A girl's love for sweets—
Perhaps it's like her longing for a sweet romance.
As a charming underclassman, Isshiki Iroha looked especially adorable as she ate her dessert.
"Senpai, try this one," she said, scooping a spoonful of her dessert and holding it up to Su Yu.
Su Yu, without hesitation, took the bite.
Iroha's cheeks instantly turned pink—she had thought he might refuse, but instead…
"Indirect kisses are boring. I prefer the real thing," Su Yu said, looking straight at her.
"I… I'm not mentally ready for that yet," Iroha stammered, her face flushing deep red.
"No worries, I can teach you." Su Yu reached out and held her small hand.
"Senpai, could you give me a little more time?" she asked shyly.
Su Yu didn't reply. He simply stared at her intently.
Iroha lowered her head, visibly torn between acceptance and resistance.
After a few seconds—
"You really are impossible, Senpai… just this once, okay?" she mumbled, scooting to the side to make room beside her.
"Are you sure, kouhai?" Su Yu asked, voice low.
"If I refuse… you'd probably hate me, right?" Iroha kept her eyes down.
Su Yu didn't answer—this was classic strategic retreat to advance.
After a moment, he stood and sat down beside her.
Iroha's eyes widened; she hadn't expected him to actually follow through.
"You think I'm the kind of light novel protagonist who hesitates forever? I'm a bad senpai," Su Yu smirked, tilting her chin up gently.
"B-bad senpai…" she mumbled, unable to meet his gaze as her whole face blushed.
Su Yu leaned in slowly—
Just then—
"Su Yu-kun?"
A familiar voice broke the mood.
Su Yu froze and turned to see Yuigahama Yui… and Yukinoshita Yukino.
Yukino's icy stare sent a chill down his spine—as if winter had suddenly arrived.
He forced a weak smile and quickly distanced himself from Iroha.
Ebina Hina wore a grin. Miura Yumiko looked mildly envious.
"Yukinoshita-senpai, Yui-senpai, Miura-senpai, Ebina-senpai—please, take a seat," Iroha said, standing and greeting them politely.
"Yukinon?" Yui looked at Yukino for a cue.
Yukino walked straight over to Su Yu and sat down beside him.
Only after that did the other girls sit across the table.
"Yukinoshita-senpai, I'm sorry. I invited Senpai on my own. Last time at his place, we sang karaoke, and I just wanted to thank him…" Iroha trailed off, voice soft.
"No need to apologize. That's your freedom. But if you choose to be with him, know that moments like this one are bound to happen again," Yukino said calmly.
Iroha froze, stunned silent.
She had never considered what Yukino had just pointed out.
"Yukinon…" Su Yu reached for her hand.
A second later, Yukino's shoe stomped lightly on his foot.
She didn't respond verbally—her actions spoke volumes. She was clearly jealous.
Su Yu, unfazed, held her hand as if nothing had happened.
Yukino looked at him, her expression still cold.
But after a moment, she slowly pulled her foot back.
Jealous or not, she didn't want to go overboard.
She had long since accepted Su Yu's flaws. Jealousy was fine—too much would be unbecoming.
"What dessert do you want?" Su Yu asked.
"You choose for me," she said after glancing at the menu.
"Got it." Su Yu smiled, called the waiter, and ordered for Yukino and the rest of the group.
Then, he turned to Iroha.
"Sorry, kouhai. Looks like your treat will have to wait until next time."
"Y-yeah, okay…" Iroha nodded quietly.
She glanced at Yukino again.
Surprisingly, Yukino didn't seem the least bit bothered.
This confused Iroha—wasn't she supposed to be upset?
What's more, from what Yukino had said earlier…
It sounded like she didn't even mind if Iroha and Su Yu ended up together?
...
Ten minutes later—
Iroha had completely blended into the girls' circle, chatting about dessert shops.
She knew way more about sweets than Yui or the others.
She even named places in Tokyo like an expert.
Meanwhile, Su Yu leaned over and whispered to Yukino about Hiratsuka-sensei.
Yukino didn't know the details either.
If anyone knew more about the Hiratsuka family, it would be her older sister.
But there was no rush—once Hiratsuka returned, they'd find out.
"By the way, when are we launching our game?" Yukino asked quietly.
"We'll start promoting it first—post trailers on our video site, start pre-registrations. Under the title of Madoka Side Story, the best release window would be September," Su Yu replied thoughtfully.
"Once the Madoka anime airs, players will likely seek out the game to heal themselves afterward," Yukino said, her voice tinged with amusement.
"You seem to be enjoying this, Yukinon," Su Yu teased.
Yukino shot him a glare.
Su Yu laughed and lifted a spoonful of dessert toward her lips.
Yukino accepted it naturally.
Seeing that, Su Yu devoted himself to feeding her bite after bite.
Across the table, Yui noticed this and let out a small sigh of relief—clearly, Yukino wasn't angry.
Miura Yumiko looked openly envious.
Ebina Hina and Iroha continued chatting away.
...
Meanwhile, at the Hiratsuka family estate—
Hiratsuka Shizuka sat in stunned silence at her father's words.
"You decide: adopt her, or go back to those marriage meetings," said Hiratsuka Nohara flatly.
"I…" Hiratsuka's expression turned complicated.
Her father's sister—who had left the family decades ago—had recently sent a handwritten letter, delivered by a young woman.
She carried both the letter and a family heirloom.
After verifying it was genuine, Nohara chose to help.
Upon learning of the girl's condition, he made an offer—
The Hiratsuka family would take her in. She wouldn't have to change her surname and could inherit part of the estate.
After some hesitation, the girl had accepted.
Now, Nohara had called Shizuka home to make a choice.
Deep down, he thought Shizuka and Su Yu were well matched—despite the age gap.
"Where is she now?" Shizuka finally asked.
"She should arrive tomorrow," said Tamura-san, the butler.
"When she gets here, take a leave from school and look after her. Her mental state is unstable. She's… had thoughts of ending her life," Nohara said solemnly.
"I… I understand," Shizuka nodded quietly.