Chapter 47 It wasn't a wasted trip, it wasn't a wasted trip at all →_→ ←_←……

After the brief incident, the atmosphere in the private room became lively.

Sanada still had a stern face, but he was much more relaxed; Akaya kept pestering Risa for all sorts of stain-removing tips; Niou and Marui started a competition to see who could wrap the most exaggerated kebab roll with lettuce...

Risa could finally focus on her rice. As she picked up a piece of meat and dipped it in cumin, Sanada couldn't help but remind her, "That... is spicy."

"Eh?" Risa put it in her mouth, her face instantly turning red. "Water...water..."

Yukimura handed over a glass of chilled oolong tea at just the right moment, his eyes brimming with amusement: "Matsuno-kun, how could you be so careless?"

Risa was so overwhelmed by the spiciness that she couldn't speak. Through her teary eyes, she looked at the seemingly harmless boy in front of her. Without thinking twice, she took the oolong tea from his hand and gulped it down.

This guy... he definitely did it on purpose! He replaced her cumin powder with chili powder.

Akaya suddenly said he needed to go to the restroom, and Sanada, worried that he would get lost, went with him.

Yukimura also stood up: "I'll go get some more meat."

"Puri~ I'm going too." Niou followed along, hunched over and grinning.

With four people gone, it suddenly became much quieter.

Risa was turning the Wagyu beef when she suddenly felt the seat next to her sink slightly.

She glanced to the side and saw Liu Lian'er sit down next to her out of the corner of her eye.

"Matsuno-kun. I want to formally apologize to you for what happened before."

Risa was taken aback: "...About what happened before?"

Liu Lianer slightly opened his eyes, his gaze falling on the table: "I have investigated your background, and even questioned your motives for approaching Akaya."

Risa blinked, then suddenly realized, "Ah! You mean that? I know, you suspect I'm a spy sent from another school, and you even discussed with Seigaku's Kankun whether I'm from another world, right?"

Liu Lian'er coughed lightly, a rare hint of embarrassment showing on his face: "...I'm sorry."

"It's alright, I didn't take it to heart." Risa flipped the grilled meat, seemingly unconcerned.

Liu Lian'er slightly widened her eyes.

Under the intense gaze, Risa put down the clip, rested her chin on her hand, and looked at the person who was looking at her.

“Every time Liu Jun sees me, he’s holding a notebook and has a very serious expression. Even though he’s just a high school student, he acts like he’s on some kind of secret mission. It’s quite interesting.”

Liu Lian'er remained silent.

After a moment, he finally spoke: "...I admit that I did suspect you were a spy sent by another school at the time."

"Huh?!" Risa deliberately widened her eyes, her tone exaggerated. "Do I look... that suspicious?"

“No, it’s just…” He paused slightly, as if choosing his words carefully, “You’ve changed a lot compared to the past. And your attitude towards Akaya and Yukimura… is somewhat unusual.”

“Aka is my brother! As for your minister—” Her voice rose involuntarily, then suddenly dropped, “I don’t have any special feelings for him!”

Seeing her gaze wander, Liu Lian'er slightly raised the corners of his lips. "In any case, my actions have indeed crossed the line. I'm very sorry."

"I said it's okay!" Risa didn't want to argue any further. "You evened things by lending me 'willow juice' during the finals. Consider it even."

Renji Yanagi: "Really... you've forgiven me just like that?"

"Otherwise what?" Risa looked up at him. "Do you expect me to do what they do in TV dramas and splash water in your face to feel better?"

Liu Lian'er was slightly taken aback. That wasn't what he meant.

"Speaking of which..."

Risa suddenly changed the subject.

She picked up the tongs and flipped the sizzling, oily grilled meat. "You're bringing this up now because you've finally found the 'standard answer'?"

Liu Lian'er suddenly raised her eyes, her usually squinted eyes opening a crack for the first time, revealing brown pupils.

Risa: "Weren't you investigating why I'm acting like a completely different person?"

Renji Yanagi lowered his eyes and said calmly, "In this world, not everything has a standard answer. Yukimura once told me that humans are like tennis; the ball path you think you understand will evolve into a completely new move the next second."

For him now, confirming that Matsuno Risa is not an enemy is enough. To delve any deeper would be like trying to measure the depth of the universe—ultimately futile.

Risa picked up the grilled beef and put it into the orange-red sauce.

"Since you're so sincere..." She put down the clip and lowered her voice, "I'll tell you the truth."

"Um?"

Li Sha beckoned with her finger. Liu Lian Er leaned in and whispered in her ear.

"actually--"

The girl's breath brushed past his ear, carrying the refreshing scent of gardenias.

"I'm a witch from another dimension."

Liu Lian'er paused for a moment, then nodded in agreement: "No wonder my data analysis was completely ineffective against you."

The two exchanged a smile, and the tense atmosphere of the past few months finally dissipated.

