What’s something that you can keep doing for 24 hours?

Working on manga.

Hahaha.

No. 38

It’s summer vacation season! What independent research project do you want to do now?

Study anatomy.

Are you feeling ill or something?

No. 39

What’s a mascot character that you like?

Darth Maul.

Kumamon of course!

No. 40

Which foreigners are you paying attention to now?

Orlando Bloom.

The character Jane from The Mentalist.

No. 41

What’s your mobile ringtone that you’ve set up or want to set up?

A rotary dial.

Anything is fine.

No. 42

What quote or proverb do you want to try saying once?

I have the higher ground!

Human life lasts only 50 years, Contrast human life with life of Geten, It is but a very dream and illusion.

[T/N: First quote is from Star Wars Episode III said by Obi-Wan Kenobi. Second quote is said by Oda Nobunaga.]

No. 43

If there was a showdown where you thought, “This is a great match!”, what would it be?

[On break.]

Naruto vs. Sasuke in the valley.

No. 44

Yearly present! If you could accept something what would you want?

[On break.]

Tasty nuts.

No. 45

Autumn is decorated with the colours of black tea! What picturesque scenery/secluded area do you want to visit once?

[On break.]

I think this break period was when I was drawing :re...

No. 46

If you could visit the house of a celebrity once, whose house would you visit?

Gackt-san’s.

Celine Dion’s house.

No. 47

When you see the phrase “last boss”, who comes to mind?

Ultimecia from Final Fantasy 8.

Pepsiman from Final Fantasy 9 is also hard to discount.

[T/N: He means Necron, but JP’s nickname for him is Pepsiman because...he looks a lot like Pepsiman.]

No. 48

Any fantasy creatures you want to be real?

Vampires.

Gods.

No. 49

If you could get your hands on a 3-D printer what’s the first thing that you’d want to make?

A bone sample.

I wouldn’t make it because it sounds like too much of a hassle.

No. 50

Any works that had an amazing ending?

Hoshikuzu Nina.

Amen to that.

No. 51

It’s chilly, any drinks you want because of this weather?

Water.

Hojicha!

No. 52

What group or team do you want to join?

supercell.

The Marvel heroes.

previous || next

Run With Him

by Jen Irwin

"Sonic?  SONIC!" Amy yelled, watching a blue blur disappear into the distance... again.  She slumped and sighed.  Why did he always have to run away?

