Chino's specially prepared breakfast, made to show her appreciation, probably wasn't edible.
Yūto looked at the gloopy mass of miso soup in the pot and discreetly swallowed, then crouched down to say to Chino, "How about I take you out for breakfast today?"
Chino's little face suddenly fell, her blond hair drooping listlessly. "Do you not like the breakfast Chino made, Teacher...?"
As she spoke, her eyes began to redden.
Tch, kids this age really were such a handful. Nowhere near as easy to fool as Yugito Nii.
"Of course not!" Yūto hurriedly ruffled her hair. "It's because this is your first time cooking, Chino. I want to treasure it as a keepsake."
As he spoke, he pulled a sealing scroll from the Ninja Tool Pouch behind him. "See? I even have a sealing scroll ready."
Shisui crouched down beside them to back him up. "Little Chino's knife skills are amazing. You can even cut carrots into little bunny shapes!"
He pointed at the carrot slice covered in tooth marks on the cutting board and praised her against his conscience, even though those marks had clearly been gnawed into it.
Chino blinked, then suddenly pulled a handful of coins from her pocket and raised them over her head with a clatter. "Then Chino will treat you! This is the allowance Mommy gave me!"
Yūto didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Why cook breakfast yourself if you have money?"
He thought he understood now. Yūna probably hadn't meant for Chino to help make his breakfast in the first place, but to help buy it.
Cooking had probably been Chino's own idea.
"Because..." The little girl stood on tiptoe and leaned close to Yūto's ear, whispering, "If I don't cook, I won't get to use Explosive Tags."
Then she proudly waved