[nat]

Nat felt a little silly with her dorm room cooking experiments in retrospect, since as it turns out the school had its very own culinary club. One that focused on the whole wide world of food too, not just one type of food. She still didn't mind making food for her and her roommate of course, especially because she was pretty sure Yoko would starve or try to live entirely on takeout otherwise, but the club was much better equipped for proper cooking and baking and all kinds of things than their bare bones dorm kitchen was. She didn't think she'd ever be an exceptional chef, but she was looking forward to seeing what she could make with the proper tools at her disposal. Plus, the other members of the club seemed friendly enough from what little she had seen of them so far, even if the club heads seemed to have some kind of philosophical conflict with each other that Nat was keeping herself out of.

Even if she privately agreed that taste mattered way more than presentation.

With a recipe book open on the counter in front of her, apron on over her UAU uniform, Nat double and triple checked that she had absolutely everything she needed before she got started. All the bowls, measuring cups, utensils, the different ingredients... Arms crossed under her chest, she gave a little nod to herself and started rolling her sleeves back and pulling her dreads into a ponytail - there wasn't much of a risk of stray hairs getting in food with dreadlocks, but she didn't want to risk it. It was standard procedure anyways, and Nat was going about it as methodically and by the book as she could. Today she was trying her hand at baking, and as far as she knew the important part there was getting the mix right and then the timing of the actual baking right. Starting with measuring all the wet and dry ingredients out separately, Nat was tentatively hopeful that this would turn out well.

Momoiro Sakurai

[Momoiro Sakurai]

[nospaces]

[attr="class","oneword1"]

[attr="class","fromyou1"]
🌸 nat 🌸

Notes Here

because they fall we love them

[attr="class","itsover"]

All things considered, Momoiro's first day wasn't so bad. Aside from the double digit number of mini panic attacks they had in their head as a result of overthinking, simple misunderstandings, and overthinking simple misunderstandings, they were pretty hopeful about the future. Much of the stress that Momoiro had manufactured was just that: manufactured. Or was it? Maybe it was an easy day because it was their first day. After all, Momoiro only had the one practical exercise. It wasn't like they got to take the entrance exam to see just how intense U.A. really was, and oh no there they go overthinking things again.[break][break]

It wasn't until Momoiro caught a whiff of something sweet in the air that their negative thoughts stopped. Pausing for a brief moment, they followed their curiosity to the source: some sort of kitchen. U.A. taught culinary arts? Damn. Momoiro was a bit bummed out that they didn't add any to their schedule. Then again, they probably wouldn't be able to.[break][break]

Pausing at the door, Momoiro just stood there awkwardly and possibly even creepily staring vacantly as they wistfully thought back to their travels and how much they missed tasting and cooking new foods. If it were up to them, they'd still be traveling the world. Three years just isn't enough time to see and do it all.[break][break]

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[nat]

Focused as she was on making sure she didn't make any mistakes, Nat didn't notice someone watching at first. Not until turning her head while starting to mix the combined dry ingredients into the combined wet ones did she happen to catch sight of the door out of the corner of her eye and someone with bright pink hair standing there. Pausing with one bowl half-tipped over the other one, a baking spatula in her other hand she was using to ease the dry ingredient in slowly so she could mix it evenly, Nat glanced at the stranger with her usual flat stoic expression.

She didn't intend it, but it probably looked like a pretty sharp look over at the person watching from the doorway.

"Hello." She broke the silence after a moment of thinking of what to say. Was it someone who needed to ask a question? Someone feeling uncertain about joining the club? Someone that was lost on campus? Or just someone that liked to watch people cook? She didn't like to make assumptions, so in the end she settled on simply asking: "Do you need something?" After asking her question Nat set the bowl down and set the spatula in it, just on the off chance the other person did need some form of help with something. It occurred to her then that maybe they were simply hungry or curious, and after another brief pause she added an offer. "If you're wanting to try samples, it's not ready yet but I don't mind sharing."

Yoko would probably tell her that immediately offering to give up some of her food was being a doormat again, but Nat didn't think so in this case. If she offered it without the other person asking at all, how could that be being a doormat? Although she did make a mental note to make sure there was enough left over by the time she left today to share with Yoko as well when she got back to their dorm room.

