Slow-Witted? Sweet Moments?

At eight in the evening, in the cabin kitchen.

Snow-white grains of rice mingled continuously with minced meat, vegetables, and egg ribbons amid the crackling of hot oil. The fragrance gradually spread, filling the entire kitchen with the enticing aroma of fried rice.

"Do you need any help?"

At that moment, a crisp voice broke the silence, which had held nothing but the crackle of oil.

As Chiba focused on stir-frying, a black-haired, fair-faced girl peeked out from behind his shoulder. Her pale eyes watched the rice and ingredients tumble in the pan, and that crisp voice had come from her delicate pink lips.

"N-No need..."

Perhaps because Yukina had suddenly leaned out from behind him, Chiba's stirring halted. He nearly flung the rice right out of the pan and almost jumped in fright. He instinctively refused, only to choke on his own saliva as he spoke and nearly start coughing.

"Oh..."

Yukina seemed a little disappointed. She glanced at Chiba's profile and pursed her lips. Then, as though she had suddenly realized something, she sharply inhaled. Two blushes instantly climbed onto her pretty face, and she staggered back several steps, nearly bumping into the chair behind her before freezing in place.

"Sigh..."

At that moment, Nao, seated at the other side of the dining table, raised her head and sighed with her eyes half-closed.

Those two... I really couldn't tell whether they were innocent or just emotionally clueless. One was denser than a block of wood, while the other always failed to take that final step when it mattered. No wonder Hirohiko worried about them every day...

They really were enough to make one anxious!

Clearly, although Nao could not see, she could tell what had happened just by listening to their movements, and she could not help sighing