Chapter 1: Life Is Sweeter With You

The captain had reached the kitchen, and they have to separate from each other again. Stein really wants to get rid of this nuisance, life would be much sweeter for him and Franklin without this other person.

"Ah, captain! It is good that you are awake." 'Franklin' greeted him amicably, though not too much as to raise suspicion. "Tell me, do you know much about baking? It is my first time delving into such a thing because I wanted something new for our breakfast."

"I do not know much. I have never baked." Captain Clerval answered.

(But as Daoist Panda, not this character you play as? I remember you baking a cake for yourself on your birthday.) He heard Zhe Chouhen ask in his head.

[Yes... What is this, Zhe Chouhen? Stop acting weird!]

(I'm not, though? I simply want to make some strawberry shortcakes. If you don't like that, this cookbook I bought have recipes for strawberry scones, strawberry tarts, strawberry puffs, pink schwarzwälder kirschtorte, of course, pink because of strawberries---)

[Zhe Chouhen!] Panda yelled in his head, almost ear-shattering. [I GET IT ALREADY! FOCUS ON THE MC, NOT ME!]

(Oh, right.) He noticed Stein giving them a look at how long they are just staying there, staring at each other. He cleared his throat and gave a calm shrug. "I see. Well, you may just wait over there a bit, captain, while I and my servant shall finish preparing this for you."

"Mn....." Captain Clerval went out of the kitchen again, eyebrows furrowed.

As he was gone, Stein went over again to his side. "How shall I assist you, Frank?"

"You can whisk this batter for me, I'll go slice the fruits we will put later." He said. "Here, let me teach you how you should stir. You should stir it very well for about 5 minutes."

'Franklin' went behind him once he had handed the whisk, and Stein reddened immediately from their close proximity. It was always him who embraces 'Franklin', it was a pleasant surprise to experience the other way around. If only he wasn't so tall, he would have leaned into him more, and maybe if he did so.....

Franklin might whisper to his ear and kiss him.

He would like that very much, it would be much sweeter than this cake they are making. But 'Franklin' did not show any signs, and only taught him like how teachers would. Holding one of Stein's hand, the one that is pale and delicate, he gave reminders of how to stir, and afterwards, nothing else.

Stein was feeling upset and disappointed. He stirred slower than he should have.

He was not the only one not being in a sunny disposition on this fine Monday morning, with good weather and perfect skies. 

Daoist Panda watched them bake together behind the door, only peering. The longer he looked, the lower the edges of his lips went, his scowl worsening. Especially when he saw that lousy four-eyes 'doctor' hug his creation from behind, and use the excuse of stirring cake batter for it.

(Zhe Chouhen, that smooth bastard. Doing anything to gain Love Meter, huh?) He thought to himself, aura darkening, similar to back in 'I Will Drag You To Hell With Me'. He gave a dry chuckle and snapped his finger. (Let me help you, then!)

"Ow!" 'Franklin' let go of the knife as it suddenly slipped and cut his finger.

"Frank! Are you alright?" Stein stopped what he was doing and immediately went by his side.

"Ah, it's nothing. My hand just slipped.  Can you get a fresh towel for me?" He said, pinching the finger to let the blood flow.

"Y-You were injured!?" Stein was alarmed despite it just being a pinprick. "Hold on, I will get some bandages."

"Stein, there's no need! This is just a very small scratch. It will heal by itself, it's not like it's fatal of anything." 'Franklin' chuckled and patted his shoulder. "Besides, we need to quickly finish this or the captain would get hungry."

"I don't care about that buffoonish captain! Frank, even small wounds can fester, and evolve into something worse. Did you forget that the bubonic plague also started with small bumps?" Stein took his creator's hand, and place it in the sink to wash the wounded finger. "Hold on."

He took a clean piece of cloth lying around, and tore it into a thin strip. Then, he wrapped it around the injured finger.

"Ah, Stein. There is really no need." 'Franklin' smiled. "You worry about me too much."

"Of course. I.... I love you, Frank." He said with full sincerity.

'Franklin' smiled back at him. "I love you too. Now let's continue baking---"

Stein did something unexpected. Or more accurately, something that is to be expected knowing his character.

He took the finger he wrapped in cloth and kissed it, tenderly and with a childish pout. "I don't like you getting hurt.... Just for the sake of someone else. You stop baking, I will do this myself."

"Eh? But Stein.... It really is nothing, I---"

"Franklin, I'm getting jealous of the attention you're giving to the captain. If you're doing this on purpose, please stop." Stein said, his eyes almost teary even!

Both people from the real world, the hater and the author, were dumbstruck by this honesty. He is so straightforward!

Zhe Chouhen became a little flustered by it, as no one openly admitted that they are jealous because of him paying attention to someone else before. He can't help it, he is so hungry for affection that when he gets a bite, he wants some more. No one had ever loved him in the real world as much as this.

Though he promised he must not fall for Stein for real, only treating him like a father would to his son...

He still wanted to reciprocate a little of his boundless devotion for him, even just a little.

He placed a kiss on his cheek. "I'm not making you jealous. Why should I? I will never do anything deliberately to upset you, Stein. I'm sorry if I made you think that way."

"Frank....." Stein's eyes shimmered, and he thought this must be his chance. His chance to finally....

Taste the sweetness of Franklin's lips on his.

