Chapter 171:

Megumi's body suddenly trembled as she lightly pushed Sui away. But soon, her resistance softened into a gentle embrace, and she hugged him back. 

Megumi had secretly liked Sui for a long time. Tonight, after having too much to drink, her mind was a bit muddled. Coupled with the romantic atmosphere under the moonlight, her instincts overcame her rationality, and she couldn't bring herself to push him away.

Her long eyelashes fluttered slightly as she closed her eyes, feeling her body go weak and devoid of strength.

After what felt like an eternity, they finally pulled apart.

The cool evening breeze brushed against Megumi's flushed cheeks, bringing a touch of clarity to her senses.

She stole a glance at Sui, and her face turned an even deeper shade of red, as if it was about to bleed. Her heart raced.

Suddenly, she remembered her mother's advice before leaving home. Realizing that she had kissed a boy who wasn't even her boyfriend, she felt tears welling up in her eyes.

"Mom, I won't be able to get married now," she thought, her eyes brimming with tears.

Megumi bit her lips, on the verge of crying.

Seeing Megumi's expression, Sui scratched his head, feeling a bit embarrassed himself. He had also been drinking and couldn't resist the allure of how cute she looked tonight, so he impulsively kissed her.

"Sui, let's go back down. Everyone's still waiting," Megumi murmured, her head lowered and her face blushing, her voice barely audible.

Sui nodded, and the two of them, pretending as if nothing had happened, made their way downstairs.

By this time, the poker game had already begun.

"Hehehe, Erina-chi, come over here!" Yoshino cackled mischievously, casting a wicked look at Erina and taunting her. "Careful not to draw the joker!"

Erina swallowed nervously, her palms slick with cold sweat. Memories of Yoshino's dominance during the last training camp resurfaced in her mind.

"That's too much! How dare you bully Erina-sama!" Hisako shouted, indignant.

"Huh? Erina, I didn't know you played cards!" Alice exclaimed in surprise.

"I'm just playing around," Erina muttered, blushing as she drew a card.

"Ha! Another joker!" Yoshino burst into a fit of wild laughter.

She had been feeling down all day after failing the preliminaries, but now, she found joy in teasing Erina.

"Damn it!" Erina gritted her teeth, a vein throbbing on her forehead, as she resisted the urge to throw the cards at Yoshinoi's smug face.

"Erina-sama, don't worry, I'll take the punishment for you!" Hisako, her face already covered with stickers, declared righteously, stepping in front of Erina.

"Hisako!" Erina's eyes welled up with emotion.

"I'll protect you till the end, Erina-sama!" Hisako declared with unwavering determination. "As long as there's space left on my face, I won't let a single sticker touch your noble features!"

"Hisako!" Erina felt even more touched.

Meanwhile, Sui and Megumi sat down quietly, pretending nothing had happened.

"Megumi, what were you and Sui doing up there?" Ryoko asked with a smile.

"Ah, nothing! Nothing at all!" Megumi's face turned a deep shade of crimson, and she lowered her head, her voice flustered.

"Is that so?" Ryoko smiled knowingly but said no more. She was the most mature among them and always played the role of a caring older sister.

"Yes, really," Megumi replied, still blushing furiously. Then she stood up and said, "I'll go make a few more dishes for everyone."

"I'll help too," Mito Ikumi offered, standing up.

"I guess I should lend a hand as well," Takumi said.

Sui thought for a moment, then stood up and said, "I have some ingredients." He took out some black tengu mushrooms and red pig pork.

"What high-quality meat! And these mushrooms too!" Takumi exclaimed, his eyes widening in surprise.

"Is this the pork you used during your shokugeki?" Mito asked in astonishment, never having seen such premium meat even in the Mito Group.

They cooked a few more dishes and served them to everyone.

"We're not stopping tonight!" Rindō declared, bringing out more bottles of wine. Sui couldn't help but wonder just how much alcohol this woman had brought.

Meanwhile, Isshiki had already stripped down to his infamous naked apron.

"What the...?" Mito, Alice, and the others who had never seen him in such an outfit were left dumbfounded.

On the other side, Erina lost to Yoshino again.

"Erina-sama, I can't protect you anymore..." Hisako, her face now completely covered with notes, said tearfully.

Erina: "..."

And then, a small turtle sticker was placed on her fair cheek.

"Damn it! I won't lose again!" Erina downed a large gulp of wine, gritting her teeth.

Megumi sat alone in a corner, sipping her wine slowly, her face flushed, lost in her own thoughts.

Yoshino, Miyoko, and the others who didn't make it past the preliminaries were feeling down and drank heavily. Their mood spread, and soon, everyone was drinking freely.

The lively atmosphere lasted until the early morning. The living room was a mess, with everyone passed out on the floor, including Isshiki.

Sui, who had been forced to drink a lot by Isami, felt dizzy and sluggish, despite his enhanced physical strength.

The lights were off, and the only illumination came from the cold moonlight streaming in, casting a serene and peaceful glow over the scene.

"Erina, Erina," Sui called softly, but there was no response.

Amid the 'bodies' scattered on the floor, he couldn't find the Tsundere girl.

"Erina Nakiri?" 

"Erina Nakiri, where are you?" he called again, growing concerned.

From a corner, a soft voice replied, "Hmm."

Suppressing his drowsiness, Sui walked over and gently picked her up.

The moonlight didn't reach the corner, so he couldn't see her face clearly. "Erina?"

No response.

"Erina? Is that you?"

"Hmm," she murmured again.

Relieved, Sui carried Erina to the bedroom.