{"id":618,"date":"2015-11-12T15:07:28","date_gmt":"2015-11-12T19:07:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aroceu.com\/fic\/?p=618"},"modified":"2023-05-25T22:55:12","modified_gmt":"2023-05-26T02:55:12","slug":"one-quarter-cup-of-sugar-or-the-lovers-guide-to-milk-bread","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aroceu.com\/fic\/618\/","title":{"rendered":"One-Quarter Cup of Sugar; or, The Lover\u2019s Guide to Milk Bread"},"content":{"rendered":"

combine water, milk, and flour\u00a0\u2014 whisk until no lumps remain<\/em><\/p>\n

Tooru knows about the new bakery around the campus city; but he\u2019s never actually walked inside until one day Hanamaki asks him to bring food before he goes over. Tooru says into his cellphone, \u201cYou have a kitchen<\/em>,\u201d and Matsukawa calls out, from somewhere in the background, \u201cGo to that new bakery place,\u201d and Hanamaki is saying, \u201cYeah, yeah,\u201d and Tooru sighs and tells himself that he\u2019s not going to because Hanamaki and Matsukawa are nothing to be scared of.<\/p>\n

Then Iwaizumi texts him with, Heard you\u2019re going to the bakery. Get me a sweet bun,<\/em>\u00a0and, okay, Tooru is scared of Iwaizumi. A little.<\/p>\n

So he goes into the bakery, deciding that if he\u2019s going to buy stuff for his friends, he might as well get more things for himself. He\u2019s humming and standing in the queue, observing the options through the glass display case, and he doesn\u2019t look up until someone says, \u201cMay I help you?\u201d<\/p>\n

In front of him is the cashier\u2014though by the looks of his apron and the smidgen of flour on his face, he must be the baker, too.<\/p>\n

Tooru coughs. There\u2019s flour on this guy\u2019s nose. \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n

The guy smiles patiently at him.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou may help me,\u201d Tooru says, because the flour on the guy\u2019s nose is distracting and there\u2019s a bit of powder in his hair, too. It doesn\u2019t get any better when the guy laughs and flattens the fabric on his stomach.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know, that\u2019s what I\u2019m here for,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

It takes a second for Tooru\u2019s brain to catch up to him, but then he rattles off his order, along with Hanamaki\u2019s and Matsukawa\u2019s and Iwaizumi\u2019s. The guy raises his eyebrows\u2014Suga<\/em>, his nametag reads\u2014but he punches the orders in without hesitation. \u201cComing right up!\u201d<\/p>\n

Tooru pays. He watches as Suga ducks behind the counter to open the cabinet. \u201cThrowing a party or something?\u201d Suga asks, from behind the display.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you can call a study session partying.\u201d Tooru rolls his eyes.<\/p>\n

Suga stands back up, holding a few plastic-wrapped pastries.\u00a0\u201cSounds like a whole lot of fun to me,\u201d he replies, grinning.<\/p>\n

Tooru chuckles.\u00a0\u201cThis<\/em> is more fun than studying,\u201d he says, accepting each of Suga\u2019s pastries, letting them gather into his arms until Suga begins piling them in without Tooru having to take them himself.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, you flatter me,\u201d Suga says, putting one more at the top. He closes the display cabinet and stands on his tiptoes to peer over at Tooru. He\u2019s kind of short, because Tooru doesn\u2019t need to strain himself to notice the stains on Suga\u2019s apron from here. \u201cGot it all?\u201d he asks.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s\u2014\u201d Tooru counts the food in his arms, and they add up right. \u201cIt looks like you got everything,\u201d he says, beaming.<\/p>\n

Suga looks pleased. \u201cThat\u2019s good,\u201d he says. \u201cBut if I did miss anything, you can come back and get something free for it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tooru laughs and half-wishes he\u2019d lied. \u201cI might come back anyway,\u201d he calls over his shoulder, as he heads out.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

place mixture over low heat and continuously whisk, before letting it cool at room temperature<\/em><\/p>\n

