Sitting at the dining table, Su Yan scanned his surroundings.
Busujima Saeko, Miyamoto Rei, Takagi Saya, Takagi Yuriko, and Marikawa Shizuka.
Everyone was present.
Even Minami Rika, who had been put through quite a lot by him this morning, had been dragged out of bed by Marikawa Shizuka.
Perhaps because they didn't all know each other well yet, everyone was a bit reserved, making the atmosphere at the table rather quiet.
Takagi Saya's gaze flickered between Takagi Yuriko and Miyamoto Rei, who sat on either side of her.
Marikawa Shizuka was simply staring longingly at the delicious food on the table.
Busujima Saeko looked curiously at the others around the table. Aside from Minami Rika, whom she had completely missed, she had met Takagi Yuriko—whom Su Yan brought back last night—during breakfast.
But regarding Minami Rika, it was the same situation Su Yan had dealt with before.
She had only heard of her from Marikawa Shizuka, so this was their first actual meeting.
Seeing this, Su Yan, acting as the link between the six women, chuckled. "There's no need to be so formal. Everyone, let's eat."
"Yay!"
The moment he spoke, Marikawa Shizuka, whose appetite had long since been whetted, was the first to pick up her chopsticks.
Meanwhile, sitting next to Marikawa Shizuka, Minami Rika stared at Su Yan with a bizarre expression.
While everyone else had plain white rice in their bowls, she was the only one served red bean rice.
Under these circumstances, almost everyone understood exactly what that implied.
Perhaps except for Takagi Saya?
Miyamoto Rei bit down lightly on the tip of her chopsticks.
She felt a twinge of bitterness.
'I was here first.'
She had known Su Yan for over half a month, yet she had been cut in line by Minami Rika, a woman who had tried to kill him the moment they met.
'It's so frustrating...'
However, Miyamoto Rei quickly suppressed those feelings.
She reached out with her chopsticks and placed a piece of meat in Su Yan's bowl. "I snuck a taste of this dish when Yan-kun finished cooking earlier, and it's delicious. You should have some too, Yan-kun."
"Sure."
Su Yan glanced at Miyamoto Rei in surprise. "If you like it, make sure to eat your fill as well."
"Su Yan-kun, here is some for you too."
Seeing Miyamoto Rei take action, Takagi Saya followed suit under Takagi Yuriko's subtle prompting, placing a side dish into Su Yan's bowl.
But as Su Yan looked over, her usual personality flared up, and she said stubbornly, "Don't get the wrong idea! I just happen to dislike this specific dish, that's all."
Takagi Yuriko felt a wave of helplessness.
She felt like the precious little cabbage she had raised was starting to grow a bit crooked.
She had already told the girl that being a tsundere was out of style.
And yet, she was still being one.
Resigned, Takagi Yuriko rested her cheek in her left hand, tilting her head toward Su Yan with a teasing smile.
"Su Yan-kun, you really are lucky. While everyone else is worrying about their next meal, you're surrounded by beautiful women."
"I just wonder if you'll be able to handle it all at night, Little Brother?"
Takagi Saya looked at Takagi Yuriko in astonishment.
'How bold.'
'If only I could be that forward.'
But the pink-haired girl realized there was no way she could ever bring herself to say that.
Su Yan spared Takagi Yuriko a glance and replied with a hint of disdain, "Why don't you try for yourself and find out?"
"There... there will be a chance."
She had assumed that with so many people around, Su Yan would show at least a bit of shyness like a normal boy.
She wanted to enjoy the fun of teasing him a little.
She hadn't expected him to turn the tables on her so bluntly.
Takagi Yuriko had lost once again.
With her antics out of the way, peace returned to the table.
Everyone finished their lunch in silence.
After lunch...
Busujima Saeko took the initiative to clear the table. "Su Yan-kun, you probably have things to discuss with them, right? I'll handle the dishes."
"Okay."
There was a dishwasher in the house.
Simply clearing the table wasn't exactly a difficult task.
So, Su Yan didn't refuse her offer.
Besides, he did have something to discuss with Takagi Yuriko—the idea he'd just had about having her perform the Water Divination test.
