Why is the Demon King like this?

Yuki focused intently on gnawing on a saury, her slender teeth biting through the crispy skin, licking off bits of fish meat with her tongue.

The kitten looked so happy it was practically bubbling with delight, its tail wagging back and forth, revealing a visibly blissful smile.

It was already past ten o'clock, and four-fifths of the whole bottle of Yamazaki had been drunk, most of which went into Hanako's stomach.

The female ghost, tasting alcohol for the first time, was quite unrestrained. If it weren't for Shiraishi Chizuru frantically helping her hold down her skirt, she would have already started performing a handstand dance.

Keisuke Ao leaned back in his chair, looking up at the full moon and trying to identify the surrounding stars.

If Asuka Sugawa were here, she would surely be able to compose some great haiku, right?

Across from her, Hanako floated in mid-air, wailing outdated songs from the last century, all the while promising Ao Keisuke that she would "absolutely become the most dazzling idol."

—Although he's an annoying guy, he's also a lively character at the dinner table.

Chizuru Shiraishi refilled the bottles for Keisuke Ao and herself, then shook the empty bottles.

"Would you like to change the wine?"

Keisuke Ao simply waved his hand and laughed, "Do as you please, Dr. Shiraishi."

Some people drink for business purposes, some to build connections, and some for unsavory reasons.

But Aokiji doesn't care about these things at all.

If you're going to have to host drinking parties for these kinds of things, you might as well go to bed early!

Chizuru Shiraishi's cheeks flushed, and she smiled shyly yet joyfully. "How about another bottle of Karuizawa?"

"Ding-dong—" Just as she was getting up, the doorbell rang outside the entrance.

"Huh? It's so late..." Shiraishi Chizuru was taken aback.

"I'll drive it~ I'll drive it~" Hanako flew straight towards the main gate.

"No, Hanako-chan!" She quickly stopped Hanako. If an ordinary person saw the door to Keisuke's house suddenly open by itself, wouldn't they be scared to death?

"It's alright, Dr. Shiraishi." Ao Keisuke glanced at the door twice and said, "It'll be good to help Hanako sober up."

"Huh?"

"I'm off!"

Hanako was talking nonsense. She flew past Shiraishi Chizuru, but she flew too fast and crashed into the gate with a clang. It took her a while to come to her senses.

"How strange, why does Lord Qinggui's door have three doorknobs?"

After trying them one by one, Hanako finally managed to open the door by gripping the handle in an odd way.

"Welcome... Hiss!"

A graceful young girl, dressed in a red and white shrine maiden robe, stood at the doorway with a gentle and charming smile.

"Oh, isn't this Ms. Hanako?" she said softly.

Hanako's ahoge (cowlick) swayed from side to side, and an ingratiating smile unconsciously appeared on her face: "Please come in!"

"Sorry to bother you."

Shinbata Yui took off her wooden clogs, her delicate little feet wrapped in white tabi socks, and quickly slipped into the slippers that Hanako had taken out of the shoe cabinet.

"Where is Qinggui-kun?"

"He's waiting for you on the balcony!"

Upon hearing this, Yui Kamabatake immediately strode gracefully into the living room and saw Keisuke Ao clinking glasses with Chizuru Shiraishi on the balcony.

Chizuru Shiraishi was also curiously observing her. Upon seeing the shrine maiden robe on Yui Kamabatake, she immediately confirmed that she must also be from the mystical side.

Upon first seeing each other, both of them were somewhat amazed.

Chizuru Shiraishi is naturally beautiful, while Yui Kamabatake has a dignified demeanor and is further enhanced by her uniform.

"Qinggui-kun, I saw your balcony light was on downstairs, so I came up to check on it."

Shinbata Yui drew a folding fan from her waist and covered her pursed lips: "But I didn't expect that I would arrive at such an inopportune time."

"No, you've come at the perfect time!"

Keisuke Ao raised his hand and beckoned her over: "Come and try Dr. Shiraishi's cooking."

"this……"

"Is there some urgent matter?"

