Watanabe Tetsu took the papers handed to him. They were several copies of the monthly quiz—every single one of them marked as failing.
"What's this?"
Koizumi Aona explained, "The department heads want to ask you two to help tutor them."
"Impossible."Kiyono Rin rejected the idea instantly.
" Kiyono-san, the department head promises this won't take up your personal time at all. You only need to help them study during your club activity period after school."
"Koizumi-sensei, there's no need to say anything more."Kiyono Rin even used polite speech, making her refusal all the more resolute.
Koizumi Aona sighed helplessly and turned toward Watanabe Tetsu.
"Watanabe, what about you?"
Tetsu flipped through the answer sheets in his hand—they were from Class 1 and Class 4, and the English teacher for both classes happened to be Koizumi Aona, who was currently covering their lessons.
"Koizumi-sensei," he asked, "are they actually willing to attend tutoring?"
"We didn't ask, but they're all good kids—they'll definitely participate. Besides, the school has already suspended their club activities, and anyone who fails the make-up exam will have credits deducted. So there shouldn't be any problem."
At Kamikawa Academy, in order to advance smoothly, students not only had to avoid failing courses, but their credits were also evaluated.
Credits were deducted if students failed make-up exams, but also for rule violations.
For example, if Watanabe Tetsu kept refusing to join a club, he would be hit with large credit deductions. If the school found out about his part-time job exceeding allowed hours, he would lose even more credits on top of having to write a formal apology.
Looking at it that way, failing the make-up exam was indeed serious—but that was their problem.
"Sensei, Kamikawa Academy is certainly a high-ranking school, but in any place, you'll always find people who've given up or lost motivation."
"Koizumi believes they haven't," she answered immediately.
"Reality is right here, Koizumi-sensei."Tetsu flicked the papers with his finger, making a crisp sound.
Koizumi Aona's delicate brows tightened slightly.
Tetsu continued, "Aside from students admitted for club achievements, anyone capable of entering Kamikawa shouldn't be scoring failing marks on the very first monthly exam. And there's no way they're all special-ability students. Which means someone—"
"Has given up studying?"Hirako-sensei inserted proudly, as if she had solved a riddle.
Tetsu gave her a look."I prefer to call it: choosing a different life path."
Hirako-sensei didn't recognize the disdain in his eyes and joked, "Oh? They all want to become Tokyo pretty boys?"
Pfft—A faint laugh came from beside them.
Kiyono Rin… this woman was too much!
What was so funny about becoming a Tokyo pretty boy?!
Tetsu protested, "Hirako-sensei, I've said it before—becoming a Tokyo pretty boy takes hard work. At the very least, your academics must constantly improve. These people clearly don't meet that standard—they've chosen a different path."
"But," Hirako-sensei said, "I heard from your Koizumi-sensei that you stayed in third place again this time. No improvement at all."
"…That won't happen next time," Tetsu gritted out.
Kiyono Rin smiled, "Watanabe-san, I understand your desire to improve. But one must have self-awareness. Give it up—when it comes to intelligence, you can't win against me. Though personally, I think equating grades with intelligence is rather reckless."
Watanabe Tetsu had no choice but to admit it—A beautiful girl with 9 points in Charm was just too attractive!
How could someone look so good even when smiling in such an irritating way?
Damn it.Next time he had enough points, he had to upgrade his Charm first!
Out of respect for her good looks, Tetsu decided to let her go this time. He returned the answer sheets to Koizumi Aona.
"Sensei, I'm afraid I can't help. Studying is something they must rely on themselves for."
"Watanabeee~~~"
Whoa, whoa—what was a female department head doing sounding this pitiful toward a male student?
"You're my favorite student—you're hardworking, diligent, dedicated… can't you help me?"
"Hardworking, diligent, dedicated—that's just one description, isn't it?"Tetsu refused to be swayed. It was clearly a lie meant to persuade him.
Koizumi Aona glanced again at the answer sheets in her hands.
"Maybe you're right. Among these failing students, some probably have already chosen a different path. But I still hope they can pass the make-up exams, even if we must force them. Can you help me with this, Watanabe?"
"Sorry."
He still had to work his part-time job.
And even without his job—why spend that time helping others instead of studying himself?
To improve, surpassing yesterday's self—that was what a Tokyo pretty boy should pursue.
