Multiverse: SSS-Rank Treasure Chest at the Beginning

Chapter 304 304: Making a Cake

Hana cheered, then seemed to think of something, her cheeks slightly flushed. "Um... Tenya-kun , could you accompany me somewhere later?"

"Hmm? Something else?"

"Actually..."

Hana lowered her head, her fingers gently twisting the hem of her skirt. "I also want to make Miko a small cake by hand, but I'm not confident in my cooking skills so I wanted to ask you to taste-test it for me."

Tenya looked at her shy expression and couldn't help but laugh. "I see, you want me to be your guinea pig, huh?"

"No, I don't."

Hana looked up, pouting, "I just... just think Tenya-kun has good taste, and if it's a cake you think is delicious, Miko will definitely like it too."

Tenya looked at her serious expression, his heart stirred slightly, and he reached out to pinch her cheek. "Alright, then I'll reluctantly be a taste-tester this once."

"That's wonderful." Hana jumped up happily.

"Then I'll see you after school."

— — —

After school, in the home economics room at the school.

Hana, wearing an apron, was clumsily stirring batter in the kitchen, a little flour on her cheek.

Tenya leaned against the door, watching her with interest. "Need help?"

"N-no."

Hana shook her head firmly and said, "I must finish this myself this time."

"Is that so?"

Tenya watched her pour salt into the bowl, mistaking it for sugar, and reminded her, "Hana, what you just put in was salt."

He thought, 'Are you possessed by Yui?'

"Eh?!"

Hana's eyes widened, and she quickly poured out the batter in the bowl.

"Ugh... failed again..."

Tenya sighed, walked over to her, and took the whisk. "Let me do it, you watch and learn."

Hana pouted, but in the end, she obediently gave up her spot. "Okay."

Under Tenya's guidance, the cake making finally got on track.

Hana stood by, watching his movements intently, occasionally exclaiming, "Wow, you are amazing, Tenya-kun. You can even bake."

"I just know a little." Tenya replied casually, his hands not stopping.

Hana secretly glanced at him and whispered, "Tenya-kun is really omnipotent."

Tenya turned his head to look at her and asked, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." Hana quickly shook her head, her cheeks slightly flushed.

"It's just that I think it's really great that Miko met Tenya-kun."

Tenya's movements paused for a moment, then he chuckled lightly and asked, "Only Miko?"

"Me too." Hana's eyes flickered a little.

Tenya didn't expose her, he just took the baked cake base out of the oven and handed it to her.

"Now it's your turn to decorate."

Hana took the cake, carefully piped on cream, adorned it with fruit, and finally wrote "Happy Birthday Miko" in chocolate.

"Finished!"

She looked at her work with satisfaction, then turned to Tenya and asked, "Want to try it?"

Tenya cut a small piece and put it in his mouth. The cream was sweet but not greasy, and the cake was soft and delicious. Although the shape was a bit clumsy, it showed her effort.

"How is it?" Hana asked nervously.

"Not bad. Miko will definitely like it." Tenya nodded.

Hana's eyes instantly lit up. "Really? That's great."

She excitedly pounced over and hugged Tenya. "Thank you, Tenya-kun."

"Thank you too."

Feeling the soft impact of the embrace, Tenya showed a satisfied smile.

"Ugh... Tenya-kun is a bad guy."

Hana quickly let go, her face red as she stepped back. "Um... let's hurry and buy Miko a book and a talisman."

Tenya looked at her flustered appearance and couldn't help but tease her, "No rush, let's pack the cake first."

"Oh, right."

Hana fumbled for a box, accidentally stepped on her shoelace, and stumbled forward.

Isn't this giving benefits?

Tenya reached out and caught her steadily.

Hana was completely in his arms, her cheek pressed against his chest, clearly hearing his heartbeat.

Her face instantly turned crimson to her ears, and she stammered, "Th-thank you..."

Tenya looked down at her, a slight smile on his lips and teased, "Hana, you did that on purpose, didn't you? Wanting to fall into my arms."

"No, I didn't."

Hana pushed him away in embarrassment and quickly straightened her clothes. "It was just an accident."

Tenya smiled and stopped teasing her, turning to get the cake box. "Let's go, the store will close if we drag this out any longer."

Hana looked at his back, gently touched her hot face, and muttered softly, "Honestly, Tenya-kun is too cunning."

...

Hana and Tenya walked side by side on the street after school.

Hana carefully held the freshly made cake in her arms, her orange hair gently fluttering in the breeze, occasionally stealing a glance at Tenya beside her.

"Tenya-kun, do you think Miko will like this cake?" Hana asked uneasily, her fingers unconsciously tightening the ribbon on the cake box.

Tenya turned his head to look at her and smiled. "Don't worry, she'll definitely be touched since you made it yourself."

Upon hearing this, Hana's face broke into a brilliant smile. "That's good. But..."

She suddenly lowered her voice, leaning conspiratorially close to Tenya. "Actually, I have another plan that needs Tenya-kun's help."

"Oh?"

Tenya raised an eyebrow and asked, "What plan?"

Hana looked left and right, confirming no one was around, then whispered, "I want to throw Miko a surprise party on her birthday. Invite her friends to celebrate with her, but I need Tenya-kun to help me keep it a secret from her and bring her to the designated location."

Tenya looked at her sparkling eyes and couldn't help but reach out and ruffle her hair. "You're quite resourceful, aren't you"

"Hehe, Miko always takes care of others and rarely celebrates herself, so this time I want her to be the happiest protagonist." Hana clenched her fist, full of energy.

"Alright, I'll help with that." Tenya readily agreed.

"But, where do you plan to hold the party?"

"My family's villa."

Hana said excitedly, "Dad said I could use it, it has a super big garden, and we can even barbecue."

Tenya nodded. "Sounds good. Do you need my help to prepare anything?"

Hana thought for a moment, then her eyes suddenly lit up. "Oh, right. Tenya-kun, could you help me contact Miko's other friends? Like Takanashi-san, Kato-san and the others? I'm afraid I won't be able to notify everyone by myself."

"No problem, leave it to me." Tenya patted his chest.

"That's great."

Hana jumped up happily, then accidentally stepped on her shoelace again, stumbling forward.

Here we go again.

Tenya was quick, grabbing her waist and steadying her.

"Thanks for the benefits."

Hana's face instantly turned crimson, and she quickly stood upright, stammering, "I-I didn't do it on purpose. I'll be careful next time."

Tenya looked at her flustered appearance and couldn't help but chuckle. "Let's go, let's buy the talisman and book first, don't waste time."

"Mm." Hana nodded vigorously, following behind him, her heart thumping wildly.

— — —

In front of the shrine, the afterglow of the setting sun spilled onto the stone steps, stretching their shadows long. Hana panted as she climbed the last step, her hands on her knees. "Whew... finally here."

Tenya, on the other hand, was calm and composed, standing under the shrine's torii, looking back at her. "Your stamina is so bad, you should exercise more often."

"I-I do exercise usually."

Hana puffed out her chest indignantly, but because the movement was too big, she almost lost her balance again. Fortunately, Tenya quickly steadied her by her shoulders.

"Alright, you're the most energetic. And quite substantial." Tenya shook his head helplessly, his tone full of indulgence.

Hana's face flushed red as she mumbled softly, "Really... Tenya-kun always treats me like a child..."