After offering Kaguya some initial guidance, Natsukawa Kanade stepped back to let her try cooking on her own. There happened to be some prepped ingredients left over—perfect for her to practice with.
This time, he refrained from guiding her step by step. Instead, he provided verbal instructions and chimed in with reminders at the appropriate moments.
To his surprise, Kaguya Shinomiya proved to be as talented as her reputation suggested. While there was a minor mishap early on—likely due to her unfamiliarity with handling the tools—she quickly adapted and started cooking with remarkable efficiency. By the time she was done, it was hard to believe it was her first attempt.
Kanade tasted her dish, nodding with a look of genuine admiration.
"Not bad at all. For a first attempt, this is impressive. Honestly, it even exceeded my expectations," he said with a small smile.
The presentation, admittedly, wasn't stellar—it looked a little rough around the edges. But the taste was acceptable, much better than his own first attempt when he had started from scratch without any guidance.
"You've got the hang of it now. Cooking isn't as complicated as it seems. Once you've done it successfully, it's all about remembering the process and practicing until it feels natural."
Kaguya nodded attentively, taking his words to heart. As Kanade offered a few more tips, the two prepared to sit down for a well-earned meal.
Compared to the luxurious dish Kanade had prepared earlier, Kaguya's was simpler—humble, even. The stark difference between the two dishes left her feeling embarrassed, as if her work were a crude imitation next to an exquisite masterpiece. She hesitated for a moment before nervously pushing her plate toward Kanade.
"P-President… if you don't mind, please try this," she said, her voice wavering slightly.
Kanade raised an eyebrow, noticing the faint blush on her cheeks. Despite his earlier praise, it was clear Kaguya doubted her own efforts. Her embarrassment only seemed to deepen as her gaze flicked between her dish and his. Still, her determination shone through—this was an important step for her, and she wasn't going to back down.
"Alright," Kanade said, nodding calmly. "I'll give it a try."
He accepted her plate without hesitation. When it came to food, he wasn't particularly picky. As long as it wasn't something bizarre or with an overly strange flavor, he could handle it.
Relieved by his response, Kaguya let out a small sigh and said with exaggerated formality, "I… I will eat your dish with the utmost respect!"
Kanade blinked, caught off guard by her sudden declaration. "You really don't need to go that far. Just eat it like a normal meal…"
Lately, ever since Kanade had inadvertently revealed his cooking skills in front of Kaguya, she had started treating him with a level of reverence that was almost uncomfortable. It reminded him of Fujiwara's excessive enthusiasm, and he couldn't help but feel a bit awkward under the weight of their admiration.
Honestly, it's not like my cooking is anything extraordinary.
In Kanade's mind, his own skills paled in comparison to those of his "master," Shiina. Her culinary expertise was on another level entirely, and he was fortunate enough to enjoy her meals every day.
Maybe I should introduce Shiina to Kaguya and the others sometime… he mused. Since they're all girls, they'd probably hit it off. It might even be fun to watch.
As they ate, Kaguya tried her best to keep the conversation casual, though her attempts were anything but subtle.
"By the way, President," she began, carefully setting down her chopsticks. "Do you have any plans for the test of courage the day after tomorrow? If you don't mind…"
Her voice trailed off as she cast a sidelong glance at Kanade, hoping her invitation didn't come off as too forward.
Kanade's expression grew slightly complicated. He hadn't expected to receive an invitation from Kaguya, of all people. After all, Eriri had already asked him earlier.
Shouldn't Kaguya be inviting Fujiwara instead? Aren't they supposed to be closer?
Kaguya, noticing his hesitation, leaned forward slightly, her expression softening into one of feigned vulnerability. "The truth is… I'm not very good with ghosts or monsters. I get so scared…"
Her voice quivered just enough to sound convincing, and she added a small, pitiful smile for effect.
Kanade blinked. "Really?"
Of course, this was a complete fabrication. Kaguya Shinomiya had no fear of ghosts, monsters, or anything supernatural. As a staunch believer in science and logic, she saw such things as mere fantasy. But the opportunity to spend time with the president was too good to pass up.
Besides, playing the weak and helpless card isn't that bad, right? Kaguya thought, her cheeks tinged with a hint of mischief.
"Why not ask Fujiwara?" Kanade suggested, raising an eyebrow.
Kaguya immediately shook her head, her voice firm. "Chika? Absolutely not. That girl would ruin the whole atmosphere. She'd probably end up chatting with the staff and turning it into a comedy routine."
Natsukawa Kanade blinked. "...Fair point."
He couldn't disagree. Knowing Fujiwara's personality, she was the type to stroll into a haunted house, strike up casual conversations with the actors, and completely derail the intended spooky vibe.
"Actually, I—" Kanade started to speak but hesitated when he noticed Kaguya's expression shift.
"It's okay... I understand if it's too much trouble," Kaguya murmured, a faint trace of loneliness creeping into her usually composed demeanor.
The sight caught Kanade off guard. For all her poise and confidence, Kaguya didn't have many close friends. Aside from Fujiwara—who, while lovable, wasn't the most reliable—she seemed to lack the kind of companionship that others might take for granted. It must have taken a lot of courage for her to extend this invitation, knowing how vulnerable it made her seem.
Realizing this, Kanade felt a pang of guilt. There was no way he could refuse her now.
"Actually, I'm quite interested," he said with a small smile. "I didn't expect to be invited by you, Kaguya. Of course, I'll go with you."
Kaguya's face lit up, but Kanade wasn't finished. "That said, we might need to do a preliminary run. The student council has to check the safety of the site before the event. We could experience it as a sort of 'early preview,' though it might feel a bit more work-related."
Without hesitation, Kaguya nodded enthusiastically. "No problem! I'll follow the president's arrangements!"
For Kaguya, the event itself wasn't the main point. What truly mattered was the chance to spend time alone with Kanade. A small smile tugged at her lips as her imagination began to wander.
What if…?
She could almost see it now—getting lost in the woods, calling out for the president in desperation. He'd find her, of course, sweeping her into his arms with comforting words. "It's okay, I'm here," he'd whisper, his voice warm and steady. She'd look up at him with teary eyes as the moonlight framed his face perfectly—
Ahhhh! Kakkoii!
Kaguya's cheeks flushed as she snapped herself out of her daydream. Still, the thought filled her with excitement. She couldn't wait for the Test of Courage. Maybe, just maybe, her dreams would take a step closer to reality.
Meanwhile, Kanade sighed inwardly, feeling slightly conflicted. While he'd agreed to join Kaguya, he remembered that he'd already promised Eriri earlier. Now, he was stuck trying to figure out how to manage his time without disappointing either of them.
Could we form a group of three? he wondered briefly, but the logistics made it unlikely. The school had arranged the groups as pairs, and forcing Eriri and Kaguya—two people who didn't know each other—together would only create awkward tension.
The idea of attending the event twice crossed his mind, but it felt… odd. The more he thought about it, the more it felt like he was juggling two relationships.
Wait... am I turning into one of those scumbag harem protagonists? Kanade thought, his brow furrowing.
It wasn't intentional, but the situation definitely had shades of something out of a cliché romance manga.
Maybe this is just my imagination... right?
He shook his head, determined to handle the situation as tactfully as possible.