Risotto Showdown and Magical Girl Night
Vita wanted to smack Carlyle right on the lips to shut him up. But the moment the words slipped out, she regretted it instantly. What the hell did I just say? It was like she'd basically admitted she wanted to keep him around. He was perfectly fine to leave, so she should've just let him go without saying something so unnecessary. Still, seeing that dumb look on Carlyle's face was kinda funny.
"What, you don't want to?"
"N-no."
He was even stammering. He swept a hand over his face, and for a split second, his lips curved into a smile.
"I am thirsty, so I won't turn it down."
By now, Vita was definitely regretting her words from earlier.
"No, I take it back!"
She felt uneasy, like she'd done something stupid. From her experience so far, whenever Carlyle made that face, something always happened. He never let it slide.
"Too bad, I'm staying anyway."
But Carlyle had already shaken off that dopey attitude. The two of them bickered playfully for a bit before following the usual routine.
Bam—
Anyway, they ended up inside the room together.
"So, what should we eat first? I'm hungry."
Vita was dumbfounded by Carlyle's words. Well, look at you. He was acting like he owned the place, all comfy. To be fair, he'd been here a couple times before.
"I said you could have a drink before you go. I never said anything about dinner."
Vita shot back, but suddenly Carlyle stepped closer.
"Just a drink, really?"
His gaze was straight and unwavering. For some reason, Vita found it hard to meet his eyes, and her face started heating up.
"W-well, then..."
Of course it was obvious. But she couldn't bring herself to say the rest. Well, now that she'd already walked him back, sending him off with just water felt kinda cold. Yeah, definitely. It had nothing to do with regretting letting him go or anything like that.
Unlike some narrow-minded jerk who sulks for days over one little slip-up, I've got a big heart.
Unlike that petty guy, now was the time to show off her manly generosity. While Vita agonized over it, Carlyle watched her changing expressions up close.
God, she's cute.
Her feelings were written all over her face, shifting by the second. Bianca Shama's emotions, plain as day.
In the end, after wrestling with it, Vita revised her initial offer.
"Fine, stay for dinner. But just eating."
"Got it. I will."
Maybe both of them already knew one unspoken fact: whether the promise would actually be kept was highly questionable, but they pretended not to notice.
After that, Vita and Carlyle got along nicely as they set down their bags and washed their hands. They opened the fridge first.
"What's there to eat...?"
Vita peered around, and Carlyle sidled up next to her.
"Want me to make you some porridge?"
"What porridge? Your porridge?"
Vita recalled that time and made a face. When she'd been laid up with her period pains, Carlyle Schultz had shown up and made her "porridge." Did he really think throwing a bunch of stuff together and boiling it furiously made porridge? It was ridiculous.
"Please, just stay out of it."
Carlyle chuckled at her reaction. He definitely knew it had been awful and was laughing anyway.
"It was disgustingly bad."
But after saying that, Vita fell silent for a moment as something occurred to her. Right, back then. When he'd come to take care of her. She hadn't thanked him.
It wasn't easy to say it now, after all this time. But this time, Vita mustered a bit of courage.
"That time, thanks..."
It was still hard. The words stuck in her throat.
"Thanks... what?"
"Th-tha..."
But she'd already started, so...
"Thanks! Back then!"
Vita blurted it out, and Carlyle, who had been momentarily stunned, burst into laughter.
"Just say it normally. Why make it so hard?"
Of course, Vita's face turned tomato-red and she ignored him, but strangely, hearing his laugh made her own lips twitch upward. It felt a little lighter.
"Anyway, I'll cook tonight, so you just sit there."
Carlyle nodded, and Vita busily rummaged through the fridge.
Who was Vita Shama? She had some confidence in her cooking skills, even if she did say so herself.
I'll show this guy. I'm not like you.
With that in mind, she gathered some decent ingredients. Since she was doing it anyway, she'd make something so amazing it'd blow his mind. Suddenly, a perfect dish came to her.
