I'm done for.
The thought had barely surfaced when a blur flashed past.
Uchiha En stepped forward and caught the lunchbox in one hand.
Perfectly steady.
The box landed in his palm without a single pastry inside shifting.
It happened so fast that only a blur remained. He did not even glance at the box before setting it back on the table.
Hinata stood frozen.
Her heart pounded so loudly she could hear it.
The flush at her ears spread all the way down her neck.
"If you're unsteady, sit down first."
Uchiha En spoke evenly. He sat down, picked up a pastry, and took a bite.
Very sweet.
Overwhelmingly sweet.
His expression did not change. He swallowed, then picked up another.
Across from him, Hinata stole a glance at his face.
She could not read a thing.
The longer she looked, the less confident she felt. Her voice grew softer.
"Um... is it too sweet? I might not have made them very well..."
"Yes, they're very sweet."
Uchiha En swallowed the second pastry and paused.
"But I don't mind."
Hinata's head shot up.
She met his calm eyes, then quickly lowered her gaze again, twisting her hands together.
Uchiha En's gaze suddenly fell on her hands.
There was a small red mark on one fingertip.
"Did you hurt yourself practicing Gentle Fist?"
"N-no, it wasn't Gentle Fist!" Hinata jolted like a schoolchild called on in class and hurriedly hid her hands behind her back. "It happened... while I was cooking yesterday..."
Halfway through, she realized she had all but admitted how long she had practiced making these pastries.
Her voice faded, and her head sank so low it nearly disappeared into her collar.
Uchiha En lifted his teacup and took a sip, his tone level.
"Your hands are