(???)
"Azusa-nee, I think… this compensation is a little off."
In the darkness, Shiro, wearing a dinosaur onesie, looked utterly dead inside as he stared at Azusa, who was holding a flashlight and a book.
Also, there was a string tied to his hair...
Yeah, the purpose of that string was completely different from what he thought!
What is this?
Hanging by the head?
No, that's not it either. This was just purely to pull his hair!
"Geez, how can you say that, Shiro? Everything in this notebook comes from your Azusa-nee's experience! Plus, you guys are starting lessons tomorrow, so you have to secretly study and give Iori and Kohei a big surprise! Just imagine Iori and Kohei's shocked expressions—doesn't that excite you?"
Shiro honestly didn't know if he was excited, but judging by the woman in front of him waving a flashlight in one hand and the string in the other, and nearly bursting with energy, she was definitely excited.
(???)
With lifeless eyes, Shiro stared at the crazy woman in front of him. He was sacrificing his precious rest time for this?
He already knew how slow those two idiots were—there was no need to cram like this!
Why did Azusa-nee think he was worse than those two blockheads? He was a genius!
"Alright, question one. Diving hand signals—"
"Wait!!"
Seeing that Azusa was really starting to quiz him, Shiro quickly stopped her. Was this really just diving review?
Not the kind of "plot" he was imagining?
"Azusa-nee, are you serious about this?"
Shiro was in disbelief. This was Azusa, the one full of theoretical knowledge—not some ditzy airhead like Nanaka!
"Ahahaha… of course! This is to give Shiro a head start!"
Azusa's expression looked a little guilty. That excuse was trash-tier!
"Soooga~ Then what's the real reason?"
Shiro didn't believe her one bit. Normally, sure, maybe. But now? At night? With a flashlight? To study?
Even during his makeup exams she wasn't this intense!
"...Shiro, has anyone told you that boys who are too smart won't be wanted?"
"...Azusa-nee, do you really think that's how things work in Japan?"
Let's be real, for some Japanese women in their 20s, their ideal husband is a 50-something CEO making tens of millions a year.
"Damn it! Can't you just be a little dumber?!"
Azusa angrily pulled Shiro into her arms and began mercilessly smothering him, as if trying to suffocate him!
"Ughhh… So what the heck is really going on?!"
Shiro mumbled through her arms, strangely losing all his strength again like always during times like this (??ω??)
"Well... you see, think about my preferences."
"Ah, I know. You swing both ways, right? I'm not gonna judge you, Azusa-nee."
"No! That's exactly the problem!"
She stared at Shiro with a deadly serious expression. "The ones I like are Nanaka and you. If both of you fall asleep, I'm scared I won't be able to hold myself back!"
{{(°△°;")}}!
Shiro looked at her in horror. What the hell was she saying just now?! Was that a confession?! Why did it sound as casual as talking about the weather?!
"Gulp... was that a confession?"
(′｀;)?
"Hm? Didn't I already say who I liked before? Why are you so surprised?"
Looking into Azusa's innocent big eyes, Shiro suddenly felt like he was the one in the wrong?!
"Wait, what about senior Tokita?"
Shiro had no idea how to reply, so he tried to change the subject. Honestly, Azusa-nee had said it so naturally that anyone listening would think they were already a couple, flirting like crazy!
"Mm… Tokita? Yeah, I used to like him, but... how do I put it? It was a love with no future~"
"A love with no future? Yeah, that makes sense. Tokita-senpai and Kotobuki-senpai don't seem like the dating type."
Shiro couldn't imagine those two dating girls at all. Actually, when they were together, they looked more like a perfect couple…
"Hahahaha, no, not like that. You don't know, Shiro? Tokita? He actually has a girlfriend~"
"...Tokita? You mean the same Tokita I'm thinking of?"
"Shiro, be respectful to your seniors~"
"...So Tokita-senpai and Kotobuki-senpai didn't end up together after all."
"Hahaha, no way! Those two are total straight guys."
