Chapter Text
Chapter 4: Disastrous DESSERT
While the team cleaned up and set aside their main dish, Minori decided to forgo cake as the dessert and have the team make something else. If there was that much of a struggle with making a simple ass salad and boiling pasta and cheese sauce, then I have little faith in their abilities to make cake from scratch. Maybe I see potential in a few of them, but not enough in the group as a whole. God some of them really need these types of classes don't they.
Minori strolled through the pantry, Hmmm… What else could I have them do?...
They came across a few sacks of oats, YES! Oatmeal cookies! Simple enough! Man. I am not paid enough for the bull shit I have to deal with. I mean being able to watch disasters is rewarding in itself, but that doesn’t compensate for any damage to the establishment.
Once all the stations were cleaned, Minori went around providing every station with a reasonable amount of oats and other basic ingredients for the cookies. The pairs could get more if they needed more. The instructor then showed the team what appliances and dishes they would need, and went on to demonstrate the steps to making plain oatmeal cookies from scratch.
After Minori finished their example, they encouraged creativity in the group before letting them try, “Now, if you want to, you can add extra ingredients to your batter to spice up your cookies!”
***
Kinoshita and Narita followed the instructions, they didn’t do anything else or try to add a spin to their cookies. Watching the rest of the team, once again, was more interesting than the task at hand.
***
The girls started making their better together, but then Yachi ran off into the pantry to grab a packet of dried apples and cinnamon. She’d made cookies based on the individual oatmeal packets while at home with no one around to stop her.
While in the pantry she was trying to reach something on a taller shef when Tsukishima came out of nowhere, actually she just didn't see him walk up behind her before he, reached over her head, and handed her what she was trying to get.
***
Minori looked over at the team captains, and honestly, was reminded of an married couple who never left their honeymoon phase. The instructor watched at one of them spoon fed the other a taste of the batter before they added the egg in. It was sickeningly sweet, and at the same time Minori wanted something like that.
The captains were in midst of giggling at each other when the room went silent. Sugawara pulled out his phone and immediately took pictures of the freak duo. Hinata looked mortified, while Kageyema like an angry black cat. Daichi headed over to get their Kouhai before a fight possibly broke out. They never knew with those two. Exactly as stated they never knew with those two, because a moment later Kageyama, Kageyama Tobio just laughed it off.
***
Okay. Our Mac and cheese made it through the clear. Now to get the cookies and then I’ll never let Tsukki near the salt in the kitchen- “Oi Tsukki put your sports glasses back on!”
“Yams, there's no steam, it’ll be fine this time. I swear.”
“I’m not taking any chances.”
“Fine.” Tsukishima grumbled before putting his sports glasses back on.
Yamguchi had Tsukishima hand him the ingredients so he could make sure that the salt didn't get mixed with the sugar. He turned around for a moment to read over the ingredients list. The green haired boy then added the proper ratio of salt. He told Tsukki to try it, Yamaguchi’s taste buds were still scared from earlier so he didn’t want to. After Tsukki tasted it he teasingly said it could use more salt, earning a swat on his shoulder from Yamaguchi. The green haired boy immediately sent him to the pantry, to go put the ingredients away, while he finished the batter.
In the pantry Tsukishima put purposefully put things out of place and on the higher shelves just to mess with the shorties on the team, except for Yachi. Yachi was the exception. She didn't piss him off as much. He could be mean but he wasn't that mean.
Tsukkishima actually wasn't kidding when he said the batter needed more salt and tried to sneakily add more without Yamaguchi noticing. But he was not stealthy enough. Yamaguchi panicked and asked Hinata for some of his sugar since the ginger was closer than the pantry. Hinata happily agreed. However, only Ennoshita saw that Hinata had grabbed the salt instead of the sugar from his station. He didn't bother to say anything, Enno just made a mental not to not try any of Yamaguchi’s or Tsukishima’s food later. He wanted to see how things would play out.
***
Minori leaned in towards Kinoshita and Narita, “Finally, these two aren’t arguing or competing!” Not hearing the second year's responses. The instructor turned their head to see the freak duo, they’d been quiet for a bit. There was a reason why the two first years were so quiet. They were making the batter in complete sync, no words needed. It was actually very cute. Like finally! Something the two won’t argue about! YES! COMPRO- shit. They spoke too soon.
