Mochi Mornings

“Don’t you have anything better to do?” Dan grumbles, glancing at Shibani from the corner of his eye. 

“What, like watching you?” Quirking an eyebrow, Shibani nibbles the remainder of a stick of mochi snaffled from the storefront. It’s not exactly snaffled - it’s a misshapen mochi not fit for purchase. Perfectly consumable, though. Waste not want not.

Dan shoots him a look. Raising his mallet, he slams it down on his latest batch of mochi. Shibani watches him, reaching for another stick. Cosying down into his pile of pillows and cushions, he relaxes as Dan lifts the mallet, pounding the mochi again and again. Delicious. Delectable. Shibani isn’t quite thinking of the mochi as he watches the muscle movement in Dan’s forearms as he lifts that oh so heavy mallet…

Grabbing another stick, Shibani sinks his teeth into the soft and chewy treat. It’s so early. Dan opens so early everyday, unfairly waking Shibani from his slumber. But eating delicious fresh mochi and watching a delicious dishy Dan work in the early hours preparing for the shop isn’t quite a bad thing…

Chewing the sweet mochi, it sticks to his teeth as he pulls away. Shibani smiles cutely and tries to meet Dan’s eye. Dan is hard at work. Shibani is sleepy just watching him! He couldn’t imagine having to work so hard each and every day… 

Well, that’s a lie! Shibani works hard too! Shibani helps out in the shop, talking to customers each day. Such hard work indeed!

Such hard work deserves a reward… Shibani will think about it as he eats his way through the first batch of mochi. Is mochi like pancakes where you have to mess up the first one? Pondering hard, Shibani eats another stick and reaches for another.  Many such questions to be asked… 

Mochi is one of Shibani’s favourite foods, after all. It just feels like it has to be. Would be rude not to, especially since he stays around here! Dan’s mochi is the best. He makes such interesting flavours, but Shibani likes all of them. 

“Don’t spoil your appetite,” Dan says, taking Shibani out of his thoughts. 

“As if I could,” Shibani replies with a sleepy giggle. “Why, what were you going to cook for me?”

Dan doesn’t reply as he turns his head back to the mochi. He gathers his latest batch, shaping it together and dusts it in powder. Wordlessly, he takes a piece off, and gives it to Shibani.

“Oh, for me?” Taking it eagerly, Shibani bites into the smooth, soft, sweet mochi. It’s delicious, as usual. Matcha flavoured. The powder dusts off Shibani’s fingertips, and his tail twitches as he takes another bite. “It’s delicious!”

“Don’t eat too much,” Dan warns. But he’s still got another bit to go before he’s ready to open up shop. Shibani doesn’t mind so much. He’ll wait here, cosy in his pile of cushions as he watches Dan prepare.