The scene shifts to the Raizen High School library. Ryougi Yutsuki and Yamai Yuzuru were sitting at a table near the window, going through a Q&A session.
"Question. What is the political system practiced in Japan?"
"Constitutional monarchy."
"Correct. Next question: Who was the first Emperor of Japan?"
"Emperor Jimmu."
"Correct. Third question: In what year was the Kamakura Shogunate established?"
"That would be..."
Hearing this question, Yutsuki frowned slightly, hesitating for a mont before answering.
"1192."
"Incorrect. The answer is actually 1185."
Yuzuru shook her head with a look of regret.
"Eh? No way!"
Yutsuki widened her eyes in surprise and quickly flipped through the textbook to check the answer. She groaned and tapped her forehead with her pen.
"Ah... It really is 1185. 1192 was the year Minamoto no Yoritomo beca Shogun... These dates are way too easy to mix up!!"
Of course, complaining wouldn't change the facts. Since that specific question was likely to appear on the exam, Yutsuki honestly took out her notebook and made a correction, adding a detailed note.
"Surprise. I did not expect Yutsuki to be bad at Social Studies."
Setting down the "Japanese History" textbook, Yuzuru spoke with so surprise.
In Japanese high schools, there are five main subjects: Math, Japanese, Science, English, and Social Studies. History, Politics, and Geography are all grouped under Social Studies.
"Well, it is not that strange. Everyone has subjects they aren't good at."
Yutsuki said with a bitter smile.
English, Science, and Math were basically the sa as what she had learned in her past life. Even though she had forgotten so parts, they were things she had already mastered once, so a quick review was enough to get them back. As for Japanese, she had taught herself the language well enough to travel abroad in her past life. Her grades weren't the best, but they were comfortably in the middle.
The only outlier was Social Studies, which included Japanese Geography, Politics, and History. Having been a person from China in her past life, Yutsuki had to start learning these from zero. Among them, Japanese History was her weakest subject.
Honestly, aside from figures who frequently appeared in ani like "Oda Nobunaga," "Toyotomi Hideyoshi," and "Tokugawa Ieyasu," reading a Japanese history book felt like trying to decipher an ancient, obscure script.
Of course, Yutsuki worked hard at it, but her quiz scores were always dangerously close to the failing line, usually only six or seven points above it.
Yuzuru had tried using wordplay and songs to help Yutsuki rember historical events and eras, but after hearing them, Yutsuki only beca more confused. Left with no choice, Yutsuki had to use the "dumb" thod of rote morization, marking every point she struggled with one by one.
"Whew—That should be enough for now."
After spending about an hour, Yutsuki finally finished the material covered by the exam. She leaned back in her chair and stretched.
"Yuzuru, how are you doing? If there is anything in Science studies you don't understand, I can explain it to you."
To this, Yuzuru shook her head.
"Negative. Yutsuki's explanations are very clear and easy to understand. Yuzuru has learned a lot. It seems I will be able to get a good score on the final exam."
"I see. Well, I'm getting a bit tired of reading. How about a short break?"
Saying that, Yutsuki took two cans of hot coffee out of her bag and shook them in front of Yuzuru.
"Want so?"
"Gratitude. Yuzuru will gladly accept."
Yuzuru put down her pen and took the coffee. After taking a small sip, her expression gradually softened.
"Delicious. A very gentle taste that helps one calm down."
"It's just a regular can of coffee, no need to give such a serious review." Yutsuki roasted her with a smile and shrugged. "Well, I guess it's true that it isn't bitter. I don't like bitter coffee anyway."
With that, Yutsuki opened her own coffee and quietly enjoyed the break.
"Amazed. It is very quiet here."
After a while, Yuzuru looked around and spoke softly.
"Well, talking is forbidden in the library, so of course it is quiet."
Yutsuki replied as a matter of course.
At that mont, there were only a few other people sitting at the desks besides them. So were reading quietly, others were reviewing for the upcoming exams like they were. Even when people spoke, they whispered to avoid disturbing others.
Honestly, if soone asked where the best place to study was, it was undoubtedly the library. It was spacious and peaceful. Even putting aside the environnt, just the realization that "I am in a library" helped people focus better.