Σ(?д?|||)!!
"Tokita-senpai's girlfriend is a female?! No way—what poor gorilla got taken advantage of?!"
"Um… Shiro, have you considered she might be a human?"
A human?!!
Impossible! No way!
Why would a human fall for that beast?!
"Is she the Oliva darling type?"
"Shiro, you're way too biased against Tokita! No, she's just a sweet, small Japanese girl. Pretty cute. Heard they met at the gym. I can introduce her to you next time~"
╭(°A°`)╮
That's not bias!
Just listen to what you're saying! Even Iori wouldn't believe this!
How could that beast have a girlfriend?! Has the taste of Japanese women gotten this unpredictable?!
Damn it!
Shiro's heart took a massive blow, and he collapsed onto the bed, motionless.
"Shiro, what are you doing?"
Azusa looked confused. She was still holding the string—didn't his hair hurt?
With tears in his eyes, Shiro gave up! It hurt, okay?! What normal person would keep yanking their own hair like this?
Still, he had to press on!
"Azusa-nee, go ahead! Don't pity me—I'm already lying down!"
He shut his eyes. If this was Azusa-nee's wish, he would grant it!
…
The air instantly grew still…
Feeling something heavy on him, Shiro cautiously opened one eye—and met a pair of seductive eyes.
"If that's the case, Shiro... shall we? Right here, you, me, and Nanaka."
Azusa swallowed hard, her mind drifting back to a dream she'd almost forgotten.
Too intense!
"Azusa-nee…"
Shiro's eyes also grew hazy. Maybe this was wrong… but after tonight, their relationship would definitely change...
Just as the tension hit its peak, and the two of them leaned in…
"Shiro? Azusa? What are you two doing?"
?!!
Nanaka's voice instantly froze them in place. They leapt apart like nothing had happened, despite having just imagined threesomes!
"Ahahaha… Shiro said he couldn't sleep and wanted to study, so I had no choice but to help him!"
Azusa scratched her head, slightly terrified. She'd almost lost herself to her desires—but why did she still feel a little excited about that?!
"Ahh… yeah, studying! I just really wanted to study. Without it, I can't sleep!"
Shiro quickly covered, grinning, though his soul was crying. They didn't know how much trauma this caused his freshly injured little brother!
Nanaka looked at the dropped book and flashlight. Aside from the suspicious string, everything backed up their story.
"Geez, Shiro, that's not a good habit~ But just this once, okay? I'll help teach too—but you can't stay up too late!"
She turned on the lights and joined them, grabbing a textbook.
As the room lit up and books were opened, tears welled up in Shiro's eyes.
If he had just gone to sleep quietly… none of this would've happened.
From a certain point of view, the relationship between the three of them really did change that night.
Into that of teacher and student!!!
Damn it all!
…
Meanwhile, in Chisa's room—
Iori, wrapped like a spring roll, opened his eyes to complete darkness. For a moment, he thought he'd gone blind.
Σ(?д?|||)!!
What the hell?
What was this?!
Iori was stunned. His memory was still from earlier that night.
He remembered... discussing room arrangements with the others…
Right! He was fighting with Kohei over who got the bed!
And then...
He felt someone sneak up behind him and feed him pills or something.
That damn squinty-eyed scumbag!
Didn't take much thought—only Kohei or Shiro would pull something like this!
But Kohei was in a meat brawl with him at the time—he wouldn't have had the chance!
Damn them!
They must've teamed up behind his back! Have they developed new secret codes or something?
Also...
Where the hell did they dump him?! And why wrap him up like this?!
As his eyes adjusted slightly, he could make out shapes…
Like a strange curve in front of him—
Iori could only move his head, so exploration duty fell to it.
Without hesitation, he gently nudged the curve with his head.
No pain. In fact… kinda soft?
Curious, he nudged again—when a blue flash lit up the room!
Eyes wide, he saw Chisa's blushing face in the lightning's glow!
Zzzap—
Lightning shattered the darkness—(??ω??)