webnovel

UA Trainer!

As Itachi and All Might stood at Gate 4, the students of Class 1-A gathered in their hero costumes, eager for the training to begin. Itachi glanced at them and offered a small smile, appreciating the diversity and uniqueness of each student's outfit. All Might, ever the beacon of positivity, praised them, "You all look very good in your hero outfits!"

Itachi nodded in agreement. "Yeah, you all look great."

The students responded with a chorus of "Thank you, All Might!" and "Thank you, Uchiha-san!" All Might's gaze settled on Izuku, noticing the details of his costume, a subtle smile playing on his lips. Itachi observed this interaction closely, sensing a connection between the two that piqued his curiosity.

Then, All Might announced the challenge. "Alright, young ones, today you will be sparring with young Uchiha here, one by one."

Bakugo smirked with his usual cocky attitude. "I'm gonna kill him!"

Izuku, always trying to keep the peace, spoke up. "Kaachan, we're just going to spar—"

But Bakugo cut him off, shouting, "Shut up, you nerd bastard!" Izuku fell silent, the tension between the two palpable.

Momo, ever the voice of reason, asked, "All Might, what are the rules?"

All Might nodded. "You can use your Quirks. The goal is to stay in the ring for five minutes. Is that okay with everyone?"

The class nodded in unison, ready for the challenge. All Might turned to Itachi. "Are you ready, young Uchiha?"

Itachi gave a brief nod and took off his jacket. Noticing that All Might's hands were full, Momo quickly stepped forward. "I can hold it for you, Uchiha-san."

Itachi smiled and handed his jacket to Momo, who accepted it with a small nod. He then walked to the center of the ring and looked at Bakugo. "Let's start with you, Bakugo."

Bakugo's smirk widened as he stepped into the ring. "I'm gonna show you just how strong I am!"

All Might raised his hand, signaling the start of the match. "Are you ready, Bakugo?"

Bakugo nodded, his smirk never fading. "Ready."

"Then start!" All Might declared.

Bakugo wasted no time, launching himself towards Itachi with an explosion, aiming to overpower him with sheer force. But Itachi sidestepped the attack effortlessly, dodging the explosion with precision. Bakugo quickly recovered, using his other hand to unleash another explosion, but Itachi anticipated the move. He backflipped out of range, maintaining his calm composure.

Without missing a beat, Itachi closed the distance between them, delivering a swift punch to Bakugo's gut, sending him stumbling back. Bakugo grunted in pain, clutching his stomach as he glared at Itachi. As he looked up, he caught a glimpse of Itachi's Sharingan, the red eyes swirling ominously.

Bakugo, realizing the danger of looking directly into Itachi's eyes, averted his gaze, impressed despite himself. But Itachi was relentless. He rushed forward, delivering a powerful kick that sent Bakugo flying out of the ring.

All Might raised his hand, signaling the end of the match. "It's over now."

Bakugo, still on the ground, gritted his teeth in frustration. He hated losing, especially in front of the whole class. But the match was clear—Itachi had won.

The rest of the class watched in awe, realizing just how strong their new opponent was. This was going to be a training session they wouldn't forget anytime soon.

All Might, seeing the determination in their eyes, called out the next challenger.

"Alright, young Todoroki, you're up next."

Todoroki, with his usual stoic expression, stepped into the ring. His heterochromatic eyes, one icy blue and the other warm brown, focused on Itachi. He was determined to test his abilities against the mysterious new contender.

Itachi, standing calmly in the center of the ring, nodded in acknowledgment. 

All Might raised his hand again. "Are you ready, Todoroki?"

Todoroki nodded, his expression unreadable. "Ready."

"Then, begin!" All Might shouted.

Todoroki immediately activated his ice Quirk, sending a massive wave of ice toward Itachi. The cold air rushed through the arena, and the ground began to freeze beneath their feet. But Itachi remained composed, his Sharingan analyzing the trajectory and speed of the ice.

Just as the ice was about to reach him, Itachi leaped into the air, gracefully dodging the attack. He landed lightly on his feet and quickly closed the distance between them. Todoroki prepared another ice attack, but before he could release it, Itachi struck with lightning speed, aiming a precise palm strike at Todoroki's chest.

