"If I'm not mistaken, we just covered equations and inequalities not too long ago, right?" Kanade asked tentatively, his gaze toward Kato Megumi filled with a mix of curiosity and perplexity.
Though they weren't in the same class, their lesson progress should've been roughly similar. Besides, the question she'd brought up wasn't particularly difficult—it was simply a combination of basic concepts from both topics. The fact that she couldn't solve it pointed to one obvious conclusion: she hadn't been paying enough attention in class.
Kato, looking slightly embarrassed, tilted her head to the side and avoided Kanade's gaze. In a soft, gentle voice, she murmured, "Um… I didn't quite understand some parts during class, so I couldn't figure them out when I tried reviewing at home…"
She tilted her head further, her voice lowering to a near whisper. "Is that what you call skimming the surface?"
"…"
Isn't that blatant slacking, Kato-san?! Kanade thought, exasperated. The phrase "skimming the surface" referred to understanding the essence of something without getting bogged down in details. But in Kato's case, it was clearly just carelessness!
Kato's grades were probably average—not top-tier but not failing either. In other words, she was one of those students who tended to fade into the background. Now Kanade could see why:
She likely avoided asking questions to avoid inconveniencing others. With few friends to study with and a naturally aloof personality, she let knowledge slip away like water off a smooth surface. The phrase "skimming the surface" suited her approach too well.
But the fact that Kato had joined their study session today showed she wasn't entirely indifferent—her lack of resources seemed to be the real problem.
"If you didn't understand in class, why not ask the teacher?" Kanade inquired, genuinely curious.
"Um…" Kato fidgeted with her hair, twisting it around her finger. After a moment, she responded hesitantly, "I'd feel like I was bothering them… Besides, everyone else asks such advanced questions. I'd feel embarrassed asking something so basic."
"…"
Kanade was speechless. So it's all about pride, huh?
But this attitude wouldn't do at all. As the saying goes, "A scholar mustn't be ashamed to ask questions." Overemphasizing one's pride only hindered progress. Judging by her shaky foundation, Kato's struggles would only worsen without intervention.
As one of Kanade's trusted friends, Kato was someone he genuinely wanted to help. He couldn't stand the thought of her drowning in the sea of mathematics.
"Let's set the problems aside for now. I'll start with a quick review of the basics," Kanade said earnestly, his expression free of judgment.
To make it easier to illustrate the concepts, Kanade moved to sit beside Kato. She graciously made space for him, leaning slightly closer to follow his explanations.
As Kanade delved into the material, the two unconsciously drew nearer to one another. Their focus on the lesson dulled their awareness of the diminishing gap until, during a momentary lull, Kanade realized their faces were now separated by only a fist's width.
He noticed first. Having just explained a concept and encouraged Kato to try applying it, Kanade glanced at her—only to find her almond-shaped eyes, delicate nose, and cherry-blossom lips startlingly close. Even the faint scent of milk lingered in the air… She must've had some that morning.
Kato, sensing his gaze, turned to face him, her expression calm yet curious.
"Uh… Nothing. You can keep working on the problem," Kanade stammered, instinctively leaning back with a guilty look as if he'd been caught red-handed. "I'll… go use the restroom for a moment."
Kato simply nodded and returned her attention to the math problem.
Kanade stood and was about to leave when he remembered something. Raising his voice slightly, he called out to Eriri, "Hey, Eriri, where's the restroom?"
"Why are you asking me? Just go," Eriri replied without looking up, engrossed in battling her atrocious grammar workbook.
Kanade sighed, visibly annoyed. "I meant, where is it?"
Of course, Kanade knew where it was. He'd visited her house enough times to memorize the layout. But he respected Eriri's insistence on keeping his frequent visits under wraps. Unfortunately, her careless reply threw that effort out the window.
"Ah?" Eriri finally looked up, her face blank for a moment before she realized her blunder. Glancing at Kato across the table, her expression shifted to one of forced cheer. "Oh, right! It's your first time here, isn't it? Ahaha…"
Kanade: "…"
Eriri's awkward attempt at damage control was painfully obvious. Fortunately, Kato didn't seem to notice—or at least pretended not to, as she continued solving problems without lifting her head.
"The second door on the right down the hall," Eriri clarified hastily.
"Got it. Thanks." Kanade nodded, his tone flat as he left the room.
Realizing her slip-up, Eriri quickly buried herself in her work, her embarrassment visible.
A few minutes later, Kanade returned, carrying two freshly brewed cups of tea.
"Let's take a short break," Kanade suggested, placing the cups in front of the girls. "I made these in the kitchen on my way back—hope that's okay?"
His final question was directed at Eriri. However, the little golden-haired idiot simply nodded absently, visibly relieved to have an excuse to rest.
"Yes, yes, thanks, Kanade. You've worked hard," she said eagerly, nodding like a bobblehead.
Kanade sighed at her shameless enthusiasm. Studying English clearly wasn't for the faint of heart—especially not for Eriri.
Despite her laziness, Eriri still retained her noble upbringing. She refrained from gulping the tea down immediately, instead cupping it delicately in her hands and taking a small sip like a dragonfly skimming the water's surface.