And he does, because the bakery is two blocks away from his apartment, and Suga\u2019s pastries had been excellent\u2014Tooru himself had gotten milk bread, as per usual, but it\u2019s better than the ones he\u2019s bought from other bakeries.<\/p>\n

Tooru decides to get another piece the next time he comes in, which is a couple of days later, and he catches some time between his classes. It\u2019s easier during the day because his evenings are jam-packed with volleyball practices, and he never eats sweets right before or after a practice. But today his lunch is in a couple of hours, and he\u2019s only had an early morning class, and he doesn\u2019t have any classes in between. So he breezes into the shop, autumn air brushing behind and nudging him in.<\/p>\n

Suga is already tending to customers, so Tooru unwinds his scarf and drapes it on a chair near a small table at the side. He waits in line until it\u2019s his turn. Suga lights up as soon as he sees him.<\/p>\n

Or it\u2019s a trick of the sunlight, but Tooru won\u2019t bet on that.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re back,\u201d Suga says.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd you are excellent at pointing out the obvious.\u201d Tooru smiles and cranes his neck over the display case. \u201cMilk bread, please.\u201d<\/p>\n

He takes out his wallet as Suga rings him up. \u201cYou know,\u201d says Suga, as he goes to get Tooru\u2019s order, \u201cI didn\u2019t catch your name last time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cProbably because I never offered it?\u201d Tooru says. Suga is back with his food.<\/p>\n

\u201cAh, that must be it,\u201d says Suga, and hands over the plastic wrapped pastry. Tooru takes it and tucks it into his jacket pocket. Suga perches his elbows on the counter. \u201cSo are you going to tell me your name?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou won\u2019t wait for me to offer it? Are we already developing a name-basis relationship?\u201d Tooru teases.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou came back like you promised,\u201d Suga points out. \u201cAnd it\u2019s hardly fair that you know my name when I don\u2019t know yours.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t know that I know your name.\u201d<\/p>\n

Suga grins. \u201cI suppose,\u201d he says, and covers his name tag. \u201cYou should guess it, then.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHm.\u201d Tooru taps his chin. \u201cIt\u2019s\u2026 oh goodness, I\u2019m not sure\u2026\u201d Suga\u2019s still grinning as Tooru looks around the bakery, the pastel paintings and miscellaneous photographs decorating the pale blue walls, lined with white like frosting. \u201cS\u2026 Se<\/em>\u2026 oh, that\u2019s not right.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re close,\u201d says Suga.<\/p>\n

\u201cS\u2026 Suga! That must be it,\u201d says Tooru, the same time Suga takes his hand off his name tag and laughs.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re ridiculous,\u201d Suga tells him, shaking his head, light hair brushing over his eyes. \u201cSo? Does that mean I can get a name from you, too?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOikawa Tooru,\u201d Tooru introduces. He gestures around vaguely. \u201cI go to school around here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI suspected,\u201d says Suga, as the door rings. \u201cOtherwise I would\u2019ve thought you were some sort of competition.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCompetition?\u201d Tooru asks.<\/p>\n

The customer who\u2019d just come in waits behind him. Tooru moves out of the way and leans back on his elbows against the glass display case, next to the cash register.<\/p>\n

Suga takes the customer’s order and shrugs, going over to grab a pastry. \u201cAnyone looking your age\u2014or my age\u2014is either here for school or an attempt to run a business like my bakery. Thank you,\u201d he adds to the customer, as they leave.<\/p>\n

Tooru watches the door jangle shut. \u201cYou\u2019re probably right,\u201d he says. Glancing over his shoulder to Suga, who\u2019s scrubbing the counter with a stray rag, he asks, \u201cIs it difficult?\u201d<\/p>\n