How about risotto?
It looked kinda like porridge, but it was totally different. But to Carlyle, it'll probably look just like porridge... Will he realize the difference?
Perfect chance to show off her superiority! Vita tied on an apron.
[Always wear an apron when you cook!]
Her mom had drilled it into her—always wear an apron so your clothes don't get splattered. Humming a little tune, she fired up the stove. Butter in the pan, sauté the ingredients until the aroma filled the air. The key to risotto was adding the broth slowly, stirring ever so gently.
Then, Vita suddenly realized Carlyle was being weirdly quiet.
What's up with him...?
She glanced back and saw him sitting at the table with a strange expression. Something she couldn't quite read, just staring blankly.
"What? Spit it out."
Vita grumbled, and only then did life return to his golden eyes.
"You look totally like a girl from heaven."
The words hit her out of nowhere, and Vita panicked.
"Wh-what?!"
Sudden nonsense after being so quiet? But deep down, it stung a little, so her voice came out smaller.
"M-men... can cook too."
Carlyle Schultz's expression turned a bit odd.
"A man? You?"
Vita realized her slip-up, but luckily, he didn't seem suspicious of her identity. He just shook his head like it was the dumbest thing he'd ever heard.
"You're so unique."
He looked genuinely amused, intrigued. Anyway, Vita glanced down at her apron.
Oh...
She got it. It was her mom's, so it was pink. That's why he'd said that nonsense.
But Carlyle's nonsense didn't stop there.
"You could totally be a housewife."
A bit later, as Vita kept cooking, he started up again. She was gently blowing on the risotto to cool it when her face flushed—purely from anger.
...Is he serious?
She whipped around to see Carlyle cracking up.
"Okay, I'll stop."
He was teasing her, and she knew it, but it still felt weird. Probably because of that bizarre dream from when he'd nursed her. Waiting at home, cooking for him. Running to hug him the moment he walked in.
What the...?
Her appetite vanished in an instant. Ridiculous. Unimaginable. She briefly considered kicking him out right then, but it was too late. She wasn't the type to be petty, and besides, the savory-smelling risotto was done.
She plunked it down on the table.
"Here, eat."
Finally, her chance to flaunt her superiority had arrived.
"...First time for something like this."
Carlyle picked up a spoon with a slightly weird look.
"Of course it is."
Vita puffed up proudly, hands on hips, chin raised.
"Consider it an honor."
Would it be? Soon, a spoonful went into Carlyle's mouth. For some reason, Vita felt more tense than ever.
How is it...?!
It's gotta be insanely good, right? If he said it sucked, she'd beat him senseless. Luckily, he paused, then gave a positive nod.
"Pretty good."
"On a whole different level from your crappy skills?"
"Yeah, I admit it."
Vita was thrilled. See? Told you I can cook.
But she didn't realize how she looked to Carlyle Schultz right then.
"Hey, by the way."
Over dinner, Vita finally asked what had been bugging her.
"Was that really true?"
"Hm? What?"
"That you watched anime... to get close to me."
Um, you know...
"You said you watched it."
For some reason, it felt embarrassing. She didn't know why. She was just curious. Carlyle nodded, and Vita was shocked.
He really did...?
A total social butterfly alpha male dipping into anime? It was kinda surprising, even admirable.
"That's... wild."
So Vita said, lips twitching into a smile, eyes glancing away.
"You, of all people, into anime?"
"Can't I be?"
Carlyle seized the chance, though he didn't know why. His hunch was right—she was responding positively.
"Wanna watch together?"
He'd found the perfect excuse to stick around longer. He drove it home to her flustered face.
"You're the senior in anime. Teach me a bit."
It was, without a doubt, the best decision of Carlyle Schultz's life.
Me... a senior.
Vita felt good. It was true, right? She'd watched way more than this newbie.
I am the senior!
