The Door of My Bathroom Leads to the Comic World!

"Erina, what are you talking about?"

Sui, looking at Erina's flustered face, was puzzled.

"H-Huh?!" 

Only then did Erina realize her slip of the tongue. Embarrassed beyond measure, she wanted the ground to swallow her whole. It was utterly humiliating.

Earlier that day, Leonora had invited Sui and Erina for lunch.

"Ah, you're here! Please, come in." 

Leonora greeted them, dressed in a pink and white long dress that showcased her elegant calves. Her silver hair, once again styled differently, was now braided into several small plaits, draped neatly over her shoulders. Unlike the youthful look she sported last time, today her hairstyle added a touch of girlish charm.

Sui was left speechless. Wasn't this woman supposed to have left a while ago? She'd mentioned leaving before the school festival, yet stayed for five more days, enjoying meals at his restaurant. After the festival, she had planned to leave again but, here she was, inviting them to lunch once more.

"Last time Auntie said she liked the grapes and candies, so I brought some more today."

Sui handed over the three bunches of Dia Grapes he'd bought that morning.

"Sui, you're so thoughtful! You know I love sweets."

Leonora beamed with delight and promptly gave him a light kiss on the cheek.

Sui touched his now slightly damp cheek. Although he knew that cheek kisses were a common greeting among foreigners, it still felt odd to be kissed by such a youthful and attractive mother-in-law.

"Auntie, aren't you leaving soon?" Erina asked after they sat down on the sofa.

"Oh, the school's sports meet is coming up soon, and as a mother, I can't miss seeing my daughter on the field," Leonora replied, gently stroking her cheek.

"Or is it just that you want more delicious food?" Alice, munching on grapes, ruthlessly exposed her mother's true intentions.

A rare blush spread across Leonora's face. Indeed, the opportunity to enjoy delicious food was part of why she'd stayed.

"But Alice, are you really participating in the sports meet?" Erina asked.

"Of course! It sounds like fun," Alice replied, excitement twinkling in her eyes as she popped a candy into her mouth, puffing up one of her cheeks.

"My Alice has always been so full of energy," Leonora chimed in, with several candies in her own mouth, puffing up her cheeks too.

The mother and daughter, both with candies in their mouths, looked irresistibly cute.

"You just like to fool around, don't you?" Erina muttered softly.

Sui shared the sentiment. Alice seemed to be in it for fun, just like she was during the school festival.

"A lively girl like me is way better than someone like you, Erina, who only knows cooking, lacks social skills, and leads a totally boring life," Alice said with a huff.

"H-Hey!" Erina's forehead creased with irritation. "I do have hobbies, okay?"

"Oh? What do you do for fun, Erina-chan?" both mother and daughter asked, their curiosity piqued.

Erina: "..."

"Come on, Erina, do you really have hobbies?" Alice pressed.

"Of course... I do," Erina mumbled, her face turning red. She did read romance comics in secret sometimes.

Sui glanced at the tsundere girl out of the corner of his eye, finding her slightly foolish but undeniably cute.

"Sui, are you participating in the sports meet?" Leonora asked, her eyes shining with expectation.

"Well... we'll see," Sui replied, remembering how he'd participated in Kanna's elementary school sports day over the summer. He could probably break records in any event now.

"Ryo, you're joining too," Alice declared, her voice brimming with authority.

"Wait... do I have to?" came the hesitant reply.

"Of course! You're my pet. If your master is participating, so are you!" Alice declared, flicking his hair in mock seriousness.

After lunch, they were invited to the Polar Star Dormitory that evening. 

Erina, surrounded by the lively atmosphere, found herself feeling somewhat dazed. Without realizing it, she had made so many friends, something she would never have imagined in the past.

"What's on your mind, Erina?" Sui asked when he noticed her lost in thought.

"Huh? Oh, nothing," she quickly replied in a low voice.

"Are you thinking about the sports meet?" Sui said with a smile. "You should join. I think you'd look great in sportswear."

"Eh? Sui, do you like how I look in sportswear?" Erina asked, blushing deeply.

Suddenly, the room fell silent, and everyone stared at her in surprise.

Ryoko, who had been pouring a drink for Yoshino, froze, accidentally spilling the drink on the ground.

"N-No, I'm not joining!" Erina stammered, flustered and defensive.

"That makes sense. Miss Erina probably doesn't do much exercise, right?" Yoshino mused aloud.

"Who said that?! I can ski, swim, and play golf!" Erina quickly countered, rattling off the aristocratic sports she had learned since childhood.

"All noble sports," Yoshino muttered under her breath.

"I have no interest in these commoners' sports meets!" Erina declared, tilting her head proudly.

"We've all signed up, though," Sōma said with a grin.

"Sōma, what did you sign up for?" Sui asked.

"Shot put," Sōma answered confidently.

[A-N: The shot put is a track and field event involving "putting" a heavy spherical ball—the shot—as far as possible.]

Everyone: "..."

Looking at his small frame, no one could quite picture him competing in shot put.

"Megumi also signed up for the women's 100-meter sprint and the relay," Yoshino said, smiling.

"Y-Yeah," Megumi blushed, shyly lowering her head and sneaking a glance at Sui.