At this moment, Yukino was still like a little girl when it came to matters of the heart.
In Yukino's mind,
The only person she could share her feelings and discuss this with was her teacher, Kirisu Mafuyu, whom she had always respected.
And Yukima Azuma.
But, discussing how she liked Azuma with Azuma himself was out of the question.
So, Yukino could only turn to her former teacher.
"Mafuyu-sensei... I don't know what to do, I have absolutely no experience with this. Can you help me?"
It was normal for teachers to help students understand things they didn't know, wasn't it?
Umu... that must be normal.
Still, Kirisu Mafuyu was in shock.
When she heard that the person who made Yukino feel this way was Yukima Azuma,
The CPU in Kirisu Mafuyu's mind stopped working.
Huh?
The student she had once taught, liked her current student?
But wait, Yukino had already entered society, while Azuma was still in high school!
Wasn't the age difference too much?
No, wait. There's that saying, as long as there's love, no matter how big the age gap, it doesn't matter, right?
A! What is going on here?
In Kirisu Mafuyu's mind, everything was completely chaotic.
Even though she was a teacher,
She was still an older unmarried woman.
Not to mention a marriage partner, she had never even had a boyfriend.
Giving relationship advice to Yukino,
For her, this topic was really beyond her imagination.
"Uh... well... the two of you seem like a good match, so... there shouldn't be any issues, basically, you need to focus on improving communication first."
"Talk more, increase physical contact a bit, express your feelings to each other."
"And then, find an appropriate time to confess, like during a fireworks festival, when the fireworks go off, and you say something like, 'I like you.'"
"Or you could watch the moon together and say something like, 'The moon looks beautiful tonight,' something like that."
After the brain shock, Kirisu Mafuyu finally started to sort out her words.
In the end, from a few romance novels she had read,
She summarized some advice that seemed reasonable about love.
Romance novels.
This was the only romantic experience that Kirisu Mafuyu could count as part of her life.
After speaking, Kirisu Mafuyu nervously looked at Yukino.
Afraid Yukino would make a face and criticize that her advice was terrible.
It sounded like the words of an old girl who had never been in love.
Fortunately, Yukino didn't do that.
Instead, she nodded seriously.
"Umu umu, I see, Sasuga Mafuyu-sensei."
Kirisu Mafuyu felt terribly embarrassed.
No!
Don't praise me so seriously like that!
My conscience is about to break!
Kirisu Mafuyu once again felt so embarrassed she wanted to die.
As for Yukino,
She truly took those words to heart.
Having clarified her feelings,
Yukino wanted to take the appropriate actions.
Because she had confirmed that she was in love with Yukima Azuma,
She would now try to approach him and win his heart.
Though she had never tried dating and didn't know what it felt like to experience the things people often talked about during their school days,
Yukino was not the type to hesitate just because she hadn't experienced something before.
Even if she was starting a bit late,
Yukinoshita Yukino would now begin her journey into love!
— — — — — — — — — — —
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Chapter 91: Eriri: Azuma's Stepchild Shows Up at the Door!
Chapter 91: Eriri: Azuma's Stepchild Shows Up at the Door!
Friday afternoon, during the last class before school ended.
"Next week marks the beginning of the semester exams. You should spend more time studying this weekend,"
"Save the fun for the summer vacation. It's not too late for that."
"If anyone fails to meet the requirements during the semester exams, they will have to stay back for remedial lessons until they pass the supplementary test!"
Kirisu Mafuyu knocked on the blackboard, speaking sternly.
Class 1-E was immediately filled with groans of despair.
The semester exams at Toyogasaki were always notoriously difficult.
Not only were they inter-school exams, but the test papers were also co-written with renowned private institutions like Shuchiin and Hyakkaou.
The difficulty level was imaginable.
Furthermore, the so-called "passing requirement"...
It wasn't the usual sixty points.
It was half a standard deviation above the school's average score.
Failing to reach this mark meant staying back for remedial classes.
If even during the summer break they couldn't pass the supplementary test...
They would have to repeat the year.
After all, this was a prestigious private school known for its academic excellence.
The soul seemed to leave Eriri's small cherry lips.
Even though she had been diligently focusing on her studies lately,
math and English remained a chaotic mess for her.
Eriri felt like the sky was collapsing on her head.
