The Beginning of Summer

Part 2 - Dinner

Note:  Perspectives of both characters will be present in this chapter. Italic text will represent Hajime while normal text will represent Kyo. Dialogue, regardless of perspective, will remain in normal text.

I was slicing the pork belly horizontally into small bits. I sprinkled some salt and squeezed half a lemon into it and poured a small amount of soy sauce. I then mixed it.

"So," Hajime says from behind me. "What are you cooking?"

"Oh," I shrug. "Just some deep-fried pork belly."

"Ahh," He nods. 

After the oil was hot, I placed the marinated sliced pork belly into the pot of oil. The oil sizzled and popped.

Ahhhh, this smells so nice! Now, I'm hungry. Kyo lives alone, so he probably has to learn all about cooking by himself growing up. I wish I could learn how to cook. Every time my mom is away, I just go to the nearest convenience store and buy microwavable meals. I should definitely learn how to cook. Maybe I could ask Kyo for help if he's willing to.

"So," Kyo sat down on the chair in front of me behind the stove. "Update on your mom?"

"She said that she won't be done until 3 AM, so I think I'll be here until tomorrow if that's fine,"

He shakes a hand. "It's totally fine. Plus, it's not that bad to have someone over once in a while."

I smile. "Great."

"So," I say. "You always cook your meals?"

"Yeah," He replies. "My uncle taught me the basics when he still lives here, and I did the rest once he left. I learned some recipes to make so that my meal won't be the same every day."

Yeah, I was right. Oh, to be a good cook. "I wish I could cook like you. Every time my mom isn't around, I just buy microwavable meals from the convenience store."

Kyo chuckles. "Maybe I could teach you someday."

I laugh. "Sure, if you don't mind."

* * * * *

A few minutes pass, the food was ready. The small, golden brown, deep-fried pork belly pieces were stacked on a plate. This honestly looks good. It even smells good!

I serve the food and placed it in the center of the table, along with the pot of rice. I then grabbed two small bowls, two drinking glasses, and a pair of chopsticks and placed one each in front of us. We filled our bowls with rice then clasped our hands.

"Thank you for the meal!" We both say before we eat.

I let him take some first and see if he likes it. I hope he likes it.

This is so delicious! It does taste like a normal deep-fried pork belly, but the lemon did enhance the flavor, which I really like. 

"This is so good!" I say, mouth still chewing the food.

He laughs. "Don't talk while still chewing! But thank you!"

I then proceed to eat. I'm glad he liked my cooking. I haven't really cooked for anyone in my entire life, not even my friends, so I'm happy that someone liked it. 

"Oh, yeah," I interrupted my eating. "I have a weekly scheduled TV program that I watch every Saturday night. Is it okay if I watch after dinner?"

"Sure!" He says. "Might as well watch with you."

I chuckle. "Great."

* * * * *

A/N: What do you guys think of the font-based perspective? Is it effective? It wasn't confusing? Tell me if it's too confusing so I could note changing it after my first draft of the entire book.