"Of course," Sui responded with a soft smile.
"Yes, but it also needs approval from our guests," Hinako added. "If the dish receives good feedback after its launch, we'll consider adding it as a regular item on the menu."
Sui nodded, thinking that this could help him complete the additional tasks assigned by the system.
"You did great today, Sui-kun," Hinako smiled, her eyes twinkling. "It was satisfying to see Taki so flustered. I've never liked that arrogant jerk."
She stood on her tiptoes and, with some effort, patted Sui's head affectionately, her lips curling into a playful smile.
For a moment, Sui was speechless. But, surprisingly, it felt nice to have his head patted by such a kind and warm older sister figure.
"Oops!"
Hinako, wearing traditional wooden clogs and already on the shorter side, suddenly lost her balance and nearly fell.
Quick to react, Sui caught her, holding her steady in his arms.
Hinako froze, stunned by the sudden closeness. It was the first time she had ever been held by a man. Though she had harbored feelings for Shinomiya Kojiro during her time at Totsuki, she had never acted on them. After graduation, she poured all her energy into running Kirinoya, leaving little room for romance.
Now, at 27, despite her maturity and success, her heart still felt as innocent and inexperienced as a young girl's.
Feeling Sui's warmth, Hinako's face flushed a deep red.
"Are you alright, Senpai?" Sui asked, concerned.
"Ah, yes, I'm fine. I just nearly tripped, that's all," she replied, offering a somewhat strained smile as she gently stepped out of his embrace.
"Well, to celebrate your win against Taki and your new dish, let's have a party tonight!" she said, beaming.
"Great idea! We haven't had a get-together after work in a while. It'll be the perfect occasion to welcome Sui-kun and Megumi, even if it's a little late," Chef Ono agreed with a hearty laugh.
Soon, the evening rush began. Kirinoya was buzzing with customers, but finally, around eight or nine o'clock, the crowd started to thin.
That night, Hinako closed the restaurant early to host a small welcome party for Sui and Megumi. The chefs each prepared their specialties, and Sui made the steamed buns he had served earlier in the afternoon.
Kirinoya, being a high-end restaurant, was renowned for its exclusive dining experience, so it was rare to have the chance to feast on dishes prepared by all the chefs. Sui and Megumi didn't hold back, enjoying every bite, especially Hinako's dishes, which were exceptionally delicious—befitting a former Elite Ten graduate.
Naturally, sake flowed freely throughout the night. Megumi hesitated at first, knowing she had work the next day, but eventually, she gave in to the festive mood and drank more than she intended, her cheeks turning rosy.
The one who drank the most, however, was Hinako. Whether it was due to happiness or something deeper, she drank far more than usual, and by the end of the night, she was completely drunk.
After the meal, Ono and the other chefs said their goodbyes, leaving only Sui, Hinako, and Megumi in the restaurant.
"Don't worry about cleaning up," Hinako said, her face flushed and her words slightly slurred. "The waitstaff will handle it in the morning. You two go ahead and leave."
"Alright, we'll head out then," Sui nodded, noticing that Megumi was a bit tipsy herself.
Just as he was about to help Megumi out the door, there was a sudden thud. He turned around and saw Hinako sprawled on the floor, clearly too drunk to stand.
Sighing, Sui helped Megumi into a chair before going over to assist Hinako. He gently lifted her up and asked, "Senpai, are you alright?"
She opened her eyes and gave a tipsy smile. "I'm fine, Sui-kun. You can go now."
Sui couldn't help but feel exasperated. She was lying on the floor, and she still insisted everything was fine?
"Where do you live, Senpai? I'll take you home," he offered, unable to leave her like this.
"I live upstairs," she replied with a lazy smile. "Just take me up."
After graduating, Hinako had dedicated her life to Kirinoya, treating it like her home. She even lived on the premises.
Sui nodded and picked her up in his arms, carrying her upstairs.
"Oh my, how embarrassing," Hinako murmured, her head resting against his shoulder. "Being carried like this by a kohai more than ten years younger than me... How will I face anyone if they find out?"
Sui said nothing and quietly made his way up to the second floor, where the living quarters were. The space was cozy, with a living room, bedroom, and bathroom, decorated in a simple, warm style.
"Sui-kun, you're the first boy to come up here," Hinako said shyly, her face growing even redder.
"Are you sure you'll be alright from here?" Sui asked after setting her down gently.
However, as soon as he let go, Hinako's legs buckled, and she collapsed back onto him, her body burning with the heat of intoxication.
"Yeah, I'm fine," she insisted, though her body said otherwise.
Sui sighed. "Forget it. I'll help you to your bed."
"What? Y-you're going to put me in bed?" Hinako stammered, clearly misunderstanding his intentions. Her face turned crimson, and her eyes widened in alarm.
Sui, realizing her mistake, sighed again. "I'm just helping you sleep, Senpai."
"Ah… I see," Hinako sighed with relief, placing a hand on her chest. "I thought… I thought you were going to do something else."
Sui carefully carried her into her bedroom. The space was modest, with only a bed and a dressing table. He laid her down gently, then knelt down to remove her wooden clogs.
As he did so, Hinako's face flushed once again. Watching her kohai carefully take off her shoes filled her with a strange sense of embarrassment.
"Should I take off your socks too?" Sui asked innocently.
Hinako blushed even deeper and hesitated for a moment before whispering, "...Take them off."
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[A-N: Looking for something new to read? Check out my other work, Kaguya-sama Wants My Surrender! Stick with it until the second horror game arc, and I promise—you'll be hooked!!]
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