People in Mygo are emotional firefighters.

"What's wrong? Are you hungry or...?"

His words stopped abruptly the moment the door opened.

Standing outside the door was indeed Nagasaki Motoyo. But she wasn't alone; she stood quietly behind a smiling, capable-looking woman—it was none other than Ms. Nagasaki, whom she hadn't seen for several days!

Aunt Nagasaki is back?!

The helplessness on Ishikawa Mayu's face froze instantly, replaced by a look of surprise and shock. She stood frozen at the doorway, momentarily forgetting how to react.

Looking at Ishikawa Mayu's dumbfounded expression, and then glancing at her daughter's awkward posture with her head slightly tilted and ears turning red, Ms. Nagasaki almost burst out laughing.

She tried hard to keep a straight face, pretending not to notice the rapid progress in their relationship, and laughed heartily as always: "Little Zhenyu, it's been a few days, why do you look at your aunt with such an expression? Aren't you welcoming me?"

"Huh? No, no! Good evening, Aunt Nagasaki!" Ishikawa Mayu snapped out of her daze, quickly straightened up, and stammered, "You, you've come up here? Please come in!"

"Haha, I was just kidding." Ms. Nagasaki waved her hand with a smile, but did not go in immediately. She stood at the door and said, "I remember we agreed on the phone that I would treat you to a big meal when I got back to thank you for taking care of my Su Shi."

"Really, there's no need, Auntie!" Ishikawa Mayu quickly waved her hand. "It's my duty to take care of Su Shi-kun, you're too kind!"

Ms. Nagasaki immediately feigned displeasure, raising an eyebrow, but her tone was clearly teasing: "Oh? Just as expected? But our Su Shi seems to be really looking forward to this thank-you banquet; she's been talking about it for days. Can you bear to disappoint her?"

As he spoke, he deliberately turned his head to glance at his daughter behind him.

"Mom!" Su Shi was instantly embarrassed, her cheeks flushed red, and she subconsciously tugged at her mother's arm, whispering in protest, "I...I didn't nag..."

"Oh dear, isn't that right? Maybe I remembered wrong?" Mrs. Nagasaki feigned surprise, but her eyes were full of laughter. She found it extremely amusing to see her daughter's shy appearance and Ishikawa Mayu's even more helpless look.

Feeling that further refusal would only make the situation more uncontrollable, Ishikawa Mayu had no choice but to bite the bullet and compromise: "...Alright, then I'll let Auntie spend the money."

"That's more like it!" Ms. Nagasaki smiled with satisfaction, then revealed the real destination, "Let me think... There's a pretty good new buffet that recently opened in Ginza. The ingredients and atmosphere are great, and there's a wide variety of food. It should suit your tastes, young people. How about we go there? It'll save us the trouble of ordering."

Her choice of a buffet was well-considered—the environment was upscale and respectable enough for a thank-you dinner; the variety was extensive, so there was no need to worry about catering to everyone's tastes; more importantly, the atmosphere at a buffet was relatively relaxed and casual, making it easy to observe the interaction between the two young people.

What else could Ishikawa Mayu say but nod, "...I'll just follow Auntie's arrangements."

"Okay, it's settled then! Xiao Zhenyu, hurry up and change your clothes, we'll wait for you downstairs!" Mrs. Nagasaki made the decision swiftly, and happily pulled her daughter, who was still blushing slightly and trying to make herself less noticeable, and turned to go downstairs first.

Ishikawa Mayu was left standing alone at the door, watching the mother and daughter disappear into the elevator, and let out a long, complicated sigh.

It seems... the Arknights livestream tonight will be canceled.

Chapter Twenty-Three: Who Will Benefit?

This newly opened upscale buffet restaurant features cleverly designed lighting, creating an atmosphere that is both luxurious and intimate. The smooth marble floor reflects the artistic chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, and the air is filled with the complex aromas of carefully prepared food.

The waiter respectfully led Ms. Nagasaki, Nagasaki Motoyo, and Ishikawa Mayu to a booth with a wide view but relatively quiet.

"Isn't the environment here nice?" Ms. Nagasaki smiled and looked around, her tone relaxed. "I heard their seafood and dessert sections are especially popular. You young people should go and take a look, take whatever you like, and don't be shy with your aunties."

Ishikawa Mayu wasn't intimidated by the environment. Even if it wasn't Aunt Nagasaki treating him, the cost was still within his budget.

I don't usually eat out, mainly because eating alone is a bit too lonely.

What truly put him under pressure was Ms. Nagasaki's overly bright smile and her seemingly casual yet ever-present scrutinizing gaze.

More unsettling than the price was the way Aunt Nagasaki looked at me today...

He maintained his composure and nodded, "Okay, thank you, Auntie." He then stood up and naturally looked at Nagasaki Motoyo beside him.

