(AN: Join my Patreon to get access to early release and monthly illustration, link in my profile.)
A little over two weeks remain before the midterm exams. So far, I've managed to convince Miku to take her studies seriously, and I've been helping Itsuki catch up as well. At this rate, I'm confident both of them will pass without much trouble.
Yotsuba is determined this time, and with Futaro guiding her, she's already on the right track. Even so, I'd like to give her one little push—only for my own peace of mind.
The problem is Ichika and Nino, first is far too preoccupied with her acting career to devote time to studying, while later remains as stubborn as ever. Somehow, I have a feeling she'll require far more careful handling... especially after everything that happened recently.
The moment I spotted Miku waiting at our usual meeting spot, a short distance from the school gates, every lingering thought slipped from my mind.
"Sorry to keep you waiting," I said apologetically.
It had been a while since we last walked to school together... or had it really been that long?
"Not at all," she replied with a gentle smile before boldly slipping her hand into mine.
I accepted it without hesitation.
Her delicate fingers rested comfortably in my comparatively rough hand—a quiet, unspoken feeling between us. Though, if I was being honest, my hands were still much softer than they had been before.
"Let's go," Miku said.
As we made our way down the street, more and more students wearing the same uniform as ours came into view, all heading toward the school. Like usual, I didn't paid them any attention.
What did catch my attention, however, was Miku.
She was walking noticeably closer than usual, her shoulder brushing against mine every now and then.
Not that I was complaining.
"I missed you," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper as a faint blush spread across her cheeks.
It hadn't even been that long. We had seen each other just yesterday.
Then again, since I started working part-time, we wouldn't be able to spend nearly as much time together.
...Did that even matter?
When you're in love for the first time, even a single day apart can feel unbearably long.
I gave her hand a gentle squeeze and smiled.
"What a coincidence. I missed you too."
She looked up at me, momentarily dazed, as if trying to determine whether I was serious.
"How much?"
I met her gaze without looking away, a playful smile tugging at my lips.
"So much that I wish we could live together."
For a split second, she froze.
The confession caught her completely off guard, and the blush on her cheeks deepened into a vivid crimson.
"T-That's..." she stammered. "We're not at that stage yet."
A quiet chuckle escaped my lips.
Ah... she's adorable.
Every instinct urged me to pull her into a hug right then and there, but I restrained myself. We were almost at the school gates, surrounded by students, and she'd probably die of embarrassment.
That, however, didn't stop me from teasing her.
"Then what stage are we at right now?" I whispered, leaning close enough for my breath to brush against her ear.
She instinctively create some distance, caught completely off guard. Her lips parted, but no words came out at first.
"H-Holding hands... I guess?" she finally managed to say, her voice barely audible.
"And after that?" I pressed, refusing to let her escape so easily.
Realizing exactly what I was trying to do, Miku puffed out her cheeks and lightly punched my shoulder.
"Bad Ren."
I couldn't help but laugh.
I might have gotten a little carried away, but I knew she wasn't truly upset. It was nothing more than an adorable attempt to hide her embarrassment.
Moments like these...
They were nice.
Comfortable.
The kind of time I wished could last forever.
"Maybe... after we graduate from high school... it wouldn't be so bad..."
Miku murmured the words so quietly that they were carried away by the morning breeze, completely unnoticed by me.
----------
Our third-period teacher was absent today, leaving us with an unexpected self-study session.
But what were they expecting?
There was no way a classroom full of high school students would actually study on their own. Sure, the ones who genuinely cared about their grades opened their textbooks, but the rest of us? The moment the teacher's absence was confirmed, the classroom erupted into conversations as everyone gathered with their friends or their usual circles.
I stood up, grabbed my chair, and dragged it across the floor.
A few classmates glanced in my direction, curious for only a moment, before returning to their own conversations.
I set my chair infront of Miku's desk and took a seat.
She looked as though she'd been waiting for me.
By now, everyone in the class knew we are dating. At first, people had been curious—some had even worried about Miku—but that phase had long since passed. To them, we are simply another couple in the classroom now.
Well... maybe not entirely ordinary.
Everyone also knew I am simp to her.
