-Levi POV-
"Mr. Ackerman, you're here." The door swings open, revealing someone else, who of course is not Haruka.
"Aiden Clarke. What are you doing here?" I asked in surprise. Right. What is he doing here? Isn't he supposed to be in New York right now?
"Ah, well about that, I'll tell you later. Why don't you come in first, sir?" He invited me in, and I simply took myself in. We both walk towards the main living room.
"Levi, you're here early." Out of nowhere, Haruka spoke.
"I thought there would only be the two of us. So, why is Aiden Clarke here too?" As soon as Haruka took a seat on the sofa, I asked. I wanted to be alone with him today.
"Don't you think it's a bit rude to say that when Aiden's here, Levi?" Haruka glared at me. Crap. I totally forgot.
"I'm sorry, Aiden, I didn't mean to say that to you." I apologised to him.
"No, sir, it's okay. I came to Paris last night because I'll be participating in The Bocuse d'Or, the cooking competition in Lyon City this Monday. Charles offered me to stay here before departing for Lyon tomorrow. And Charles also said he needed me to help him with something." Aiden explained it himself.
"I see. But wait, aren't you 2 years younger than Haruka? Why are you talking casually with Haruka?" I asked him out of nowhere. Maybe I shouldn't ask that.
"I asked him to call me that. It's not his fault. Seriously, Levi, are you treating Aiden like a junior at a college or what?" Haruka spoke while rolling his eyes.
"I'm just asking, okay. Sorry Aiden. So what is it you need Aiden to help with? And you said you wanted to show me something." I asked him.
"Well, I need Aiden's help in cooking. We're going to cook today. That's what I wanted to show you." He said that with a flat tone. Wait. What?
"Pardon? I don't quite understand." I said that to him. Of course, I don't quite understand what he meant by that.
"We're going to cook together, and Aiden will be here to help us. I'm going to cook your favourite food, and you'll be cooking my favourite food. You should remember what mine is, right?" He said that again. Cooking with Aiden's assistance? And I'm going to cook his favourite food while he's going to cook mine? Lobster thermidor?
"Of course I remember. It's a Japanese Yakitori-Style Pan-Roasted Duck Breast." I replied, and I could see his lips forming a smile for a while.
"Good then. As for the dessert, I'd like to eat something with matcha today. A matcha tiramisu would be good. Aiden, can you help him with that?" He asked Aiden while looking at him.
"Sure. I'll help you guys both." Aiden replied.
"I would be okay by myself. I just need the recipe. You should help Levi." Haruka said that with a smile. He's actually teasing me right now.
"No, you don't have to, Aiden. I also only need the recipe. So please provide me with your recipe." I said that confidently.
"Pfft. Levi, you couldn't even peel the onions correctly." Haruka said that with achuckle.
"That was my first time doing something like that, of course I couldn't do it right. Just you wait, Haruka. I will prepare the most exceptional Japanese Yakitori-Style Pan-Roasted Duck Breast ever, and you will beg me to prepare more."
-Haruka POV-
"That was my first time doing something like that, of course I couldn't do it right. Just you wait, Haruka. I will prepare the most exceptional Japanese Yakitori-Style Pan-Roasted Duck Breast ever, and you will beg me to prepare more." Levi said that confidently. I guess I did hurt his pride a bit.
"Alright, Chef Levi Ackerman. I'll look forward to it." I replied, still teasing him. It's worth it to look at his reaction.
"You'll take back what you said later. Okay, Aiden, give us the recipes." He said to Aiden. He looks really determined this time, haha.
"I'll give you guys the recipe later. For now, we should prepare the dessert first. Mr. Ackerman, you'll be preparing the Japanese matcha tiramisu since Charles said he wants to eat that as the dessert." Aiden spoke to Levi.
"Alright. I'll be preparing Japanese matcha tiramisu. Then what about you, Haruka? You should prepare what I want too." He glares at me, still sulking, I guess.
"Of course I'm going to prepare what you want too. It's Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte, right? German Black Forest Cake." I said it with confidence, and of course he was surprised.
"How did you know that?" He asked me while raising his eyebrows.
"I have my own way. I'm a genius after all." I said that trying to piss him off more.
"Alright, then. Aiden, give me the recipe. I'm going to make the most delicious Japanese matcha tiramisu today." He looks at Aiden and asks for the recipe right away.
"I look forward to the most delicious matcha tiramisu, Mr. Ackerman. I'm going to be the judge today, haha. I've texted the recipe to you, Mr. Ackerman. I'm sorry, I got your number from Charles, btw." Aiden said. Right, I'm the one who gave Aiden Levi's personal number.
