111. Reality Is Indeed Different from Manga
"Is this Shinomiya-san's first time?"
"Y-Yes... so I'm not very skilled yet..." Kaguya's voice carried a hint of hesitation as she focused intently on the task at hand.
"Actually, this is my first time doing this too..."
"Eh…?"
"Don't be so nervous," Natsukawa Kanade said with a gentle smile, his tone calm and reassuring. "Relax a little. Cooking should be fun, not stressful."
"O-Okay... I'll try," Kaguya replied, though her stiff shoulders and furrowed brows betrayed her tension.
"Even if you don't get it perfect the first time, putting your heart into it is what really matters. Just enjoy the process."
"Hmm..." Kaguya nodded earnestly, but the advice seemed to soar over her head. For a refined young lady who had lived her entire life detached from mundane tasks like cooking, these words felt like a foreign language.
Moments later, a sharp gasp escaped her lips. "I-It hurts..."
"!?" Kanade's eyes widened in alarm as he turned to her. "What happened?"
"It's... bleeding..." Kaguya murmured, her voice trembling as she clutched her finger. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, a mix of pain and embarrassment swirling within them. She had hoped to avoid showing such a vulnerable side to Kanade, but the sudden sting betrayed her.
Kanade sighed softly. "Of course it hurts. Fingers are connected to the heart—how could it not hurt when you cut yourself?"
"Let me see."
Without hesitation, Kanade gently took her hand in his, disregarding any sense of propriety. His eyes scanned the wound with a practiced calm.
"Fortunately, it's not deep," he reassured her. "But it still needs treatment. Come on, we'll take care of it right away."
"But... the station I borrowed..." Kaguya hesitated, glancing at the makeshift cooking area she had so carefully prepared.
Kanade frowned and adopted a firmer tone. "This isn't the time to worry about something like that. Your health is more important."
Noticing her lingering reluctance, he softened his expression and added, "Don't worry. We'll find another opportunity for you to practice. I'll teach you again next time, step by step."
Hearing his reassurance, Kaguya finally relented, following him with a small nod.
Kanade, meanwhile, pieced together what had happened. He'd thought Kaguya wanted to discuss something significant when she approached him, but it turned out she simply wanted a chance to learn cooking during the forest school retreat.
He hadn't anticipated that the lesson would falter at the very first hurdle—cutting vegetables. Still, it wasn't surprising. As a sheltered young lady, Kaguya had likely never needed to do any sort of housework. There was no point blaming her for something she had no experience with.
Next time, I'll guide her more carefully to avoid any accidents, he resolved silently.
"Does it still hurt?" Kanade asked softly, glancing at her as they walked. His voice carried a warmth that melted the usual formality of his words.
Kaguya blinked and glanced at their joined hands. The touch of his fingers against hers was gentle but steady, and it sent a flutter through her chest.
"N-No, it doesn't hurt that much anymore..." she stammered, her cheeks flushing pink.
He's holding my hand!
Though the situation was far from the romantic interaction she had envisioned, it wasn't bad at all. In fact, the sting in her finger had dulled so much she could almost ignore it. But then another thought struck her, and her mood wavered.
Wait... shouldn't he have... put my finger in his mouth to stop the bleeding?
Kaguya's mind spun in turmoil. That's what the protagonists did in the manga Hayasaka had given her for "reference." When the heroine got injured, the male lead would tenderly lick the wound.
Why didn't the president do that?!
Her blush deepened, and her heart sank. Could it be... he dislikes me?!
She recalled her planning sessions with Hayasaka Ai, where they had strategized countless scenarios for "capturing" the president's heart. None of those scenarios had accounted for this awkward divergence.
Reality really is different from manga...
"This should be it," Kanade's voice cut through her musings, drawing her attention back to reality. He gestured toward a small wooden cabin nestled in the woods. "This looks like the temporary infirmary. Let's head inside."
"Ah, right..." Kaguya responded, following him in.
The room was simple, almost barren. The faint scent of wood filled the air, and a rickety old cabinet leaned against the wall. Inside were a few dusty jars and bottles. Kanade scanned the contents and quickly found a tube of antibacterial ointment. He checked the expiration date, nodded in satisfaction, and turned to Kaguya.
"Have a seat here," he said, motioning to the creaky wooden bed in the corner. "I'll take care of the wound."
Kaguya obediently sat down, watching Kanade intently as he prepared the ointment. His calm, meticulous movements made her heart flutter.
To him, it was a minor injury—just a small cut. But because it was Kaguya who was hurt, he treated it with the utmost care.
He took her hand gently, examining the wound. "The bleeding's stopped," he said with a hint of relief in his voice. Then, with practiced ease, he began applying the ointment.
"How does it feel?" Kanade asked as he worked.
"W-What…?" Kaguya stammered, her mind racing.
Does he mean... the warmth of his hands?
She swallowed nervously. It's very comforting. His hands are so big and warm...
Kanade, oblivious to her internal turmoil, murmured thoughtfully, "Let's take a step back and look at the whole process. From wanting to learn cooking to this first attempt... and the unexpected outcome."
"U-Um... Yes, exactly..." Kaguya replied, though she couldn't hide her disappointment. She had been hoping for... something more romantic. Maybe a heartfelt confession, or at least an indirect compliment. But no, he was just analyzing the situation like always.
"What's wrong?" Kanade asked, tilting his head slightly at her shift in tone.
"Ah, it's nothing," Kaguya said quickly, composing herself. She offered a small smile. "It's... insightful, I suppose."
Despite the setback, Kaguya couldn't deny that this outcome wasn't entirely bad. The president had been worried about her, held her hand, and even treated her wound with such care.
In fact... this is a win!
The more she thought about it, the more she felt that the goddess of luck had smiled upon her today.
"It's insightful... and fitting," Kanade echoed with a nod. But his thoughts shifted to something deeper.
He had seen many people give up on something the moment they encountered difficulty. Even if they started with enthusiasm, setbacks often crushed their resolve.
He glanced at Kaguya. Though he didn't think she was the type to quit easily, he couldn't help but worry that this small failure might discourage her.
"In fact, I've been there too," Kanade began, his voice softening. "When I first learned to cook, I cut my fingers so many times I lost count. And the food I made? It was... well, let's just say it wasn't edible."
Kaguya's eyes widened slightly, surprised at his candid admission.
"But," Kanade continued, his gaze distant for a moment as if recalling something precious, "I had someone I wanted to impress. Someone who made me want to keep trying, no matter how many times I failed."
He smiled faintly, snapping back to the present. "So, no matter why you decided to learn cooking, I hope you stick with it. Don't let one small setback discourage you. With your determination, Shinomiya-san, I'm sure you'll master it in no time."
"President, what nonsense are you saying?" Kaguya replied, shaking her head. "Giving up was never an option for me."
Kanade blinked, startled by her sudden shift in tone. She gazed down at him, her eyes shining with an emotion he couldn't quite place.
Then, without warning, she reached out, her hand brushing through his hair. Her fingers ruffled the soft strands playfully, and a small, confident smile graced her lips.
"After all," she said softly, her voice carrying a hint of mischief, "I'm Shinomiya Kaguya. I never give up."
Kanade froze, his usual composure slipping for just a moment.
What is this girl thinking?