Morning at the Park
Once again, Su Yu defeated Teacher Shizuka.
"Again!" Shizuka Hiratsuka refused to accept defeat.
"It's time to head back. Breakfast should be ready." Su Yu checked the time.
"Hmph, next time I'll definitely beat you." The mention of breakfast made Shizuka give up on continuing the fight.
"Sensei, you won't ever beat me." Su Yu shook his head.
"What makes you so sure?" Shizuka glared at him.
"I'll keep getting stronger, while you don't have the time to learn new techniques."
Hearing this, Shizuka clenched her small fists.
Then, as if something crossed her mind, she suddenly smiled at Su Yu.
"Sensei, your smile is kind of scary," Su Yu instinctively put some distance between them.
"Su Yu-kun, do you want to learn swordsmanship?" Shizuka's smile was far from reassuring.
"Yes." Su Yu eyed her warily.
"I'll make preparations this afternoon. Tomorrow morning, I'll start teaching you swordsmanship," Shizuka's eyes flashed with anticipation.
"Alright." Su Yu didn't argue.
It seemed like her swordsmanship was truly formidable.
That made it worth learning—it might even come in handy in the future.
—
Breakfast at Sakura Dormitory
During breakfast, not only did Yumiko Miura and Hina Ebina have strange expressions, but even Kawasaki Keika seemed puzzled.
Because Shizuka Hiratsuka was smiling.
And not just any smile—she had the kind of grin only villains in TV dramas would wear.
"Sensei, are you acting in a drama?" Keika finally asked after finishing her meal.
"Who told you that?" Shizuka looked confused.
"Your smile just now looked exactly like a villain from TV," Keika answered honestly.
"…" Shizuka's face stiffened.
"If Sensei were a villain, she'd definitely be the female lead." Su Yu chuckled.
"Would that mean after being defeated by the protagonist, she'd fall in love with him?" Keika pondered seriously.
"Alright, stop thinking about TV dramas. It's time to go to school." Shizuka's face darkened.
"Yes! Bye, Onee-chan! Bye, Su Yu Onii-chan! Bye, Yui-nee, Yumiko-nee, Hina-nee! Bye, everyone!" Keika waved her little hand as she headed toward the car.
As Shizuka walked past Su Yu, she deliberately stepped on his shoe.
Su Yu didn't mind such small things.
Shortly after, Shizuka drove off, leaving Sakura Dormitory behind.
Su Yu also left with the four girls, heading to Sobu High.
—
On the Way to School
Su Yu wasn't holding anyone's hand as he walked. Instead, he was looking at a message from Satou Yumiko.
The final pre-order count had stopped at 500,000 copies, setting a record that might not be broken in the next decade.
And that was just in 24 hours.
Additionally, the total number of orders from major bookstores exceeded 700,000 copies.
Of the original 1,000,000 printed copies, only 300,000 remained in an instant.
Satou Yumiko had already ordered an additional 500,000 reprints, worried that online sales might surpass physical stores.
Beyond the numbers, Yuru Camp had also landed on several news headlines and trending topics:
"Yuru Camp First Volume: 500,000 Pre-orders!""Even the Princess Loves This Manga!""Newcomer? No, He's a Professional Artist!"
From the staggering data to a certain princess's public endorsement, to in-depth analysis from professional artists, Yuru Camp was being pushed to unprecedented heights.
Su Yu finished reading and reached a conclusion—
Yuru Camp was being propelled toward legendary status.
The hype was unnatural, but nobody seemed to notice.
Logically, a jealous manga artist should have come forward to criticize Yuru Camp.
But strangely, no one dared to do so.
Because Yuru Camp had already been praised by professional artists, who deemed it a work of expert craftsmanship.
While the story was a bit simple, its innocent and lighthearted charm resonated with a wide audience.
Such a manga—one that ordinary readers could enjoy, yet professionals also admired—was a true masterpiece.
Online sales had already begun.
Satou Yumiko was monitoring the rankings, wondering how long it would take for Yuru Camp to break into the top 10, or even claim first place.
The number one slot usually required over a million sales, but given Yuru Camp's overwhelming momentum, breaking records didn't seem impossible.
—
Lunchtime – On the Way to the Service Club
Su Yu received a call from Yukinoshita Haruno.
"What's the matter?" he asked directly.
"That young lady really likes Yuru Camp, so she gave it a little push. Don't misunderstand her intentions," Haruno said softly.
"What do you mean?" Su Yu pretended not to understand.
"To be honest, she has no ill will toward you. She's a very gentle person," Haruno continued.
"How do you know?" Su Yu asked.
"I watched her grow up. Even though she holds an incredibly high status, she's actually quite pitiable. You'll understand why in the future." Haruno sighed, as if feeling sorry for someone.
"Weak health, no friends? A sheltered young lady?" Su Yu guessed.
"More or less. Compared to you, Su Yu-kun, her life is only slightly better," Haruno said after a brief pause.
"She's connected to your mother's family, isn't she?" Su Yu asked.
"Yes, she belongs to my mother's lineage," Haruno admitted.
Su Yu didn't press further. If that was the case, Hanada Yui (the princess) probably knew the details.
For now, he wasn't particularly concerned.
Since the young lady had no malicious intent, there was no need to worry.
Haruno's call was likely prompted by the young lady herself, realizing belatedly that her involvement might cause misunderstandings.
Without this call, Su Yu would have been suspicious of her motives.
But now…
He trusted Haruno.
—
At the Service Club
Su Yu sat down beside Yukinoshita Yukino.
After thinking for a moment, he leaned in closer to her.
"Yukino, is your mother's family really powerful?"
"Mm." Yukino paused for a moment before nodding.
"That family… has a young lady?" Su Yu pressed further.
"Su Yu-kun, don't ask about her." Yukino's face changed slightly as she looked at him.
"Alright, I was just curious. Your sister mentioned her once." Su Yu didn't push the topic.
"If you ever dare to hurt her, even my father won't be able to save you." Yukino's tone was dead serious.
Hearing this, Su Yu pieced together a clearer image of the young lady.
Weak health, no friends, possibly the sole heir of a prestigious family, held in extremely high regard by the head of the household.
If someone harmed her, the family would show no mercy.
With this information, Su Yu was even more assured.
If this young lady had been like Haruno—full of hidden motives—he would have been cautious.
But from what he had learned, she seemed genuinely kind.
People who love Yuru Camp are all good people!
Su Yu thought to himself.
Yukino, watching his expression, suddenly recalled her cousin's situation.
She wasn't worried about Su Yu being taken away.
Rather… she was worried about something else entirely.
Notes-You can read advanced chapters in patreon.com/Shadow_D_X