Momoiro Sakurai,

[Momoiro Sakurai]

[nospaces]

[attr="class","oneword1"]

[attr="class","fromyou1"]
🌸 nat 🌸

Notes Here

because they fall we love them

[attr="class","itsover"]

Snapping back to reality, Momoiro realized that they had just been standing at the door. "What kind of creep watches a girl all by herself in a classroom? That's definitely what she's thinking. I definitely look like a total creep. I've even got that creepy look that all creepy guys have! ...I'm still standing here and staring. She called me out, and I'm still standing here and staring. SAY SOMETHING!" Immediately, they bowed. "Sorry! I'm not creep!" ... "REALLY? I'M NOT A CREEP!? ONLY A CREEP WOULD SAY THAT!"[break][break]

Mentally cringing out of existence, they scrunched their face up and facepalmed. "I mean, I just didn't know that U.A. had culinary classes, and so I just, uh, walked in absentmindedly after smelling what you were baking. I just sort of spaced out thinking about it, and I'm so, so, so sorry for bothering you," they bowed, hopefully clearing things up.[break][break]

"Ah! No need to trouble yourself. I really shouldn't. After all, I really need to be careful of what I eat! I really need to start watching my figure now that I'm here at U.A. Haha, I've—" they paused, realizing that they were doing that thing where they just don't stop talking. "Sorry, I'll just leave you alone now! My apologies again," they bowed.[break][break]

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[nat]

Nat fully believed the stranger wasn't a creep. Most people would probably have found it a weird denial, but to Nat it came across like a helpful clarification. She actually hadn't considered the possibility that they were a creep to begin with, but it was still nice to be able to cross that off the list of possibilities. Even better was that they went on to explain why they were here, the blonde giving a very slight tilt of her head at the bowing and repeated apologies. Mentioning needing to watch what they eat seemed... strange to Nat, but she didn't say anything. To her, almost everyone at UAU had a pretty big appetite because of all the training they were all doing, Quirks often needing a lot of energy, and stuff like that. Maybe it was just a slow metabolism, or an excuse?

Cutting her thoughts short as they bowed and apologized again, Nat spoke up quickly. "Wait." Then she paused, thinking what she wanted to say before continuing. "If you apologize all the time, people will walk over you." It was something Yoko had told her and she felt it appropriate to pass the sentiment on. She wasn't sure if she should say anything else or not, but she got the impression this person wasn't the most self-confident. So more on a whim than anything, she added: "I didn't know there was a culinary club here either, and there's room to join if you want. And... For whatever its worth, training burns a lot of energy and you'll tone up before you know it. Even if you didn't, there's nothing wrong with how you look."

She didn't want to pry further than that, picking her bowl back up and resuming her mixing. She wasn't going to force them to stay, but she hoped they felt a little better at least if they did leave.

Momoiro Sakurai,

[Momoiro Sakurai]

[nospaces]

[attr="class","oneword1"]

[attr="class","fromyou1"]
🌸 nat 🌸

Notes Here

because they fall we love them

[attr="class","itsover"]

Right as they turned the shoulder and started facing away, a sharp chill ran up their spine. It was that feeling they got right when they felt like they were about to chewed out. Physically cringing, they turned around with their head hung low and followed up with a bow. "I'm sorry, you're absolutely right. I will be more mindful about that in the future."[break][break]

Speaking of getting walked all over, that's precisely what was happening right now. Even though she wasn't being forceful, Momoiro certainly felt like they should stay. Granted, Momoiro was actually interested in joining, and she did make some compelling arguments. Not that Momoiro actually really gave them much thought on account of their mind being a bit too clouded with anxiety and other ridiculous thoughts. [break][break]

"Those are all very good points. You're absolutely right. I'm sorry for being so weird about it. I'd love to join if you'll have me," they bowed once again, not even realizing how their response came off as disingenuous.[break][break]

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[nat]

Nat got the impression she hadn't given the advice in the correct way. On her stoic-as-always face that only really showed as a slight pursing of her lips, making a mental note to ask Yoko about how to give better advice later. She knew she wasn't the most social of butterflies either, but as far as Nat was considered the advice Yoko had given her was much more well received than her own attempt at giving someone else advice seemed to have gone. So rather than reiterate her points or anything, Nat finished up her mixing and moved on to pouring everything out into the prepared muffin tray one bit at a time.

"It's okay." She replied after a moment, her focus briefly on trying to divide the batter up as evenly as she could. "I don't have any authority in the club, but we're always happy to have more people." She glanced away from her work over at Momoiro, wondering if they were as unenthusiastic as they sounded or just awkward. She really couldn't tell, and she knew her own constantly deadpan mannerisms made her hard to read too so she wasn't going to assume either way. "If you just want to watch I don't mind, but if you want something to do I don't mind letting you help. Or you can make something of your own too, there's plenty of ingredients around." She gave a very small raise of the spatula in her hand to gesture at the rest of the club room.

Whatever they wanted to do, Nat would speak up again after a moment of silence to introduce herself. "I'm Natesa Bee, by the way, but people usually call me Nat."

