Su Yu walked Isshiki Iroha to the station.
But Iroha didn't go in right away.
She looked at Su Yu, as if trying to muster the courage to say something.
"Are you planning to ask me over to your place next?" Su Yu looked her over with a smile.
"I… I wanted senpai to walk me home, and maybe… sit and chat for a bit at my place." Iroha said in a small voice.
"Underclassman, isn't that moving a bit fast?" Su Yu gave her a look of exaggerated surprise.
"Senpai, don't get weird ideas!" Iroha flushed crimson.
"Walking you home is fine. I'm just afraid I might not want to leave. And if something happens…"
"Th-then… if there's a chance, can I invite senpai out shopping sometime?" Iroha asked, head bowed.
Hearing that, Su Yu reached out and gently patted her on the head.
Iroha looked up at him, eyes full of hopeful anticipation.
"If you're treating me to lunch, then I'm in."
"No problem! I'll treat senpai!"
"Then, underclassman, when you're planning a date—be sure to prepare properly."
"Bad senpai. I'm leaving. See you tomorrow." Iroha said, cheeks flushed, as she turned and entered the station.
Su Yu watched her go, then turned and walked back.
...
When he returned to Sakurasou—
Tsurumi Saori was busy preparing dinner.
Su Yu headed upstairs and opened his door. At the entryway, he noticed there was only one pair of shoes.
"Welcome back, Su Yu-kun!" Yuigahama Yui came running out from the living room.
"The others didn't come over?" Su Yu asked as he changed his shoes.
"Yumiko and Hina took the train home with the rest," Yui explained.
"I see. And what's with this outfit?" Su Yu looked up and was greeted by a very summery sight.
Yui was wearing one of his T-shirts and a pair of short shorts—light and breezy.
"Hina said this would catch your eye… so I gave it a try." Yui blushed and lowered her head.
"She's right. But only when it's just me here—you can't wear that in front of others." Su Yu stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her.
"Mm. I only wear this at home," Yui said, a little shy but clearly happy.
"Yui, let's be eco-friendly tonight. Time to save water." Su Yu's hands were already starting to get mischievous.
Yui immediately flushed at the implication and rested her head against his chest, saying nothing.
Su Yu scooped her up princess-style and carried her to the living room sofa.
Once there—
He gently set her down and kissed her deeply.
Yui closed her eyes and melted into his arms.
After a long while…
The doorbell rang.
Dinner was ready.
Su Yu glanced at the red-faced "little dummy" in his arms.
"Let's eat first. We can finish after."
...
After dinner—
Su Yu and Yui returned to their room.
He headed straight to the bathroom.
Yui went to grab pajamas for both of them—his and hers—from the bedroom.
An hour passed.
Su Yu, now in his sleepwear, was holding Yui in his arms as they settled into bed.
Once she was tucked under the covers, Su Yu turned to his desk to get some work done.
Yui's blush hadn't yet faded.
She watched him work quietly, a soft smile on her face.
Just then, her phone lit up on the pillow beside her.
It was a message in the group chat with Ebina Hina and Miura Yumiko.
"Yui~ Did Su Yu-kun like the outfit I suggested?"
That was from Ebina Hina.
Yui glanced shyly at Su Yu, then replied with his exact words:
"Su Yu-kun said Hina was right."
"Looks like he really did like it. Congrats, Yui~ Once you get him so worked up he can't hold back, then… 😏"
Another message from Ebina Hina.
Yui's cheeks burned.
That emoji said everything.
"Hina, y-you're the worst…" Yui typed back, flustered.
"Yumiko, you better step it up too." Hina followed up.
"I'm prepping my vocal set for performance…" Yumiko replied immediately.
"Being an idol gives you an edge! It's easy to make a guy like Su Yu-kun fall for you. Wanna hear my strategy?" —Ebina
"I… I want to become better. Stuff like that… I'll leave to Yui." —Miura
"Yumiko, I really admire you. I don't know how to do anything... all I can do is this…" Yui replied, her tone darkening a bit.
"Yui, did you forget about our game?" Yumiko reminded her.
That snapped Yui out of it. She quickly messaged Yukinoshita Yukino.
A few minutes later, Yukino sent back some screenshots, along with a message:
"The game will be finished this week. Then we'll move into the marketing phase. As for the release date—that's up to Su Yu-kun."
Yui's face lit up. She immediately forwarded the message and screenshots to the group.
"Yui, do not invite Yukinoshita-san to our group chat. That would totally ruin all our Su Yu-kun strategies." —Ebina
"I don't think it would hurt to invite her. I mean, she is Su Yu-kun's…" —Miura
"Don't worry, I won't invite Yukino. She wouldn't be comfortable in this kind of chat anyway." —Yui
"Yui, you're so gentle and kind." —Hina (with a praise emoji)
What Yui really meant was:
She was worried it would distract Yukino from work.
Given their current closeness, Yukino had already come to view Hina and Yumiko as friends. If Yui added her to the chat…
Yukino might start paying too much attention to their conversations and get distracted.
Even if she didn't check messages during work, seeing the chat history later could cause misunderstandings.
Sometimes, trying to bring people closer together only makes things more complicated.
Especially someone like Yukinoshita Yukino—who might take even a simple joke seriously.
Yui understood Yukino, but she also understood Yumiko and Hina.
...
While drawing manga, Su Yu glanced at Yui, who was staring intently at her phone, then looked away.
He knew she was chatting with Hina and Yumiko. He also knew about the group chat between the three girls.
He could even guess the topic.
Most likely about him—or maybe about Yukino.
Why wasn't Yukino invited to their group chat?
Su Yu understood completely.
It was the same reason he only ever called Yukino after work.
Yui was considerate like that.
In truth, even if her grades weren't stellar, when it came to relationships and emotions—Yui far surpassed Hina.
As for Miura Yumiko?
She was probably the most pure-hearted of the three.