minutemen | 6 ❀ Summer Citadel

6 ❀ Summer Citadel

Beach. Everyone has been working so hard lately so why not take a break and enjoy the beach? You can make sand castles, play in the water, and there are even umbrellas for those who'd rather just relax in the shade. There's a nice row of water melons ready to be smashed later in the day and when the sun goes down, that's when the sparklers come out.
Suffering. It's the hottest time of the year and the citadel doesn't have central air conditioning. The few air conditions that were installed have given up on life after being used so much and now, we really have to make do with what we can while the Konnosuke try to fix it. There's a limited number of fans, plenty of ice cream to go around, and the citadel should be built to circulate air, right? ... Right?!
Spooks. In Japan, summer is a time for horror. Gather around the camp fire and hear some spooky ghost stories or maybe head out into the woods just outside the citadel for a good ol' fashioned test of courage. It's all good, harmless fun! Of course, with so many spirits gathered in one place, what's to say a stray or curious outsider spirit won't join the mix...
Rain. Summer is also known for sudden and torrential downpours of rain. The clouds always seem to grown and darken suddenly and the next thing you know, it's raining sheets and the ground is shaking from thunder. Once it starts, it never seems to stop. Maybe you were caught out in the rain or maybe this is day 7 stuck inside.
Other! It's summer and there are tons of things to do. Go to the general store and stock up on ice cream, wake up in the middle of the night uncomfortable with heat, or run around screaming because cicadas are dying and flying at your face.

[Ichigo emerges a while later after having decided to change into a yukata as it is cooler.]

Thank you for waiting. Let's go then. I'm starving! [He adds with a little laugh then starts heading towards the kitchen.]

Is there anything in particular you're feeling, or would you like me to surprise you.

I feel like being surprised. [Which is something he never thought he’d say after living with Tsurumaru for so long!

They soon arrive at the kitchen.]

Oh, do you need help? I can’t really cook but... I can wash and cut stuff.

[And he’s already grabbed an apron and is tying it on.]

[ He covers his mouth with his hand to hide a bit of laughter. Ichigo was just full of surprises, wasn't he...

Well he couldn't say no to that face anyway, so he slipped his own apron on as well. ]

All cooking has to start somewhere.

[Well, a surprise from Mitsutada was bound to be much more pleasant than one from Tsurumaru!

He looks over rather expectantly.]

What are we making then?

[ Since he wanted to indulge him a little. ]

I was thinking of maybe making you some strawberry mochi.

[Ichigo’s eyes shone with excitement at that!] Really??

[Then he gave a little embarrassed cough.] I mean, I... would really like that.

[ So cute... He couldn't stop his smiling. ]

Then it seems my idea is to your liking then? I was hoping so.

[He nods, doing his best to keep his excitement in check for now.]

It is! What should I do then? Should I wash some strawberries? Do chop them up afterwards? Or do we use strawberry jam instead?

[But not quite succeeding...?]

I think actual strawberries will give it more of a fresh taste, so if you wouldn't mind washing some and cutting off the tops of them for me..?

[ It might not have succeeded, but it was charming none the less. ]

Okay. I shouldn't have any problem doing that.

[And off he goes to do all that. He's very focused on his task, like he usually is when he's given any assignment. His movements are precise and graceful.]

[ Seeing how focused he was, he almost let himself be too distracted to actually start working on the other stuff needed to make these... oops. Ichigo looked so adorable though. ]

With four hands working, it'll go a lot faster.

[Ichigo is almost done with his part when he feels Mitsutada's gaze on him, and he sees that he's hardly started.]

Do you need help with your part?

[ oops... He had been staring for a little too long, hadn't he. Mitsutada just chuckles as he scratches at his cheek. He might as well play it off, so Ichigo didn't feel too uncomfortable...]

Sorry, I was admiring your cutting skills. Working with a smaller blade can't always be easy, but you do it wonderfully.

[He looks down at the knife in his hand.]

My cutting skills with a smaller blade...?

[His cheeks turn a light pink.]

I guess I must have been spending too much time with my brothers...? [One of them is literally named 'kitchen knife' after all!]

Perhaps that's what it is then? Because you seem to handle it like a pro in the kitchen.

[ He just gives Ichigo a warm smile before turning back to what he was doing in gathering up ingredients to put together. ]

Really? Thank you for thinking so, Mitsutada-dono. I'm sure you're much better at it though.

[He watches him for a moment then goes back to tidy up his work. That's when he notices that he's perhaps prepared too many strawberries... Well, it would be okay to eat one then.

Mmmm~ What a very juicy and delicious strawberry~! Ah, he's got some strawberry juice on his fingers now. It would be such a waste not to lick them, and so that's what he does...]

[ Mitsutada turned his head again, finding in hard to not watch him while he was in the kitchen. What he wasn't expecting to find was Ichigo licking his fingers...! He dropped one of his dry ingredient measuring cups on the table (luckily it was plastic) and his hand goes to his face instead.

Aruji take the wheel...]

[Ichigo was contemplating whether or not he should to eat another strawberry when he heard the dropping cup and looked over.]

Mitsutada-dono, are you all right?

Y-yes yes I'm fine. I was... just thinking ahead in the recipe and got lost in thought.

[ He hoped that sounded believable enough. ]

Oh... okay. Well, I’m all done cutting the strawberries.

[He just going to idly pick up another strawberry to eat and lick his fingers again afterwards as they’re just so tasty~]

Thank you, Ichigo. Honestly that makes it a lot easier for me.

[ He's going to turn around and find all of them gone, isn't he??

Mitsutada chuckles softly as he starts to mix up ingredients for the outer part of the mochi. ]

I have some red-bean paste sitting on the side there if you'd like to cover the strawberries with it.

You’re welcome!

[Well, not all! There are still hopefully enough left as he stops eating when he’s given his next instructions.]

Okay.

[He washes off the residual sweet stickiness from his fingers then goes about covering the strawberries with red bean paste.]

[ With him taking care of that, it made it a little easier for him to stop letting his mind wander too far and so he was finally able to finish mixing up his dries and wet ingredients to make a nice mochi outside.

He was even humming a little to himself.]

[After Ichigo was done with the mixture, he decided to try a bit of it to make sure it tasted all right. At least he's using a spoon this time? Then he scooped a bit and held it out to Mitsutada.]

Mitsutada-dono. Does it taste okay?

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