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In the following days, Sui found himself with a lot of free time, as it was the holiday season and he didn't have any classes.
During the day, he would lounge around with Tohru and Kanna, watching TV, or help Erina with food tasting to ease some of the pressure off her. Occasionally, he would visit the residents of Polaris Dormitory to hang out and have some fun.
Of course, Erina would sometimes tag along.
However, every time Erina came with him, Megumi would blush at the sight of Sui, seemingly too shy to make eye contact. Sui found the situation a bit troubling, unsure of how to address it.
There was still quite a bit of tuna sashimi left over from last time, so Sui brought some to Polaris Dormitory to share. After everyone had a taste, they all praised how delicious it was.
At night, Sui continued to run his shop. After all, it was his only source of income, and he couldn't afford to slack off when it came to making money.
Since he hadn't opened the shop in quite some time, when he did reopen, it was flooded with customers. Both Sui and Tohru were swamped, barely managing to keep up with the orders.
To thank his loyal customers, who had been waiting outside his shop for days, Sui gave each of them an extra glass of Sakeyashi Fruit drinks as a token of appreciation.
A few days passed like this.
One afternoon, Sui and Erina decided to visit Polaris Dormitory again.
By now, the once-proud Erina had become good friends with everyone there.
"Megumi, Sōma, Sui, and Miss Erina are here to visit again!" Grandma Fumio called out to the others in the yard.
Megumi and the others were tending to the vegetable garden nearby, which was filled with produce that Isshiki had grown himself. The quality of the vegetables was outstanding, far superior to anything available on the market, though they still couldn't quite match Sui's almond cabbage.
"Hey, here for another visit?" Yoshino called out excitedly, running over in a refreshing short-sleeved shirt and shorts.
Every time they visited, Yoshino would tease Erina, saying it was as if they were a couple paying a visit, which never failed to make Erina furious.
"Ah, Sui, here to accompany Miss Erina again?" Isshiki appeared from the garden, still wearing his infamous nude apron, holding a handful of freshly picked vegetables.
"It's really indecent!" Erina blushed, glancing away. Though she had seen it countless times, she still found the sight offensive to her moral sensibilities.
Just then, Ryoko and Megumi approached as well.
Megumi, dressed in a coo light green sundress, revealed her fair arms and legs. She wore a white sunhat and carried a basket of fresh vegetables, radiating a fresh, summery vibe. The moment she noticed Sui looking at her, her face flushed, and she quickly lowered her head.
"I brought more sashimi for everyone to enjoy," Sui said with a smile, handing over a box.
Yoshino immediately grabbed the box, licking her lips. "You're so thoughtful! You always bring gifts when you visit."
"Indeed," Isshiki added with a smile. "When you leave, be sure to take some freshly picked vegetables with you."
"We'll gladly accept," Sui chuckled.
Standing off to the side, Erina felt a strange sense of familiarity, almost as if they truly were a couple visiting old friends.
Afterward, everyone gathered to play poker.
Just then, Sui received a text message from Alice.
"Hehe, I'm back!"
As soon as he read the message, Alice's playful and mischievous image popped into his mind.
Alice had been in Northern Europe for the past few days, visiting her parents after a long time apart.
"My parents are back too," came another text message from Alice.
"Oh, and by the way, my mom talks about you often," the third message read.
Sui couldn't help but feel a bit speechless, though he did have a favorable impression of Alice's mother. Leonora was elegant and noble, and there was something endearing about her when she spoke.
Alice family had been living abroad for many years, and now that they were finally back, the Nakiri family was due for a proper reunion. After all, it was rare for the whole family to gather.
At that moment, Erina also received the news. With a conflicted expression, she said, "My uncle and aunt are back. Grandpa wants us to have dinner together."
"That sounds nice," Sui nodded absentmindedly before pausing. "Wait, 'us'?"
This was supposed to be a family dinner, right?
"Well, looks like you two are heading toward a big milestone," Yoshino teased with a grin.
"A-a milestone?" Erina stammered, her cheeks flushing crimson.
"Yoshino's right," Grandma Fumio added with a smile. "If you're invited to the Nakiri family gathering, it means they see you as one of their own."
"Wait, does that mean you're meeting Miss Erina's parents, Sui?" Sōma chimed in, surprised.
"W-what are you all talking about?!" Erina's ears turned bright red, and she shouted in a mix of embarrassment and frustration, though deep down, a sweet feeling blossomed in her heart.
Meanwhile, Megumi stood quietly to the side, looking a little downcast.
"Well, I've already met the commander-in-chief, haven't I?" Sui scratched his head.
"That's different," Ryoko interjected. "This time, you'll be meeting the entire Nakiri family. It's like your first official visit."
"So, what are you waiting for? Start getting ready!" Ryoko urged.
"Getting ready? For what?" Sui asked, confused.
"For meeting the family, of course! You need a gift, and you should dress formally," Ryoko explained.
Sui was a little taken aback. 'It's just a simple dinner—do I really need to take it this seriously?'
"She's right. Families like the Nakiris are big on etiquette," Yoshino added. "You should definitely prepare."
Hearing their words, Erina, who initially thought it was just a casual meal, began to grow nervous.
"Let's head back, Sui," she said, her anxiety creeping in.
Sui sighed inwardly, watching her fret. 'Why does it feel like she's the one meeting the parents, not me?'
With no other choice, he left Polaris Dormitory with Erina.
"Grandpa loves tea, so maybe you could bring some as a gift. But… you don't have any formal clothes, do you? I wonder if there's enough time to buy something…" Erina fretted, her worry palpable.
Sui was at a loss for words. 'Why is she more nervous than I am?'