However, considering that Tohka and Kaguya were the types who could easily ignore their surroundings and get rowdy, only Yutsuki and the more composed Yuzuru had co here.
"Correction. Although Yutsuki is telling the truth, that is not what Yuzuru ant by 'quiet'."
"Eh?"
Seeing Yuzuru shake her head, Yutsuki was a bit surprised, but then she realized what she ant.
"You an because Kaguya isn't here?"
"Precisely. Not being able to see Kaguya's cute, troubled expression while she studies makes feel a bit lonely."
Yuzuru nodded with a bitter smile.
"Hey, are you saying spending ti with just isn't enough? That's hurtful."
"Answer. Although Yuzuru likes Yutsuki very much, your reactions when teased are too calm. It is not as fun as teasing Kaguya."
"..."
Yutsuki looked at Yuzuru speechlessly.
"Endurance. Although Yuzuru really wants to go find Kaguya, since Kaguya was the one who proposed 'dating' Shido alone, Yuzuru cannot go and disturb them."
With that, Yuzuru let out a helpless sigh.
Yutsuki didn't say anything. As the one who arranged the groups, she knew the real reason Kaguya wanted to be separated from Yuzuru. To keep Yuzuru from noticing, she had intentionally paired Shido with Kaguya so Yuzuru would misunderstand.
Of course, even if Kaguya's goal really was to flirt with Shido to build their relationship, Yutsuki wouldn't have objected.
(Shido & Kaguya: —— Achoo!!)
(Right, since this is a rare chance, I should help Kaguya confirm Yuzuru's wishes.)
Since Kaguya wanted to get into the sa university as Yuzuru, knowing Yuzuru's goal beforehand would give Kaguya a clear direction to prepare for.
With this in mind, Yutsuki took a sip of coffee and asked tentatively.
"By the way, Yuzuru, do you have a university you want to go to after we graduate? Or are you planning to find a job?"
"Answer. Yuzuru will go to whatever university Kaguya goes to. The sa applies to a job; Yuzuru will work at the sa place as Kaguya."
Yuzuru answered without a second's hesitation.
Well then. Although she had expected this possibility to so extent, hearing it for real still gave Yutsuki a bit of a headache.
"... You two really get along well."
Using a tone that was half-praise and half-criticism, Yutsuki sighed.
"Certainty. Yuzuru and Kaguya are two parts of a whole, connected by an unbreakable bond."
Yuzuru replied with a look of pride.
"Then what would you do if Kaguya has the exact sa idea as you?"
Hearing Yutsuki's question, Yuzuru was stunned.
"... Contemplation. Yuzuru truly has not considered that scenario. Given Kaguya's personality, it is very likely she is thinking the sa thing."
"Well, it's a bit too early for us to worry about this. Just think about it slowly."
Not pushing further, and seeing that Yuzuru was starting to beco aware of the issue, Yutsuki ended the topic right there.
As a Spirit herself, Yutsuki knew that it had only been a few months since Yuzuru and Kaguya were sealed. Being able to enjoy a stable life like a normal person was already a precious thing for them. Asking them to think about the distant future now was indeed a bit early.
However, as a close friend, Yutsuki couldn't just let it be.
Kaguya liked Yuzuru, and Yuzuru liked Kaguya. Both considered the other more important than themselves and protected each other carefully. In theory, this was a good thing, but taken to an extre, it could beco problematic. If they both gave up on their own desires just to respect the other's choice, they would be stuck in an endless loop with no result.
"But here's a suggestion: this is a problem for both you and Kaguya. There's no point in just one of you worrying about it. It's best if you talk it out and confirm things with each other."
Just planting a small seed was enough. Yutsuki believed that when the ti ca, they would definitely find an answer they could both accept.
"Agreent. It is inappropriate for Yuzuru to make a judgnt alone. I will discuss it with Kaguya when we get ho."
After thinking for a bit, Yuzuru nodded, accepting Yutsuki's proposal.
"Curiosity. What about Yutsuki? Do you have any plans for your own future?"
"Eh? ...?"