Todoroki was pushed back slightly, but he recovered quickly, creating a barrier of ice to shield himself. Itachi, however, was already anticipating this and had moved behind him, ready to strike again. Todoroki barely had time to react as Itachi swept his legs out from under him, forcing him to the ground.

As Todoroki tried to rise, Itachi used a genjutsu, causing an illusion to cloud Todoroki's senses. In his mind, the arena seemed to change, and for a moment, he saw flames surrounding him, flames similar to his father's Quirk. Todoroki's eyes widened in shock and fear.

But just as quickly as the illusion appeared, it vanished. Todoroki blinked, realizing it was an illusion created by Itachi's Sharingan. He gritted his teeth, realizing he had been taking advantage of him.

Itachi, standing over Todoroki, offered his hand. "You have incredible power, Todoroki. But you're holding back."

Todoroki hesitated before taking Itachi's hand and standing up. He knew Itachi was right, but using his fire Quirk was something he still struggled with. Without saying a word, he nodded, acknowledging Itachi's words.

All Might stepped forward. "That was well done, young Uchiha. You pushed Todoroki to his limits, even if he didn't use his full power. Todoroki, you did well too."

Todoroki gave a small nod, but his mind was elsewhere, contemplating Itachi's words and the illusion he had experienced.

"Next up, Midoriya!" All Might called.

Izuku, who had been watching the previous matches with wide eyes, felt a mix of excitement and nervousness. He knew how strong Itachi was, but he was determined to give it his all. Stepping into the ring, he took a deep breath and focused, his mind already running through different strategies.

Itachi looked at Izuku with curiosity. He had sensed something unique about him earlier and was interested to see how he would fare in a direct confrontation.

All Might, sensing the tension, raised his hand once more. "Are you ready, young Midoriya?"

Izuku nodded, his eyes filled with determination. "Yes!"

"And you, young Uchiha?"

Itachi gave a slight nod. "Ready."

"Then, begin!"

Izuku immediately activated One For All, his body glowing with the green energy of his Quirk. He dashed forward with incredible speed, aiming a punch at Itachi. Itachi, with his Sharingan active, saw the punch coming and sidestepped it with ease, but he was impressed by Izuku's speed and power.

Izuku didn't let up, launching a flurry of punches and kicks, trying to land a hit on Itachi. But Itachi, using only his hand-to-hand combat skills, blocked and dodged each attack with fluidity and precision. Despite the overwhelming power of One For All, Izuku couldn't seem to land a clean hit.

After a few moments, Itachi decided to take the offensive. He feinted to the left, causing Izuku to shift his balance, then swiftly struck with a palm to Izuku's side, sending him sliding back. Before Izuku could recover, Itachi used a genjutsu, causing Izuku to see multiple clones of Itachi surrounding him.

Izuku's eyes widened in confusion as he tried to figure out which one was real. He knew about genjutsu from his studies, but experiencing it firsthand was a different challenge. He tried to focus, but the illusions kept shifting, making it difficult to discern reality.

Itachi, watching from a distance, admired Izuku's determination. He decided to end the genjutsu, allowing the illusions to fade. As Izuku regained his senses, he realized Itachi had been standing behind him the entire time. Before he could react, Itachi delivered a gentle but firm chop to the back of Izuku's neck, sending him to the ground.

Izuku tried to stand, but his body was exhausted from the intense mental and physical effort. He looked up at Itachi, who extended a hand to help him up. "You're strong, Midoriya. Keep training, and you'll only get stronger."

Izuku smiled, despite his exhaustion. "Thank you, Uchiha-san."

All Might clapped his hands, drawing everyone's attention. "Well done, both of you! That was an impressive display of skill, young Uchiha, and determination, young Midoriya."

The rest of the class, who had been watching intently, couldn't help but be amazed by Itachi's abilities. They knew they had a lot to learn, but having someone like Itachi as a sparring partner was an opportunity they were eager to take.

Itachi, after the matches, looked at the students with a small smile. He knew they were strong, and with time, they would grow even stronger. But for now, he was content knowing he had given them a glimpse of the challenges ahead.

After sparring with Bakugo, Todoroki, and Izuku, the students of Class 1-A were eager to see who would face Itachi next. The matches had shown Itachi's incredible skill, but also his strategic mind. Each student learned something new, and the atmosphere was filled with anticipation.

All Might, sensing the excitement in the air, glanced at the remaining students. "Next up, Momo Yaoyorozu!"

