Doorstep Escort, Maya Sato: Are You Dating?

"The omurice is ready."

Tatsuya Sakuya brought out two steaming bowls of omurice and set them on the dining table.

The golden, fluffy egg wrapped around the chicken, its surface covered in a layer of ketchup. The rich aroma of eggs and the sweet-and-tangy scent spread through the room.

"Give it a try. See how my cooking is?"

Tatsuya Sakuya casually handed her a metal spoon.

"Sure, I was getting hungry anyway."

Karuizawa Kei took the spoon. She first gently poked the plump egg wrapping, then brought a spoonful of omurice to her mouth.

The flavors fully bloomed across her tongue. The perfectly balanced sweet-and-sour ketchup offset the greasiness, while the egg and pleasantly chewy chicken thigh mingled together.

Karuizawa Kei slowed her chewing, savoring the omurice carefully.

"Well?"

Seeing that Karuizawa Kei had not spoken for a while, Tatsuya Sakuya hurriedly asked. After all, it was his first time making omurice.

"Mm, it's really good."

"I see."

Reassured by her evaluation, Tatsuya Sakuya started eating as well.

The room fell quiet, leaving only the sounds of spoons scraping against bowls and the two of them chewing.

Halfway through the meal, Karuizawa Kei suddenly spoke.

"Do you think I might get expelled? I realized I seriously can't understand math at all."

Karuizawa Kei was still deeply worried about her math grades, so much so that she was distracted by it even while eating.

"Don't worry. No matter what, I won't let you get expelled. I'll do my best to whip you into shape."

"Before, I just had no idea how much you knew, so I couldn't tailor the lessons properly."

"As long as you spend more time on math from now on, you'll definitely manage. You did get into this elite school fair and square, after all."

Tatsuya Sakuya was very confident about improving Karuizawa Kei's math.

For a student already scoring ninety points, raising that score even further in a short time was clearly very difficult.

But for a student with weak fundamentals, any change was an improvement. They could not possibly get worse than they already were; every step forward was progress, positive feedback.

"You really don't want me to get expelled?"

Karuizawa Kei felt a little happy, and much of the anxiety weighing on her heart dispersed.

Still, a gyaru's pride made her quickly compose herself as she complained,

"What do you mean, 'whip me into shape'? You're just tutoring me in math."

Though she sounded disdainful, she mumbled under her breath,

"Then I'm not paying you any extra tutoring fees."

Tatsuya Sakuya could not help laughing at the sight of her.

"Don't worry, there won't be any extra charge. Just remember to study seriously."

"I know, I know. You're so annoying."

"Alright, let's start studying now."

Tatsuya Sakuya closed the test paper and looked up at the wall clock.

"Alright, it's getting late. That's enough tutoring for today."

"Phew... Is it finally over? It feels like all my brain cells are dead."

Karuizawa Kei sprawled limply over the desk like a deflated balloon.

Beside her was a stack of scratch paper filled with formulas, densely covered in red circles and corrections, proving that math had tortured her quite thoroughly over the past few hours.

Though she had complained nonstop, compared to when math problems had seemed like incomprehensible scripture at the start, there was now a little more certainty in her eyes.

"Your foundation may be poor, but you can stick with it better than I expected, Karuizawa."

As he gathered up the scattered stationery, Tatsuya Sakuya teased,

"At this rate, I'm sure passing won't be a problem."

"I was always smart. It's just that my intelligence isn't very obvious when it comes to math."

"Today's tutoring service is officially over. I'll walk you back to your dorm. Escorting my client safely home is basic service."

After packing up the stationery, Tatsuya Sakuya casually picked up his backpack.

"It's not like I don't know the way myself..."

Karuizawa Kei gave a soft snort. Though she reflexively argued, her body honestly followed after him.

The two took the elevator up to the girls' dormitory floor and walked through the quiet hallway.

Until they stopped in front of Karuizawa Kei's room.

"Here, your backpack."

Tatsuya Sakuya stopped and handed it to her.

"Thanks for today."

Karuizawa Kei took the backpack and lowered her head to search the pocket of her skirt for her key card.

Suddenly, the door diagonally across from hers opened with a click.

The girl who stepped out had long, wavy dark pink hair that was impossible to miss, with a soft light-purple gradient at the ends.

She wore a loose, casual light-colored sweatshirt, her slender, fair legs exposed below it, and held a can of cola in her hand.

She had clearly been planning to visit another girl's room on the same floor.

It was none other than Maya Sato, a member of their class's gyaru clique.

She had only meant to drop by someone's room, but when she looked up and saw the two standing side by side outside the door, she froze.

Her large blue eyes went wide with excitement, as though she had uncovered some incredible secret.

"Oh? Karuizawa, and Sakuya too?"

Karuizawa Kei shuddered at the sudden voice, nearly dropping the key card in her hand.

A visible flush spread over her fair cheeks, making her look like a ripe red apple.

Before Karuizawa Kei could explain, Maya Sato had already hurried over. Leaning forward, she looked the two of them up and down, her eyes full of anticipation at having caught some major scoop.

"Wow, what a handsome couple. Wait... don't tell me you two are officially dating already? Things moved so fast."

What was more, she smiled and pointed at the hallway clock, her tone full of teasing.

"Sakuya, you've got some nerve. It's already past eight at night."

"After eight, boys aren't allowed on the girls' dorm floor. If the resident advisor catches you, that could be a little troublesome."

Tatsuya Sakuya raised a finger to his lips.

"It's not what you think, Sato."

"We were—we were just... studying math together. He's leaving right now."

Karuizawa Kei immediately put on her usual gyaru bravado to hide her guilty conscience, placing her hands on her hips.

"Oh? You need to walk someone all the way to her door for tutoring? How thoughtful~"

Maya Sato drew out her words, the smile on her face becoming increasingly suggestive. Clearly, she did not believe a single word.

"Since Sato has reminded me, I should be leaving too. It wouldn't be great if the resident advisor caught me, so I'll be on my way."

Tatsuya Sakuya seized the chance to leave this dangerous place. If he stayed any longer, he might really attract trouble.

"Got it. Hurry up and go."

Karuizawa Kei's entire expression urged him to leave quickly.

Tatsuya Sakuya gestured goodbye to the two of them, then turned toward the elevator.

Behind him, Maya Sato immediately began firing off questions in extreme excitement.

"Come on, tell me honestly, Karuizawa. When did it start? How far have you two gotten?"