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He leaned in, though hesitantly, and waited for Franklin's reaction. Strangely enough, 'Franklin' just let him move forward, not pushing him away from before. His heart is leaping like a wild rabbit in a cage...

So was Zhe Chouhen. He was tantalized by those eyes, those eyes that don't match and yet added to the beauty of this man before him. He really couldn't move from them, like he was being frozen to death on a winter wasteland, and yet he would rather spend his last moments watching the swirling snow and the wonderful images it casts in his mind's eye.....

"YAAAAAAAAAAAAWWNNNNNNNNNN!"

A loud, obnoxious yawn had separated them from each other once more.

"Is it done yet, doctor? I don't mean to be intrusive as I'm not your boss or anything, but I'm starvin'!" Captain Clerval came in after that yawn, scratching his stomach like a true brute he was. 

Stein felt like he could just crush this man's skull with his bare hands. 'Franklin' meanwhile was distracted by the sudden glimpse at the captain's abdomen rippling with muscle and that perfect mermaid line. 

He did notice his creation's fuming anger that is rising like steam from a kettle pot, and so he moved his sights elsewhere and cleared his throat. "Ah, yes, captain. There had just been a bit of a problem but we will be setting it in the oven now. Then we could wait for a bit with the tea I have prepared."

"Alright, I'll just watch over this chair then." He sat down with extreme nonchalance that could even be called arrogant. His one leg was over the other, and he was leaning back lazily, not caring about his appearance at all, his clothes a mess from his scratching and still showing a bit of skin.

There is something purposefully seductive in the action, though it's not clear from an outsider's eyes, in the eyes of the readers of the book, who exactly he was seducing. Of course, the right answer would be Stein, as he is Captain Clerval. Of course, of course.

But 'Captain Clerval's' eyes never strayed from the doctor he considers as a rival and a pain to look at.

The doctor doesn't seem to be mindful of this as he was too focused on preparing the food, his perfectionism when it comes to the culinary arts showing. He only gave light orders to his assistant and did most of the work himself. He got creative and cut the cakes into five-petal flower shapes, his precision truly on par with someone who works in a confectionary shop.

Both blondes observe him with great intrigue. He was so earnest in this, it's hard to interfere and say anything while he is working.

Once it was done, he went on with decorating.

"Stein, can you have this and tell me what you think?" He asked Stein to taste the frosting, though he did steal a glance at the watching captain before doing so. 

Stein took the spoon he handed in his mouth, cheeks red as poppies. "It tastes great, Master Franklin."

"Good, good." 'Franklin' smiled and gave him a piping bag. "You design yours however you want, I will finish the rest. The strawberries are on the bowl over there." 

Stein also diligently did his task, though controlling his grip is slightly more difficult. He used his other hand instead of Andres' since it has a lesser force and he is afraid to mess up. He absolutely could not mess up.

It was done. Three little strawberry shortcakes, one for each of them. Two were decorated by the master of the house into flowers with the strawberries in the middle resembling the pistil. One was also a flower, but in the middle, the servant placed the strawberries to look like a tiny butterfly.

"This is for you, Master Franklin." Stein said, looking a little sheepish. "I wish it looks alright..."

"Oh, for me? I wanted you to have it since you are the one who designed it, but if you insist..."

They are conversing like a lovesick couple as they sat down along with the tray, right beside each other. Their eyes never strayed away from each other. 'Franklin' was about to take the shortcake with a butterfly design, when----

"I shall have this, if I may. Shouldn't the guest be the one to chose first?"

Captain Clerval had already grabbed the shortcake without minding any manners or proper conduct!

Stein's eyes widened and the light-hearted atmosphere immediately have gotten cold. He said testily, "Mr. Clerval. That is for my master."

"Well, I don't trust your master as he may have put poison in the one he plans to give me, for all I know."

"Mr. Clerval!" Stein stood up, causing the whole table to shake!

"I am just joking. Don't take everything so seriously, will you?" Captain Clerval leaned back lazily, already holding Stein's shortcake with his unwashed hands. "And it's just a shortcake, there's enough for everyone even if I eat this one."

"It's alright, Stein. Sit down." 'Franklin' coaxed him. "They all taste the same, it's only the appearance that's different. What's important is there's something for us to eat."

He handed one of the two he decorated. "Here. I hope you both will like it, it's my first time to bake."

"Master....." Stein silently get a small bit with his fork and ate it. It tasted good, and he smiled. "Mm! It tastes wonderful, Master Franklin. You are excellent in everything you do, you even managed to bake well despite an injury."

"Ah, the credit should all be given to me. We made this together, Stein." He placed his hand over his. "You and I."

The captain just watched them with narrow eyes and stuffed the whole cake into his mouth!

While master and servant were eyeing each other lovingly, a loud ring from another room came. It was the telephone room, separate from all else and only added recently. It had just been newly invented and commercialized by a company Friedrichsberg, and it uses Seimens pipe as a ringer as well as their device was developed by Siemens.

It can only be accessed by nobles and the rich of society, therefore whoever made the call must be just as affluent as Franklin Storitz.

"Excuse me." 'Franklin' stood up to take the call from a few rooms away. 

"Hmm?" Both blonds tilted their head in surprise.

They were now left alone, forced to eat the sweets together by themselves.

They gave each other a look, and stood up from their chairs. They have no intention to have breakfast without Franklin by their side at all.

The sweetness in their little tea time has disappeared the moment he left.

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