Dango 101

Tender digits worked their way through the soft pile of dough, fresh out of the bowl. Dust on her apron, but certainly no stranger to the mess. It was her nimble fingers that made surprisingly swift work of dividing pieces of the dough into thirds. All while, of course, under the watchful gaze of the man himself. Originally only here to learn the art of dango making, Dan was quick to clock on that this wasn’t the woman’s first rodeo to any kind of cooking.

A smile, matching with the creases of a refined older age, was beamed at the man shadowing beside her. His expression did not falter under her openness. Brows furrowed, a semi-permanent scowl with his dimples dipping downwards. He almost looked intimidating. Almost, if Momo didn’t know that this was just his usual expression when it came to almost anything. 

“If I didn’t know any better I would say you already know how to make these.” Dan suddenly interjected. Momo, pausing in her diving, shot a glance over her shoulder.

“I promise, I don’t. But I did tell you I do a lot of home baking, no?” She coos back softly, wagging one of her fingers playfully at the man accompanied with a small wink. 

The tone in his cheeks only darkened by the faintest shade. 

“This is still a learning curve. You did say you were trying to seek out an apprentice, right hun?” 

As Momo got to work on coloring the first division, Dan watched carefully. 

“Correct. Not many have proved themselves up to standard. This isn’t the only thing I expect my apprentice to do-”

He pauses then. He reaches out to take a piece of the dough Momo prepared, and begins to form it. 

“A little smaller. Otherwise, your pieces are evenly shaped.” 

He presents the piece of treat back into the palm of Momo. Taking it into her hands, she observes it, and compares it to a piece she had already made. She placed the bigger piece back into the coloured dough, to be remade again. 

“If you are worried about little old me not being able to swing a hammer around-” Momo puts down what she was working on, turning to face Dan. She provides him with a little flex, only the slightest indication of muscle forming in her arms. “-Worry not, darling! I think I can handle some serious rice pounding!” 

Charm radiated from her at this moment. Dan only stared back. He looked at her work. Then back to her. 

“... You underestimate just how tedious and tiring it can be.” 

Momo’s expression dropped a little. She promptly put her hands back on the table, and quirked a brow. Dan is quick to gesture at his own arms. 

“... Ohhh!” Momo gasps softly, before clasping her hands. “You mean rice pounding is how you got your muscle? Sign me up!” 

A sigh drawled from the man’s lips. He gestures back to the table, wanting to help her complete the current task. 
“Let me see how you do at this first. Then perhaps, and it is a strong perhaps, I will consider bringing you in for a trial day for rice pounding.”