Momo, who had been observing the previous matches carefully, felt a mix of nervousness and determination. She knew Itachi was a formidable opponent, and she wanted to test her own abilities against him. Stepping into the ring, she took a deep breath and focused.

Itachi watched her approach, his expression calm but focused. He had noticed Momo's intelligence and creativity in using her Quirk might give him some trouble.

All Might, standing between them, raised his hand once more. "Are you ready, young Yaoyorozu?"

Momo nodded, her gaze steady. "Yes, I'm ready."

"And you, Uchiha?"

Itachi gave a slight nod. "Ready."

"Then, begin!"

Momo didn't waste a moment. She quickly created a staff using her Creation Quirk and took a defensive stance. She knew that charging directly at Itachi would be unwise, so she decided to use a more tactical approach. She began by creating a series of smoke bombs and throwing them around the arena, obscuring the area with thick smoke.

Itachi, his Sharingan active, could still see Momo's movements, but he was impressed by her quick thinking. The smoke limited his visibility slightly, he was trying to track her. However, Momo used this to her advantage. She began moving quickly and quietly, using the smoke as cover to create various objects—nets, caltrops, and even a shield.

As Itachi moved through the smoke, he felt his foot catch on something—caltrops. Momo had strategically placed them to limit his movements. He avoided them with swift steps, but it slowed him down, giving Momo more time to prepare her next move.

Suddenly, Momo lunged at him from the smoke, using her staff to strike. Itachi blocked the attack with his arm, but Momo quickly followed up with another swing, aiming for his legs. Itachi had to jump back to avoid the strike, but Momo was relentless, pressing the attack with a series of well-coordinated moves.

Itachi found himself impressed by her precision and adaptability. Unlike Bakugo, who relied on raw power, or Todoroki, who held back, Momo used her intelligence to compensate for the difference in raw strength. She was forcing him to stay on his toes, constantly adjusting his strategy.

Momo then threw another smoke bomb at Itachi's feet, causing him to step back. In that moment, she activated her next trap—a net she had created earlier, which sprang up from the ground and ensnared Itachi's legs. Itachi's eyes widened slightly as he realized she had led him into a trap.

But he wasn't done yet. Using his agility, Itachi quickly performed a substitution jutsu, swapping himself with a log that had been nearby. The net ensnared the log instead, and Itachi appeared behind Momo. However, Momo anticipated this and spun around, blocking his strike with her shield.

She then quickly followed up with a counterattack, aiming her staff at Itachi's midsection. Itachi deflected the blow, but the force of the attack surprised him. Momo wasn't just relying on her Quirk—she was also skilled in close combat, and her precise strikes were pushing him to exert more effort.

Realizing that this match was more challenging than he initially expected, Itachi decided to use a genjutsu to gain the upper hand. He caught Momo's gaze with his Sharingan, intending to create an illusion that would disorient her.

She closed her eyes and focused her mind, using a technique she had learned to break free from illusions. It took a moment, but she managed to dispel the genjutsu, much to Itachi's surprise. Few students her age had the presence of mind to counter a Sharingan-based genjutsu.

"Impressive," Itachi remarked, genuinely impressed by her resilience.

Momo, breathing heavily, gave a small smile. "Thank you, Uchiha-san. But I know I still have much to learn."

Itachi nodded, acknowledging her words. "You have great potential, Yaoyorozu-san. Let's see how you handle this."

Deciding to end the match, Itachi increased his speed, moving so quickly that Momo barely had time to react. He closed the distance between them in an instant, disarming her staff with a swift motion and pinning her to the ground. Momo tried to resist, but Itachi's strength was too much.

"It's over," Itachi said calmly, helping her up after securing the win.

Momo, though defeated, felt a sense of accomplishment. She had managed to challenge Itachi more than she expected and had even forced him to use more of his abilities. As she stood up, she bowed slightly. "Thank you for the match, Uchiha-san."

The rest of the class, who had been watching intently, couldn't help but be amazed by the level of skill displayed by both Itachi and Momo. They were learning that battles weren't just about strength—they were about strategy, adaptability, and intelligence.

All Might clapped his hands, drawing everyone's attention. "Well done, Yaoyorozu! You showed great creativity and determination. And Uchiha, as always, your skills are impressive."

