The next morning, Erina stood in the bathroom, dressed in pink pajamas with her blonde hair in disarray. A toothbrush was in her hand, and her mouth was foaming with toothpaste.
Her forehead veins throbbed in frustration as she glanced at Sui, who stood beside her, brushing his teeth in front of the mirror.
"Can you move over a bit? You're squishing me!" she mumbled through a mouthful of foam.
At that moment, her usual elegant, composed image was nowhere to be seen.
Sui sighed and took a step back. After rinsing his mouth, he spat the water out.
"Can you be more careful? You splashed it all over my face!" Erina protested, near tears.
"Well, who told you to get up at the same time as me?" Sui retorted.
"Today's the freshman ceremony! I have to go on stage to receive the award!" Erina exclaimed in a mix of frustration and embarrassment.
She had never lived like this with a boy before, and the thought that they would continue living together like this made her feel desperate. Her life, she thought, had taken a dark turn.
The two of them finished their noisy morning routine and returned to their rooms.
Sui, preparing for his first day at Tōtsuki Culinary Academy, changed into the school's uniform.
He knocked on Erina's door and asked, "Erina, are you ready?"
Erina opened the door, now dressed in her school uniform.
"How many times have I told you? Don't call me by my first name! You can address me as 'Erina-san' or 'Erina-sama'!"
"No problem, Erina."
"..."
"In any case," she sighed, "when we get to Tōtsuki, pretend you don't know me. I don't want anyone to know we're living together."
"But we are living together, aren't we?" Sui replied hesitantly.
"Don't say it like that! It sounds too suggestive!" Erina growled, her forehead veins pulsing again. "I'm just forced to share the same bathroom with you!"
"Fine, fine," Sui replied, helpless.
At that moment, Hisako's voice called from outside the door.
"Erina-sama, are you ready? Don't forget, you're receiving an award today."
Erina froze in shock! She had forgotten Hisako came to pick her up every morning. If Hisako found out a strange boy was in her room, her reputation would be ruined!
"Is someone at the door?" Sui asked.
"Erina-sama, did I just hear a boy's voice in your room?" Hisako called out from the hallway, surprised.
"No, no! You must have misheard!" Erina responded, panic rising.
"I'm coming in, Erina-sama."
Footsteps approached, and the doorknob began to turn.
In desperation, Erina shoved Sui onto the bed, threw the covers over him, and climbed in herself, trying to hide him.
Just as the door opened, Hisako entered.
"Hmm? I could've sworn I heard something," Hisako muttered to herself. Her eyes then landed on Erina, lying in bed, and she looked concerned. "Erina-sama, are you feeling alright?"
Under the covers, Sui found himself overwhelmed by the scent of Erina's perfume. His face was pressed against something soft, and his nose was barely able to breathe. Instinctively, he opened his mouth, and his tongue brushed against whatever it was. It tasted sweet.
Erina smiled awkwardly. "I... I'm not feeling well, Hisako. You should head to school without me." Then, in a hushed voice directed at Sui, she muttered, "Stop licking me!"
Her face turned bright red as she realized what had just happened. The bastard's face was pressed against her chest, and he had licked her!
She felt like collapsing on the spot.
Hisako, looking worried, asked, "Erina-sama, where are you sick?"
"N-no, don't come any closer!" Erina shouted, her voice rising in panic. "Just go ahead! I'll be fine."
"Alright," Hisako hesitated, "I'll go prepare some medicinal soup later." With that, she left.
As soon as Hisako was gone, Erina leaped out of bed, her face flushed red with anger and embarrassment.
"Get out of here!" she yelled.
Sui emerged from the covers, confused. "What did you cover my face with? I could barely breathe!"
Tears of frustration welled up in Erina's eyes. She couldn't even explain what had happened and resorted to yelling, "You pervert! Idiot! Scoundrel!"
Sui was left bewildered, unsure of why she was so upset.
---
At the Freshman Ceremony
"Now, please welcome the representative of the first-year students, Erina Nakiri, to the stage to receive the annual medal," announced the emcee.
"Wow, it's Miss Erina! Not only is she beautiful, but she's also the top student in her year. If I could date her for just one day, I'd die happy!" one student said.
"Are you trying to get expelled for saying something like that in Tōtsuki?" another replied.
"Erina-sama, my goddess!" a third shouted.
But after waiting for a long time, Erina still hadn't appeared on stage.
"Erina Nakiri? Erina Nakiri-san?" the emcee repeated anxiously.
——
Meanwhile...
"You idiot! Now I'm late for the freshman ceremony!" Erina shouted as she rushed through the Tōtsuki campus, her frustration spilling over.
If any of the students saw her like this, they would be shocked. Was this really the elegant, untouchable queen of Tōtsuki, Erina Nakiri?
Sui shrugged helplessly. "Who told you to hide me under the covers?"