Room 405, Monday evening

[itsjustlanguage]

Hoshi had promised to make dinner for Hurley, so after saying goodbye to her father and Captain Archer, she spend the rest of her day planning the meal. It took her a little while to decide what to serve. She finally went for tempura shrimp and vegetables since it was not too heavy for the warm weather.

After cooking everything in the really nice kitchen on the sixth floor, she brought the food back to her room. This was probably not the occasion to share, since she wanted to spend some time alone with Hurley before he had to leave.

While she waited, she shut the door and put a tea kettle on the hot plate.

[For Hurley]

Comments

[likes-chicken.livejournal.com]

Hurley knocked on Hoshi's door, a simple two raps of his knuckles. "Any kidnappers in there?"

[itsjustlanguage.livejournal.com]

"Why don't you come in and find out for yourself?" Hoshi called out, grinning.

[likes-chicken.livejournal.com]

Hurley opened the door, grinning ear to ear. "Well, if you insist and stuff," he said. He was quite happy to see her. "How are you tonight?"

[itsjustlanguage.livejournal.com]

"I'm great, now that you're here," said Hoshi, smiling. "I've got dinner all set up on my desk, so just grab a chair. I hope you like shrimp."

There wasn't a lot of to spread out, but it would have to do.

[likes-chicken.livejournal.com]

"As long as it's recognizably food, I'm good," Hurley said, sitting down. "Really is sweet of you to cook for us like this."

In the back of his head, something was telling him this whole scenario seemed really familiar.

[itsjustlanguage.livejournal.com]

Hoshi wasn't going to say it, but something seemed familiar to her, too.

"Hey, I love to cook. You know that," she said. "The difference this time is that I'm not sharing it with everyone who walks into the common room."

[likes-chicken.livejournal.com]

"Which makes it awesome," Hurley said. "Kinda like it's all special because it's just for us."

He paused. "Suddenly I feel like I should've brought dessert or something."

[itsjustlanguage.livejournal.com]

"That's not necessary," said Hoshi. "As long as you brought yourself, I'm content. Did you want to have tea with your dinner? Or would you like soda? I have both, but I'm usually a tea drinker."

[likes-chicken.livejournal.com]

"Soda," Hurley said. "Not too much of a tea person. Guess I just like the basics, you know?"

[itsjustlanguage.livejournal.com]

"Or maybe you just haven't had really good tea before," said Hoshi as she brought out a soda. "There's more varieties than the Chinese restaurant tea they serve over at Ching Tai."

[likes-chicken.livejournal.com]

"I'm sure there are," Hurley said, shrugging. "Just not a, you know, cultural thing for me."

He paused. "Not that soda is inherently more cultural or something."

[itsjustlanguage.livejournal.com]

"You know, there are Japanese sodas that are totally different from the American ones," said Hoshi. "My favorite is this lychee-flavored soda, but they also have strawberry and melon-flavored ones."

[likes-chicken.livejournal.com]

Hurley just stared for a second.

"A what flavored soda?"

[itsjustlanguage.livejournal.com]

"You know, I don't think we've ever had this much of a culture clash before," said Hoshi, laughing. "Lychees are an exotic fruit from Asia. They're kind of like grapes, but with an outer shell and a large pit. They have this really light, sweet flavor."

[likes-chicken.livejournal.com]

"Oh, whew," Hurley said, breathing a sigh of relief. "For a minute I thought you were gonna say it tasted like moss."

[itsjustlanguage.livejournal.com]

"Why would you think I like a soda that tastes like a fruit that is moss-flavored?" asked Hoshi, giggling.

[likes-chicken.livejournal.com]

"I don't know," Hurley said. "I mean, thing is, as much time as we've spent together, we don't know everything about each other. Secret moss love is always, like, possible."

[itsjustlanguage.livejournal.com]

"I was thinking earlier that I have no idea what your favorite food is," said Hoshi, laughing. "So, moment of truth: if you had to pick your last meal, what would it be? And moss is not an acceptable answer."

[likes-chicken.livejournal.com]

"Chicken," Hurley said. "Nice, southern fried chicken. Best stuff on earth."

He hadn't even needed to stop to think.

[itsjustlanguage.livejournal.com]

"I don't think I've ever had southern fried chicken, but there's something called chicken katsu that is described as the Japanese version," said Hoshi, looking a bit puzzled. "But my favorite food has to be cold soba noodles with just a little bit of soy sauce."

[likes-chicken.livejournal.com]

Hurley tilted his head a bit. "You okay?" he asked, wondering why she looked puzzled.

[itsjustlanguage.livejournal.com]

"I was just thinking that I've been living in Fandom for three years, and yet I don't think I've ever had fried chicken," said Hoshi. "I sort of pride myself on trying all sorts of different foods, so it feels weird to realize that I missed something."

[likes-chicken.livejournal.com]

"No way," Hurley said. "You and me, tomorrow. I'm not taking no for an answer."

[itsjustlanguage.livejournal.com]

"Sounds like a date, then," said Hoshi, giggling. "Where do we find fried chicken on this island?"

[likes-chicken.livejournal.com]

"Luke's," Hurley said. "It's not quite the best, but it's good. And for your first time, it'll do just fine."

[itsjustlanguage.livejournal.com]

"Great!" said Hoshi. "Maybe I should see if I can get lychee soda so you can try it out. Sometimes they can get it at Turtle and Canary."

[likes-chicken.livejournal.com]

"So, should we actually meet at Luke's or should I pick up some to go?" Hurley asked.

[itsjustlanguage.livejournal.com]

"Get it to go, and I won't have to share you with anyone else," said Hoshi.

[likes-chicken.livejournal.com]

"I guess it is my last night here before my flight," Hurley said. "Should make it special."

[itsjustlanguage.livejournal.com]

"That sounds like a plan," said Hoshi. "And we should both have something to remember while you're in California and I'm in Fandom."

[likes-chicken.livejournal.com]

"Even if it's only for a few days," Hurley said. "Great plan."

[itsjustlanguage.livejournal.com]

"And in the meantime," said Hoshi, waving her hand at the plates, "how is your shrimp tempura? Do you need more dipping sauce? I made plenty extra."