"I love him!  Why doesn't he love me BACK?!" the pink hedgehog growled, stomping angrily away from the pool area toward Downtown Station Square.  She wandered out onto the sidewalk, passing by people and giving an occasional, but moody, hello to those she knew.  Sitting down on a bench, Amy sighed and stared at the ground, fighting back tears.  She'd do anything for Sonic, but he'd never even give her the time of day...  was he just really shy?  That would be hard to believe, he was never shy with anyone else, never seemed uncomfortable around other women.  Did he just find her repulsive or something?  That would be crazy; she was everything a cute girl hedgehog should be!  Amy could not think of an explanation for Sonic's behavior.  She just shook her head and sighed again. "Amy?" a young boy's voice called out.  "What's wrong, Amy?"  She looked up and saw Tails walking up to her, a few greasy smudges of dirt and oil scattered over his fur.  Apparently he'd been doing what he does best, working on some kind of machine.  He looked at her with genuine concern in his bright eyes, ears forward and alert. "Oh, it's Sonic again," she replied glumly.  "He still doesn't love me... why, Tails?"  She leaned forward a little, staring at the fox pleadingly.  "You've got to know!  You hang around him all the time!  What has he said about me!?  Does he hate me?  Is he just afraid of me?  What is it with him!?" Tails' ears twitched back a little.  It was this same old subject again.  "Uhh...  actually he never really says much of anything about you."  He took a slight step back, gaze sliding off to the side as he had no idea how to approach the situation.  He didn't want to upset Amy, but he honestly had no idea why Sonic acted the way he did.  Tails had never bothered to ask, really. "But do you have any ideas!?  Come on, Tails, you're a smart kid, you should know these things!" "Heh, I'm a good builder, but I don't know anything about love!  Come on, I'm only eight!" Amy backed off a little.  She didn't like the fact, but Tails was right; perhaps he wasn't exactly the authority on feelings.  She could see he was uncomfortable just being put in this situation.  "Oh... thanks anyway," she mumbled, going back to staring at the ground.  Tails' ears returned to their normal straightness as he sensed he was 'free to go.'  "Don't worry, Amy," he said, trying to reassure her.  "I'm sure something will happen eventually!  Well, I gotta be going, so I'll see ya later!"  He jogged past the bench and disappeared around a corner. The pink hedgehog stood up.  No sense in moping around... she decided to walk for a while, maybe grab something (healthy, of course) to eat.  She started off down the sidewalk, head down, still in deep thought. Amy didn't have time to react as a door ahead of her swung open and a human stepped out directly in front of her, not realizing she was there.  She let out a slight yelp of surprise as she bumped right into the person's leg, then stumbled back a bit, looking up and starting to hastily utter an apology.  The apology was cut short by a scream. "AAAH!!  DR. ROBOTNIK!!"  She stared helplessly up at him, cowering in terror.  Normally she might not be so afraid of him, but he certainly did surprise her.  Then she realized his look wasn't at all hostile.  In fact... "Oh...  Amy, I didn't see you there!  My apologies; are you alright?" The cowering stopped, turning into total confusion.  "...Robotnik??" Amy asked, wondering if it was actually him, or if he just wasn't feeling well or something. "Ah, surprised to see me not trying to take over the world?  Heh, I don't come to the city that often on my 'off days.'  I'm on a bit of a vacation, you see."  He reached up and adjusted his glasses slightly.  "I just stopped in to see what kind of electronics they're offering these days and grab some lunch." The hedgehog looked up at him, eyes narrowed slightly in suspicion.  Was he just acting nice as a trick?  Though, he really did seem quite genuinely calm and polite at the moment.  Her eyes widened as she saw him smile somewhat amusedly - SMILE, mind you - and say, "Suspicious, are we?  I suppose you have reason to be, heh.  Well, I'll be on my way; farewell."  He gave a respectful nod, much to Amy's growing surprise, and started to walk down the sidewalk.  She realized something.  The people who were around the square weren't reacting to Dr. Robotnik in an extreme manner; sure, he got a few stares and people were whispering, but nobody was screaming in a panic.  Amy recalled now that she did hear of the mad scientist occasionally making non-hostile appearances in the city... heck, she once heard a rumor that he actually helped repair machinery for people sometimes.  Maybe it wasn't just a rumor? "...Wait!" she yelled, jogging after him.  He stopped and turned, looking over his shoulder.  "Um, I guess I was just surprised, heh, sorry I ran into you," Amy continued.  Robotnik made a casual, dismissive gesture with one large hand, saying, "Think nothing of it; I'm just glad you weren't hurt."  Figuring that was all she had to say, he nodded again and continued walking. Amy stood there staring at his back as she realized something.  Robotnik was, in fact, the only person who had known Sonic longer than Tails had.  And he was, what, 45?  He had to have SOME experience in life from all those years...  She sprung into a run, catching up with him in a few brief seconds, then walked along at his side.  Suddenly she felt really dumb.  Why would she be asking Robotnik, of all people, about how to deal with Sonic? ...well, she was desperate, and there was no one else TO ask... "Umm, Robotnik," Amy started hesitantly.  "Have... err... have you ever had a girlfriend?" He thought the question was very strange, but was extremely curious as to where this was leading.  "Well, I've had a few flames in my time, yes... why?" "I--I was just wondering what a guy really looks for in a girl, you know?" Amy felt REALLY dumb now.  In her effort to avoid asking something awkward, she asked something even more awkward. "Depends on the man in question," he said matter-of-factly.  "Everyone wants something different.  I always favored a smart-mouthed, sassy but brilliant sort.  You know, kind of like me."  He chuckled.  He didn't even have to guess who this was about now... he already knew.  "Are you having trouble with Sonic again?" "Yeah," she replied, still staring at the ground as she walked.  She kicked a small rock off the sidewalk.  "I love him!  I wanna marry him and have a bunch of little hedgehog babies!" she blurted out in frustration.  "But he hates me!" "Aren't you a little young to be thinking about marriage?" he asked amusedly.  "You're, what, 12?  Give yourself time to enjoy life before settling down, lass!" "But I've always wanted to be Sonic's wife!  Why doesn't anyone understand?" Robotnik stopped.  Amy took a few steps before she realized this and turned around, looking up at him.  He was standing by the door to the burger shop, hands in his pockets.  With a slight grin, he tilted his head toward the door briefly.  "You hungry?  This is gonna take a while." Though the situation was a little strange, Amy WAS pretty hungry.  She followed Robotnik into the shop and looked over the menu.  Nothing healthy... except the tofu burgers, but despite her careful diet, Amy didn't like that stuff at all.  Robotnik leaned one arm on the counter and looked down at her expectantly, waiting for her to order first. "Aww, come on," he said, noticing that she seemed to have some trouble deciding, also knowing how fanatic she was about losing weight.  "What's one cheeseburger gonna do?  You'll have to eat a lot of them before you end up like me!" "Heh, well... yeah, I guess you have a point.  I'll take, uh, a number 3 meal with a..."  Well... no harm in a little indulgence once in a while, right?  "...large strawberry shake." "That's the spirit!" Robotnik said, chuckling.  He turned to the cashier, waiting briefly for the first order to be punched in, then said, "I'll have 3 double cheeseburgers, a large order of fries and a large Dr Pepper.  For here."  He casually flicked a $20 bill seemingly out of his sleeve and handed it to the cashier. Once Robotnik got the change back, he gestured at one of the few booths in the tiny restaurant and looked at Amy.  She sat down, noticing that he didn't sit until she did.  Those rumors about him being such a gentleman under normal circumstances were true...! "So, you say you love Sonic," he said, leaning comfortably back in his side of the booth.  "But you think he hates you.  Why?  Because he always runs away?" "Yeah...  and he's NOT shy, I know that much.  He's never flighty around any other girls.  And you know how much of a showoff he is." "Heh, indeed, I know it all too well.  But just because he runs away doesn't mean he hates you.  I seriously doubt he even dislikes you; don't you recall all the times he's saved you when you were in trouble?" Robotnik asked.  "I sure do," he added with a chuckle. "He only saves me because he's the hero... he HAS to," Amy said, folding her arms with a sigh. "Not true...  do you remember the day on the ARK, when I came very close to eliminating Sonic altogether?"  Robotnik actually assumed a faintly apologetic look when Amy glared at him, remembering that.  "Do you remember the way he looked at you when he said, 'Take care of yourself?'" he asked. Amy thought hard for a moment.  In the terror of that situation, she hadn't really noticed a little detail such as that at the time, but now, thinking back... she DID recall that Sonic did seem to look at her with even more worry and caring than when he spoke to Tails.  If he really had fallen that day... she would have been the last person he spoke to. "You noticed that?" she asked, snapping out of her memories and looking up at Robotnik.  His look softened just a bit and he smiled again, a bit sadly, saying, "It made me feel bad to press the button..." Amy stared.  She opened her mouth to say something when suddenly she realized the waiter was approaching the table.  Robotnik realized it, too, and with a quick, "Oh!  Food's here," he moved the silverware out of the way so the dishes could be placed down easily, then nodded a thanks to the waiter and took a drink.  "Ah, yes.  Good stuff." "You... felt bad about it?" Amy asked, picking up a nearby bottle of ketchup and shaking it briefly.  "Why did you do it?"  She opened the bottle and poured some out onto her plate, then set the bottle down. Robotnik shrugged slightly.  "I was out of my mind.  I knew what I was doing... didn't really want to... but felt I had to."  His tone was quieter than usual, betraying a feeling of regret. "But, this isn't about me," he piped up suddenly before Amy could say anything, returning to his previous calm and confident self, "As I was saying, I don't think Sonic dislikes you.  I think he has a certain fondness for you, but..."  He paused, pouring some ketchup onto his own plate.  "Perhaps you're not letting him show it." "WHAT!?" Amy barked, instantly riled up.  "I've given him every invitation to show he loves me!  What are you talking about!?" "Now, just think about this for a moment, Amy," Robotnik said, holding up a hand toward her in a calming gesture.  "How often have you let him actually speak much?  How many times have you tried to meet up with him just to chill out instead of trying to get him to make plans for marriage and kids?"  He lowered his hand to the table, taking a couple fries to eat while he waited for Amy to ponder his questions. She was silent for a moment, then asked, "But... why doesn't he like my ideas?  I don't get it..." "Lemme tell you something about Sonic," Robotnik said with a slight grin, swallowing a couple more fries before continuing.  "He is the definition of a free man.  You say you love him, but I don't think you really know him.  You might say he won't let you get to know him, but I'm pretty sure I know a way that you can." "Really!?  What is it?"  Amy practically lunged across the table, eager to hear. "Run with him." "What?" the hedgehog asked confusedly, chomping into a couple of fries in frustration.  "But he never lets me get near him!  And he's too fast!" Robotnik shook his head.  "You don't have to keep up with him...  I've seen him grab Tails and Knuckles and blast off with them when they all needed a boost.  He trusts his friends, that's why he does that for them.  He knows they won't hold him back." Amy frowned.  "He... he thinks I'd hold him back?" "That's exactly what you've been trying to do with him, Amy.  You've tried to keep him in one place... all to yourself, not wanting to let him have space of his own.  Listen, you love him because he's a smart, fast, and presumably good looking 'hog, right?" "Of course!" "Do you realize how much it would change him to get married and have kids?  Right now the guy has no responsibility whatsoever.  He doesn't even consider fighting me a 'job'..."  Robotnik chuckled a bit.  "He does that purely for the adventure."  He took a bite out of one of the double cheeseburgers, letting that bit of information sink in.  "In wanting to marry him and start a family, you're asking Sonic to take on a pretty big responsibility... one that would require him to avoid adventuring so he could take care of said family." Amy looked down at the table, brow furrowing in thought.  "But I always wanted a family..." "That will come in time, Amy.  You and Sonic aren't going to be kids forever... and if there isn't something wrong with him, I'm quite sure there will come a day when he'll want to marry just as much as you do." "So... what do I do until then?" "Don't worry so much about being a wife and mother... start being a kid while you still can.  You look up to him because he's strong and adventurous... why don't you adventure with him, and see what that life of freedom is like for yourself?  You might like it!" The hedgehog looked up from the table after a moment of silent eating, then smiled a bit.  "...Thanks, Robotnik.  I never thought about it that way before." The large man finished one cheeseburger, took a drink and nodded, saying, "I've seen you and Sonic struggle for so long, and I think it would be nice if you could actually enjoy each others' company." "Really...?  But...  why do you even care?  I didn't think YOU liked any of us much, either."  Amy looked at Robotnik, confusion in her expression as she put him on the spot again, trying to pry into his psyche. He wondered whether he should open up to her.  Pondering this, he ate a couple more fries, then said, "You know how Knuckles and Sonic fight sometimes, but Knuckles is pretty much Sonic's best friend, excluding Tails, who functions as more of a little brother?" "Yeah, heh, it's funny when those two fight over silly rocks," Amy remarked. Robotnik looked straight at her and said, "Sonic and I are a lot like that, too."  