Being asked by Yuzuru, Yutsuki scratched her cheek, looking like she wanted to say sothing but hesitated.
"Prediction. Yuzuru feels that Yutsuki is very suitable to be a teacher."
"? A teacher? No way, no way!"
Hearing Yuzuru's assumption, Yutsuki waved her hands dismissively in denial.
Yuzuru tilted her head in confusion.
"Incomprehension. Yuzuru feels that Yutsuki's teaching is very clear and easy to understand. You are patient, good at communicating, and you always know the right boundaries. You would definitely beco an excellent teacher."
"While I'm happy you think so highly of , unfortunately, that's just a misunderstanding on your part."
Yutsuki explained with a bitter smile.
"While I wouldn't call myself extre, I am a bit of a selfish egoist. To people like you, who are my friends and family, I naturally don't mind spending ti and patience. Even if you make mistakes, I won't hold it against you as long as you apologize. But for strangers, I'm too lazy to put in that much effort. I don't care about their circumstances or hardships. If knowing them benefits , fine, but if they bring trouble, I'll steer clear from them imdiately."
"Vague. Yuzuru feels that is normal, and it has nothing to do with whether you are suitable to be a teacher?"
"Of course it does. Think about it. If I beca a teacher, I would definitely beco the kind of extremist who, for the sake of reputation and performance, only focuses on students with high learning ability and leaves the struggling ones to swim for themselves."
Hearing Yutsuki's description, a drop of cold sweat appeared on Yuzuru's forehead.
"Understood. Yutsuki's personality is indeed not very suitable for being a teacher... Wait?"
Suddenly, Yuzuru noticed sothing and looked at Yutsuki speechlessly.
"Confirmation. Yutsuki doesn't just want to avoid being a teacher and is intentionally saying sensational things to scare Yuzuru, right?"
"Mhm. Ow, ow, ow—"
Yutsuki nodded bluntly. Yuzuru unceremoniously grabbed Yutsuki's cheek and pulled.
"Restatent. Please answer Yuzuru's question seriously. Since you asked Yuzuru, Yuzuru naturally has the right to ask you back."
Hearing Yuzuru's words, Yutsuki hesitated for a mont before finally answering.
"Well... although I have thought about a career like ga design, I haven't officially started looking into it yet. I plan to solve the problems right in front of before thinking about it seriously."
"Request for answer. What are those difficult problems?"
"You're right... The most urgent thing to solve is these final exams. Not just for , but for you, Kaguya, and Tohka too. It would be best if everyone could avoid redial classes during winter break... Eh?"
Yutsuki smiled and looked out the window, but before she could finish her sentence, she saw Tohka—who was supposed to be studying with Origami—running across the school yard toward the closed outdoor pool.
Stepping, sprinting, jumping—Tohka used her extraordinary physical abilities to leap high into the air over the pool. She perford three tuck-flips, four spins, and a difficult "spreading eagle" pose before shouting a line that couldn't be heard and jumping into the pool.
Boom—! Water splashed everywhere in the pool. Luckily, with the club activities ending due to exams, there were no students on the field, so no one except Yutsuki and Yuzuru saw Tohka. Otherwise, any normal person seeing that would have had their jaw hit the floor.
"Tohka?"
Before Yutsuki could figure out what happened, a soaking-wet Tohka climbed out of the pool and walked back toward the Physics Prep Room.
"Doubt. What is Tohka doing?"
Yuzuru asked with a strange look.
"Who knows... Maybe Origami fed her so weird information."
Yutsuki guessed uncertainly. While that was a possibility, if Origami wanted the reward for their deal, she should have been teaching Tohka seriously.
"Anyway, let's contact Reine-san first. Tell her to prepare towels, hot water, and a change of gym clothes. It won't be good if she catches a cold."
Even though she didn't want to interfere unnecessarily, Yutsuki turned on her phone out of concern and sent a text to Reine.
Then, about five minutes later, Yutsuki saw Tobiichi Origami suddenly dash out of the Physics Prep Room. Just like Tohka before her, she ran toward the outdoor pool, perford three flips, four spins, and the spreading eagle pose before falling into the pool.
"What the hell?"
User Comments
0 comments from readers