Erina was momentarily stunned. What Sui said made sense.
"Maybe you misplaced it carelessly and couldn't find it. I told you before to manage your things properly."
Sui lectured her.
Blushing, Erina replied, "Sorry... I'm sorry. What did you want to talk to me about?"
"I have a small shop, and I'm expecting good business today. I'd like to ask for your help."
Sui explained.
"Hmph! There's no way I'd work in a low-class restaurant like that!"
Erina's tsundere attitude flared up again, her voice full of disdain.
"One Chansey egg."
Sui raised a finger.
"...Let me make this clear first, I'm not staying too late tonight!"
And so, the two of them made their way to Sui's snack bar.
It wasn't far from Sui's apartment, just a few steps away.
"This is it."
Sui said as they reached the entrance.
"You're a student of Tōtsuki, after all. Running a place like this is a disgrace to Tōtsuki."
Erina sneered, her taunting skill starting again.
But Sui, well-accustomed to her tsundere ways, didn't bother reacting.
As soon as he opened the door, their neighbor aunt approached with a smile.
"Haha, Sui! Opening up again, I see?"
She chuckled, glancing at Erina, who stood beside Sui. Her eyes sparkled as she asked, "Is this your girlfriend? She's beautiful."
"No… No way!" Erina's face turned crimson, and she quickly denied it.
"Yes." Sui admitted casually.
Erina flushed even redder, shooting him a fierce glare.
The aunt grinned, "You two seem so close. If your late parents could see this, they'd surely be very happy."
"Yeah."
Sui nodded, chatting with the aunt for a bit before entering the shop. Erina followed him inside, still fuming.
"Your job is to serve customers and handle the payments."
Sui instructed.
"Got it!"
Erina grumbled. She had done internships at restaurants before, so she knew what to do.
Leaving the tsundere at the counter, Sui headed to the kitchen to start preparing food for Kagura Sakaya.
About an hour and a half later...
"Sui, someone's here for you."
Erina walked into the kitchen, her tone indifferent.
"Oh."
When Sui stepped out, he saw a beautiful girl with silver-white hair looking around the shop.
Upon seeing Sui, she smiled. "I thought I was in the wrong place."
It was Yuzuki.
"You're here for the food?"
Sui ask.
"Yeah."
Yuzuki nodded, her eyes drifting to Erina, who was staring back at her.
Sensing the tension, Sui cleared his throat. "Just wait a moment."
He headed back to the kitchen, packing ten servings of Sinangag Fried Rice into a takeout box. When he returned, he handed it over. "Here's your order."
Izayoi took it, struggling slightly with the weight.
"Is it heavy?"
Sui asked.
"I'm fine."
She smiled, glancing at Erina with a hint of curiosity. "Is she your girlfriend? She's very beautiful."
Before Sui could respond, Erina scoffed, "Yes. And you are his classmate?"
"Mhm."
Izayoi nodded, disappointment flickering in her eyes before she smiled again. "I'll be off, then."
"Take care."
Sui escorted her to the door and watched as she boarded the tram.
"So, she's your classmate? You seem to care about her a lot."
As Sui returned inside, Erina's voice carried a trace of jealousy.
"Huh? Are you jealous?"
Sui was genuinely surprised.
A tsundere jealous? Am I dreaming?
"You idiot! How could I possibly be jealous?"
Erina's face turned bright red, and she screamed in shame and anger.
"Huh? Sui, is that you?"
A surprised voice came from the doorway.
Sui turned to see a beautiful girl with long black hair standing there.
It was Kasumigaoka Utaha.
"You opened a shop here?" she asked curiously. She had been on her way back to the apartment after school but unexpectedly ran into Sui.
"Yes."
Sui nodded.
"Huh? You know each other?"
Standing next to Kasumigaoka Utaha was a girl with long blonde hair tied in twin braids, wearing a sailor suit and black stockings. She looked at them with curiosity.
Sui took a moment to recognize her—it was Sawamura Eriri, the golden-haired girl from the anime [How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend] from his previous life.
"Yes, we're neighbors."
Kasumigaoka Utaha nodded, recalling the omelette rice she'd eaten at Sui's place.
"Shall we have dinner here?" she asked Sawamura Eriri.
"Sure."
Eriri agreed nonchalantly.
As the two entered the shop, they noticed Erina standing at the counter.
"Huh? You're that girl from last time, right?"
Kasumigaoka asked in surprise.
"Who's she? Is she the shop owner's girlfriend?" Eriri asked. As the daughter of a diplomat, she had attended many aristocratic events and met many high-society women, but Erina's angelic beauty and refined temperament stood out.
"Actually, she's..."
Kasumigaoka whispered something in Eriri's ear.
"No way!?"
Eriri gasped in shock.
"What a shame. Such a beautiful girl, using her body for money."
She remarked sadly.
"Maybe her family's fallen on hard times."
Kasumigaoka chimed in.
"What can I get for you?"
Erina approached, her tone neutral.
Eriri instinctively glanced at the menu, and when she saw the prices, her eyes widened in disbelief.