He picked up the second cheeseburger and took a bite out of it.  Amy just sat there, mildly stunned.  What he just said was absolutely true, but she'd never really perceived it before.  "So... you actually want Sonic to be happy?" she asked. "Why not?  I'm not a cruel, heartless madman... sometimes I might seem that way, when I'm really out of it...  When I AM sound of mind, I'm actually quite a nice guy; nothing stopping me from helping out a friend when I can."  He grinned faintly. Amy fell silent with this new information, having a difficult time processing it, though she realized it made perfect sense.  In the next several minutes, the two just relaxed and finished up their meals.  This was the best-tasting food she'd had in a long time... especially the shake. "Thanks for the lunch!" Amy said, pushing the empty plate and glass off to the side of the table.  "Never thought I'd be having lunch with you, heh!"  Robotnik wiped off his hands and mouth with a napkin, then dropped that on his empty plate.  "Not a problem, I enjoyed it."  He stood up, offering a hand for her to pull herself out of the booth easily on.  She hesitated to take it, just because it was very strange to see him doing such a thing.  She let a slightly amused but appreciative smile cross her face and gripped his hand, using it to make hopping out of the booth that much easier. The two walked out of the shop feeling quite full and satisfied.  "Well, I suppose it would be a good idea for you to go and find Sonic, hmm?" Robotnik asked, dusting off his sleeve casually.  Amy grinned brightly and exclaimed, "Yeah!  I'm gonna go find him!  Thanks again, Robotnik!"  She dashed past him and headed toward the beach.  He watched her round a corner and disappear, then chuckled to himself and turned to walk to his next destination, silently wishing her luck. Amy ran down the beach, having to go over a bridge or two before she did find Sonic relaxing under a big beach umbrella, sound asleep.  She approached him quietly and then sat down with her legs folded under her, watching him sleep for a few minutes. Robotnik was right... Sonic was meant to be free of all responsibility.  Amy recalled all of the grown, married men she had seen walking down the street every day, how they usually looked happy but still with the stresses of everyday living evident in their eyes and the way they acted.  She tried to imagine what Sonic would be like in that manner and realized that he would probably be quite miserable...  and all this time, she had been asking - DEMANDING - that he do just that for her.  No wonder he stayed away from her. Sonic stirred a little, then opened his eyes as he sensed through his brief half-consciousness that someone was right next to him.  When he saw who it was, he lurched back a bit, startled.  "Ahh!  Amy!  W-what are you doing here!?" "Sonic, it's okay...  I've, ah, been doing some thinking, and I just... well, I'm sorry for all the times I've annoyed you so much," she said calmly.  He stared at her with a strange look on his face.  It wasn't like her to be so calm around him, and the look in her eyes was a clear, lucid one, not the starry gaze he was used to seeing. "Well," the blue hedgehog said, "You don't have to be... sorry."  He was confused as to why she would suddenly come up with this out of nowhere. "Okay, well, feel like going for a run?"  Amy grinned, not wanting to bore him with the past.  Sonic blinked.  She'd never actually asked him something like that before, she was always wanting to go shopping or other girly activities...  "Uh, sure!" he exclaimed.  He was quite pleasantly surprised at this turn of events. The two stood up and Sonic immediately started to stretch, getting his muscles loosened up, and he made sure his shoes were on tight.  He looked at Amy and started into a jog, watching her jump to his side and happily stay right along with him while he gradually increased speed, running easily over the sand. The strangeness of the situation began to fade as the speed picked up and he began to lose himself in the sheer pleasure of just running.  He noticed that Amy was keeping up with him quite well - she'd become a much faster runner in recent years by always chasing him around.  Their feet thumped loudly on a long wooden bridge with lots of sharp turns and they sailed easily off of a jump booster to another small island, springing up from landing and hurtling along the path that Sonic had memorized for maximum speed long ago.  He got to the point of wanting to turn his feet loose and sprint as fast as he could, but he didn't want to leave his running partner behind... Amy gasped slightly as she felt a sharp tug on her arm and she was literally pulled into the air.  Suddenly she was moving much faster than usual, sailing out behind Sonic by one arm and watching the ground pass by so fast it became a crazy blur.  She was scared for a moment, as anyone would be when out of control of the situation, then remembered who WAS in control. Sonic felt her hand grip tightly to his arm and, knowing she was secure, poured on all the speed he had.  The two turned into one big blur in a matter of seconds, blasting through the sound barrier and taking incredibly sharp turns despite the fact that they were moving so fast.  Springs and speed boosters along the path, which became lush with green grass and lots of vegetation for a stretch, added to the haste; the risk; the freedom.  They could go anywhere, take any alternate route they wanted.  Sonic would change direction almost at random to fill the trip with surprises for Amy, grinning to himself when he heard her shriek and then laugh with glee behind him. Feeling the wind whipping through his quills as he flew off a final jump booster and sprinted down the home stretch, Sonic realized how good he felt despite Amy being right with him.  Usually he felt like he was expected to behave a certain way around her or risk her wrath...  he expected endless marriage proposals and plans for a family, but this time, all Amy wanted to do was run with him.  This was a very pleasant change, one that he had wanted for a long time now. The rusted heap of one of Robotnik's old holding capsules stood at the very end of the beach where Sonic skidded to a quick stop, spinning around on his axis a few times to slow Amy's momentum so she wouldn't stop with a potentially painful jerk to her arm.  Once the momentum lost its force, he let her to the ground. "That was awesome, Sonic!"  The pink hedgehog grinned up at him, then suddenly tackled him before he could say anything.  He yelped in surprise, hitting the ground and rolling over the sand with her for several feet, both of them laughing as if it were just a game by the time they came to a stop.  Neither even got a bruise, considering hedgehogs are inherently very good at taking a tumble.  Amy landed squarely on Sonic with a thump, then looked down at him, smiling hopefully.  She didn't want to make him nervous now, but certainly liked the idea of cuddling him... He opened his eyes and met her gaze, realizing for a moment just what situation he was in.  But... it was different this time.  She wasn't cutting off his circulation by possessively clinging to him.  She wasn't raving about future plans or telling him that he needed to move in with her at her house.  In fact, he felt quite relaxed, partially due to the fact that she was also relaxed and really enjoying the moment. "Amy, what... what brought this on?  I've never seen you like this before," Sonic said, smiling slightly with confused curiosity. "Heh, well..."  She glanced very briefly at the rusted capsule nearby, then grinned.  "I... asked a friend of yours about you.  Found out some things I didn't know before." Assuming he knew who she was talking about, he said, "You did?  But...  Tails has told me a lot in the past that you talked to him, and nothing changed then." "It wasn't Tails," Amy said, mischief evident in her voice. "...Knuckles!?"  He couldn't believe she would actually be desperate enough to approach the echidna on the subject of her feelings. "Not him either!" she replied, giggling. Sonic shook his head and gave her a humorously confused look, grinning a little. "But nobody else knows me better than they do!" "Are you sure about that?  Hehe..."  She shot another glance at the capsule.  He noticed her look this time and his expression went from confused to totally amazed.  "Wait a minute... are you telling me you asked...?" Amy laughed.  "Robotnik knows a lot more about you than you'd think, Sonic!  You should have heard what he had to say about you!  He's actually a really nice guy, you know?  It was neat to talk to him!"  She smiled a bit, her voice becoming a little more quiet.  "I just wanted to make you happy, you know... that's why I ended up asking him about you." "You went through the trouble of dealing with that egghead just for me?" Sonic asked with a large, amused grin.  "Well, thanks, Amy...  I didn't think you'd do something like THAT, that's crazy!" She giggled, looking down at him with a loving stare and saying, "Well, they do say love makes you crazy."  He said nothing in reply, instead just staring back up at her through half-lidded eyes with a comfortable, relaxed smile.  She raised a hand to gently run her fingers along the side of his face and shivered very slightly when she felt one of his hands rest on her back. Sonic had, in a way, always wanted something like this, but he never consciously thought about it.  He liked having someone to share an adventure with; usually Tails and Knuckles fit that part nicely, but now he realized that Amy could make a great partner too... and hey, let's face it - under the right circumstances, even he liked a little romance.  At present, the circumstances couldn't have been more right.  As Robotnik had told Amy, Sonic valued freedom above all else, and now Amy was enjoying that with him - they didn't have a care in the world. He shut his eyes, sighing happily.  Amy let her forehead rest against his and closed her eyes too, just listening to his slow, even breathing.  Feeling the closeness and warmth, his breath on her face...  she couldn't contain herself.  Knowing she was taking a rather large risk - but that she was supposed to live for risks now - she slid her hand to the side of his jaw and pressed her lips against his in a gentle, lingering kiss.  He was startled for a moment; she expected this, considering she was pretty sure he'd never kissed anyone before.  Neither had she, actually, but she watched enough chick flicks to know how it's supposedly meant to be done...  Amy broke the kiss and pulled back very slightly, opening her eyes halfway to see his reaction. Sonic's eyes opened a little and he looked up at her with a gentle expression on his face, as if he didn't really know what to do, but was certainly enjoying the moment anyway.  She took that as a sign that she could continue and kissed him again, avoiding being too forceful like she would have in the past. When he started to kiss back - although he wasn't very good at it, she noted in amusement, but he'd certainly get better with practice - it became obvious that he did indeed have feelings for her.  Now that she wasn't smothering him, he was able to show them...  and he seemed quite happy to do so, much to her delight. Back in the city, Tails and Robotnik had run into each other and had a discussion about alternative energy types for a small project Tails was working on.  "...yeah, I might try the rings!  I noticed this is something you recently started doing, huh?" the young fox asked.  Robotnik nodded.  "It's much more efficient than my original methods.  Use caution, though; those rings have quite a lot of energy in them.  You only need one to power a robot indefinitely." Tails grinned up at his fellow genius mechanic.  "That usually seems to be the rule of rings:  You only need one!  Heh heh.  Well, I guess I'll be heading back home.  By the way, have you seen Sonic around here?  I haven't seen him in a while." Reminded of his rival, Robotnik grinned slightly.  "Well...  I did have a discussion with Amy about Sonic, and I suppose you should know that I managed to convince her of a few things that would give her the ability to get along with him quite well.  ...I think they're both rather busy at the moment.  You might not see either of them for a few days!"  He chuckled a bit as he saw Tails' reaction.  The fox's ears slowly drooped down and he got that 'why me' look on his face.  "Oh, NO," he moaned, "You got Amy and Sonic together!?  Now Sonic's going to be acting all lovey-dovey and WEIRD!" Robotnik laughed, reaching down to ruffle the fur on top of Tails' head reassuringly.  "Ah, I doubt Sonic will act that weird.  I know you're still young and you don't understand teenage emotions yet, but at least now you won't have to hear him complain whenever Amy shows up, right?" "Heh, yeah, that's true!" Tails snickered a bit, his ears perking up again.  "Well, I guess I'll see him when I see him," he said wryly.  "Thanks for the info on the rings, gotta run!" The doctor watched the little fox run off toward the train station, then slowly started to walk toward the front of the city to the shoreline, suddenly in deep thought.  He felt his mind clouding up with a lust for power again as realizations pieced together...  briefly, dismay struck him as he knew he was losing his mind, but an instant later he didn't care.  He mumbled quietly to himself, "Tails is working with an unfamiliar concept, and Sonic is distracted..." "...heh heh... heheheh... eh hehhehehehehhh..." He leapt up into the escape pod that he parked next to a little boat at the shore, saying to himself, "Ah, Ivo, you're a GENIUS, even when you aren't trying!  Muaahahahaha!"  By this time, people were looking at him strangely.  He turned the pod around to face the city briefly and yelled with a grand gesture of one arm, "See you soon, citizens of Station Square... when I'm sitting in the President's seat!  MUAHAHAHAAHAHAAAAA!" The madman flew off quickly, leaving everyone rolling their eyes and shaking their heads, until people started murmuring, "Well, guess we better let Sonic know," and asking each other if they'd seen him.  It quickly became apparent that nobody knew where he was.  Generally they would have at least had some idea... As Dr. Robotnik's laugh faded into the distance, the reality that things may be a little harder than usual this time sunk in with the citizens, and they all retreated into their homes to anxiously await the next time they'd spot Sonic.