Although he suspected she was likely a Transmuter based on her personality.
But a guess was just a guess.
It would ultimately have to be confirmed by the test results.
"Miss Takagi, please come here for a moment."
Su Yan first stopped Takagi Yuriko, who was about to leave with Takagi Saya, and then looked at Miyamoto Rei. "Rei, you too. Don't leave yet."
"Miss Takagi?"
Takagi Yuriko blinked, then teased, "What a distant way to address me. Even though I call you my little brother, you won't even call me 'Big Sister'?"
Su Yan rolled his eyes at her.
Without skipping a beat, he began explaining the six Nen categories and the corresponding testing methods to her.
Once Takagi Yuriko realized he was talking about Nen.
Knowing how important Nen was, she immediately straightened her posture.
She listened intently to Su Yan's explanation.
"So, you want me to do this Water Divination test to determine my Nen affinity?"
Takagi Yuriko quickly summarized after hearing his explanation.
"Exactly," Su Yan replied.
"I understand."
Takagi Yuriko didn't refuse. She nodded and went to find a glass and a leaf for the test.
Next, Su Yan turned his gaze to Miyamoto Rei, who had been listening silently.
Miyamoto Rei was completely baffled.
She had no idea why Su Yan had asked her to stay.
After all, unlike Takagi Yuriko, she hadn't learned the techniques to master Nen.
At most, she had heard a brief explanation about Nen from Marikawa Shizuka while Su Yan and Busujima Saeko were fighting at Fujimi Academy last night.
Su Yan stood before Miyamoto Rei.
He materialized a contract parchment.
He offered her the same three choices he had given Minami Rika that morning.
Despite her flaws in the original story, Su Yan felt he understood the girl before him quite well after their time together.
If they ever faced danger, this girl would certainly not hesitate to display the virtuous qualities of a heroine.
She would even be willing to lay down her life for him.
"Um..."
Miyamoto Rei spoke up hesitantly, "Can I read the contents first?"
"Of course."
Su Yan handed the materialized parchment to the girl without hesitation.
Miyamoto Rei took the parchment from him.
She clearly remembered what Marikawa Shizuka had said in the infirmary last night.
If someone wanted to become a Nen user, the fastest way was for Su Yan to share his Nen with them.
'Perhaps this parchment is the key?'
Miyamoto Rei read it very carefully.
She went word by word, afraid she might miss something important.
"Miyamoto-chan, what are you looking at? Can I see too?"
At that moment, Takagi Yuriko returned with a glass of water and a leaf she'd plucked from the balcony.
Seeing Miyamoto Rei staring solemnly at the parchment, she couldn't help but ask out of curiosity.
"Yan-kun?"
Miyamoto Rei looked to Su Yan for his permission.
"It's fine. Let her see."
Su Yan didn't object.
Since Takagi Yuriko had joined them, it was only a matter of time before they made a contract.
The only reason he hadn't contracted her yet was that their mutual trust hadn't quite reached that point.
"I haven't finished yet either, so why don't we read it together?" Miyamoto Rei suggested to Takagi Yuriko.
Takagi Yuriko set down the glass and leaned in beside Miyamoto Rei to look at the contract's contents.
As she read, Takagi Yuriko's expression became increasingly serious.
It didn't take her long to realize.
What this small piece of parchment truly represented.
It was proof of truly being accepted into Su Yan's heart.
Takagi Yuriko felt a bit helpless regarding this.
Because of her personality, she knew it might be difficult for Su Yan to fully trust and accept her.
But she couldn't help it; after all, she had survived the cutthroat world of Wall Street.
There, competence alone wasn't enough; you needed schemes and various masks to hide behind.
Otherwise, you'd be devoured by those animals in human skin.
To gain Su Yan's trust, she had been intentionally trying to prove herself to him.
Unfortunately, it hadn't been very effective.
Perhaps her tsundere, easy-to-read daughter, Takagi Saya, actually had an advantage in this area.
As Takagi Yuriko watched Su Yan's shimmering purple eyes, a wild idea suddenly popped into her head.
'Should I try a night raid on Su Yan tonight?!'
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]