Mute

34 | Cookies Again

I worked silently as Shiro talked. He was great at keeping people entertained, and I found myself smiling a lot as we worked. I'd shown him what to do and was switching up his tasks every so often so he wouldn't be bored. Right now he was helping me mix the newest batch of cookie dough.

"And this is a family recipe? Your family must really love baking huh?"

I nodded with a smile, rolling out some of the dough.

"If anyone disrespects these cookies I'm going to fry them!" He suddenly declared, "They're the coolest thing I've ever made!"

I smiled, shaking my head slightly. I ended up not having to reply, because my uncle decided that'd be an amazing time to some home. With a guest.

"Emiko! Are you baking? Man it smells amazing!" My uncle shouted cheerfully. Shiro's eyes widened as the hero walked into the room, I kept my eyes on my work.

"Holy crap! You're Present Mic!"

"Yes I am! Are you Emiko's friend? I was under the impression she just had Shouto here!"

I glanced up and smiled at Shouto as he walked over.

"Hey! You're the guy that always waits at our gate for Emiko, that's really cool of you man."

"It's my pleasure to do so." Shouto replied calmly, leaning down and kissing my cheek. "Christmas cookies?"

Shiro nodded his confirmation. "Yeah! Our class is throwing a party on friday to celebrate and she said she was making cookies, so I offered to help!"

"I see."

My uncle grinned. "Wonderful! Where's your brother? Is he not helping?"

I shook my head, motioning upstairs and mimed a controller.

"Ah! I'll go say hi!"

Shiro was practically screaming as my uncle walked away. The second he was gone Shiro hit my arm. "You didn't tell me you knew Present mic! He's so freaking cool!"

I smiled apologetically as Shouto slipped his arm around my waist to hold me. I didn't mind, it was a nice feeling and he wasn't impairing my movements.

"Is he like your cousins uncle or something?"

"Present Mic is her uncle." Shouto corrected. I relaxed, letting them talk as I worked, slipping the shapes of dough onto the cookie sheet to be baked. I broke away from Shouto only long enough to slide the trays into the oven, leading the pair of males to where we'd set up the frostings. Most of the cookies from out first few batches were cool enough to decorate.

"Dude, why haven't you told anyone? You could be the most popular person in school if they knew! I mean, besides having a hero as a friend, I'll fix the rumors don't worry, but you could be way more popular than Alice."

"What rumor?" Shouto interrupted. We both glanced up at him to find him staring at me. I dropped my gaze back to the cookies as Shiro spoke up.

"Oh right! Well, you've been walking her home from school everyday right? Well someone spread a rumor she was paying you to do it, im not sure who. Hardly anyone believes it, I mean, it's obvious you guys are friends."

"Emiko isn't a friend." Shouto argued. I suppressed a smile as Shiro stared at him blankly. "She's my girlfriend."

"Wait what? Really?" He glanced down at me, and finding no denial, laughed. "Dude! That makes so much more sense! Emi, is that why you've turned down so many guys at our school?"

I could tell by Shouto's hands tightening he wasn't pleased with this knowledge. Either that or finding out about them through Shiro and not me. Either one I could understand.

"Really?" He shifted slightly and I had to adjust so I wouldn't mess up the cookie I was working on.

"Yeah! She gets like three times a week. She's never failed to turn them down. You've got one of the most faithful girlfriends I've ever met bro."

I smiled slightly at the compliment as Shouto relaxed. "I know."

"Emiko, how did you do this?" I turned my attention to Shiro as he pointed to a cookie. He gestured randomly. "The pattern, its really cool."

I smiled and released myself from Shoutos grip to stand by his side. I showed him how to do it, gently nudging his hand when it strayed. When we'd both finished I nodded and returned to frosting my own section of cookies. Shouto rested his chin on my head while I worked, and we were all silent for a while.

Shiro interrupted that by laughing randomly. "Jeez, you guys are so quiet, you're perfect for each other." He grinned at me. "You're mute, and you're practically silent. It's great!" he laughed.

I smiled and tilted my head so my hair hid my blush.

"If her school knew it maybe so many of them wouldn't hit on her." Shouto mumbled.

Shiro laughed. "Trust me, I'm going to tell them. If neither of you mind of course."

I hesitated. Shouto didn't. "I don't care."

I flashed a tiny smile, allowing him to interpret as he would. If he told the school, the rumors would stop. But, if he did, I'd be pressured be every girl to talk about him. They'd want secrets, knowledge, hook ups with his friends, things I wouldn't provide. I might end up even more hated than I was already.

"Great! I'll tell them all as soon as I can! This is great!"