Festive Misfortune

Summary: Being lactose intolerant sucks. Being lactose intolerant during the Christmas season sucks even more.

Or, Tony tries to give his kid a carefree holiday party for once by serving a completely dairy-free menu. But of course, Parker Luck™ strikes again.

(In the same universe as Spider-Man’s Very Mundane Kryptonite and Face God and Walk Backwards Into Hell, but you can read them in any order)

Word count: 1,953

Genre: Fluffy illness, sickfic, Christmas theme

Link to read on Ao3

“So, you’re saying I can eat everything here?” Peter asked in amazement, eyes scanning the overflowing buffet table at the Avengers team Christmas dinner. “Including the lasagna?”

Tony nodded. “Every single dish. I catered the entire event from a restaurant specifically specializing in allergen-free dishes. Despite how it may look, there’s not a drop of dairy in sight.”

“So”—Peter moved over to the dessert section of the table—”the cannolis? The tiramisu?” He looked up at his mentor, near giddy with delight. “Even the cheesecake?!”

Tony chuckled. “For once, knock yourself out, kid.”

For just a second, Peter looked like he might cry. He settled for pulling Tony into a bone-crushing hug. “Mr. Stark, this is the best Christmas ever,” he said sincerely.

X

As expected, dinner was a rousing affair. The team joked and laughed as they ate, sharing anecdotes and recounting past missions with each other. With the exception of maybe two dishes that had weird textures, the catered dairy-free food was all surprisingly good. Peter tried a little of everything, gushing his thanks to his mentor the entire time to the point that Tony felt a little bad for not having done this before. Everyone agreed the crème brûlée topped tofu-cheesecake was the star of the show; Tony watched fondly as the kid polished off his third slice.

Once dinner was finished, the team moved into the common area living room to decide on a movie to watch. Or attempt to decide on a movie anyway.

“White Christmas,” Bruce said. “Hands down, best Christmas film of all time.”

“You can’t be serious,” Clint balked at him. He made eye contact with Tony. “Home Alone. That kid is a tactical mastermind.”

“I vote Die Hard,” Natasha said.

“That’s not a real Christmas movie,” Wanda complained. “I want to see Charlie Brown in English. I’ve only ever seen it dubbed in Sokovian.”

“Nah man, you gotta do the Grinch,” Sam said, walking in with a massive bowl of steaming popcorn.

Nat wrinkled up her nose. “Which version? Classic or Jim Carrey?” she asked as she snagged a handful of popcorn.

Sam shot her an offended look. “Jim Carrey is a classic.”

Steve was sulking in an armchair at the other end of the room. “I still vote Babes in Toyland,” he grumbled.

“Okay one, that definitely sounds like a porno,” Tony scoffed at him, “and two, that’s just because it’s the only one old enough for you to remember.”

“Hey,” Steve shot back, “I have the right to nostalgia just as much as the rest of you.”

“What about It’s a Wonderful Life or Miracle on 34th Street?” Bruce suggested. “Those have gotta be from your era, right?” He glanced up at the ceiling for confirmation.

“It’s a Wonderful Life, directed by Frank Capra, was released in 1946,” FRIDAY informed. “Miracle on 34th Street, directed by Les Mayfield, was released in 1947.”

Steve sighed and shook his head. “I was frozen in ‘45.”

“Ah.” Bruce winced. “Sorry.”

“Okay, I say we let the kid pick,” Tony declared over the chatter. “What do you say, Pete?” he asked, turning towards the unusually quiet teenager at the other end of the sofa.

Peter seemed caught off guard. “Oh. Um, I dunno…” He shrugged and shifted position, pulling his legs up and tucking his knees to the side. “I’m good with whatever.”

“C’mon, you gotta have some preference,” Tony pressed.

“I guess…I mean, the Grinch is always good. Or Christmas Vacation, maybe?” Peter suggested.

“Oh man, how did I forget about the Griswold family?” Clint exclaimed. “I’m changing my vote.”

“I’m down,” Sam agreed. “Exploding turkeys, insufferable relatives, electrocuted cats...what’s not to love?”

X

It turned out Clint could more or less quote the whole movie, and did so under his breath for the first five minutes solid until Nat threatened to silence him in a rather unsavory way. They were all much quieter after that.

The movie was amusing as always, but Tony was a little distracted. Peter kept shifting around on the sofa, only giving half-hearted laughs at the funny scenes. For the most part, his lips were pressed together tightly.

Tony frowned and leaned over to whisper at him. “You alright, kid?”

All traces of discomfort disappeared from Peter’s face as he quickly flashed his mentor a smile. “Yeah, of course.”

When they got to the swimming pool scene, Tony jokingly tossed a throw blanket over the kid’s head, blocking his view of the screen.

“Aw c’mon!” Peter complained, his voice a little muffled by the blanket. “It’s PG-13. You don’t even see anything.”

“No minors will be viewing sideboob under my roof, kiddo,” Tony declared.

Natasha smirked at him. “The hypocrisy is rampant.”

“Nah, I’m with Stark on this one,” Clint said. “Kid’s got plenty of time for that later.”

Wanda rolled her eyes. “You two are such dads.”

Still comically covered by the blanket, Peter got to his feet. “I’ll just use this opportunity to go to the bathroom,” he mumbled. “Enjoy your sideboob, everyone.”

The team snorted in laughter as the blanket-clad figure shuffled out of the living room.

X

When twenty minutes passed and Peter still hadn’t returned, Tony was starting to get antsy. Finally, he slipped off the couch and headed out to the hallway.

Upon discovering that the closest bathroom was unoccupied, he paused. “FRIDAY, where’s the kid?” he asked.

“Peter is currently in his bedroom,” the AI replied.

Tony’s brow furrowed. He’d just been teasing the kid about the sideboob thing—he honestly didn’t give a shit if Peter watched PG-13 or even R rated scenes for that matter. But maybe calling Peter out in front of a group of his literal heroes had embarrassed him more than Tony thought.

Figuring an apology was probably in order, he made his way up to Peter’s room. Technically, it was one of the guest bedrooms, but Peter stayed in it so often that it had morphed into his own space.

When Tony got there, he saw that the door was just slightly ajar. Through the gap, he could see Peter sprawled out face down on top of the bed, arms circled around his pillow which he was clutching to his stomach. His head was tilted away from the doorway so Tony only saw the back of it.

Tony hesitated a second before rapping the back of his knuckles against the door. “Hey kid? You planning on coming back?”

Peter pulled his head up and turned towards the doorway. Seeing his mentor, he immediately pushed himself up to sit up on the bed against the headboard. “Oh, sorry!” he gasped. “You didn’t pause the movie for me, right? Because you can totally keep playing it.”

Tony pushed the door open further and stepped inside. “They’re still watching, don’t worry,” he assured. “But you disappeared on us. What’s going on?”

Peter glanced down at the bedspread and shrugged. “Just got kinda tired. Wanted to lay down.”

Tony frowned as he moved closer to the bed. “Too tired to sit on a couch and watch a movie?” he questioned. “You feeling okay?”

“Yeah, fine,” Peter mumbled back, but his stomach cut him off with an angry-sounding growl. A grimace flashed across his features and Peter snaked an arm around his middle.

It was a gesture Tony knew all too well. He blinked at the kid. “You have a stomach ache.” It was a statement, not a question.

Peter gave him a sheepish look.

Tony blinked again. “Why the fuck do you have a stomach ache?” he demanded.

“Uh...sorry?” Peter mumbled.

“No, I didn’t mean-” Tony cut himself off with a frustrated sigh. “I just don’t get it. Nothing you ate should have had dairy, so why is this happening?”

Peter gave a half-laugh. “Welcome to my world, Mr. Stark.” He hugged the pillow back to his obviously cramping stomach. “It's fine—I'm used it it. I can’t even count the number of times I’ve ordered soy milk in drinks at Starbucks and got regular milk instead.” He shrugged. “Now I just get that iced tea lemonade thing when I go there.”

“This is unbelievable,” Tony muttered irritably. “FRIDAY, call up the catering company. I want to speak to their manager. Now.”

“No, no, it’s okay!” Peter said quickly. “You don’t have to get anyone in trouble! I’m sure it was just an accident.”

“No, they can’t get away with this shit,” Tony argued, the feeling of righteous anger rising in him. “If they’re gonna advertise their menu as dairy-free, it better be fucking dairy-free! I mean, what if you were someone who had an actual dairy allergy instead of an intolerance?” he demanded. “Then we’d be talking about anaphylactic shock, not an upset stomach. This is serious, Peter—they have to be held responsible.”

Peter rubbed a hand at the back of his neck awkwardly. “Yeah, so about that...”

“What?”

“Um…I wasn’t gonna tell you, but if you’re gonna yell at someone—” Peter steeled himself with a breath. “It might not be totally their fault?”

Tony narrowed his eyes at the kid. “What did you do?”

If possible, Peter looked even more uncomfortable. “Uh… it wasn’t really me either…” He glanced up at the ceiling nervously. “I was kinda checking with FRIDAY before you got here to see what might have gone wrong and it turns out this place has two different specialized menus you can order from.”

“Right.” Tony nodded slowly. He was well aware of that. “One is dairy-free, and the other is gluten-free. I ordered off the dairy-free one.”

Peter’s stomach grumbled again and he pressed a hand to it with a wince. “Yeah, so, the two menus have pretty similar sounding stuff…”

Realization suddenly dawned on Tony. “Oh my god,” he muttered, a sick feeling coming over him. “Tell me I didn’t…”

“No no, not everything!” Peter cut in. He gave a humorless laugh. “Trust me, Mr. Stark, I would be like, on the bathroom floor, praying for god to just finish the job if that were the case.”

That image didn’t make Tony feel even remotely better. He squeezed shut his eyes and pressed his fist to them. “Which dishes did I order wrong?”

“Just um… just the cheesecake,” Peter mumbled. His stomach grumbled again. “And like, also maybe the cannolis?”