Su Shi also stood up almost at the same time. She brushed a stray hair behind her ear and looked at Ishikawa Mayu: "I heard that the cold dish section here has some good Iberian ham. Want to go check it out together?"

"OK"

Ishikawa Mayu responded and walked side by side with Su Shi.

"Auntie spent a lot of money today."

Nagasaki Motoyo shook her head and took a strawberry daifuku from the dessert section, placing it on Ishikawa Maho's plate.

"I've received a lot of help from you these past few days. It's just a meal; I should be the one thanking you."

……

Ms. Nagasaki did not urge the two little ones, but leisurely sipped her aperitif, her eyes following them with great interest.

It seems like it's not just the kitchen that's been used more often these past few days...

After a while, the two returned to their seats with the food they had initially selected. Ms. Nagasaki also got up to get some salad and soup, and the banquet truly began.

"How does it taste? Is it to your liking?" Ms. Nagasaki asked with a smile after taking a sip of the soup.

"It's delicious," Ishikawa Mayu replied objectively, noting that the roast beef on the plate was indeed cooked to perfection.

"Yes, the seafood is very fresh," Su Shiye whispered in agreement.

Ms. Nagasaki nodded in satisfaction.

Perhaps because the restaurant was comfortable and the food was indeed quite delicious, the subtle sense of oppression I felt when facing my elders earlier dissipated considerably, and the atmosphere seemed to gradually relax.

At this moment, Nagasaki Motoyo got up to get some more salad and fruit.

As she watched her daughter walk towards the food pick-up area, a sly glint flashed in Ms. Nagasaki's eyes.

She turned her head and gave Ishikawa Mayu an even more friendly smile, as if they were having a casual chat.

"Speaking of which, our Su Shi may look like this, but she is actually very caring and has excellent cooking skills."

Ishikawa Mayu recalled the dishes Suze made that day and expressed her deep appreciation.

"Yes, Su Shi's cooking is indeed very delicious."

Ms. Nagasaki's smile deepened, as if she had been waiting for him to say those words.

She leaned forward slightly, lowered her voice, and spoke with a hint of pride and obvious teasing.

"Right? Sigh, I wonder which lucky kid will get to eat our Su Shi's cooking every day."

Just as she finished speaking, Nagasaki Motoyo returned with a small dish of carefully prepared salad and fruit, clearly having heard her mother's last words perfectly.

Her steps faltered almost imperceptibly, the polite smile on her face froze instantly, and then a blush spread visibly from her neck up to the tips of her ears.

"Mom!" She placed the plate down heavily on the table, making a slight clinking sound, her tone filled with obvious embarrassment and a hint of helpless protest, "What are you saying now!"

She glanced quickly at Ishikawa Mayu beside her, then took a deep breath, trying to maintain her composure, though her voice was more tense than usual, carrying a hint of reproach.

"Please don't joke about things like this in public."

She picked up her juice and took a sip, trying to hide her flushed cheeks, but her bright red ears betrayed her.

"Oh dear, Mom was just saying it casually. Isn't it good that I'm praising you?"

Mrs. Nagasaki found it extremely amusing to watch her daughter's embarrassed and angry yet forced-to-maintain composure.

With Sue's side nearly finished, Ms. Nagasaki turned her head to look at Ishikawa Mayu, who was trying to make herself as inconspicuous as possible, and winked deliberately, her tone mischievous.

"Isn't that right, little Zhenyu~ Isn't it incredibly lucky to be able to eat Su Shi's cooking every day from now on?"

How am I supposed to handle a death question like this?! Aunt Nagasaki, at least show some maturity and composure befitting an elder!

Ishikawa Mayu nearly choked on the beef in her mouth, coughed violently, and her cheeks flushed.

He didn't dare look at Su Shi's expression at all, and could only stare at his plate, vaguely replying, "...Uh, Auntie, you're right...this, this beef is really good..." trying to change the subject and get away with it.

Seeing the two young men, one blushing and the other wishing he could crawl under the table, Ms. Nagasaki finally smiled with satisfaction and decided to let them off the hook for the time being.

Just then, her phone rang.

After glancing at the screen, Ms. Nagasaki wore an expression that was a mixture of apology and helplessness.

"Oh dear..." She put down her cutlery, picked up her phone, and said to the two of them, "It seems there's been a sudden emergency at the company that I have to deal with right away. I'm really sorry to spoil your fun."

Ishikawa Mayu and Nagasaki Motoyo both breathed a sigh of relief almost simultaneously.

"You two take your time eating, no need to rush. I've already paid the bill." Ms. Nagasaki picked up her bag, stood up, and instructed, "Susuke, after you finish eating, go back with Ishikawa-kun. Be careful."

