Chapter 238: I Think About You Every Day…

At Kirinoya, Hinako sat alone, lost in thought.

Even now, when she recalled that night, her face would turn red, and her heart would race. This kind of feeling was entirely new to her.

It was a mix of embarrassment, anger, and an indescribable sweetness.

By now, she had come to realize that she must have fallen in love with Sui. But every time she thought about him being her student and already having Megumi, she felt a deep sense of guilt.

"Sigh, I've actually fallen in love with my own student. I'm such a shameless woman."

Hinako covered her face with her hands, feeling both happy and ashamed.

This sense of guilt was intertwined with an inexplicable thrill that gripped her heart like a poisonous snake, making her unable to break free from its hold.

"Today should be the day Sui-kun returns to school, right? Should I give him a call?"

Hinako rested her chin on her hand, staring at the phone, hesitating.

"No, I can't. It's too embarrassing."

She blushed, throwing the phone aside.

But after a moment of indecision, she bit her lip and muttered, "Maybe I should call."

"Forget it, I shouldn't."

"Should I?"

"It's too embarrassing, I better not."

…

"What should I do?"

Hinako covered her flushed face, her heart torn between embarrassment and happiness.

"The head chef has been acting strange these past few days."

Ono observed Hinako sitting there, seemingly caught between joy and shyness, and couldn't help but comment.

"Yeah."

The other two chefs nodded in agreement.

"Could she be in love?"

Kiyomizu suddenly gasped.

They had all noticed that Hinako's behavior was exactly like that of a girl experiencing her first love.

"But hasn't the chef never been in love before?"

Miyuki couldn't help but wonder. This mix of shyness and excitement could only appear in someone who was in love for the first time, right?

"The head chef is always so focused on the restaurant. She never pays attention to anything else."

Ono remarked.

"But, there haven't been any men around the chef lately, have there?"

Kiyomizu pondered aloud.

The other two also started to think about it, trying to figure out who could have possibly captured the heart of the renowned chef Hinako.

And then, they were all struck by the same thought.

"Speaking of men who have been around recently… isn't Sui-kun one of them?"

Kiyomizu asked, suddenly realizing.

"Is this a student-teacher romance? How thrilling!"

Kiyomizu exclaimed in excitement.

"This… that can't be true, right? Let's not jump to conclusions."

Ono said, smiling awkwardly.

Meanwhile, on campus, Sui ran into Megumi and Sōma.

Megumi was riding a bicycle. When she saw Sui, she called out excitedly, "Sui, you're back!"

"Megumi, it seems you've also passed the field training."

Sui smiled warmly.

"Mm!" 

Megumi beamed, her face lighting up with joy.

"Sui, let me take you back."

Soma laughed. He was riding a newly bought scooter, which looked just like the one Sonoka had.

"Thanks a lot."

Sui chuckled, then asked, "Are these new scooters?"

"Yeah, they're so much more convenient. But you already have a cool one."

Soma laughed heartily.

"Thanks to you."

"But Megumi, why didn't you get one?"

He asked.

"Well, I still prefer the feel of a bicycle."

Megumi replied with a gentle smile. She looked so youthful in her school uniform, riding a bicycle.

Soma then drove Sui and his luggage slowly towards Erina's residence, with Megumi following closely behind on her bicycle.

Sui was at a loss for words. He had just ridden on Sonoka's scooter, and now he found himself on Sōma's.

In truth, he would have preferred to ride Megumi's bicycle, but since Soma had offered, he couldn't refuse.

"Would you like to come in for a while?"

Sui asked when they arrived at Erina's house.

"No, I'm going shopping with the others."

Megumi smiled brightly.

"I'm planning to go racing with Subaru."

Soma added with a grin.

"Racing?"

Sui was momentarily speechless. Why race with such a small motorcycle? Be careful you don't fall into a ditch, he thought to himself.

"Haha, Subaru and I have been exchanging ideas about motorcycles recently."

Soma laughed.

"Well, don't forget to come to the celebration party tonight."

Sui reminded them with a smile.

"Okay!"

"See you tonight, Sui."

After waving goodbye to the two, Sui entered the mansion.

As soon as he stepped into the hall, he saw Erina sitting on the sofa, chin resting on her hand, deep in thought.

"Why are you back so late? Didn't I arrange for a car to pick you up?"

Seeing him, Erina puffed her cheeks slightly in annoyance.

"Sorry, Sonoka-senpai brought me back."

Sui scratched his head, then teased, "But Erina, you were just now pouting like Alice."

"I am not like her!"

Erina huffed.

"Were you waiting for me?"

Sui asked.

Erina's face turned a faint shade of pink, and she nodded slightly.

"You missed me that much after just a few days?"

Sui teased with a smile.

Her face reddened even more, and she looked at him with a hint of annoyance, but she didn't refute him. Instead, she softly said, "Hmm."

This genuinely surprised Sui. The usually proud and tsundere girl, who often said one thing but meant another, was actually admitting that she missed him today?

"Erina, are you feeling unwell?"

He reached out to touch her smooth forehead.

"No!"

Erina slapped his hand away, glaring at him. But then, suddenly, she opened her arms and gently hugged him.

"I think about you every day."