Guilt flooded through Tony. “Great. Fantastic.” He huffed out a sigh. “I fucking poisoned you.”

“No, no it was an accident!” Peter said quickly. “And it was probably my fault anyway—I should have known there was no way that gloriousness was made of tofu,” he said with a half laugh.

Tony ran a hand over his face. With all the shit he usually gave the kid about eating things he knew would make him sick, knowing that for once Tony was the reason for Peter’s current suffering made him feel terrible. “God, kid, I’m so sorry.”

“It's fine! I wasn’t even gonna tell you because I knew you’d feel bad but then you found me and…” Suddenly Peter paled and hopped off the bed. “Um, I gotta go, be right back.”

“Pete, I swear I’m gonna make this up to you,” Tony called after the kid as he headed for the en suite bathroom. “Christmas is in five days and I am an actual billionaire, so dream big kiddo!”

Peter threw a mock salute in Tony’s direction as he scurried off. Just as he got to the door, he looked back and locked eyes with his mentor. “It was really good cheesecake, Mr. Stark,” he said sincerely.

As soon as the door was shut behind him, Tony let out another sigh and muttered at the ceiling, “FRIDAY, get my Audi dealer on the phone. Tell him I’ve got a rush order.”

Read Part 4 of the Lactose Intolerant Peter series

Fic Masterlist

Falling In love With You Ch. 4

Chapter 4. The Perfect Day

Bex stood in the bathroom doorway, her arms crossed over her chest. She watched her mom towel off her newly dyed hair. "Well, well. What do we have here?"

Celia turned from the sink. "What are you talking about?"

"You yelled at me for dying my hair, and you're dying your hair right now," Bex told her mother. "You're such a hypocrite!" She pointed her finger accusingly.

Celia sighed with annoyance. "Stop being dramatic, Rebecca. I'm just covering the grays. And I don't need your permission to do so, because I'm an adult, and you're a child."

Bex watched her mother thoughtfully. She'd never really noticed that many grays in Celia's sleek black hair; honestly, her mother's hair had looked the same throughout her whole life. But she knew her mother was more than a little vain, and afraid of getting older. It was kind of sad, in a way. She decided to let up a little. "I'm sorry, mom."

Celia gave her a quick nod as she dabbed some concealer under her eyes. "Mrs. Choi called this morning. She needs you to babysit Brittany Friday night."

"Friday?" Bex cried, her eyes widening. "I can't!" She and Bowie had plans that night. But she quickly shut her mouth. She couldn't very well tell her mother she had a date with her secret boyfriend.

"What do you have to do that's so important?" Celia asked her suspiciously.

"Nothing, I guess," Bex sighed, feeling that her mom could see into her very soul and sense any guilt she might be hiding. "I can do it."

"Good, because I already told her you would be there," her mom told her. "I'd rather you do something constructive with your time,  instead of sitting around watching cartoons all night. Babysitting will teach you responsibility."

"You're absolutely right, mom," Bex said. Brittany was a little monster, but even Bex realized she had a good thing going with her babysitting job. Might as well get paid to watch cartoons and eat the snacks the Choi's always had in their cupboard. She was sorry she wouldn't get to go out with Bowie, though.

"I have to get to school," she said. She hurried off, grabbing a small shopping bag on her way out.

****

"Got a present for you!" Bex chirped, meeting Bowie at his locker as soon as she arrived at school.

"A present?" Bowie smiled, turning to her. "What's the occasion?" He shoved his books in his locker and turned to her, giving her his full attention.

"Just because," she said. "I was thinking of you yesterday, and I wanted to get you something." She'd bought his gift at a new little shop on Main Street the day before, The Fringe. She bounced excitedly on the balls of her feet. "Close your eyes."

Bowie's eyes closed, his long lashes fanning out. Bex was about to put her gift in his hand when she was one eye flutter open. "No peeking!"

He chuckled, closing his eyes tighter.

"Okay," she said. "Hold out your hands and say... cowabunga!"

"Cowabunga?" Bowie scrunched up his nose as Bex laid a puka shell necklace in his open palms. He opened his eyes and smiled, studying the necklace. "This made you think of me?"

"Yeah!" she said. "It'll look hot on you! Like a surfer dude."

"I didn't know you liked surfer dudes," he winked, fingering the smooth white shells.

"You don't like it, do you?" Bex frowned. "You don't have to wear it if you don't want to."

Bowie's face brightened. "Are you kidding? It's totally tubular," he said in a fake California accent. "I love it, Bex. Put it on me?"

She took the necklace and fastened it around his neck. Then, she stepped back, enjoying the effect. "There. I knew it would look awesome on you."

"I'm glad you think so," he said, taking her in his arms and kissing her nose. "Because I'm never taking it off."

Bex craned her neck to kiss him on the lips.

"Thanks for thinking of me," he told her.  He gave her a tight hug. "Hey, do you have anything important going on today?" he asked, once they parted.

"No, I guess not. Why?" She looked up, into his eyes. They were sparkling with mischief.

"I'm planning to leave school a little early today," he said quietly, so only she could hear. "I was practicing with the band pretty late last night, and I didn't have a chance to study for my math test. I was thinking if you're up for a little adventure... you could play hooky with me?"

She narrowed her eyes, studying him carefully. "And how might we do that? Not that I'm not interested, because I am."

"It's easy," he said. "Meet me before lunch, and just follow my lead."

Bex's stomach fluttered a little with excitement. She'd cut class many times over the years, but those times were spent hiding out in the girls' bathroom or the library. She'd never actually left the premises.

"All I want to do is spend the whole day with you," he told her. "Maybe you could show me around town?"

Her eager smile brightened. "Bowie, you had me at adventure."

****

Just as Bowie had said, sneaking out of school was surprisingly easy.  Soon, they were walking down Main Street.

"It's like we have the whole town to ourselves," Bex observed. "There were few people on the streets, and no one paid them much attention. As long as they didn't draw attention to themselves, or run into anyone they knew, they could just relax and enjoy the afternoon.

Bex felt light and cheerful as they passed familiar shops and restaurants, hand in hand. There was something exciting about being away from school; a sense of danger, despite being perfectly safe, like watching a horror movie or riding a roller coaster.

"What do you want to do first?" Bowie asked her. "You're the native Shadysidean."

Bex looked around. Despite being totally free, they were still limited by Shadyside, itself. There wasn't a lot to do in the town at eleven-thirty am on a Wednesday. "Beats me." Her stomach growled loudly. All she'd eaten for breakfast was a bowl of soggy muesli, most of which, she'd dumped down the sink when her mom wasn't looking.

"Sounds like we're getting lunch first," Bowie teased. "What's a good place around here?"

"The pizza place is good," she told him. Her stomach growled again, and her mouth watered at the thought.

"Pizza it is, then," he agreed. "Lead the way."

They walked the short walk to the restaurant. The pizzeria was dimly lit, with cozy red booths, and smelled like heaven. Bex didn't get to go out to eat very often, so this in itself was exciting. Her mother was a health nut, and refused to feed her family junk. Bex savored every chance she had to eat food that didn't contain tofu or beansprouts.

She and Bowie chose a booth in the corner, away from the door, in case anyone they knew should walk by. While they waited for their waitress to take their order, Bowie reached across the table and took her hand, stroking it softly with his thumb. Bex looked over the menu, occasionally glancing over her shoulder.

"You okay?" Bowie asked, once their food was ordered and brought to them. "You seem kind of nervous."

"Maybe a little," she shrugged. "I've never done this before."

"Are you sorry you came?" he asked her, looking a little bewildered.

She shook her head, managing to smile. "No way. There's nowhere I'd rather be than right here with y-." Her eyes widened as she heard a familiar voice near the front of the restaurant. She could feel the color drain from her face, as she sneaked a peek behind her. "Oh no."

"What is it?" Bowie asked, following her gaze. "Who is that?"

"It's my dad," she hissed. "My dad is here." Panic rose in her chest. "He can't see me."

"Get under the table," Bowie said. "Hurry."

She slid down the booth and under the checkered tablecloth. She huddled on the floor, near Bowie's feet. Her heart sounded like a stampede of horses as her father walked past their table, to the counter, and ordered two slices of meat lover's pizza and a large soda (even though she was in panic mode, she silently applauded him for rebelling against Celia in his own way). She crossed her fingers he would take his lunch out, instead of eating in. And she let out a sigh of relief when he did leave.

"Hey," Bowie finally said, peeking under the tablecloth. "The coast is clear. Come on out."

She crawled out from under the table, still a little on edge. "That was a close one," she breathed. She and Bowie looked at each other from across the table, and they burst into laughter.

****

"So, what do you want to do now?" Bowie asked, after they'd eaten and left the restaurant.

Bex shrugged. "I could go for ice cream."

"Ice cream sounds good," he nodded.

"There's a good place down the street," she told him.  She pointed down the block to a small shop. Despite still being a little shaken from her close call with her dad, she was still in a good mood. "They make the best vanilla."

"I never took you for a vanilla kind of girl," Bowie said.

She gave him a curious look. "What do you mean?"

"Vanilla's kind of boring," he told her. "And you're definitely not boring."

She laughed. "Do you ever wonder why vanilla flavored things are always white, when vanilla beans are black?"

"I actually never thought about that," he said, scratching his chin. "But wouldn't black ice cream be kind of unappetizing?"

"Yeah, I guess you're right," she agreed. "But trust me on this, their vanilla is amazing."

They got to the ice cream parlor and ordered two vanilla cones. They licked them as they walked down the street.

