As they left the park, Hiratsuka Shizuka had fully recovered.
The two returned to Sakurasou.
In the courtyard, Kawasaki Saki, dressed in her professional attire, sighed in relief when she saw that neither of them seemed to be hurt.
"Kawasaki Saki, I want to have a proper talk with you tonight when you get back," Hiratsuka Shizuka said.
"I understand, Shizuka-sensei." Kawasaki Saki wasn't surprised.
She glanced at Su Yu before heading out the door.
Su Yu watched her leave, then walked over to Kawasaki Kyouka and started teaching her how to draw.
Kawasaki Kyouka was very focused on learning.
He taught her for an hour before heading upstairs to work.
After Su Yu left, Kawasaki Kyouka continued practicing by copying the animals he had drawn.
Hiratsuka Shizuka had the urge to drink, but seeing the well-behaved Kyouka, she reluctantly settled for a bottle of cola instead. With a manga in hand, she sat across from the little girl.
Evening arrived in the blink of an eye.
Su Yu made dinner, preparing a portion for Kawasaki Saki as well.
At the Kawasaki household, three people sat around the dining table—Hiratsuka Shizuka, Kawasaki Kyouka, and Su Yu.
The little girl sat between them, glancing at both of them without saying a word.
After dinner, Su Yu cleaned up the dishes without lingering.
Hiratsuka Shizuka stayed behind, watching TV with Kyouka.
"Shizuka-sensei, did you hit Su Yu-nii?" Kawasaki Kyouka suddenly asked in the middle of the show.
"No." Hiratsuka Shizuka thought about the events that afternoon and shook her head.
"Shizuka-sensei obviously cares about Su Yu-nii, so why are you always unfriendly toward him?" Kyouka's eyes locked onto Hiratsuka.
"Who told you I care about him?" Hiratsuka was momentarily stunned.
"My sister did. She said Shizuka-sensei is like the guardian of Sakurasou, watching over Su Yu-nii, and that Su Yu-nii also respects you and sees you as an older sister." Kyouka answered.
"You're still young. You'll understand when you're older." Hiratsuka's gaze softened as she patted Kyouka's head.
Kyouka hesitated, then got up and ran to her school bag, taking out her sketchbook.
Hiratsuka Shizuka watched her in confusion, unsure of what she was about to show.
"This is what I imagine," Kyouka said before opening the sketchbook.
"Let me see." Hiratsuka curiously looked at the page.
Kyouka flipped to a drawing of her sister and Su Yu holding hands.
Hiratsuka froze, momentarily unable to react.
"Even though Su Yu-nii has a girlfriend, I still hope my sister can be with him," Kyouka said softly.
"Why?" Hiratsuka didn't quite understand.
"My sister has become gentler. She used to be tired all the time, always looking unhappy. But now, her work is easier, she sleeps well at night, and she smiles more." Kyouka looked at Hiratsuka.
"But he has a girlfriend. Your sister can't be with him—"
"I asked my sister. She didn't deny it."
"This…" Hiratsuka found herself struggling to explain.
At that moment, the sound of the front door opening broke the silence.
Both of them turned toward the entrance.
Kawasaki Saki had returned.
Hiratsuka stood up and walked toward her.
"After you finish dinner, come to my room."
"Shizuka-sensei, sorry for the trouble."
Kawasaki Saki bowed slightly.
Without saying more, Hiratsuka Shizuka changed her shoes and left the Kawasaki household.
"Sis, Su Yu-nii made you dinner."
Kyouka walked up to her sister.
"I know. I'll go change first."
A faint smile appeared on Kawasaki Saki's face, and her voice was gentle.
After changing and finishing her dinner, Kawasaki Saki arrived at Hiratsuka Shizuka's room.
"Sit." Hiratsuka looked at her with a complex expression.
"Shizuka-sensei, I know what you want to say. The answer I gave you back then was wrong." Kawasaki Saki didn't sit, instead meeting Hiratsuka's gaze directly.
"He said I don't understand emotions. Back then, were you the same as me?" Hiratsuka sighed.
"Shizuka-sensei, I truly appreciate your concern for us. But I owe him too much—I can never repay him. That's why I want to stay by his side as his assistant." Kawasaki Saki lowered her head slightly.
She knew this choice was wrong, but she had no regrets.
Su Yu had saved her.
Had saved her family.
If repaying him meant staying by his side, then she would do so without hesitation.
No matter what Su Yu thought of her, she would never refuse him.
As an assistant, a secretary, or even something more—
She was willing to accept any role.
"Perhaps I was wrong," Hiratsuka Shizuka murmured after a long silence and sat down.
"You weren't wrong, Shizuka-sensei." Kawasaki Saki immediately denied it.
"I was. I have no experience with love, yet I tried to stop you from pursuing it. I thought I was looking out for you, but without understanding love myself, I couldn't fully consider your feelings." Hiratsuka gazed at the steaming cup of tea before her.
"Shizuka-sensei, you're a great teacher," Kawasaki Saki said sincerely.
Hiratsuka looked at her, recalling something Su Yu had once said.
"That guy made it seem like he gave me two choices, but he already knew the outcome."
"What choices?" Kawasaki Saki asked, confused.
"Nothing important." Hiratsuka shook her head, unwilling to reveal what Su Yu had told her. "Saki, I can't say your choice is entirely right, but I also can't say it's wrong. If you ever regret it, you can come to me anytime."
"I won't regret it." Kawasaki Saki's voice was firm.
Hiratsuka saw the determination in her eyes and knew there was no point in persuading her further.
On Monday morning—
When Su Yu went downstairs for his morning run, he found Hiratsuka Shizuka waiting for him.
Neither of them spoke as they left Sakurasou together.
When they reached the park, though Su Yu wasn't tired, he didn't head straight back.
"Yesterday afternoon, you already knew Kawasaki Saki's answer, didn't you?" Hiratsuka finally spoke.
"Yeah." Su Yu nodded.
"Su Yu-kun, does love really make people…"
"That's not a question I can answer," Su Yu cut her off.
"Right now, I'm not your teacher. You can answer me." Hiratsuka glared at him.
"You and the word 'love' are too far apart," Su Yu said after a moment of silence.
Hiratsuka clenched her fists but didn't deny it.
Su Yu was, in some way, right.
She had always resisted the idea of love, which was why she remained single to this day.
She didn't understand it—no, she didn't want to understand it.
"Don't you dare say you want me to teach you. I don't want to get arrested tomorrow," Su Yu reminded her.
"As if! Who'd want to learn from a terrible guy like you?" Hiratsuka huffed, turning her head away.
"If I had been born ten years earlier, maybe I'd have the courage." Su Yu suddenly muttered.
"Hmph, even ten years ago, I wouldn't have had any feelings for a terrible guy like you." Hiratsuka snorted.
Su Yu glanced at her profile.
A faint blush dusted Hiratsuka Shizuka's cheek.