Chapter Text
It’s Thursday evening, and Sousuke is jerked out of his studies by a loud growl that turns out to be Rin’s stomach. The redhead looks absolutely mortified.
“Wasn’t dinner only an hour ago?” he teases fondly, grinning at the sight of Rin’s flustered face.
“Shut up. It’s this new workout routine, I’m always hungry.” He stands up, closing his notebook. “I’ll be back in a bit.”
Sousuke expects Rin to return from the vending machine in five minutes tops, so when five minutes become half an hour, he gets worried. Just as he’s toed his shoes back on to go outside, the other bursts into the room with a blinding smile and two covered dishes.
“Hey, I made ochazuke. Want some?”
Sousuke honestly has no words. Rin’s smile doesn’t dim; he just sets one of the dishes on Sousuke’s desk and uncovers the other, digging in immediately.
“You can cook?” The Rin of before could barely scrape together an omelet, Sousuke remembers.
“Of course. Back in Australia, if I wanted Japanese food, I had to make it myself.”
There’s a small pause. Sousuke’s not really hungry, but ochazuke had been one of his favorite comfort foods when he was younger, and if Rin went to the trouble of making two helpings…
“C’mon, it’s not like we won’t burn the calories with all our training.”
Sousuke smiles and begins to eat.
The ochazuke surprises him with how good it is. Rin has kept the tea from brewing too strongly, so it doesn’t overwhelm the other flavors. He’s topped it with arare and nori strips too, and all in all it’s the best meal Sousuke’s had at Samezuka.
“You should cook more often,” he says, and feels warmth spread throughout his chest when Rin beams proudly back at him.
He’s mildly surprised when Rin comes back from his weekend at home laden with groceries, pots and pans, and a pastel pink apron.
“Not a word. I borrowed it from Gou. Better than getting stains all over my clothes.”
“I wasn’t going to say anything.”
“Tch. It’s written all over your face.”
“So why all this?”
“You said I should cook more, and you’re right. There's too much fast food here, it’s healthier to cook for yourself. And uh, I kinda miss home cooking, yknow?”
Sousuke hums in agreement. If it means more dishes like last night, he isn't going to complain.
The next Saturday, Rin makes a vegetable stir-fry for their lunch. It’s a pleasant sight; Rin with his shirt rolled up to the elbows and hair back in a ponytail, his face lightly flushed from the steam. The apron looks ridiculously endearing on him, and Sousuke is tempted to snap a picture but Rin’s already confiscated his phone for precisely that reason. He threatens Sousuke with no food if he doesn’t help, but they both know it’s a bluff.
They eat at the small table that’s attached to the dorm’s kitchen, knees knocking together in the cramped space. Afterwards, Sousuke washes the dishes as a thank-you. He decides that eternity is not long enough to feel such contentment.
Sousuke wakes on Sunday to strawberry and cream cheese crêpes, and really, it’s not his fault that he gets down on one knee and immediately proposes. Rin laughs and slaps him playfully on the back, turning to hang up his apron.
“C’mon, food’s gonna get cold.”
It’s delicious as always, and made even better by the smudge of flour over Rin’s cheek that he has yet to notice. The morning light plays with his hair, and the whole room smells like sugar.
Of course Rin decides they have to go on a five-mile run later in the day, but Sousuke can’t really bring himself to mind.
Over the next month, Sousuke gets to sample grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup, curry rice, gyoza, fettuccine alfredo, yaki soba, and the best dorayaki of his life. They rarely have dinner in the canteen anymore, preferring to share a meal the tiny dorm kitchen. Sousuke isn’t interested in learning to cook, but he helps out with the washing afterwards, and occasionally chops a vegetable or two.
Then one evening, the kitchen is closed. Some first-year tried to deep-fry something or the other and ended up causing a small fire, so while a stove burner is being replaced, they have nowhere to cook. Rin tries not to look disappointed, but Sousuke catches the expression anyway.
“Let me take you to dinner,” he says once they’re back in the room, Rin having forlornly put away his cooking utensils.
“Eh?” Rin looks up at him. “We can just go to the canteen, it’s no big deal.”
“You’ve been cooking for me all month; think of this as a thank you. Besides, I heard Yotsumi-san is cooking tonight.”
Rin cringes at the thought of her trademark overcooked tofu and watery rice.
“Alright. Where to?”
“There’s a Sichuan-style place nearby—” Sousuke’s cut off as Rin swings an arm around his shoulders and practically drags him out the door.
“Why didn’t you say so to begin with? I haven’t had good spicy food in forever!”