"Hmm," Bowie frowned.

"What's wrong?" Bex asked. She turned to look at him.

"This tastes funny," he said, staring at his cone and sticking his tongue out.

"Mine tastes fine," she told him, taking another cautious lick. It was cold, rich, and sweet, like always.

"It smells weird too," he said, sniffing it and making a disgusted face.

She stopped, furrowing her brow. "Really? Let me smell it."

Bowie held the cone up to her nose and she sniffed it. The next thing she knew, her nose was covered in ice cream. "Bowie!" she cried. "What the heck?"

"Gotcha," he laughed.

He handed her a napkin, and she cleaned her face, giggling. "Is it off?"

"Yeah," he nodded. He frowned. "Wait, you missed a spot."

"Where?" she asked, touching her cheek.

"Right here," he said, dotting her chin with the cone.

"Bowie!" she gasped through laughter, as melted ice cream dripped down her chin. She lunged for him, but he was too fast. "I'm going to get you for that!" she shouted, trying to catch him.

"Not if I get you first," he teased. He grabbed her in his arms and tickled her.

"Bowie," she laughed. "Stop! I'm gonna pee my pants!" She'd never laughed so hard in her life. Her ribs ached, and she was out of breath. "Truce!"

He stopped tickling her and wrapped her in a hug. "I'm sorry," he winked. "I couldn't resist. You're too easy."

"It's okay," she said, rolling her eyes. "I like that we can tease each other."

He cleaned the ice cream off her chin and gave her a soft kiss.

"Don't get too comfortable though," she reminded him. "Because revenge is imminent."

"Do your worst," he said, leaning in to steal another kiss.

****

After getting ice cream, Bex and Bowie went to the mall. It was a relatively safe place to hide out; Celia hated shopping at the mall, and Ham hated shopping in general, so there was little chance of running into her family. They bought tickets to a movie, as well as a popcorn and a soda to share, and found seats in the empty theater. It was the perfect place to lay low; it was such a weird hour that no one was there but them, other than an elderly couple, and it would be dark when the movie started.

That sat toward to middle, and took turns answering the trivia questions on the screen. Bowie cracked her up by throwing popcorn in the air and trying to catch it in his mouth. And she impressed him by actually being able to do it.

Finally, the lights grew dim and the movie started. Bex reached into the popcorn bucket and popped a kernel in her mouth. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Bowie pretend to yawn, and discreetly slip his arm around her. "Smooth," she whispered.

"I thought so," he chuckled.

She leaned into his embrace, laying her head on his shoulder, as he leaned down to kiss her.

****

When the movie ended, Bex and Bowie left the theater. It was getting dangerously close to three o'clock, when school would let out. "I have to go," she told him. "My parents will kill me if they find out I cut school today. I have to beat them home."

"Okay," he said, reluctantly.

She understood how he felt. It had been a perfect day, from getting pizza, to making out in the movie theater and nearly getting kicked out by the usher. She hated to see it end. She wished she could tuck it all away in her memory box. At least she had her ticket stub to remember it by. And she had a feeling there would plenty more adventures coming her way, with Bowie in her life. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. "Thanks for an awesome day."

"Any time," he smiled, kissing her again. He had a smudge of her lipstick on his face from their make out session.

She wiped the lipstick away with her thumb. "See you tomorrow?"

He nodded. "I'll meet you at your locker." He pulled her closer, hugging her tight.

"Okay, I've really got to go," she said, once they finally parted. She started to walk away, then paused, and turned back to him. "And Bowie?"

"Yeah?"

She smiled. "Don't think charming me will make me forget about paying you back for that ice cream stunt."

Bowie laughed. "I wouldn't dream of it."

****

Bex ran home as fast as she could. She was relieved when she arrived at her house, and neither of her parents' cars were in the driveway. Her plan was simple. All she had to do to protect her secret was check for a phone message from the school office, and delete it before her mother heard it, then forge a note for the nurse for the next day.

She went to the kitchen. The red light on the answering machine was blinking like crazy, signaling a new message. She sat at the counter, and played it.

"This is Jefferson High School calling the parents of Rebecca Mack regarding your daughter's absence..."

Without bothering to listen to the rest of the message, she hit 'Delete.' Then, she went upstairs to practice Celia's signature.

Everything was going smoothly until she heard her parents' cars pull in the driveway, and the door open. Her mother and father's voices echoed loudly from the kitchen.

"Rebecca!" her mother called. "Get down here this instant!"

Bex groaned. They knew. But how did they know? She slid off her desk chair and dragged herself down the stairs.

Celia stood in the kitchen, her arms crossed over her chest. Ham stood beside her, looking disappointed.

"What's going on?" she asked, trying to seem nonchalant, hoping maybe her parents were angry about something else she'd done.

"That's what we'd like to know," her mother said. "Care to explain why you weren't in school today?"

"I was in school today!" Bex lied, grasping to the hope that they still didn't know, and were only bluffing. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"We know you weren't," Ham sighed. "The school called."

Bex glanced back at the answering machine.

"You erased their message," Celia surmised with a sigh. She turned to her husband. "She erased the school's message, Ham!"

"Bex!" Ham scolded. "Why would you do that?"

"I don't know," she said quietly.

"Luckily, the school also has my cell phone number," Celia told her, with a satisfied look on her face. "And they called me at work."

Bex looked down at her feet. What could she say? There was no way to get out of it.

"We're very disappointed in you, Bex," Ham sighed. "You know better than to do something like this."

"I'm sorry," she mumbled, her eyes burning. She was dangerously close to crying.

"You're only sorry you got caught," Celia told her, which wasn't untrue. "I don't know what's the matter with you lately, but you're worse than you've ever been. If this attitude of yours is a phase, I wish you'd hurry up and grow out of it!"

"I said I was sorry!" Bex said, raising her voice a little louder than she meant to. "Geez, get off my case!"

"You're grounded," her mother told her. "Two weeks."

Bex shrugged. "Whatever."

"Is that all you have to say for yourself?"

She shrugged again. "Who cares if I'm grounded? What difference does it make? I already can't go anywhere or do anything, anyway. What are you going to do to me, withhold food and water? Deprive me of oxygen?"

"You watch that smart mouth, young lady!" Ham scolded, pointing his finger at her. Her dad hardly ever yelled at her, and it stung.

"Go to your room, and think about what you've done," Celia told her in a no-nonsense voice. "You aren't welcome downstairs until you can act like a member of this family."

"Why said I want to be a member of this family?" she snapped. "And I was going to my room anyway!

She ran up the stairs and slammed the door as hard as she could. Tears stung her eyes as she dug through her desk drawer and pulled out a can of Pringles. She ate them in bed, still fuming. The last thing she wanted was another fight with her parents, but that seemed to be unavoidable. No matter what she did, she always managed to screw up. But if she could go back and do it again, she would. She and Bowie had had a great day together, and she wouldn't trade it for anything, not matter what punishment her parents threw at her. Because, the truth was, she was falling in love with him.

Asahi feature on how Akiko overcame anorexia to become National Champion in 2013

Trigger warning for a detailed account of Akiko’s struggle with an eating disorder (anorexia nervosa), including physical and psychological effects. {Note: I’m not at all an experienced jpn to eng translator, and this is my first time translating such a long article on a complex subject. The phrasing may be awkward and there may be some mistakes. If you notice any, please do let me know.}

Content under the cut: Main article + Akiko’s letter to her mother + a segment on the correlation between the “athletic mentality” and eating disorders and what kind of support is available in Japan to those suffering from EDs

Her weight having once been as low as 32kg, Akiko was able to return to the ice

As the sound of Phantom of the Opera filled the arena, she landed clean combination jumps in sync with the music. Even on this final battle, she displayed a rich variety of expressions as she danced. Once she struck the final pose, her hands clenched into fists and she let her arms drop. During the four minutes of her free skate, there had been no mistakes.

It was at the National Championships on the 23rd of December, 2013, that the Olympic representatives would also be decided. Having come from 2nd place in the SP into the FS, Akiko Suzuki (33) had tears streaming down her face. “It’s been a long time, but I’m glad I’ve skated for this long.”

When she was 18, she developed an eating disorder. For over half a year, she was in a state that made it impossible to skate at all. She was able to make a recovery after hitting rock bottom, and now, in a surprise victory, managed to place 1st, scoring very high marks in the FS. She had secured a place in the Olympics for the 2nd time. Her mother, Keiko (68), who had been watching the performance, was overcome with emotion: “I guess Gods do reward you in the end.”

Akiko started skating when she was 6 years old. She had been learning many things, but what she wanted to pursue was skating. From her home in Toyohashi (Aichi prefecture) she’d go to train in a rink in Nagoya. When her father Kazunori (71) and Keiko, who ran a restaurant, were busy, one of their regular customers would sometimes pick her up at the rink. The food served was mainly Japanese cuisine.

During summer and winter vacations after she started middle school, she’d go to a training camp to be instructed by Coach Hiroshi Nagakubo. Her jumping technique was lackluster, but she loved to dance. What set her apart was her exquisite expressive ability. On her 1st and 2nd years of high school she placed 4th twice in a row in the National Championships. People’s expectations of her future grew.  


After graduating high school, she went on to attend Tohoku Fukushi university in Sendai, and decided to tackle skating in Coach Nakubo’s home base. At the same time, her peers from the same hometown of Aichi, Miki Ando and Yukari Nakano, were living abroad on and off to train.

