It Starts With A Letter

Chapter 6

Yuri filled the pot with water and turned the stove on, "Are you sure you want my help?" She grabbed the silicon pasta server and laid it beside the stovetop.

"Why not?" Natsuki turned off the sink and stood beside Yuri, "It's almost impossible to make spaghetti inedible. Plus, it's the least I can do for inviting me."

"Because I'm bad at cooking...?"

Natsuki grabbed the pasta spoon and held it to Yuri's face, "Silence! Your cuisine queen demands your help with the feast!" Her voice imitated a prestigious monarch, "If you don't help... I'll have your fingers cut off and fed to the kitties!" Natsuki toyed with a smile.

Yuri, even though she didn't want to interfere with the chef's cooking, decided to play along, "Oh, your majesty! Don't have my fingers cut off! I love them dearly." She said humbly.

"Then help me cook! Give me the pasta noodles!" Natsuki held out her left hand, "Thank you. Maybe, just maybe, the queen will reward you tonight for being a good, helpful subject!" She dumped the noodles into the pot.

"A r-reward for complying? Queen, you shouldn't give gifts to someone as humble as myself. It'll make you look bad." Yuri threw the box into the trash can.

"Bleh, who cares? As the ruler of this kitchen, I reward whoever I want." Natsuki stirred the wet noodles, "Fetch me another bowl, would you, subject? We need to cook the sauce next."

And Yuri listened. Together, the two put the meatballs in the oven, drained the soggy noodles, combined both noodles and sauce into a pot, and washed off the pasta spoon "All that's left are the meatballs, which have ten minutes to finish, right, your majesty?"

"Indeed, subject! You've proven to be useful in the kitchen." Natsuki imitated a snooty laugh as she held her silicon scepter by her side, "As your reward, you have the privilege–"

Yuri grabbed the spoon from Natsuki, "I'll take this as my reward."

"Hey! That isn't your reward!" Natsuki tackled Yuri, "Your reward is the pasta, not my reign!"

Yuri overpowered Natsuki and clutched the scepter, "I think I'd rather have this reward!" She pinned the girl to the floor, her body over Natsuki's, "As the new queen, I demand a hug!"

"Seriously?" Natsuki's voice dropped the royal accent, "Out of all the requests you could make, you want a hug? Not money?"

"No money, just a hug." Yuri hopped off Natsuki and sat on the floor. She opened her legs and spread her arms wide. Natsuki scooted closer to Yuri, "Who needs money when I can have hugs from you?"

Natsuki rolled her eyes and wrapped her arms around Yuri, "You're somehow cheesier than the Parmesan-infused meatballs." She rested her head on Yuri's shoulders as her cheeks blushed a bright red. Once again, she found comfort in Yuri.

Natsuki familiarized herself with Yuri's presence, such as Yuri's lilac-scented shampoo, "It wasn't weird of me to ask for a hug, was it?" Yuri ran her right hand down Natsuki's back.

"Mhm, It wasn't." Natsuki buried herself into Yuri's shoulders. She bathed in Yuri's warmness and scent as she squeezed tighter, "You... Smell really good." Her muffles were barely audible, and Yuri held her with one arm by the waist.

This must've been a dream. She never thought anyone would treat her like this since her parents divorced.

Like she was special.

Like she was important.

Like she was loved.

"Natsuki? Do you know why I asked for this hug?" Yuri asked, "Friendship can be special. When two people hang out with each other, their connection can go further beyond friends. What I'm saying is, Natsuki, you're–"

The oven interrupted Yuri's heartfelt speech with its chimes and beeps, "I am...?" Natsuki pulled apart from Yuri, whose cheeks looked redder than the prepared marinara sauce.

"You're hungry! After all, it's almost eight p.m." Yuri got up from the floor, grabbed a hand sock, and got the meatballs out of the oven, "I, um forgot what I was going to say earlier... So just ignore what I was getting at, okay?"

"Okay..." Natsuki got off the floor and slowly grabbed her plate from the counter.