She'd planned to send him off after dinner, but his earnest attitude changed her mind. Carlyle leveled up to "admirable guy" in her book. So, they decided to watch anime together. Just the two of them.
To be totally honest, Vita had felt a little reluctant to see him go anyway.
...Eat slower, at least.
It bugged her. She'd made such a delicious meal, but he wolfed it down without savoring. No appreciation for her effort.
Anyway, his suggestion wasn't bad. Compared to those awkward days of silence, the vibe was back to normal—better, even. Vita's face lit up happily.
What anime would be the best pick? After pondering, she asked Carlyle.
"Got a favorite genre? Something you usually like."
"Anything's fine with me."
His vague answer made her tilt her head. Suspicion brewed. As a true otaku, Vita couldn't stand posers.
"You actually watched some?"
"Of course."
"What'd you watch, then?"
"Your favorite. It was more watchable than I thought."
The unexpected answer froze her.
"My favorite? How'd you know?"
"Asked your pink-haired junior once."
Pink hair—Lou popped into her mind.
Lou, you bastard. What'd you tell him...?
Vita hadn't broadcast her top fave.
I like it, sure, but...
Ugh... uuu...
An old complex. So she'd kept it quiet unless they were really close. But Carlyle just looked puzzled.
"Anyway, you totally fan-girled over it at Wizni Park."
"...Oh, yeah?"
She did vaguely remember. Vita reflected a bit.
For some reason, around this guy...
She let her guard down. She felt comfortable with him, yet sometimes hyper-aware. She couldn't quite figure it out. Still, she couldn't believe he'd watched a magical girl show. When she shot him a doubtful look, Carlyle spoke up.
"Want proof?"
Grinning.
"Fine, prove it."
Vita thought for a sec and tossed out a question.
"What's the meaning behind the protagonist's name?"
"It's symbolic, right? Eve represents the moon, Rosalind the rose. Both emblems are on the wand too."
Incredibly, correct. Vita's jaw dropped.
This guy, for real...?
Mid-series lore—hard to know without watching it all. Looked like he really had. Good enough for now.
"O-okay, then..."
He'd proved it and even said it was decent, so she got bold.
"What about this one?"
Her absolute favorite: the Magical Girl Eve movie.
"Magical Girl Eve: Rosalind and the Galactic Empire's Counterattack?"
Her face burned as she nodded slightly.
"Sounds kinda childish, but it's a true masterpiece."
"Haven't seen it yet."
Decision made on the spot.
"Okay, perfect!"
She grabbed some snacks, they sat side by side on the sofa, and hit play. Simple plot: aliens invade, adults all turn weird one day. Kids led by Eve band together to fix them.
But it has some real heartfelt moments.
Then the highlight—Eve's dad reminiscing about his childhood. Iconic scene, really why it's a masterpiece. Adults come out crying after watching with their kids.
...This is life.
Vita thought so. Her own parents were like that, and someday she'd live it too. Immersed, even though she'd seen it tons. Tears welled up every time. Not unmanly at all! Real men cry at this—it's a man's life.
She snuck peeks at Carlyle now and then. Would he like it? Hope it's not boring. But contrary to her worries, he seemed pretty into it.
And then... Vita froze.
...?
Suddenly, Carlyle's hand silently overlapped hers. She panicked but couldn't pull away—the mood was too perfect. He was immersed in the anime she showed him. Didn't want to break that. Really, that was the only reason. Totally.
Soon, the movie wrapped up on a somewhat happy note. They sat in the afterglow, silent for a bit. Vita turned to ask if he liked it—just as Carlyle did the same. Their eyes met.
"......"
For some reason, words failed. A subtle tension hummed between them. The kind only they could feel—goosebumps rising all over.
Tension between man and woman. No reason. No context. Just the deep night and both of them in a sentimental mood.
"Mmph... wha..."
No need for words. Carlyle moved first, of course, but soon their lips brushed softly together.