In March of 2003, she began her stay at her coach’s house. Laundry, cleaning, preparing her own meals: if she couldn’t do everything perfectly she’d get frustrated with herself. She had morning practice; then, after attending lectures at university, she’d be back in the rink again. It was the start of a life that revolved around skating to an unhealthy extent. 


The shape of a woman’s body changes easily during puberty. For the sake of scoring in competitions, she had been warned about the importance of self-management. If she lost weight, she’d be able to jump more easily. She didn’t want to be told she couldn’t manage by herself after moving out of her parents’ home. She was taken captive by those kind of thoughts.

She then changed her bowl to a child-sized one and stopped eating anything greasy or fried. She wouldn’t eat vegetables that had been cooked with any kind of grease. Little by little, she increased the number of rules for herself. She wouldn’t eat meat anymore and was very particular about ingredients put in side dishes, no matter how small the quantity. 


She’d measure her weight 5 times a day. If she didn’t get on a scale she couldn’t relax. If her weight had gone down, that was proof her hard work had paid off. With a height of 161cm, her weight dropped from 48kg to 40kg in one month.

During an extended vacation in May, she came to visit her mother at the Izakaya she ran in Toyohashi. The moment she opened the door, her mother exclaimed, “What happened?” She looked so thin she was hard to recognize.

When she went back to Sendai, she never skipped practices or college lectures, but there was a tough commute including a transfer from the train to a bus. After attending 90 minute lectures, she’d be very tired. By the time she arrived at the rink, the practice was sloppy; she became unable to perform even simple spins. Yukio Shibata (69) the head of the skating division, noticed this and told her, “Why don’t you go home?”

At the end of May, Keiko-san took her to see a psychiatrist at a Toyohashi hospital. As the doctor listened to her symptoms and measured her weight, he informed them that she was anorexic. It is a type of eating disorder now called anorexia nervosa, an illness characterized by extreme concern over weight to the point where one develops a tendency to skip meals altogether. This results in an increasing danger of malnutrition. Although the person suffering from the disorder diets often, they do not realize they have lost weight.

Having already been concerned over the strange changes her daughter was going through, the doctor’s explanation satisfied Keiko. But Akiko could not accept that her efforts were being called an ‘illness.’ The thoughts that crossed her mind were along the lines of “I wanted to be thin so I lost weight. I can gain it back, so it’s fine.”

She was prescribed medication to raise her blood pressure as well as antidepressants. She couldn’t sleep no matter how tired she was, so she started taking sleeping pills. She had so little body fat she felt cold even in the middle of the day. Despite all of this, she couldn’t bring herself to drink the canned nutritional supplement given to her by the hospital: “If I drink this, I’ll get fat.”

She couldn’t even eat the meals her mother made for her. “Eat just a little bit of something nutritious,” she was told. She thought, “I’m doing what I can.” It was painful for her to see the sad look on her mother’s face.

The impatience to skate grew worse. She would go to the rink in Nagoya, but she was tired out just from the one-and-a-half-hour commute and would come back home without having been able to accomplish anything. That summer, her weight dropped as low as 32kg.

She’d developed this eating disorder when she enrolled in university in 2003. At that time, she weighed 48kg. By the summer of that year she weighed 32kg.

By the end of May she had gone back home to Toyohashi (Aichi prefecture), moving out of her boarding place in Nagoya. However, she would still not eat the food her mother, Keiko, tried to give her. Her mother would plead with her, “Please eat.” But it was not so simple, although it was painful to see her mother look so sad.


In July, Keiko-san tried to tell her, “Let’s go to the hospital.” She earnestly told Akiko, “I just want you to live.” But Akiko stubbornly refused, saying, “If I go, it means I won’t be able to skate.” She couldn’t imagine being herself if she couldn’t skate.

A change in Keiko’s words created the opportunity for Akiko to face the challenge of eating. Instead of ordering Akiko to eat, she said, “Let’s start with whatever you feel you can eat and go from there.” Akiko had thought her parents would not accept her unless she was perfect, but now she began to feel as though her current self could be accepted in her entirety. Tofu, fruits, sugar-free yogurt. Little by little, she began to eat what she could. 


In the autumn, she was scheduled to appear in her first GP competition, Skate Canada. But she had been away from the rink and her new programs had not been choreographed yet. In September, she phoned the Japanese Skating Federation and said that she could not attend due to health problems. “I’ve missed my chance,” she thought, and broke down in tears after the phone call.

In the middle of autumn, she became determined and returned to Sendai: “I want to be on the ice once again.” Coach Nagakubo, however, told her, “I can’t let you practice. First you have to get your weight back up to 40kg.” To start with, she worked on regaining her physical strength through walking. 


When it came to her fear of eating, it was one step forward, one step back. Head of the skating division Yukio Shibata introduced her to a clinic nearby where she would get IV drips with vitamins and nutrients. She told a nurse there, “I have to eat, but I just can’t.” The nurse responded, “It’s okay. Just take it slow for now.” Suzuki felt grateful to receive a reaction so full of acceptance.  


Her food intake gradually increased in quantity. She gradually became more positive with both her body and mind. Her weight having once been below 40kg, she returned to her 1st year of university and stood on the ice once again.

The muscles supporting her torso had become weak to the point where she would fall down trying to skate forward. She became wary of people’s gaze. She felt as though her skinny thighs were being stared at. “But that’s just the reality,” she thought. In order to skate, she worked hard to accept the reality that faced her. She decided to try and make an appearance in January 2004 at an intercollegiate championship. The head of the skating division at Fukushi University Yukio Shibata recounts, “I couldn’t believe she’d really skate.” 


She didn’t know whether she would be able to complete the performance. She couldn’t do 3 rotation jumps – she could only make it to two and a half. The time when she had placed highly in the ranks during high school at the National Championships “seemed like a lifetime ago.” 


At that time, Noriko Hongo, who ran a beauty salon in Miyagi, Sendai, would often take Akiko out. She was the same age as Suzuki’s mother, Keiko. Noriko had two figure skating daughters who used to be enrolled at the same university club as Suzuki, and had been told by Shibata, “Please look after [Akiko].” 

“Let’s go to a place that has food that Akko likes!” Suzuki adored Noriko and her serene voice, dubbing her “my Sendai mother.” They would go to a karaoke snack bar just for fun, without drinking alcohol. After her morning practice, Akiko would go to Noriko’s house to take a nap. Noriko would help take care of her eating habits, making her Japanese food with plenty of vegetables. Although she could still not eat meat, as the items that she could eat increased, she began to feel as though she might recover.

She had to rebuild her muscles one by one. In practice, she had to re-learn everything from theory to application. She started being able to do things that just a week before had been impossible for her. She re-lived the joyful moments from childhood: “I was able to do that jump! I was able to spin correctly!” Her club coach Hiroshi Nakubo patted her on the back and told her, “You can definitely make a comeback.” 


Akiko was aware that body-building is essential for athletes, so eating habits were also an aspect of training. The self-imposed rules about what she had to eat continued to decrease. However, she still couldn’t bring herself to eat meat. She had accepted a piece of information she found on her own that said that “grease is always bad,” and at first, she believed meat to be greasy. She knew that the proteins were good for muscle-building, but she couldn’t shake off the fear. 


The breakthrough came at the end of her 3rd year of university, when some thin-sliced pork with salad was served. She was told by friends, “You don’t have to force yourself.” Somehow she wanted to try it. “I think it might be okay,” she said, sincerely believing that it would. 


When Shizuka Arakawa was selected as a representative at the national championships for the Torino Olympics in 2006 where she won gold, Akiko could not make the last group along with the top-ranked skaters. She was told, “What a shame that you had to have a setback at that time.” The frustration was overwhelming.

In 2007, she won the Winter Universiade Competition. She was able to secure the ticket to the 2010 Vancouver Olympics that she so desired, where she placed 8th. “I’ll stop when I’m satisfied with myself.” Another year, and then another, and so on. She went to her 2nd Olympics in 2014 Sochi, and placed 8th once again. It probably used to be unimaginable for anyone that she would get to go to the Olympics twice. “To keep going while I was sick, I needed power and perseverance, but the objective of continuing to skate gave me the motivation to overcome the obstacles in my way.” 


Having had the experience of an eating disorder, just being able to skate made her happy. The fact that she was able to compete like she did was, after all, due to her healthy body. She now asks that female athletes seek medical help if they are experiencing sudden and drastic changes in their weight or amenorrhea (absence of menstruation/skipping periods).

After the March 2014 Worlds in which she retired, she’s been living as a professional skater and choreographer. She also commentated on the Pyeongchang Olympics on television. Skating has accompanied her throughout her life. She would like to continue with the activities that allow her to communicate her love of the sport.

Akiko’s letter to her mother

Akiko’s mother still treasures a letter Akiko sent her when she was finally able to go to skate Canada after having to withdraw the previous time. She keeps it in her wallet to this day. In this letter, Akiko reflects on how she cried talking on the phone and withdrawing from the competition, and how she feels happy being able to stand on the same arena that she would have been standing on back then. “[…]I’m very happy to be standing here having recovered this part of myself that I’d lost, my ability to skate. Thank you for standing by me all this time and working hard alongside me. I will be returning as myself, a healthy self!”

