Partnership

Hoshinomiya-sensei's smiling gaze, followed by Ichinose Honami's earnest plea for help, felt like a beam of light trying to pierce through murky water. In the counseling room, the air seemed to freeze for a moment.

Shimiya Kuki calmly met Ichinose Honami's trusting and sincere gaze. Hoshinomiya-sensei leaned back in her chair with interest, her amber eyes shifting between the two, a faint smile playing at the corners of her lips.

The brief silence was broken by Shimiya Kuki's low, steady voice.

"Understood." His gaze shifted from Ichinose's face back to the desk surface, his tone betraying no emotion. "Though I don't know if my involvement will ultimately be enough," he paused, as if weighing his words, and finally said in his usual calm tone, "but I'll do what I can to help you."

These words carried no grand promises, no passionate vows—only a nearly cold pragmatism. Yet, for Hoshinomiya and Ichinose, who knew Shimiya's character well, this brief response carried immense weight.

"Awesome!" Ichinose Honami's eyes lit up instantly, her face breaking into a relieved and joyful smile, her hands unconsciously clasped in front of her chest. "Thank you, Shimiya-kun! I'm really grateful that you're willing to trust me and help everyone!" Her words were sincere and fervent, a sharp contrast to Shimiya's calm.

Hoshinomiya-sensei lightly clapped her hands, producing a crisp sound, her smile brightening. "That's the spirit, Shimiya! Taking that first step is the biggest victory! I knew that if Honami asked, you wouldn't really refuse." She winked playfully, then shifted gears. "So, for our shared goal—making sure every classmate in Class B gets through these three years smoothly—what's the first step? Honami, do you have any ideas?"

Ichinose Honami immediately sat up straight, her expression turning serious and concerned. "Yes, Hoshinomiya-sensei! I've been keeping an eye on the class situation. While Class B's overall academic ability isn't bad, there are indeed a few classmates with clear weaknesses in certain basic subjects. It's not to the point of failing yet, but if we're not careful, there's still a risk of slipping up." Her tone carried a hint of worry. "As you know, the school's regular exams and end-of-year assessments are very strict. If these weaknesses aren't addressed in time, it won't just affect their academic confidence—more seriously, there's a risk of expulsion. That's definitely not what we want! So, I think the top priority is to organize targeted after-school tutoring to help them solidify their foundations and safely pass every assessment!" She looked at Hoshinomiya with pure determination to help her classmates. "Sensei, do you think you could..."

"Ara ara," Hoshinomiya-sensei interrupted, waving her hand with a smile before Ichinose could finish. She raised one finger and gently shook it, her face still wearing that sweet smile, but her tone carrying an undeniable sense of rules. "Honami, your idea is great. Organizing tutoring to help classmates is definitely a meaningful thing. But—" she drew out the word, "sensei can't get involved, you know."

Seeing Ichinose's slightly bewildered expression, Hoshinomiya patiently explained, "This Advanced Nurturing High School operates on the core principle of 'student autonomy.' Aside from necessary rule explanations, information provision, or special circumstances involving personal safety, teachers are strictly limited from directly interfering in student affairs—especially things like in-class study support and mutual aid organizations." She took a sip of tea, her tone light but hitting the key point. "Sensei's role is more like a rule maintainer and observer, not a babysitter or tutor. So, finding classmates in need, organizing tutoring sessions, recruiting instructors, coordinating schedules, making plans... all of that needs to be done by you students yourselves. It's also part of cultivating your sense of responsibility and spirit of mutual help."

Ichinose Honami's eyes lit up with understanding, and a resolute expression settled on her face. "I see! Hoshinomiya-sensei! So, helping classmates in need is a responsibility Class B should take on ourselves, and we need to support each other, right?"

"Bingo!" Hoshinomiya-sensei playfully snapped her fingers. "That's it! I believe with your abilities, especially with Shimiya joining in," she glanced meaningfully at the still-silent Shimiya, "you'll definitely find a way to help those classmates. Mutual help among students is often more effective than a teacher's lectures!"

With the conversation reaching its goal, Hoshinomiya-sensei glanced at the wall clock and said cheerfully, "Oh my, it's already this late. I have a meeting soon, so let's wrap up today's counseling here. Shimiya, Honami, do your best! Helping classmates is a good thing—sensei supports you in spirit!"

Shimiya Kuki and Ichinose Honami stood up simultaneously.

