In a modest little izakaya—
Hiratsuka Shizuka finally got to enjoy her drink.
"This feeling… it's been a while."
She slowly savored the beer in her glass.
In front of Su Yu was only a soda—he couldn't casually drink alcohol in a public place like this.
Aside from beer and soda, a few simple appetizers were laid out on the table—classic snacks for drinking.
Su Yu nibbled on the food and sipped his soda, glancing at Hiratsuka.
"Don't drink too much. It's not good for your health."
"You just don't get it, Su Yu-kun."
Hiratsuka set down her glass with a smile.
"I get it. Having a drink now and then… it gives you a sense of peace. Right?" Su Yu said, looking at her calmly.
"I used to drink every day. Back then, I was drinking to drown my sorrows. Now that those sorrows are gone, drinking's just a small indulgence—something to reward myself with," Hiratsuka said, munching on the appetizers.
"If you'd like, I'll drink with you regularly. Once I'm old enough to raise a glass myself, we'll have a proper drink together," Su Yu said, raising his soda toward her.
"Then I'll let you see what I'm made of. I can down over a dozen cans of beer in one go," she declared proudly.
"What about baijiu? Do you like that?" Su Yu remembered the local specialties Hanada Yui had brought back.
"You have baijiu?" Hiratsuka's eyes lit up.
Su Yu briefly explained Hanada Yui's business trip and what she'd accomplished.
Hiratsuka's expression shifted to one of admiration as she listened to Su Yu's plan.
"There are people who, once they earn money, only pour it back into their own ventures. But someone like you—there are too few of you."
"I'm just doing what I can. Giving people opportunity creates a market for me. I hope the things I love will be loved by others too. I want the anime industry to thrive with more excellent works—not just Flashlight Animation dominating everything." Su Yu looked at the dishes on the table.
"You don't seem to care much about money?" Hiratsuka studied him.
"After a certain point, money is just a number that keeps going up," Su Yu said quietly.
"You don't sound like a young man at all."
"My mental age is probably already thirty."
"Maybe it's all the things you've gone through…"
"Maybe. I used to feel like I was standing at a crossroads, completely lost."
"Then who showed you the way?"
"They did. And you."
...
Half an hour later—
Su Yu walked along the road, supporting a very drunk Hiratsuka Shizuka.
She was muttering something under her breath.
Soon, they arrived in front of Sakurasou.
But Su Yu stopped in his tracks.
Standing at the gate was the butler of the Hiratsuka family.
When the butler saw Hiratsuka and Su Yu together, he paused in surprise.
Then he walked over and bowed politely.
"Master Su Yu."
"Is something the matter?" Su Yu asked, recognizing the title as an acknowledgment of his connection with the Yukinoshita family.
"The master wishes for Miss Shizuka to return home—not for a marriage meeting, but due to a matter involving the previous generation of the Hiratsuka family. It concerns the master's sister." The butler, Tamura-san, spoke with respect.
"I understand," Su Yu replied simply, without probing further.
"The master speaks very highly of you, Master Su Yu. If you are willing to accept Miss Shizuka…"
"Shizuka-sensei is like an older sister to me," Su Yu interrupted.
Tamura sighed softly.
"Then I'll be on my way."
Su Yu nodded and watched as he left.
Once the car disappeared down the road, Su Yu supported Hiratsuka and brought her back into Sakurasou.
He helped her remove her shoes and guided her to the bedroom.
After laying her down on the bed and tucking her in—
He left the room quietly.
...
Saturday morning.
Su Yu heard the sound of a car leaving.
He knew Hiratsuka had gone home.
During breakfast—
He noticed the empty seat at the table and couldn't help but worry.
After the meal, he changed clothes and left Sakurasou.
Yukinoshita Yukino, Yuigahama Yui, and the others had planned to go shopping today.
Which gave Isshiki Iroha the perfect opportunity to ask Su Yu out.
He agreed.
They arranged to meet in front of a nearby train station.
After riding the train and exiting the station—
Su Yu immediately spotted her: the cute junior looking at her phone.
He walked up to her.
"This cute young lady—would you like to go shopping with me?"
"Sorry, I'm waiting for someone—Senpai!" Iroha said in a cold tone at first, then beamed as soon as she saw it was Su Yu.
"Your face changed fast," Su Yu said, reaching out to take her hand.
"For strangers who try to chat me up, I have to respond coldly and reject them firmly. No eye contact, no conversation. That's my new strategy," Iroha explained cheerfully.
"A very useful technique. But you're so cute—even with a cold attitude, someone like me would still bother you."
"Bad senpai." Iroha pouted.
After walking together for a bit—
Iroha pulled out her phone and looked up a store.
"Senpai, this dessert shop is said to have amazing sweets. Perfect for cute girls like me." She explained as they walked.
"You're treating, so I'll just enjoy the food," Su Yu said, glancing sideways at her.
"Senpai! You're on a date and saying that? If I were a normal girl, your impression points would plummet. Your favorability would drop!" Iroha said, eyes twinkling.
"Which means… you're not a normal girl," Su Yu replied.
"Senpai's not worried my favorability will actually drop?" Iroha leaned in close.
"I can't imagine what I'd have to do to actually make you like me less," Su Yu replied thoughtfully.
Iroha giggled sweetly.
Seeing her smile, Su Yu looked away and focused on the road ahead.
"If you want me to treat you, we should go somewhere else."
"Where?"
Her eyes lit up.
"That inn over there," Su Yu nodded toward the side.
"I'd never go to a place like that!" she yelped, face bright red.
"I was just curious about what they offer."
"I don't believe you," Iroha turned away, but still linked her arm with his.
"Underclassman, you're not the least bit stressful to be around."
"You will be stressed—just wait!"
...
Half an hour later—
Iroha and Su Yu finally found the dessert shop.
Even from outside, they could see it was full of girls.
Clearly, it was a popular spot.
The two entered and found a seat.
Iroha handed the menu to Su Yu.
"Senpai, you pick first."
"I'm not really a sweets fan. You order according to your taste," Su Yu said, shaking his head.
"Okay, then." Iroha took the menu, called the server, and started ordering.
Su Yu watched her silently.
After the waiter left—
Iroha turned to him with a bright smile.