The dangers that lurk in the mentality of athletes

Eating disorders are characterized by an excessive concern/pickiness toward body weight and food intake, and a person suffering from such an illness becomes unable to eat normally. These nervous disorders are generally classified as anorexia, which dramatically decreases one’s food intake and causes weight loss to the point of malnutrition, or bulimia, in which one continues to eat food in large quantities. In the case of bulimia, excessive eating will often be followed by throwing up, taking laxatives etc. 


It is thought to stem from a combination of psychological factors such as perfectionism or low self-esteem and external factors such as family environment, society’s preference for thinness. Research conducted by the Ministry of Health estimated the patients to be at around 25.000, but there are doubts as to its accuracy.

Rehabilitation offers important resources such as having someone to listen carefully to the words of the person suffering from the eating disorder as well as offer advice to their families and guidance regarding proper nutrition. But there are still few medical institutions specializing in diagnosis and treatment. There are federal or municipal institutions called “Centers for Rehabilitation and Support for Eating Disorders” in Miyagi, Chiba, Shizuoka, Fukuoka.

It’s becoming clear that athletes in particular are suffering from eating disorders. Whether in sports like figure skating and rhythm gymnastics, where the competition involves aesthetic appeal, or track-and-field sports, the need to control one’s weight is particularly demanding. Aside from Akiko Suzuki, other female skaters who have been open about suffering from these disorders include America’s Gracie Gold and Russia’s Yulia Lipnitskaya.

Research from overseas suggests the risk to kids who have this athletic mentality, with characteristics such as stoicism, perfectionism, having an inclination to please their mentors and coaches etc. are twice as vulnerable to eating disorders as people in general.

Mari Suzuki, a doctor from the Japanese Association for Eating Disorders (based in Tokyo), pointed out, “Puberty is when your body weight increases and your bones and muscles are developing. And there are still trainers who will advise them to lose weight.”

The association’s “Support Guidebook: Tackling Eating Disorders as a Team” lists warning signs in an athlete’s behavior, including having an excessive amount of rules about eating, planning an excessive amount of training, drastic weight changes, a life in disarray. They are encouraging people to seek expert advice. The Association offers a course directed at coaches and mentors of athletes about 4 times a year. They also offer free advice through their email address.

Source: https://digital.asahi.com/articles/SDI201806019805.html

Yooo homegirl tell us ur secrets to avoid junk food!!! How do you get started, why are you doing so, and if you plan to reintroduce it back into your diet, how will you do so responsibly??

Heyyy boo 1. Why did I get started?Several reasons: (a) I really wanted to get healthier. I was never overweight I’m 168 cm and weigh 60kg but I hadn’t exercised in 2 years. I felt really unhealthy and also quite sluggish. I decided a couple of months ago to get back to the gym for that reason. Also my dad’s side of the family has a history of diseases related to weight especially cardiovascular disease. My dad is 55 years old, 178cm and 90kg but still he had to undergo heart surgery so I want to be really careful with my health. (b) I’m really afraid of age-related diseases. Things like Alzheimers, dementia, sclerosis etc. If something like that is written for me I can’t help it I will get it, but research has shown that an active lifestyle, healthy habits [1] [2] [3] can offset the effects of the disease. (Of course research has also indicated that there is sometimes conflict between different studies) 2. How did I get started? I just stopped eating it one day. Even though i really like junk food, it makes me nauseous when I eat it so I didn’t even feel that great eating it (especially American style junk food: hamburgers, pizza, chips). I really like cooking so the transition wasn’t bad. 3. When do I plan on reintroducing junk food in my diet?Hmmm…. well I haven’t eaten junk food in 3 months or so, but if a couple of months from now if I am really craving it (and I still lead an active lifestyle) I might allow myself 1 cheat meal once in 3 weeks or so. But I also don’t feel the need to eat it often! 4.How do I plan on introducing junk food responsibly?(a) Count your caloric intake. It’s really important to do so. I know a lot of people hate counting calories but it’s the most effective way to know what goes in your body. Also it’s super important to track your macros: carbs (important to also know how much sugar you take in), protein, lipids. This is easy to do when you cook the food yourself but it’s difficult when you order in restaurants. Know that restaurants meals are always really heavy in calories because they want you to come back and everyone knows that deep fried things are delicious loll(b) If you are one of those people that believes: “We are here for a good time not a long time” and you must have junk food once in a while. Restrict it to one meal per week/ 2 weeks. And be conscious of what goes in your food. Mind over munch has this video explaining healthy food choices in 10 different fast food places and this video talking about healthy junk food choices at Chipotle. That way you fulfill a craving but are also mindful of what goes in your body. © Make your own junk food. You can make your own hamburgers, pizza, chips etc that way you know how much oil or dressing you’re using! This is super great. (d) This is a weird tip, but you know when it’s like 10 at night and you really want to get really unhealthy takeway I’d  recommend watching a mukbang. I don’t know why but it really works with me haha especially if it’s someone that’s a bit overweight and they’re indulging themselves in insane amounts of food. I don’t know why it works but it does. (e) So I either go shopping with my boyfriend or with a friend. Sometimes when I’m shopping hungry (which you should never do) I will buy chips or sweets. After I leave the shop I will have something healthy and give the chips/sweets to my boyfriend. This is also really really strange haha but it does work. I feel like i satisfy my craving just by buying the thing as in I have it in my possession, after I eat something I can then give the junk food to someone else that wants it. (f) Alcohol/ drugs and junk food go well together. I don’t really drink so I don’t have this problem but if others do they have to be careful with this and again conscious of their intake. (g) Pick the hamburger/pizza/takeway that has the biggest amount of vegetables. My boyfriend is Korean so he gets a lot of Korean/Chinese style takeway for us. If I get something it will always be banchan (side dishes) and bibimbap (because it’s delicious but it also has a lot of vegetables) oh and I do choose fish often (because fish is great). This way even though you are eating something unhealthy at least it has a lot of veggies. (h) Never go to fast food places or restaurant insanely hungry. You’re always going to pick the worst option that way. I like to eat 2 fruits before I go to a restaurant. Usually a banana and an apple because I feel satiated after and I am less likely to pick the biggest and greasiest meal in the menu.(i) Be careful with all you can eat buffet. The plate you are given is important = the bigger the plate the more you will. I would usually pick one unhealthy thing (1 small portion) and lots of veggies that way my meal both satisfies me and is on the healthier end of things. (j) MEAL PREP!! Super important. If you can’t cook it’s always really difficult to stay on track with your diet so learning to cook is key. (k) Learn to love healthy food. I genuinely like healthy foods. I like salads, soups, fish, tofu, veggies, fruits. As long as you season your food well it’s going to be delicious!

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I’ve been trying to adjust to a vegan lifestyle because I really do care about all animals and our planet, but I’m having a hard time sticking with it. And sometimes it’s for weeks that I’ll just give up. I grew up eating pizza and burgers, so it’s been pretty difficult. But I need to do this for my health and for the animals. Do you have any advice on how to make the transition easier? And how to stick with is?

Hello ! I’m so glad that you are so persistent about this. I think that is the most important first step. As for tips, I’ll do my best but giving my own advice and others’ (I think my time was a big easier since I was already raised vegetarian my whole life). So, here’s what I suggest :

✨Watch a pro-veganism documentary (I recommend Cowspiracy). But don’t just watch it. Write down some statistics that you feel strongly about and hang that somewhere you will see everyday AND/OR Write a journal entry as soon as the movie is done, perhaps writing an extensive list of why veganism is your goal.✨Make your switch to veganism a TRANSITION. So you may decide to cut out one animal product at a time (perhaps first becoming vegetarian/eliminating your least favorite animal products first). In my experience, animal products of all kinds gradually started smelling revolting so that made it easier.✨Accustom yourself to vegan cooking and fall in love with a few simple recipes for every meal time. This will make your grocery shopping more meaningful (since you will be less likely to just pick up whatever is vegan). But also discover more foods…there are many more fruits, vegetables, beans, seeds (and accidental vegan snacks) than you know. You can try veganized versions of your favorite foods but I recommend that you find new favorites and eat them more often. There are many sample vegan meal guides on the internet but here is an example : Breakfast : apple pie flavored oatmeal & a smoothieSnack : hummus & tortilla chipsLunch : vegan BLT (tofu, [especially with the E. coli breakout I recommend] spinach, tomato)Snack : fruit saladDinner : spaghetti with marinara sauce topped with nutritional yeast and avocado slicesAnd enough water throughout the day!✨Don’t beat yourself up when you slip up. We’re all human and what matters is where your intentions lie. Even 10 year vegan may mess up. But it is important that you learn asap what dishes are vegan at restaurants near you (if you will be eating out) and how to properly inform a waiter/ress that you are vegan. Make it a habit to carry along a vegan snack/meal if you know that there won't be vegan options at a particular venue.✨Get inspiration from other vegans on the internet : on blogs, tumblr, youtube, instagram, snapchat, etc. It’s only natural that you do this because your appetite cam be visually enticed and just think about all the omnivore propaganda that you are continually fed daily.✨Find an accountability partner. Someone else who is going vegan or forming another long term habit. Snap pictures thoughout the day of your meals as they gives updates on their progress in return.✨Make sure you are getting proper nutrition & enough calories. Monitor your activity levels/sleepiness. Eat foods that are nutrient dense and consume things which are fortified with B12 (eg. plant milk & nutritional yeast). You can get a blood test for extra assurance of what you may lack.✨Check out my tag #new vegan for some helpful facts & tips

These are all the tips I can think of right now. If anyone has more tips, reblog and add them!