Totsuka Saika's tennis tournament was scheduled for the end of summer vacation—in August, to be held at a stadium in Tokyo.
How far a player advanced depended on their skill level.
Which also meant the further they got, the more expensive the trip would become—accommodation, meals, and so on.
That's why both Totsuka and Hikigaya Hachiman had the idea to get part-time jobs.
Hachiman said he was tagging along because he was "interested in tennis tournaments"…
Well, that was his own explanation.
Su Yu responded with a rather meaningful smile.
In any case—
He agreed to let the two of them work part-time.
Hikigaya would be working with Hayama Hayato. As for Totsuka's role, that would take a bit more planning.
There was still a little over a month left before summer vacation began.
Before then, Su Yu would arrange everything for them.
...
After the lunch break—
Su Yu and Hayama Hayato walked together back toward class.
Previously, Su Yu had given Hayama a task, and now, it seemed it was complete.
He'd helped Hachiman and Totsuka become friends with Su Yu, and he'd found out why Su Yu said Hachiman needed money.
So, Hayama had shown them a path—working part-time alongside him.
And it was precisely because of Hayama's involvement that Totsuka and Hachiman had come to Su Yu with their request.
Su Yu had picked up on this and raised his evaluation of Hayama slightly.
But Hayama hadn't bragged or taken credit.
In truth, he was simply thinking of his friends, not trying to fulfill some mission.
That alone proved Hayama was a genuinely good person.
"Hayama-kun," Su Yu suddenly asked, "what do you think is the difference between friends from the past and friends now?"
"Friends from before… every day was full of joy. Friends now… every day feels fulfilling," Hayama said after thinking for a moment.
"As expected of Hayama-kun." Su Yu glanced at him.
"I don't want to speak badly about anyone I consider a friend," Hayama said, his head lowered.
He really was a nice guy—he treated people well.
Su Yu patted him on the shoulder without adding more.
"Yukinoshita-san becoming company president—was that something you had a hand in?" Hayama asked suddenly.
"I had a conversation with her mother," Su Yu replied without avoiding the question.
"If I had Su Yu-kun's courage, maybe… I wouldn't still be treated like a kid," Hayama said with a bitter smile.
"Don't dwell on it. Just work hard in the future—with your looks and personality, you'll have no trouble finding a girlfriend." Su Yu looked at him with seriousness.
"Su Yu-kun… did you reach the sun?" Hayama asked softly, realization dawning.
"Yeah. It was warm," Su Yu said after a short pause.
Hayama's eyes dimmed. He lowered his head.
He understood—he no longer stood a chance.
...
That afternoon—
At the tennis club.
Hayama gave it everything he had… but he still couldn't beat Su Yu.
After the match, the two sat down.
Su Yu handed Hayama one of the drinks he'd bought.
"Thanks," Hayama said quietly.
"No need for thanks," Su Yu replied, cracking open his bottle and taking a sip.
Hayama took a few sips from his own, then glanced at Hachiman and Totsuka nearby.
"I heard from Haruno… about what happened when you were kids. You tried to help Yukino back then, but when it really mattered—you chose the group?" Su Yu asked, getting to the point of something he'd always wondered.
"When I transferred to that school, my father told me to befriend Yukinoshita-san," Hayama began. "Back then, Yukinoshita wasn't much different than she is now. We barely spoke a few words, and…"
"I see," Su Yu muttered.
At that time, Hayama had probably already liked Haruno.
"My dad said, 'If you help a girl when she needs it the most, you'll earn her gratitude.' He told me to help Yukinoshita. I didn't understand his intentions then, and just offered to help her. And then…"
"And then, Yukino saw through you?" Su Yu's expression turned a little strange.
Hayama nodded awkwardly.
He still remembered that day clearly.
Yukino had looked at him coldly and told him not to come near her again—then left.
Hayama had stood frozen in place for a long time afterward.
"Yukino of the past really wasn't that different from now," Su Yu said with a small laugh.
"Because of that, I always felt guilty. So I never dared get close to her again," Hayama said, glancing toward the school building.
"Maybe… it was all fated," Su Yu said, feeling he'd finally pieced together Yukino and Hayama's past.
"Maybe her meeting you was fate too. Maybe only you, Su Yu-kun, can truly make her happy," Hayama said, looking at Su Yu.
Su Yu just smiled.
...
After leaving the tennis court, Su Yu headed to the student council room.
Only Isshiki Iroha and Meguri Shiromeguri were there.
Yui and the others had gone to Hiratsuka-sensei's free tutoring session.
Keika Kawasaki had been picked up by Tsurumi Saori and was probably doing her homework now.
With Tsurumi Rumi at Sakurasou, Su Yu wasn't worried about Keika's safety.
By the way—
Yui and the others' game project had officially started.
Yukino had already negotiated with a game studio. For them, the game's development wouldn't be too difficult.
Su Yu's own game concept was ready too.
The only thing left was for Hanada Yui to return and start managing the project.
Those familiar gacha-style games—whether in his world or this one—had a big market.
How long a game would take to produce…
Depended entirely on manpower and budget.
Su Yu planned to have animators from Flashlight Animation handle the game's art.
If possible, he wanted to create cross-collaboration opportunities between the two industries.
As he thought through his ideas, he pondered which title should be developed first.
The game company's existing titles were mostly one-time-purchase games. While the IP still belonged to the studio, they weren't particularly valuable or reusable.
Currently, the company was upgrading equipment in preparation for the new game.
"Senpai? Su Yu-senpai?" Isshiki Iroha's voice pulled him back to reality.
Su Yu snapped out of his thoughts and looked at her.
"We're heading out. Is senpai staying behind?" Iroha blinked at him.
"Sorry, I was just thinking about a date. Let's go." Su Yu smiled naturally and reached out his hand.
"Date? Senpai… are you serious?" Iroha asked in shock.
"Meguri-senpai can come too—I don't mind," Su Yu said, glancing toward Jōgasaki Meguri.
"I'm not interested in dating," she said, blushing and speaking quietly.
"Well, when you're in college, I'll ask you again," Su Yu said with a mock sigh.
Meguri's face turned bright red and she lowered her head.
Even though she knew he was joking, she still felt shy.
"Senpai, I want to go sing at your place! I heard you've got karaoke equipment at home!" Iroha said excitedly, her eyes sparkling.