Chapter 128. Cookies

The scene shifts to the Home Economics classroom.

Yukinoshita Yukino had done something rare today—she had tied her sleek, raven-black hair into two neat braids that gently framed her cheeks. Her usual cool beauty gave way to something more... domestic. Combined with the apron she wore, she looked like a refined little cook from a slice-of-life anime.

Though her figure was on the slender side, especially in the front, it wasn't as though she had nothing. Yukino's graceful proportions gave her an elegance that needed no exaggeration.

However, despite her outward poise, Yukino currently had a headache brewing.

The cause stood right beside her, wearing a frilly, overly cute pink apron and an apologetic expression. It was none other than Yuigahama Yui, her hair tied up in a messy bun like a cheerful gyaru trying to cosplay as a housewife.

The three girls—Yukino, Yuigahama, and Sanshokuin Sumireko—were all gathered around the kitchen counter, engaged in a seemingly simple task: baking cookies.

Two sets of cookies, already placed neatly on the table, were beautifully golden, crisp, and filled the room with a sweet aroma. These were the results of Yukino's and Sumireko's efforts.

Yuigahama's cookies, on the other hand...

Let's just say the dark, burnt surfaces spoke volumes. A tragic scene lay on her tray.

Speaking of Sumireko, today she wore a simple blue apron that complimented her calm demeanor. She had removed her glasses while cooking, letting her eyes shine freely. Her twin tails were still in place, giving her a playful look despite the serious aura she gave off.

And her oppai—yeah, she was pretty stacked. Even more so than Yuigahama, who herself wasn't lacking.

But, of course, a girl's worth isn't measured by her chest.

Yukino tried her best not to glance sideways. She kept her usual composed face and refocused on the task at hand: teaching Yuigahama the noble art of cookie-making.

She picked up one of Yui's burnt cookies with a sigh, brought it to her lips, and took a tentative bite...

A crunch.

Then silence.

Then near disaster, as she almost broke a tooth.

With a darkening expression, Yukino turned to Yuigahama.

"Yuigahama-san... what on earth did you add to these cookies?"

"I can't even bite into them," she muttered, almost more to herself.

Sumire, standing nearby, wore a similar expression of disbelief. They had both taught Yuigahama the recipe step-by-step, multiple times.

But somehow, she always managed to mess up.

It wasn't just a lack of talent. Yui had this strange habit of adding weird ingredients on her own, saying she wanted to 'try something new.'

Now she looked guilty, fidgeting under Yukino's stare. She gave a sheepish laugh.

"Ehehe... maybe I'm just not meant to cook? How about I just give up now?"

Though she said it with a smile, there was a bitter frustration hiding behind her eyes.

She didn't want to give up.

She had promised Nozomi-kun that she'd treat him to cookies she made herself. If she gave up now, that promise would turn into a lie.

Yukino's eyes narrowed, and her voice sharpened like a blade.

"Yuigahama-san. There's no such thing as being inherently bad at something. Cookies aren't some impossible dish."

She took a step closer.

"And could you at least look me in the eye when you're talking?"

"It's not a crime to mess up... but please, respect the time and effort Sumireko and I spent helping you. Don't throw away everything just because it didn't go well. That's not just unfair to us—it's also unfair to yourself."

Yui's eyes widened. The lecture cut deeper than expected.

Sumireko looked over at Yukino with quiet exasperation.

Ahh... so this is why Yukino has trouble making friends.

Even if what she said was technically correct, it was way too blunt.

Sumire opened her mouth, ready to step in and cool things down—before Yui suddenly shouted:

"So... so cool! Yukinoshita-san!"

"Huh?" Yukino blinked.

"Seriously! That was amazing! I could never say things like that out loud!" Yui beamed.

Yukinoshita Yukino felt a flicker of guilt flash across her cool exterior.

"I might've been a little too harsh... Yuigahama, are you really okay with what I said just now?"

In response, Yuigahama Yui gave a sheepish laugh as she reached up and tugged gently on her messy bun.

"Too harsh? Definitely. But also totally correct."

She smiled, soft and honest.

"You know... I'm the kind of girl who goes along with everyone else. I suck at saying what I really think. I admire how Yukinoshita-san can just be straightforward. And I... I really don't want to give up either."

Off to the side, Sanshokuin Sumireko tilted her head and smirked slightly. The president might be acting all high and mighty, but she wasn't any better at being honest with herself.

Yukinoshita Yukino, clearly flustered, turned her face away in an attempt to hide her blush.

"...Since you understand your weakness, then you should work hard to fix it," she said, the sharpness in her tone softening.

"Besides, you've already made progress, right? The cookies actually resemble cookies now. Sure, they look like they belong in a post-apocalyptic anime and taste like punishment, but they exist. That's... something."

"Ugh, poisonous is too much! But... maybe kinda accurate," Yuigahama groaned, scratching the back of her head with a sheepish expression.

Yukinoshita let out a small sigh, her cold gaze flicking to the cookie tray.

"Alright. This time I'll supervise you the whole way through. Step-by-step. No improvising, no weird seasonings. Understood?"

"Roger that!"

"By the way... do you even cook at home?"

"Nope. Mama banned me from the kitchen ever since I almost made the stove explode."

Yukinoshita Yukino: "..."

Sanshokuin Sumireko: "..."

Faced with their stunned silence, Yuigahama shrank back in embarrassment.

"Don't look at me like that! I'm doing my best now, okay? I'm motivated! Super motivated!"

As a girl, not being able to cook felt like a major demerit. Yuigahama felt like she'd failed the unspoken test of femininity.

Yukinoshita sighed again and gave her a flat look.

"You do realize that baking cookies isn't even real cooking, right? If you can't manage this... there's really no hope."

She wasn't trying to be cruel. Just honest. Cookies had a clear recipe, and she and Sumireko had guided Yuigahama step-by-step with infinite patience. Yet the cookies had somehow still turned into charcoal. That... had to be a cursed talent.

Still, they didn't give up.

Yukinoshita once again began guiding Yuigahama, strict but not unkind.

Meanwhile, Sumireko had one job—keep Yui from sneakily throwing in any random ingredients.

And after all that effort...

Well, the results were at least edible this time.

Yui's cookies were still 3.1 points behind Yukinoshita's and Sumireko's. There were a few singed edges and the texture was closer to toast than a cookie. But compared to before, it was a big win.

Yuigahama Yui, however, looked as if the world had ended.

She stared at her mildly burnt cookies, tears welling up in her eyes.

If she gave these to Hozuki Nozomi and he disliked them, she really might cry for real.

Seeing her on the verge of tears, Yukinoshita and Sumireko both looked like they had a headache coming.

"There's no time left today. Let's continue practicing tomorrow," Yukinoshita finally said.

"Okay..." Yuigahama nodded weakly, clearly disheartened.

But a new anxiety hit her—she had promised to give Nozomi the cookies this afternoon. Breaking a promise would be a huge hit to her girl points!

Still...

"Here, take the cookies you made. Don't waste the ingredients."

"Hai..."

Yuigahama carefully packed up her homemade batch and glanced at the other two's beautifully shaped cookies, which looked like they came straight from a fancy café.

Then she looked at her own.

Dark. Uneven. Slightly misshapen.

A tear slipped down her cheek.