I was sitting quite a distance from my own desk, but I wasn't particularly worried. Even if a teacher suddenly barged into the classroom, it probably wouldn't be much of an issue.
After all, quite a number of the teachers already knew I was... a "slightly troublesome" student.
I turned my chair around so I could lean my chest against the backrest, facing Miku directly.
With a playful grin, I looked straight into her eyes.
"Missed me?"
Miku leaned against her desk as well, matching my playful tone.
"Take a guess."
I brought a hand to my chin, pretending to ponder the question with utmost seriousness.
"Hmm... I think you missed me so much that you want a big hug from me."
I delivered my answer with an overly confident smirk.
Miku immediately crossed her arms in a cross, playing along.
"Wrong. I wasn't missing you. Just like you didn't miss me when you went on that date with Nino."
I silently gulped.
Was she still holding a grudge about that?
Was she joking?
...Or perhaps both?
Well, I was nothing if not thick-skinned.
I placed a hand over my heart and put on an exaggerated look of pain.
"Geez... don't hit me where it hurts."
Miku let out a soft chuckle.
"I was joking."
I chuckled along with her, though a small part of me hoped she really is.
Still, compared to how rough our relationship had started, we'd come a long way.
We are comfortable enough now to joke around with each other without constantly worrying about saying the wrong thing.
And especially with Miku...
She's always been quiet and reserved, so seeing her joke around with me like this made me genuinely happy.
"That said, there's something I'd like to ask your opinion on."
Miku's playful expression gradually faded, returning to her usual neutral look as she tilted her head curiously.
"About what?"
"Do you think your sisters will pass the midterms?"
The unexpected question caught her off guard.
"That's..."
She couldn't give me a clear answer, but she already knew what I was getting at.
Miku, Itsuki, and, for some reason, even Yotsuba had been putting in some effort. Ichika and Nino, however, were another story entirely.
If things continued as they were, the two of them probably wouldn't make it.
And even if they managed to scrape by through the supplementary exams, they'd still be in danger of failing the first-term finals.
Not that Miku herself was particularly confident about her own chances.
"I'm sure you already know this, but all five of us have some pretty bitter memories when it comes to our previous school... and academics in general."
The sisters had never exactly had an easy relationship with studying.
Of the five, Itsuki was the only one who had managed to keep moving forward despite her own shortcomings. She pushed herself harder than the others, determined to set an example for her sisters and live up to the expectations placed upon her.
And above all...
She wanted to fulfill her dream to walk the same path as their late mother.
The chances were slim, but if only Miku, Itsuki, and Yotsuba managed to pass the exams, Miku would feel guilty about leaving Ichika and Nino behind.
It wouldn't be just her, either.
Itsuki and Yotsuba would probably feel the same way.
To them, passing without their sisters would feel like breaking the promise they had made to one another.
Miku didn't say a word, but she didn't need to.
I could read everything on her face.
"Want me to convince them?" I offered.
It had been my plan from the beginning. But rather than lurking behind her back, I wanted Miku to know exactly what I was trying to do.
"You would? But why?"
There was genuine confusion in her voice.
Why would I willingly take on something so troublesome?
I smiled.
"I already told you before. I admire the bond the five of you share."
I paused for a moment before continuing.
"And if I can... I want to protect it."
Miku stared at my face for a moment, as if momentarily dazed.
"Are you sure? The tutor our father hired is trying to do the same thing. So far, it seems like he's only managed to convince Yotsuba."
There was a hint of doubt in her voice, but I could tell she trust me.
"Absolutely."
I gave her a confident grin.
"I may not be an honor student like him, but I'm not a coward like him either."
The last part slipped out with an unintentional scoff.
Turned out even now, I couldn't completely hide the disgust I feel whenever Futaro come up.
Miku noticed it too.
For some reason, she had always sensed that I don't like that guy. There was probably some history between us, but she never bothered to ask about it.
It simply wasn't important enough for her to pry.
----------
During lunch break, I made my way to Class 2-4.
When I reached the door, I didn't bother looking around or asking for help. I simply walked straight in as though it were my own classroom.
A few students glanced at me with confusion, while others seemed to recognize me. I could almost hear the unspoken question on their faces.