“Wait no Bakayama! We don’t need to add that!”
“Boke I know what I’m doing!”
“Okay, but adding white sugar would make it better than adding brown sugar!”
“You don’t want to add it because you know it’ll turn out better than if we went with your idea.”
“Are you saying you’re better than me at this???”
“Without a doubt.”
“Fine then! Bakeryama I challenge you to another competition!”
There was an audible groan from the rest if the team in the background.
Kageyama confidently crossed his arms “I accept, even though I know I’ll win.”
“Oh the Kings is so confident is he.” Tsukimishi uttered.
Kageyama was too caught up with Hinata that he didn't even notice Tsukishima's comment. “So what’s at stake?.”
Shouyou pulled Tobio to his level so he could whisper in his ear, “If I win I get to keep your hoodie.”
Like I don’t let you already, Tobios face felt warm, he suddenly became very aware that other people were in the room. He nodded, “Who’s judging?”
“The team of course!” Shouyou spouted as if it was obvious.
Kageyama nodded his head again, less flustered, and added to their terms, “Fine, but we have to start over from scratch and just bake the batter we already made together.”
“Deal!” The two shook hands before rushing off towards the pantry.
Fuck it! I give up on these two! At this point as long as they don't burn down the kitchen I’m good. Welp! They’ve fared alright until now.
“Meanieshima why did you have to put the flour so high!” Hinata whined.
“Oh I’m sorry did you need it shrimpy?” Tsukishima honeyed. He did his damage and left the pantry.
Hinata stuck his tongue out at the tall blond, “To-Kageyama help me reach this pleaseee.”
“Nope, every man for himself.” Tobio watched Hinata struggling to reach the top shelf.
“But you need it too!”
“I could make do without it.”
The way Kageyama was speaking with such confidence riled Hinata. The ginger tried jumping to get it. He did it! He grabbed it! However, at the expense of getting flour all over him and Kageyama in the process. I’m dead.
The look Kageyama cast down at Shouyou was so intense that to others it looked like if he could murder the tangerine he would. The levels of concern in the room raised when Tobio leaned in towards Shouyou scowling. In fact, Daichi headed over there to prevent a possible fight. Minori didn’t know what to do, they stood there frozen, possibly holding back a laugh. That was when Kageyama fucking grinned, the entire time he had thought to himself, Holy shit that really just happened. I love him, but I have to get him back for this.
He whispered something in Shouyou’s ear, causing the ginger’s cheeks to be dusted a light pink, “ Do you think such tactics will keep me from wanting to win my hoodie back?” Then proceeded to shake his head like a wet dog, getting more of the white powder off of him and onto his boyfriend. The freak duo laughed together. They both looked ridiculous covered in flour. Kageyama was the first to collect himself, without saying anything, he reached for the other bag of flour and went deeper into the pantry.
**[Back at their station]**
Shouyou returned to their station first, with his ingredients in his arms, he didn’t need a basket for the few ingredients he brought back. He’d made Natsu some maple syrup, brown sugar oatmeal the other day, so he figured it shouldn’t be too hard to make a cookie version of it. Everything else but the batter was an experiment for Shouyou. So, to at least make sure the base came out right he called Minori over to ask them for the measurements again. Before doing anything else, he took off the hoodie getting more flour on the floor. He set it aside as to not dirty it anymore.
On the other hand, Tobio spent a few minutes in the pantry before placing a decent amount of items on his side of the station. Minori was in the middle of retelling Hinata the ratios for the batter when Kageyama came back. He immediately organized the ingredients in front of him and even poured himself a glass of milk before moving on. Tobio’s bounty included chocolate chips, raisins, brown sugar, white sugar, flour, eggs, butter, milk, and extra oats. Okay hard cookies for dunking. Those won’t have raisins added to them, while I will add raisins to the chewy cookies for the heathens who don’t eat them with milk. Tobio nodded to himself and cracked a few eggs in a separate bowl, beat them. He then grabbed another bowl, to cream the butter with white sugar.
