Half-naked boy and girl with only bath towels on their bodies looking at each other tenderly in front of the bathroom door, their hands still clasped together.
Ogata's father, who took the time to observe this scene, turned into an evil spirit in an instant, and took out two kitchen knives from his waist, with a terrible expression on his face.
"Smelly boy... are you ready to become soup?"
Shinichi quickly let go of Ogata's hand, the cold light flashing on the knife made his neck cold, and he was a little flustered.
"Wait, uncle, things are not as you think!"
"It's useless to talk too much! If you dare to insult my little fairy, you can use your blood to pay for it! Cut your body first and make noodles!"
Ogata turned around, her eyes full of seriousness.
"Father, if you dare to mess with Shinichi-san, I will ignore you for a week, and then refuse you to appear within 30 meters of my side."
"I can't even get into the house?!" Uncle quickly put away the knife, coaxing her earnestly, "Rizu-chan, don't be fooled by him, this kid dares to appear in front of you dressed like this, he definitely doesn't have any good intentions for you!"
Ogata looked at Shinichi with trusting eyes as clear as glass.
"Shinichi-san, do you have bad intentions for me?"
Shinichi shook his head seriously.
"Of course not. I just wanted to teach you your homework quickly, at least to make up for what I missed today."
"En, I also think so." As expected, Ogata's expression was very calm, "Father, you can go, and I hope you don't disturb our study room."
The uncle knelt down in despair: "OH NO~ Rizu-chan, would leave your beloved father for a weak brat?"
"There is no such thing. So you don't have to worry about the store?" Ogata changed the subject nonchalantly, but her father was still wailing through tears.
"Wuuuu, the reason for expelling me in such a hurry must be being alone with this brat... Heaven is dead..."
Shinichi blushed slightly, but Ogata didn't argue, pulled her father by force, pushed his back and walked out.
Before leaving, she said quietly above Shinichi's head.
"Shinichi-san, please go upstairs immediately after you get changed. I will also carry your school bag for you first. Can you just start studying right away after a while?"
"Ah, yes, Rizu..." Shinichi hid his body behind the door in embarrassment, and saw father and daughter leave noisily.
"Wait, you guys started calling each other names?! Boy, what have you done to my daughter in such a short time, tell me quickly, aaaahhhhh—"
If Shinichi lived here, he wouldn't really be chopped up to make soup, right?
It turns out that being an educator is a dangerous job?
Shinichi shivered, then rushed back to the bathroom while rubbing his arm, planning to take another hot bath.
Before closing the door, he couldn't help laughing when he heard Ogata's innocent but cheerful voice from afar.
Not long after, Shinichi's screams were heard in the bathroom of Ogata's house.
"What shameless thing did I just say——"
"Even if it's an educator, isn't that tantamount to acknowledgment? I'm an idiot, aaaahhhh—"
"Obviously I vowed not to enter the light novel male lead mode again, what did I do!"
Once again, Shinichi realizes that there are many ways to end one's life.
But an explosion of shame is definitely the most painful and distorted way to die.
...
After that, it seemed to return to its usual way of hanging out.
Even if Shinichi was alone in Ogata's room, the two of them didn't have any thoughts. Instead, they opened their books, took out their writing materials, and restarted today's lesson with all their might and concentration.
During the lecture, Shinichi is surprised to find that today's Ogata not only has a lot more concentration than before, she can also understand and answer questions about guessing character thoughts very quickly.
Normally, she would have to grapple with a problem she might not be able to solve in ten minutes, but Ogata managed to get it right in just five minutes! This progress shocked them both, and then they sank into an addiction-like sea of questions.
In the end, it was discovered that Ogata's literary abilities were still the same, but her understanding greatly improved only on topics related to emotion.
According to her, it was a "I don't know why, but I suddenly understood the feeling a little bit" relationship.
Although she still doesn't know the reason, she only expresses her passion to find the key to progress, and sooner or later she will be able to conquer all subjects of the liberal arts. But Shinichi is not as innocent as her.