Koizumi Aona let out a defeated sigh. Then, as if grasping at straws, she lifted her head again and said without much hope:
"Kiyono-san, for example—doesn't guiding a failing student to achieve a decent score offer some interesting observational value?"
Kiyono Rin crossed her arms, hand under her chin, deep in thought."That is true…"
Seeing her waver, Koizumi Aona immediately stood up and bowed deeply, hands on her knees.
" Kiyono-san, please help me. I beg you!"
As a department head, Koizumi Aona was undoubtedly an exemplar.
Kiyono Rin thought for a moment, then nodded."Fine. Since the Literature Club is suspended anyway, I have nothing to do. But I'm only taking the very worst student."
"Kiyono-san, thank you so much!"Then Koizumi turned toward Tetsu.
"Watanabe?"
"…I'm here."
"Watanabe?"
"Mm?"
"Watanabe-kun?"
Tetsu turned to look out the window. "That flute player sounds good—much better than at the start of the school year. I can hear more than just notes now… Could it be love?"
"Watanabe!"
"Present."
Koizumi Aona rubbed her temples."To think I told Kiyono-san you were my favorite student… Fine. If you don't want to help, just focus on your own studies. That alone will make me happy."
Tetsu breathed a sigh of relief—Until Kiyono Rin suddenly spoke.
"Watanabe-kun, Koizumi-sensei isn't lying. You really are her favorite student."
"Eh?"Koizumi Aona, in her twenties, flustered at the remark, quickly waved her hands.
"No, no! I love all my students equally!"
"But the one she loves the most is Watanabe," Kiyono concluded with a smile.
"Kiyono-san! I love you too! I treat everyone fairly! It's just that Watanabe, he… anyway, Koizumi isn't biased!"
Tetsu glanced at Kiyono Rin's mischievous expression.
Damn it.After hearing that, how was he supposed to refuse?
"…Sensei, I'll help too. But only one student."
Koizumi Aona gave him a look, rolled up her English textbook, and tapped him lightly on the head again.
"You cold-hearted boy. But never mind—you don't actually want to do it, right? Just study hard on your own. I won't blame you."
Tetsu rubbed the spot she hit."As a Tokyo pretty boy-in-training, helping a beautiful department head ease her worries is my duty."
"Watanabe!"Hirako-sensei grabbed a stack of test papers. "My class has failing students too—"
"Ah, this clarinet sounds good too… Wait, that part is too emotional. Needs refinement."
"You brat! Let me discipline you!"Hirako-sensei raised a thick English dictionary.
"Violence against my student is forbidden!"
In the end, Watanabe Tetsu and Kiyono Rin each carried the answer sheets of their assigned students and left the office.
"You actually agreed to help. That surprised me," Tetsu said.
Kiyono Rin was flipping through the answer sheets one by one."Koizumi-sensei lies often, but I don't dislike her."
"Didn't you say you hated everyone? Contradiction? Or were you lying?"
"Use that Tokyo pretty boy brain of yours. Do humans feel the same way about others forever? Also—move away. Your smell is suffocating me. Lastly—that was an oboe."
"They're both reed instruments. That's practically correct."
Seeing Tetsu's casual attitude, Kiyono Rin took a deep breath, exasperated, and set down the answer sheets.
"First, the appearance:The fat one is a clarinet, the thin one is an oboe.A large mouthpiece is the clarinet, small mouthpiece is the oboe.If there's a silver ring between the mouthpiece and the keys, that's the clarinet. No ring means oboe.
Next, the melody—using words you can understand—if it sounds slightly eerie, that's the clarinet.
And if you still don't get it, I suggest using those ears of yours—which serve no purpose except collecting earwax—to listen to the final part of Morning Mood from Peer Gynt, or the end of the first movement of Beethoven's Sixth—"
"Beethoven's Sixth?"
"…Hah."Kiyono Rin slowly inhaled, exhaled, brushed her long hair back, and regained her elegance.
"My mistake. I've committed the same error as the ancients."
Tetsu blinked."Wait… are you saying that was like… playing a lute to a cow?"
"Tokyo pretty boy? Hmph."
She shot him a look of pure disdain, then turned and walked away.
Her 0.5 mm–sheened black hair, the perfect line of her waist, the gentle sway of her pleated skirt—bathed in the corridor's golden sunset—made Kiyono Rin look like she was strutting down a fashion runway.
Tetsu finally snapped out of it.
Wait.
That woman—who aside from her beauty and intelligence had nothing going for her—did she just call him not human?