Itachi, now more intrigued by Class 1-A, gave a small nod. "You all have great potential. Keep training, and you'll only grow stronger."

With that, the training session continued, but the students knew they had witnessed something special in that match. Momo's tactical approach had shown them that even someone as skilled as Itachi could be challenged, and it inspired them to think more critically about their own strategies in future battles.

As he Spar with every class student of class 1-A like this with everyone meanwhile Rumi and Ryuko continued their conversation, and the mood shifted from casual teasing to genuine concern. Ryuko's playful demeanor softened as she looked at Rumi with a hint of seriousness.

"So, Rumi," Ryuko began, her voice more thoughtful, "I see you've taken quite an interest in this Itachi Uchiha. You seem to care about him a lot."

Rumi's cheeks flushed slightly. She tried to maintain her casual demeanor but couldn't quite hide the warmth in her voice. "Well, he's been through a lot. He's a good person, and he's been really kind to me."

Ryuko's eyes sparkled with curiosity and amusement. "Kind to you, huh? Sounds like there's more to this story. How has he been kind to you?"

Rumi rolled her eyes playfully, a smile on her lips. "Oh, you know, just cooking meals for me, helping me with things around the house. He's a real gentleman, despite what people might say."

Ryuko's grin widened. "So, he's a gentleman, huh? I bet he's not just a hero-in-training but also quite the charmer. I'm guessing he's made quite an impression on you."

Rumi blushed slightly but maintained her teasing tone. "Well, I suppose. He's definitely got a way about him. But don't go getting any ideas. He's focused on his hero training right now."

Ryuko raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying the banter. "Oh, I see. So, you're saying he's off-limits, or are you just trying to keep him all to yourself?"

Rumi laughed, shaking her head. "It's not like that. He's just someone I respect and care about. And besides, he's got his own goals and ambitions. I'm just here to support him."

Ryuko's expression softened, a hint of admiration in her eyes. "You really care about him, don't you? It's nice to see you looking out for someone like that."

Rumi smiled warmly, her eyes reflecting her genuine feelings. "Yeah, I do. He's been through a lot, and I just want to make sure he has someone he can count on."

Ryuko nodded in understanding. "Well, it's good to see you looking out for him. Just remember to take care of yourself, too."

Rumi chuckled, giving Ryuko a grateful smile. "Thanks, Ryuko. I'll keep that in mind."

As the two friends continued their conversation, the playful teasing turned into a more heartfelt exchange. Ryuko, with her characteristic charm and warmth, supported Rumi's feelings while also lightening the mood with her usual humor. They enjoyed each other's company, knowing that their friendship and understanding were more valuable than any lighthearted banter.

As Itachi made his way out of the training grounds, he couldn't shake the feeling of nostalgia that had washed over him during the sparring session. The faces of Class 1-A, filled with determination and potential, reminded him of his younger days, particularly of his brother Sasuke. The memories weighed heavily on his heart, but he knew he had to keep moving forward.

All Might, noticing the change in Itachi's demeanor, walked up beside him. "You did well, young Uchiha. But I can see something is troubling you."

Itachi gave a small, sad smile, glancing back at the students who were still watching him with admiration. "It's nothing, All Might. Just… old memories."

Momo Yaoyorozu, who had been observing Itachi closely, approached with his jacket. "Here, Uchiha-san," she said softly, handing it to him. 

Itachi accepted the jacket with a gentle smile. "Thank you, Yaoyorozu-san." He looked at her, his eyes reflecting a mixture of gratitude and melancholy. She reminded him so much of Sasuke—her calm demeanor, the way she carried herself with quiet strength. It was like looking at a version of his brother that might have been, had things been different.

Momo noticed the sadness in his eyes and couldn't help but ask, "Uchiha-san, did something happen? You seem… distant."

Itachi shook his head, trying to brush off her concern. "No, it's nothing. Don't worry about it."

Momo hesitated, then asked, "Will you come back here after you become a hero?"

Itachi was taken aback by the question, and for a moment, he saw Sasuke in her—young, determined, and full of questions. He smiled gently, reaching out to poke her forehead, a gesture that was both affectionate and familiar. "I will, Yaoyorozu-san."

As his finger touched her forehead, Momo felt a warmth spread through her, as if she had just experienced a moment with an older brother. She instinctively touched her forehead, falling silent, lost in thought.