Minori looked at him semi shocked, what the actual fuck does he think he’s gonna do? There’s not that much time left to do something really complicated! Is he seriously making two batters??? He’s not EVEN MEASURING???
Tobio didn’t use measuring cups or anything to measure how much he used. He just eyed it the entire time. Decently paced as well. He was in the zone. His technique was on point, it didn’t matter that he started mixing his ingredients after Shouyou. Tobio was able to get the batter meant for the hard cookies on the baking sheet before Shouyou had any on his cookie tray. He placed the batter on the sheet in lines, somewhat equally spaced from each other, and all a similar width. These, these are gonna be good for dunking. They might be my best yet, this place has some good high quality stuff.
Meanwhile, Minori was mentally going crazy watching Kageyama make his cookies. Internally screaming, What THE FUCK IS HE DOING??? DOES HE NOT KNOW HOW COOKIES ARE SHAPED! WHY ??? The instructor left their station, unable to watch Kageyama anymore.
Tobio brought the first batch of cookies to their oven, he checked the clock and set a timer on his phone before returning to mix his next batch. He repeated the same process as before, the only difference being that he creamed the butter with brown sugar, to make the cookies soft, and added raisins along with the chocolate chips. Tobio was so focused on his cookies that he didn't notice Hinata stealing sips of his milk here and there.
They didn’t banter like they usually did, their station was unsettlingly quiet.
***
Ennoshita was going to keep his eyes on Tanaka throughout the entire interval they had to bake.
They were doing this together, so Ennoshita dragged Tanaka anywhere he had to go. They took a trip to the pantry together. They browsed the selection it offered together. They agreed on chocolate chips toge- well not together, Ennoshita swapped the chocolate chips for raisins because he wanted to see Tanaka's world burn one more time that day. It would be payback. It wasn't the initial idea, but when Chikara saw the raisins he knew he had to do it. This was the perfect opportunity. Oatmeal raisin cookies aren’t bad, but it does take you a moment when you are expecting chocolate chips rather than dried fruit.
The universe even gave Chikara a chance to add the raisins without Ryu noticing what they were. It's like the stars had aligned for this to happen. Sure, Ennoshita felt bad for Asahi dropping his and Noyas batter, but eh, Noya and Tanaka were already helping him clean it up.
Chikarada hurriedly put the cookies into the oven to bake so Ryu couldn't see what he did. He then excused himself to got to the bathroom and to visit Kinoshita and Narita, Some of the more sane people in this room .
Before he left he specifically told Ryu, “Tanaka! Check on the cookies in 10 to 12 minutes to see if they’re golden brown if I’m not back before then.”
“Alright!” Tanaka said, half paying attention.
After his quick bathroom break, Ennoshita gossiped with Kinoshita and Narita, they were placing their bets on who would make the better cookies, Hinata or Kageyama. It was a hard bet to place, Hinata was measuring everything almost to a T but was fudging around with the extra stuff he added in but he looked so focused. So determined. While, Kageyama hadn't been measuring anything at all, and he looked like he was having more fun playing around with the ingredients than actually trying to make a good cookie. However, it seems only Ennoshita noticed the focus in the setters blue eyes, it was more intense than during some of their matches. And that's saying something! So Ennoshita bet on Kageyama’s cookies being better, Kinoshita bet on Hinata, and it took Narita some time to finally decide, but he went with Hinata as well. Ennoshita would have stayed with Narita and Kinnoshita a bit longer, if the smell of something burning didn't call his attention. I swear, he, RYU. Without even questioning where it was coming from he headed straight over to his and Ryu’s station. Chikara’s hunch was correct, I turn away for one motherfucking second.
“IT'S BEEN LESS THAN 9 minutes since I left! HoW?”
“I thought if I set the temperature of the oven higher they would bake faster!”
Chikara face palmed, sighing, “Tanaka,That doesn’t- I- Why haven’t you taken them out?”
“You said check on them! Not what to do after that!”
“Oh my lord. Tanaka Ryuunosuke, you are supposed to check on them to then take them out! Now they're burnt!”