"Well, that's okay. Right. I'm going to start now." He said that, looking at his phone. Well, look at the recipe.
"Okay, first, prepare all the ingredients. Three egg yolks, sugar, marsala wine, mascarpone cheese, whipping cream, water, ladyfinger, and matcha powder. Oh, not that much, I guess. So first, let's separate the egg yolk from the white egg first." He mumbled by himself.
"Ah, I managed to separate them in one try only. That's great." He said that happily. He actually can be a bit childish when it comes to cooking.
"Chef Levi, I can separate them easily. I don't think you should be that happy, huh?" I tried to provoke him more. I know he's still angry at me right now.
"And Chef Haruka, this is my first time doing this, of course I'm proud of myself. Just you wait for the best matcha tiramisu ever. Oh, you should focus on your own tasks. So, don't disturb me." He tried to be mean to me, but of course he couldn't do that, haha.
"Haha. Alright, I'm sorry, Chef Levi. I can't wait for that." I keep teasing him for more. I don't know why, but I like to see this side of him.
"Sure, Chef Haruka. Btw, Aiden, how do I set up the double boiler? Can I use this saucepan?" Levi asked Aiden. Wow, he really doesn't want to ask me, huh?
"Yeah, you can use that one, Mr. Ackerman." Aiden replied.
"This bowl is heatproof, right?" Levi asked more questions. Seriously, just ask me who's right beside you.
"Yeah. All the bowls are heatproof. You can choose the most suitable one." And Aiden just answers every question Levi asked. Levi took the bowls.
"Aiden, can you teach me how to use this? Haha, I'm sorry, this is my first time, you see." Levi asked Aiden how to use the whisker.
"Haha, don't worry. I believe Charles was like this too when he first used this." Aiden said it while laughing. Did Aiden just mention my name just now?
"Oh, really? I thought Chef Haruka Charles Auclair was good at everything." Levi said that sarcastically. I see, he wanted to get revenge, huh?
"Aiden, you shouldn't say that to him." I told Aiden with a glare.
"Haha. I'm sorry, Charles. I just felt bad for Mr. Ackerman." Aiden said that with a smile.
"Why would you feel bad for him? He does…"
"Chef Haruka, I would appreciate it if you don't interrupt us. Chef Aiden here is trying to teach me here." Levi cut me off before I could finish my sentence. Wow. He's really doing it, haha.
"I'm sorry, Chef Levi. You may continue your lesson." I replied and then focused back on my task.
-2 hours 30 minutes later-
I finished preparing my dishes 30 minutes ago, and now I'm waiting for Levi, who is now preparing the sauce for the pan-duck breast.
"Chef Levi, do you need my help? Well, I'm exhausted of waiting for you to finish, actually." I said that to him sarcastically.
"Oh, don't worry, Chef Haruka. I'll be done in five." He said that and then focused back on his task, completely ignoring me. Tch. This jerk.
And just like Levi said, he's done after five minutes, and now he is serving the food on the table. It looks good, really.
"Now, Aiden. You can have a taste first. You're the judge here, right?" Levi suddenly spoke. He's really doing it. Making Aiden the judge be the first to try our dishes.
"I thought you were kidding about that. Are you serious, Mr. Ackerman?" Aiden asked for confirmation. Right, I wanted to know that too. But knowing Levi, of course he is.
"Of course I am. Go ahead, Aiden." Levi replied. Yeah, of course he would say that.
After that, Aiden took the fork and knife to try out Levi's dish first. I look at Levi, I can say he's a bit nervous, actually, haha. After cutting the duck breast into small pieces, Aiden dips the meat into the sauce and eats it.
"So, how is it? Is it bad?" Levi asked while looking a bit nervous.
"This, this is really good, Mr. Ackerman. I'm not lying." Aiden said after he finished munching the meat, and I know he's not lying.
"Really. Hahaha. See, Chef Haruka. I told you I can ma…"
A ringtone indicating a call cut Levi off. It's Levi's phone. Levi takes a look at his phone and then he looks at us.
"It's my grandfather. Sorry, I need to take this." He said that before answering the phone, and then left the kitchen.
"Charles, you should try it. I'm not lying when I say it's good." Aiden suddenly spoke. Of course I know he's not lying. I take a piece of the meat that Aiden had already cut. Dip in the sauce, then eat.
"You're right. It's delicious. I bet he followed every little thing in the recipe. He's a meticulous person after all, haha." I said that with a chuckle without realising.
"Seeing you like this, you must really like him, hmm?"
TO BE CONTINUED!!!