"Okay, Mom, you go ahead and do your work. Be careful on the road," Su Shi nodded obediently, her blush still lingering on her face.

“Auntie, you’re busy,” Ishikawa Mayu quickly replied.

……

With Ms. Nagasaki gone, Ishikawa Mayu breathed a sigh of relief.

If Aunt Nagasaki stays any longer, I'm going to suffer social death!

But then, he instinctively became worried, looked at Su Shi opposite him, and hesitated before speaking, "Um...you..."

He worried that Ms. Nagasaki's hasty departure again would stir up Suze's previous sense of loss.

“Mom is really something, always like this…” Nagasaki Motoyo looked up and saw the lingering embarrassment and obvious concern on Ishikawa Mayu’s face. She couldn’t help but smile and added, “…And she always says things that make people feel awkward.”

The awkwardness in the air gradually dissipated, replaced by a wonderful, tacit understanding, like two people sharing the same fate.

The two looked at each other and saw a hint of helplessness and amusement in each other's eyes.

"Never mind," Ishikawa Mayu breathed a sigh of relief and picked up her chopsticks again. "There are still many delicious things to try, let's not waste them."

"Mm." Su Shi nodded gently and continued eating. The atmosphere was actually more natural and harmonious than when Ms. Nagasaki was there.

Outside the restaurant, a woman who declined to give her surname saw through the glass window that the two hadn't fallen silent; on the contrary, they seemed to have started a new conversation. Only then did she smile with genuine satisfaction and turn to leave.

"It's so good to be young."

That's what she remarked.

Chapter Twenty-Four: The Holiday Ends

5 month 7 day,

The five-day Golden Week holiday has finally come to an end.

The classroom of Class 1-A at Haneoka High School was filled with a collective sense of languor in the early morning. Students gathered in twos and threes, exchanging stories of their holiday experiences, their tone tinged with lingering regret and a slight resistance to the return to classroom life.

Ishikawa Mayu slipped into the classroom with her schoolbag slung over her shoulder. Her eyes swept around the room and quickly locked onto the figure who was still sitting in his seat, fiddling with a few pebbles on the table.

He didn't stop, but walked straight over and stopped next to Gao Songdeng's desk.

Good morning, Minister!

Takamatsu Akari, who was immersed in her own world, was startled by the sudden address. She hunched her shoulders slightly and looked up abruptly like a frightened animal.

Upon seeing that it was Ishikawa Mayu, a hint of panic flashed in her light brown eyes, and her cheeks quickly flushed red.

"Good morning... Mayu-san... club, club president or something..."

Seeing her stammering, Ishikawa Mayu smiled and took out her phone.

"Stop joking. Come to think of it, I was so busy before the holiday that I forgot," he said, waving his phone screen, which displayed a LINE friend QR code. "We're practically in the same club, and we haven't even exchanged LINE contacts. That's just too much, isn't it?"

Takamatsu was stunned for a moment, as if he had just realized the problem.

She looked at the QR code, then at Ishikawa Mayu's calm face, and quickly put down the stone, frantically rummaging through her bag for her phone.

"Ah...yes...I'm so sorry, I didn't expect that..." she said softly, her cheeks still slightly flushed, but her movements were swift. After taking out her phone, she carefully scanned Ishikawa Mayu's QR code and sent a friend request.

"Speaking of which, Aine also wants to exchange LINE accounts with you. Could I send it to her?"

Ishikawa Mayu accepted Takamatsu Akari's friend request and started pushing her luck again.

"Um……"

Takamatsu Akari nodded slightly; she actually had a good impression of Aine as well.

Just then, a familiar, energetic sound of footsteps and greetings came from the classroom door.

Ishikawa Mayu propped her head up and looked ahead. Chihaya Aine was as energetic as ever, greeting the students who had already arrived at the classroom.

However, after only a few days of school, he had already become close friends with his classmates.

"And Akari-kun, Mayu-kun~ It's been a long time!" Chihaya Aine cheerfully approached the two, her pink hair bouncing with her movements.

"Good morning, Aine..." Takamatsu Akari replied softly, glancing quickly at Aine.

Chihaya Aine turned her gaze to Ishikawa Mayu, and was about to greet him as well, but she saw that Ishikawa Mayu did not speak. Instead, he raised his finger and lazily and meaningfully pointed to the phone in her hand, indicating that she should take a look.

Chihaya Aine blinked in confusion, then subconsciously turned on her phone screen.

A preview of a LINE message from Mayu Ishikawa suddenly popped up:

[A contact person has been recommended to you: Gao Songdeng]

"Huh?!?!"

After a brief moment of astonishment, a tremendous joy instantly swept across Chihaya Aine's face, and her eyes suddenly lit up with an astonishing brightness.