It's just that he didn't say it, but buried it in his heart.
Just like when facing Miku, Shinichi just kept quiet and did what he could.
Reality is not fiction, and emotions are not something that can be confirmed with the slightest hint.
He still needs to study, study to get along with other people, learn to keep his distance, study to face his own heart, and study to ignore the anxiety of adolescence.
And Shinichi has absolutely no personal business in his studies.
...
The next day.
It's the student on duty today, and he has to do things like sweep the floor and water the flowers first, so Shinichi arrives at school earlier than usual.
The school is still cool and quiet, but half of April has passed, and the warmth of spring is gradually recovering, the sound will not be lonely.
Shinichi opened the door, he found someone cleaning the classroom.
"...Are you, Asada-kun sitting in front of me?"
Standing alone in the middle of an empty classroom, the girl stopped sweeping the floor and asked for confirmation.
It was then that Shinichi remembered that the fellow student on duty today was indeed him.
The girl had beautiful hair that reached down to her shoulder blades, very conspicuous ahoge hair on top of her head, and a hair ornament of stars on each side of her temples, her face beautiful under the morning light.
Nakano Itsuki blinked at Shinichi who appeared at the door, then looked at the blackboard with a sudden realization.
"I didn't realize before that the other student on duty was you…" Itsuki smiled kindly at Shinichi, "Then please give me your advice today. This is my first time as a student in charge of this class, there are many things I don't understand, I hope you can tell me."
Shinichi looked away from her for a few seconds, put his school bag on his seat, and said casually.
"It doesn't matter if it's about class or school matters, just ask if you have any questions... I'm a member of the Student Council, so it's my job to help students."
"The Suchi'in Academy is very complicated in terms of architectural structure and administrative procedures, and most transfer students will have to spend several weeks getting to know the school. I can tell you how to quickly understand things that ordinary students should know, saving a lot of effort. "
"Is it true?! Thank you very much!" Itsuki's eyes lit up, showing a slightly relieved expression.
"To be honest, I've been suffering a lot recently because I'm not familiar with school affairs… Even if I ask other people, they don't know everything, such as the management of the school's local area network, online ordering in the cafeteria, etc. I'm embarrassed to ask everyone again, but I always miss today's limited special meal…"
Shinichi didn't know how to answer that.
"Fortunately, now that Asada-kun is here, I can finally feel at ease." Itsuki patted her Miku-sized chest, and smiled slightly, "Then let me ask you all the things I don't understand? Can I trouble you?"
In a frank and polite tone, Itsuki looked at Shinichi expectantly.
Shinichi took out a broom from the locker and nodded calmly.
"Ask while working. But don't ask about the things written in the student handbook. Miku should have told you that it's best to read what's written in the handbook. School rules won't allow stupid and lazy people."
Itsuki pointed at her chin with her index finger, with a serious expression on her face: "Indeed, Miku seems to say that the map in the manual must be memorized, and then it can't just enter the labyrinth garden, a fool can't get out, she is really stupid."
Aren't you five transfer students who almost repeated a grade?
Shinichi was about to start cleaning the area he should be responsible for, when Itsuki suddenly called out.
"That's right! I remember Miku seemed to say that the person who saved her from the labyrinth the day before entering school was a senior from the Student Council, and the next day Nino said that it was trash surnamed Asada..."
A vein twitched on Shinichi's forehead, took a few deep breaths, and kept hypnotizing himself to be kind, happy, humble and tolerant, not caring about trivial things like that. Then prepare to use the Student Council's power to get revenge on Nino later.
"Could it be Asada-kun..."
Unaware of the black emotion in Shinichi's heart, Itsuki asked hesitantly.
Shinichi sighed, and had no intention of hiding it.
"Even though the word 'bastard' is completely that person's personal opinion, the one who brought Miku out of the labyrinth was indeed me."
"Do you have an older brother who is studying in 3rd year? Both brothers are members of the Student Council, that's great!"
Itsuki showed a sincere smile full of admiration.
Shinichi: "😐"
He was a senior before, but now it's even a brother.