Echoes of Fractured Realities: The Convergence Beyond Worlds

Ep 10 : New Ingredients, New Connections

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Kira stood at the counter in the cooking club room, her fingers deftly working the dough for a new batch of cookies. The sweet aroma of the first batch lingered in the air, wrapping the room in warmth. Across from her, Chaku leaned against the counter, watching with a playful smile.

"You know," Chaku said, stretching her arms above her head, "I didn't expect you to be this good, Kira. You could run this club all by yourself."

Kira let out a soft laugh, her hands continuing their rhythmic motion as she scooped dough onto a baking sheet. "I don't know about that... I just like to cook. It relaxes me."

"Well, your cookies are basically magic," Chaku said with a grin. "Once we hand them out, the whole school's going to want to join."

Kira paused for a moment, looking up as the thought lingered. "I wonder... is it really about the cooking, or is it about spending time with people?"

Chaku tilted her head, intrigued by the question. "Why not both? Good food brings people together. It's like... a recipe for friendship."

The words echoed in Kira's mind as they continued baking. She smiled softly, finishing up the cookies, but the idea of what Chaku had said stayed with her. Maybe it was true—maybe cooking wasn't just about food. Maybe it was about the connections that came with it.

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Later, with trays of warm cookies in hand, Kira and Chaku made their way down the hallway, the sweet scent trailing behind them. As they approached Class 3-A, Kira spotted Shoma and Toru near the window, their heads turning toward the door as soon as the aroma reached them.

"Oh man, what is that smell?" Shoma asked, eyes widening as Kira and Chaku entered the room.

Kira held up the tray, a little shy, as both boys immediately perked up.

"You baked these?" Toru asked, a smile already forming.

Kira nodded. "Yeah... I hope they turned out alright."

"More than alright," Chaku chimed in, holding the tray out proudly. "They're perfect."

Shoma was the first to grab one, taking a bite and letting out an exaggerated hum of satisfaction. "These are amazing!"

Toru quickly followed, tasting the cookie and looking just as impressed. "Kira, you've got to tell me your secret. These are better than anything I've had before."

Kira's face flushed slightly at the compliments. "It's just practice, I guess."

Toru, however, wasn't done. "You know, if you weren't already vice president of the cooking club, you could probably sell these and start your own business."