Minami''s appearance didn''t escape Chen Yu''s awareness, though he didn''t actively do anything about it.


    There are some things he could intentionally steer, but other things are better left to unfold naturally.


    Chen Yu didn''t n to interfere, yet there are situations chiseled by fate—where even unintentional acts still follow their destined path, leaving even the deities powerless.


    "Just eating hotpot is kind of boring, I''m going to grab some drinks," Naoki stood up, intending to buy beverages.


    "Drinks? You could just order directly! You don''t have to save me money," Chen Yu said in surprise upon hearing Naoki''s decision. After all, it''s unusual to go outside to buy drinks when eating at a restaurant.


    Naoki gave an awkwardugh before responding, "The drink I want isn''t avable here. Don''t worry, I saw a convenience store nearby when I came. I''ll be back soon."


    After saying that, Naoki stood and walked out.


    Watching his departing figure, Kohinata Kaori asked Chen Yu with some confusion, "Senior, what''s going on with Second Senior? What drink is he after that he''s going out to buy it?"


    "Not sure. Maybe it''s some special vor," Chen Yu replied casually, not paying much attention to Naoki''s errand. Yet in his keen observation, he noticed that Naoki''s path coincidentally intersected with Minami.


    For such scenarios where nting flowers deliberately yields nothing while an unintended willow grows into shade, Chen Yu could only marvel at the mysteries of fate.


    From his senses, Naoki had left the hotpot restaurant and reached the nearby convenience store, swiftly locating the drink he wanted.


    However, just as he was about to pay, the cash register at the convenience store seemed to malfunction, and the clerks were busy fixing it.


    Since the clerks insisted it was a minor issue and would be fixed shortly, Naoki stood aside and waited.


    At that very moment, Minami—already holding her take-out dumplings and walking back—chanced to pass by the convenience store. Suddenly deciding she also wanted a bottle of drink, she stepped inside.


    When Minami picked out her desired drink and approached the counter, the cash register still hadn''t been fixed.


    This disappointed Minami. She was out fetching take-out and couldn''t afford to dy; she had to return to the shop immediately. She couldn''t linger until the clerks repaired the register.


    Just as she prepared to put the drink back and leave, Naoki recognized her.


    "Are you Minami? Do you live around here?" Naoki greeted her, but as the words left his mouth, he quickly caught himself, "Ah, right, Brother Yu just mentioned going to your shop for ate-night snack. Clearly your ce is close by. Are you delivering take-out?"


    "Naoki-san! You… how are you here?" Minami gasped, startled that the very person she''d wished to avoid appeared so abruptly, and in such an uncanny way.


    Could this be the undeniable force of fated romance? Minami couldn''t help but feel a ripple of uncertainty and disbelief in her heart.


    "Oh, I''m here eating with Brother Yu and Kaori. Are you delivering take-out, Minami?" Naoki''s tone was casual and unremarkable, treating her simply as a familiar acquaintance. His demeanor wasn''t particrly warm.


    Yet for Minami, just seeing Naoki was enough to make her heart race uncontrobly.


    She managed topose herself and calmly exined to Naoki, "I came to pick up take-out. We don''t do take-out at our shop, but my uncle sometimes orders dumplings from other ces, so I came out to grab them."


    After speaking, Minami nced at the clerk still fixing the cash register, a trace of regret briefly appearing on her face as she prepared to return the drink to the shelf.


    Naoki noticed this and couldn''t help but offer, "I''ll pay for this bottle. You take it with you first, and once the register is fixed, I''ll settle both of our bills. You''re probably in a rush?"


    Minami instinctively wanted to refuse, but Naoki had already turned to the clerk and said, "Put her bottle under my tab; I''ll pay for everythingter."


    Faced with this scenario, Minami felt it would be rude to decline, so she thanked Naoki politely, then left with her drink in such haste that her embarrassment was almost palpable.


    Watching Minami leave, Naoki shook his head slightly, amused by her endearing demeanor.


    A few minutester, the clerk fixed the register. Naoki paid for the drinks and headed back to the restaurant.


    "What took you so long? Didn''t you say it was next door?" Chen Yu asked Naoki upon his return, although everything had been under his watchful eye. He still posed the question out loud.


    Naoki answered genuinely, unaware of Chen Yu''s underlying intentions, "The cash register at the convenience store was broken. I was waiting for the clerk to fix it."


    Afterward, Naoki ced the drinks down in front of Chen Yu and Kohinata Kaori, then opened a can himself with satisfaction, taking a sip with delight, "Haven''t had this in ages. You can''t find it in Kumamoto, so I made a point of buying it there."


    "So that''s what it was. I was wondering why you insisted on heading out," Chen Yu remarked with a resigned chuckle as he looked at the drink.


    This was a caffeinated beverage they would often drink during university—an essential boost duringte-nightb sessions.


    The taste wasn''t particrly pleasant, leaving a slightly off-putting sensation, but it was precisely this peculiarity that heightened its energizing effect.


    Perhaps feeling nostalgic, Chen Yu opened a can of the drink as well, taking a sip of the peculiar vor.


    Yet what was once a refreshing stimnt now tasted only of bittersweet memories for Chen Yu.


    He sighed with a touch of regret, then remarked, "It''s still the same taste as before, but somehow it doesn''t seem as good as I remember."


    "This drink was never good to begin with, was it?" Kohinata Kaori couldn''t help but interject, pointing out bluntly that she''d always found the beverage unappealing, "I never understood why you two liked drinking it back then."


    Herment made Chen Yu and Naoki exchange a nce, both bursting intoughter.


    "It wasn''t that we liked drinking it; it''s precisely because it tastes bad that it helps keep us awake," Chen Yu rified before taking another sip, as if he were verifying the vor. "Yup, still just as awful."


    Beside him, Naoki chuckled and said, "Bad taste, but it does the trick for waking you up!"