"How could there be a strange man in Miss Erina's bedroom? I must be dreaming, it must be."
Hisako Arato muttered to herself, then walked out with a somewhat dazed expression.
"Hisako, she..."
Erina Nakiri said, looking bewildered.
"She must have been scared silly, right?"
Satou guessed.
"W-w-what do we do! Our secret has been discovered!"
Erina Nakiri was so anxious that tears welled up in her eyes, and her voice was on the verge of crying, "What do we do! If this gets out, not only me, but the Nakiri's reputation will be ruined!"
"Hisako shouldn't tell anyone, right?"
Satou said.
"What if she does?"
Erina Nakiri retorted.
"In that case, Erina, there's only one way now."
Satou said.
"What way?"
Erina Nakiri asked hurriedly.
"Of course, it's to admit our relationship."
Satou said with a serious expression.
"I have no relationship with you!"
Erina Nakiri was so angry that she almost spat out blood, "I'm just forced to share a bathroom with you!"
The next day.
"Another button is missing, and the cuff is torn. As expected, I shouldn't let the Tsundere wash clothes."
Satou sighed, put on his wrinkled school uniform, and went to Erina Nakiri's room, finding her still sitting in her bedroom, staring blankly.
"Huh, hasn't Hisako come to call you yet today?"
Satou asked in surprise.
"Mm."
Erina Nakiri nodded, worriedly saying, "I called her, but no one answered."
"As expected, the shock from yesterday was too great, and she hasn't recovered yet."
Satou nodded.
"Speaking of which, isn't it all your fault?"
Erina Nakiri gnashed her silver teeth, shouting irritably.
"That's why I said, why don't we just make our relationship clear?"
Satou suggested.
"I have no relationship with you whatsoever!"
Erina Nakiri roared.
For the next few days, Hisako Arato took leave. It seemed she still hadn't recovered from the shock of Miss Erina living with someone.
During these days, Satou, as usual, attended classes during the day and worked at the small shop with Erina Nakiri in the evening.
The shop's business was exceptionally good, with the limited daily dishes always selling out in a very short time.
"Host has completed the task of selling three hundred portions of food, receiving the reward: Four Joy Dumplings recipe."
On this day, Satou had only sold half of his dishes when he had already completed the task ahead of schedule.
Satou then opened the recipe description.
"Four Joy Dumplings
Recipe Level: Silver
Effect: Strengthens the body."
"Strengthens the body?"
Satou's eyes lit up.
"Yes, the more you eat, the better the user's physical condition will become."
The system explained.
"Not bad."
Satou nodded, and just then...
"Satou, are you there?"
Kaga Aoi, whom he hadn't seen in many days, walked in from outside the shop. When she saw the packed customers, she was immediately surprised.
She remembered that it was very quiet here just a few days ago, and she didn't expect the business to have become so good now!
"You're here."
Satou greeted with a smile.
"Mm!"
Kaga Aoi nodded. Then, she was drawn to Erina Nakiri, who was standing at the counter.
"Satou, is she your girlfriend? She's so beautiful!"
She asked with immense surprise. It was her first time seeing such a beautiful girl.
Satou hadn't spoken yet when Erina Nakiri already explained from the side, "I'm not his girlfriend! We're just ordinary friends!"
"Really?"
Kaga Aoi clearly didn't quite believe it. If they were just ordinary friends, how could she come to help him with his business?
Clearly, their relationship was far from ordinary!
This made her expression dim.
"Have you had dinner yet?"
Satou asked.
"I've already eaten."
Kaga Aoi nodded.
"You haven't been around these past few days. Is business at your shop very busy?"
Satou asked.
"It's alright, I guess."
Kaga Aoi said casually, but she clearly seemed a bit distracted.
"What's wrong? Did something happen recently?"
Satou couldn't help but ask with concern. He still cared a lot about this childhood friend.
Kaga Aoi hesitated for a moment before saying, "A new restaurant opened across from my house, and its business is very good. It's drawn away a lot of our customers, and my father has been in a bad mood these past two days."
"So that's what it is."
Satou suddenly understood. Seeing Kaga Aoi's sad expression, he said, "How about this: I'll go over and help you tomorrow? See if we can attract the customers back."
"Really?"
Kaga Aoi looked up in surprise. How could she have forgotten? Satou was very capable now!
With his help, their Izakaya might really be able to regain its vitality!
"Mm, of course."
Satou nodded. His task was complete, so he could take a day off tomorrow.
Besides, he couldn't bear to see Uncle Lu He's Izakaya close down like that.
After seeing Lu He Aoi off, Satou continued to operate for another hour before closing up and heading home.
That evening, he took the opportunity to practice the newly acquired Four Joy Dumplings recipe.
The next day, as Satou and Erina Nakiri walked out of their rooms together, preparing to go to school, they unexpectedly saw Hisako Arato waiting in the living room.
Since Hisako Arato had taken a few days off, Erina Nakiri had been going to school with Satou.
Seeing the unexpected appearance of Secretary Zi, Erina Nakiri was caught off guard. Blushing, she softly explained, "Hisako, actually, between us..."
"It's alright, Miss Erina. I've thought it through."
Hisako Arato smiled slightly and said, "You've always been alone, Miss Erina, with no other friends besides me. Now, to see you open your heart and find someone you like, I'm truly very happy!"
"Don't worry, I absolutely won't tell anyone!"
Hisako Arato then looked at Satou, "You must treat Miss Erina well. If you dare to treat her badly, I will absolutely not let you off!"
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