Natsume Ruri glanced at the two of them a few times and still sensed that something was off. But since she could not figure out what exactly was wrong, she did not know how to ask.
"Big Brother, Aoi, dinner's ready. Come eat."
"Mm."
"Okay."
As they spoke, the two sat down at the dining table.
Yet the moment they sat down, their gazes involuntarily drifted toward each other.
When they realized the other was looking at them too, they immediately looked away.
Fujiwara Aoi shyly fussed with her hair.
Natsume Chikage, meanwhile, pretended to admire the scenery around him.
Seeing the two acting like this, even Kaga Resaki could tell that something was slightly off.
She could be said to care deeply about anything involving Natsume Chikage now.
Though she had initially wanted to hold back and not ask, she instinctively spoke up now.
"Chikage, Aoi... you two seem weird. Did something happen?"
Natsume Ruri nodded emphatically. "I think so too!"
Hearing that, the two looked at each other again, then instantly averted their eyes. Both awkwardly laughed it off in embarrassment.
"Well... no. You and Ruri are probably just overthinking it."
"Mm, mm... I think you're overthinking it too."
Seeing that neither of them would say anything, Natsume Ruri and Kaga Resaki exchanged looks. Both felt that the pair were hiding something.
Worried that something might be exposed, Natsume Chikage immediately changed the subject.
His eyes fell on the spread of dishes across the table. "By the way, why is dinner so lavish tonight?"
Natsume Ruri glanced at Fujiwara Aoi. "Aoi said she recently learned some signature dishes and wanted us to try them."
"Aoi... you made this?" Natsume Chikage's expression turned subtle.
"Yes..." Fujiwara Aoi's face flushed red.
Remembering something, Kaga Resaki stammered, "Sorry, Aoi... If I