[Chouko: You’re not allowed to co again today! [trembling cat]]—Read
The next day, after receiving that ssage, Harutaki couldn’t exactly bring it up face-to-face, so he chose to probe Chouko through LINE instead—
Of course, he wasn’t stupid enough to say sothing like “Nogami asked too, so you’ll have to wait.” That would’ve been the conversational equivalent of lighting a stick of TNT.
Thinking back to the relieved sigh she let out when he left last night, he tried to circle around the topic indirectly.
What a complete scumbag, he thought.
Every line he sent subtly implied he’d continue “tutoring” her like before, and, as expected, Chouko firmly refused.
[Chouko: If I keep studying with you, my grades will only drop, okay?! [angry cat]]—Read
He had originally assud her “tutoring” request was just an excuse for that, but judging from her reaction now, she clearly had a real obsession with improving her grades.
Did she really hate the idea of being beaten by Nogami that much?
“Haa… haah…”
He took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, tilting his head as he gazed out the classroom window at the blue sky. A fluffy, cotton-candy-like cumulus cloud drifted lazily by, and his restless mood gradually cald.
Soft things, like plush toys or cats, really did help people relax.
The road ahead is rough…
Harutaki couldn’t help but think of his “dream”—
At least for now, one of them: dating beautiful girls… and building a harem.
It was fine to joke about that with Miyabi-senpai, but if he ever said it seriously in public, it’d be social suicide.
Tokyo University was just a pretense. And not even a very reliable one.
One day, he’d have to face the question of his future head-on. And “building a harem” definitely wasn’t going to cut it as an answer.
[Harutaki: After school, I’ll tutor Haruto and Tazaki for about half an hour first. Nogami-san, could you wait a bit?]—Read
[Nogami-sama: I’ll kill ti at Minako’s place. Don’t be late! [patting shiba inu head]]—Read
Nogami really did love dogs. Especially Shiba Inus.
…She’s not treating like one, right?
For a split second, an image of her kneading his cheeks popped into Harutaki’s mind. His heartbeat skipped, and he quickly shook his head.
Don’t be ridiculous. No way he’d be anyone’s dog. And she was probably just joking anyway…
…
“H-Harutaki-sama, sh-she… she’s here too?!”
After school, inside the quiet Starbucks, a few Nichiya High students sat scattered around—so studying quietly with drinks in front of them, others chatting softly side by side.
In such a calming atmosphere, Tazaki, however, was anything but calm. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he trembled.
“I-I’m dead…”
Using the excuse of accompanying Harutaki to buy drinks, Tazaki tried to steal a mont of relief. But every ti he sneaked a glance back toward their table—
A chill ran down his spine.
Why is Nogami here…?!
Like a mouse spotting a cat, Tazaki wanted nothing more than to bolt out of this hellish café.
“Just endure it… it’ll be over soon.”
“Please don’t say that like so creepy old man forcing an innocent girl.”
While waiting for the drinks, Harutaki sighed helplessly, also thinking about Nogami’s presence.
“Minako’s off who-knows-where, so I’ll just stick with you until your tutoring’s done.”
That’s what Nogami had told him when she stopped him outside the classroom.
Later, checking the group chat “Princess Nogami’s Harem,” he confird that Minako had indeed posted that she couldn’t join today.
Nogami had been relatively restrained lately and hadn’t bullied anyone. So tagging along for tutoring shouldn’t have been a problem…
At least, that’s what he thought.
But the mont they t, Tazaki nearly broke down, grabbing his bag and preparing to flee.
As for why the otaku seatmate was still here—
“Tazaki, Hoshikawa’s tutoring you. Why are you running?”
Nogami crossed her arms, glaring down at him arrogantly, her tone full of dissatisfaction.
“Y-Yes… yes… thank you very much for the reminder, and for Harutaki-sama’s help…”
Tazaki was so scared he slipped into full honorific speech.
That pretty much sumd up their interaction when they gathered at Starbucks.
Back at the table, Harutaki handed drinks to Ren and Nogami.
Ren had chosen an iced Aricano. But when Nogami’s gaze followed the coffee to him, he visibly shivered, as if frostbitten.
“Thanks…”
“And this is your affogato, Nogami-san.”
“You’re slow…”
Harutaki braced for a complaint—but instead, she muttered quietly:
“…Thanks.”
No “idiot dog”?
A mont later, he couldn’t help but scoff at himself.
After hearing it so often, it actually felt strange when she didn’t say it.
Habits really are scary.
For the next twenty minutes, Nogami sat there with her legs crossed, scrolling through her phone while idly twirling strands of her hair, completely unaffected by the atmosphere.
If anything, she was the atmosphere.
Even Ren, who was usually good at smoothing things over, had fallen unusually quiet, only speaking when soone asked a question.
Left with no choice, Harutaki sped up his writing, aiming to finish as quickly as possible so he could leave with her.
“Done.”
““Haaah…””
The mont he handed over the new outlines, Haruto and Tazaki both sighed in relief.
“I’ll get going then. See you tomorrow.”
Neither of them dared to speak. They just nodded repeatedly.
…
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