Horikita Etsuka's Little Quirk

The next day, 7:00 AM.

Ichinose woke up right on time as usual. She sat up, smoothed out her messy long pink hair, and after a few seconds of dazed stillness, she stretched out her snow-white legs and slipped into her slippers.

"Knock, knock, knock."

Just as she was thinking about heading to wash up, there was a knock at the door.

Ichinose was a bit puzzled; who would come looking for her this early?

"Who is it?" Ichinose asked aloud.

"Honami, it's me~" a soft, sweet voice came from outside the door.

"Oh, it's Chihiro?" Ichinose didn't even bother to adjust her pajamas, which had slipped down to her shoulders, and opened the door directly.

Chihiro was standing at the door in a cute, pigeon-toed stance, holding a lunch box in her hands.

Seeing Ichinose emerge, her gaze immediately locked onto the other girl's slender, fair collarbone, and she instantly blushed, lowered her head, and held out the lunch box:

"Th-this is breakfast I bought for Honami! I figured you hadn't eaten yet! Please, you have to accept it!"

Ichinose rubbed her fluffy pink hair with a tired expression and said with a smile:

"That's very sweet of you, Chihiro, but there's no need. I can just go buy breakfast myself."

"Honami..." Chihiro looked up, putting on a pitiful expression, her eyes seemingly shimmering with tears, carrying the distinct air of someone who would cry right there if she wasn't accepted.

Ichinose's heart softened immediately. She took the lunch box with her left hand and pulled Chihiro into a hug with her right, stroking her small head like she was petting a kitten:

"Alright, alright, since you're being so earnest about it, Chihiro, I'll accept it."

Ichinose didn't even stop to wonder why Chihiro was bringing her breakfast; she simply assumed that since Chihiro might only have her as a friend at school, she was just being extra kind.

Chihiro leaned against Ichinose's soft chest, unable to resist hugging her slender, supple waist, and even nuzzled her head against her.

Mmm~ a milky scent~

In the afternoon, inside the library, most of Class B had gathered, split among several round tables.

As Ichinose handed out study materials to everyone, she said, "Thank you all for using your weekend to attend this study session."

Nakanishi Jiro took the materials and sighed, "I really didn't expect that only a few weeks in, we'd already be facing monthly exams."

Hamaguchi Tetsuya adjusted his glasses and nodded, "Even though my usual test scores are stable, I can't help but feel nervous when it comes to monthly exams."

"Give me a break," Nakanishi Jiro curled his lip, "With your honor student grades, what are you panicking about? People like us with average or below-average grades are the ones who should be panicking, aren't we?"

Hamaguchi Tetsuya's grades were among the best in the class; he was basically the recognized academic ace of the group.

"Not really. Haven't you seen Etsuka?" Hamaguchi Tetsuya gestured toward Horikita Etsuka, who was dozing off in the distance. "Everyone has seen it; he barely studies at all during class."

"Don't even get me started on him!" Nakanishi Jiro slumped onto the table in frustration. "Last time, I specifically tested him on a difficult problem from class, and I never expected him to answer it directly! And he got it right!"

As Nakanishi Jiro spoke, tears streamed down his face like wide noodles.

Kanzaki Ryuji rested his head on one hand, holding a ballpoint pen, and said, "Maybe he just happened to be listening during that lesson?"

Although he said this, he didn't even believe it himself, because in his own mind, Horikita Etsuka was a genius, whether it was regarding the plans to deal with Ryuen or his academic ability.

Of course, with everyone watching, he couldn't mention anything about the plans.

Ichinose smiled, leaned over, and placed the materials next to Horikita Etsuka's hand: "Is he really that amazing? Then should we ask Horikita-kun to guide us?"

Horikita Etsuka, who had been resting his eyes while slumped on the table, found this amusing.

So you want to probe my academic ability, huh? Starting with the indirect approach again.

Ichinose was kind, but she had more than her fair share of hidden agendas.

Ichinose put her hands on her hips and blinked at Hamaguchi Tetsuya: "After all, Hamaguchi-kun, you must be tired after explaining things for so long, right?"

Having spent so much time with Horikita Etsuka, Hamaguchi Tetsuya understood exactly what she meant. He smiled gently and said:

"That's true, I am a bit tired. Etsuka, why don't you take over the explanations?"

Beside Horikita Etsuka, Himeno Yuki was looking at the test questions while poking him in the side under the table with her pen.

That's right, even Himeno Yuki, a girl who loved solitude, had come.

On one hand, it was because her grades were only average, and on the other, Etsuka had told her the library was quiet and it wouldn't be much different from being alone.

Besides, one really couldn't avoid all activities forever, or they would truly be marginalized. In any case, after a long explanation, Himeno Yuki had agreed to attend the study session.

Of course, if Ichinose hadn't strongly insisted that Horikita Etsuka invite Himeno Yuki, she probably wouldn't have come.

But there was no helping it; Ichinose's offensive was simply too intense, and even Horikita Etsuka couldn't quite hold out against it.

Have you ever seen Ichinose acting spoiled? Horikita Etsuka could confirm that he had...

Horikita Etsuka swatted Himeno Yuki's small hand away under the table and slowly sat up straight. He pointed to his own cheek and said seriously:

"Do you... really want me to guide you?"

Ichinose nodded earnestly with her hands behind her back: "Horikita-kun, there's no one else for the job."

The others nodded in succession as well. They were all very curious about just how good Horikita Etsuka's academic ability actually was.

Kobashi Yume, sitting at another table, heard the conversation from the next table over. She raised her small hand and waved it: "Then we welcome Teacher Horikita's guidance!"

Amikura Mako, the pretty girl with a long purple ponytail sitting next to Kobashi Yume, had her eyes light up as she also raised her hand to join in the teasing:

"Hehe, please feel free to instruct us, Horikita!"

Who wouldn't love being instructed by a handsome guy?

Although Hamaguchi Tetsuya wasn't ugly—in fact, he was even a bit handsome—his looks were somewhat neutral and didn't quite align with the aesthetic preferences of most girls.

To put it simply and bluntly, he just wasn't as handsome as a real hunk.

Horikita Etsuka nodded as he looked at the rowdy crowd, then crossed his arms and said in a deep voice: "Ichinose, I won't be teaching for free."

Ichinose nodded seriously in cooperation: "I'll pay any price. As long as it can improve the class, I'm willing to do anything."

"Hmm..." Horikita Etsuka spoke slowly: "Then go buy some lemonade."

Ichinose pretended to gasp in feigned agony: "Is it just one cup of lemonade?!"

Horikita Etsuka shook his head and held up his palm to signal a two: "No... it's two!"

If you can't find the book by its title, try searching for the author; perhaps the name has just been changed!