Nagami glanced at the chocolate in his hand—not exactly cheap, but not expensive either.
Then he tilted his head to look at the exquisitely wrapped, high-end cake in Kiana's hands.
Finally, he looked up at the girl, whose expression was lit with obvious excitement.
Kiana met Nagami's odd stare with confidence, interpreting it as a sign that he was satisfied with her return gift.
The thought of finally meeting CC made her footsteps bounce with anticipation.
But despite the brightness in her eyes, a hint of hesitation flickered across her delicate face.
Not long ago, when she visited Chiba Academy, Kiana had fallen head over heels at first sight for a beautiful girl named Raiden Mei.
With the elegant demeanor of a Yamato Nadeshiko, Mei had hit all the right notes in Kiana's heart.
In order to get closer to her and to look into the sudden surge of Honkai energy that had erupted there—Kiana had decided to stick around the academy for a while.
But now… now it seemed she'd fallen for another girl.
A girl named CC.
That flawless, captivating face… that ethereal, otherworldly aura that clung to her like a second skin…
CC's natural cold elegance had pierced straight into Kiana's heart, like she'd been shot by Kyubey's magical arrow of fate.
Unfortunately, based on CC's first appearance, Kiana had assumed she and Nagami were a couple.
And Kiana, being who she was, would never stoop to stealing someone else's love.
So she quietly buried that fluttering feeling deep down.
But life, as always, is full of surprises.
During a casual chat with Nagami, she'd been stunned when he denied any romantic relationship with CC.
That one revelation sent Kiana's heart racing.
Now, she found herself torn.
Should she go for the gentle, soft-spoken, wifey-type sweetheart Mei?
Or the mysterious, graceful, enchantingly aloof witch-type beauty CC?
Kiana spiraled into a blissful dilemma, until at last, she clenched her delicate fists in determination.
'Kids make choices. Adults take it all. And this lady is no kid anymore.'
'I want both!'
Sure, her first impression on CC might've been… a bit off. But hey, it's not too late to fix that, right?
With that in mind, Kiana had taken a detour to one of her favorite cake shops—a place she rarely indulged in, thanks to her uncooperative wallet.
Using the money she earned working at Nagami's shop, she bought her favorite flavor of a high-end cake as a gift for CC.
Of course, she didn't forget the guy who gave her a place to stay.
She spent nearly a hundred yen (in cake shop adjacency terms) to buy a familiar brand of chocolate from the supermarket next door for Nagami—a token of friendship.
And she swore this brand of chocolate was seriously amazing.
"Hey, Nagami, do you think CC will like this gift?"
Kiana asked, bumping him with her shoulder while dragging her suitcase behind her, sounding exactly like a college roommate trying to pick the perfect gift for a crush.
"…I think it's kinda average," Nagami replied, a complicated emotion flickering in his tone.
He instinctively sucked in a breath.
The… the Kaslana genes really were absurdly overpowered.
"No way, you're a guy! What do you know about what girls like?" Before Nagami could finish, Kiana waved off his opinion and nodded confidently.
"This cake's a rare treat even for me, and it tastes amazing!"
She glanced at him again, then quickly added, "And that chocolate I gave you? Also super delicious. Promise!"
'Who even asked about the chocolate?!' Nagami wanted to scream.
'I've already eat that cake before—and it's mid at best!'
Watching Kiana's self-satisfied expression, Nagami could only sigh in resignation.
"We're here," he said as they reached the door.
Swiping his ID card, he stepped inside, changed into his house slippers, and pulled a brand-new pair of women's slippers from the shoe cabinet, placing them in front of Kiana.
"Wow~ It didn't look big from the outside, but it's huge in here!" Kiana looked around with wide, ocean-blue eyes brimming with curiosity.
She bent down, her skirt clinging to her shapely hips as she reached for the slippers.
Her slender, pale fingers slipped behind her heel as she pulled off her shoes, revealing her white-stockinged feet.
"Uh… you'll have to carry your suitcase yourself," Nagami mumbled.
He wasn't trying to be rude—it was just too heavy for him.
"Welcome, Kiana" A soft voice drifted in from the shadows.
Kiana turned, and her eyes immediately lit up as a tall, graceful figure stepped into view.
CC emerged from the hallway in her casual home clothes: a sleeveless black dress that hugged her elegant curves.
Her fair, round shoulders glowed in the sunlight like fresh cream.
Her long, pale legs shimmered with the texture of fine porcelain.
Delicate, perfect feet peeked out from her slippers, heels curving like sculpted marble.
Her expression was lazy, but that innate aura—cold, ethereal, captivating—made her almost unreal.
That aura, of course, wasn't Nagami's doing.
It was the natural charisma of the original CC, projected flawlessly through this absurdly realistic character card.
It was especially potent when she wasn't speaking or moving.
"H-Hi, CC! Uh, this is for you!" Kiana, still a bit dazed by CC's beauty, stumbled forward.
Blushing, she held out the gift-wrapped cake box with both hands.
"Thank you," CC said gently, accepting the gift with a warm smile.
She motioned for Kiana to join her in the living room.
Meanwhile, Nagami could only twitch the corners of his mouth in silent protest.
"Come sit and eat. We'll unpack your stuff later," CC said, her jade-like fingers gesturing gracefully to the table, where a spread of colorful, fragrant dishes awaited. "You came just in time—everything's fresh off the stove."
'Of course it's perfect timing,' Nagami thought.
'I planned it that way.'
In his previous life as a full-time shut-in, he'd naturally developed some serious cooking skills.
Maybe not on par with the Herrscher of Rice, but certainly better than your average home chef.
"Yay~" Kiana happily lifted her skirt and sat down at the table, thrilled by the surprise welcome meal.
'Time to rewrite that awkward first impression with CC!'
As Nagami plopped into the seat across from her and started digging in without a word to CC, Kiana hesitated, chopsticks mid-air.
She discreetly glanced at CC, who was putting away her gift, and then at Nagami, who was utterly focused on eating.
A flicker of realization sparked in her mind.
'Something was off.'
CC and Nagami sure close this morning.
But after that? Not a word.
Since they walked in the door, they hadn't even looked at each other.
Could it be… their relationship wasn't that close?
Maybe CC had just helped Nagami out as a roommate?
'Yes! That must be it!'
Scanning them again, Kiana's face lit up in sudden understanding.
Which meant—her chances were getting better and better!
Alright then. If that's how it is…
'Kiana—engage!'
Flashing Nagami a radiant smile that he didn't know how to respond to, Kiana happily dug into her meal, suddenly finding everything on the table ten times more delicious.
Nagami and CC exchanged confused glances over their bowls, question marks practically floating above their heads, totally lost as to what was going through this excitable girl's mind.