"9 Points."
Yukiho Doi covered her mouth and chuckled softly, as if her earlier pensive look had been just an illusion.
"I deducted one point to keep you from getting cocky," she said, winking playfully. It felt slightly out of sync with the elegant persona she showed others.
"Yueci, did you train professionally in cooking?" Yukiho asked, gazing at Yueci Porcelain with curiosity.
Yueci shook her head. "I just cooked often back then."
Hearing this, Yukiho’s eyes widened in surprise, a trace of admiration sparkling within them. "Wow, really? You’re amazing, Yueci…" She sighed regretfully. "Unlike me—I barely cook at all."
Yueci’s forehead twitched slightly at the praise. Something felt off about Yukiho today. Normally, she carried an elegant, distant air—polite to everyone but keeping consistent emotional distance. Yet now, after their brief exchange at the school gate left only a faint impression, Yukiho seemed more human, warmer.
Before Yueci could dwell on it, other groups finished their dishes. Yukiho moved on to score them. Her ratings weren’t always as gentle as her smile. With a warm grin and soft-spoken words, she’d deliver brutally low scores… shattering the hearts of her many admirers.
Yueci chuckled lightly, glancing at the leftover egg fried rice in the pot. Clearly, Yukiho’s "9 points" for their group had been sincere. A flicker of fondness rose in Yueci—no one disliked being praised.
Since they’d cooked two bowls of rice, the fried rice filled nearly two bowls. "Hiru, would you like more?" Yueci asked.
Hiru Kawakami nodded shyly. That single bite had sparked her appetite; she’d eaten little at lunch. Too timid to ask, she’d stayed quiet. Yueci handed her a bowl and the spoon. The remaining bowl sat untouched, its aroma tempting. Yueci didn’t need to eat, so she planned to take it to Nishikino An. The cooking classroom even provided takeout boxes for students eager to share their creations—though few ever used them.
Nishikino had done so much for her, handling endless tasks tirelessly. Yueci had struggled to repay her. Though Nishikino framed it as "helping with the case," it felt hollow—days had passed with no real progress. This simple bowl of egg fried rice was the smallest gesture she could offer. If it brought Nishikino even a moment of joy, it’d be worth something.
"Hiss—" A sharp intake of breath cut through the air. Yueci turned to see Yukiho frowning slightly, a knife cut on her hand bleeding steadily. The girl beside her dropped the knife onto the counter in panic. "I’m so sorry! I didn’t see you there, senpai…" Tears welled in her eyes—she’d just turned, and the blade slipped.
Her teammates scolded her harshly. No one moved to help Yukiho. Yueci frowned and stepped forward. She checked the knife—bits of vegetable clung to its blade—then examined Yukiho’s wound. It was shallow, only grazing the skin. "The blade had greens on it. Let’s clean the cut first," Yueci said calmly.
Yukiho nodded, offering her injured hand. Yueci hesitated but gently took it. She turned on the tap to a thin stream, rinsing the blood away. "This might sting," she warned.
Yukiho just pressed her lips together and nodded, looking heartbreakingly vulnerable. After cleaning the wound, Yueci turned off the water. Yukiho faced the trembling girl. "It’s alright—I know it was an accident," she said warmly, her smile soothing despite the pain. Then she turned to Yueci. "Could you walk me to the nurse’s office? My hand’s a bit clumsy right now."
Yueci agreed. She quickly told Hiru to grab the packed fried rice after class, then escorted Yukiho out.
Along the way, Yukiho chatted easily—about studies, daily life. This side of her left Yueci slightly flustered, as if she’d glimpsed a hidden layer beneath the elegant facade. "You’re different from other girls," Yukiho said softly, her gaze tender.
Yueci bit her lip. *Different? Maybe because this is my first time being a girl*, she thought. "I don’t know why…" Yukiho continued, a shy smile playing on her lips as she looked away. "I just find myself talking so much with you alone."
Yueci felt a flush creep to her ears, though her face stayed calm. The rest of the walk passed in silence.
…
The nurse’s office was empty except for a few students Yueci barely noticed. She remembered the layout from last time—when she’d bandaged Hiru’s injury—and quickly found the iodine and gauze. Yukiho’s cut was long but shallow; gauze would suffice. Yueci disinfected and wrapped it carefully, then exhaled in relief.
"Thank you, Yueci," Yukiho said, grasping Yueci’s hand gratefully. "Having you here… I’d have been lost alone."
The warmth of Yukiho’s hand combined with her words made Yueci’s cheeks redden faintly. *It was nothing*, she thought.
"Hmph. Such an act…" A cold snort came from across the room.
Yueci looked over. The speaker’s face seemed familiar. After a moment’s thought, a memory surfaced—this was the "Anzawa-san" she’d met on her first day of school.
