So what if I can understand Japanese? I don't know any of the fundamentals.
I want Miyuki to tutor me already.
Resisting the urge to tear up my math exam papers, I finished the multiple-choice questions and collapsed onto my desk.
There are five more exams left, but it was better to rest well and prepare for the next exam than to waste my time on this math exam.
Well, since I was bad at studying to begin with, I am certainly doomed anyway.
Ding-dong-! Ding-dong-!
I was completely immersed in an amazing nap, but as soon as the bell rang, I lifted my upper body and head off of my desk.
When I did, the female student on my right looked at me and giggled.
My blurry eyes and the red marks across my arms and cheeks must've been amusing to look at.
"Is it funny to you?"
She was taken aback by my rough tone, but soon she nodded her head.
"No… I'm sorry. The imprints on your face… You must've been very sleepy. Would you like some gum?"
As I have shown a milder side these days, other students who would have avoided me in the past started talking to me.
I reached out my hand after licking my lips like a tired person.
"Give me one. No… I'd like one please."
"Okay, here you go…"
She shyly outstretched her hand holding the piece of gum.
I took the piece of gum, put it in my mouth, and chewed on it. It tasted like blueberries.
Wait a second, have I ever actually eaten a blueberry before?
Well, it tastes delicious.
I, who decided to turn back my "gangster" persona a notch, thanked the girl.
"Thank you. Let's be friendly."
Then the girl's face instantly became a little frightened.
It looks like she misunderstood something… What is it?
Surely you didn't think you were going to get bad shit done to you because I said to be friendly with each other?
Just as I was thinking, a middle-aged professor approached me and took away my test paper.
"Matsuda-kun. You can't chat until you've collected the test papers."
"Yes, sir."
Maybe it's because I've been listening to what he's been saying these days, the professor's eyes are friendly even though I'm still a bit rough around the edges.
Anyway, once he looks at my test scores, I think he'll pour out swear words, so I'm a little worried.
Now was break time now that the exam was completed.
I nodded my chin at Miura, who was intently studying the textbook.
"Yo, Miura."
"Yes?"
"Did you do well?"
"I think… I guess I just got about half right."
This guy also wasn't very good at studies.
That's why there's an event in Doki-Doki Academy later when he gets tutored by Miyuki.
"Half right is pretty good. A bit unexpected, though?"
"I don't think it's unexpected. Rather, it's a bit on the bad side…?"
"Then, since I guessed on all the questions, would you say my head is empty?"
"No… I didn't mean that. Sorry."
After Miyuki told me to be a bit more friendly with Tetsuya, I spent some time conversing with Tetsuya.
I obviously didn't apologize though.
Even so, Tetsuya seemed to hate me less than before.
It's probably because I stopped harassing him every day and am conversing with him instead.
Still, when I talk to him, my blood can't help but boil.
I don't like how he keeps his hair shaggy even in midsummer.
Still, in order to improve my relationship with Miyuki, I can put up with it.
I glanced ahead to see Miyuki discussing exam questions with her friends.
I don't even have to think about it to know that she'll come in first in the academic rankings.
"Did you do well on the test?"
A question from the professor I met during the molester case.
I snorted and asked back:
"Do you think so?"
"Not at all."
"If you already knew the answer, why'd you ask?"
"Can't you be a bit more respectful… Today is the last day of cleaning, right?"
"Yes."
"I thought you'd quit after doing it for a few days, so to be honest, I was surprised to hear that you cleaned the toilets even on the weekend. Prejudice is a scary thing."
"Is that a compliment?"
"It is a sincere compliment. Good job, and keep up the good work. Next semester, study hard and do some club activities."
Club activities? Of course, I'll do some.
I'm going to be in the kendo club with Renka, a sophomore and one of the main heroines.
As soon as she returns from her shoulder injury, my Renka's going to have to deal with a bully joining her club… I wanna meet her soon.
"I will think about it. This problematic student will now leave."
