Kokoro Inogashira

"I... there's a problem I can't solve. I was... hoping you could help me with it."

Inogashira hung her head low, her voice having lost all its earlier strength until it was barely audible.

As he looked at the workbook Inogashira held out with both hands, Satsu didn't hurry to take it. Instead, he studied her face with interest.

A hot flush spread from Inogashira's ears across her face. Even she could feel the heat in her cheeks.

She kept her eyes tightly shut, not daring to look at Satsu. Her body trembled slightly, and muffled sounds escaped her lips now and then. She made no effort to hide her embarrassment.

Why hasn't he taken my workbook yet? Does he not want to help me? (Kokoro Inogashira)

Just as Inogashira began to wonder, she felt a gentle tug at her fingers. When her workbook was taken from her, she finally looked up and met Satsu's eyes.

"What are you so nervous about? I'm happy you came to ask me for help." Satsu smiled and spoke softly.

At that, Inogashira smiled in relief. "Really? I thought I'd be such a bother."

As she spoke, she twisted the hem of her clothes.

"It's no trouble. Come sit beside me," Satsu said, lightly patting the chair next to him.

"Ah! Is that okay?"

Inogashira covered her mouth slightly, unable to believe what she'd heard.

Satsu nodded. "Of course. Come on over."

When she finally sat down beside Satsu, Inogashira's heart skipped a beat. Lost in her thoughts, she didn't notice that Satsu had already opened the workbook.

Oh my gosh! He has a faint, cool fragrance. (Kokoro Inogashira)

Without realizing it, Inogashira edged a little closer to Satsu.

Although Satsu noticed, he didn't react. He simply focused on explaining the problem.

It wasn't a difficult problem. A little explanation should be enough for her to understand.

Given that an ellipse is centered at the origin, with its foci on the x-axis, a major axis of length 10, and a minor axis of length 6. If point P(3, m) lies on the ellipse, find the value of m.

"To solve this, we first need to write the standard equation of the ellipse..."

The answer soon appeared on the page under Satsu's pen. When he turned to look at Inogashira, he realized she hadn't been listening at all.

Inogashira stared blankly at Satsu's profile. When he turned toward her, she hurriedly looked away and down at the workbook.

In an instant, the solution became clear in Inogashira's mind. Only then did Satsu realize she'd known how to solve the problem all along.

"Thank you so much, Kato. I made this for you!"

As she spoke, Inogashira took a beautifully crafted silk scarf from her clothes. "I sewed it myself. I hope you like it."

So this is what she was getting at. But why didn't I pick up on it earlier? Did she get so embarrassed that she became completely focused on nothing else? (Kato Satsu)

Looking at the scarf, Satsu couldn't help feeling surprised. The workmanship was so fine that it could easily have passed for something made by a machine.

Could she have used a sewing machine? Does the school even have one of those? (Kato Satsu)

She said during her introduction that she was good at sewing. Turns out she really is. (Kato Satsu)

"Thank you for the gift, but I can't accept it."

Satsu raised a hand to refuse. "I haven't done anything worth thanking me for."

"But you helped me with my studies!"

Inogashira answered hurriedly, but she realized a moment later that she'd spoken too loudly, and softened her voice again.

"And I'll have more questions for you later, so I hope you'll accept this as thanks."

"If... if you really feel bad about it, then... then you could treat me to dinner sometime to make it up to me."

Inogashira could barely get the last part out. If Satsu hadn't been able to read minds, he wouldn't have heard what she said at all.

"Then all right. Thank you."

When Satsu accepted the gift, Inogashira visibly brightened and trotted back to her seat.

Feeling the delicate texture of the scarf in his hand, Satsu couldn't help sighing to himself.

It's full of her heartfelt feelings. I wonder if being this lucky is a good thing or a bad thing. (Kato Satsu)

"What's wrong, Satsu? Are you a little tired?"

Seeing Satsu looking thoughtful, Kikyo suddenly appeared in front of him and asked brightly.

"No, I was just still thinking about the problem." Satsu quickly put away the scarf. "Sorry to ask you to do something so tiring."

"It's no trouble, Kikyo. Actually, there's something I wanted to ask you about, too."

"Oh? What is it?"

Kikyo leaned over the desk, propped her chin on her cupped hands, and gave him a curious look.

"Do you know any girls in Class B?"

Kikyo paused briefly, then replied, "I know a few. Why?"

"Could you give me some of their names? Photos would be even better."

Hearing his request, Kikyo looked even more confused. "Names are no problem, but photos might be hard. I do have a photo with one of them, though... Satsu, what are you planning to do?"

"I just want to make a few more friends. The more friends, the more options you have."

"I see. Then I can just give you their contact information and invite them to meet up."

Kikyo took out her phone. "They'd definitely be happy to meet you, Satsu."

"No, no!"

Satsu sprang to his feet and waved his hands repeatedly. "That's too much trouble for you, Kikyo. Just give me their names and photos. I'll contact them myself."

What is he trying to do? I practically brought the food to his mouth, and he still won't swallow it? (Kikyo Kushida)

Though she was still full of questions, Kikyo gave Satsu the names and the photo.

After the study session ended, Satsu made an excuse that he had something else to do and turned down Hasebe's invitation to walk together. Then he hurried straight to the entrance of Class B.

Class B was also holding a study session, but by the time Satsu arrived, it was nearly over.

There weren't many people in the classroom, but fortunately Ichinose, as class representative, had stayed at her post.

I didn't see the person Kikyo told me about, but Ichinose being here will work just as well. (Kato Satsu)

Satsu had planned to learn the name and appearance of some random girl in Class B, then go up and strike up a conversation with her where Ichinose would see.

Ichinose already misunderstood him. If she saw him chatting up a girl from her class,

how could kindhearted Ichinose let a violent maniac prey on one of her classmates? Her instinct to protect them would make it impossible for her to do nothing.

Once she made a move, everything afterward would be easy.