Kapitel 43: Petty Heart

As Ishigami studied seriously, Kobachi and Tsubame were also affected by his discipline.

Kobachi also stopped teasing him since she could see that he really tried his best to teach her, and she also had to admit that it was... quite fun to study, especially when she could understand the question that she had trouble with and was being taught by him.

Frankly, she didn't think studying was important, and while it hurt a bit, she knew her brain wasn't that smart. Both of her birth parents were from the entertainment industry, and similar to most of those practitioners in this industry, they didn't have a good education due to their early careers.

Yet, this has become a social norm since, as you could make money, why should you study?

Even if they studied hard, they would only become white-collar workers with average salaries, workplace bullying, slow promotions, working overtime, and many other things.

Compared to the glamour, popularity, and money gained from a popular actress or actor, it was easy to choose, right?

Observing Ishigami's patience and unwavering support, even when she stumbled over such questions, had a profound effect on Kobachi. It ignited a desire within her to strive harder and match his dedication.

Ishigami's satisfaction was clear, and he was pleased to see Kobachi's newfound dedication to her studies and her decision to stop teasing him. His efforts bore fruit, filling him with a sense of fulfillment.

Regardless, unlike Onodera, Iino, or even Tsubame, who was naturally intelligent, and as long as they learned, they would gain a result, Kobachi was different since her IQ really wasn't high.

Even if Kobachi studied harder, her progress was limited, so if she wanted to go further, she had to make an extra effort.

Naturally, this process was hard for both Kobachi and him.

When Kobachi often struggled with a simple question, he needed to explain it to her in more detail and in ways that she could understand a single question that had troubled her.

If it were others, they would give up and even tell Kobachi was stupid, and it was far better for her to become an actress as she was beautiful and it would bring her quick success, but Ishigami wasn't, considering their relationship and more importantly, the proficiency of his skills grew stronger as he taught Kobachi.

At the same time, he really couldn't help but check the reward that he gained from Kobachi.

As their relationship had taken a large step, even if they didn't describe their relationship clearly, it was natural for him to get a reward, like in the case of Kaguya previously.

[Congratulations, you have received "Double Charm."]

'Hmm....'

According to the system, this reward allowed him to double his charm. It was a good reward, he thought, but he decided to accept it later when he returned home because he was afraid that if parts of his body moved strangely after he accepted his reward, he would be seen as an alien or youkai.

'But 'Double Charm,' huh?'

Would he become more handsome?

While he was curious, he knew that this wasn't the time for him to accept this reward, especially if there was a change in his appearance, and he might as well focus on teaching Kobachi. Because of this, he could tell that Tsubame fell in silence so as not to bother him and Kobachi.

Yet, when he glanced at Tsubame's expression secretly, he wondered why she would show such an expression.

Regardless, even if Kobachi wanted to study for a little longer, her phone suddenly vibrated, and she saw that she had received a chat from Iino. "Um..."

"What's wrong?"

"I got a chat from Iino."

"Sure, answer it."

"Thanks." Kobachi didn't hesitate and looked at the chats Iino sent before her expression turned weird.

"What's wrong?"

"Iino told me to go to the Public Moral Committee. It seems there is a meeting there."

In addition to being a librarian, Kobachi also joined the Public Moral Committee with Iino. While it might be a little sad, she didn't have much interest in life except for reading books from time to time, so all the time she spent was just following Iino, who she knew would be alone with her high-strung nature.

However, this time, it was different.

Her relationship with Ishigami had taken a large leap, and she had done something that his girlfriend or Iino had done to him.

The two kissed and even touched each other.

While she could feel that he didn't want to be in a hurry with their relationship, especially when she made a move on him forcefully, she also knew that she had to be patient even though she wanted to push him into a bed.

"...."

Ishigami wasn't sure what Kobachi thought, but he could tell that she was thinking something perverted. However, as a gentleman, he pretended not to notice anything. "Do you have to go?"

"...um."

Kobachi appeared so depressed.

"Go, then. We can study anytime."

"Sorry..." Kobachi apologized, feeling vexed, but then, her eyes couldn't help but take a peek at Tsubame, who had been quiet, seemingly in the middle of reading a book, appearing nonchalant, and didn't interrupt their cluelessness.

She felt a little guilty as she felt Tsubame was a threat before, and while it was a bit petty, she didn't want his attention to be distracted by Tsubame even if he just asked a question that he didn't understand and... frankly, she knew that she had troubled his study.

While she felt a bit of regret for doing this as she knew that she had troubled the two, her feelings that she had suppressed him for so many years were just overflowing that they were impossible to stop.

The thought of being with him... while she had imagined it so many times, whether it was from her imagination or dream... she had never thought it would be possible to do it in real life.

However, it happened!

The relationship she had given up because she didn't want to hurt her best friend happened.

While it was true that her feelings might overwhelm him if she continued to act like this... so she knew that she needed to control herself better, but this time, if she acted like a spoiled girl, it should be okay, right?

"You are not going to miss me?"

"...don't ask me such an embarrassing question, okay?"

"Cute."

After looking right and left, confirming that no one was looking in their direction, while she knew that she had made Ishigami confused, she suddenly kissed his cheek and then quickly stood up.

As she stood up, she glanced at Tsubame silently, and their eyes met for a moment before she looked away, leaving the library.

While Tsubame shouldn't have seen her kissing Ishigami's cheek, Kobachi couldn't help but look at Tsubame. She felt like among all the women he was close with, Tsubame would give her the most trouble.

"...." Ishigami.

However, Tsubame fell silent, feeling strangely gloomy, and wondered why Kobachi would look at her with such a distasteful gaze.

Did she do something wrong?!

While she was angry, she was also shocked by the closeness between Ishigami and Kobachi.

'Even though I'm the one who comes first...'

Tsubame felt that she was the one who got close to Ishigami, especially when there was no sign of Ishigami and Kobachi being close to each other, yet all of a sudden, their relationship had become so close that Kobachi was even looking at her with such a hostile gaze.

However, as Kobachi left, it was a good thing since there was something that she wanted to ask, which was hard when Kobachi was present, but when she was about to ask Ishigami a question that had been bothering her—

"Yuu!"

Onodera suddenly came, sat on his side naturally, and hugged his arm intimately like a lover.

"..."

Tsubame fell in silence for a while, then asked, "Um... Rei-chan, aren't you a little too close to Yuu-kun?" Even Kobachi wasn't so close before, but more importantly, how did the relationship between Ishigami and Onodera become so close like this in just a span of a day?!

"It's fine."

"...it's fine?"

"Yeah."

Before Ishigami said anything, Onodera looked at Tsubame with a bright smile and said, "We're dating."

"...." Tsubame.