[She's only human though and someone who very much wears her heart on her sleeve so there's still a blush on her cheeks and the play of emotions on her face were as easy to read as a book (one with pictures and big text).]

W-well, what girl wouldn't want to be called cute? And isn't it better to have it come from someone your age? If someone else said it, isn't it likely they're some kind of pervert or something?

[Kaoru's strategy to deal with potentially embarrassing situations: start trash-talking perverts, I guess...]