"You don't have a key, do you?"
Satou calmly exposed her lie.
Nino's face turned even redder, and her voice became a stutter, "I… what if I don't have a key? I already said I just don't want to go up!"
"Got it. I should go too."
Satou looked at the girl speechlessly, "Here, take this. I brought it for you on my way."
He handed her the rice balls.
"Huh? What's this, a rice ball?"
Nino was startled and asked.
"That's right, I brought it for you on my way out."
Satou smiled and said.
"Hmph! I don't want to eat your cooking!"
Nino turned her head away haughtily and snorted lightly, "I'm not hungry at all!"
Unexpectedly, the next moment, her stomach rumbled.
Nino's face immediately flushed with embarrassment, and she awkwardly touched her stomach.
Satou said, somewhat speechless, "Since you don't want to eat it, I'll take it back then."
"Wait a minute, who said I don't want to eat it?"
Nakano Nino stood up huffily, snatched the oil paper wrapped around the rice ball from Satou's hand, then opened it, and bit into it defiantly.
Biting into the steaming rice, the crispy seaweed inside was revealed, infused with cheese, overflowing with a milky aroma, sweet, and so delicious it felt like her tongue would melt.
"So, so delicious."
Her cheeks were flushed, and she stroked her face, letting out a soft hum from her nose.
"How is it? Doesn't it taste good?"
Seeing her eat so happily, Satou couldn't help but ask with a smile.
Nakano Nino came to her senses, her face returning to the arrogant young lady's demeanor, and she let out a soft hum, saying, "It's alright. But your cooking skills are indeed pretty good."
Satou let out a soft sound of surprise.
Nakano Nino frowned, put her hands on her hips, and said testily, "What are you 'hmm'-ing about?"
"I didn't expect you to be quite straightforward."
Satou mumbled, though both had a young lady's temper, she was more straightforward than Nakano Itsuki.
"Hmph!"
Nakano Nino snorted softly, then squatted on the ground and began to eat the rice ball.
Satou went to the vending machine outside and bought two hot drinks.
Not long after, she had finished all three rice balls; her previously empty stomach was now full, and her belly felt warm, a comfort beyond words.
She rubbed her stomach, let out a long breath, feeling a little unsatisfied.
Seeing the hot drink Satou handed over, she hesitated for a moment but still took it, thanking him in a low voice: "Thank you."
Drinking the warm beverage, she felt much better overall.
"The rice balls you make taste pretty good, you know. Much better than those sold outside."
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