After a few more exchanges, Itachi waved to the class, turning to leave. The students, except for Bakugo and Todoroki, waved back, clearly impacted by his presence. All Might watched him go, then turned to the class. "Now, back to your lessons, everyone!"

The students obediently headed back to class, but a small group of girls—Mina, Jiro, Tsuyu, Ochako, and Toru—gathered around Momo.

Mina, always the instigator, smirked and said, "I think Uchiha-san has taken a liking to you, Momo."

Momo, keeping a straight face, responded, "What do you mean?"

Jiro chimed in, "Didn't you notice the way he looked at you? It was different."

Ochako nodded. "Yeah, it felt like there was something more there."

Tsuyu added in her usual calm tone, "I also noticed him looking at you with a sort of… sadness."

Mina, ever the playful one, teased, "Maybe you've got yourself a handsome sugar daddy."

Momo, suddenly realizing what they were implying, blushed slightly. "I think you're all mistaken. It's not like that."

The group fell silent, waiting for her to continue. Momo took a deep breath. "I think he sees Sasuke in me."

Mina frowned, "Who's Sasuke?"

Momo shook her head, "I don't know much, but when I met him for the first time, he was searching for something in the library. He looked at me with this sad expression and called me 'Sasuke.'"

Toru leaned in, curious. "So… what does that mean?"

Momo sighed. "I think Sasuke was someone important to him, someone who looks like me. Maybe… a brother."

Jiro nodded thoughtfully. "That makes sense. If you remind him of someone he cared about, that would explain the way he looks at you."

Ochako added, "And you do share some similarities—your black hair, your eyes, your height… even the way you speak sometimes."

Mina finally understood, her playful attitude giving way to empathy. "So, he sees you as a little sister, then?"

Momo nodded. "Something like that, I think. But it's still strange… I can tell there's a lot of pain behind those eyes."

As the students of Class 1-A nodded in acknowledgment and returned to their classroom, Itachi made his way toward the staff room. His thoughts were a mix of the day's events and the upcoming hero test. Arriving at the staff room, he knocked gently on the door.

A familiar, playful female voice responded from inside, "Come in, cutie."

Itachi sighed softly, recognizing the voice. He opened the door and stepped inside, where he was greeted by Midnight, sitting at her desk in her hero outfit. She was looking at him with a teasing grin.

"Why are you here, handsome?" Midnight asked, her tone laced with her usual flirtatiousness.

With a polite bow, Itachi replied, "I'm here for my costume and hall ticket."

Midnight leaned back in her chair, a smirk playing on her lips. "Ah, for that? It's right beside my desk. Come and take it."

Itachi nodded and approached her desk, retrieving his costume and hall ticket. As he looked over his costume, a small smile appeared on his face, satisfied with the preparations for the next day.

Midnight observed him, her grin softening into a genuine smile. "So, tomorrow is your hero test, Aegis," she said, using his chosen hero name.

Itachi looked at her, appreciating that she remembered his hero name. "Yes, that's right."

Midnight continued, her tone still playful but with a hint of encouragement. "I know you'll do great. Aizawa believes in you, and Mirko has a lot of faith in you as well," she added with a smirk.

Itachi understood the underlying meaning in her words and gave her a small, sincere smile. "Thank you, Midnight. I appreciate your support."

Midnight's smile widened as she nodded. "Do your best out there, Aegis. I know you'll make us proud."

With a final nod, Itachi said, "I will. Thank you again, Midnight. I'll take my leave now."

As he turned to go, Midnight waved at him, her voice trailing after him. "Good luck, handsome. Make sure to show everyone what you're made of."

Itachi smiled to himself as he left the staff room, feeling a renewed sense of determination. The support from his colleagues and the memories of those he cared about fueled his resolve. Tomorrow would be an important day, and he was ready to face it head-on.

As the students of Class 1-A nodded in acknowledgment and returned to their classroom, Itachi made his way toward the staff room. His thoughts were a mix of the day's events and the upcoming hero test. Arriving at the staff room, he knocked gently on the door.

A familiar, playful female voice responded from inside, "Come in, cutie."

Itachi sighed softly, recognizing the voice. He opened the door and stepped inside, where he was greeted by Midnight, sitting at her desk in her hero outfit. She was looking at him with a teasing grin.

"Why are you here, handsome?" Midnight asked, her tone laced with her usual flirtatiousness.

