Editing Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume2 Chapter4 Draft (section)

===Part 2===

Just like that, the culinary showdown between them began.

The two beautiful, apron wearing, girls were standing at opposite sides of the kitchen. <!--respectively end-to-end of the kitchen would be the direct translation-->

It was the common kitchen at the first floor of the Raven Class dormitory. It seemed that as long as one was a boarding student, they were free to use all the ingredients available.

Est, who was the judge, sat well behaved at the table and was tightly grasping a spoon.

Nervous about Scarlet, who was supposed to take care of the leftovers, Kamito kept pacing around the back of the kitchen.

(...Frankly, Claire has no chance of winning.)

He had never eaten Claire's home cooking before, but, in any case, she was the ojou-sama who got through with mostly canned food for her meals since she came to the academy.

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"Ehh, canned tuna, mackerel tuna... and I splurge a little and also open the canned crab."

While humming, Claire arranged the ingredients. Kamito had doubts about approving her combination of canned food, but, for now, it looked edible, so he just sighed in relief.

"Fruits are easy to eat after being cut."

Seeing Claire slowly take out a kitchen knife, Kamito interrupted her.

"Are you alright with that? Don't cut your finger."

"I'm fine, after all, I have been always watching you cooking."

"I see... Hn, so you were looking?"

"Idi... Th...That's not it, I didn’t mean something like that!"

"Waah, it's dangerous, don't swing the kitchen knife!"

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Bun!* Kamito expertly dodged all the slashes except one that grazed the tip of his nose.

"Hmm, be...because you said something stupid!"

Claire's face, up till her ears, was bright red when she turned away.

"Putting that aside, what on earth are you making?"

"Seafood curry, the one that you often make. Because I like that."

"Eh, you don't normally use canned tuna and canned mackerel for seafood curry, you know?"

It seemed that she just tossed in the ingredients she thought he used to prepare the dish.

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"Sh...shut up... It's not like there's a reason to remember what each fish is called like. It's the same as not remembering the face of the partner whom you danced with at the ball."

"...That's terrible. Do remember that."

No matter what her character may be like, she was an uncommonly beautiful girl. Kamito had no doubts that there would be as many young nobles as there were stars in the sky, that would be charmed by her lovely looks and ask her for a dance.

"...At any rate, Claire, why are you wearing a dress?"

"What, I was once the daughter of a Duke too. Before my lands were seized, that is. So I do at least wear dresses... Or perhaps, you think I look strange in it?"

"No, I just thought it suits you a lot."

"...Wh...Wh...What are you saying, idiot."

Hearing Kamito’s honest words Claire turned red increasingly fast and looked downwards.

She then raised her head slightly and glanced at Kamito with an upward glance—

"Hey, do you re...really... think I look good?"

"Yea, I think that your red hair looks pretty with that pure white dress.... I don't want to admit it, but honestly you are prettier than any princess."

"...!"

"But, when wearing a dress, it really stands out just how small your breasts are. Using paddings there to make it less obvious is the only—"

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Then, as a feeling of doom washed over him, Kamito shut up.

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Gogogogogogogo*... The kitchenware was clattering.

...It seemed that he stepped on a landmine, again.

"Ah...no... I'm sorry."

"...Th...Th...That's right. Unless I use paddings, I can't even wear a dress, right?"

"Hey, Claire, why are you holding such a thing? That's for peeling vegetables, it's not something you use on people... owaa, wai—"