"Alright, the topics I pointed out earlier will be focused in the tests. Be sure to study them thoroughly." A teacher said to her class before leaving the classroom.
"Keita, I'm curious about how you study. How about we study together somewhere?" Itsuki asked.
"I just study every day." Keita said.
"Oh wow, those exact words said nonchalantly from an exemplary student." Itsuki reacted.
"Suit yourself." Keita said.
"Whoa there, no need to get hostile. I was just trying to suggest how we can study together. No big deal right?" Itsuki said.
"Suit yourself." Keita said.
"Well, that's the magic word I need to hear, I guess. Let's count in Ayumi-chan. I'll head over and ask her." Itsuki said before he heads over to Ayumi.
"Hey, Ayumi-chan, do you want to study with us? For the exams next week, of course." Itsuki asked.
"It's fine, I can study by myself." Ayumi said.
"Keita will be there too, I guess that's a bummer." Itsuki said.
"Wait, what? Then I'll go too." Ayumi said.
"Wow, I won't question your changes in mind but where exactly we're gonna study?" Itsuki asked.
"... You can come to my place." Ayumi said.
"Your what?" Itsuki asked.
"My place, it's a cafe called M's. Just near the station." Ayumi described.
"Oh, so that's your place? Guess I'll have to visit there more often." Itsuki chuckles before he head back to his seat.
"Ayumi-chan said we'll go to her place to study. It's at M's the cafe near the station." Itsuki said.
"I see. I'll tell my senpai I'll not going to the art club today." Keita said.
"I thought we won't have club activities before the exam week?" Itsuki said.
"Well, my senpai is different." Keita chuckled.
"Wow, you're acting sus bro." Itsuki said.
"Huh? Where do you even learn those words?" Keita asked.
"It doesn't matter. What is it between you and that senpai?" Itsuki asked.
"Just friends..." Keita said blushingly.
"Ooh... That's a different face from what I've seen before!" Itsuki exclaimed.
"What are you, a Keita-pedia?" Keita said.
"You're right! It's me, Itsuki, the Keita-pedia!" Itsuki said.
"Quiet down, both of you. We're going to start our lesson for today." Ogura-sensei entered the classroom. The two of them lowered their heads from embarrassment.
"All right, the aforementioned topics will be focused in the exams, so make sure you study them thoroughly!" Ogura-sensei said before ending the lesson.
"Well, guess what? Lessons' over, let's head to Ayumi-chan's place right away!" Itsuki said.
"I hear you." Keita replied.
"We'll wait for Ayumi-chan here." Itsuki said after they walked to the entrance.
"Oh, there she is." Itsuki said.
"We're starting today? Ugh..." Ayumi said as if she's unwilling.
"Well, if we finish early, we could hang out or something." Itsuki said.
"You two doesn't seem like the type to flunk, me neither." Ayumi pointed out.
"Whoa, you got it right! For me, I think." Itsuki is amazed.
"Well, it's getting late. Let's head on." Ayumi leads the way. They took a while to reach M's.
"Woah, this place is so nice!" Itsuki said.
"You're acting like a child." Ayumi said.
"Oh dear, who we have over here?" A familiar voice said.
"Aunt Yuuki?! Why are you here?" Keita asked.
"Kanade told me about this place. So I decided to pay a visit. As I imagined, it's nice here." Yuuki looked at Ayumi's mother, Mikoto with a smile.
"O-of course, I'm glad to hear that." Mikoto said nervously.
"So, you're Ayumi-chan." Yuuki snuck up close to Ayumi.
"Waaaah!" Ayumi backed off and hid behind Keita.
"Ahaha... Well I'm off. The laundry needs some attention." Yuuki said before leaving.
"Come again, Miss Shiroyuki." Mikoto said.
"Of course I will." Yuuki said before closing the door. The bell attached to the door chimed as she closed the door.
"Well, I'm looking forward to see how this unfolds~" Yuuki thought as she walked home gleefully.
"Ara...? Ayumi, you brought two boys home? How bold..." Mikoto said.
"Wha- They are here to study! Stupid mom!" Ayumi exclaimed.
"I was joking, please help yourselves, make yourself at home." Mikoto showed her hospitality.
"I'll have this one." Keita started ordering.
"Ah yes, how about you?" Mikoto asked Itsuki.
"I see, I'll have this then." Itsuki ordered.
"Alright, I'll prepare it right away." Mikoto said before she entered the kitchen.
"I'll get myself changed. I'll join yourself later." Ayumi said.
"Be careful." Keita said. Hearing this reminds Ayumi of the incident, which caused her face to turn bright red.
"Stupid!" Ayumi said before clumsily run upstairs.
"I never thought she's like this." Itsuki said.
"I don't either." Keita said.
"The woman that was here earlier, you know her?" Itsuki asked.
"Oh, Aunt Yuuki? She's Kana-nee's mother." Keita said.
"I see..." Itsuki started thinking.
"I never thought you're into older married women." Keita said bluntly.
"Hey! That's not right! It's just that she's related to Kujou-senpai!" Itsuki got agitated.
"Got you." Keita smirked.
"You..." Itsuki grunted.
"Aunt Yuuki... She's a bit special. She's always looked happy, like she's been content at living her own life. Perhaps it's about how she happened to live longer than she was told in the past." Keita looked out of the window.
"Live longer than she was told? Was she sick or something?" Itsuki got curious.
"Kujou's disease. She's the first person to have that." Keita said.
"What?! Wait... Now that I think about it, Kujou is her family name... I see..." Itsuki started to connect the dots.
"Miracles like that rarely happen, and that is why she is already content of everything, she is strong. It's like she has nothing to fear anymore. I wonder if I could be that strong as well." Keita said.
"Um... I know stuff gets deep sometimes, but you see, Ayumi-chan is quite trembling over there." Itsuki pointed out.
"Mikoto-san, are you alright?" Keita approached.
"N-nothing." Ayumi walked to the table where Keita and Itsuki is sitting on.
"If you feel sick, you can just take a re-" Keita said.
"I'm not SICK!" Ayumi exclaimed.
"I get it, let's get started okay?" Itsuki said.
The clanking noises in the kitchen goes on, only Mikoto knows how worried she is overhearing their entire conversation.