The Door of My Bathroom Leads to the Comic World!

"Really?" 

After hearing Sui's words, everyone was visibly disappointed, especially Isshiki. He had never encountered cabbage with such a unique taste before. 

But on reflection, it made sense. Such an exceptional flavor likely came from a rare ingredient, so it was understandable that Sui didn't have much to spare. 

"Well, regardless, let's keep celebrating! I don't know why, but I feel incredibly energized," Isshiki said cheerfully, wriggling his hips playfully. 

"Exactly! I feel like I could stay up all night!" Aoki and the others chimed in, equally excited. 

Watching these overly energetic friends, Sui regretted his decision a little. If he had known this would happen, he might have made Sinangag fried rice instead of the Sautéed Cabbage. 

"Let's play poker!" Yoshino exclaimed as she pulled out a deck of cards. 

"P-Poker?" Erina stammered, clearly surprised. 

"Yes, let's play until dawn!" Yoshino said with enthusiasm. 

Time flew by, and before they knew it, it was almost dawn. Even with Sui's energizing cabbage, after a long day of classes and a night full of fun, everyone eventually succumbed to exhaustion and fell asleep—well before dawn. 

Erina curled up on the floor, sleeping peacefully like a kitten. 

"Well, it's getting late. We should be heading out," Sui said, bidding farewell to Isshiki and Sōma. 

"What about her?" Isshiki asked, glancing at the sleeping Erina. 

"I'll carry her back," Sui replied, carefully lifting the slumbering Erina onto his back. 

"Take good care of her," Isshiki said with a knowing smile. "I'm looking forward to seeing what you'll accomplish in the future." 

"Sui, I'm looking forward to a showdown between us one day," Sōma added. 

"Hm," Sui nodded, walking out the door with Erina on his back. He waved and said, "Goodbye." 

"Goodbye!" Isshiki and Sōma waved back as he left.

Under the starry sky, Sui walked down the road alone, Erina sleeping peacefully on his back. 

"Whew, she's heavier than I thought," he muttered to himself, realizing he still had a forty-minute walk ahead to her mansion. He couldn't help but feel a little weary. 

Erina, still deep in sleep, smiled softly, as though she was dreaming something sweet. She looked nothing like her usual imperious self—more vulnerable, and surprisingly cute. 

"This girl must have enjoyed herself tonight," Sui mused. Although Erina had sat alone during the gathering, seemingly distant from the lively atmosphere, Sui could tell she was happy in her own way. 

"She's really not honest with herself," he thought, recalling how she had hesitated to join the poker game, clearly wanting to play but too shy to participate. He smiled and shook his head. 

By the time Sui reached the mansion, he was utterly exhausted. He carried Erina into her room, gently laid her on the bed, removed her shoes, and tucked her under the covers. 

Before leaving, Sui hesitated for a moment, then bent down and lightly kissed her cheek. "Consider that my reward for making me carry you back," he whispered. 

At that moment, Erina stirred, wrapping her arms around his neck and murmuring, "Don't go... stay with me, okay?" 

Sui froze, now pressed against her, her soft fragrance filling the air. Her slightly open neckline revealed her snow-white skin, and Sui couldn't help but swallow hard. 

To say he wasn't tempted would be a lie. 

But in the end, he resisted. Though she usually acted tough and haughty, deep down, she must crave companionship, too. 

Sui gently freed himself from her embrace, brushing her soft blonde hair. "Sleep well," he whispered. He made sure she was comfortable under the blanket before quietly leaving the room. 

Once he returned to his own room, a notification sounded: 

"The host has completed the task and earned the Steamed Fish recipe." 

"Steamed Fish—Recipe Grade: Bronze. Effect: Radiant." 

"If the host prepares a dish with a rating of 80 or higher, a Cooking Level 2 reward will be granted." 

"Ugh, I'll practice tomorrow," Sui muttered. He was far too tired after the long day. With a yawn, he undressed and fell into bed, drifting off to sleep almost instantly. 

The next day... 

The morning sun filtered through the large balcony windows, casting a warm glow on Erina's fair face. She frowned slightly before slowly opening her eyes. 

"I must have fallen asleep last night," Erina murmured. 

Sitting up, she noticed she was in her own bed, still fully dressed in her school uniform beneath the covers. "Did he carry me back?" she wondered aloud. 

She knew how far the dormitory was from the mansion. Sui had carried her all the way there by himself... 

A warm feeling welled up inside her. 

"He's not so bad after all," she thought with a small smile. 

After getting out of bed, she changed into a fresh school uniform and headed to the bathroom, where she found Sui already up, brushing his teeth. 

"Good morning," she greeted him, surprising herself with her rare friendliness. 

Sui was visibly shocked. The tsundere greeting him first? Was the sun rising in the west? 

"About last night..." 

Erina blushed, turning her head as she hesitated on how to thank Sui. Just then, she heard him complain, "Speaking of which, Erina, you really need to lose some weight. Do you have any idea how exhausting it was carrying you yesterday? You were like a dead weight!"