(AN: SURPRISE! Take this! Another chapter!)
I sat on the couch with a spoon in hand, two plates of fried rice set before me—complete opposites. One shimmered like gold, flawless in both appearance and aroma. The other… resembled charcoal, its scent heavy with burnt soy sauce and excess oil.
Under their watchful gazes, I first scooped a spoonful from the better-looking dish.
The moment it touched my tongue—It exceeded expectations.
Despite being something as simple as fried rice, it unfolded like a symphony of flavors. Each bite was balanced, rich, and above all, warm—comforting in a way that lingered.
*Gulp.*
Then came the second plate.
Visually unappealing. The smell alone warned me what to expect.
Still, I took a bite.
…Too salty.
A slight bitterness followed, likely from the burnt edges. No one in their right mind would call this good fried rice.
But…
It wasn't inedible.
In fact, compared to what I usually lived on—instant meals, convenience store bentos, takeout—it has a warm feeling that you get from homemade foods, something I could eat without issue.
At the very least—For me, it was edible.
They stared at me in shock as I continued eating from the second plate—taking just as much as I had from the first.
After finishing, I set the spoon down and took a sip of water.
"Are you done?" Nino asked.
I nodded calmly. "Yes."
A faint smirk curved her lips. "Then tell us your decision."
Without a word, I reached out and tapped the plate I preferred.
"This one."
An awkward silence followed.
Itsuki, Yotsuba, and Ichika exchanged uneasy smiles, sympathy for Miku evident in their expressions. After all, the plate I had chosen… was the one that looked and tasted better.
However, Nino wasn't pleased. She clicked her tongue in clear annoyance, turning toward Miku with a dissatisfied frown.
In contrast, Miku's expression brightened instantly.
Her eyes softened with quiet joy as she raised her hands to cover part of her face, trying—and failing—to hide the gentle smile and the beautiful blush that spread across her cheeks.
A few moments ago…
"What are you planning?" Miku asked, puzzled after Nino suddenly dragged her into the kitchen.
Nino turned to face her, her expression serious. "Do you really like that guy?"
Miku flinched at the sudden question. "I-I do."
"And you think he likes you too?"
"Yes."
There was a quiet, unwavering confidence in her voice.
Nino scoffed lightly. "And how are you so sure? What if he's just deceiving you? What if he has some ulterior motive? That guy's basically a stalker, you know."
She laid out her concerns bluntly, her tone edged with worry.
But Miku didn't waver.
"I don't believe he's trying to trick me," she said softly. "His actions feel genuine. His words are sincere… and he's actually very kind....at least towards me."
A faint blush colored her cheeks as a gentle smile formed on her lips.
Nino's eyes widened.
That look—There was no mistaking it....
Gritting her teeth, she grabbed Miku by the shoulders, a trace of desperation surfacing on her face.
"Miku, snap out of it. You're being naive."
Her grip tightened slightly as her voice grew more intense.
"Do you even realize there are men who specialize in deception? They study their targets, shape themselves into exactly what their victims want. They act the way you wish they would, say all the things you long to hear… and always show up when you need someone the most."
Her expression darkened, unease bleeding into her words.
"Those kinds of men… are the most dangerous."
Miku stared at her, finally understanding the depth of Nino's concern.
And honestly… Ren did fit that description.
But—
"You changed my life."
"You should have more confidence in yourself."
"Believe me, you're smarter than you think."
His words echoed in her mind, along with his actions… and the quiet loneliness she had glimpsed beneath his calm demeanor.
Gently, Miku lifted Nino's hands from her shoulders.
Then she met her gaze—directly, without hesitation.
"I refuse to believe he's that kind of person."
Nino bit her lip in frustration before letting out a sharp breath. "Fine… then we'll test it. Whether his actions are genuine… or just calculated."
Miku didn't back down. She stood firm, silently accepting the challenge. "How?"
A grin spread across Nino's face. "We'll both cook something—and let him decide which one is better."
