"Have you decided on the location?"

  Ryuji didn't mind the idea of a little getaway.

  Life had been smooth and peaceful tely, and sometimes it was necessary to take time to rex and enjoy it.

  Besides, hot springs were a quintessential part of Japan's culture. Bathing was more than just a habit—it was a tradition.

  So far, Ryuji hadn't visited a hot spri yet.

  "I've already picked a pce."

  This time, it was Yukino who answered.

  "Yukinoshita Hot Springs. It's not far from here, and we even reserve it for ourselves!"

  She made it clear that they wouldn't have to share the space with strangers, which was ideal for their group.

  "Yukinoshita?"

  Ryuji gave Yukino a curious look. The Yukinoshita family had always been known for their involvement in real estate.

  But now…

  He hadn't expected them to have ventured into the hot spring business.

  "Surprised?"

  Notig his gaze, Yukined nontly.

  "Ever since you arrived, and now that I've bee a sorcerer, my mother has been expanding the Yukinoshita family's business. Before, our family often faced boycotts and obstacles from petitors, but now people are practically lining up to cooperate with us."

  The Yukinoshita family had once been referred to as a "chaebol," but iy, they were merely a local business with some financial weight.

  Naturally, when their ventures cshed with the is of others, they faced resistance.

  But now…

  They didn't eveo seek partnerships. Other families and businesses approached them every day with cooperation offers.

  The reason?

  The presence of a sorcerer in the Yukinoshita family.

  "Still feels strange…"

  Yukino sighed softly, a mix of emotion in her expression.

  She never imagined she would one day bee the key figure supp her family's future.

  However, Yukino was also very clear about ohing, she owed it all to the man standing in front of her.

  If it weren't for Ryuji, she might still be the same ordinary girl as before, with no influence or strength to speak of.

  With that thought in mind, Yukino's eyes softened as she looked at Ryuji with a hint of gratitude and admiration.

  "I see," Ryuji said casually, not dwelling oter.

  The status of the Yukinoshita family was of no particur to him. Even if they became one of the most powerful glomerates in the try, it wouldn't affect him in the slightest.

  At the end of the day, strength was what truly mattered in this world, not wealth or influence.

  "But is the hot spring rge enough? Make sure there's enough space so it doesn't get crowded."

  If they were going, Ryuji wouldn't leave a. Aside from the members of the Service Club, there were others like the Ichika sisters who would certainly be invited.

  "Don't worry!"

  Yukino immediately reassured him, uanding his meaning.

  "This hot spring hotel is a new project my mother unched. She pns for it to bee a symbol of the Yukinoshita family iure, so it's desigo be spacious. Aodating dozens—or even a hundred—people at once wouldn't be an issue."

  As she finished speaking, she g Ryuji with a knowing look.

  "A hundred people might be a bit much!"

  Ryuji coughed awkwardly, trying to downpy the exaggeration.

  "Ahem!" ging the topic decisively, he said, "In that case, make the arras a me know the date. By the way, has anything iing happe school retly?"

  "…"

  The girls exged gnces, clearly aware of Ryuji's attempt to steer the versation elsewhere.

  It was Hana who eagerly raised her hand and spoke first.

  "A really pretty girl just transferred into our css retly!"

  "Huh?"

  Ryuji raised an eyebrow at the ued news.

  The irls, however, looked at Hana first, then turheir gazes toward Ryuji with a strange, knowing expression.

  "…?"

  Ryuji, who had been curious, froze uheir collective stares.

  "Wait, what's with those looks? This is Hana's story, not mine!"

  He genuinely had no idea what was going on.

  "No way!"

  Due to certain past is, Arisu and Masumi had started frequenting the Service Club during lunch breaks.

  At first, it had been a bit surprising for everyone, but they quickly got used to it.

  In fact, pared to everything else, the girls now handled such situations with calm acceptance.

  Shrugging, Arisu spoke bluntly, "Well, it's not like it's surprising. After all, Ryuji-kun does have a way of making these cute girls flo."

  Thanks to Ryuji, Arisu's heart dition had been pletely cured.

  She no longer needed a e to walk, and she could move freely without aris. The once delicate and fragile girl now radiated an air of fidend vitality—a true little tyrannosaurus with a sharp too match.

  "…"

  Ryuji didn't respond to her ent.

  Instead, he calmly walked over to where Arisu stood.

  "Uh…"

  Thinking she might have pushed him too far, Arisu started to get nervous. While she eeasing him, she had no iion of actually angering Ryuji.

  But before she could say anything, Ryuji raised his hand and started ruffling her ly styled hair.

  "What wings? What do you mean by that? And what's with this nonsense about cute girls flog to me? You're sndering me!"

  Her once fwless hairstyle was now pletely disheveled.

  "Ah! My hair!"

  Arisu gasped in horror, trying to fix the mess as Ryuji gri her rea.

  Seeing the two bickering pyfully, the other members of the Service Club couldn't help but chuckle.

  By now, they'd spent enough time with Ryuji to know his personality well. He wasn't the type to get genuinely upset over trivial things.

  "Hmph!"

  When Ryuji finally let go, Arisu's previously elegant hairstyle had turned into a chaotic mess.