"Soup for Haida"

Retsuko is a natural when it comes to cooking. Food is her passion but she hardly ever had the chance to share her delicious food unless its for a company picnic. Now, she held a pot of hot vegetable soup for Haida. It was a day after Haida was released from the hospital and Retsuko thought it would be a good idea to make him some soup. She and Fenneko walked up the stairs towards Haida's apartment complex. Fenneko had her nose in her phone while Retsuko carefully walked with the pot with worry. The thought of her tripping on the stairs and ruining the meal filled her chest with anxiety.

"Hmm do you think he'll like the soup, Fenneko?" Retsuko asked, giving her friend a small nervous smile.

"I don't know." Fenneko shrugged, refusing to leave her eyes off the screen. "He's a bit of a picky eater."

"What!" Retsuko stopped and glanced at her soup. She was beginning to regret not calling and asking Haida what he wanted to eat. But, she wanted to surprise him.

"Yeah." Fenneko nodded and lifted her gaze from her phone screen towards Retsuko. "I mean, when's the last time you seen him eat vegetables? If that guy would be a food group, he'll be a vending machine."

Retsuko let out a polite laugh. "But...vending machines are not a food group."

Fenneko turned back to her phone. "Exactly."

"Still...I hope he likes it." Retsuko softly said, a blush appearing across her muzzle.

"If he doesn't, we can always dump it on his pants."

"That's mean!"

"Hey if a guy doesn't appreciate a cute girl giving him a free meal, then he doesn't deserve you."

Retsuko didn't argue with that but that still didn't get rid of the knot in her stomach. She had felt this way ever since Haida told her how he really felt about her. They had spent five years together working in the office and she had became really close friends with him. Now, they had taken a step towards a new relationship and Retsuko didn't want to mess it up. The two girls stopped in front of Haida's apartment door.

"Oh! I changed my mind!" Retsuko shouted and turned away from the door. "I can't do it, what if he hates my cooking? What if he is picky? I think I oversalted the soup anyway. It's better just to toss it."

"Hey. Retsuko." The red panda turned to her friend and saw in silent horror as she knocked on the door and shouted. "Haida! Get your lazy ass up and open the door!"

Retsuko's body immediately with rigid as her face turned red.

"Fenneko! How could you!"

The fox kicked the door a few times ignoring Retsuko's frantic protest. The door immediately opens to an annoyed Haida who scowled at Fenneko.

"Fenneko! What the hell! The doctors said I needed to rest, why are you kicking my door?"

Fenneko gave Haida a blank stare, lifted her paw up and said. "Hey Haida." He let out a sigh which made Fenneko swiftly grab Retsuko, who was trying to sneak off. Haida let out a blush and began to adjust his wrinkled black shirt and pants.

"O-oh hey, R-retsuko! Haha! I didn't know you be coming by!"

Retsuko gave the young hyena a small smile, laughing awkwardly along. "Oh yeah, well you know, I just wanted to see how you are doing."

"Umm I'm fine. Great! Actually!" Haida replied, scratching the back of his head as he laughed awkwardly along with her. Fenneko rolled her eyes and nudged Retsuko, reminding her of the soup.

"Oh I got you soup!" Retsuko said with a small blush and lifted the pot up to him. "I...made it myself."

Haida's eyes widened and felt his face go hotter. Retsuko, a cute girl, cooking a meal just for him. It was dream. It was more than a dream. Haida picked up the pot and the sweet aroma filled his nostrils. He glanced at Retsuko, who was looking down at her shoes and paying with her fingers. He gave her a smile.

"Thank you Retsuko."

She lifted her head up and laughed, feeling embarrassed. Haida tilted his head at her. He loved hearing her laugh.

"Oh! It was nothing! Really! I was happy to do it! I...I want you to get better." She admitted. She couldn't stop her ears from burning up as she did. Fenneko then began to push her along.

"Okay, time to go. Honestly you two are making me cringe with your talk."

"Uh!" Haida reached a hand out to Retsuko, who reached her paw out at him. "I'll see you on Monday, 'kay?"

Retsuko opened her mouth to reply but was interrupted by Fenneko, who lifted her paw up, waving goodbye without giving the hyena a glance.

"Geez, you're so clingy Haida, you can't go one day without seeing me?"

"Not you, Fenneko!" Haida shouted. Retsuko slowly smirked at Haida, who lifted his paw, waving goodbye to her. Retsuko softly chuckle and feeling more confident, put her paw to her lips and blew a kiss at Haida before descending down the stairs. Haida immediately went red, thrown off by the kiss that he accidently dropped the pot.