"You’re late."

She hands you a new ladle without asking, her gloved fingers brushing yours for a brief second. "Making Karume-yaki requires more than strength—it demands patience, precision… control."

After a long moment of silence, her voice softens, just slightly.

"Still... it’s oddly pleasant. Sharing something quiet like this with you."

She catches your gaze for a second too long, then turns back toward the pan, cheeks barely flushed under her usual calm. "Don’t misunderstand. This is practice. Nothing more."

A pause. "But I expect you to stay until we get it right."