"Th-That's…" Miku hesitated.
She didn't want to admit it, but cooking was far from her strength. Compared to Nino—who was practically at the level of a professional chef—her chances of winning were almost nonexistent.
And more than that…She didn't want to serve something embarrassing to Ren.
"I know what you're thinking," Nino said suddenly.
"If he really is a stalker, then he should already know you can't cook."
"H-Hey…!" Miku protested, flustered.
Nino ignored her. "And if he's trying to deceive you, he'll still say your food is better—even if it's terrible and completely inedible—just to win you over. He'll probably come up with some cringeworthy excuse to justify it too."
Miku fell silent, enduring the blunt roasting.
"That's why…" Nino continued, poking Miku lightly in the chest, "I'll help you make something decent, while I cook something intentionally bad. What do you think?"
It was a clever plan.
A simple yet effective way to expose the truth—whether Ren's words were genuine… or carefully calculated, they will find out soon.
Back to the present…
I glanced up, trying to read their reactions—but to my surprise, both of them looked opposite to what I expected.
I thought Miku would be discouraged by my choice. I had simply decided to be honest here.
So why… did she look happy?
What's going on?
"Here?! Here?!" Yotsuba suddenly rushed forward, holding an imaginary microphone up to my face like a reporter. "What made you choose this dish?"
To everyone else, it probably seemed like she was questioning the obvious.
But I answered anyway—honestly.
"If you're a chef, you should know this," I said, my tone turning oddly serious. "The most important ingredient in cooking is…"
I brought my hands together, forming a heart, holding it close to my chest.
"Love... Love... Love..." As if my voice echoed.
Silence.
A heavy, suffocating silence filled the room.
Everyone stared at me with completely flat expressions.
"…This guy is so cringe," Nino muttered.
Pointing straight at me, she turned to Miku,"Is this really your type?"
"Ahem." Ren cleared his throat, trying to mask his embarrassment after his own theatrics. "I should get going now."
He reached for his bag, fully intending to leave—but suddenly, a hand grabbed his.
"M-Miku?"
She was looking down, her face hidden from view. For a brief moment, she said nothing. Then, slowly, she turned her head to the side, her cheeks flushed a deep red.
"D-Do you want to… go to my room for a moment?"
Ren froze.
A deep blush crept across his face almost instantly, while the others gasped in unison at her words.
Which greatly confused Miku, she blinked at their reactions.
She just… didn't want him to leave so soon for some reason.
All she wanted was to show him the game she had been playing—her intentions entirely innocent.
But her choice of words…Was more than enough to be misunderstood.
"Oh my, how bold~" Ichika remarked, though even her cheeks carried a faint blush at her sister's unexpected boldness.
Itsuki pressed her lips together, choosing silence, far too flustered to say anything at all.
Yotsuba, completely at a loss, could only let out an awkward laugh.
But Nino was the one who stepped in between them.
"No, he can't!" she declared firmly, cutting between them and prying their hands apart.
Her glare shot straight at Ren before she moved behind him, pushing him toward the door without hesitation.
"You—Get out."
Ren didn't resist, allowing himself to be pushed along.
"Wait, don't push—I'm leaving," he protested lightly.
Nino halted, but remained planted firmly in front of him, arms crossed, clearly not about to let him pass so easily.
Ren let out a small sigh. Then, glancing past her shoulder, he raised a hand and smiled.
"See you at school tomorrow."
The farewell wasn't meant for just one person.
He turned to leave, but as if recalling something, he paused and looked back at Nino.
"That burnt fried rice… was it yours?"
Nino didn't respond, her guarded stare unwavering.
Ren shrugged faintly. "Well, I'll just say this—you tried really hard to make it as bad as possible… but it was still good enough."
And with that, he finally walked away.
Nino remained where she stood, silent for a few seconds, his words echoing in her mind.
"…Just as I thought," she murmured under her breath, too quiet for anyone else to hear.
"His words can't be trusted."