Love's Recipe ~Choji~

Chapter 6

Choji and his friends stood not far away, Choji in particular looking pissed. My whole body was flooded with relief and I wanted to cry. "Choji, help!" I yelled.

He came closer and the man let me go to face him. "Quit harassing my friend. She said she didn't have time for you."

"How about you mind your own and move along fat man."

Choji's face instantly darkened. "Ooh, he's done it now." Ino said, her arms crossed and face saying this has happened before. Shikamaru flicked his fingers to the side, motioning for me to move over a little.

"What did you call me?" He sounds... scary....

"Fat boy, piggy piggy piggy!" The next thing I know, he's in the wall. No, he's really in the wall. Like two inches buried in the brick and unresponsive kind of in the wall.

"I'm not fat! I'm big boned!" Choji finished. Oh jeez. ... That is a pimp hand.

"He shouldn't a said that." Ino commented, hands on her hips like it was not big deal that this guy was stuck in the freaking wall! I'm not complaining, I'm just a little surprised. Is this something that happens often? Because those two do not seemed at all fazed by this.

Choji shook out his hand and took a deep breath. Shikamaru patted his back. "Hey, cool off a little Choj. He didn't know."

I decided to join in the comfort. The guess is... Choji does not appreciate being called fat... "It's okay, Choji. I don't think your fat."

"You don't?" He asked, truly surprised. The other two showed their thoughts as well.

"Nope." My grin was wide. "You're fluffy! Like a biiiig squishy bear."

"Wait... does that help?" Ino asked with a cocked brow.

Choji shrugged and grinned a little. "Kinda." She and I couldn't help but let out short snorts.

Walking to the corner, I smiled to all of them. "Thanks for that you guys. Ugh, I still feel slimy. Did you hear him talk about seeing my shoulders?"

"Oh my God, I thought you were going to throw up. I thought I was going to throw up." Ino gushed with me.

Shikamaru was next to add his lackadaisical response. "I didn't know shoulder fetishes were a thing."

At the corner, Ino and Shikamaru were about to turn right to go to town as Choji hung back when I stopped them. "Hey, I need some help with recipe. Would you guys happen to be hungry?" I asked with my best face of innocents.

Ino spun around with sparkles in the air.

"Food?!"

"I thought you were on a diet." Shikamaru sighed.

"That was last week. I'm hungry." Her glare is fabulous. How does she do that?

Choji smiled and looked up like he was day dreaming. I'll take that as a yes. Shikamaru sighed and put his feet together while rubbing the back of his head. Is... is that a yes? Um... I'm going to take that as a yes.

I turned left and shifted my bags in my hands. "So the recipe is a savory dish, and I'm stuck on how exactly to bring out the full flavor of the sauce without killing the flavor of the meat." As I explained the dish, the weight in my left hand disappeared. Looking up, I found Choji walking straight ahead, my shopping bag in his hand. It made my face feel a little... warm. No one has ever done that before.

Choji glanced down at me and smiled, and I returned the smile fully. He's so nice and thoughtful. And strong. Wow strong.... Two inches in the friggen wall!

The door was open and I lead the way straight into the kitchen. "Go ahead and have a seat. I'll make some tea." Before getting the pot out, I poked my head out the back door to yell to my brother. "Ikuto! Habaneros and garlic!"

"Any onions?" He called back.

"Green!" After closing the door, I grabbed my apron off the hook and pulled my hair up. The tea was on as I got the meat from the fridge and set everything on the island so I could visit and work at the same time. I'm learning a lot about them. Ino can be really straightforward. Shikamaru is laid back, but he's also very smart and notices some pretty cool things.

The sauce was done and the meat was seared. I placed four portions on plates since Ikuto decided to join them at the table. I set the plates down and watched with clenched fists and anticipation as everyone took a bite.