Suga shrugs. \u201cProbably,\u201d he says. But he smiles, and casts it on Tooru, stunning him for a second. \u201cBut I love it.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

combine the tangzhong with flour, milk, sugar, eggs, and other ingredients\u00a0\u2014 knead until elastic<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re glowing,\u201d says Hanamaki, when Tooru walks into the gym later that day. \u201cYou\u2019re literally glowing. Oikawa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat, did you get laid?\u201d Matsukawa asks, dangling his arms off the scoreboard.<\/p>\n

Tooru wrinkles his nose and throws his towel at him. Matsukawa catches it. \u201cDon\u2019t be crass,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

Then he thinks for a moment. \u201cGive that back.\u201d<\/p>\n

Matsukawa tosses his towel to Hanamaki, who grabs it out of Tooru’s reach. \u201cOikawa,\u201d he says, dangling the towel. \u201cYou have to tell us why you\u2019re glowing. Spread the love!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not glowing.\u201d Tooru tries to grab at him, but Hanamaki manages to snatch it away again before he can get it.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow do you even do that?\u201d whines Tooru. \u201cI\u2019m taller than you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cToo slow,\u201d Hanamaki teases, and waves the towel in front of him again. \u201cGood boy Oikawa. Roll over. Play dead. Tell us why you\u2019re glowing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe I did get laid,\u201d Tooru says, hoping that will be the end of it.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot likely.\u201d The gym doors slam open, and Iwaizumi appears, glancing at their teammates who are already practicing, before turning to them with an air of disappointment. \u201cAnd since when are you guys keeping score?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going to go back out,\u201d Tooru whines, grabbing for Hanamaki again. \u201cMakki\u2019s\u2014just\u2014I am in agony<\/em>!\u201d<\/p>\n

Hanamaki laughs and throws his towel back to Matsukawa.<\/p>\n

\u201cI hope it\u2019s not from not getting laid,\u201d Iwaizumi says, not bothering to look at Tooru\u2019s face when he scrunches his nose again. \u201cYou\u2019re already loud enough when you\u2019re watching the sports network.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI hate all of you,\u201d Tooru grumbles. He settles down on the bench.<\/p>\n

Iwaizumi says, \u201cBut why are we bothering Oikawa anyway? Give that here.\u201d He reaches for Tooru\u2019s towel from Matsukawa, who gives it to him.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2018Cause look at him!\u201d Hanamaki leans in and pokes Tooru\u2019s cheek. \u201cHe\u2019s glowing<\/em>!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s been like that all day,\u201d says Iwaizumi. He hands Tooru back his towel, and Tooru just bats at him with it before wiping his forehead. \u201cEver since he came home, and when he took out his milk bread\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re glowing because of a piece of bread<\/em>?\u201d Matsukawa says incredulously.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt,\u201d Tooru says with some dignity, slamming his towel down, \u201cwas a very good piece of bread. I\u2019m going to go back out to practice.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t fuck the bread!\u201d Hanamaki calls over to him.<\/p>\n

Tooru slaps his face with his hand.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

shape dough into ball and let it rise, before deflating into equal-shaped pieces<\/em><\/p>\n

He drops into Suga\u2019s bakery a few more times over the next week, once catching him during a rush, but usually when the bakery is looking mostly barren. Suga asks him about his schoolwork and pretends to be interested in economics, and then tells Tooru a little bit about his baking. Tooru doesn\u2019t really know that much about cooking, but Suga beams and sometimes looks at his hands when he talks like he\u2019s so caught up in his head to make eye contact. Tooru doesn\u2019t really think Suga notices it, until one time he manages to convince Tooru that he uses heaps of melted cheese instead of butter in Tooru\u2019s regular order, and Tooru nearly gags.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re kidding,\u201d he says, as Suga nods, staring somewhere between his fingers in that far off way of his.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d he says. \u201cIt makes it richer, and thicker\u2014really absorbs the sugar, you know? Even though it takes so<\/em>\u00a0much cheese, it\u2019s almost ridiculous\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve\u2014\u201d \u00a0Tooru is clutching his chest dramatically. \u201cI\u2019ve eaten so much of your milk bread<\/em>!\u201d<\/p>\n

