"Sui, you've really changed. You're starting to dislike me now."
Rindō complained, playfully hitting Sui with her fists.
"Wait, Sui, are you and Rindō-senpai together?"
Sōma asked in surprise.
"Don't listen to her nonsense. She's just here to eat and drink for free."
Sui was at a loss for words, as he could already feel the suspicious gazes of both Erina and Alice directed at him.
"See, Sui, you really have changed. You're even dismissing your senpai's concern as just an excuse for free food and drinks. You weren't like this before. You used to treat me so well."
Rindō buried her face in Sui's chest, her small fists pounding lightly against him as she feigned sadness.
"Okay, okay, you're welcome to join the party."
Sui sighed, feeling a headache coming on. How could someone make mooching off others sound so elegant and dignified?
"Really?"
Rindō's head shot up instantly, her small canine teeth showing as she patted Sui's shoulder with a grin. "I knew you were the man I liked."
Watching her smile so brightly, Sui couldn't help but think, where was the sadness she had shown just moments ago?
"But Rindō-senpai, how did you know we were having a party?"
Sui asked curiously, his eyes drifting toward Yoshino, the one known to have the biggest mouth among them.
"Sui, what do you take me for?"
Yoshino retorted with an offended expression.
"Oh, I just guessed. The field training was ending today, so I figured there'd be a party."
Rindō replied with a grin, showing her small canine teeth again. "Alright, enough talking. Let's go eat. Actually, I mean, let's celebrate everyone passing the field training. By the way, Sui, got any rare ingredients recently?"
Sui rolled his eyes. As expected, she was only here for the food.
"Yes, I'm going to treat myself to a good meal to compensate for the torture I've been through these past few days."
Yoshino said, making a victory gesture, clearly delighted.
Another foodie.
Besides the residents of the Polar Star Dormitory, other guests included Mito Ikumi, Miyoko, and Hisako—all of whom had good relationships with either Sui or Erina.
*
Tonight's dinner was Sukiyaki (Beef Hot Pot). There was still plenty of Freezer Bison meat in stock, and since the price per unit wasn't high, Sui wasn't worried about these food enthusiasts.
As he was trailing behind the group, Sui suddenly felt a wet sensation on his cheek, as if he had been kissed. Turning around, he saw Alice smiling mischievously at him, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
Sui's heart fluttered, and he found the situation somewhat amusing.
But Alice was being really bold. It would have been bad if someone had seen what just happened.
"What if someone saw us?"
He couldn't help but ask.
"No one saw."
Alice replied cheekily and then leaned in for another quick kiss.
"Hurry up, you two!"
Erina called back to them.
"Coming, Erina!"
Alice laughed, then skipped ahead, clearly in a good mood.
As soon as she sat down, Alice urged impatiently, "Ryō-kun, bring it out!"
"Alright, alright."
Ryō responded, taking out the items.
"How did you get these?"
Rindō's eyes lit up instantly. It was illegal to sell alcohol to minors in Japan, and the last time she had gotten alcohol, it was brought back from abroad.
"Oh, Ryō looks like a bit of a delinquent, so the convenience store owner just sold it to him without asking."
Alice said with a triumphant smile.
"Huh? But that guy's a real bad boy, isn't he?"
Sōma asked, bewildered.
"Don't talk nonsense, you bastard."
Ryō grumbled in response, slightly embarrassed.
"Yeah, he really is a bad boy."
Rindō added in surprise.
Everyone nodded in agreement.
"Alice, isn't drinking a bad idea?"
Erina said hesitantly.
"Oh, Erina, of course you wouldn't dare drink. You're such a good girl."
Alice teased, her tone slightly mocking.
"Who… who said I'm a good girl?"
Erina blushed, her voice filled with indignation. She grabbed a glass, poured herself some wine, and downed it in one go.
But she choked almost immediately, her cheeks turning a bright red as she wasn't accustomed to drinking.
"As expected, Erina, you're still not up to it."
Alice laughed smugly and finished her own glass of wine.
"Who says I can't handle it! I'll show you!"
Erina said defiantly and then drank another glass.
After three glasses, Erina slumped onto the table, fast asleep.
Everyone looked on, speechless, as Erina effectively bowed out of the party just as it was getting started.
"I'll take care of Erina-sama."
Hisako said awkwardly, then helped Erina to the nearby sofa and covered her with a blanket.
By the time the party wound down, it was already early morning. Everyone had drunk a bit, and the fatigue from the field training was catching up with them. One by one, they drifted off to sleep.
Looking at the 'bodies' strewn around the room, Sui shook his head.
As he was about to grab a blanket, he suddenly felt someone hug him.
"Finally, everyone's asleep."
Alice let out a sigh of relief.
Sui turned around and looked into her clear eyes. He was taken aback. "Alice, you're not drunk?"
He recalled that Alice had also drunk quite a bit earlier.
"That was just boiled water! How else could we get some alone time?"
Alice puffed up her cheeks, feigning irritation.
Sui was at a loss for words. So, Alice had gotten Erina drunk on purpose.
"Erina was being such a nuisance; I had to make sure she fell asleep!"
Alice said proudly, as if her actions were entirely justified. "But it was easier than I thought. I just had to provoke her a little."
Sui glanced at Erina, curled up on the sofa like a kitten with a faint smile on her lips, and couldn't help but think that compared to her cunning cousin, this tsundere was sometimes truly simple and straightforward—or perhaps just silly and cute.
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