"Unexpectedly—""I'm sorry."
Those were the first words Nakano Itsuki said as she approached Sakurai Saki.
"You didn't do anything wrong," he replied without looking up, still focused on his meal. "So why are you apologizing to me?"
"I'm really sorry about yesterday."Her voice trembled slightly."It was my misunderstanding, so... if possible, could you still be our tutor?"
She clasped her hands together nervously, the unease in her eyes making her look genuinely pitiable.
Sakurai let out a dry laugh."If I threw your schoolbag off the thirtieth floor right now, what would you think? Would you forgive me?"
Fujiwara Chika, halfway to picking up another piece of pork cutlet, froze.
Wait, what?! Someone did that?!Which of them would do something so awful?She was beginning to think tutoring the quintuplets might actually be life-threatening.
"If it'll make you feel better, I don't mind," Itsuki said quietly."You can scold me a few times too—I won't argue. After all, you were treated badly because of me."
That gave Sakurai pause.
He stared at her for a moment, uncertain how to respond.This girl... maybe she was the most clueless out of the five.
But—Her sincerity was disarming.
"If you're just looking for a tutor, Tokyo has no shortage," he said, setting his chopsticks down."There are plenty of other people who could help you."
"But... it's different," Itsuki whispered.
Sakurai waited.
Seconds passed.
But she didn't continue. It seemed even she didn't know what made it different.
Sakurai sighed. "Let me guess. Because of me, you feel guilty. You think I lost a job because of what happened, so now you're here to apologize—trying to feel better about yourself."
He didn't wait for her to confirm it.
"I told you yesterday, maybe you didn't hear it—but I don't actually care about this job. I wouldn't lose sleep over it even if it's gone. So you really don't have to feel guilty. You didn't do anything wrong."
"..."Itsuki lowered her head.
Even so—he hadn't forgiven her.
Sakurai continued in a calmer tone."Honestly, I didn't take what you said to heart. Compared to your sisters, you were at least polite. Ichika shut herself in her room. Nino? Cold and aggressive. You, at least, acted like a normal human being."
That was, of course, a relative compliment.
"But still," he went on, "school just started. The midterms aren't for a while. There's time to turn things around."
He looked at her seriously for the first time."It's early April. The midterms at Shuchiin aren't until the end of May. That gives you about six weeks."
Fujiwara Chika quietly munched on a rice ball, taking mental notes.So they have five exams a year… red line at half the average…
"If the average score is 60, the red line's at 30," Sakurai explained matter-of-factly. "No makeup exams. Two failing grades in required subjects means no credit. No credit, and you repeat the year."
"That's where you're all headed if you don't get it together. Maybe that's why your father hired a tutor."
Then, almost dismissively:"Anyway, go back, Itsuki-chan. Your sisters are probably waiting. I've received your apology. As for continuing this tutoring thing... let's just forget it."
He reached for his tea.
"I want to go to the library," Itsuki said suddenly.
"Huh?"Sakurai looked at her like she'd grown a second head.
"Today's session—can we do it at the library instead?"She clasped her hands again. "Please? I'll persuade my sisters to come too!"
Sakurai's expression darkened."Itsuki-chan, I told you already. You don't need to do this out of guilt—"
"I'm not doing it out of guilt!" she cut in.Her voice was louder now—firm and clear.
"I want to learn! I want to improve my grades! So please—Sakurai-kun—be my tutor!"She bowed deeply, right there in the cafeteria.
Fujiwara Chika looked from her to Sakurai, eyes sparkling.This... this is straight out of a shounen manga! The protagonist begging a master to teach them!
Sakurai, however, looked anything but moved.
"I refuse," he said coldly.
Completely unreasonable, he thought.Acting on impulse. Just like the rest of them.
But Itsuki didn't waver. She stood up, locking eyes with him.
"After school, I'll be at the library. Waiting. Until closing time. If you don't show up today, I'll come again tomorrow. And the next day. As long as it takes."
Without waiting for his reply, she turned and left.
Sakurai stared at her retreating back.
"Idiot," he muttered under his breath.
"Sakurai-kun, are you going to go?" Fujiwara Chika asked, barely able to contain her curiosity.
"Of course not," he said flatly."My heart's not that soft. Especially not after getting body-checked this morning."
Around them, students were already murmuring.
After all, Itsuki hadn't bothered to lower her voice.Everyone nearby had heard her declaration.
And the whispers were already beginning to spread.
With just one look at their classmates' faces, Sakurai Saki could tell what they were thinking.
Romance.They were definitely thinking about romance.
After all, Nakano Itsuki's words earlier were extremely misleading."I'll be waiting for you at the library…!"
If someone had overheard just that part, it would absolutely sound like a confession was coming after school.
Yes, it was no surprise that now the entire class was casting glances his way—whispers already beginning to spread.
The rumor mill was in motion.
After finishing lunch, Sakurai went with Fujiwara Secretary to check out the club recruitment area near the school gate.
Earlier in the morning, the first-years even had a full class period just for club introductions. Now, as the school day edged toward its end, after-school performances were set to begin in the auditorium.
Drama Club, Jazz Band, Light Music Club, and even the Kendo Club—who planned a live sparring match.Sakurai silently hoped the stage wouldn't be too slippery. Nothing more embarrassing than slipping mid-swing in front of the entire school.
When they returned to the classroom, however, something felt off.
Cold air.
The vibe from his classmates was distinctly unfriendly. Almost wary.
Did something happen while I was out?
Sakurai scanned the room. No broken windows, no flying desks. Nothing visibly wrong—until he spotted Hayasaka Ai chatting with her friend.
He walked over casually.
"Yo, Ai-chan. What'd you have for lunch?"
"…Bento," she replied, faintly.
Her tone was flat. Her expression—unreadable, but unmistakably less sunny than usual.
Did I do something? Sakurai wondered.She seems off.
What he didn't realize was—
'He should notice I'm upset,' Hayasaka Ai thought, maintaining her calm mask.If Sakurai really had feelings for her, he'd sense the difference in her mood.Maybe even try to comfort her. That's what she was waiting for.
Then—
"Oh, I had curry. Pretty decent."Sakurai smiled, entirely oblivious.
Hayasaka Ai: …
Was he really this dense?Or was he pretending not to notice?
To be honest, Sakurai was difficult to read. Most of the time, he looked like a statue—expressionless. But then he'd throw out jokes that crossed into just slightly too familiar, stirring uncertainty in even the most emotionally disciplined girls.
No wonder he got along so well with Fujiwara Secretary.The two of them were chaos personified—but with manners.
'Wait... is she jealous?' Sakurai suddenly wondered.
He glanced sideways at Hayasaka, who was now quietly sipping her tea like nothing happened.
…Probably not.Maybe she was just in a bad mood
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