After leaving the recording studio, Ebina Hina returned to Studio Three to continue working on the anime script.
Meanwhile, Miura Yumiko followed Su Yu downstairs, leaving Flash Animation Studio.
"Have you had lunch yet?" Su Yu asked casually.
"N-No…" Miura Yumiko hesitated under his gaze and answered honestly.
"Let's go. I'll take you to lunch—consider it a celebration for your successful audition."
Miura Yumiko's face lit up. "Mm!"
Su Yu naturally extended his hand to her.
Miura Yumiko froze for a moment, glancing at Hikigaya Komachi beside him.
"Don't mind Komachi. She's a smart girl," Su Yu said calmly.
"I… I understand." Miura Yumiko hesitated briefly before finally holding Su Yu's hand.
Hikigaya Komachi blinked, recalling something Su Yu had said earlier—that Flash Animation was his girlfriend's family business.
But Miura Yumiko… clearly wasn't Su Yu's girlfriend. She seemed more like—
"Yumiko is my friend," Su Yu clarified, "and in the future, she might become my girlfriend."
"Yumiko-onee-san, nice to meet you," Hikigaya Komachi greeted with a bright smile.
"H-Hello…" Miura Yumiko greeted back, a little flustered.
"Komachi is Hikigaya Hachiman's little sister," Su Yu added.
Miura Yumiko blinked in surprise and examined Komachi closely.
This was Hikigaya's little sister?!
Because of Su Yu and Ebina Hina, she was somewhat familiar with Hikigaya Hachiman. But her impression of him…
A pair of dead fish eyes flashed through her mind.
"Is there a big difference between Komachi and her Onii-chan?" Komachi caught on to Miura Yumiko's expression.
"Like a mermaid and a shark," Su Yu commented dryly.
Su Yu ordered a variety of dishes.
Though the plates looked plentiful, each portion was actually quite small.
Miura Yumiko found the food particularly delicious—perhaps because Su Yu was there with her.
Komachi, however, barely managed to eat a few dishes before feeling completely full.
Su Yu, on the other hand, ate a bit more than usual.
He could feel that his appetite had increased, likely due to his enhanced physique.
After finishing their meal, Su Yu paid the bill and left the restaurant with the two girls.
Miura Yumiko, walking behind him, was about to ask where they were heading next when Su Yu suddenly leaned in and whispered in her ear.
"Help me pick a gift for Komachi. Nothing too expensive—just something I can give."
"I… I got it," Miura Yumiko nodded, glancing at Komachi.
She didn't ask why he was giving a gift—just accepted it as a given.
"Su Yu-nii, where are we going next?" Komachi asked curiously.
"First, shopping. Then, we'll head to my company. Later in the evening, we'll find your Onii-chan and the others." Su Yu checked the time.
A single girl shopping? Not too long.
Two girls shopping? An eternity.
To find the right gift, Miura Yumiko asked a lot of questions.
Komachi, completely off guard, eagerly shared her likes and dislikes.
Unfortunately… all the things she liked weren't suitable for Su Yu to give her.
The gift needed to be something a senior would give a junior, not something with deeper meaning.
Miura Yumiko understood that very well.
Just as the two girls were checking out clothes, Su Yu's phone rang.
It was a call from Sata Kana.
Su Yu walked to a quiet corner and answered.
"Young Master Su Yu, I have news about the voice acting agency you asked me to keep an eye on," Sata Kana said with a smile.
"That fast?" Su Yu raised an eyebrow.
"Actually, voice actor agencies don't make that much money. The large agencies do fine, but mid-sized ones struggle if they don't have contracts with anime studios. Some even resort to… certain types of anime dubbing."
Sata Kana's voice lowered toward the end.
"How much are they asking?" Su Yu asked directly.
"200 million yen, including a voice acting school. But if we negotiate, we might bring it down a little."
"Go negotiate. Once you've settled on a price, let me know. If the deal is good, we'll buy it today."
"Understood, I'll handle it immediately," Sata Kana responded seriously.
Su Yu hung up and glanced toward the clothing store where Komachi was shopping.
…Maybe he should give her a job?
Half an hour later, Komachi went to the restroom, leaving Su Yu alone with Miura Yumiko.
"Sorry, Su Yu-kun, I couldn't find a suitable gift for you to give her," Miura Yumiko apologized.
"It's fine. I already found one," Su Yu said softly.
"Really?" Miura Yumiko was curious.
"Mm. She'll definitely like this gift," Su Yu said, glancing toward the direction Komachi had left.
Miura Yumiko studied him for a moment before quietly reaching out and holding his hand.
Su Yu felt her touch and looked around at the nearby stores.
"Now that Komachi's gift is settled, it's time to pick one for you."
"I-I get a gift too?" Miura Yumiko looked at him in pleasant surprise.
Su Yu leaned in and whispered something in her ear.
Miura Yumiko's face immediately turned bright red.
But she didn't refuse.
By the time they left the shopping center, Miura Yumiko was carrying a shopping bag.
A gift from Su Yu.
Hikigaya Komachi knew exactly what it was—because the two of them had just walked out of a swimsuit store.
But she didn't say anything.
Miura Yumiko, more than satisfied with her gift, declined Su Yu's offer to see her off and instead made her way to the train station alone.
Meanwhile, Su Yu and Komachi hailed a taxi to Mirai Manga Publishing House.
It was only upon arrival that Su Yu learned something interesting—
Hikigaya Komachi loved reading manga.
And, thanks to a friend's recommendation, her favorite series was none other than—悠哉 (Yūzai).
Her friend was a member of the Art Club and admired Yūzai's high-level artwork.
Even their art teacher believed the author must be a professional artist.
Hearing this, Su Yu's expression turned a little odd.
…What a coincidence.
Inside the editorial department, they happened to run into Tamura Nanako.
Upon seeing Su Yu, she beamed with excitement.
"Su Yu-sensei!"
"…Su Yu-sensei?"
Hikigaya Komachi blinked in confusion and turned to look at Su Yu.
"Su Yu-sensei, here's your tankōbon (manga volume)," Tamura Nanako said, handing him a copy of Yūzai.
"…"
Su Yu took the book in silence.
Komachi's expression froze as she stared blankly at the manga volume.
Then, realization struck her like lightning.
She turned her head sharply and locked eyes with Su Yu.
"Su Yu-nii… You're the author of Yūzai?!"
"Yeah."
Su Yu took the tankōbon from Tamura Nanako.
"…No wonder you looked so weird earlier when I was praising Yūzai."
Su Yu chuckled. "Once the volume officially releases, I'll send you a few copies."