Welcome, to the Bad End Route - V3C17

Thanks to Vilidious for donating! Sponsored chapter 2/7.

 

Volume 3, Chapter 17: Mental Preparation is Excellent!

 

 

And so, the study sessions for the final exams started.

I didn't know how and who was responsible for it, but the event was held in a meeting room that was much larger than our classroom.

The number of people participating was a lot. In addition to most of the students from my class, there might be also some from a neighboring class? Perhaps invited over by Reika.

 

"―― Next, this vocabulary will definitely come up, so make sure you remember this."

""""Yes!""""

 

A study session that had adapted and was conducted in a manner similar to a lecture. Up until now, I had taken a method of formulating problems and had them solve it, but this time, I switched it up.

I was still planning on doing that, but this was more effective in setting up the basics.

 

"Now, please solve the test on pages 22 through 26."

""""Yes! Jimichi-sama!""""

 

My classmates responded enthusiastically. Perhaps influenced by this, the students from Reika's class also gradually became obedient.

If they knew how effective this was, then they didn't have to resist anymore.

 

"Hehehe...with this, brainwashing of two classes is now complete."

"Jimichi-sama? Why do you have an evil look on your face?"

"Surely he's thinking of something noble."

"He's at the top, beyond the reach of mere mortals."

"Thank god we're in the same class."

 

Our school was a preparatory school. Therefore, many students had a reasonable background to them.

If you taught them how to study a little or how to do it, then they'd do the rest on their own.

It was originally because of their own excellence and hard work. I merely paved the road for them.

 

"Fuhaha, I can't help but laugh...although looks like someone isn't in the mood to do so."

"Hm~m...hm~m..."

 

While everyone, some even smiling, was happily solving the problems, one student in particular kept on letting out a restless aura.

She groaned, holding her head as she frantically flipped through the textbooks, looking like she was about to cry.

 

"Hareyama-san, okay?"

"I'm okay..."

"Lying no good, you know."

"I'm not lying..."

 

Since the session was currently preparing for the English exam, I tried to lighten the atmosphere by speaking like a broken English teacher, but it might not have the desired effect instead.

The biggest challenge for Hareyama was going to be English. To be honest, she could handle the other subjects well, but English was the only she had to put especially more effort on.

 

"You are so cute." (In English)

"S-sankyuu." (Thank you, in broken English.)

 

Oh, she was growing up. I missed the days when she misheard it as 'hot springs azure'.

However, this class-style study session might be too much for Hareyama.

But she couldn't have special treatment in front of these people. Everyone had to be equal, or else grievances would pile up.

 

"Hareyama, we'll be having private lessons after this."

"O-okay."

"Don't tell anyone else."

"Auu..."

 

In order to not let others find out, I secretly whispered these words to Hareyama's ear.

Satisfied with Hareyama's bright red, nodding head, I turned to face the whole class again.

 

――――

――

―

 

After the study session at school. We parted ways earlier, and now we tried to meet up a place we secretly decided on just before.

I joined up with Hareyama, who was all smiles like she was having fun, and after finishing our groceries, we went home.

As we arrived, I changed clothes and headed to the living room where Hareyama already prepared the drinks, as if this had already become the routine.

For the time being, we took a short break, facing each other as we drank our tea.

 

"Are you staying over today?"

"Yeah, I am..."

"Have you prepared yourself properly?"

"Prepared...like my heart?"

"No, prepared to stay the night."

"Oh, right."

 

I wanted to know what kind of mental preparations she was thnking of.

Well, if you thought about this normally, she couldn't just stay at your male classmate's house alone without some kind of preparations after all.

She might have let down her guard to some extent whenever she was here, but this might not be the time for that.

 

"Umm, then...should we start?"

"...Hey, you know? It sounds like you meant something else, when you look at me like at that."

"I-I didn't mean to do that~."

"How about...for now, why don't we have dinner first? I'll help you."

"So, then...should we?"

"No, like I said, why do you put out that kind of atmosphere while looking me up and down?"

 

――――

――

―

 

I was going to help her make dinner, but all I did was get in the way, so I ducked early. I felt about that, so I went along and cleaned up.

I desperately calmed down Hareyama, who was about to get up, and told her to take a rest.

I couldn't let myself be ruined. I thought I should take the initiative in doing these things.

 

After all that, of course, the study session started.

We would proceed while keeping track of Hareyama's speed, comprehension, and points of weakness.

Whenever my drink ran low, she would try to get up and head to the kitchen, but I stopped her, and I had her continue to study instead.

She began to clearly state which parts she did and didn't understand, and she no longer had a hesitant look to her face.

I didn't know if it was because she felt embarrassed or insufficient, but there used to be a part of her that made it difficult to voice out her thoughts.

 

"―― Excellent, we'll leave it at that. Good job."

"Yeah! This might be the most progress I've ever made!"

"If you keep this up, you won't be an airhead anymore."

"...Jimichi-kun, do you like me better as an airhead...?"

 

Well, to be honest, if she got over that, my identifier for Hareyama would be gone.

She'd be cute, feminine, and smart. Could I hold my own against such a perfect woman?

I wanted to be better than others, in one way or another. Even if it was just over one particular thing.

But if my limit was that, then I would just have to break it. Push myself to aim higher. I didn't want to be a guy who put down others.

 

"...Do you hate it?"

"Why should I? You're going to become more attractive, and that's a good thing."

"So...you like it?"

"I will refrain from giving my personal opinion."

"Geez~...not fair."

"For now, take a bath before it gets too late."

 

Hareyama, puffing her cheeks as she cutely glared at me, left the living room.

I finished cleaning up and took a bath after Hareyama.

I got ready to clock out, had a bit of a chat with Hareyama, and returned to my room to sleep.

You're asking me if I just went to bed without doing anything? Obviously.

It's a lie? It wasn't, but that nightgown did look cute, and additionally, if you showed me that huge thing I would have ―― no, like I said, I did nothing.

 

――――

――

―

 

In the morning, I got woken up by Hareyama with a slap on the face and started getting ready for school.

Hareyama, sitting across me, didn't look like she was lacking in sleep, and she seemed to be in high spirits.

 

"Delicious. Thanks, for preparing this."

"Hmm, eat a lot."

"Also, thanks for waking me up, and if possible, I'd like you to shake me up instead of slapping me."

"But you wake up more quickly that way."

 

Why did all the women who tried to wake me up all wanted to be violent?

It wasn't that I didn't want to, but it was only natural to get up late whenever a girl stayed over, right?

I wished to be woken up gently, like all guys had longed for.

Although next time, I decided to get up by myself. My cheeks hurt.

 

"More importantly, what are your plans for today?"

"Umm...can I stay over today, too?"

"I don't mind, but is everything okay on your side?"

"Yeah..."

 

I waited for a follow-up, but Hareyama didn't say anything more.

I knew there must have been something going on, but was it really okay to stay at a guy's house for consecutive nights?

Did her parents know about this? I felt inclined to ask, but Hareyama never told me anything about her parents.

I didn't want to make things difficult for Hareyama to stay here by asking poorly.

 

"...Sorry, it must be annoying ――"

"―― Not. Personally, I want Hareyama to stay over, too."

"I can stay over, then...?"

"You captured my stomach, so take responsibility."

 

When I joked about that, she finally let out a laugh.

However, I still didn't think we could continue on like this. If the root of the problem wasn't solved, Hareyama would always have that look on her face.

In the end, Hareyama was going to keep on staying at my house until the day the final exams start.

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