A Seriously Focused Study Session

The Suzuran Family study session was held in the living room.

Four girls and one boy sat around a table. It wasn't exactly cramped, but Natsuki was sitting on Akimoto Yoichi's lap.

The only sounds in the house were pens scratching and people asking questions, with the occasional sound of Kuroo Maya chewing on her pen.

"How do I solve this one? Which math formula do I use?"

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

"Mm, I think you're supposed to use this formula. We haven't learned it yet in ninth grade, but I think this is the one."

"Oh? How do you use this formula?"

"First, you do this..."

Fukayama Natsuki stayed seated on Akimoto Yoichi's lap the whole time, as though he were treating her like a cushion or a doll.

But unlike a cushion or a doll, Natsuki was remarkably smart.

Even though she was in ninth grade, high school freshman material came easily to her. She'd already taught herself the entire first-year curriculum in advance.

Even when Akimoto Yoichi asked her about his high school assignments, she could answer them with ease.

"I see. I get it now."

"G-good."

"Thanks. Meow for me."

"Meow, meow~" Natsuki swallowed her embarrassment and avoided Ayano's amused gaze from beside them, obediently doing as Akimoto Yoichi asked.

Then Akimoto Yoichi ruffled the cowlick on top of her head and bent over his work again.

After letting out a small sigh of relief, Natsuki picked up the manga in her hands and sneaked a glance at the blond behind her.

She couldn't believe the scene unfolding before her.

At first, she'd thought Akimoto Yoichi's talk of a study session was just a whim, an excuse.

Surely it was going to be one of those situations where someone claimed they were holding a study session but actually wanted to throw some kind of naughty party or play some weird game.

That was how it went in all the dirty little books she'd read. She'd never imagined Akimoto Yoichi would actually study.

A blond delinquent, and yet he was really absorbed in studying?

Even her own big brother, Fukayama Midori, wasn't as diligent as this blond. Natsuki was starting to understand why Ayano trusted Akimoto Yoichi so much.

Although Akimoto Yoichi was using Natsuki as a cushion and a "homework-solving tool," he hadn't touched her at all. He hadn't even laid a hand on her legs in their white stockings.

Was this blond really so self-restrained? A saint like Liu Xiahui?

Sitting on Akimoto Yoichi's lap, Natsuki could once again feel just how broad and warm the blond's body was behind her.

Even with Natsuki in his arms, the tall, big-built Akimoto Yoichi wasn't letting her get in the way of his writing or reading.

Honestly, not even her own father had ever made her feel this way. Then again, her father was a workaholic and would never treat her like this—not by letting her sit on his lap, anyway.

Of course, every now and then, Akimoto Yoichi would make her meow or call him "Big Brother." He was just keeping her in line.

Natsuki didn't dare move, either. If she tried to struggle or refused, who knew what Akimoto Yoichi might do to her?

The blond had said that he really liked little, soft girls like her.

Even if that might have been a lie, Natsuki didn't dare gamble her innocence on Akimoto Yoichi's ever-changing tastes.

All Natsuki wanted now was for the time to pass quickly.

"Natsuki, come explain this problem to me."

Akimoto Yoichi's voice sounded by Fukayama Natsuki's ear again. She could feel his warm breath, too, and hurriedly put down her manga.

"Y-yes. Which one?"

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

"Yeah. This one's a trick question..."

Looking at them, Akimoto-kun and Natsuki really did seem like siblings.

Ayano looked up at Akimoto Yoichi and Fukayama Natsuki as they worked through a problem beside her. The older boy and younger girl sat close together, heads bent over the same page.

Even Natsuki's actual big brother, Fukayama Midori, had never been so close to her, as far as Ayano could remember. They mostly just argued.

Ayano didn't know what method Akimoto Yoichi had used, but Natsuki and Akimoto-kun were getting along so well that he seemed more like her big brother than Fukayama Midori did.

Ayano was glad to see it.

Still, she couldn't help feeling a little uneasy. Seeing Akimoto Yoichi let Natsuki sit in his arms felt a bit too intimate, especially from the perspective of someone old enough to get married.

Natsuki seemed somewhat uncomfortable. Ayano trusted Akimoto Yoichi, but she still couldn't help worrying.

"Waaaah! I can't take it anymore! I need a break! I want snacks! Akimoto-kun, you're being way too serious! You're making me feel bad about eating snacks! I need a break! Break time!"

Kuroo Maya always managed to come to Ayano's aid when she needed it.

The ditzy girl with twin tails had, for once, managed to study seriously for over forty minutes. She'd originally planned to eat snacks while doing her homework.

Who knew Akimoto Yoichi would take the lead and study with such focus, creating an atmosphere where everyone felt they should quietly and diligently study? Even the ditzy girl with twin tails hadn't dared make a peep.

At last, Maya couldn't hold back any longer and burst out.

"Why don't we take a little break, Akimoto-kun?" Ayano asked him, watching Kuroo Maya roll around on the carpet beside them.

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

Akimoto Yoichi stopped writing and glanced at Kuroo Maya, then could only shrug helplessly.

"Yay! Finally, snack time! Akimoto-kun, have some of this Coriander Candy!" Maya jumped up, cheering, and eagerly pulled the snack bag out from under the table.

"Could I have some red bean soup and Brown Sugar Milk Mochi? Sorry for the trouble, Kuroo."

Surprisingly, Nishida Yuki, who always maintained the image of an elegant young lady, had the tastes of an old granny. Those were exactly the kinds of things she liked.

"Natsuki, what would you like?" Ayano asked Fukayama Natsuki.

"Anything's fine for me. Thanks, Ayano-nee." Fukayama Natsuki watched Akimoto Yoichi get up and walk away, distracted. Only after he'd left did she finally let out a sigh of relief.

Supporting herself with her arms behind her, Natsuki stretched out her legs.

She hadn't dared move much while she was in Akimoto Yoichi's arms. After sitting there for so long, her arms and legs were sore.

Of course, Akimoto Yoichi had stayed in the same position without moving, too.

"Natsuki, what happened between you and Akimoto-kun? Why are you suddenly so close?"

Seizing the opportunity, Ayano asked Natsuki.

Fukayama Natsuki's face stiffened.

She wanted to tell Ayano how Akimoto Yoichi had threatened her.

But what good would telling Ayano do? It would only give her another victim to protect.

Since Akimoto Yoichi was only lusting after her for now, Natsuki had decided to bear it alone.

"N-nothing. That bl— I mean, Yoichi Big Brother patiently talked me around, and I realized I'd been wrong."

Natsuki answered haltingly.

"I see. If anything's bothering you, be sure to tell me. Akimoto-kun is my good friend, but I care about you a lot, too, Natsuki."

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

"I understand. Thanks, Ayano-nee. I've caused you trouble today, too." Natsuki was deeply touched.

Seeing how much Ayano cared about her only made her more determined to protect Ayano and Mama Mari.

As long as she could protect Ayano-nee and Mama Mari, anything she had to endure would be worth it.

Beside them, Nishida Yuki watched with a knowing look.