[ Trying to keep secrets from someone who can read your mind is... interesting. At this point, Akira knows better than to go poking around where he's not welcome (or at least, Ryoko would assume he is) but there's always the chance that something could end up leaking through anyway – or more likely, that someone else at Bright Sparks might let it slip by accident. And, well, it's not like there's really any way to keep it completely secret when they're using the orphanage's kitchen to make chocolate.

But she's nothing if not resourceful. If she can strategize her way through a kaiju battle, then she can easily manage giving chocolate to a boy. Even if he happens to be a boy that she........... doesn't dislike. Sure, that's what we'll call it.

She waits until most of the chaos of chocolate making has subsided and the kids are distracted before she casually pops up at Akira's side, like everything is totally fine and normal. ]

Oh – before I forget. Would you be able to give me a ride to the convenience store? There's a few extra things I wanted to pick up.

[ See? Nothing to overthink. Not that Ryoko would ever overthink anything. ]