What is he doing here?
But I wasn't paying attention to them.
My gaze was fixed on one person.
She hadn't noticed me yet, probably because several classmates had gathered around her. It wasn't exactly surprising. She was naturally friendly and loved joking around, so it was only natural that people gravitated toward her.
I could hear a few whispers from nearby.
"What's he doing here?"
Ichika seemed to notice the murmuring as well. Curious, she glanced in my direction to see what everyone was talking about.
Our eyes met before I could even reach her.
Her eyes widened slightly.
She clearly hadn't expected me to come looking for her.
Especially not all the way to her classroom.
The girls surrounding her instinctively stepped aside, leaving us standing face-to-face close to the window.
"Hey, big sis," I greeted her with a smile.
"Ren... What are you doing here?"
Even now, Ichika still looked like she couldn't quite believe I had actually come looking for her.
I gave an awkward smile and placed a hand at the back of my head.
"Umm... could you come with me? There's something I want to talk to you about."
She looked at me in confusion, clearly wondering what could possibly be important enough for me to come all the way to her classroom.
Then she noticed.
The attention.
With everyone around us staring, the two of us had quickly become the center of attention.
Even Ichika seemed embarrassed by all the eyes on us.
Without saying another word, she reached out, grabbed my hand, and pulled me toward the door.
"Let's go."
A short distance from her classroom, Ichika still hadn't let go of my hand.
I was the one who had came to get her, yet somehow, she is the one leading me now.
I wanted to ask where she was taking me, though I suspected she didn't know herself.
"That's not very convincing, big sis. Aren't you an actress? How come you're embarrassed by a little attention?"
I teased her playfully.
Ichika stopped in front of a staircase that seemed to be rarely used. Before I could say anything else, she turned around and faced me, leaving my back against the wall.
She puffed out her cheeks, attempting to look angry.
It didn't work.
Not even remotely.
It was actually a rather rare expression for Ichika.
"That's completely different! I'm a girl too, you know," she protested, clearly taking offense at my teasing.
I let out a light laugh.
"Sorry, sorry. It's just... I'm more comfortable talking to you guys directly rather than asking someone else to do it for me."
That was the real reason I hadn't asked anyone from her class to call her out for me.
It wasn't that I had social anxiety or anything like that.
I just... didn't like doing things that way.
"Really?" she asked, still sounding a little suspicious.
I sighed.
"Yes. Anyway, how's work going?"
I quickly steered the conversation toward the real reason I'd come looking for her.
At my question, Ichika's expression immediately brightened into a pleasant smile.
"I'd say it's going pretty smoothly. Come to think of it, I never actually told you that I got selected for the audition I took during the fireworks festival, you remember right."
"How could I forget? Congratulations. I'd really like to watch it."
"Eh?! Really?"
She looked genuinely surprised, and there was even a hint of embarrassment in her expression.
"I-it's nothing that big. I'm only playing a minor character in the drama, who falls in love with her teacher, only to get rejected in the end."
She explained her role almost as if she were trying to downplay it.
I couldn't help but think, how ironic.
Fate really could be cruel sometimes.
"Don't say that. No matter how small the role is, I'm sure you can make it shine."
The words came out naturally.
It was my genuine opinion.
I knew how passionate Ichika is about acting, and if there was one thing I had no doubt about, it was that she would give everything she had to whatever role she was given.
Perhaps my praise had caught her completely off guard.
A faint blush spread across Ichika's cheeks, and for a moment, she seemed incapable of forming a proper response.
Clearly wanting to escape what she apparently considered an unbearable barrage of compliments, she hurriedly changed the subject.
"A-anyway... what did you want to talk about?"
Hmm...
Ichika is unusually meek today.
Normally, she wasn't the type to let someone else have the upper hand. If anything, she usually enjoyed turning the tables on me.
But everyone had days when they acted a little differently, I suppose.
"I was getting to that."
I paused for a moment, watching her expression before finally asking the question I'd come here for.
"Do you have no intention of graduating from high school?"
"Graduating?" she repeated, staring at me as though she'd misheard.
Apparently, I was catching her off guard at every turn today.
