More than Best Friends?

Chapter 25 - Preparation

⚠️ - Warnings for partially nude imagery and a short masturbation scene at the end.

Henry sighed as he ran a hand through his short blonde hair; he was particularly stressed because it was the day before his and Pe's anniversary.  He was trying to plan a romantic evening, complete with a candlelit meal and maybe some intimacy after.  He had already gotten her gifts, but he was struggling to decide what he should do about dinner.  Pretty much anything that he tried to make would likely create a disaster, so that limited his options.  He cursed his inability to cook as he scanned the bookshelf in the living room.

Maybe she'd like something Japanese, he thought as he pulled a thin cookbook from the shelf.  He flipped through the pages, stopping when he saw a picture of a chirashizushi bowl.  This would be perfect!  He wouldn't have to worry about grilling the fish, and he was certain that he couldn't mess up cooking the sushi rice.  He'd just have to get a whole bunch of different ingredients at the store before tomorrow night.  He stuffed his wallet in his back pocket and started to make his way to the grocery store.

The sliding doors played a short jingle as Henry walked through the convenience store entrance.  He had remembered seeing ingredients like albacore and tuna in the picture, so he took a basket and went to the meat section.

She likes salmon, so maybe I'll get some of that, he thought as he picked up a small filet of orange fish.  Seafood could be kind of pricey, but Pe loved it, so he'd buy it without a doubt.  He also grabbed some shrimp and octopus and put them in the basket, and a few more types of fish before going towards the produce area.  He picked up a long, ripe green cucumber, blushing a bit as he ripped a plastic bag from the roll next to the stall.  He couldn't cook to save his life, but damn it he was going to try.  He spotted packages of pickled vegetables beside the fresh ones, recalling that there were a few slices of yellow and green things when Pe ordered chirashizushi from a restaurant one time.  He also picked out a container of shredded seaweed before going to the check-out.

He put the ingredients in the refrigerator once he got home, and went upstairs after he was done.  Now it was time to do some research; he pulled out his laptop and searched for some cooking videos.  Even if it took him all day tomorrow, he was going to figure out how to make her a nice dinner.

~*~

Pe was just as frazzled as she thought about what kind of gift to get for Henry.  She normally wouldn't be so worried about something like this because he wasn't picky, but she had been spending so much time with Adrijan that she had almost forgotten about tomorrow.  More than anything, Adrijan wanted her to be happy, even if it meant tagging along to find Henry a present.  He had been silent most of the day, occasionally commenting if she asked for his opinion.  He couldn't deny that it hurt to watch her choose something special for another guy, especially one who didn't treat her right.

"What do you think about this for him, Adrijan-Kun?" she asked, holding up a plain white dress shirt.  They were currently in the men's section of a department store in Shibuya, a Japanese town known for its clothing stores and lively clubs.  Adrijan put a hand to the back of his neck as he shrugged his shoulders.

"It's nice, I guess," he answered quietly. "Does he usually wear stuff like that?"

"Mhm," she nodded, "Maybe I could get him a necktie as well."  She draped the shirt over her forearm and scanned some of the other displays.  Adrijan sighed; Henry was her boyfriend of a few years now, but he wished it was himself that she was picking a gift for.  He knew it was selfish to be so in love with her when she was already taken, but it was so difficult to push his desires away.  He wasn't sure how long he could take it, just being the man on the side.  Even though it was her and Henry's anniversary, he wished she would break up with him soon.