Chapter 453: Chapter 452: You Look Cute When You Sneeze (end)
Nino hesitated for a moment. Though she was reluctant, she snorted softly, turned her head away, folded her arms, and in her typical tsundere tone, said, "It's my loss, I admit it."
Despite her fiery temperament, Nino wasn't unreasonable, and she took her cooking seriously. Beneath her sharp attitude, she was genuine and had a warm personality.
Utaha smiled faintly and nodded. "Alright then, let's start the lesson."
"Umm..." Yotsuba raised her hand hesitantly.
"What is it now?" Utaha asked with a hint of impatience.
"Well... it seems like class time is over," Yotsuba replied with an awkward smile.
"Huh?" Utaha blinked, then looked at the time. "It really is. Time flew by so quickly."
Ichika checked her own watch, brushing her hair back with a light laugh. "So, no class today, huh?"
Nino was momentarily stunned before a playful grin spread across her face. "What a shame, Kasumigaoka-sensei," she teased.
Utaha's brow twitched, a dark shadow crossing her face as she gritted her teeth in frustration. Sui could only shrug, sensing her irritation. "Well, senpai, I guess we should head out now."
"Yeah..." Utaha sighed in defeat.
"Wait a minute, Sui! Can I add you as a contact?" Yotsuba quickly trotted over, pulling out her phone.
"Sure," Sui agreed with a nod.
"I want your contact too!" Ichika chimed in, her tone as casual and sisterly as ever. Despite being the same age as her siblings, she carried a more mature air. "And hey, if you have time, could you cook for us again? Of course, we'll pay!"
Sui chuckled at the thought. He doubted they realized just how expensive their request might be.
"I'm pretty busy, but we'll see when there's an opportunity."
The three of them then exchanged contact information.
Itsuki lingered nearby, hesitating. As a self-proclaimed foodie, she found Sui's cooking irresistible, and it took all her willpower to resist eating more earlier. Now, she was regretting holding back.
"Itsuki, aren't you going to exchange contact info with Sui-kun?" Ichika asked, tilting her head.
"Hmph! I don't need it!" Itsuki pouted, cheeks puffing up in her usual adorable manner as she turned her head away stubbornly.
"What about Nino?" Ichika continued, shifting her gaze to her other sister.
"I don't want it either!" Nino declared after a brief pause. While part of her wanted to ask Sui for cooking tips, she remembered he was Utaha's boyfriend—essentially her 'rival'. She folded her arms and huffed.
Sui simply shrugged, preparing to leave with Utaha. However, just as they reached the door, a quiet voice called out.
"Um... excuse me."
It was Miku, standing shyly with her head down, avoiding eye contact.
"Oh? Miku, do you want to exchange contact info with Sui-kun too?" Ichika asked, smiling like the big sister she was.
Miku nodded silently.
Sui sighed, but he went ahead and exchanged information with her. During the process, he caught another glimpse of her phone screen—strange symbols and what looked like a treasure map or a secret code.
His imagination began to run wild, wondering if Miku was part of some secret organization.
Just then, he felt a sharp glare.
Miku was staring at him, her face expressionless but intense.
Feeling guilty for snooping, Sui quickly cleared his throat. "Your phone wallpaper is... pretty interesting."
A visible blush spread across Miku's face, and she quickly averted her gaze, stroking her cheek. In her usual soft and innocent tone, she muttered, "Don't forget to contact me."
"Oh, right... sure." Sui agreed, still puzzled by her eccentric behavior but figuring he had stumbled upon something important.
By the time they stepped out of the apartment, the sky had darkened. Streetlights flickered on, and the aroma of dinner drifted from nearby restaurants.
"It looks like my attempt at tutoring today was a complete failure," Utaha sighed, offering Sui a helpless smile.
"But those five sisters aren't so bad," Sui said with a grin. "They may be rich girls who hate studying, but their personalities are actually quite nice."
"Hmm, I didn't expect you to become so popular with them," Utaha teased, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. She glanced at him with a half-smile. "It's been less than a day, and you've already gotten the contact info of three girls. Impressive."
Sensing a hint of jealousy in her tone, Sui sighs. Utaha had been subtly jealous all day, and he was starting to worry about how often he was pushing that button.
He glanced at her, noticing her pretty face in the soft glow of the streetlights. A sudden thought popped into his mind: 'Could it be that she likes me?'
Their relationship had always been a bit ambiguous, but Utaha's sharp personality often masked her true feelings. Still, it was hard to ignore the tension between them.
"You heading back to your apartment tonight?" Sui asked.
"No, I'm going home," Utaha replied. "My parents still think I'm the perfect daughter—gentle, responsible, and never staying out late."
"Alright, I'll walk you there."
Utaha didn't protest, but as they walked, a cold breeze swept past. She shivered slightly and sneezed.
Without thinking, she wiped her nose with a handkerchief and found Sui watching her. Her cheeks flushed. "What are you staring at?"
"Nothing," Sui grinned. "You just look cute when you sneeze."
Utaha rolled her eyes at him, but the faint blush on her face remained.
"Here," Sui said, removing his coat and draping it over her shoulders. "It's getting colder—don't catch a cold."
Utaha hesitated, her face reddening even more, but she eventually accepted the coat. As soon as she wrapped herself in it, the warmth of Sui's body heat lingered on the fabric, and the faint scent of him made her heart race.
She tightened the coat around herself, feeling a bit shy but also content as they walked side by side, like an ordinary couple on a quiet evening street.