Lazing About in a Dating Sim

A couple of minutes later, Lucia and I got our lunches and then well, ate them.

It was far from the best thing we ever had while on campus, but it wasn’t exactly the worst thing either.

Which while a little disheartening, didn’t really spoil our mood too much.

Though I guess that isn’t really saying a lot, as our spirits have been up ever since Lucia confessed her feelings to me.

Well, aside from that one time when our main hangout spot suddenly became no longer secure, due to a certain group of people getting in the way.

Speaking of which, a few moments after we finished our lunches, Lucia and I started walking towards the baking clubroom.

And along the way, we decided to review the plan we had developed a couple days earlier.

“So just making sure... you want me to plant two olive-sized fire shields in each of the ovens before the match begins and then increase the amount of heat they have in them 5 minutes before the competition ends?”

“Actually I was thinking that you could just delay casting your spell 5 minutes before the competition is over. But if you think that your idea is better, I don’t mind if we change the plan a little. I mean, you are the one who has more experience with magic between the both of us.”

I replied, after folding in half a food wrapper I still had in my hand and chucking it into a nearby waste bin.

“Based on the calculations I made in bed last night, I’m pretty sure this’ll make it less likely that the plan ends up backfiring on us.”

“So that’s why it took you so long to fall asleep, frankly I just thought that you forgot how to.”

“Oh come on, I didn’t stay up for that long, I was out cold by midnight.”

“Really? I’m pretty sure I heard you mumbling something about deadlines around like 2 in the morning.”

“Weird, I don’t recall doing anything like that...”

Lucia remarked, with a smidge of confusion present in her voice.

“Could it be that you talk in your sleep, Lucia?”

“What? No, of course not, you must’ve just been hearing things, Otto.”

“Why are you getting so defensive, suddenly?”

I replied with a smug grin on my face.

“Save it, you’re gonna be late to the competition if you keep on running your mouth.” 

Lucia retorted before entwining her arms tightly around mine.

“Yeah yeah, oh and by the way, did you happen to come up with any other good ideas related to the plan last night?”

“I think I tossed around a couple other ideas in my head, but none of them were really that impactful compared to the one I just told you about.”

“So the plan should be completely unaltered then, aside from the thing you just mentioned?”

“Yup.”

“Alright then let’s get going. Like you, I don’t really feel like losing by default today, either.” 

“…Is it just me or have you been agreeing with me a lot more lately?”

Lucia said incredulously.

“Huh, I guess I have… did you by any chance happen to slip some sort of brain deteriorating serum into one of my drinks recently?”

“Oh stuff it.”

Lucia remarked before nudging me in the direction of the baking clubroom.

Fortunately for Lucia and me, the route we used to get there didn’t have that many obstacles for us to deal with.

And after about 15 minutes or so of walking, Lucia and I arrived in front of the door of the clubroom, just in time for the competition.

“Here we are, you ready Otto?”

Lucia said after turning towards me.

“About as ready as I can be.”

I replied nonchalantly.

“Just what I wanted to hear.”

Lucia said simply before giving me a kiss on the cheek and knocking on the door.

A few moments later, the door swung open and we were greeted by Samantha and a couple other club members.

“I’m glad to see that you guys could make it, for a second there, I kinda thought that y’all flaked out on us.”

“There’s a good amount riding on this, I wouldn’t just not show up. Now, have you guys gotten everything already set up or…?”

I said nonchalantly.

“We’re almost done, we just need to get the ovens going, and find where the yeast is.”

“...You’re not sure where the yeast is? Don’t you guys use that stuff on a daily basis?”

Lucia asked, slightly bewildered.

“Well yeah, it’s just that someone never puts it back where it’s supposed to be. I’m looking at you Florence.”

Samantha replied before looking towards one of the other baking club members currently here.

“Anyway, we’re gonna need a few more minutes to get everything ready, so just sit tight for the time being.”

“Since we don’t really have all day, do you mind if we help you guys out with setting things up? Would make it so that shit gets done faster.”

Lucia said after stretching her arms a little.

“That’d be great actually, thanks for offering.”

“Right then, I’ll go help with the ovens and I guess you can go help them find where their yeast is, Otto.”

“Got it.”

I said simply before moving towards one of the many cupboards in the clubroom. 

Well, aren’t you clever Lucia. 

And here I was thinking I was gonna need to make up a whole excuse for you to be able to get near the ovens.

A few minutes later, I was able to find a sizable amount of yeast in one of the drawers and Lucia had gotten the ovens to flare up with a bit of help from Samantha.

Moreover, I’m pretty sure Lucia was also able to successfully slot a tiny fire shield into the center of each of the ovens’ embers without getting caught.

As when she passed by me after finishing her task, Lucia gave me a small thumbs up.

“Okay then, everything’s set up. We can start whenever you’re ready- oh right I completely forgot, what utensils are gonna be off limits today and what are we going to be cooking?

Samantha said, after gesturing to the stacks of utensils and ingredients on the table that had been assembled in the middle of the room.

“I’m alright if there’s no restrictions being placed on cooking utensils, unless you’ve got some sort of machine that just spits out pastries, and I've decided that we’ll be cooking a flourless biscuit today.”

“Interesting choice, most people usually just choose something like a cupcake or chocolate chip cookie for these sorts of things.”

Samantha said, curiously. 

“Anyhow, if everything’s currently to your liking, do you mind if we begin the competition once the clock over there reads 12:15 and end the competition once it’s about 12:35?” 

“Fine by me.”

“In that case, all we can really do now is wait until the clock decides it’s time for the competition to begin.”

“Guess so.”

I said simply before quickly positioning myself behind one of the two hot ovens in the room.

In response, Samantha followed suit and went over to the other oven.

And barely 10 seconds later, the clock’s hands indicated that it was 12:15 and the competition abruptly began.