Summer vacation!
Her sweet summer vacation was slipping away!
Yukima Azuma looked at Eriri's dejected appearance and couldn't help but laugh while feeling a tinge of pity.
In any case, it seemed necessary to tutor her well this weekend.
Retracting his gaze, Azuma turned his attention to Alya.
The transfer student from Russia.
Yukima Azuma hadn't forgotten Kirisu Mafuyu's instruction to look after her a bit.
To be honest, Alya had been in Class 1-E for a few days now.
In terms of adapting to the class environment, she seemed fine.
But when it came to making friends...
Azuma thought this might be a lost cause.
This Alya girl had a rather aloof personality, seemingly the type who didn't enjoy forming close bonds.
Although she could engage in conversations with her classmates,
she didn't seem to have any particularly close relationships with anyone.
It was as if she deliberately maintained a certain distance.
It wasn't that she couldn't make friends,
but rather that it was Alya's choice.
Naturally, Azuma had no intention of interfering.
Ahem, a bit off-topic there.
"Kujou-san, you just transferred to Toyogasaki Academy, or rather... just arrived in Japan."
"In terms of your studies, are you having any difficulties? The exams are quite rigorous. If there's anything..."
"You can come to me this weekend. I'll help you catch up, as a last-minute preparation for the exams."
Upon hearing this, Alya smiled at Azuma.
She could tell that Azuma's concern was different from the flattery she usually received from others.
He genuinely wanted to help her.
Conversely, Azuma didn't seem particularly interested in her as a person.
It was the first time Alisa had encountered someone who wasn't intrigued by a beauty like her.
That made her find Azuma rather intriguing.
But about her studies...
"I'm fine, thank you for your concern, Yukima-san."
Alya replied.
Yukima Azuma nodded, not paying much attention.
"So gentle. (Russian)"
Once again, Alya spoke in Russian.
Yukima Azuma had a strong urge to throw out a teasing comment.
But he restrained himself.
"What did you just say, Kujou-san?"
"Just told you not to worry."
....
After class.
Eriri ran over and grabbed the corner of Yukima Azuma's shirt.
"Azuma! Save me!"
Yukima Azuma pinched Eriri's cheeks.
"If you study seriously this weekend, you should be fine. Don't worry."
"Really?"
"Really."
"Really really?"
"Really really."
"Zun dudu zun dudu really?"
Her rapid-fire questions became a jumble as Yukima Azuma continued pinching and teasing her cheeks.
"Sawamura-san and Azuma-san have such a good relationship," a soft voice sighed from a seat behind them.
The usual response would have been: "Well, we're childhood friends, after all."
But Yukima Azuma's response was different.
He reached out his other hand and pinched Kato Megumi's cheeks.
"Megumi and I are also really close, and tomorrow Megumi has to study seriously too. No escaping!"
With her cheeks pinched, Kato Megumi blinked her eyes, which resembled tuberose flowers.
She looked unbearably adorable.
.....
After school, back at home.
Yukima Azuma told Kasumigaoka that he'd be hosting a group study session tomorrow.
Kasumigaoka Utaha merely snorted lightly.
But she didn't seem to mind much.
Since the book-signing event, their relationship had progressed rapidly, growing more affectionate by the day.
It was as if the brief separation had made their reunion even sweeter. Now, they were more loving than ever before.
Such a "passionate love scene" couldn't be loser!
At that moment, while they were chatting, Kirisu Mafuyu returned home.
"Kirisu-sensei, we're hosting a group study session at home tomorrow. Would you like to join and help out?"
Yukima Azuma casually asked.
"I'm afraid I can't. I'll be at Shuchiin tomorrow, spending the weekend there preparing exam papers. Sorry for the trouble."
Kirisu Mafuyu shook her head.
Toyogasaki's semester exams were indeed incredibly rigorous.
Kirisu Mafuyu had been selected as one of the exam designers.
She needed to stay at Shuchiin's faculty dormitory over the weekend to work with other teachers on the preparations.
.....
The next day.
Early morning, Yukima Azuma returned home after his morning jog.
He found Eriri squatting at the door.
"Eriri, why aren't you going inside?"
Yukima Azuma asked curiously.
"I don't have the key!"
Eriri looked a bit sheepish.
