Super Serious Study Session

The study session at Suzuran's house was held in the living room.

With four girls and one boy gathered around a single table, it wasn't exactly cramped, but Natsuki was still sitting on Akimoto Yoichi's lap.

The only sounds in the house were the scratching of pens and occasional questions, punctuated now and then by the sound of Kuroo Maya chewing on the end of her pen.

"How do I solve this problem? Which math formula should I use?"

Akimoto Yoichi pointed at his math assignment and asked Fukayama Natsuki, who was in his arms.

"Hmm, this one should use this formula. Even though we haven't covered this in the third year of middle school yet, I think this is the one."

"Oh? How do you use this formula?"

"First, you do it like this..."

Natsuki had been sitting on Akimoto Yoichi's lap the whole time, treated much like a throw pillow or a doll.

However, unlike a throw pillow or a doll, Natsuki's brain was quite exceptional.

Even though she was only in her third year of middle school, she handled first-year high school material with ease, having secretly taught herself the curriculum in advance.

Even when Akimoto Yoichi asked her about high school assignments, she could provide the answers without any trouble.

"I see, I understand now."

"Th-that's good, then."

"Thanks. Now, give me a 'meow'."

"Meow, meow~" Suppressing her embarrassment and not daring to meet the amused gaze of Ayano sitting nearby, Natsuki obediently followed Akimoto Yoichi's request.

Akimoto Yoichi then ruffled the ahoge on top of her head and went back to writing his assignment.

Letting out a small sigh of relief, Natsuki picked up her manga, stealing a glance at the Blondie behind her.

She found the scene before her eyes truly unbelievable.

At first, she had assumed Akimoto Yoichi's talk of a study session was just a whim or an excuse.

She had expected it to be the kind of situation where he'd claim to be holding a study session, only to turn it into some sleazy party or a game of some weird, suggestive nature.

That was how it always went in the doujinshi she read, so she never imagined Akimoto Yoichi would actually study.

Even though he was a Blondie, he was genuinely engrossed in his schoolwork?

Considering that even her own brother, Fukayama Midori, wasn't as diligent as this Blondie, Natsuki began to understand why Ayano trusted Akimoto Yoichi so much.

Although Natsuki was being used as a throw pillow and a "problem-solving tool," she hadn't been harassed in the slightest; he hadn't even touched her white-stockinged legs.

Was this Blondie really a saint who could remain unmoved in the presence of a woman?

Sitting on Akimoto Yoichi's lap, Natsuki once again felt how broad and warm the Blondie's body was behind her.

Even with Natsuki in his arms, the tall and sturdy Akimoto Yoichi wasn't hindered in his writing or reading.

To be honest, even her own father had never made Natsuki feel this way—though, of course, her father was a workaholic and would never treat her like this, let alone let her sit on his lap.

Naturally, Akimoto Yoichi would occasionally make her say "meow" or call him "Onii-chan," but that was likely just his way of keeping her in line.

Natsuki didn't dare move; if she struggled or refused, who knew what Akimoto Yoichi might do to her.

The Blondie had said he really liked small, soft girls like her.

Even if that were a lie, Natsuki didn't dare gamble her purity on Akimoto Yoichi's fickle tastes.

Right now, Natsuki just wanted the time to pass as quickly as possible.

"Natsuki-chan, come explain this problem to me."

Akimoto Yoichi's voice reached Natsuki's ear again, accompanied by the warmth of his breath, and she quickly put down her manga.

"O-okay, which problem is it?"

"This one. What formula do I plug in here? It looks like I need to use two of them?"

"Yes, this is a trick question..."

Looking at it this way, Akimoto-kun and Natsuki-chan really looked like siblings.

Ayano looked up at the two of them as they worked through the problem, the large and small figures huddled closely together.

Even in Ayano's memory, Natsuki's own brother, Fukayama Midori, had never interacted with her like this; they mostly just argued.

Though she didn't know what method Akimoto Yoichi had used, the fact that Natsuki-chan and Akimoto-kun were getting along so harmoniously made him seem more like a brother to Natsuki than Fukayama Midori ever did.

Ayano was happy to see this.

She was still a little uneasy, though; was Akimoto Yoichi having Natsuki sit on his lap a bit too intimate, considering they were at an age where they could already be married?

Natsuki looked a bit unnatural, and while Ayano trusted Akimoto Yoichi, she still felt a little concerned.

"Waaaaah! I can't take it anymore! I need a break! Snacks! Akimoto-kun, you're too cunning for being so serious! It makes me feel bad for eating snacks! I need a break! A break!"

Kuroo Maya always managed to provide an assist just when Ayano hoped for one.

It was rare for this twin-tailed idiot to study seriously for over forty minutes, especially since she had originally planned to eat snacks while doing her homework.

Who would have thought that Akimoto Yoichi would take the lead in studying so intently, creating an atmosphere where everyone felt compelled to study quietly and diligently, to the point where even this twin-tailed idiot felt too embarrassed to make any other noise.

Finally, Maya couldn't hold it in anymore and burst out.

"Shall we take a short break? Akimoto-kun." Looking at Kuroo Maya, who was acting spoiled and rolling around on the carpet beside her, Ayano asked Akimoto Yoichi.

"Let's take a break. I'm going to the restroom."

Akimoto Yoichi put down his pen, glanced at Kuroo Maya, and could only shrug helplessly.

"Yay! Finally, I can eat snacks! Akimoto-kun, here, have this Coriander Candy!" Maya cheered and jumped up, impatiently pulling out the snack bag from under the table.

"I'd like some Red Bean Soup and Brown Sugar Milk Mochi, please, Kuroo-san."

Nishida Yuki, who maintained the image of an elegant young lady, was unexpectedly an old soul who loved these kinds of traditional treats.

"Natsuki-chan, what would you like to eat?" Ayano asked Fukayama Natsuki.

"Anything is fine for me, thank you, Ayano-onee-san." Fukayama Natsuki was looking absentmindedly at Akimoto Yoichi as he stood up to leave; only after he had walked away did she let out a sigh of relief.

Supporting herself with her arms behind her, Natsuki stretched out her legs and gave a long yawn.

She hadn't dared to move while in Akimoto Yoichi's arms just now, and sitting for so long had left her hands and feet feeling sore.

Of course, Akimoto Yoichi had also remained in a seated position without moving at all.

"Natsuki-chan, what happened between you and Akimoto-kun? Why are you suddenly on such good terms?" Taking advantage of the opportunity, Ayano asked Natsuki.

However, Fukayama Natsuki's expression stiffened.

Of course, she wanted to tell Ayano how Akimoto Yoichi had threatened her.

But even if she told Ayano, what good would it do? It would only create another victim.

Since Akimoto Yoichi was currently only fixated on her, Natsuki had already decided to shoulder it all alone.

"N-nothing, I was just patiently persuaded by that yel... by Yoichi Big Brother, and I realized I was wrong."

Natsuki answered stammeringly.

"I see. Well, if you have any troubles, remember to tell me. Akimoto-kun and I are good friends, but I care about you very much, Natsuki-chan."

Seeing that Natsuki didn't want to talk about it, Ayano didn't press the issue.

"I understand, thank you, Ayano-onee-san. I've caused you trouble today as well." Natsuki felt deeply touched.

Seeing how much Ayano cared for her, she became even more determined to protect Ayano and Mama Mari.

As long as she could protect Ayano-onee-san and Mama Mari, her own sacrifices were worth it.

Off to the side, Nishida Yuki watched them with a meaningful look.