Rays of sunlight stabbed Akira's eyelids. She could hear the birds chirping outside her window. Someone shook her roughly.
"Oi. Wake up, Chichinashi." Akira groaned, eyes fluttering open. She batted away Ayato's face looming over her. "Go away, Ayato. It's Sunday."
"No. I want to eat takoyaki." Through hazy vision, she watched as he plonked down onto her bed. Akira buried her face in her pillow, wriggling further into the warmth of her cocoon that was her blanket. "Twenty minutes."
There was silence. Akira was prepared for him to drag her out of bed, but much to her surprise, he did not. The mattress dipped as Ayato crawled in beside her. A heavy arm was thrown over her waist. Under the blanket, Akira entwined her legs with his. She heard him mumble beside her. "Fine. Twenty minutes."
Twenty minutes later, they were standing in the kitchen. Akira pulled back her hair and tied an apron around her waist. "Well, takoyaki only, right? Why are there other ingredients out?" She called to Ayato, who was busy rummaging through the drawers. He turned to her, waving a spatula. "Ha? You make the takoyaki for me. I'll make pancakes."
"Pancakes? I didn't know you could cook." Akira raised her brow. She had a feeling that particular choice of breakfast food was not purely coincidental. Ayato huffed impatiently. "My looks aren't all that's going for me, okay, Chichinashi?" He thumped his chest. "I have skills too."
Akira eyed him skeptically as she rolled up her sleeve and started meausing ingredients. "I'll have Reiji on standby with medication for any food poisoning."
"Here." Akira set the steaming plate of her brother's favourite food on the table. Eyes shining with delight, he whipped out his own plate. "Take it." Akira inspected the pancakes. Some were misshapen and deformed, or burnt at the edges. She doused everything in maple syrup and slapped a block of butter on top as Ayato watched with a wrinkled brow. He snatched the fork from her and took a piece with less syrup, holding it to her lips. "How are you suppsed to taste the goodness if you add so many extra things?"
"So if it it tastes like shit, at least it'll be diluted somewhat." Akira opened her mouth as Ayato pulled the fork away. She chewed, then swallowed.
"Well?" Ayato pressed through a mouthful of takoyaki.
Akira patted her lips with a napkin and took another bite of his dish. "It's not that bad."
"Good." Ayato smirked. "Next time, you teach me how to make takoyaki."
