"Miss, give it up. You can't beat him," someone said, watching the match unfold. It was clear that Alice and Sui weren't playing on the same level.
"I don't care! I want him to bark like a puppy!" Alice shouted indignantly.
"Woof woof woof."
"...Woof woof," Alice imitated a puppy's bark several times, her frustration growing. Tears welled up in her eyes, and it looked like she might burst into tears any moment.
"Sui, I will never forget this!" she cried, glaring at him with teary eyes, like a victim of bullying staring down a villain.
Sui, on the other hand, was speechless. He hadn't bullied her at all. It was Alice who insisted on challenging him.
With even just 1% of the dragon cells in his body activated, his speed and strength were leagues beyond that of ordinary people. Competing in something physical with him was like courting disaster.
Alice stomped her foot, her eyes still red, then turned around and ran off, furious.
Seeing Alice's defeat somehow comforted Erina, who had also been humiliated by Sui earlier. She suddenly felt a sense of balance, as if she weren't the only one who suffered.
After soaking in the hot springs and drinking a little wine, the girls were noticeably tired. Their consciousness seemed to blur after the intense physical exercise from earlier.
Noticing this, Sui suggested, "Let's call it a night."
"Agreed," Sōma nodded.
"Sui, see you tomorrow," Megumi said, supporting an unconscious Yoshino.
On the other side, Sōma helped a drowsy Ryoko to her feet. "Sui, you can handle Erina, right?"
"Yeah, I've got it," Sui replied, looking at Erina, who had already fallen asleep in his arms after her humiliating loss at table tennis.
Carrying the stubborn tsundere girl back to the room had become something of a routine for Sui whenever they spent time with the Polar Star group.
Once he set her down on the bed, something unexpected happened. The knot of her yukata loosened, and the fabric slipped from her shoulders, revealing her flawless, ivory-like skin.
Sui felt a sudden wave of heat. His body, while infused with dragon cells, was only slightly above average in terms of stamina. After six grueling days of training, followed by a relaxing soak in the hot spring and some alcohol, the exhaustion—and the effects of the alcohol(Alice shares the rest to the boys)—were starting to hit him.
Erina's cheeks were flushed pink, her skin glowing. She opened her eyes slightly, her gaze unfocused, lips slightly parted. Without warning, she reached out and wrapped her arms around him.
Instinctively, Sui embraced her. Her skin felt soft and smooth beneath his touch, and before he knew it, he was kissing her…
---
The next morning, Erina woke with a pounding headache. Groggily sitting up, she suddenly realized something alarming—she wasn't wearing any clothes. Her yukata lay scattered on the floor.
Her heart sank. 'Could it be...'
A feeling of dread washed over her as she glanced to her side and saw Sui still asleep beside her.
Erina's face paled, and her mind spun in panic. 'What happened last night?'
She felt like crying. 'Had she really…' with Sui of all people? 'How shameless!'
Just then, Sui stirred awake, stretching lazily. He blinked at her with a sleepy grin.
"Morning," he greeted.
"Stay away from me! Don't come near me!" Erina shrieked, clutching the blanket to her chest, her face flushed with both anger and embarrassment.
"Relax. I was a little drunk last night. I didn't mean to take advantage of you," Sui said with a helpless shrug. His memory was a bit hazy from the night before, but he recalled that it had been… enjoyable.
Erina glared at him, her violet eyes filled with a mixture of shame and rage. She knew he was telling the truth. She vaguely remembered embracing him first, but she had been drunk. Still, the thought mortified her.
She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. "What happened last night was an accident. Let's never speak of it again, okay?" she said, her voice firm.
"Alright," Sui agreed easily, but then he hesitated. "But… you're still my girlfriend, right?"
Erina shot him a fierce glare, choosing to stay silent.
Sui scratched his nose awkwardly. 'So… does that mean yes or no?'
They both dressed in silence and packed their things, preparing to leave. Throughout the entire process, Erina remained tight-lipped, her expression blank.
Sui started to feel uneasy. Though they had definitely crossed a boundary and now shared something deeper, he wasn't sure if Erina could accept it.
As they were about to leave, Sui spoke up. "Hey… how about a morning kiss?"
Erina turned to look at him, her eyes unreadable. Sui braced himself, half expecting her to storm off. But to his surprise, she leaned in and gave him a soft kiss on the cheek. It lingered just a moment longer than usual.
"Let's go," she said coldly.
"...Right," Sui replied, stunned.
The two of them stepped out of the hotel together. Since they had woken up late, the other students had already left.
"Looks like it's just us," Sui commented.
Just then, they saw Sōma approaching, looking confused as he dragged his suitcase behind him.
"Oh, you guys are still here!" Sōma said, hurrying over to join them.
"Yeah, let's go together," Sui replied, glancing at Erina, who remained expressionless.
Sōma also noticed that something seemed off with Erina. Her usual fiery temperament was absent, and it gave him an uneasy feeling.