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It was a pleasant Sunday in the Forger household when Yor Forger, the matriarch of the family, decided to go on her usual shopping spree.
“Loid-san, do you need anything else other than vegetables and milk from the supermarket?” she asked.
“Oh yes, Yor-san, please bring a packet of sugar as well. We seem to be running out of it,” replied Loid.
“Anya wants peanuts!” Anya chimed in excitedly.
“Oi, Anya! Eating too many peanuts will spoil your stomach,” Loid said firmly.
“Your father is right, Anya-san. Eating too much of anything will give you a stomach ache. Haha will prepare something nice for you when I get back. See you later!” Yor added cheerfully.
Shock!
On her way to the supermarket, Yor pondered over what edible dish she could prepare to please both Loid and Anya. While her cooking had improved quite a bit, she was still prone to disasters in the kitchen.
At the Forger House
When the jingling of keys was heard, Anya bolted towards the door to greet her Haha. Without wasting a second, she eagerly fished through the shopping bag for peanuts.
“Anya is sad. Haha didn’t bring peanuts,” she pouted.
“Anya-san, what did your father say about eating too many peanuts?” Yor gently reminded her.
“But Haha brought carrots, and Anya hates carrots!”
“Is there any reason why you hate carrots, Anya-san?” Yor asked with a curious smile.
“Carrots taste bad,” Anya grumbled.
“Hehe… When Yuri was young, he used to say the same thing. Do you know what my mother used to do? She would make carrot pudding, and Yuri would always ask for seconds. My mother’s pudding was the best, and it was so yummy!”
Loid, who had been listening to the conversation from the living room, chimed in, “Carrot pudding? That sounds like a great idea, Yor-san. I happen to know the recipe.”
“Whoa, Loid-san! Would you mind teaching me? I want to improve my cooking and learn to make more than my mother’s stew. I want to be a better mother and wife,” Yor said, blushing lightly and clenching her fists with determination.
Loid chuckled at her enthusiasm even though he was still afraid of the disasters that he would be seeing in the kitchen and said, “Let's do it Yor-san. Maybe we can get her to like carrots this way.”
In the kitchen
"Alright! I’m ready, Loid-san. Let’s do it!" Yor exclaimed with determination, tying her apron tightly.
Loid pulled out the ingredients they would need. "Alright, Yor-san, let’s start. First, we’ll need seven medium-sized grated carrots. It’s a simple recipe, but timing is everything. First, wash and peel the carrots."
Yor diligently washed the carrots and began peeling them, but as usual, there was more blood than peels.
“Yor-san! Peel the carrots, not your skin. You’re bleeding. Here, wash your hands first. I’ll get the first aid kit.”
“I’m so sorry, Loid-san! It’s not painful at all, really. I’ll do it properly with the next one.”
Loid retrieved the first aid kit, his mind deep in thought. How did she take care of her brother being this careless? He returned to Yor with a bandage, ready to tend to her finger, but Yor let out a flustered squeak and insisted she could manage it herself.
“Yor-san,” Loid said gently, “I want you to be careful while peeling. Start by cutting the top of the carrot to make it easier, then, with light pressure, pull the peeler from the top to the bottom.”
Yor nodded with determination and followed his instructions. However, due to her brute strength, she accidentally cut the carrot in half while peeling.
“She cut the carrot… with a peeler?” Loid muttered to himself, momentarily stunned. Twilight, you’re losing your edge. Maybe my instructions weren’t clear enough.
“I’m so sorry, Loid-san,” Yor said with teary eyes. “I couldn’t control my strength.”
“Here, Yor-san,” Loid said softly, stepping behind her. “Let me guide you.” He held her hand gently, positioning the peeler. “You only need to use this much pressure.”
Yor’s cheeks flushed bright red as she felt his hands on hers. She reminded herself that this marriage was just for appearances and that Loid was only being kind and helping her improve her cooking and be a better wife. Meanwhile, Loid, too, tried to dismiss the warmth of her hand and focus on teaching her the right technique. Twilight reasoned that all of his actions were a part of the mission.
Yor finally got the hang of it and peeled the remaining carrots successfully.
“Okay, Yor-san, onto the next step! We’ll grate the carrots. Use the same gentle pressure as before. And do it slowly—we don't want to lose a finger or two do we?”, Loid teased with a small smile.
“Sir, yes sir!” Yor saluted, her face a mask of pure determination.
Loid stifled a laugh. She looks just like Anya when she’s trying her best. After a few minor mishaps and two more bandages, Yor managed to grate the carrots, her confidence steadily growing.
“Now, Yor-san,” Loid continued, “we’ll heat a heavy-bottomed pan and add two and a half cups of milk to it, along with the grated carrots. Stir the mixture until the milk starts to boil.”
Yor scooped the grated carrots and sent them flying into the pan directly from the chopping board with surprising accuracy, almost as if she were aiming a knife. Loid blinked, unsure whether to be impressed or alarmed.
“Yor-san, keep stirring until the milk boils—but at a gentle pace.”
Yor stirred so vigorously that bits of carrot flew onto the kitchen wall.
“Wait, wait, Yor-san! Calm down. Stir gently, like this,” Loid said, stepping closer and guiding her hand again. Yor felt her face heat up as Loid moved closer to her, his warm breath brushing against her hair.
Loid, too, found his focus wavering. The scent of simmering milk and carrots mixed with the faint fragrance of Yor’s rose-scented shampoo. For a moment, his carefully constructed walls seemed to crack.