Just then, Yukimura and Niou returned carrying food. Yukimura looked at the two of them and smiled, "It seems you two had a pleasant chat?"

Liu Lianji regained his usual calm expression, remaining expressionless: "It was just a normal apology and conversation."

Risa's bright black eyes darted around, and she immediately put on a pitiful expression, complaining to Yukimura, "Minister! Your staff officer is bullying me!"

Renou chuckled and interjected, "Pfft~ It's surprising that Liu would bully a girl~"

Yukimura chuckled, reached out and ruffled Risa's hair, gently comforting her, "Alright, the meat's all burnt, eat up." He then looked up at Yanagi Renji beside him, "Renji, next time you want to 'apologize,' remember to be gentler."

Liu Lian'er nodded and silently moved back to her seat: "...I will be careful."

Risa blinked, belatedly realizing—wait, didn't Yukimura just... pat her head? And the gesture was so natural, like he was coaxing a child?

She looked at the cunning young man sitting next to her, puffed out her cheeks, and glared at him angrily.

Yukimura tilted his head innocently, picked up a piece of grilled meat and put it into her condiment dish, trying to get away with it by being cute.

(This guy...)

(Using a honey trap again!)

Kirihara Akaya and Sanada returned with the juice, raising their glasses and shouting, "Risa-nee! Cheers! Congratulations on winning the 33rd Image Ambassador title!"

(Never mind, whatever.)

Risa banished these chaotic thoughts, raised her glass, and smiled brightly: "Here it comes!"

Under the light, the glasses clinked together, making a crisp sound.

......

Halfway through the meal, everyone slowed down noticeably and entered a halftime break mode.

Marui leaned on his partner's shoulder, rubbing his stomach contentedly; Yagyu grilled meat nearby, while Sanada sat upright, sipping barley tea. Only Risa and a certain little seaweed were still fighting with unfinished business.

Niou leaned back lazily in his chair. He rested his chin on his hand, his gaze passing over the smoke from the grilled meat and landing on Risa.

"Risa-chan~" he drawled, his fox-like eyes crinkling, "That last move in the exhibition match was truly beautiful, puri~"

"Thank you, but you're still the best at cooperating," Risa replied perfunctorily.

She was staring intently at the perfectly marbled, fat-and-lean beef on her plate, contemplating whether to dip it in sauce or wrap it in lettuce.

Niou tilted his head, a glint of light flashing in his eyes, and suddenly attacked—

"As a reward, this piece of meat is mine!"

Risa felt a blur before her eyes, and belatedly realized: "?"

Upon closer inspection, the perfect piece of beef she had carefully chosen to eat had vanished from her plate!

“Niou Masaharu!” She looked up, her cheeks puffed out in anger, like a hamster guarding its food. “That’s my meat! Mine! I thought for a minute about how to eat it!”

Yukimura's smile remained unchanged as he lightly tapped the table with his fingertips. He picked up the tongs, took the thicker, more beautifully marbled Wagyu beef that Yagyu had just grilled from the grill, and placed it in the pear-shaped bowl.

"Don't argue with him," he said gently. "After all, the winner deserves better treatment, right?"

His gaze swept lightly over Niou, a beaming smile on his face.

Risa's eyes lit up instantly, and she immediately forgot about the unpleasantness from before.

Seeing this, Niou not only did not back down, but instead went further: "Oh dear~ the minister is so biased, I also want to be given special treatment."

Yagyu pushed up his glasses and nudged Niou with his elbow under the table.

Niou feigned pain: "Partner, why did you stab me?"

Yagyu said expressionlessly, "The meat is burnt."

Nioh: "..."

Sanada slammed down his chopsticks and glanced at Niou: "Too lax! Eat properly!"

Marui was trembling from trying to suppress his laughter, so he stuffed fruit slices into his mouth to cover it up.

Kirihara finally looked up from the pork belly, his face blank: "Huh? What happened?"

Taking advantage of everyone's distraction, Risa shoveled several more pieces of meat into her bowl, and didn't forget to make a face at Niou: "Come and take it if you dare!"

After saying that, he picked up the fattest piece of meat and stuffed it into his mouth, then moved closer to Yukimura, seeking protection.

Niou paused for a second, then burst into laughter: "Pfft~ Interesting!"

Yukimura lowered his eyes, concealing the smile in them, and gently patted her back: "Eat slowly, don't choke. He won't dare to take it from you."

Risa was moved to tears by the response from the protective umbrella: "Um... Yukimura, you're such a kind person. You truly are the son of God, unlike some wicked foxes."

Yukimura, who received the "good guy" card: "......"

The innocent Niou, caught in the crossfire: "..."

The rest of the members who were just watching the show: →_→ ←_←

This meal was really good!

It was worth the trip! Everyone's trip was worthwhile!

One word!

value!

Little seaweed: "???"

-----------------------

Author's Note: I thought this chapter would be 4000 words, but I finished it in just over 2000. [Cracking face][Laughing and crying emoji]