Momoiro Sakurai,

[Momoiro Sakurai]

[nospaces]

[attr="class","oneword1"]

[attr="class","fromyou1"]
🌸 nat 🌸

Notes Here

because they fall we love them

[attr="class","itsover"]

Swept up in the awkwardness, Momoiro quickly shuffled into the club room and got a better look at what Nat was working on. "Erm, I don't mind watching, helping, or even leaving if I'm making you feel uncomfortable. Really, whatever you want! Ah, but if I am going to cook...You wouldn't happen to have a spare hair tie would you?"[break][break]

Prior to traveling the world, Momoiro had never once cooked their own meal. Every meal Momoiro ever ate was either from a restaurant or cooked by a servant. When Momoiro did first begin traveling, they had to quickly learn how to cook to survive. It was one of the more exciting things about being a traveler. When it became a necessity and as a means of expanding their own horizons, Momoiro even went out of their way to seek out culinary lessons both from actual instructors and friendly locals that they met. Food and cooking was just one of the many ways that they were able to connect with the different cultures that Momoiro had the luxury of experiencing. One of the things he learned early on was how strict professionals were about sanitation in the kitchen. There were many mentors of theirs that got on their case for not tying their hair back, and the many verbal lashings put it in their head to always practice proper hygiene when in a kitchen.[break][break]

Oh! Yes, my apologies for not introducing myself. My name is Sakurai Momoiro, First Year Hero Department. It's nice to meet you, Bee-san, they bowed.[break][break]

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[nat]

With a small incline of her head that could vaguely be interpreted as a nod, Nat set her bowl aside and retrieved a little plastic bag from the big pocket on her apron that was full of hair ties. They weren't very fancy, just a random assortment she had gotten from a big bag of them at the store, but it suited her just fine. She didn't normally have her hair up, and trying to go get some from her bag or something when she was busy cooking was a pain. It was faster to just keep them like this in her apron, since this was pretty much the only time she used them. Letting Momoiro take their pick of a hair tie before putting the baggie away, Nat turned her attention back to her baking before pausing to focus on the recipe in the book to double check that she wasn't making any mistakes again.

"I'm also a first year in the hero department... and no, you don't make me uncomfortable." She informed while reading, pursing her lips. She considered apologizing for her botched advice earlier, but that would probably just bother someone with the kind of disposition Momoiro seemed to have more than if they just moved past it. She needed to focus on baking too, since it was complicated and the recipe didn't exactly say what it meant all the time. She had heard you were supposed to let batter settle to get rid of trapped air, but was that only for big things like cakes? The recipe didn't mention needing to do that, so maybe it was fine not to in this case? Turning to Momoiro she asked: "Have you made manju before, Sakurai-san?"

In theory all she had to do was put a layer of the filling she wanted on top, bake it up, and then squish two halves together after they were done. Usually cheese or red bean paste, according to the recipe. It was an older version of manju, since it had sounded simpler and she had actually never tried it this way before. The ones she had tried the filling was completely enclosed in the bread, but this one was more like a sandwich with the filling between two pieces? At least, that was the best comparison she could think of.

Momoiro Sakurai,

[Momoiro Sakurai]

[nospaces]

[attr="class","oneword1"]

[attr="class","fromyou1"]
🌸 nat 🌸

Notes Here

because they fall we love them

[attr="class","itsover"]

When it came to cooking, Momoiro was much more familiar with foreign delicacies and cooking styles. After all, they didn't have the opportunity to take any culinary classes in Japan. While they had eaten manju before, knowing how it tastes and how to make it are completely different things. Regardless, Momoiro had the fundamentals of baking down, so learning to make manju probably woudln't be too difficult.[break][break]

After grabbing a hair tie, Momoiro rolled up their sleeves and went to the sink to wet their hair a bit to make it easier to bunch up and tie back before doing a thorough hand washing routine. "No—never, but I'm eager to learn if you're willing to teach."[break][break]

Mentally preparing themselves for the task, Momoiro started thinking back to the last time they had manju. They tried to recall the flavor and taste sensations. It was fluffy, especially on the top while much thicker at the bottom. The outer dough was soft yet slightly chewy—not too hard to bite into, and it a slight stickiness and pliability to it. It was definitely baked, but Momoiro had also had steamed manju in the past too.[break][break]

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[nat]

Well, Nat supposed that didn't give her an easy out on answering if the batter needed to settle or not. Giving a slight tip of her head and a just as slight raise of one eyebrow, the blonde replied in the same flat way she said everything: "I've never made Manju before either."

And then turned her attention back to the batter in the tray, deciding it would just turn out however it turned out. Since they were both new to this anyways, there was no expectation for it to turn out perfect, right? Although she did hope Momoiro could be a little critical when the time came... the only thing she took issue with about cooking for Yoko is her roommate would happily chow down on whatever she was offered without a bad word to say. Which was nice in its own way but wasn't especially conductive towards improvement. But more importantly, it was time to add the fillings.

"Add whatever you like. I was thinking a couple with cheese and a couple with red bean paste, and..." She lightly gestured at the spots in the tin she had in mind, trailing off as she considered what else might be good. A thought came to her and she glanced at Momoiro again. "Do you have a favorite flavor? There's enough to make any kind you want. And you don't have to worry about eating all of them or anything, I plan on sharing any leftovers with my roommate. You can take some to give to anyone else, too, if you want."

All in all it would be around a dozen manju, so there really was no reason to be stingy. With that said though she was going to start adding some fillings, making sure to give Momoiro plenty of their own space while they worked.

Momoiro Sakurai,