"So this is the secret to being the top student," Masao mused aloud. "A blend of talent and effort."
He let out an impressed sigh.
"Having your guidance really is a blessing, Yukinoshita."
A faint, proud smile touched Yukinoshita's lips at the compliment.
"It's good that you're capable of recognizing that much, at least."
Feeling pleased with himself, Masao added, "Honestly, compared to Jahy, I'm doing pretty good."
"Jahy?" Yukinoshita's sharp eyes focused on him snagging on the name. "What about her?"
She seemed genuinely interested in any information concerning Jahy.
"Well, Jahy, you see..." Masao launched into an explanation.
Jahy had no prior formal schooling. Now, thrust into the third grade, she was starting from zero while aiming for first place in the midterms, which were only a week away.
The sheer impossibility of it was almost impressive.
Yukinoshita's brow furrowed slightly in contemplation.
"With no foundational knowledge... the probability of success is statistically negligible."
Seeing the thoughtful look on her face, a brilliant—or perhaps brilliantly lazy—idea sparked in Masao's mind.
"Yukinoshita, would you like to come to my place this weekend?"
Yukinoshita's eyes narrowed with suspicion.
"Masao-kun, what is the meaning of this proposition? Have your baser instincts finally overridden your common sense? Is this a poorly conceived plot to lure me into a compromising situation?"
As she hugged herself defensively, Masao could only sigh in exasperation.
"Yukinoshita, look me in the eyes. Do I really seem like that kind of person?"
Their eyes met for a moment before Yukinoshita delivered her verdict without hesitation.
"My apologies. Your glasses make it impossible to ascertain any sincerity, not that I believe any exists to be found."
The lenses perfectly obscured Masao's eyes, which weren't exactly renowned for their purity and innocence.
He cleared his throat awkwardly.
"I invited you so you could tutor me over the weekend. And, if it isn't too much trouble, I was hoping you could extend your wisdom to Jahy as well."
Jahy was a bratty kid, but she had her occasional, fleeting moments of charm. And since she was technically his stepsister now, he felt a sense of obligation to help.
As for why he didn't tutor her himself? The very thought was exhausting.
In his mind, Jahy was a hopeless case—the kind of student who could make a saint despair. Trying to educate her would be a fast track to an aneurysm.
He certainly couldn't do it. But Yukinoshita possessed both patience and a formidable sense of responsibility.
She was the only one who might possibly succeed in this Herculean task.
Oblivious to his internal monologue, Yukinoshita considered for a moment before nodding.
"I see. Leveraging my capabilities for your mutual benefit. A pragmatic, if shameless, proposal. Very well, I accept."
She had, in fact, been looking for an opportunity to interact with Jahy, and Masao had just handed it to her.
"However, confining our efforts to the weekend is inefficient. We will commence our studies tomorrow after school."
"I have no objections."
With that, their new routine was settled.
—
—
The following afternoon, Masao and Yukinoshita bypassed the Service Club and met by the school gates.
The scene was a stark contrast to their usual post-club solitude. The campus was a bustling hive of students, all streaming out into the afternoon.
Seeing the crowd, Masao fell a few steps behind Yukinoshita, falling into her wake as they navigated the throng.
They walked in a companionable silence, one leading and the other following, until they were a comfortable distance from the school grounds. Then, Yukinoshita, who had been setting the pace, stopped.
She waited for Masao to draw level with her before posing her question.
"Masao-kun, what was the purpose of following behind me? Were you engaged in some form of unsavory reconnaissance?"
Masao sighed.
"Yukinoshita-san, is it so impossible for you to imagine me as a pure-hearted, righteous individual?"
"I prefer to deal in observable reality, not fantasy. You and those adjectives are fundamentally incompatible with each other."
If lies were knives, her blunt honesty was a scalpel, precise and cutting. Masao winced internally. Not that he could honestly disagree.
"Ahem," he coughed, regaining his composure. "I was walking behind because there were too many people. You know how it is—if a boy and a girl are seen walking home together, it's easy for people to get the wrong idea. You're practically a celebrity here, Yukinoshita. The rumors would be flying before we even left the school grounds."
Yukinoshita gave a slow, agreeing nod.
"Your assessment of our peers' intellectual idleness is correct. They are easily captivated by trivial gossip. However, there is nothing illicit about our association. I generally consider the foolish speculations of others to be beneath my notice."
She spoke from a lifetime of experience. Yukinoshita had been a subject of whispers since she was a child—some invasions of privacy, some wild speculations, and most, malicious slander spun from thin air.
She had long since built up an immunity. Ignoring them was the only rational response; they were cowards who only spoke in the shadows.
Confrontation was pointless, only fueling their fervor.
—
Hearing her dismissive attitude, Masao scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"Well, actually... I mind a little."
Yukinoshita glanced at him, a flicker of amusement in her eyes.
"I would have thought the average adolescent male would derive a certain misplaced pride from being associated with a girl of my standing. I suppose I was mistaken. Or perhaps your preferences lie elsewhere?"
She wasn't entirely wrong. For most boys, being linked to the school beauty would be a secret point of pride, a badge of honor proving their charm.
"No, my preferences are perfectly standard!" Masao asserted firmly. He elaborated, "It's precisely because you're so popular. I'm worried about jealousy."
If Masao were a popular, well-connected student, rumors with Yukinoshita might earn him envy.
But in the eyes of their peers, he was at the bottom of the social ladder. If someone like him was seen with Yukinoshita, the reaction wouldn't be envy—it would be resentment.
They'd think, "Why does he get to be with her? I'm so much better!" And the easiest way for them to prove that would be to make his life difficult.
The current Masao wasn't afraid of a fight. Even if a whole mob came after him, he had his Mark armor suit as a final, overwhelming recourse. Donning that, he could take on the entire school without breaking a sweat.
But he still disliked trouble. All he truly wanted was a peaceful, uneventful school life.
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