111 "Reality Is Different from Manga After All"

"Shinomiya, is this your first time doing this?"

"Y-Yes, so I'm not very skilled…"

"It's my first time teaching like this too."

"Mm…"

"Don't be so tense. Relax a bit more."

"O-Okay…"

"Even though I'm no expert, I think for this kind of thing, you need to put your whole heart into it. If you don't enjoy the process, it won't work."

"Understood…" Shinomiya Kaguya nodded hesitantly. For a sheltered young lady like her, diving in on her own from the start was proving a bit overwhelming.

"Ow… it hurts…"

"!" Natsukawa Kanade's head shot up, startled. "What's wrong?"

"I… I'm bleeding…" Kaguya's voice trembled as tears threatened to spill from her eyes. She had wanted to avoid showing such weakness in front of Kanade, but the sudden pain was too much to bear.

"Why does it hurt so much…"

Kanade sighed inwardly. Of course it hurts—it's a cut on your finger. They're incredibly sensitive.

"Let me see."

Recognizing the urgency, Kanade ignored the usual propriety of gender boundaries and gently took Kaguya's hand to inspect the injury.

"Luckily, it's not too deep," he said after a quick check.

It seemed his earlier suggestion for her to relax had helped; otherwise, the cut might have been worse.

"Still, we need to treat it. Come with me."

"But… the place I borrowed…" Kaguya hesitated, reluctant to abandon her attempt.

Kanade softened his tone, reassuring her. "There's no need to rush. We can try again later. Your health is more important."

He had initially assumed Kaguya sought him out for student council business, only to learn she wanted to use the camp as an opportunity to learn cooking from him. Though free of other duties, the attempt had ended poorly, failing even before the cooking officially began—at the chopping stage.

Still, Kanade wasn't about to blame her. For someone who had never lifted a finger in the kitchen, this was entirely expected.

Next time, I'll guide her hands myself to avoid any accidents, he resolved.

"Does it still hurt?" Kanade asked softly as they walked.

"It doesn't hurt that much anymore…" Kaguya replied, her voice a delicate murmur. Her cheeks were tinged pink, and her heart thudded erratically.

He's holding my hand!

Even if it wasn't the kind of intimate moment she'd imagined, this was still nice. The warmth of his hand almost made her forget about the pain—or maybe… it wasn't pain she wanted him to help with?

Wait, isn't it common for someone to stop bleeding by putting the injured finger in their mouth?

Why wasn't Kanade doing that? Could it be… he found her distasteful?

A surge of self-doubt bubbled up, her mind flashing back to her earlier discussion with Hayasaka about strategies to win Kanade's affection. In the manga Hayasaka referenced, the male lead would have instinctively sucked on the heroine's wound to ease the pain.

But here? Nothing like that happened. Manga lied! Reality is false advertising!

"Looks like this is it," Kanade announced as they arrived at a small cabin. "This should be the temporary infirmary. Let's head inside."

"Mm," Kaguya nodded obediently.

The cabin was empty, save for a worn wooden cabinet with a few small bottles on top. Kanade quickly searched through them and found an antibacterial ointment. After confirming it hadn't expired, he gestured for Kaguya to sit on the wooden bed.

"You sit here, and I'll apply the medicine."

For a shallow wound like this, a bandage would suffice. However, since it was Kaguya, he decided to handle it with extra care. He took her hand again, inspecting the injury. Seeing that the bleeding had stopped, he felt relieved and began applying the ointment with precision.

"How does it feel?" he asked as he worked.

"Huh? Wh-What do you mean?" Kaguya blinked, unsure of his question.

Was he talking about the warmth of his hands?

His hands were large and comforting, and the way they held hers made her feel safe…

"Ah, I meant about this whole experience—from wanting to learn to facing a little setback," Kanade clarified.

"Oh, that…" Kaguya's momentary fantasy popped like a bubble, leaving her slightly deflated. She'd thought Kanade was being playful, only to find he was genuinely asking about her feelings.

"What's wrong?" Kanade tilted his head, sensing her hesitation.

"N-Nothing… I suppose it was… memorable?" Kaguya replied, regaining her composure.

Though the cooking lesson had gone awry, the result wasn't all bad. Not only had she received Kanade's undivided attention, but he'd also shown concern for her well-being and even held her hand.

Wasn't that a win in its own way? Kaguya thought, a subtle smile forming. Lady Luck must favor me!

"Memorable, huh? I guess that fits," Kanade nodded. However, his expression grew serious as he considered another angle.

Many people he'd encountered became interested in something only to quit after encountering the first setback. While he didn't believe Kaguya would be like that, he wanted to ensure she wouldn't develop a negative association with cooking due to this mishap.

"I've been there myself," Kanade said thoughtfully. "When I first started cooking, I cut my fingers more times than I can count. The dishes I made were barely edible—honestly, it was embarrassing."

It was his desire to surprise a certain angelic someone that had pushed him to improve. With enough dedication, he'd managed to reach an acceptable level of competence.

Kaguya, too, must have her reasons for wanting to learn. Kanade hoped she'd persist and achieve her goal, whatever it was.

"So don't let this discourage you. It might be tough at first, but I believe in your ability, Shinomiya. You'll get there in no time."

"What silly things are you saying, President? Of course I won't give up," Kaguya replied with a soft shake of her head.

Her gaze softened as she looked at him kneeling in front of her, so earnestly tending to her wound. A sudden impulse surged within her, and she gently reached out, her fingers brushing through his tousled hair.

"I'm Shinomiya Kaguya—the girl who never gives up," she declared, her tone playful yet resolute.

"..."

Kanade paused, momentarily caught off guard by the unexpected gesture and her warm, teasing smile.