With a polite bow, Itachi replied, "I'm here for my costume and hall ticket."

Midnight leaned back in her chair, a smirk playing on her lips. "Ah, for that? It's right beside my desk. Come and take it."

Itachi nodded and approached her desk, retrieving his costume and hall ticket. As he looked over his costume, a small smile appeared on his face, satisfied with the preparations for the next day.

Midnight observed him, her grin softening into a genuine smile. "So, tomorrow is your hero test, Aegis," she said, using his chosen hero name.

Itachi looked at her, appreciating that she remembered his hero name. "Yes, that's right."

Midnight continued, her tone still playful but with a hint of encouragement. "I know you'll do great. Aizawa believes in you, and Mirko has a lot of faith in you as well," she added with a smirk.

Itachi understood the underlying meaning in her words and gave her a small, sincere smile. "Thank you, Midnight. I appreciate your support."

Midnight's smile widened as she nodded. "Do your best out there, Aegis. I know you'll make us proud."

With a final nod, Itachi said, "I will. Thank you again, Midnight. I'll take my leave now."

As he turned to go, Midnight waved at him, her voice trailing after him. "Good luck, handsome. Make sure to show everyone what you're made of."

Itachi smiled to himself as he left the staff room, feeling a renewed sense of determination. 

As Itachi returned home, he opened the door and noticed that Rumi wasn't there yet. He decided to check the refrigerator and found some carrots and ginger, which gave him the idea to make a simple yet hearty meal. He decided on carrot-ginger soup with fresh bread and began preparing it with focused precision, letting the soothing rhythm of cooking relax him.

Meanwhile, Rumi was on her way home when she passed by an electronics shop. She paused, thinking that Itachi could really use a phone to stay in touch in the future. With a smile, she entered the shop and found a phone she liked, imagining how useful it would be for Itachi. After purchasing it, she eagerly made her way back home, excited to surprise him.

When she arrived, she knocked on the door, and Itachi quickly opened it, greeting her with a warm, "Welcome."

Rumi stepped inside, smiling brightly as she announced, "I'm home."

Itachi smiled back and said, "Get freshened up. I've prepared dinner for us."

Rumi's eyes lit up with excitement as she quickly made her way to the bathroom. She took a quick shower, eager to see what Itachi had prepared. Once she was done, she walked back into the kitchen and saw the meal laid out on the table: a steaming bowl of carrot-ginger soup and fresh bread. Her happiness bubbled over, and she couldn't help but hug Itachi tightly.

"Carrots! I love carrots!" Rumi exclaimed, her excitement clear in her voice.

Itachi smiled softly, pleased with her reaction. "I know. Sit down and enjoy."

Rumi eagerly took a seat and began eating. As she savored the rich, comforting flavors, she looked at Itachi with pure joy. "It's like heaven," she said, her eyes shining with happiness.

Itachi's heart warmed at her words, and he responded gently, "I'm glad you like it."

The two of them shared a peaceful, contented moment, enjoying the meal together. Rumi was secretly excited to give Itachi the phone later, but for now, she focused on the delicious food he had made and the warmth of their time together.

As they were finishing up their meal, Rumi suddenly remembered something. "Ah, I almost forgot!" she said, quickly getting up and grabbing a package she had brought in with her. With a playful grin, she handed it to Itachi. "Here, open it."

Curious, Itachi carefully unwrapped the package, revealing a brand-new smartphone. His eyes widened in surprise as he looked up at Rumi. "Why…?"

Rumi smiled, her tone casual yet caring. "What do you mean, 'why'? You need it, right? If you ever want to call someone or stay connected, it'll be useful for you."

Itachi looked at the phone, then back at Rumi. "But it looks expensive…"

Rumi waved off his concern with a lighthearted laugh. "Don't worry about that! After you become a hero, I'll just ask you to bring me everything I want."

Itachi couldn't help but smile at her words, feeling a warmth spread through his chest. Her thoughtfulness and generosity touched him deeply. "Thank you, Rumi," he said softly, his gratitude evident.

Rumi, noticing the gentle look on Itachi's face, felt a slight blush creeping onto her cheeks. Embarrassed by the emotions she didn't quite know how to express, she quickly dug back into her food to hide her flustered state. But beneath her playful exterior, she was genuinely happy to have done something that made him smile.