It was the Monday of next week.
It was the week right after summer break so the class was really relaxed.
The returning of the tests is mostly completed.
My results were as expected. I got a failing mark on my physics test.
There was an announcement that retakes would take place this weekend after school.
ãHey, Shirotaã
I called out Shirota in her classroom during break.
Shirota opens her eyes wide surprised that someone suddenly called out to her.
Huh? I wonder if we arenât going out.
I was stewing about that problem but the ring fit tightly on her middle finger shone brightly.
ãWh-what is it? Okutaniã
ãWell there was something I wanted to ask youã
ãWhat is it?ã
Shirota, who was busy talking to her friend, stands up from her seat.
Shirotaâs friend is completely silent in the corner of the classroom at my arrival as if they love silence.
Without minding it, I went with Shirota out of the classroom.
ãShirota, are you good at physics?ã
ãEh?ã
There was a crowd of students in the hall during break.
Standing as if to line up with the window, I asked Shirota.
The tanned sporty girl clad in a uniform tilted her head to the side.
ãCould it be that you failed?ã
ãI failedâ¦ã
It wasnât a very attractive state of affairs.
ãItâs this weekend, huhâ¦the retakeã
ãYeahâ¦Itâs the day Iâm supposed to stay at your placeâ¦I was wanting to feel assuredã
ãYeahã
Shirota nodded with a slightly red face.
ãBut, Iâm also not that good at physicsâ¦What about Kurusu-san?ã
ãItâs a bit difficult to ask herã
ãWhy? Isnât she your girlfriendã
ãWellâ¦somehow, itâs just difficultã
I donât want to look lame to her.
After putting on a complex expression, Shirota asks me.
ãEven though you can ask me?ã
ãRatherâ¦I can only ask youã
With those words, Shirotaâs expression candidly brightens.
ãThereâs no one else I can ask like thisã
ãI-is that soâ¦ah, if itâs a good helper then I know oneã
ãIs it someone I know?ã
After school, she introduces me to Eda.
Eda listens to Shirota standing in the hallway pouting seeming displeased.
After hearing the basics from Shirota, Eda suddenly opens her mouth.
ãOkutani-kunâ¦youâre an idiot, huhã
ãShirota, you asked the wrong personã
ãDonât say thatâ¦ã
Shirota mediates for both of us seeming a bit troubled.
ãYou too, Fukiko. Lately, havenât you been distant to Okutani-kunâ¦ã
ãNot particularlyâ¦You guys just conveniently forgot about meã
Saying that much, Eda closes her mouth.
I noticed some subtle changes in her.
Which reminds me, Eda planned to start the harem.
Even though Mia refused her once before, she went on and formed the harem without her.
She must think she was being left out.
Today as well, Edaâs breasts were huge.
She didnât lose her cold demeanor and her long black hair reached down to her waist.
The moderate sexual feeling of her body canât help but excite men.
She was domineering as she wore her glasses and she wasnât unfashionable either.
ãB-but I have clubâ¦ã
Shirota says.
Eda says looking at Shirota as if glaring.
ãI also have student council thoughã
Eda became the student council president.
It was way busier than when she was the vice president.
ãWith that being saidâ¦thanks Shirotaâ¦Iâll figure something out on my ownã
It seems Eda doesnât really approve of me.
However, if you think about it, Eda kind of boasted to Mia.
I had complete confidence that was the wrong move but it turned into a failure.
Even so, sheâs probably not wrong to turn her hostility towards me.
Shirota looks at me and Eda seeming sad and muttered.
ãI would like you two to get alongâ¦ã
ãWhy are you so sad, Yotsuba?ã
ãAfter allâ¦ã
After saying that, Shirota sniffles.
When she looks over here with moist eyes, it was almost as if she was about to cry.
ãFukiko is my best friendâ¦and Okutani is an important person to me soâ¦Iâd hate it if you two didnât get alongã
I see.
Shirota was just thinking she wants her best friend and boyfriend to get along.
Of course, Eda knows she is Shirotaâs closest friend.
ãYotsubaâ¦ã
Thatâs why being told that much, she canât help but to draw back her hostile air towards me.
Eda sent a fleeting glance towards me and let out a sigh.
ãI got itâ¦Itâs not like Iâll get along with you but Iâll help tutor youã
ãEh? Really?ã
Shirota raised her face seeming happy.
Eda frowned at such a change in her expression.
ãDid you plan for this?ã
ãWho knows? But you always keep doing itã
*Nikori*, The smiling sporty girl waved her hand and started running.
ãYou promised! Fukiko, properly teach Okutani, okay!ã
ãWait, Yotsuba!ã
However, when Eda called out, Shirota was already down the hallway.
After a bit of silence, I called out to Eda.
ãEda, you really saved me by helping me studyã
After letting out a sigh, she looks at me.
There was a sharp glint in her eye but there was a purity in them peculiar to a girl.
ãâ¦Fine, Iâll teach youã
ãThanksã
ãIf youâre thankful, tell it to Yotsubaã
Eda promptly left the corridor.
She said she had student council today.
Then, it seems I can only study myself today.
ãWhat are you doing? Letâs goã
ãEh? Whereã
Eda turned around in the middle of the hallway and waits for me.
ãWeâll study at my placeã
ãAh. Eh? What about student council?ã
ãAll I have to do is give them a callã
What kind of power does she have?
When I catch up to Eda, she shrugged her shoulders.
ãSince all of them are excellent, even if I donât particularly group them up, they will still properly do their workâ¦thereâs no need to worryã
ãIs that so?ã
I wonder if Mia was included in that group of excellent people.
I felt the weight of disappointment from my failing marks in physics even further.
ãThat ringâ¦ã
ãEh?ã
ãThe one that Kurusu-san and Yotsuba are both wearingã
ãYeahâ¦ã
The only person to notice that in the school is Eda.
ãDo you also have one?ã
ãI doâ¦ã
ãIs that soâ¦ã
Giving a short reply, Eda walked a bit ahead of me.
I chase after her like a follower attending to her.