Kazuki sat at the table, his notebook open and his pen moving smoothly across the page. Beside him, Shizuka stared blankly at her textbook, her head resting on her palm, her frustration practically radiating off her.
"This is so boring," Shizuka whined, tossing her pencil onto the table. "Why do they make us read such complicated stuff?"
Kazuki glanced at her, a small smirk tugging at his lips. "It's not complicated, Shizuka. You just have to focus."
"I am focusing!" Shizuka argued, sitting up straight. "It's just that this writing is... dense." She wrinkled her nose.
Kazuki chuckled, leaning over to glance at her book. "You haven't even made it through the first paragraph."
"That's because it's a boring paragraph!" she retorted, crossing her arms.
Kazuki shook his head, amused. "All right, let me help." He slid her book toward him and began reading aloud, his deep voice steady and clear.
Shizuka watched him, her pout softening. She had always admired how effortlessly Kazuki handled things like this. "How do you make it sound so easy?" she asked, resting her chin on her hands.
"It's just reading," Kazuki replied with a shrug, not looking up. "You break it down and take your time."
"Well, not everyone's a genius like you," Shizuka teased, sticking her tongue out.
Kazuki glanced at her, his smirk returning. "Careful with the compliments. I might start expecting them regularly."
Shizuka rolled her eyes but smiled despite herself. "If you're so smart, why don't you just write the whole report for me?"
"No way," Kazuki said, shaking his head. "You're doing your share."
Shizuka groaned, flopping dramatically onto the table. "You're so mean, Kazuki."
"You say that, but you're still here," he pointed out, poking her forehead lightly.
She sat up, rubbing the spot where he'd poked her. "Because I know you'll help me."
Kazuki sighed but couldn't hide his small grin. "Fine. Let's tackle this together."
As the evening went on, Kazuki patiently walked Shizuka through the text, explaining the parts she found confusing. Despite her initial protests, she started to pick up on the key points, though not without some comedic detours.
At one point, Shizuka misread a line, confidently declaring, "And that's why the author believes in, uh... fish?"
Kazuki blinked at her, then burst out laughing. "Fish? Where did you even get that?"
Shizuka pointed at the text, flustered. "It says 'fiscal'! I just—never mind!"
Kazuki laughed so hard he had to set his pen down. "Okay, okay. Let's take a break before you start rewriting history."
Shizuka huffed but couldn't stop the giggle that escaped her. "You're enjoying this way too much."
"Of course I am," Kazuki said, leaning back in his chair. "You're the one who makes it fun."
Shizuka's cheeks turned pink, and she quickly changed the subject. "So, what snacks do you have? I'm starving after all this mental effort."
Kazuki stood up, heading to the kitchen. "I made some rice crackers earlier. Let me grab them."
"You made rice crackers?" Shizuka said, her eyes wide. "Of course you did. Is there anything you can't do?"
"Sing," Kazuki called over his shoulder. "You don't want to hear me sing."
When he returned with the snacks, Shizuka eagerly grabbed a handful. "These are so good!"
"Glad you approve," Kazuki said, sitting back down. "Now, once you've recharged, we can finish the report."
Shizuka groaned. "You're relentless."
"Only because I know you can do it," Kazuki said, his tone teasing but encouraging.
Their study session continued, filled with moments of playful banter and stolen glances. By the end of the night, their report was finished, and Shizuka leaned back with a triumphant sigh.
"See? That wasn't so bad," Kazuki said, tidying up their papers.
"Only because you were here," Shizuka admitted, smiling softly.
Kazuki paused, looking at her. "You're smarter than you think, Shizuka. You just need a little confidence."
Shizuka's cheeks turned red, and she quickly grabbed her bag. "Thanks, Kazuki. I'll, um, see you tomorrow!"
She hurried out the door before he could say anything else, leaving Kazuki to shake his head with a fond smile.