Suga\u2019s gaze is somewhere near his fingers, so Tooru can\u2019t quite believe it a second later when he\u2019s cracking up, laughing and clutching at his counter.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh my god,\u201d Suga hiccups between gasps. \u201cThe look on your\u2014I didn\u2019t think you would actually believe<\/em>\u00a0that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course!\u201d Tooru throws the end of his scarf at Suga, who bats it off. \u201cYou\u2019ve made\u2014I\u2019ve eaten so much of your food! Who knows what you\u2019ve used now? Who knows what you\u2019ve poisoned?\u201d He widens his eyes at the display case.<\/p>\n

\u201cStop that,\u201d Suga says, but he\u2019s still giggling. \u201cHonestly, Oikawa. Really? Cheese?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI mean, you could make it work, probably.\u201d Tooru sticks his tongue out. \u201cAnd that\u2019s so underhanded, too, to lie about the food that I<\/em>\u00a0eat the most\u2026”<\/p>\n

\u201cYou set yourself up for it,\u201d says Suga. He folds his arms on the glass case and grins. \u201cWhen you came in that first day.”<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe I\u2019ll order something new.\u201d Tooru glances over the menu. \u201cThrow you off your guard.\u201d<\/p>\n

Suga scoffs. \u201cI doubt it. What else do you like? Cake? Egg tarts?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEveryone likes cake and egg tarts,\u201d says Tooru, pressing his fingers to the glass and trying very hard to keep the milk bread out of his periphery. \u201cAnd I\u2019ll have you know I\u2019m perfectly capable at making my own milk bread. Maybe I won\u2019t come in anymore and make my own.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSure,\u201d Suga says, and Tooru raises his head to see him rolling his eyes. \u201cExcept you can\u2019t resist my charm.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m pretty sure that\u2019s my line,\u201d Tooru chuckles.<\/p>\n

Suga takes his rag off the counter and whips it over his shoulder. \u201cAnd it was a spot-on impression,\u201d he says, as he heads toward the back.<\/p>\n

Tooru pretends not to watch, until the last second, when Suga\u2019s apron disappears around the corner. Tooru ignores the tug of want in his stomach and tries to focus on deciding what to order. It\u2019s not really his fault that he accidentally got roped into this\u2014bakery of emotional seduction, or whatever. And that milk bread, which is getting better by the day. Even if Suga was using copious amounts of cheese, Tooru would seriously consider giving up volleyball to eat more of it.<\/p>\n

Volleyball would win, obviously, but it\u2019s the consideration that counts.<\/p>\n

Suga comes back out with stacks of new cakes to put in the cake display. He swings the counter door open and asks, \u201cMade your decision yet?\u201d<\/p>\n

His light hair flops around his eyes, and Tooru wants to tuck it back. He shoves a hand into his pocket.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d he says, and looks into the display case again. \u201cI\u2019ll have\u2026 the milk bread.\u201d<\/p>\n

Suga laughs, trying to set a cake down and open the display case. \u201cWell that\u2019s new,\u201d he teases, shoving at the glass with an elbow. \u201cWhat an excellent choice. It\u2019s sort of a favorite around here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I am ordering based on a dazzling recommendation,\u201d says Tooru.<\/p>\n

He goes over, as Suga struggles a little. \u201cNeed a hand with that?\u201d he asks.<\/p>\n

Suga is nudging at the case with his nose. \u201cIt\u2019s\u2014yeah.\u201d The cake looks like it\u2019s about to fall, and it\u2019s either that or Tooru can open the glass door. He makes a quick decision.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet me,\u201d he says, gliding swiftly and making sure not to brush Suga\u2019s arm. He opens the case just as Suga catches the cake, and Suga smiles gratefully at him.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was probably a bad idea to try to carry three cakes at once,\u201d he says, pushing the first cake onto the bottom shelf.<\/p>\n