"No, no." Kagami Yui put down her fan and chuckled softly, "Then I'll be rude."

Hanako pulled out a fourth chair and eagerly invited Kamibata Yui to sit down, even placing the chair directly next to Ao Keisuke.

After sitting down, Shinbata Yui opened her folding fan and used it to lean in and whisper in Ao Keisuke's ear.

"Qinggui-kun, what's going on?"

"Literally, I'm inviting you to have a late-night snack together."

Shinbata Yui made a playful nasal sound, which earned her a glare from Ao Keisuke.

Her self-deprecating gaze immediately welled up with tears.

"Then what do you want me to do? Compete with that woman over there, or serve her together..." Kamitada Yui's voice became moist.

Aoki Keisuke's hand, which was gripping the wine glass, hardened.

"We're a bit lacking in talent tonight, so why don't you go under the lights, sing a little tune, and dance a couple of times to liven things up?"

"Uh-huh?"

That's it?

Shinbata Yui gave him a resentful look, then softly replied, "Yes."

"Dr. Shiraishi, didn't you say you were going to get some alcohol?"

"Ah... Oh!"

Chizuru Shiraishi's eyes were bright; she was most curious about the girl's identity, and secondly, about the relationship between the girl and Keisuke Ao.

Look at that smooth, princess-cut long hair, and that gentle, dignified temperament!

No one would doubt that Yui Kamabata comes from a prestigious family!

—On the other hand, aren't today's high school students (specifically Keisuke Ao) a bit too amazing?

She glanced back several times as she walked, grabbed a bottle from the liquor cabinet, and quickly ran back to her seat.

"Good evening, I am Qinggui's teacher, Shiraishi Chizuru." The shrewd adult tried to steer the conversation.

"This humble servant..."

Shinbata Yui glanced at Ao Keisuke, then lowered her head and replied meekly, "Excuse me, I was merely a suitor of Ao Keisuke tonight."

"Huh?!"

Big news!

Shiraishi Chizuru downed a mouthful of strong liquor, his gossip-loving spirit igniting.

Hanako, who was standing to the side, was momentarily enraged, but then quietly shrank back—she couldn't afford to offend these two big shots.

"And what about Shiraishi-sensei?" Misunderstanding Shiraishi Chizuru's identity, Shimahata Yui pressed further, "As Aokae-kun's teacher, why are you still here so late?"

"Cough cough..."

Chizuru Shiraishi never expected the gossip to reach her, but she remained completely calm, calmly putting down her glass and explaining, "Let me revise my statement. I'm Chizuru Shiraishi, the chef that Aokira specially invited tonight!"

"Then I am Hanako 7274, who shares a deep connection with Lord Qinggui. I am striving to become Lord Qinggui's idol. Please take care of me!"

"..."

All three of them fixed their gazes on Hanako, who was once again acting out drunk.

Then, the two women fixed their gazes on Keisuke Ao as if he were a pervert.

"Qinggui-kun, don't you think you need to explain yourself?" Shiraishi Chizuru asked with a complicated expression.

"Why should I care about the ramblings of a drunkard?" Aoki Keisuke stood up, stretched his body from sitting for so long, and kicked Hanako off the balcony.

"The moonlight is so beautiful tonight, are you really not going to dance?"

Upon hearing this, Shimahana Yui immediately obediently got up, took small steps to stand under the light in the center of the balcony, raised her arms, and let the long sleeves of her shrine maiden robe hang down naturally.

"How could I possibly refuse your request?"

A soft, murmuring voice flowed from her pink lips, and in a trance, moonlight and lamplight seemed to converge on Shinba Yui's wrist.

The girl's waving arms revealed her fair and delicate skin.

Her dance moves were graceful and elegant.

The red and white ribbons fluttered in the wind, as if they could carry away all of one's worries and troubles.

Faced with such a dance, Chizuru Shiraishi, at the rare age of 26, felt a sense of envy.

Keisuke Ao finally burst into laughter, clapping his hands in praise:

"Wonderful!"