Only then did Yukima Azuma remember.
He had forgotten to give Eriri a key to the apartment.
Come to think of it, Megumidespite not renting a place in Yukima's househad a key.
So why had he forgotten to give one to Eriri?
Yukima Azuma fell into thought.
Taking the key from his pocket, he unlocked the apartment door.
Eriri took a deep breath, savoring the cool air from the air conditioner inside.
"Finally alive again," Eriri sighed in relief.
Waiting outside this morning, she had nearly been roasted into a "gyaru"!
Yukima Azuma opened his room door and retrieved a folding fan from the wall.
A shogi player's home always had a few folding fans around.
He unfolded the fan and gently fanned Eriri.
Enjoying Yukima Azuma's service, Eriri felt a sweet warmth rise in her heart.
She suddenly remembered how often Yukima Azuma had taken care of her like this in the past.
I should do something to repay him.
I'm not the same Eriri as before!
With that thought, Eriri suddenly stood on tiptoe and kissed Yukima Azuma on the cheek.
After all, she'd done the same at the cinema.
This time, it was just a kiss on the cheek.
Nothing to be embarrassed about... right?
Eriri's face turned red like a ripe apple.
Yukima Azuma touched his cheek where he had just been kissed, looking a little surprised.
It seemed Eriri had truly grown.
Flustered, Eriri quickly changed the subject.
"Wow, your place even has a shogi board!"
She picked up a small shogi board from the corner of the room.
Yukima Azuma raised an eyebrow.
Even if she'd matured, she was still a bit of an airhead.
Watching Eriri start fiddling with the shogi pieces, Yukima Azuma reminded her:
"Eriri, you came over today to catch up on your studies."
Eriri shook her head, her golden ponytail swaying.
"It's fine! It's still early! Besides, Kato-san hasn't even arrived yet!"
"Let's play a game! I'll have you know, I'm a shogi pro!"
Yukima Azuma clicked his tongue in helplessness.
At that moment, Kasumigaoka Utaha, woken by the noise, stepped out and chuckled.
"As expected of you, Sawamura-san."
"Kasumigaoka, what's that supposed to mean?"
"I mean, you're an idiot."
"You're looking for a fight, huh!"
It seemed the two were about to start their usual Tom and Jerry quarrel.
But this time, Kasumigaoka didn't argue with Eriri.
Instead, she nudged Yukima Azuma to the other side of the shogi board, her face brimming with anticipation for the show.
Sitting down, Yukima Azuma decided he might as well tease Eriri a bit.
After all, she was his ex-girlfriend.
And yet, she didn't know anything about him?
If she had bothered to ask why Yukima Azuma often skipped school, wouldn't she have discovered that he was a shogi player?
So, Yukima Azuma set up the board, but he removed four of his pieces: the Left Lance, the Bishop, the Rook, and the Right Knight.
Seeing Yukima Azuma handicap himself by four pieces, Eriri immediately angry, baring her small teeth:
"What is this! Azuma! Do you dare look down on me? Watch me crush you without a single piece left!"
After the bold declaration, Eriri began playing shogi.
The result...
Not even half a cup of tea had passed.
The pieces in front of Eriri were nearly all gone.
And this was because she was playing the game very slowly, prolonging the time.
Otherwise, perhaps by now, Eriri would have only had the King left.
"How could this happen!"
Eriri threw herself onto the tatami mat in the room, abandoning the game, her gaze blankly staring at the ceiling.
She looked like someone who had just been badly bullied.
Kasumigaoka beside her couldn't hold back her laughter any longer.
Yukima Azuma quietly began to clean up the pieces.
Everyone had seen it, Eriri was the one who had asked me to bully her like this!
I've never heard a request like that in my life!
At this moment, the doorbell from the entrance area rang.
Yukima Azuma set aside the cleaned-up pieces and stood up to walk toward the door.
Eriri and Kasumigaoka didn't pay much attention, thinking it was Kato Megumi.
But...
Yukima Azuma opened the door.
Standing in front of it was a silver-haired young girl and a cute little girl.
"Ginko, what are you two doing here?" Yukima Azuma was somewhat surprised, mixed with joy.
Sora Ginko put a hand on her hip, using a folding fan to point at Hinatsuru Ai beside her, helplessly saying:
