Chapter 377: Chapter 375: Did She Confess to You?
"You jerk!" Yoshino exclaimed, initially angry, but then her expression shifted to a mischievous grin. She leaned closer to Sui, whispering, "But you have to admit, Ryoko has the most well-developed figure among us. So, what do you think of her? Didn't she once say she wanted to marry you?"
Sui gave her an exasperated look, thinking that Yoshino was stirring up trouble on purpose. So he fights back with a smirk, "Didn't you say once that you wanted to also marry me?"
"W-What?" Yoshino's face instantly flushed crimson. She stammered, "I-I think I heard Megumi calling me. I'll go check!"
She darted away, flustered, leaving Sui chuckling at her reaction.
As he rubbed his chin, he winced slightly, recalling how Ryoko's... well, assets had bumped against him during the race. It hadn't been the most comfortable experience.
The group continued participating in various team events—the four-person relay, three-legged race, and tug-of-war. Thanks to Sui's extraordinary strength, the Polar Star Dormitory secured first place in all competitions. During the relay, despite starting behind, Sui easily overtook the competition, leaving everyone stunned. The same went for tug-of-war—he single-handedly pulled the opposing team across the line, impressing everyone.
On the sidelines, Erina, who had chosen not to compete, quietly supported Sui, offering him water and dabbing the sweat from his brow. Although she didn't say it, it was clear she wished she could have joined in but was too shy to admit it.
"Awesome! Our Polar Star Dormitory wiped the floor with the competition!" Yoshino cheered, sticking out her tongue in excitement.
"Yeah, but Sui, you're way too strong! How do you even train?" Sōma asked, scratching his head in awe.
Sui shrugged modestly, while Yoshino playfully patted his shoulder. "I knew I had good instincts when I invited Sui to join us~"
——
The day was filled with fun and laughter, and everyone seemed happy. But just as they were about to leave, Ryoko called out to Sui, pulling him aside.
"Why did Ryoko call him alone? Is she going to confess to him?" Yoshino speculated with gleaming eyes.
"Confess?" Erina stuttered, her face paling at the thought.
"Hey, Ryoko, what's up?" Sui asked curiously when they reached a secluded area.
"Oh, nothing much," Ryoko brushed her hair back with her fingers, smiling a little awkwardly. "I just wanted to clarify—about earlier, during the race... I hope you didn't think too much of it. We were just participating in the competition together."
Sui nodded, slightly puzzled. Was that all? He glanced at Ryoko, who seemed a bit too flustered for such a minor issue.
Realizing how awkward she was being, Ryoko's cheeks flushed. "Well... that's all. I just didn't want you to feel uncomfortable about it."
"It's not a big deal," Sui replied, rubbing his chin again. "But, Ryoko, you've really developed quite well."
Hearing that, Ryoko's face turned bright red. She couldn't help but recall how, during the race, her body had bumped into his multiple times. It was too embarrassing.
Later, Sui walked home with Erina. As they reached a quiet spot, Erina quietly took his hand, clinging to him affectionately. She cherished moments like these when it was just the two of them, away from prying eyes.
"Sui," Erina began softly.
"Hm?" He glanced at her.
"Earlier... what did Ryoko want to talk to you about? Was she really confessing her feelings for you?" Erina asked, her face flushed with embarrassment.
Sui chuckled and said, "Of course not. Ryoko and I have never even been alone before today. Why would she like me?"
"True," Erina murmured, though she couldn't shake her mild jealousy. After a pause, she added with a hint of sourness, "But you did carry her in the race... Doesn't Ryoko have a nice figure?"
"Yeah, she's well-developed," Sui admitted, before casting a glance at Erina's chest and teasingly muttering, "But I think you'll catch up soon."
Erina blushed, her face heating up as she lightly pinched his arm in protest.
When they arrived back at the dorm, Sui suddenly heard the voice of the system in his head.
"The host has completed the mission by demonstrating his physical prowess as an excellent chef at the sports festival. You've earned a gourmet gift package."
Erina had already gone upstairs to change out of her sportswear, leaving Sui to ponder over his new reward.
"I wonder what I'll get this time," he muttered to himself as he headed into the kitchen to open the gourmet gift package.
To his surprise, a soft, fluffy object appeared in front of him. Before Sui could react, it leaped onto his face, playfully licking him with its tiny, red tongue.
"What is this? A... creature?"
He gently pulled the thing off his face, realizing it was a small elf-like creature, about half a meter tall, covered in soft white fur. It was surprisingly light, weighing just seven or eight kilograms, and looked incredibly cute.
Along with the elf, a small glowing stone appeared.
"The host has received a Pokémon Fidough and a Pokémon Evolution Stone."
"Fidough? Is that this Pokémon name?" Sui gazed at the adorable puffball in his hand. It had a pink and white tail, bouncing playfully as he stroked it.
Sui couldn't help but smile at how cute it was, turning his attention to the glowing stone next.
"Is this the Pokémon Evolution Stone?" he wondered aloud.
"Yes, with this stone, you can evolve any Pokémon." The system confirmed.