"So, you do know. Yes, see you."
Can't you at least deny it a little.
I grumbled and left the office, heading to the bathroom.
On the way, I met Miyuki.
As she approached with several books in her arms, she smiled brightly when she saw me.
"Hello, Matsuda-kun."
I feel good because she seems to smile often at me these days.
"You already greeted me in the morning. You're doing it again?"
"Am I not allowed to?"
"You can, but it's annoying to have to receive greetings constantly."
"It's not difficult to say a greeting. When I talk to you, Matsuda-kun, it seems more and more like you live in a different world from me. We are totally different."
"Did you think we'd be similar?"
"Look at this. Being sarcastic again. Try improving your attitude. Did you do well on the test?"
"Are you seriously asking me that?"
"Ah… I made a mistake. Sorry. Of course you didn't."
Now, wait a second, no matter how bad I am at studying, that's just prejudiced.
Of course, I did bomb the exam.
But it seems like we've gotten pretty close?
Considering we're chatting like this.
Should I try asking now? In fact, if I don't ask now, I won't have another chance.
Scratching the back of my head, I cautiously asked Miyuki:
"Yo, Hanazawa."
"Yes?"
"Maybe… Could you tutor me?"
"Yes…? Tutor…!?"
Miyuki's normally large eyes doubled in size.
She couldn't speak for a while, but when she saw my serious expression, she became serious as well.
"It's admirable… But, are you serious?"
I am sincere.
And, you think about it too. Summer vacation is long.
If I don't have a mentor to keep me on the right path for two months, what do you think I'll be doing?
I will hang out with bad friends, drink and smoke, and bully easy targets.
When school starts after a long vacation like that, there's a very good chance that I'll be back as Matsuda Ken, the trash bully, again.
Consider these complex factors
You're smart. You can obviously deduce this much.
"Yes. Something like a tutor. I'll pay you."
"N-No… Money isn't important… Was the midterm exam that traumatizing?"
"Yeah, yeah, I'm done. I was being sincere, and yet, you make fun of me. So annoying."
I wrinkled my brow and passed Miyuki, ignoring her, but before I could go too far, she quickly approached me and said:
"I-I wasn't making fun of you. I was just thinking about it.Why are you leaving?"
I stood still and looked back at Miyuki.
"Then, you'll do it?"
"I just said I'd think about it. One of Matsuda-kun's problems is that you're so impatient. So wait."
"How long?"
"Matsuda-kun."
Miyuki spoke in a low voice.
"Okay, I'll wait."
Grinning, I leaned against the hallway wall.
I waited for about a minute.
Miyuki, who was contemplating with her head tilted slightly, asked:
"Are you sure you'll take it seriously?"
"Maybe."
"Speak clearly. I don't want to waste my time on someone who has no will to improve."
"What do you think? Do you think I'll take it seriously? Think objectively."
"Why should I be the judge? Matsuda-kun, you should ask yourself."
She's not budging at all.
Of course, it's understandable because it's a situation where I asked her to help me study out of the blue.
I stopped leaning on the wall and stood up straight then looked down at Miyuki.
Then, I said without hesitation.
"I'll take it seriously."
"Okay…? Great."
It was a bit of a challenge, but she surprisingly accepted it rather easily.
Barely holding back the twitching of the corners of my mouth, I asked:
"Where will we meet? Should I visit you?"
"Hmm… It would be nice to meet you halfway… Where do you live, Matsuda-kun?"
"Lower part of Nerima ward."
"Is that so…? You're closer than I thought…? I'm above Suginami. Should we just meet in a cafe near the middle? The library is not good because we'll have to be quiet…"
I guess she'd rather die than invite me to her house. I'm hurt.
"Aren't cafes supposed to be quiet too?"
"Well, I guess you do. Hmm… The weather is hot, so I don't want to meet at the park…"
"If you look at the map, we can see that your house and mine are moderately close. Would you like to just tutor me at my house? My house is empty."