\u201cProbably,\u201d says Tooru. \u201cI\u2019d only carry one cake at a time myself. Makes the job much easier.\u201d<\/p>\n

Suga laughs, and lets Tooru get the second cake from his arms. Tooru\u2019s fingers brush against his forearm. They tingle and he nearly drops the cake.<\/p>\n

But Suga doesn\u2019t seem to notice. \u201cI\u2019ll take your advice, Oikawa,\u201d he says, sliding the third one in.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

place rolls in a round pan; allow them to rest and rise again<\/em><\/p>\n

All the milk bread eating is inspiring Tooru, sort of, so over the weekend he says to Iwaizumi, \u201cWe should bake<\/em>!\u201d and Iwaizumi says, \u201cThat sounds like a terrible idea,\u201d so Tooru calls Matsukawa over, instead.<\/p>\n

Calling Matsukawa over means calling Hanamaki over, too, and then the three of them are in the supermarket, browsing through the aisles and trying to find all the ingredients for Tooru\u2019s milk bread.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe should make other things, too,\u201d says Hanamaki. He\u2019s curled up in the shopping cart like a child, while Matsukawa is pushing him like there\u2019s nothing weird about pushing a twenty-three year old around the supermarket. \u201cLike rice cakes. Or red bean bars!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you know how to make any of those?\u201d Tooru asks him, trying to settle on a bag of bleached flour.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what the internet is for,\u201d says Matsukawa, without missing a beat.<\/p>\n

Hanamaki practically jumps out of the shopping cart. \u201cI\u2019m on it!\u201d he says, and whips out his cellphone.<\/p>\n

Tooru rolls his eyes and picks a bag, tossing it into the shopping cart. It lands on Hanamaki\u2019s stomach and Hanamaki oofs<\/em>.\u00a0 \u201cWatch where you\u2019re throwing things!\u201d he protests.<\/p>\n

\u201cWatch where you\u2019re sitting,\u201d Tooru mutters, following signs down the aisle to find the sugar.<\/p>\n

Matsukawa and Hanamaki stay near the flour, but Tooru gets the sugar a few shelves over. He turns the corner and slinks into the dairy aisle, searching with intent. He\u2019s not even looking where he\u2019s going, until he runs into someone\u2019s side, nearly falling over even more with the pound of sugar in his arms.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s almost knocked the other person over, too, but then Suga is saying, \u201cOikawa?\u201d and Tooru is blinking, beaming.<\/p>\n

\u201cSuga,\u201d he says, with a nod. \u201cWhat are you doing here?\u201d<\/p>\n

Suga glances at the bag Tooru is clutching and smiles. \u201cEvidently doing the same thing that you are,\u201d he says. \u201cMaking your own milk bread now?\u201d<\/p>\n

Tooru shrugs. \u201cWhat can I say,\u201d he says with a smirk. \u201cI\u2019ve been craving it recently.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou better not leave me for your own kitchen,\u201d Suga teases, but his eyes flicker down again. \u201cDon\u2019t tell me I should start taking your threats seriously.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you started taking my threats seriously, then you\u2019ll be ready when I replace your supply of butter with cheese,\u201d says Tooru. Suga laughs and shoves his shoulder. \u201cBut I do make a mean milk bread. So I can\u2019t make\u2014or really, promise to keep\u2014any promises anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t promise to keep any promises anymore,\u201d Suga says thoughtfully. \u201cSo does that mean you can\u2019t promise to keep that, either?\u201d<\/p>\n

