Just Desserts
"You're going to get a stomachache if you eat all of those."
"Make sure you brush your teeth after you have that. Don't want them to rot away."
"You'll spoil your appetite, you know."
"Do you know how much sugar's in that thing?"
Hiro groaned and dropped into his computer chair. He pulled out his second favorite candy from his pocket -- a delectable combination of shortbread cookie layered with caramel enrobed in smooth milk chocolate. He toyed with the serrated edge of the gold wrapping and then tore it open. He couldn't wait another second. School had been a beast, and he deserved a treat. True, he preferred gummy bears, but the vending machine at SFIT had run out. This was the next best thing. Still, he wasn't complaining. He took a small bite and smiled, savoring it. He leaned back into the seat and nibbled at the corner. That's when he heard footfalls approaching the bedroom. Judging by the heaviness of the steps, he knew that it was Tadashi. He spun his chair around so the back was to the door. He would get an earful if Tadashi saw him with a candy bar before dinner. Hiro took another bite and tucked the rest back into his pocket. Dessert.
"Hey, Hiro. Aunt Cass wants you to wash up. It's almost time to eat. "
Hiro went to reply, but a glob of caramel decided to get itself stuck to the roof of his mouth. It rendered him unable to speak. Even trying to breathe without the risk of the sticky stuff going down the wrong tube proved a herculean task.
"Mm-hm." It was all he could do to signal to his brother that he had received the message. He sank lower into his chair, hoping Tadashi would turn back for downstairs. It was for naught.
"Are you okay?"
Tadashi came around and stared at him and his tight-lipped expression. There was the beginnings of an accusation in his tone. "What are you hiding?"
Hiro shook his head and got out a single, garbled word. "Nuffin.'"
"'Nothing.' Right. Let me see."
Hiro swallowed, and the caramel dissolved just enough that it went down without incident.
"It's nothing, really," Hiro repeated, his voice clear and forceful. "See?" He held his empty hands out.
"I don't believe you." Tadashi pitched forward, and it didn't take long for him to find what Hiro hoped to keep secret. In Tadashi's defense, however, Hiro's hoodie pocket wasn't the most creative place to stash things.
"Candy?" Tadashi flicked his nose. "Bonehead. Have you ever even read the ingredients in here? I mean, listen to this."
Hiro started to protest, but Tadashi put his hand out, quieting him. He flipped the candy bar over and narrowed his eyes at the fine print. "Sugar as the first ingredient. Twenty-four grams, at that. Not a surprise. Corn syrup, soy lecithin. Vegetable fat? Dextrose, thiamine mononitrate..." Tadashi sighed. "Hiro," he said, waving the candy bar in his face, "this is all artificial junk."
"Give it to me," Hiro said, snatching it back. He broke off a small piece and popped it in his mouth. "I don't care. You're beginning to sound like a broken record. It's always, 'nutrition this,' and 'health that.' Blah, blah, blah." Hiro made a motion with his hand like a crab snapping its claw.
"Well, I'm worried. You know it's not good for you to eat this stuff."
Hiro rolled his eyes. "I'm a kid. It's normal for me to love sweets." It was a paper-thin argument, and he knew that Tadashi wasn't buying it.
"Yeah, but not all the time. If you want something sweet, why don't you have an apple or something? It wouldn't kill you to have a piece of fruit once in a while."
"I eat fruit," Hiro insisted. He tossed the candy bar on his desk, far enough away so Tadashi couldn't reach it.
"Oh, yeah?" Tadashi challenged. "When?"
"Today. For breakfast. Remember?"
Tadashi looked him in disbelief. "You're kidding me, right? Those 'strawberry' toaster pastries do not count."
"Sure they do. Didn't you see the package? Ten percent real fruit in the filling. So, ha."
The call of nature was a loud one. It seemed even louder at 1:56 in the morning when it tore Hiro from his blissful sleep. With every cell in his body fighting against him, he dragged himself up and out of bed. As delicious as it was, it wasn't a good idea to drink so much soda that late.
Eyes half-closed, he shuffled to and from the bathroom in under a minute. About to return to his warm sanctuary, he heard a noise all the way from the kitchen. It was the scrape of wood against linoleum; someone moving a chair around. Now Hiro was wide awake. He darted across the room to get Tadashi, but stopped in his tracks. The covers were thrown back and the pillow off to the side. Tadashi wasn't in his bed.
Hiro groaned and went towards the door. What was his brother doing up at this hour?
He crept down the stairs in near complete darkness. The only light on was the dim bulb above the stove, and he could just make out a silhouette.
Almost blind, he felt along the wall for the light switch. Finding it after a few seconds, he flipped it on.
His jaw dropped.
Tadashi was at the table, half a doughnut in hand. His face betrayed any semblance of nonchalance possible. "Hi..."
"What are you doing?"
"Eating..." Tadashi said, lowering the pastry to his dish. There was a large cake plate within his reach. It was piled high with doughnuts of every variety.
Hiro gaped at him, almost speechless. Almost. "I- Doughnuts? Wha-"
"I know what you're gonna say," Tadashi finished for him. He gave a quiet chuckle. "'Major hypocrite alert.' But, too late for that. Now, what are you waiting for? I can tell you want one, too."
Not missing a beat, Hiro slid into the chair next to Tadashi. His brother knew him well. He pulled the cake plate close and considered his choices: jelly, powdered, glazed, chocolate... They all looked delicious. After deliberating like it would be the most important decision he'd ever make in his life, Hiro went for the jelly. His favorite. When it came to food, Hiro stuck with what worked. Why fix something that wasn't broken?
He took a bite and placed it on the napkin that Tadashi handed him. "Couldn't resist, huh?"
Tadashi hung his head in mock shame. "No. I was doing some last-minute studying, and I got hungry. I was looking for something else, but then I saw these. And Aunt Cass said they were free game, so..."
"How many did you eat?" Hiro asked, gesturing to the platter. "There were a whole lot more on here before I went to bed."
"This is my third," he admitted, voice growing softer with each word. He cracked a small grin. "I got carried away. They're so good."
Hiro snickered. "Welcome to the dark side. But I get it. Aunt Cass does make some kickass doughnuts."
Perhaps it was sleep deprivation, or his sugar-induced euphoria, but Tadashi didn't remind him about the swear jar. One for the record books.
"Hey, do you still have some of that candy from today?" Tadashi reached for another doughnut. This time it was the plain with chocolate frosting.
"Um, yeah...?"
"...Where is it?"
Hiro wiped the sticky filling from his hands. "In our room. Why?"
"Can you go get it? Split the rest with me? It's my favorite. I haven't had it in forever. Please...?"
Hiro couldn't help but laugh. "Unbelievable."