Watanabe Tetsu carefully reviewed Tamamo Emi's answer sheet once more, silently estimating the chance that she would actually go home and complete the assignments he gave her.
No matter how he thought about it, the answer was: impossible.
If she were that self-disciplined, she wouldn't be standing here in the Human Observation Club's activity room in the first place.
Unlike Kiyono Rin, he didn't have the authority to call a student's parents whenever he felt like it.
So would he have to tutor her right here?
If possible, he didn't even want to talk to her—let alone see her.
He began:
"Tamamo-san, your biggest loss in history is World History. Especially the Spring and Autumn period and the Warring States period—you got them completely wrong."
"I mean, sometimes I really wonder," she said, twirling a lock of her hair, "is there really any need to study the history of other countries?"
"And math too—seriously, when are we ever going to use these things in daily life?"
Watanabe answered honestly:
"If you don't go into a related field, then as pure knowledge… you're right. It's not very useful."
"Then why does school still make us learn it?"
She glared at him with her beautiful eyes, as if he were the Minister of Education who personally wrote the curriculum.
Watanabe didn't get angry. Why would he? He didn't care enough about her opinion.
Casually, he explained:
"Knowledge itself may not be useful.But memorizing it, solving problems—those things train the brain.They teach us how to systematically understand things."
He continued:
"The real purpose of studying, I think, is that someday in the future, when you face something completely new—without anyone teaching you—you'll still have the ability to approach it, analyze it, and learn.That's how people keep understanding the world and improving themselves.
Take me, for example.My dream is to become a true Tokyo pretty boy.To do that, I need to surpass my previous self every day.Learning systematically, training my brain—those things help me grow, like self-studying foreign languages and such.Something like that."
Tamamo Emi thought seriously for about a minute, then frowned.
"But… I've been wondering since earlier.Isn't a 'Tokyo pretty boy' just some guy who relies on his looks, cracks a few jokes, and then reaches his hand up a girl's skirt?"
Watanabe pinched the bridge of his nose, exasperated.
Beside him came the soft sound of laughter.
He glanced sideways.
Kiyono Rin was still reading her hardcover book, whispering to herself:
"This part is amusing."
So she never lies—but that doesn't mean she won't hide things or twist words.
What a cunning woman.
He refocused on the test papers and stacked them neatly.
"Useful or not, just study hard enough to pass the test."
"But I don't want to study. I hate studying. It's not fun at all."
Watanabe thought for a moment."I'll give you predicted test questions."
"Predicted…?"
"Mm." He nodded. "I've done every test the teachers have written. I can create prediction sheets based on their habits. You'll only need to do one set each day. I guarantee you'll get at least a B on the makeup exam."
"You can really predict test questions? That's even possible?"Tamamo Emi shot up from her chair, making the metal legs scrape loudly across the floor.
Kiyono Rin frowned at the noise.
"Of course."Watanabe smiled—a smile radiating unmistakable confidence."My deviation score is 74. Koizumi-sensei said I can get a recommendation to Tokyo University. So what do you think?"
Tokyo University always gave off a negative impression—like it was full of awkward nerds and politicians—but say this to any prep school student:
"Your target should be Tokyo University. How about it?"And they'd all say:
"Tokyo University? Impossible! No way! Forget it! I could never pass that!"
The takeaway:You can look down on their social skills, but you can't look down on their brain.
Something like that.
So when Tamamo Emi heard that Watanabe might get recommended to Tokyo University, she immediately believed him.
"You feel kind of different from the last time we met… but whatever."She leaned in so close her face was almost touching his."Tetsu, you'll give me those prediction sheets, right? Because of our special relationship~"
"Koizumi-sensei asked me to tutor you. It's a small matter."He instinctively leaned away."But after you finish each sheet, you also have to memorize the solution steps."
"Don't worry, don't worry—if I don't memorize the answers, I can't cheat properly."
"Cheating? Call it what you want. Anyway, you have two choices:One, stay here while I write today's prediction sheet.Two, go home now and do two sets tomorrow—four sheets total if you count both subjects."
"I'll pick the second one! Kei-chan is waiting for me~"Tamamo Emi grabbed her bag and practically flew out of the room.
"Prediction sheet's in your hands, Tetsu~!"
The activity room returned to silence.
"Is that what a Tokyo pretty boy does—tricking people like that?"
"I call it tactics."
They were talking about prediction sheets.
School had only been in session for a month. How many topics could the test even cover?Five days, one sheet per day—plenty of time to memorize everything.
Tamamo Emi had been fooled by the words honor student and prediction sheets.
People who relied on shortcuts had always been like this—throughout history.
"But I admit, you're better than me at tutoring."
Watanabe blinked, surprised.She didn't seem like someone who would ever concede anything.
Before he could respond—
"See? Not being arrogant is also one of my strengths."She brushed her long hair aside and smiled warmly, as if she were the most approachable person in the world.
"…Right, right. You're the greatest in the whole world."Watanabe picked up his bag, preparing to leave.
"That's a lie.You think I'm not great?To prevent your ignorance from hindering your understanding of my brilliance, I'll explain:It takes a person of noble character to acknowledge when someone inferior surpasses them in a certain field."
"If nothing else, I'm leaving."
Beyond saving.Koizumi-sensei, please assign her a self-reflection essay immediately—someone this arrogant is dangerous.
Kiyono Rin crossed her arms, resting her chin thoughtfully on her hand.
"So this is playing hard-to-get? What a primitive technique. Hard to believe women fall for that."
Watanabe paused at the door and turned back.
"Why do you assume everything I do is to make you like me?"
"You may not like me, but that doesn't mean you don't want to ravish my body."Kiyono Rin held one hand against her shirt collar, the other pressing down the hem of her pleated skirt."To put it simply, that's what all men are."
"No. Ravish you? I've literally never thought that."
She smiled triumphantly—the smile of someone who believed she had won.Hands leaving her collar and skirt, she sat elegantly and reopened her book.
"Close the door on your way out."
Damn it!
Even if he had ever subconsciously wanted to do something to her, it would've never been anything sexual—it would've been destroying her dignity, trampling her soul, crushing her ego!
To be misunderstood by a woman like this—misunderstood into thinking he wanted that—and with her acting so superior about it—was infuriating.
Watanabe Tetsu wanted to slam the sliding door with all his strength, but taking his anger out on objects wasn't something a true Tokyo pretty boy would do.
Next month, when the game store restocks useful items, he'll definitely make this woman—this woman who had nothing except beauty and intelligence—taste his power.
He gently closed the door.