After returning home that day, both brothers saw the boxes of local specialties on the table. "Did Dad go out?"
"Oh, Miss Takashima had someone deliver those." Mr. Sasaki was tidying up in the kitchen. "A group of friends came by to visit just now. One of them teaches at Seido, and he brought them over."
"Miss Takashima... I feel like I've heard someone mention her..." Kōshū then thought of Miyuki, whom he had barely contacted since school started. "Miyuki said she was a scout for Seido?"
"Yes, that scout is such a kind person. She went on a business trip and even brought us local specialties." Mr. Sasaki sighed. Shen Qing had also said she was a beauty.
The sound of wrapping being torn came from beside them. While the other two were talking, Lang Zhi had already dug in. "Whoa, grilled corn! Let me try some."
"Save one for me!"
A string of thumping footsteps ran from the living room upstairs. Even after the door shut, they could still be heard arguing over the food.
"If that's the case, Takano is practically guaranteed to attend Seido without paying tuition. He's much better off than I was back then." Sasaki looked up and saw Shen Qing being drawn out by the noise.
"It's fine. Both of them will be fine."
Upstairs, where it had briefly gone quiet, the two boys had already wolfed down the specialties. Lang Zhi lay sprawled across the bed. "You're definitely getting Direct Admission. At best, I'll get in with reduced points, and I'll still have to take the exam. I'm so jealous."
Kōshū gave an absent-minded "Mm." He stared at the message in his hand. Three minutes had already passed, and he still did not know how to reply.
"What's wrong with you?" Lang