"Yes…? That's a bit… Your parents will be there too…"
"They're dead."
"….."
When I said it as if it was not a big deal, Miyuki's mouth tightly shut.
Seeing her pupils shaking as if an earthquake had struck, she must have been quite taken aback.
"So-Sorry… I…"
"What are you sorry about? I don't even care. It's been so long since they died that I don't even remember their faces."
"Ma-Matsuda-kun…! Can you speak a little bit more…Refined…"
Her panicked state was cute.
I burst out laughing and held out my phone.
"Give me your LINE ID. We can discuss the details later. Now, I have to clean the bathroom."
"Ah, yes… Okay…"
"Then, you're going to tutor me?"
"Yes. I'll teach you… However, you have to work really hard. If I see you slacking off even a little bit, I'll stop tutoring you right away."
"I got it."
Tetsuya would also ask Miyuki the same request as mine.
Of course Miyuki would agree, and she would suggest that the three of us study together.
It was a pity that I couldn't be alone with Miyuki, but it doesn't matter.
All sorts of events will happen during the summer vacation.
I just have to be there at the events instead of Tetsuya.
Or , at the very least, be there as a group of three.
I just have to make sure that Tetsuya and Miyuki aren't alone together doing these events.
The early stages of Doki-Doki Academy are about earning money and learning more about the game.
Simply put, this is a tutorial.
And, I could say I just finished the tutorial.
It's time to enjoy Doki-Doki Academy in earnest.
"Wow… The house is nice… Isn't it? Tetsuya-kun."
"Yes, it's really…huge…"
Outside the fence gate, Tetsuya and Miyuki were talking and laughing casually.
In the end, we decided to meet at my home.
My house was near to everyone and was a place where we could be as loud as we wanted.
As expected, Tetsuya joined the study group, and so, I now have two visitors.
After turning on the air conditioner, I put on slippers and came out of the living room.
I was going through the weed infested stone pathway to open the fence gate, when I heard:
"Matsuda-kun! We are here!"
Miyuki shouted in a loud voice.
Laughing, I opened the fence gate.
Then, I looked at the two with an interested gaze.
"Why are you screaming when there is a bell? Next time, just come through the gate and ring the doorbell. Yo, Miura."
As I gestured toward Tetsuya, he awkwardly raised one hand.
"Hello, Matsuda."
What's with that weak greeting… This spineless bastard who can't even choose one of the three heroines and who gets easily flustered.
I spat out curses at him in my heart and stepped aside.
Then, I led them across the weed-infested stone pathway and opened the front door.
"Come in."
Then Miyuki stepped into the house with a bright smile on her face.
Miyuki's outfit today is a white tee and a skirt that goes just above her ankles.
The white and thin ankles that are revealed every time she walks really turned me on.
"Where should we go?"
Miyuki turned her head to ask.
I was walking with Tetsuya when I came to my senses and replied:
"Follow the hallway, and you'll get to the living room."
"Isn't it normal for the homeowner to lead the guests? Also, Matsuda-kun, why don't you take care of the weeds in front of your house?"
"Do I have to?"
"...Matsuda-kun. However…"
Miyuki however cut herself off as she looked towards the flower bed.
Seeing the wilted plants, she shuddered and scolded me.
"Matsuda-kun…! How can you leave the plants like that? They're all dying…!"
Dying? Aren't they already dead?
"Then, what should I do? Throw them away?"
"That's not what I'm saying…! Why's the watering can so rusted"
"'Cause I don't use it?"
"I don't understand, really…"
After looking around, Miyuki headed towards the watering can..
She meticulously cleaned the watering can and checked the condition of the plants.
It felt like she was my girlfriend who came over to live with me.
If I could just get rid of this insect next to me, I feel like I'd have a very enjoyable time… But, there's nothing I can do about it.
"What are you doing? Come inside."
"Ah, alright."
I took Tetsuya to the living room, and we started setting up the round table, our study place.