MTL NOVEL Chapter 16: Kitchen Confidential
Thursday night settled over the house like a rare calm before the storm. After the photography club chaos, I'd hoped for a quiet evening—maybe some mindless TV or a nap to shake off Aiko's parting words. You're getting too comfortable. They'd stuck with me, rattling around in my head all day. She wasn't wrong, and that was the problem.
I was halfway through a game on my phone when the smell of something sweet drifted upstairs—vanilla, cinnamon, warm and inviting. My stomach growled, and curiosity won out over laziness. I padded downstairs, following the scent to the kitchen, where I found Reina alone, bent over the counter with a mixing bowl.
She didn't notice me at first, too focused on whisking whatever was in the bowl. Her hair was tied back, a few strands loose, and she'd swapped her uniform for a soft sweater and shorts that hugged her legs just right. The sight hit me harder than it should've, and I froze in the doorway, caught between leaving and staying.
"Kaito-kun?" She looked up, startled, a smudge of flour on her cheek. "Oh! I didn't hear you."
"Uh, yeah," I said, stepping in. "Smelled something good. What's up?"
"I'm baking," she said, smiling shyly. "Cookies again. I wanted to try a new recipe. Want to help?"
"Sure," I said, shrugging like it was no big deal, even though my pulse was already ticking up. "What do I do?"
"Roll these out," she said, handing me a ball of dough and a rolling pin. "Not too thin, okay?"
"Got it," I said, taking the spot next to her. The counter was a mess—flour, sugar, a cracked egg—but she moved through it with a quiet grace that made it hard to focus on the dough.
We worked side by side, the kitchen warm and quiet except for the soft clink of utensils. I rolled out the dough—badly at first, until she stepped closer, her hand guiding mine again like at the bake-off.
"Like this," she said, her fingers light but firm over mine. Her chest brushed my arm, and I tensed, the heat of her sinking through my hoodie.
"Uh… yeah," I said, voice rough. "Thanks."
She didn't pull away right away, her breath soft against my shoulder. "You're getting better at this."
"Only 'cause you're a good teacher," I said, glancing at her. Her eyes met mine, wide and warm, and the air thickened, the space between us shrinking.
Then Mina burst in, shattering the moment like a brick through glass. "Cookies!" she yelled, darting to the counter. She was in her pajamas—tiny shorts and a tank top—her hair a wild mess. "Kaito, Reina, gimme some!"
"They're not done!" Reina said, laughing as she stepped back. "You have to wait."
"No fair!" Mina whined, leaning over me to snatch a piece of raw dough. Her arm pressed against mine, her bare skin warm, and I jolted, nearly dropping the rolling pin.
"Mina, stop," I said, shoving her off. "You'll ruin it."
"Ruin it?" She grinned, popping the dough into her mouth. "I'm quality control! Right, Reina?"
"You're a pest," I said, but she just giggled, hopping onto the counter next to me.
Aiko sauntered in then, drawn by the noise. She'd gone for a cropped hoodie and leggings, her hair loose, and leaned against the doorway with that smirk I knew too well. "What's this? Baking date?"
"No," I said, too fast, my face heating up.
"Looks like one," she said, stepping closer. She swiped a finger through the batter Reina had set aside, licking it off slowly—way too slowly—her eyes locked on mine. "Tasty. You're spoiling us, Reina."
"It's not a big deal," Reina said, blushing as she turned back to the oven.
"Sure it's not," Aiko teased, moving to my side. She leaned in, her shoulder brushing mine, and whispered, "You're blushing again, Kaito. Careful."
"Shut up," I muttered, focusing on the dough like my life depended on it.
Mina swung her legs, kicking me lightly. "Kaito's so serious! Lighten up—we're having fun!"
"Fun for you," I said, but I couldn't fight the smile creeping in.
Reina pulled the first batch from the oven, the smell hitting me like a wave—warm, sweet, perfect. She set the tray down, handing me a cookie still hot from the rack. "Try it, Kaito-kun. Tell me what you think."
I took it, our fingers brushing, and bit in. It was soft, spiced, melting on my tongue. "Damn," I said, swallowing. "This is good. Really good."
Her face lit up. "You think so?"
"Yeah," I said, nodding. "You're amazing at this."
"Aw, Kaito's sweet-talking!" Mina said, snatching a cookie and burning her tongue in the process. "Ow! Hot!"
"Serves you right," Aiko said, grabbing one too. She took a bite, smirking at me. "She's good, but don't get too cozy. I might get jealous."
"Jealous?" I raised an eyebrow, my pulse kicking up. "Of what?"
"Of you two," she said, her voice low, teasing, but her eyes held mine a beat too long.
"Stop it," Reina said, her cheeks red as she swatted Aiko's arm. "You're embarrassing him!"
"He likes it," Aiko said, winking at me before stepping back.
I didn't respond—couldn't, with my head spinning. The kitchen was too small, too warm, too full of them—Mina munching happily, Reina smiling at me, Aiko watching like she could see right through me.
We finished the cookies, the four of us crammed around the counter, trading bites and dumb jokes. Mina fell asleep eventually, her head on Reina's shoulder, crumbs on her face. Aiko stretched, her hoodie riding up again, and shot me one last smirk before heading out.
"Night, Kaito," she said. "Don't dream about me too much."
"Shut up," I said, but my voice lacked bite.
Reina cleaned up, and I helped, the silence settling back in. She glanced at me as we stacked the last tray, her voice soft. "Thanks for staying, Kaito-kun. It's… nicer with you here."
"Yeah," I said, meeting her eyes. "You too."
She smiled, brushing past me to the door, and I caught that floral scent again, lingering as she left with Mina in tow.
I stood there, the kitchen empty now, the warmth fading. Day fifteen, and it wasn't just comfort anymore. It was something sharper—Reina's touch, Aiko's words, Mina's chaos—cutting deeper than I'd expected. I wasn't just in their storm. I was sinking into it, and I didn't know how to stop.