When the milk began to boil, Loid reduced the heat. When Yor asked the reason, Loid said that, “We need the milk to thicken and reduce slowly. If we increase the heat too much, the carrots could burn.”
“Wow, Loid-san, you’re so knowledgeable, as expected!” Yor said, eyes shining with admiration.
Loid rubbed the back of his neck, his ears turning pink. “Haha, Yor-san, it’s nothing. I just enjoy cooking. You are praising me way too much.”
Yor beamed at him.
He smiled softly. “You’re a quick learner, Yor-san. It’s fun teaching you.”
loid bent over the pan to check the status of the mixture. "Seems like the milk has mostly evaporated. lets add around three-fourth cup of sugar and stir it again until it dissolves completely and thickens the mixture again.”
"Loid san looks like the sugar has all melted. is this fine?" Yor asked.
" Yes! It's perfect." Loid exclaimed giving her a thumbs up. He then handed her a small spoon of cardamom powder.
“What’s this, Loid-san?”
“Cardamom powder. It enhances the flavor and gives the pudding a unique aroma. Also make sure to scrape the sides of the pan periodically to reincorporate any dried milk solids.”
“Oooh, I’m learning so much from you!” Yor said, her eyes sparkling.
Loid laughed gently. “It’s just a simple dish, but you’re doing great.”
"T-thanks, Loid-san."
"Now, Yor-san, in a separate pan, we will heat clarified butter (ghee) and roast around 10-12 cashews, almonds, and raisins." Loid instructed her.
“Yor-san! Don’t throw them in from a distance—it won’t splash. Just drop them in gently.”
“I’m sorry, Loid-san,” Yor said, lowering her head. “I am so bad at cooking. I have just been making mistakes upon mistakes the entire time, even though you are so patient with me. I just wanted to make something that would make you and Anya happy. I wanted to be a better wife and mother for the both of you.”
“Yor-san,” Loid said, his voice soft, “you’re already an amazing mother to Anya and a wonderful wife. Anya loves you deeply, and she thrives because of the strength and love you give her. You’ve made my life easier, Yor-san. I’ve always shouldered everything alone, but now… I have you. I’m truly glad I married you.”
Loid’s confession surprised even him. His usual logical "Twilight" mind screamed at him for letting his emotions slip, but he pushed those thoughts aside. Yor had tears in her eyes as she blushed deeply.
“L-Loid-san… Thank you. I’m really glad I married you too,” Yor said with a radiant smile.
Loid faltered at her words, his heart skipping a beat. Before he could stop himself, he cupped her cheeks gently.
Loi-Loi-L-Loid san?
“Yor-san, may I?”
Yor’s breath hitched, but she closed her eyes and nodded.
Loid leaned in and placed a soft, lingering kiss on her lips. It lasted only a few seconds, but it sent a spark through both of them, leaving them breathless. Yor’s face burned as she stammered, “Th-that was my first k-kiss…”
Loid smiled, his own ears burning pink. “Hope you are not angry at me for being your first..”
"No-not at all L-Loid-san. I am really g-glad!" Yor said with her ruby eyes peeking from her silky black bangs. Her lips still tingled from the sensation of Loid's lips. His lips were soft and he tasted like coffee.
Anya who had been watching spy wars with Bond, came rushing towards the kitchen only to find her parents staring at each other completely red and their thoughts completely messed up. Even her Chichi's thoughts didn't make sense to her. After reading their thoughts with a lot of concentration, Anya gasped and exclaimed, "Chichi to Haha icha icha!", giggling and jumping with glee.
Loid let out a fake cough and Yor turned completely red before both of them yelled, "NO, we didn't!!"
"Heh", Anya said that with a smug smile on her face.
“Did Chichi and Haha finish cooking the pudding?” Anya asked, peeking into the kitchen with curious eyes.
“Yes, Anya,” Loid replied with a smile. “We’re almost done. Just wait for five more minutes.”
“Now, Yor-san,” Loid continued, “switch on the stove and place the grated carrot mixture on medium-low heat. Add the roasted dry fruits and mix everything well. Cook until the mixture turns glossy and starts leaving the sides of the pan. Oh, and don’t forget to add a pinch of saffron strands soaked in a tablespoon of warm milk—it’ll give the pudding a wonderful aroma and a lovely golden color.”
Anya sniffed the air and wrinkled her nose. “Did Haha cook everything? It doesn’t look or smell funny. Anya wants to taste it.”
“Yes, your mother did it all,” Loid said with a small laugh.
“I couldn’t have done it without Loid-san,” Yor interjected with a shy smile. “Why don’t you set the table, Anya? I’ll serve it to you in just a moment.”
At the dining table
Excited, Anya quickly grabbed a spoonful of the pudding and smelled it. It had a delightful aroma and looked appetizing. She took a bite, her eyes widening in surprise.
“It’s delicious, Yor-san!”
“It’s so yummy, Haha!” Anya exclaimed with a cheery grin, happily stuffing more into her mouth. She savored the smooth, rich taste and the way the carrots melted in her mouth.
Yor clapped her hands together, a wide smile spreading across her face as she watched their reactions. Her heart swelled with pride, and she etched this precious moment into her memory.
“It looks like we managed to get our daughter to like carrots,” Loid whispered softly into Yor’s ear.
Yor turned to him, her face bright with happiness. “Thanks to you, Loid-san,” she said with a radiant smile.