Mochi Discipline

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Calling Cirice tired would be calling a fish scaley, but on this particular day Cirice was exhausted. Shibani had managed to convince the model to help Dan make mochi in the middle of their nap party, which sounded like fun at first.  But of course, Dan wouldn't let them do anything remotely easy or relaxing. So here they were, hammering away at rice dough. 

Thud! Thud! Thud!

"Daaaaaaan..! Is it done yet?" They whined, their arms wobbling as they landed another strike against the rice dough. They fought to catch their breath, managing to actually be too tired for their narcolepsy. 

"It's almost done, but you asking every five minutes will not make this process any faster." Dan sighed, turning the dough over. To their credit, they were doing fairly well in spite of their complaining. Cirice whined and pulled the hammer, bracing it against their tiny shoulder. With a pitiful second wind, Cirice slammed down the hammer once more.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

The rhythm of their hammer finally settled into something steady, allowing Cirice to preserve their left-over strength. Dan was pleasantly surprised to see that the bun managed to figure out the technique, even if it was late in the process. Still Cirice finished the dough and happily collapsed into a heap of blankets once back inside. Dan shook his head, hoisting the bun back onto their feet. "Cirice, we're not done."

Cirice stubbornly didn’t respond. Dan  jostled them, rousing the fluffy bun from their rest. They whined quietly as they lamented for their lost nap. Still, they had awoken and Dan dragged them to the kitchen. “This part will be easier and you can choose a filling.” 

Cirice was energetic immediately, eyes alight with joy as they immediately ransacked his kitchen. Dan could only accept that his kitchen would become a mess, but at least their enthusiasm had risen. Cirice had grabbed red beans and sugar, then powdered starch. Dan taught them how to mash the beans into a proper paste, firm but able to relax. Filling was always simple, both enjoying the quiet grinding of the mortar.  “Say.. Dan?”

A small grunt of acknowledgement. 

“Do… Are you dating Shibani?”

Dan paused, a flush accompanied by an embarrassed scowl. “...We are.. Close.”

Cirice grinned, delighted and filled with mischief. “Eheh… So the excuse of pounding mochi…~?”

“This is not a discussion I’m entertaining.” His face only gets brighter.

Cirice snickered, tail wagging in delight. “That’s answer enough.”

“Shut up and stuff the mochi.” The sloth bun laughs, going back to their work. It’s a quiet few minutes, Cirice sat on a stool as they worked on filling. Their little paws worked the dough into a pouch, scooping red bean paste inside. It was like clockwork, their paws twisting the mochi closed. Dusted in powdered starch, Cirice sets them aside for Dan to organize into wagashi boxes. 

“...So, what we’re making is actually called daifuku?”

“Correct, mochi simply refers to the dough itself. It was brought over from the Yokai-type demons, but other demons tend to refer to it simply as mochi.”

“Hence why we just.. Sort of call it mochi?”

“Correct.”

Cirice nodded, thinking for a moment. “...You know, I expected you to go on more of a rant.”

Dan shook his head, packing the mochi away. “I’ve done so before, no point in going through it again. I know it for what it is, even if the word has changed meaning. They're my source of pride, I don’t need to explain that to anyone else.”

Cirice nodded, not quite as surprised as they were impressed. Of course Dan would be mature enough to not be bothered by little things, he didn’t need the approval of others. He simply thrived on his work, fueled by how everyone adored his food. “Huh… That makes sense. I kind of wish I had something like that.”

“Do you not take pride in your modeling?”

“I.. I mean I do, but.. It doesn’t do the same thing that your work does, you know?” They yawned. Gosh, it was tiring to feel so much suddenly. Especially after all that work. “I just kinda sit around and look pretty.”

Dan thought for a moment, “Perhaps, but consider that you also help someone’s art shine. You’re a canvas someone chose to wear something they’re proud of making. You help realize someone’s dream of sharing that in photos or.. Whatever is done for ads.”

Cirice smiled a little, nodding. “I never thought about it  like that… Thank you.” They made the last mochi before looking at the now empty bowl where the red bean paste existed. “You’re really good with advice. Are you sure you’re not secretly an old man?”

Dan rolled his eyes and shoved a mochi into their mouth. “I’m not answering that. Now go back to Shibani and take this,” he handed the bun a box of dango, “with you. They’re probably wanting a snack.”

Cirice nodded, saying something as they chewed. Dan, naturally, had no idea what they said but nodded politely. The bun hopped down from their stool and trotted off, Dan looking at the mess in the kitchen. He sighed and shook his head, simply gathering dishes and the leftovers. “I suppose they earned it.”