Evening.
After a celebratory banquet with the two of them, at Shinichi's house.
"Mom... When do people get more emotional than usual?"
"When it's hot."
"..."
"...Dad, when will someone become—"
"This is you."
"...Why are you giving me this?"
"You still have to study, and we don't have time to help you with the kids, so you better not kill me."
"???"
Shinichi slammed the round rubber product in his hand onto the floor, and angrily entered the room and closed the door.
The Asada couple in the living room looked at the floor above, and couldn't help but smile with relief.
...
Once the test is over, Shinichi feels relaxed and rarely sleeps well.
After waking up full of energy, he immediately put the few books he hadn't finished reading this week into his school bag, and happily went to school.
Originally, he wanted to finish reading a book during school time, but within a few minutes of walking, he ran into Fuutarou coming out of an alley beside him.
"...Good morning, Mister Stalker." Shinichi sighed and put down the book helplessly.
Fuutarou's eyes twitched: "Your obvious disgust reaction really sucks..."
"Tsk..." Shinichi said reluctantly, "Then please imagine, while you are reviewing today's exam, a gloomy man with hair barely covering his eyes suddenly greets you."
"It's so hard to be happy." Fuutarou nodded in agreement, then opened the corners of his mouth with a smirk, "Don't think I can't hear you scolding me, so early in the morning you want to look for trouble?"
"No, stalker-kun." Shinichi showed a very friendly smile, and said softly, "This is a unique way to greet good friends. No one can make me talk like this except you."
"...Huh, is that so?" After a strange silence, Fuutarou spread his arms, obviously very happy, but still feigned indifference and said, "It's called Birds of Feathers flocking together, right? A bad person like you can only chat with someone like me…"
"Sorry, I lied." Shinichi stopped him, with a serious expression, "I just want to have fun with you, please don't put on a tsundere happy expression!"
"…I have decided not to believe a word that comes out of your mouth in the future."
Fuutarou's heart slightly closed.
He immediately took out the practice word card, and lowered his head with a displeased face.
Shinichi glanced at him sideways, smiled somehow, and read the book he had put down again.
The two of them walked side by side like friends and strangers for a while, without even looking at each other, but they walked at the same pace silently.
Suddenly, Fuutarou spoke.
"...Miku and Itsuki have been looking a little weird lately."
"Is this the title of the new light novel?" Shinichi asked reflexively.
"What did you say?"
"It's nothing, I know you don't read light novels." Shinichi returned to his normal tone, and asked calmly, "So, it's a strange?"
Fuutarou's gaze was still fixated on the word card.
"Didn't I tell you earlier that I would be using Miku as a breakthrough to break through the quintuplets' defense? I didn't find her during the day, but when it was tutoring time, she and Yotsuba accepted my tutoring together, saying that if I taught uninterestingly, she should study on her own like Itsuki, and she doesn't need a boring tutor."
Shinichi answered calmly: "Isn't that great?"
"Yes very great." Fuutarou laughed and continued.
"Itsuki too, a few days ago after class, I was suddenly called out to talk. At that time, I thought she would fight with me, but what did she say…"
"I am willing to accept your teachings, and I will try my best to persuade my sister, but from now on, please correct your attitude, start from zero, and improve our results earnestly!"
"Tsk tsk tsk… It really surprised me then, I don't know how to answer."
"...I see." Shinichi nodded, that's why they both had weird expressions that day, but he didn't expect that Itsuki would face Fuutarou because of his words.
This is undoubtedly a very good change for Fuutarou and the quintuplets. Shinichi felt a little relieved, because the words he said with shame were not in vain.
From an "educator" point of view, nothing is more satisfying than this.
He probably didn't need anyone's thanks, but he loved receiving one in return.
"In this way, three people have taken the initiative to receive teachings. Even though Ichika is usually a bit busy, she wasn't too rude towards me, so only Nino was left. After clearing this final boss, I will be able to receive that lucrative salary with peace of mind."
"Hahaha, living rich is really exciting!"
With a pleased expression, Fuutaro laughed triumphantly.
Shinichi was about to casually say goodbye, when he suddenly stopped, his smile becoming mocking.
"So... Should I thank you for your help?"
After the voice fell, the atmosphere suddenly became dignified.
Shinichi also stopped, turned to look at Fuutarou, who was half a step behind, and met his gaze innocently.
"Of course. Who do you think this tutoring flyer was prepared for? It took me an hour to put together anyway. If you don't thank me, you will become inhuman."
"..." The calm expression on Fuutarou's face froze for a moment, then heaved a heavy sigh, and asked weakly while looking down, "That handout was very useful to me, of course I'd be grateful… But you know I didn't talk about that. "
"You mean I made Miku and Itsuki change their attitude towards tutoring?" Shinichi always spoke up when dealing with boys.
Fuutarou looked at him: "You want to deny it?"
"No, I did the right thing." Unexpectedly, Shinichi nodded calmly, "It must be said that because of some of my words and actions, this result was accidental."
And because Shinichi didn't feel embarrassed in front of Fuutarou at all, he immediately admitted it, not afraid that this person misunderstood.
"It's too straightforward for you to admit it..." Fuutarou was very complicated, and he couldn't help but let out a long sigh in the end.
"I will say it directly, although I was helped by you, I am not happy at all, and I really don't want to thank you."
"I can understand." Shinichi nodded.
Fuutarou just snorted coldly, passed by Shinichi, and kept walking forward.
"I owe you one, remember carefully, I will definitely repay this debt one day!"
"I've asked you to help out too much, so I have to do my best with the rest of the work… Otherwise, the money will be hot for me."
With his back to him, Fuutarou spoke loudly into the bright morning air.
"One day sooner or later, no matter in terms of grades or other aspects, I will surpass you, just wait for me, ranked second in the school!"
When the words fell, Shinichi could only smile.
"Then study hard, third rank."
Holding the school bag shoulder strap tightly, Shinichi patted Fuutarou on the shoulder.
"I didn't expect you to dare to say such embarrassing things in public. As expected of Fuutarou, you can easily do things that I can't!"
"Noisy, I already regret it!" Fuutarou blushed, and walked forward quickly.
Shinichi laughed happily on the sidelines