"Wait! You guys, hold up a second!"
Eriri finally snapped back to her senses and sprinted to the door.
Without a second thought, she pulled Hinatsuru Ai out of Azuma's arms.
"Who are you people?! And what's your relationship with Azuma!?"
Sora Ginko raised an elegant eyebrow. Her folding fan tapped lightly against her slender neck as she stared coldly at Eriri.
"That's what I should be asking. Who are you—and what's your relationship with Azuma?"
A cold chill seed to seep into the room. Her eyes, usually a calm steel blue, were now frigid and sharp.
"I... I'm his childhood friend!" Eriri declared defiantly.
"Oh? Never heard of you."
"Huh?! That's my line!"
Ginko's eyes narrowed with subtle disdain. "I'm his senpai. We've been together since he learned how to read."
Eriri's jaw dropped. That early? Could it really be true?!
Wait—what did she an by "senpai"? She squinted at the silver-haired girl suspiciously.
Before the situation could escalate, Azuma stepped in with a sigh and began the introductions.
"This is Sora Ginko, my senpai in shogi. We studied under the sa ntor."
"This is Hinatsuru Ai, my disciple. I'm guiding her as she studies the ga."
"And this..." He pointed to the pouting blonde beside him. "Is Eriri. We've been friends since elentary school. My childhood friend."
A giant ntal question mark hovered over Eriri's head.
Shogi? Azuma studies shogi? Since when?!
Behind her, Kasumigaoka Utaha burst into laughter. Clearly, she'd been waiting for this mont.
"Kasumigaoka Utaha! You knew about this?!"
Utaha shot her a pitying glance.
"Of course. I've known Sora Ginko for quite so ti."
She crossed her arms and smirked.
"And just so you know, even Kato-san knows Azuma is a pro. The fact that you—his supposed childhood friend—don't is honestly just... sad."
She let that sink in before delivering the final blow.
"The one standing in front of you is Japan's greatest shogi prodigy. The youngest ever 7-dan professional, with only one recorded loss in his career. A legend."
"Yukima Azuma—7-dan."
Eriri stood frozen, the weight of her ignorance crashing down like an avalanche.
No wonder I got crushed in shogi... even with a handicap.
Her cheeks flushed red as she stared at the ceiling in silent agony.
Just then, a soft voice interrupted the tension.
"Um... hello."
Ginko flinched. Like a startled cat, she instinctively backed away and hid behind Azuma.
Ai's ahoge stood on end, vibrating like a radio antenna.
None of them had noticed Kato gumi silently appear in the hallway.
"Oh, gumi," Azuma said, as if she'd been there all along. "Let introduce everyone again—"
A few minutes later, five girls sat around the table, pretending not to glare at one another.
Eriri leaned in toward Kato gumi and whispered, "You knew he was a pro?"
gumi nodded. "Of course. I take care of Shiratamaru whenever Azuma-san travels for official matches."
Right on cue, the white furball trotted over and brushed up against gumi's leg lovingly.
Eriri looked up at the ceiling again. Truly, the universe is mocking .
From the kitchen, Azuma's voice called out: "gumi, help with the ingredients. It's a lot to prep."
"Coming!" gumi rose and walked to the kitchen.
"Shishou! Ai will help too!" Hinatsuru Ai yelled, springing off her chair and following close behind.
The three girls left behind—Eriri, Kasumigaoka, and Ginko—sat in awkward silence.
Kasumigaoka glanced at the kitchen. "Maybe it's ti we picked up so cooking skills ourselves."
Kitchen Scene – The Congee Arc Begins
"Are these... century eggs?"
Kato gumi tilted her head as she stared at the black, glossy ovals.
"This is my first ti seeing them in person."
"They're a Chinese specialty," Azuma explained. "Not very popular here. Most Japanese only see them on variety shows."
"And usually as punishnt," gumi added.
Hinatsuru Ai stared curiously, standing on a step stool. Her ahoge twitched in fascination.
"I had to import them," Azuma said. "Shipping cost more than the eggs."
gumi gently tapped one, then sniffed her fingertip—her nose scrunching up cutely.
"Is this really edible? You're not pranking , are you?"
Her tone remained gentle, but her puffed cheeks gave her away.
"I wouldn't do that," Azuma laughed. "They sll strong raw, but once cooked, they llow out."
"Like sashimi?"
"Exactly. gumi's sharp, as always."
Breakfast was congee with lean pork and century egg, accompanied by soup dumplings.
Kato gumi had intended to supervise Ai in the kitchen, worried the girl might hurt herself.
Instead, she found herself assisted.
Ai was fast, precise, and confident. Almost like she'd done this all her life.
"Hinatsuru-chan, you're amazing."
"Of course! The Hinatsuru family owns a hot spring inn. I've been helping in the kitchen since I was little!"
Then she bead at Azuma. "Right, Shishou?"
"Umu. Very impressive," Azuma nodded.
When the congee was finally served, the scent of rice and pork replaced the pungency of the century egg.
At the table, the other girls eyed the bowls warily.
Kasumigaoka poked at the dark, translucent chunks. "What... is this?"
"Just try it," Azuma replied with a knowing smile.
Spoons dipped, and silence followed.
Gentle rice aroma, the savory depth of pork, and a strangely llow jelly-like texture.
"...It's good," Kasumigaoka admitted.
"Delicious!" Eriri added.
Ginko simply kept eating, cheeks faintly red.
"I told you," Azuma chuckled. "The bad rep cos from bad prep."
Eriri was about to agree—when she yelped.
"Ouch! Hot!"
She had ignored Azuma's warning about the soup dumplings.
Now she stood by the fridge, sticking out her small, pink tongue, fanning it desperately.
Azuma brought over so ice.
But instead of handing it to her directly, he gently pressed a cube to her tongue.
"Mmmf?!"
Her face flushed deep crimson as she made muffled protest noises.
In that mont—tongue out, cheeks red—Eriri looked far too alluring.
Azuma blinked. Nope. Not going there.
Knock knock.
The front door interrupted them.
Azuma wiped his hands and opened it—
Only to find a grinning blonde girl with shark-like teeth standing there, golden eyes flashing like lightning.
Sora Ginko, still in the hallway, imdiately scowled.
"Sainokami Ika. Why are you here?"
The blonde tilted her head and smiled cruelly.
"To play shogi with Azuma. As for you? Stay out of my way, talentless girl."
The jab landed like a slap.
Sora Ginko's eyes darkened. The insult cut deeper than she wanted to admit.
But before she could respond, Azuma flicked Ika's forehead with sharp precision.
Thwack.
"Ow!!"
Even the fierce Sainokami Ika whined in pain.
"One more insult like that, and you're out. Got it?"
Azuma's tone was cold—no room for negotiation.
Ika blinked, stunned. She wasn't used to Azuma being so direct. And for so reason... it felt kind of nice.
Behind them, Kasumigaoka whispered to Ginko, "Who's she?"
Azuma's senpai answered bluntly.
"His ex-girlfriend."
All the girls in the living room froze and turned to glare.
Ika: "!?"
Azuma sighed, exasperated. "That's misleading. She confessed. I rejected her."
After so grumbling, Ika entered barefoot—long black socks sweeping the floor—and sat down eagerly at the shogi table.
But Azuma didn't join her.
Instead, he called out, "Ai, co here."
Hinatsuru Ai jogged over, blinking curiously.
Azuma placed a hand on her head and smiled.
"I'm giving you a mission, Ai. Your challenge—should you choose to accept it—is to ta her."
He pointed to Ika.
Ai looked confused. Then determined.
"Yes, Shishou! Leave it to !"
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