"Byakuya-niichan...?"
Suddenly having Byakuya-niichan hold her hand, Hinami was momentarily startled.
Her body also stiffened slightly.
"Let me demonstrate for you. You can practice following along."
Saying this, Byakuya guided Hinami's hand as they cut the beef slices together.
"Okay!"
Hinami focused her attention.
She tried her best not to let her thoughts wander to Byakuya-niichan's hand...
...
Half an hour later.
A sumptuous dinner was ready.
Since Hinami's father was still working late at the clinic—he typically worked until late at night when there were no more patients—they prepared a bento portion and kept it in a warming box to be delivered to him after dinner.
"Delicious! Byakuya, your cooking is still as amazing as ever."
After tasting the stir-fried shredded pork with green peppers, Ryouko couldn't help but praise.
Hinami had mixed feelings.
Byakuya-niichan's cooking was still so delicious, but precisely because it was so good, she realized more clearly the gap between her cooking skills and his.
How was she ever going to capture Byakuya-niichan's heart through his stomach...
Hinami suddenly felt it was going to be very difficult.
But she wasn't going to give up. Someday, she would definitely succeed!
Clearly, she had already treated this as a battle.
...
As dinner was winding down,
Byakuya suddenly said to Hinami, "About tomorrow's breakfast—you don't need to prepare one for me, since I usually eat breakfast before leaving home."
"Ah..."
Hinami then realized that this morning, she had...
"I'm sorry. You had already eaten breakfast, but I still made you eat another portion this morning..."
Hinami immediately felt bad.
She had never wanted to cause trouble for Byakuya-niichan.
"What's there to apologize for? I should be thanking Hinami. That was your heartfelt effort."
Byakuya said immediately.
"Mm..."
Hinami smiled softly, feeling much better.
After dinner, Byakuya even helped wash the pots and dishes.
Then he rested in the living room for a while before preparing to leave.
"Go see Byakuya-niichan off..."
Ryouko whispered to Hinami.
Hinami nodded and walked over. "Byakuya-niichan, let me walk you back."
But the next moment, she suddenly remembered—Byakuya-niichan had that ability to teleport through space. He could be back in an instant; he didn't need her to see him off...
Doing so would only add extra trouble for Byakuya-niichan...
"Ah, actually Byakuya-niichan doesn't need me to walk you back at all. Never mind then..."
Hinami immediately tried to back out.
"It's fine. Hinami can come hang out at my place for a bit too."
Seeing Hinami hesitating, Byakuya took the initiative to hold her hand.
Before Hinami could react, she had already been brought back to the study.
Apart from when he slept, Byakuya spent most of his time in the study, so even after dinner, he returned here.
"Then I'll read some books so I don't disturb Byakuya-niichan."
Hinami selected a book from the shelf and sat obediently on the sofa.
However... the book was titled "The Art of Rulership"...