Then she suddenly broke into laughter.
"Haha! You're starting to sound just like Futaro. Did my father secretly hire you or something?"
As I'd expected, she wasn't taking my words seriously.
I couldn't afford to let her brush this off as another joke.
So I didn't play along.
I simply stared at her, my expression turning serious.
"Ichika.... I'm being serious."
I deliberately used her name instead of calling her big sis.
That alone should have been enough to make her realize I wasn't joking around.
She fell silent and looked at my face.
Seeing the seriousness in my expression, she lowered her gaze and gave an awkward smile.
"You know how busy I am with acting. I don't really have time to study. And even if I somehow squeezed in the time, it's not like I'm smart enough to make much of a difference."
There was a bitter edge to her voice.
I already knew that.
Like her sisters, Ichika wasn't exactly gifted academically. And perhaps that's why she had chosen to pour her time and energy into something she genuinely loved rather than struggling with something she believed she was destined to fail at.
But that was where she was wrong.
Effort was never truly wasted.
No matter how small the improvement, putting in the effort would always amount to something.
"That's totally fine," I said softly.
I placed both hands on her shoulders, making sure she was looking at me.
"I just want you to take your studies a little more seriously."
"I told you, it's useless."
She immediately tried to put herself down again.
But this time, I wouldn't let her.
"No, it isn't!"
My voice grew firmer as I tightened my grip on her shoulders.
"Itsuki, Yotsuba, Miku are all doing their best to overcome their past. You can't keep letting it hold you back."
I looked directly into her eyes.
"If they can do it, then why can't you?"
"I hate to admit it, but Futaro is a pretty good tutor. And if you want, I can teach you sometimes too."
I added the offer almost as an afterthought.
Ichika didn't respond.
She simply stared at my face, her cheeks carrying a faint, almost natural shade of pink.
"Ren... you're hurting me."
I froze.
Only then did I realize that, somewhere along the way, I'd gotten carried away with trying to encourage her. My grip on her shoulders had tightened far more than I'd intended.
I immediately pulled my hands away and clasped them behind my back.
"I-I'm sorry."
Ichika's expression remained neutral.
There was none of her usual playfulness or teasing. She looked as though she were seriously contemplating something.
Right now her expression reminds me of Miku's.
And just like with Miku, that made her thoughts almost impossible to read.
"Why are you doing this?"
She asked the question quietly.
I already had an answer.
"Because I don't want you to regret it later."
I paused, then continued.
"High school is an important chapter of our lives. I'm sure you'll regret it someday if you just skip it."
I looked at her seriously.
"I want all five of you to enjoy this time. So when you're older, you'll have something to look back on and smile about."
Of course, that wasn't necessarily true for everyone.
Some people never formed any meaningful attachment to their school years. I certainly hadn't in my previous world. Others left school carrying memories they would rather forget.
But that wasn't what I wanted for them.
I wanted to create an environment where the five of them could make memories they wouldn't have to regret.
A time they could look back on someday...
And laugh heartily.
Ichika seemed to understand what I was trying to say and took a small step closer.
"You sounded like an old man," she remarked.
Then, after a brief pause, she added,
"But... I guess you have a point."
I let out a quiet sigh of relief.
At least my words got through to her.
Or so I thought.
A playful grin—one that had been noticeably absent until now—slowly returned to her face.
Before I could react, she leaned closer.
My heart skipped a beat, and my back pressed more firmly against the wall.
"That said..."
She tilted her head, her face now dangerously close to mine.
"High school is also the time when most people fall in love, isn't it?"
She asked it so casually that I almost forgot how to respond.
I was too nervous to answer.
Seeing me cornered, Ichika pressed on.
"You offered to teach me, didn't you?"
Her smile widened into a playful grin.
"Will you teach me about love, too?"
There was something strange about that smile.
Playful, yet somehow serious.
I couldn't tell whether she was joking or genuinely asking.
Then again, she is an actress.
Maybe that was precisely what made it so difficult to read her.
And I realized I'd been wrong.
I'd spent the entire conversation thinking Ichika was acting unusually meek today.
But I should have known better.
When the sea suddenly becomes calm...
A storm is usually not far behind.