"...Nnngh…"
With a soft groan, Shinomiya Kaguya slowly opened her eyes. The first thing she saw was an unfamiliar wooden ceiling, a stark contrast to her usual elegant surroundings.
"Oh? Awake already?"
The familiar voice of Natsukawa Kanade—her ever-diligent kaichou—pulled her fully into consciousness. He had been waiting patiently by her side, and as soon as her eyes fluttered open, he leaned closer, his expression a mix of concern and relief.
"How are you feeling? A little more awake now?" he asked, his voice calm yet tinged with subtle amusement.
Kaguya blinked, still dazed. Her sleeping posture had been particularly relaxed, something rare for someone as composed as her. She hadn't moved an inch while resting, and—most embarrassingly—she'd had a silly grin on her face the entire time. Occasionally, she had even mumbled incomprehensible words, leaving Kanade to wonder if she was truly asleep or just pretending.
"Do you need some water?"
"P-President…" Kaguya mumbled groggily. Seeing Kanade so close, her half-awake mind conjured the remnants of a sweet dream she had been having. Without thinking, she extended her arms toward him and whispered, "Hug… Hug…"
"Uh…"
Kanade froze, caught entirely off guard. For all her usual composure, this sudden act of cuteness was not something he was prepared for. His expression turned awkward, and he glanced around as if searching for a way to escape this unexpected situation.
What is this? Did she wake up even sillier than usual? Kanade thought. Or is this some side effect of oversleeping? It's already 2 PM—if she sleeps any longer, she might as well moonlight as a crime-fighting vigilante!
Realizing that Kanade wasn't responding, Kaguya's half-dreamy state began to dissipate. Her cheeks flushed a deep crimson as reality came crashing down on her.
"Ah! S-Sorry, President!" she stammered, pulling back her arms and sitting up abruptly. A bead of sweat slid down her forehead despite the summer heat, though it had nothing to do with the temperature.
Oh no… Almost exposed myself there! she thought, panicked.
If Kanade ever found out about the kind of dream she'd been having, he'd think she was some kind of shameless ero nympho! Just imagining his reaction was enough to make her want to crawl under the bed.
"I-I'm so sorry for troubling you, President! Staying by my side like this must have been such a hassle for you!" she blurted out, bowing apologetically.
"It's not a big deal," Kanade replied with a dismissive wave. "I was just worried about you. Are you sure you're feeling better now?"
Kaguya nodded quickly, eager to divert the conversation. "Yes, thank you for your concern. My fingers feel fine now. I think I'm ready to start learning how to cook again."
Her posture straightened, and her usual dignified demeanor seemed to return.
"That's good to hear," Kanade said, though he hesitated before adding, "Do you… remember what we talked about before you fell asleep?"
Kaguya's expression turned thoughtful as she tried to recall. "Before… Oh! Are you talking about when I cut my finger? I remember you helped me apply medicine and then asked me to rest. Is there something I missed?"
"..."
Her confused expression was so genuine that Kanade realized she truly didn't remember anything else.
Well, that's a relief, he thought. At least she doesn't have to deal with the embarrassment of remembering…
"It's nothing," he said with a casual shrug. "Don't worry about it. You've been sleeping for hours, though, so you must be hungry. Let's grab something to eat first."
Kaguya's eyes lit up, though she tried to hide her excitement. "Of course. I'll cook, and you can teach me on the spot," she offered, her voice calm but betraying a hint of eagerness.
Kanade explained how he had borrowed the kitchen while she was resting, even securing an afternoon leave from the school administration. The teachers hadn't objected, given their excellent academic performance and status as student council members.
As Kanade finished detailing the arrangements, Kaguya remained outwardly composed, but internally, her heart raced.
Alone with the president in a kitchen? This is practically fate handing me a golden opportunity! Isn't this how romantic developments happen in stories?
Kaguya's mind began to wander, her cheeks flushing slightly as scenarios from her dream earlier danced vividly in her imagination. Could this be the moment when we take a step closer to becoming lovers? No matter what, I can't let this chance slip away!
"I understand, President. I'll listen to you," Kaguya said with a sweet, obedient smile.
"Uh…" Kanade paused, momentarily startled by the sudden shift in her tone.
"What's wrong?" Kaguya tilted her head slightly, her curious expression perfectly innocent—or so it seemed.
"It's… nothing. Let's go," Kanade replied, shaking off his doubts.
Despite her outwardly adorable and hime-like demeanor, Kanade couldn't help but remain a little wary. She's definitely cute, but this overly well-behaved act… it feels like she's plotting something.
The two returned to the kitchen, and Kanade wasted no time in preparing the ingredients. His movements were quick and efficient, a reflection of his usual composed nature. As he worked, he took on the role of teacher, explaining each step to Kaguya with practiced ease.
"Okay, hold the food like this. Keep your hand horizontal and grip it securely. Then, make sure the knife blade drops vertically. You can move closer to your fingers if you're confident, but for beginners, it's better to leave some distance. If you tilt the knife slightly to the right, it's even more convenient."
Kaguya listened intently, nodding along as Kanade demonstrated.
"Also, don't worry about speed. Take it slow and steady. The goal isn't to rush; it's to get everything done properly," Kanade continued. "Once you've prepped the ingredients, you move on to the cooking phase. It's all about following the steps in the recipe."
He paused briefly and added with a more serious tone, "But remember, don't get too creative. Don't go adding random stuff like hydrochloric acid—or, I don't know, throwing in snacks or cakes. Stick to the recipe."
The sudden shift in his tone made Kaguya blink in surprise. She opened her mouth to protest but stopped when she saw the genuinely concerned expression on his face.
The president… is worried about me?
Even though she felt a little offended—as if I'd be foolish enough to do something like that!—Kaguya quickly swallowed her pride. Instead, she nodded demurely, giving the impression that she was absorbing his every word.
Hayasaka always says that a smart girl knows how to appeal to the man she likes. If the president wants me to play the obedient student, then so be it!
"Is this done?" Kaguya asked softly, watching as Kanade put down the spatula.
"Almost. Just a little more stirring, and it's good to go," Kanade replied. Then, with a small smile, he added, "Do you want to try?"
Kaguya's eyes lit up, and she nodded eagerly. Despite the injury on her left hand, she wasn't about to let that stop her from taking this rare opportunity.
Kanade handed her the spatula and stepped behind her, guiding her hands. "Like this," he explained, sliding the spatula along the bottom of the pan. "Then, you flick your wrist like this… See?"
To ensure she understood, Kanade placed his hands over hers, demonstrating the motion directly.
Well, we've already held hands before, so this shouldn't be a big deal, Kanade thought to himself. Their relationship had grown closer recently, so he didn't give the gesture much thought.
But Kaguya was a completely different story.
Her mind was racing. He's… holding my hands! The president is holding my hands!
Her heart thudded loudly in her chest, and her face flushed crimson. She had dreamed of moments like this countless times, but now that it was happening, she felt overwhelmed.
Could it be… that this is how it begins? Is this the start of a romantic relationship? Is my dream… about to come true?!
Kaguya bit her lip to keep from squealing aloud. She couldn't let Kanade know how flustered she was. This is it! This is my chance! I can't mess this up!
Kanade, oblivious to her inner turmoil, continued calmly, "You're doing great. Just a little more practice, and you'll get the hang of it."
But for Kaguya, the act of stirring vegetables had never felt so monumental.
Great indeed!