Tooru blinks at him\u2014then they\u2019re both keeled over and laughing, Suga clutching at the handles of his shopping cart, while Tooru does his best not to fall to the floor, burying his giggles in his arms.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t squeeze that sugar too hard,\u201d Suga tells him, which is even more<\/em>\u00a0hilarious, and Tooru is kind of wheezing as he straightens back up.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll do my best,\u201d he gasps through his laughter. \u201cBut I\u2014I mean, I really do make great milk bread.\u201d And he knows he\u2019s made himself more transparent, this time, the suggestion behind his words. He doesn\u2019t trust Suga to pick up on his hints all<\/em>\u00a0the time\u2014but if this will end with how he hopes, then\u2014<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd mine isn\u2019t better?\u201d Suga says, raising his eyes. His grin is a challenge and Tooru\u2019s heart flips in his chest.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe could see, I guess,\u201d he says. He adjusts the bag in his arms. \u201cI mean, I\u2019ve been eating yours for weeks now, and I can tell you, as an avid fan of bread, that mine<\/em>\u00a0will blow yours out of the water.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut you\u2019re an avid fan of my<\/em>\u00a0bread,\u201d says Suga, walking up to him and poking him in the chest, above his bag of sugar. Tooru smirks. \u201cSo I\u2019m sure mine will be better than yours.\u201d<\/p>\n

They\u2019re standing a foot apart, and the place where Suga had poked him is burning, and there\u2019s an excitement bubbling through Tooru from his toes up.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll see,\u201d he says, and can\u2019t stop himself from smiling.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

brush the rolls before allowing them to bake until golden brown at the top<\/em><\/p>\n

He gives Suga his number and address before leaving the aisle and feels like he just finished playing two hard sets of volleyball. He finds Hanamaki and Matsukawa in the snacks aisle arguing over a bag of crisps, before Hanamaki stops at Tooru and says, \u201cOh my god, you\u2019re glowing<\/em>\u00a0again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat, did you think about milk bread too hard?\u201d Matsukawa deadpans.<\/p>\n

Tooru shoves the sugar against his chest. Matsukawa oofs<\/em>\u00a0this time. \u201cYou\u2019re both terrible and I hate you,\u201d he declares.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh,\u201d says Hanamaki, as Matsukawa lets the sugar fall in and swings the cart around to follow him. \u201cOikawa, you\u2019re such a romantic!\u201d<\/p>\n

They find all the ingredients, plus miscellaneous others for Hanamaki and Matsukawa. Tooru pays before they grab the bags and head off. Hanamaki and Matsukawa bicker loudly about how if Tooru is the chef, who is going to be the sous chef<\/em>, and Tooru does not say anything about how he hopes Suga will be his sous chef instead of either of them.<\/p>\n

Or Iwaizumi, except he\u2019ll probably refuse to indulge Tooru even if he can smell his cooking from the living room.<\/p>\n

They get to Tooru and Iwaizumi\u2019s apartment, and Tooru lays all the ingredients out on the counter. He\u2019s grabbing a tray while Matsukawa has begun to measure the sugar when the doorbell rings.<\/p>\n

Hanamaki, who is doing nothing, starts toward the door. But Tooru slides on his socks across the kitchenette and says, \u201cI\u2019ll get it!\u201d<\/p>\n

He pretends not to notice Hanamaki\u2019s frown.<\/p>\n

Suga is on the other side, looking windswept but smiling, carrying a bag of groceries.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou just saw me buy the ingredients,\u201d says Tooru, but he smiles back.<\/p>\n

Suga shrugs. \u201cAnd I wanted to bring my own,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

Tooru invites him in and steps aside. As Suga takes his shoes off, Tooru peers into one of his bags. \u201cThere\u2019s no cheese here, is there?\u201d<\/p>\n

Suga laughs, loud. At the same time Hanamaki rushes over, Iwaizumi\u2019s head jerks up, and even Matsukawa tears his gaze away from the measuring cup to look at them.<\/p>\n

\u201cOikawa,\u201d Iwaizumi starts, from the couch.<\/p>\n

Tooru waves his hand at him. \u201cShush shush, let me do introductions,\u201d he says, still facing Suga. He gestures around the room. \u201cSuga, that\u2019s Iwa-chan, who\u2019s a meanie, Mattsun, who is a little less of a meanie\u2014\u201d\u00a0Matsukawa makes an appreciative noise from where he\u2019s returned to the sugar \u201c\u2014and Makki, who\u2019s the biggest meanie of them all.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a title I worked for,\u201d Hanamaki says seriously, wiping at an invisible tear.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m Suga,\u201d Suga says to all of them, raising a hand and smiling.<\/p>\n

