In the D.U. library, I looked down at the math test in my hands, the score painfully bad, and asked.
"I remember, before you joined C&C, weren't you part of the seminar?"
This was Karin's awkward request.
When she first asked to work at Schale's café, she had also mentioned wanting me to tutor her.
At the time, I assumed it was just like the after-school sweets club. Helping her catch up where needed or maybe just an excuse to spend time with me.
I hadn't expected her grades to be genuinely terrible.
Karin's flushed slightly. "Yes… that's true. But I'm in the security department… and failing is only this first time… though my grades weren't really great before either…"
Her voice grew quieter as she spoke, betraying her unease.
Still, from my experience as a consultant for the tutoring club, while Karin's grades were poor, she wasn't far from passing.
The test itself wasn't difficult; the basics were fine, and most of the errors were in later topics. With a little extra effort, she could pass the make-up exam.
The problem was whether Karin had enough time.
"Damn it…" she muttered quietly, "If I had more power, I could erase mathematics from the world entirely…"
"How much power would that even take?" I asked, half-laughing, half-exasperated. "If you had that much power, you could just pass the make-up properly anyway."
Honestly, I had assumed that reserved Karin might be introverted. Now I realized she was completely the opposite.
"Yeah, you're right. Sorry, I got a little carried away," she sighed.
"Honestly, it can't be helped. Being an agent and working part-time leaves little energy for studying. So I'm counting on you today, sensei. After this, I'll treat you to a dessert I recently learned to make at another shop."
"Of course," I agreed. "But how do you want me to help?"
I felt my question was reasonable.
As a sensei, helping students study is part of my duties.
But at Kivotos, where lessons are mostly pre-recorded, my role in teaching has long been minimized.
The last time I tutored anyone was over a month ago, back when I was still an advisor for the make-up club, before Karin really started to push herself.
…Thinking back over the past half year at Kivotos, why does it feel like I've spent more time nurturing students than actually teaching?
Sigh… Kivotos, surrounded by wolves, is like that.
I couldn't help but reflect on my own misfortune.
"Of course, I'm not asking you to act like a private tutor," Karin said, pulling a thick notebook from her bag. "Here are the problems I've compiled. Could you pick a few to test me?"
I nodded, took the notebook, and skimmed it. Even a quick glance showed that Karin had put in real effort.
But that was actually a worrying sign.
Could it be that the main reason she failed wasn't a lack of study time?
She gotta meet trinity make-up club, pink-haired one, the foolish one.
"By the way," I mused, not starting with the problems yet, "You're so busy, why join C&C? Is it related to your second dream?"
She had told me before that she had two dreams. the first, to become a cute café owner. The second, still secret, which she promised to reveal someday.
It couldn't be the cliché "good wife, wise mother," right? As her future husband, I'd find out eventually.
"Hmm… I guess it's… related? Or not related… Actually, it's just that maid outfits are really cute."
"Karin likes cute things, huh," I said with a smile. "They really are cute."
I meant more the girl wearing the outfit than the outfit itself.
Not noticing this, Karin nodded firmly. "Yeah. You understand, right, sensei? Being cute is very important."
"That's right! Cute is justice!"
"Exactly! So after I got tired of the constant battle and spy work as security for the seminar, and dealing with those after Millennium tech results, I chose to join C&C…"
I frowned, realizing a flaw in her reasoning.
Isn't C&C basically doing the same kind of work?
Arguably, being an agent directly under Rio would be even more troublesome.
Karin seemed lost in thought. "C&C, from its name and appearance, looks like a club for learning housework, cleaning, and cooking. We could clean the school together, have hot tea and desserts in the afternoon… and wear cute clothes."
Like…
Finally, she sighed, resigned. "I thought it was that kind of place."
"Seeing Neru, you probably realized it was a misunderstanding, right?"
Karin corrected seriously. "Sensei, don't underestimate Neru. Her femininity is surprisingly high."
Thinking of the spirit-infused porridge that looked unappetizing but worked brilliantly, I agreed and added.
"And she's cute too."
"Pfft." Karin couldn't help laughing, her eyes forming crescent moons of gold. "Sensei, don't say that in front of Neru, okay?"
"She wouldn't actually hit me."
"No, I mean she'd get shy."
Joking aside, Karin returned to the topic. "As for why I stayed in C&C after realizing it was a misunderstanding… it's because by then, I already liked the club. Even if it started from a misunderstanding, I'm grateful for the memories it brought and the friends I've made."
She lowered her head, looking at her outfit. "At first, I joined because the maid uniform was cute. But now, it's more than just clothing. It's like the embodiment of the dedication I've given to the Millennium project."
I sighed softly. "I see."
"Yeah… that's it," Karin suddenly realized. "Ah, why did I say all that… almost forgot the main point. Sensei, please continue tutoring me."
"Okay. But honestly, you really are cute."
"Hehe, this outfit?"
"No." I opened her notebook and said casually, "I mean you. From the very beginning."
"…Eh?"
"All right, let's start with the problems."
"Oh, okay."
The girl rubbed her cheeks and took a deep breath. "I-I understand."