Haruto activated the video call feature.
Since it was a quiz session, using video calls was only natural.
As the video connected, Nino hummed softly, "Pervert Kuromori, here you come!"
"Alright, let's begin now."
Haruto said, "The first question is a math problem."
"Please listen carefully."
"Using the digits 0 through 9, how many three-digit numbers can be formed without repeating digits?"
"Please answer."
"..."
The room fell silent.
Ichika spoke up, "I think it was 638?"
Haruto remained expressionless, "Wrong answer, one point will be deducted!"
Nino hesitated for a moment. She vaguely recalled hearing this question earlier at Haruto's place, and he had explained the answer and rules.
"6... 640?"
"Wrong answer, one point will be deducted!"
Miku blinked and said, "I don't know."
Haruto raised an eyebrow, "Two points will be deducted for Miku."
Miku suddenly puffed out her cheeks, "You're bullying me."
After hesitating for a moment, she said, "Wait, I suddenly remember, it's 648."
Haruto replied without hesitation, "Miku is disrupting the quiz, two more points will be deducted."
Miku immediately puffed up her cheeks and said, "Unfair!"
Haruto ignored her "unfair, seppuku" complaint and looked over at Yotsuba, "Yotsuba, it's your turn."
Yotsuba blinked and said, "Umm. 648?"
"Are you sure?"
"Eh? Yes, that's right."
Yotsuba glanced sadly at Miku, who gave a small nod.
"Alright."
"Yotsuba answered correctly, and Miku's cheating deducts another point."
Itsuki spoke up seriously, "The hundreds place can't be 0, so I can choose from 1 to 9. That gives nine options, then for the tens place, I can choose 0, then subtract the used digit."
"So, the final answer is 648."
Haruto looked at the girls who were thinking hard, then, realizing the answer, slowly said, "Itsuki is correct. Now let's move to the second question, also math."
"Please listen carefully to the question."
"There are 18 steps in total. You can climb in 12 moves. You can take one step at a time or two steps at a time. How many different ways can you climb?"
"..."
Time passed slowly.
The quiz session was far more engaging than expected, even Nino was participating enthusiastically.
Though she often got so frustrated that she banged on the table.
Half an hour later.
Yotsuba covered her face and cried out, "I lost."
On regular days, she had the least time to study because of her club activities.
So Haruto wasn't surprised.
Next up was Ichika.
What did surprise Haruto was that Ichika actually answered many questions correctly, even better than Nino.
Although Nino was often uncooperative in various things, she had attended more study sessions than Ichika.
Nino crossed her arms and looked proud, "I told you, I wouldn't lose."
Ichika puffed her cheeks a bit as Haruto looked her way, "Kuromori-kun underestimated me. I have to try harder."
"Not underestimated."
Haruto said seriously, "First place is Itsuki, followed by Ichika, Miku, Nino, and Yotsuba."
"Yotsuba, you're done."
"Woo~"
Yotsuba covered her face and cried out again, "Kuromori-san, you're mean!"
"Yes, I am."
Haruto admitted without changing his expression, then checked the time and said, "Punishments will be determined later. That's all for today, see you tomorrow."
"Goodbye, Kuromori-kun."
"Goodbye."
The night was peaceful.
❀❀❀
Early morning.
The phone suddenly vibrated.
Haruto answered it and was surprised when he saw the caller ID.
He answered, "Shouko, good morning."
"Good morning."
Nishimiya Shouko greeted with a stutter.
Haruto stood up and said, "Shouko, your pronunciation has improved a lot."
"Really?"
A happy smile suddenly appeared on Shouko's face.
Indeed, although she wasn't perfect, some simple words were spoken fluently, and her pronunciation was spot on.
Shouko had only come over last weekend. The progress she had made wasn't just thanks to Haruto's help, but also the girl's own hard work.
But why had she called today?
After chatting for a bit, Haruto asked, "Is there something special about calling today?"
"Ah, it's nothing, really."
Yuzuru, who was beside her, saw her sister so nervous that she couldn't speak, so she facepalmed.
All her sister wanted to do was ask the guy to hang out on the weekend. Why so nervous?
"Onee-chan, let me help you!"
Yuzuru couldn't take it anymore and grabbed the phone, "Hey, Kuromori-kun?"
"Yeah, it's me."
Haruto recognized Yuzuru's voice and greeted, "Yuzuru, good morning."
"Good morning."
Yuzuru quickly said, "Onee-chan wants to ask if you'd like to hang out this weekend."
"Okay, I'll let you know when I figure out the time."
Several question marks appeared in Haruto's head.
Is it really that easy for girls to invite guys nowadays?
After making breakfast, there was a knock on the door.
Haruto opened it, and someone rushed in, "Big Brother, your cutest little sister is here."
"You're annoying!"
Haruto grabbed Nanako's head.
Nanako clung to his arm and replied proudly, "Idiot big brother, Nanako isn't annoying!"
While saying this, she carefully peeked into the living room, leaned against her brother, and whispered, "Big Brother, has Nino Onee-san come back?"
"She has."
Haruto narrowed his eyes at her, "Nanako, why are you asking?"
Nanako quickly shook her head, "It's nothing."
Haruto sensed something and looked at the girl standing at the door.