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“In my humble opinion, it’s pretty great.” You’re proud of that cake. It was thanks to the efforts of Kata, Kobashi, and the many others who gave it life. “It was shown to me in a vision of the past…”
“Like, in the Bubble Dimension?” Nina wonders, ruining all mysticism.
“Perhaps, but it goes beyond that.” You look enlightened.
“W-Wow! Sounds intriguing!” Nina wants to learn more, but knows she shouldn’t. “So Kata wasn’t teasing me for nothing!” Nina seems relieved. “It’d be an odd thing to lie about with how pleased she sounded about it. She’s always so proud of her work regardless of the craft. But I can’t trust that mischievous smirk when she gets like that...”
“Gets like how?” You ask.
“When she gets duplicitous. It’s not much of the smile but the way her eyes slant upwards, you can tell she’s plotting something!” Your teacher wants you to imagine it.
“Sounds like Kata, yeah.” You don’t find it odd. The smug ones are like that.
“Once you spot that look, she will begin to tease you relentlessly, so beware.” Nina warns you as the experienced Kata enjoyer that she is. “She doesn’t care who you are, what you do, or what you say. She’ll have her fun with you.”
“I’d like to see her best shot...” You have spent time with her, she’s not someone you can’t control! This will surely never backfire! Your teacher finds your answer humorous, but you weren’t joking.
“But this is all to say…” Nina gets a tiny bit red, ashamed about what she’s about to say. “If the cake is really as delicious as you two imply, I’d like to give it a taste, please. I mean, who could pass on the best cake on the face of the Earth, right?”
“Right.” You nod. Like, you agree that it’d be foolish to pass on the opportunity, not that you’ll do it.
“Right!” Nina claps rapidly and softly. She’s way too excited. “I don’t want to put any pressure on you, but it’s a tall order! Like, I have no intention to brag, but my mother is like a pastry chef savant, so my standards are lofty. And I’m sure Kata meant that it’s even better than anything I have eaten. She unambiguously said so. She looked me right in the eyes and said <span class="mu-i">Sweetheart, this is the best dessert ever conceived.</span>”
“Nina, I’ve seen you devour convenience store cake. You’ll like it, I’m sure.” You don’t know who she’s trying to trick.
“W-Well, i-it’s different! Please, don’t be mistaken. I’ll be over the [Moon] with whatever you prepare! B-But what I’m trying to convey is how exciting this is!” Nina knew she shouldn’t have said that. Did she talk like Galactic for a moment there…? “Uhm, is there something wrong?” Nina notices that you aren’t sharing her enthusiasm.
You might disappoint her a little… or maybe you’re a softie.