“No it's fine, ummmm they’ll be warmer for longer! And-and” Tanaka was grasping at straws, “And, just have off the burnt parts and they’ll be fine! Yeah! I’ll take them out right now!”
“Wait-”
Tanaka opened the oven, reached in with his left hand, went to grab the cookie tray, and pulled his hand out almost as fast as it went in, “FfffCK.”
“You doofus, you need an oven mit, shit! Minori! Here run it under cold water, I'll take out the cookies.”
The instructor ran over as soon as they heard their name being called. “What's the matter!”
“Dodo over heart burnt his hand because he didn't use an oven mit when he went to get the cookies.” Ennoshita explained, he could hear Kageyama and Hinata bickering about getting something. Now of all times they broke their silence.
“Oof, Okay well your burn doesn't look that bad, but it will definitely be there for a few days. I’ll go get the first said kit, you wait here an keep our hand under the cold water I guess.”
Tanaka nodded. Hinata showed up at their station before the instructor could leave to get the first aid kit and though out of breath he shouted, “Here!”
The ginger held out a vile of vanilla extract. Ennoshita was confused, What the hell is that supposed to do?
“OH YES! This works too! Actually Tanaka, here take your hand out of the water and dry it off, we can put some of this on your burn for now.”
“O-Okay?”
Minori sensed the confusion in the teens voice, and explained, “The burning sensation you feel is because your skin is still cooking-”
“Whoa sick”
“Your skin is still cooking, and vanilla extract helps to stop it from doing so. It's a quick, temporary, solution if you get burned in the kitchen. I'm surprised you knew that-”
“OOOHhh That's what it does!” Hinata sounded like he just had the revelation of a life time.
“Wait did you- Are- How- Then- What?” Finally picking a phrase, Minori questioned, “How did you know to get it then?”
The rooms attention turned on Hinata, “I didn't know what it does. I just knew that it helps, not why .”
“Boke you better get your cookies before they burn too.” Kageyama kindly reminded the ginger, pulling out his own cookies and not Shouyou’s. A challenge was a challenge. He’d give his boyfriend a heads up, but if he helped him that would defeat the purpose.
“WAH! Not my cookies!” Hinata scampered back to their station, leaving Minori to help Tanaka with his burned hand.
***
Nishinoya added the ingredients to the bowl and Asahi stirred. As the ace did so, he held the bowl more arm and mixed it with his free hand. He knew if he left the bowl on the table Noya would sneak taste tests despite his warnings of better judgement not to. Sometimes Noya seemed to think he had a stomach of steel. Asahi was not willing to test that with raw egg. He should have known better that holding the bowl wouldn't be enough to stop the little rascal. Noya was constantly on the lookout for an opening, one that his boyfriend disappointingly did not provide.
The libero had a brilliant idea, if I get him flustered he’ll drop his guard. Noya then slapped Asahi ass, causing the gentle giant’s hand to slip down the spatula and into the batter.
“NISHI!" Asahi wheezed, his face was flushed bright red in embarrassment.
Noya cackled.
Asahi bit his lip and screamed before laughing. He reached out his hand and asked his boyfriend for a towel. It's not like things could get any worse.
That's where the ace was wrong, instead of being handed a towel to wipe up the mess, Noya, just, sucked the batter off his finger! And proceeded to smile.
A loud clang sounded through the kitchen. Or it seemed louder to Asahi, he'd dropped the bowl and the batter. He was still processing what just happened while Tanaka rushed over to help Noya clean up the mess. Laughing like a hyena once Noya told him what happened. Asahi excused himself to go get more oats so they could start over, but when he got to the panty he found there was no mare. Tsukishima muttered something about it being the courtesy of the king and the shrimp.
Asahi was visibly panicked. Yachi came over and offered to help, just because there were no more oats didn't mean they couldn't still make cookies. Yachi abandoned her station with Kiyoko to go help the third year. This time Kiyoko went around taking pictures.
Minori was entirely baffled when they saw Noya and Asahi’s cookies, WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK ARE THESE. SUGAR COOKIES??? I’M PRETTY SURE THE RECIPE WAS FOR OATMEAL COOKIES! The instructor breathed in and out, it’s fine, it’s fine. At least they made something.