As he heads into the kitchen, placing his food on the table, Tooru starts after him. But Suga starts up a conversation with Matsukawa (probably because of that meanie comment<\/em>, Tooru thinks) while Hanamaki blocks his way (he lives up to his title.<\/em>)<\/p>\n

\u201cWho is this?\u201d asks Hanamaki, and he sounds more scheming by the way his eyes are glinting and the corner of his lips are curving.<\/p>\n

Tooru shrugs and rolls his eyes. \u201cYou heard him. He\u2019s Suga.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, but Oikawa,\u201d says Hanamaki, as the smile spreads across his face. \u201cWho is<\/em>\u00a0this?\u201d<\/p>\n

Tooru shrugs uncomfortably. After a second of Hanamaki\u2019s unrelenting expression, he says, \u201cHe works at the\u2014he\u2019s the baker. Of the bakery. At the bakery place.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI never thought I\u2019d see the day,\u201d says Hanamaki, but he moves aside and lets Tooru through, as Suga turns and rubs the heels of his palms together.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo,\u201d says Suga, bright and full blast on Tooru. \u201cWhere should we begin?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

allow cooling before serving to families and friends (and your lover)<\/em><\/p>\n

Their baking competition is a little bit more of a collaboration, with the way they try to work on their own loaves while saying things like, \u201cPass me the milk,\u201d and brushing elbows and laughing when Matsukawa drops an egg on his foot. Suga is fluid in his kitchen, like it\u2019s easy to settle into the motions around Tooru and with Tooru and here<\/em>, in Tooru\u2019s apartment. Tooru doesn\u2019t let his gaze linger too long but he thinks about it, and while Suga is humming while sprinkling sugar with his deft fingers, Tooru sneaks a glimpse from the corner of his eye, teasing himself until Suga tilts his head to the side ever so slightly towards Tooru\u2019s direction.<\/p>\n

Both batches turn out excellently. Suga takes a piece of Tooru\u2019s and says, \u201cYou really could give me a run for my money,\u201d and Tooru laughs, nudges him.<\/p>\n

\u201cI won\u2019t, though,\u201d he says, and enjoys the slice of Suga\u2019s bread that he\u2019s eaten so many times.<\/p>\n

Iwaizumi had gone to hide out in his room because he has big exam tomorrow or something; Matsukawa went to wash his hands while Hanamaki had stolen away to Tooru\u2019s bedroom to find a clean sock. Only Tooru knows which clothes in his bedroom are clean or dirty. It\u2019ll take Hanamaki a while.<\/p>\n

Suga smiles from behind his bread and says, \u201cThis was fun. Is this what your weekends are always like?” His gaze goes around Tooru\u2019s apartment, the silly frames on his walls, the clumps of flour on the kitchen counters.<\/p>\n

Tooru snorts and takes a bite of his bread. \u201cYes, I always have baking competitions with cute bakers every weekend,\u201d he says, before he stops to think.<\/p>\n

And his throat jumps but it\u2019s not terrible, and Suga has turned to face him, not away from him. Tooru hasn\u2019t really thought about it, but suddenly dating a baker sounds like the greatest idea in the world. When all this milk bread runs out, it\u2019ll be hardly a challenge to get more.<\/p>\n

And then he\u2019s not really thinking about bread anymore, because Suga\u2019s saying, \u201cSo you know other cute bakers?\u201d and he\u2019s standing in front of Tooru, who\u2019s leaned back against the wall, struggling to think because Suga is only getting closer.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d Tooru breathes. \u201cI mean, no\u2014I mean, okay, I don\u2019t know a lot of bakers\u2014well, cute ones\u2014well, there\u2019s you<\/em>,\u201d and Suga is laughing, like, into<\/em>\u00a0Tooru\u2019s mouth, because their noses are touching, and Suga is on his tiptoes again and Tooru doesn\u2019t have to look down to see Suga\u2019s eyelashes against his own.<\/p>\n

