114 "Awesome!"

"…"

A soft murmur escaped as Kaguya Shinomiya slowly opened her eyes. The unfamiliar wooden ceiling greeted her sight.

"You're awake?" Natsukawa Kanade had been waiting for this moment. As soon as he saw her stir, he leaned in slightly, his voice gentle.

"How are you feeling? More awake now?"

Kaguya had an unusually peaceful sleeping posture—once she lay down, she barely moved. Yet, judging by the smile that lingered on her face, she had clearly been having a sweet dream. Occasionally, a quiet giggle or barely audible mumble would slip out, making Kanade wonder what on earth she'd been dreaming about.

"Would you like some water?" he asked.

"President…" Kaguya murmured, her gaze still unfocused as she instinctively reached toward him with open arms. "Hug… hug…"

"…Huh?" Kanade froze, bewildered.

She's still in that adorable mode?

Didn't she just sleep until 2 p.m.? Shouldn't that have been enough? If she slept any longer, was she planning to become a nocturnal crime-fighting vigilante like Batman?

Noticing Kanade's hesitation, Kaguya initially pouted, prepared to double down on her request with a touch of playful whining. However, reality suddenly dawned on her. This isn't a dream.

Her expression shifted to alarm as she shot upright.

"S-Sorry, President!"

Though the summer heat had filled the air, cold sweat beaded on Kaguya's forehead.

Oh no, I almost exposed myself!

If the President found out about that dream, wouldn't he think she was some kind of desperate, unfulfilled girl? Worse yet, her feelings—her true intentions—would be completely laid bare!

"I-I'm so sorry for troubling you, President! You even stayed by my side this whole time!"

"It's no trouble," Kanade replied with a reassuring shake of his head. "How's your body? Feeling better?"

Kaguya's outward demeanor made it impossible to gauge whether her usual personality had returned. Directly pointing it out seemed awkward, so Kanade opted for a more subtle approach.

"Thank you for your concern, President. My finger feels completely fine now. I'm ready to resume cooking lessons," Kaguya answered, shaking her head as she elegantly sat up in bed.

Her composed and graceful demeanor left no doubt—this was the usual Kaguya Shinomiya.

"That's good to hear…" Kanade nodded, though he hesitated before continuing. "By the way, do you remember what we were talking about before you rested?"

"Before resting…?" Kaguya mused, pondering for a moment. "Ah, you mean when I cut my finger? I remember you helped me apply ointment and told me to lie down and rest. Why?"

"…"

Her innocent, puzzled expression was clearly genuine. Kanade realized she truly had no memory of her earlier behavior.

Well, that's a relief. At least she won't have to deal with the overwhelming embarrassment of remembering.

"Nothing. Don't worry about it," Kanade said with a dismissive wave of his hand. "You've slept for quite a while, so you must be hungry. Let's get something to eat."

"Why don't I cook this time? I can give you a hands-on demonstration," he added.

During Kaguya's nap, the head instructor had dropped by to "check in," likely tipped off by other students. Kanade had managed to brush him off and secure the afternoon off for both himself and Kaguya.

Given their excellent academic records and positions in the student council, the teacher didn't raise any objections. Kanade had even arranged to use the camp's kitchen, making this the perfect chance to continue their lesson.

As Kanade explained this, Kaguya maintained a calm exterior, but her heart raced with excitement.

This is an official excuse for some alone time… and no one will interrupt us!

A boy and a girl, spending time together in such a setting—it was natural for sparks to fly, wasn't it?

Maybe this is the turning point, like in my dream…? Whatever happens, I can't let this opportunity slip away!

"Alright, I'll follow your lead, President."

"Uh…"

"What's wrong?" Kaguya tilted her head slightly, her expression innocently curious.

"N-Nothing. Let's go." Kanade shook his head, though a part of him remained wary. After witnessing her "softer" side earlier, he couldn't help but approach her current "obedient" demeanor with caution. While undeniably endearing, it also stirred… complicated thoughts.

Back in the kitchen, Kanade swiftly prepared the ingredients while explaining the process to Kaguya.

"Hold the knife like this," he demonstrated. "Press down on the ingredient with your hand and position the knife vertically. Aim for even spacing, and if you're more comfortable, angle the knife slightly for easier handling. No need to rush—take your time."

He emphasized precision over speed, guiding her through the basics of food preparation.

"Cooking methods vary by dish, but as long as you follow the recipe step by step, you'll be fine. Just remember not to deviate too much—don't add anything crazy like hydrochloric acid or mix in desserts with main courses."

The memory of past kitchen disasters made Kanade shudder. Although Kaguya didn't seem like someone prone to culinary experiments, he felt compelled to warn her.

"Got it," Kaguya replied, nodding dutifully. She wanted to protest—Of course, I wouldn't do something so foolish!—but seeing the sincerity in Kanade's advice, she chose to accept it gracefully.

A smart girl knows when to let her crush indulge his teaching instincts. That was one of Hayasaka's tips, after all.

"Is it done?" Kaguya asked softly as Kanade set down the spatula.

"Almost. Just needs a final stir. Want to try?" he offered.

Kaguya had been watching intently, taking mental notes of everything he'd demonstrated. Though her injured left hand limited her movements, it wouldn't interfere much.

When she nodded, Kanade handed her the spatula and guided her through the motions.

"Like this—let the spatula glide along the pan, then flick your wrist gently…"

Kanade instinctively placed his hand over hers to demonstrate, guiding her movements smoothly.

In the past, he might have hesitated, but their relationship had grown closer recently. A little hand-holding during lessons didn't seem like a big deal.

Kaguya, however, felt her heart leap.

He's actually holding my hand! This is practically a romantic milestone!

Her mind raced, replaying every rom-com scenario she'd ever read. Is this dream becoming reality? Could it be… we're destined to become lovers?

Yes!