"Thank you, Hoshinomiya-sensei!" Ichinose bowed respectfully.

"Thank you, Hoshinomiya-sensei." Shimiya merely nodded calmly.

The two walked out of the counseling room one after the other. The afternoon sunlight streamed through the corridor windows, carrying warmth. The school building was livelier than before, it being lunchtime.

Walking side by side toward the cafeteria, Ichinose Honami turned her head and smiled brightly at Shimiya. "Shimiya-kun, it's almost noon. Want to go to the cafeteria together? What kind of food do you like? I know a few places with great set meals."

Shimiya Kuki kept walking, his gaze fixed ahead, and replied calmly, "Aside from the first day of enrollment when I tried the cafeteria once out of curiosity, I've been cooking for myself in the dorm."

"Eh?!" Ichinose Honami's eyes widened in surprise, her face immediately showing undisguised admiration. "You cook for yourself?! That's amazing, Shimiya-kun! Not only do you get perfect scores academically, but your life skills are this strong too! You're... so reliable!" Her praise was sincere and direct.

Shimiya didn't respond, simply continuing to walk.

Ichinose Honami's eyes darted around as an idea popped into her head. With a hint of cautious anticipation and a radiant smile, she tentatively asked, "Um... Shimiya-kun, since you're so good at cooking... I, I have a small request..." She pressed her hands together in a pleading gesture. "I don't suppose... I could have the honor of tasting your cooking? Just once! Please!"

Shimiya Kuki's steps faltered slightly, and he glanced at her sideways. The girl's eyes sparkled with pure anticipation and curiosity. He was silent for two seconds, as if weighing the trouble of this request, and finally replied in his usual calm tone, "...Fine."

"Great! Thank you, Shimiya-kun!" Ichinose was so happy she almost jumped.

A short while later, in Shimiya Kuki's immaculately tidy dorm kitchen. He moved with swift precision, quickly using the limited ingredients in the fridge to prepare a simple lunch: a perfectly fried egg, rice sprinkled with a little shredded seaweed, and a small dish of blanched broccoli drizzled with a bit of sauce. The plating was clean and simple, with no frills.

"Itadakimasu!" Ichinose Honami pressed her hands together, took an expectant bite of the fried egg, and then a mouthful of rice. Instantly, her eyes lit up, her face showing immense satisfaction and surprise.

"Whoa—!!!" She couldn't help but exclaim. "So good! Shimiya-kun! The heat on this egg is perfect! The edges are crispy, and the yolk is still runny! The rice is cooked grain by grain, just the right firmness! Even the broccoli is so refreshing and tasty! These are such simple ingredients, but why does it taste so amazing when you make it?!" She spoke while eagerly picking up another bite, her face glowing with happiness. "You're incredible! Seriously incredible!"

Faced with Ichinose's storm of sincere praise, Shimiya Kuki quietly ate his own portion, his face still expressionless.

Ichinose Honami wolfed down her meal, wiped her mouth with lingering satisfaction, and looked at Shimiya as if she'd discovered a treasure. An even bolder idea took shape in her mind. She placed her hands on her knees, leaned forward slightly, and with overflowing enthusiasm and expectation, her eyes sparkling, proposed a "partnership" plan:

"Shimiya-kun! Look, we both need lunch... You cooking for yourself is this delicious, more cost-effective than the cafeteria, and healthier too... As for me, even though my cooking skills are average, I can handle buying ingredients, washing dishes, cleaning up—all the chores! Most importantly, I can split all the ingredient costs!" The more she talked, the more she thought it was a brilliant idea. "So... let's partner up! From now on, lunch—or even dinner!—we'll cook together! You handle the main cooking, I'll handle the prep, shopping, and cleaning, and we'll split the costs! That way, you save time on shopping and cleaning, and I get to eat this delicious food every day! What do you think? It's a total win-win!"

She finished in one breath, looking at Shimiya Kuki with nervous anticipation, her heart pounding, afraid he might find it troublesome or presumptuous and refuse.

Shimiya Kuki set down his chopsticks. He looked at the girl before him, who was unusually excited and sincere over a "cooking partnership" proposal. Her enthusiasm was like a warm flame. He was silent for a moment, as if evaluating the feasibility and trouble level of this "partnership" plan.

Finally, he raised his calm eyes to meet Ichinose Honami's hopeful gaze, and slowly spoke, his voice still betraying no emotional fluctuation:

"...It's worth considering."