Closing the gap barely takes any effort, but kissing Suga is\u2014he tastes like the fucking milk bread, and a little bit of sweat, and he\u2019s smiling and this is as good as walking into the bakery and seeing Suga perk up at him every time. Tooru cups the back of Suga\u2019s hair, tucks a strand behind his ear, and he\u2019s grinning back, mouth hurting until Suga licks his bottom lip and giggles<\/em>\u00a0and Tooru hums, letting his hand fall behind Suga\u2019s neck. He kisses more, back, and Suga is warm and his hand is dusting flour along the side of Suga\u2019s chin, which Tooru sees when they pull back, breathing heavily into each other but not feeling like they\u2019ve been kissing enough.<\/p>\n

Suga says, \u201cSo, about those other bakers,\u201d and Tooru teases, \u201cWhat other bakers?”<\/p>\n

Hanamaki bursts in, brandishing a sock victoriously. He crows when he sees Tooru\u2019s hand clutched at the back of Suga\u2019s head, the flour on both of their chins.<\/p>\n

\u201cGlowing<\/em>!\u201d Hanamaki croons. \u201cI knew it! Mattsun, get in here and\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShut up and help us eat,\u201d says Tooru, grabbing a piece of the bread. He throws it at Hanamaki, who barely manages to dodge it as he heads to the bathroom.<\/p>\n

\u201cEating, sure<\/em>\u2014Mattsun, come put on Oikawa\u2019s alien socks\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAlien socks,\u201d Suga giggles, and Tooru nudges Suga\u2019s chin fondly against his own.<\/p>\n

The bread he\u2019d thrown at Hanamaki looks alone and pale on the ground. Tooru stares at it, forlorn.<\/p>\n

\u201cI shouldn\u2019t have wasted that piece,\u201d he says sadly against Suga\u2019s skin.<\/p>\n

Suga pats his face, kisses his cheekbone. \u201cI\u2019ll make you more,\u201d he promises.<\/p>\n

Tooru pulls back to beam at him. Suga kisses at the flour on Tooru’s chin next. He makes a face afterward, but his lips are dotted with powder and Tooru laughs.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know you will,\u201d Tooru says. \u201cI\u2019m one of your regulars now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re more than that,\u201d Suga chides, and Tooru kisses him this time, keeps kissing until the flour\u2019s off his lips, until Suga\u2019s clutching his face with a happy sound, until the bread gets cold in the tray on the kitchen counter and Hanamaki is yelling about glowing<\/em>\u00a0again.\u00a0But it doesn\u2019t really matter because later, tomorrow, three days from now when they\u2019re finishing the bread over dessert at midnight and a movie on Tooru\u2019s living room couch, everything, even the bread, is so much sweeter.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Suga is perpetually covered with flour. Oikawa is his predictable regular.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[453,111],"fandom":[479],"rating":[675],"ship":[574],"relationship":[606],"minorfandomships":[],"class_list":["post-618","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-default","tag-bakery-au","tag-college-university","fandom-haikyuu","rating-teen","ship-oisuga","relationship-slash"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/aroceu.com\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/618","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/aroceu.com\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/aroceu.com\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aroceu.com\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aroceu.com\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=618"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/aroceu.com\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/618\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/aroceu.com\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=618"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aroceu.com\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=618"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aroceu.com\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=618"},{"taxonomy":"fandom","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aroceu.com\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/fandom?post=618"},{"taxonomy":"rating","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aroceu.com\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rating?post=618"},{"taxonomy":"ship","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aroceu.com\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ship?post=618"},{"taxonomy":"relationship","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aroceu.com\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/relationship?post=618"},{"taxonomy":"minorfandomships","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aroceu.com\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/minorfandomships?post=618"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}