[A-Note: Today's harvest is great so 5 chapters for you guys.]
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"Erina-sama, you have no experience when it comes to love. I don't mean to doubt Sui, but what if you've been emotionally deceived?" Hisako said, her voice filled with shame.
"Who... who's being emotionally deceived?!" Erina shouted, nearly exploding with anger. "I have nothing to do with that guy!"
Despite her words, Hisako's face showed clear disbelief. You two are living together, and you claim there's nothing between you?
Suddenly, Erina's expression shifted, and her voice grew worried. "Why did Grandpa call Sui? Is he going to hurt him?"
She knew her grandfather's strict nature, and if he misunderstood her situation with Sui...
"Could something happen to him?" she muttered, biting her lip, her face paling. Without hesitation, she dashed toward Tōtsuki's Head office.
"Wait, Erina-sama!" Hisako hurried after her.
——
"Isn't that Erina-sama? Why is she running so fast?" one student asked as she passed through the corridor.
"Yeah, what's going on?" another responded, bewildered.
It was unusual to see Erina, always composed and elegant, running without a care for her image.
Ten minutes later, Erina arrived breathless at her grandfather's office. I hope nothing's happened to him... she thought, her hand on the door.
Just as she was about to enter, bursts of laughter echoed from inside. She paused, stunned. Laughter? This... doesn't seem right.
Pushing the door open, Erina stepped inside and froze. There was her grandfather, Nakiri Senzaemon, sitting with Sui, both laughing heartily.
"This is a photo of Erina when she was five years old," Senzaemon said, handing Sui a picture.
In the photo, a tiny Erina was dressed like a princess, her porcelain doll-like features radiating cuteness.
"Very cute," Sui said with a smile.
"Haha, right? I have plenty more of her childhood photos, but they're not here. Next time, I'll show them to you," Senzaemon chuckled. "To be honest, this child has no life experience, is temperamental, and doesn't have the best personality. I'm counting on you to guide her."
"Of course," Sui responded.
Erina, still in shock, finally spoke up. "Grandpa, what are you talking about?"
"Ah, Erina, you're here," Senzaemon said, laughing even more. His satisfaction with Sui was clear. Initially, he had taken an interest in Sui because of his remarkable talents, including the God's Tongue and his connection to Erina. But now, after getting to know the boy, he liked him even more.
"Don't worry, I've entrusted you to Sui, and he has agreed to take care of you," he said with a hearty laugh.
"Y-You've entrusted me? What does that even mean?" Erina's eyes widened in shock.
"Haha, there's no need to worry. I won't oppose your relationship. In fact, I'm happy to see you've finally grown up, Erina," her grandfather said, his voice full of warmth.
Erina's face turned bright red, and she almost choked on her words. How did things end up like this?!
"Don't interfere in my life! Besides, there's nothing between me and this guy!" she roared before storming out of the office, slamming the door behind her.
Senzaemon could only shrug and say to Sui, "She's stubborn and quick to anger, but please take care of her. Be patient once you're married."
"Of course," Sui nodded calmly.
——
"Damn it, Grandpa is so meddlesome, and that guy is just as bad!" Erina fumed in her bedroom, throwing things onto the floor in a tantrum, like an irritated kitten.
Sui walked in, surveying the mess. "Erina, you're acting like a child. Who's going to want to marry you if you're like this?"
"What are you talking about? I don't care what Grandpa says, I'm not listening to him!" Erina snapped, even more enraged at the sight of him.
"But your grandfather has entrusted you to me. You can't exactly ignore that, can you?" Sui teased, smiling.
"I don't care! Grandpa's just an old fool!" she retorted, her voice shaking as her eyes turned red with frustration.
"Well, since we're already living together, it seems like no one else is going to marry you except me, right?" Sui continued to tease.
"What nonsense are you spouting? What does my marriage have to do with you?!" Erina's face flushed as she shot back defiantly.
Before Sui could respond, his phone buzzed. He glanced at it, surprised by the message.
"Huh? A meeting for all research societies? All leaders are required to attend?"
He read it out loud in confusion.
Erina also received the same message on her phone. "They've summoned me to attend the Elite Ten Council," she murmured, frowning slightly.
"What's it about?" Sui asked.
"It's a meeting for the Elite Ten," Erina replied, momentarily distracted from their argument.
"Strange. The meeting location is the same as mine," Sui said, thinking aloud. "Could it be that we're going to the same meeting?"
"You'll find out when you get there," Erina said absentmindedly.
"Right," Sui agreed. "Let's go together, then."
Erina nodded, but then realized she was supposed to be in a cold war with him! "I'll go by myself! I don't want to be seen with you—it'll lead to unnecessary misunderstandings!"
With that, she turned away with an air of haughty pride and left the room.
Sui shrugged, following her at a distance. Soon, the two of them arrived at the designated meeting room—one after the other.