"Phew… I'm alive again…" she sighed dramatically, making an odd sound of relief.
"You're acting like a salaryman downing a beer after work," Kanade teased, unable to suppress his amusement. "We've barely studied for that long. Is it really that exhausting?"
"Barely studied? I've been working non-stop since we started!" Eriri retorted indignantly, her tone full of righteous defiance.
"If you really haven't blinked once, that'd be a problem in itself," Kanade quipped. Shaking his head, he picked up Eriri's workbook to review her progress.
For someone like Eriri, whose English proficiency was dangerously close to middle school level, Kanade had intentionally kept her assignments simple. Her current goal was to go over all the vocabulary a middle schooler should know, note down unfamiliar words, and consolidate them into modules for rote memorization. She also needed to study the semester's unit vocabulary and grammar. Anything beyond that was postponed for now—Kanade knew that learning required consistency and patience.
"Well, I'd mentally prepared myself, but seeing you struggle with such basic phrases is still surprising," Kanade remarked, pointing to a section in her workbook. He circled some terms with his pencil for emphasis.
"These are the ones you need to focus on today. Get through them, and we'll call it a success."
Eriri leaned over the coffee table, squinting at her workbook.
Though she had glasses, which she wore while drawing, she usually opted for contact lenses when out and about. Unfortunately, she hadn't bothered with either today—partly out of vanity, as she didn't want to wear her black-framed glasses in front of Kato. Now she was stuck, barely able to read.
After much squinting, Eriri managed to make out the marked section and immediately let out a dramatic wail.
"There's so much! I can't possibly handle this!"
"This is nothing," Kanade countered. "I even cut it down to the bare minimum. Since it's the weekend, I gave you a little extra, but the workload will decrease starting Monday. You'll be fine as long as you stick to it."
To avoid her forgetting past lessons, Kanade also scheduled review sessions for her—arguably the most critical part of her study plan.
Eriri's face fell further, her mood souring. "Wait, you're saying this intensity… isn't just for today?"
"Of course not," Kanade replied matter-of-factly. "This schedule continues tomorrow, the day after, and the day after that—right up until the midterms. Every day will have its tasks."
He gave her a pointed look. "And don't even think about slacking off. I'll be checking in on you daily. If I catch you cutting corners…" Kanade trailed off, his half-lidded eyes exuding menace. "You know what'll happen."
Eriri: "…"
No, I don't know! But her gut told her it wouldn't be anything pleasant—likely even more humiliating than the forehead stickers from today.
"F-fine…" Eriri muttered weakly.
Initially, she'd planned to demand a "reward" for completing her tasks, like having Kanade take her out. But with this workload, she'd barely manage to finish her studies, let alone go anywhere. The reward would have to wait until after midterms.
Resigned, Eriri slumped over her workbook and began her painstaking effort to memorize.
Satisfied with her diligence, Kanade shifted his attention to Kato's study plan.
He hadn't intended to prepare anything specific for her, but seeing her struggles today, he realized her "skim the surface" approach could lead to a nosedive in her math grades if left unchecked. He'd need to address it sooner rather than later.
As Kanade pondered her study plan, Kato suddenly reached out and gently tapped his hand with her finger.
"Kanade-kun, I'm done," she said softly.
The afternoon sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating Kato's hand. Her slender, elegant fingers were pale and delicate, with faint blue veins visible beneath the skin. Her nails were neatly trimmed, and her movements graceful—it was the kind of hand you'd expect from a hand model.
They're… ridiculously pretty, Kanade thought fleetingly.
Quickly snapping out of it, Kanade focused on her workbook. After a thorough check, he was pleasantly surprised.
Most of her answers were correct, and even for questions she had struggled with before, her approach was spot-on. While some final calculations were off, her overall problem-solving process showed significant improvement.
"Great work," Kanade said, nodding approvingly.
"…"
Kato didn't respond verbally. Instead, she absently twirled a lock of her hair around her finger, her usual composed demeanor unchanged.
"I didn't do anything special," she said, shaking her head as though his praise was excessive.
Kanade didn't agree.
As a certain "Girl Training Manual" once stated, girls, like the characters in mobile games, have hidden "mood stats." Constantly grinding away at problems would inevitably lower those stats. Kanade understood this concept well, which was why he had prepared tea and snacks earlier—to give the girls a break and boost their spirits.
But food alone wasn't enough. Proper encouragement—be it verbal praise, a pat on the head, or even something silly like scratching under the chin—was equally important to maintain morale.
…Not that Kanade planned to try the chin-scratching suggestion.
While he wouldn't hesitate to pat Eriri on the head, Kato's perpetually calm expression made the idea seem risky. If she reacted poorly, the awkwardness would be unbearable.
"What's wrong, Kanade-kun?" Kato asked, tilting her head slightly, her gaze curious and unwavering.
"N-nothing," Kanade replied, shaking his head. He was about to dismiss the idea entirely, but her earnest, sparkling eyes left him reconsidering.
She really did try her best…
Steeling himself, Kanade reached out and lightly patted her head. "Good job. You did great."
Kato froze, her wide eyes locking onto him.
"…"
Kanade's smile grew stiff.
This is so awkward. I want to die.