Maruki blinked, briefly caught off guard by Ichinose's sudden playful energy.
For a beat, it was clear he hadn't expected her to actually joke back.

He chuckled and gamely lifted his own pick in defense.

"Ah! A duel!" he declared in mock alarm, crossing his takoyaki skewer against hers with a half-hearted, clumsy parry. "Mercy, mercy!"

The skewers tapped together with the most pathetic little clack.