Hirata's Apology

Tsukishima let out a sinister chuckle as he pulled out his phone. "Come on, Saintess, you wouldn't want your little secrets getting out, would you?"

Kushida shuddered with disgust. "That line is so cringey. And what exactly are you planning to do? Could it be that you've finally given in to your disgusting urges and want to make a move on me?"

Tsukishima rolled his eyes. "Strike a few poses. Make them sexy. I need material."

"Tch, I'm right here in the flesh. You want photos?"

"You can't come over every day, but I need to practice drawing daily. Hurry up, hurry up. Remember, make it sexy. Pull your top down a bit, mess it up. Yeah, yeah, just like that. Give me that on-the-verge-of-tears look."

Tsukishima gestured wildly. "Now a more seductive expression. Seductive, seductive, not that innocent face. Spread your legs a little, turn sideways."

"Yeah, yeah, just like that. Now the milk tea, tuck the milk tea into your armor. Quick, quick, don't dawdle. Who are you acting shy for? Grab a book and read, then cross your legs. Wear one shoe, and half-put-on the other."

Kushida was twisted and turned by his directions, her eyes practically rolling to the back of her head.

She muttered curses nonstop under her breath—things like 'pervert,' 'go die already,' 'disgusting maggot.'

Tsukishima waited until she was tired of cursing, then spoke up. "I think you should read more books, watch more movies, that sort of thing. You really need to expand your vocabulary."

"Back in my hometown, your level of cursing would only qualify as a loli."

"Can't even curse properly, and you're trying to be trendy with a two-faced act? Tsk tsk tsk."

The girl's blush spoke louder than any sweet talk. "Bastard! Go die!"

Kushida yanked the milk tea from her chest and hurled it at Tsukishima, but he caught it casually and set it aside. "Not dying just yet."

"With that temper of yours, you'll probably kick the bucket before me. Anger harms the body, and you've got a heavy heart too. Your sleep's probably not great either. Doing things you hate every day, deepening your self-loathing."

"You might even go before my grandma."

Kushida was like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, her face red enough to bleed.

She grabbed a pillow to throw at him, but then a slow, unhurried knock came from the door.

Knock, knock, knock.

Kushida froze. She shot Tsukishima a vicious glare, then began straightening her clothes, whispering, "Why do so many people come looking for you?!"

Tsukishima whispered back, "What can I say? I'm the 'hot commodity.' Unlike some people, who can only curse from under the covers."

Kushida glared at him, quickly fixed her clothes and shoes, sat on the bed, and plastered a sweet, innocent smile on her face.

Once she was ready, Tsukishima unlocked the door and opened it. "Come in..."

It was Hirata Superman, and beside him stood Kiyotaka Ayanokouji.

Hirata immediately gave a deep 90-degree bow. "I'm sorry about Sudo and the others... sigh... I hope Tsukishima-kun won't mind and can forgive them."

Tsukishima stepped aside, letting them in. "They should be apologizing to Horikita, not me. Horikita's a bit cold, but at least she didn't outright refuse like I did."

He handed each of them a bottle of water and gestured for them to sit. "Regardless of what Horikita was thinking, the fact is she was tutoring them."

"And those three just flipped the table and walked out because she spoke harshly. Who can teach students like that? Chabashira-sensei's words aren't exactly sweet either—why don't they drop out?"

He leaned against the desk, casually handing the milk tea back to Kushida. "Just because they're unreasonable doesn't mean you should make the reasonable ones bow down."

Hirata's eyes were filled with deep anxiety. "But... Sudo-kun and the others are really in danger. We're all in the same class... I'll talk to them properly..."

Tsukishima rubbed his forehead. "Hirata-kun, sit down first. Ayanokouji-kun, you too."

He guided them to sit, elbowing Kushida off the bed to make room.

Kushida rolled her eyes in secret, pulled out a chair, and sat down.

Once everyone was settled, Tsukishima leaned against the desk again. "Their current predicament has nothing to do with me, and nothing to do with you, Hirata-kun. The consequences of their not studying should be theirs to bear."

"After all, I can't exactly crack open their skulls and pour knowledge in."

"But this is all trivial."

Tsukishima shifted gears. "Hirata-kun, how can you guarantee that Sudo won't pin me to the ground and beat me up for my 'careless words'?"

He pointed at his own nose, his tone exaggerated.

"Even Horikita, that honor student, had her desk flipped. So someone like me, a 'sharp-tongued' troublemaker, is even more likely to get it."

"If he does throw a punch, I won't just stand there fuming like Horikita. I'll probably grab a chair and crack his skull open."

"And don't you dare say something useless like 'just be nicer about it.' I don't want to hear it."

Hirata Yosuke's head drooped even lower. His hands gripped his knees tightly, his voice full of helplessness.

"I'm sorry... It's all because I couldn't mediate properly... If I'd been there, maybe I could have stopped Sudo-kun... I'll talk to him again and make him understand your intentions..."

"Stop."

Tsukishima cut him off without mercy, rolling his eyes dramatically.

"Hirata-kun, you still don't get it? I don't accept your 'mediation.' Apologizing to each other won't make the world full of love."

"And the more you speak up for him, the more I look 'petty,' and the more he feels wronged."

"When he comes to class full of anger, am I supposed to teach him math, or teach him how to take a beating?"

"So please, don't waste your energy on me. And to be blunt, with their level, you could teach them yourself. Why do you need to find someone else?"

He glanced at Ayanokouji, who sat quietly like a ghost, then ignored Hirata Superman. "Speaking of which, Ayanokouji-kun, what brings you to my place?"

Ayanokouji's tone was flat. "Ah... Hirata-kun just happened to pull me along..."

Tsukishima nodded. "Alright, everyone. If there's nothing else, head back. It's getting late, time to sleep."

He shot a glance at Kushida, who immediately stood up. "Then I'll head back first. Hirata-kun, Ayanokouji-kun, see you~"

With that, she slipped out of the room like a light butterfly.

Tsukishima watched her go, then swept his gaze over Ayanokouji. "Kushida-san really is adorable."

Hirata Yosuke stood up, his expression grim. He bowed again at a full 180 degrees. "Sorry for the intrusion, Tsukishima-san. I'll talk to Sudo and the others..."

Tsukishima reached out and straightened his folded body. "Do your best, Hirata-kun."