Chapter 9
A Sincere and Kind Underclassman
TL: PuffyPyjamas .
ED: Daemon .
My baby-faced underclassmen is standing behind Miyu-sensei with a smile on her face . The smile, which normally makes her look lovable, is quite scary today . When Aki is in a slightly bad mood or just pouting, Aki’s cheeks cutely swell when she’s in a bad mood or just fatigued, making her seem very childish and adorable .
However——when she’s really angry, she smiles .
Since Aki is usually very gentle, she prefers not to yell or complain in any situation . And as such, when she’s angry, she tries to hold herself back by attempting to smile . However, the anger itself remains, making her attitude and voice change somewhat . As a result, a new Aki is presented with an adorable smile and a strange atmosphere .
For Aki to get this angry… What the hell did Miyu-sensei do? Well, half of it is probably my fault . I was late for the tutoring session I had with her, and I didn’t contact her as well . Moreover, I ignored all her messages .
Yeah, it isn’t strange at all for her to be angry, rather, it’s completely normal . However, she didn’t seem angry when I contacted her after leaving school . I was delayed and because of the stuff with Emma, I informed her that I wanted a day off from tutoring, to which she calmly replied, [I understand . Senpai is always taking care of me, so please rest properly for today . ]
Despite that, why is the situation like this…? While I was wondering about the reason, I decided to call out to Aki for the time being . After all, if I were to continue to stay silent, the situation would probably turn even scarier .
“Aki . Sorry for the delay . Here, I… I bought some of your favorite chocolate cake!”
I ignored Miyu-sensei as I directly addressed Aki . However, Aki’s body abruptly trembled, her face showing a bewildered expression .
“S-Senpai!? W-what!? Why are you here!? I thought you wouldn’t be coming today!”
Apparently, Aki hadn’t realized I was standing here . When she noticed my presence, she panicked and retrieved a hand mirror, checking her hairstyle in a frenzy . Aki has always been very neat and tidy, and even right now, her hair isn’t in that much of a mess . However, Aki is still a normal girl, I guess .
“——Hey . ”
While I was busy staring at Aki who was busy grooming her hair, Miyu-sensei whispered to me so that only I could hear . I wondered what happened, Miyu-sensei moved her lips in attempts to convey her thoughts to me .
“Com… pli… ment . ”
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I tried to read her lips, and it seems like she wants me to compliment Aki . I’d like her to not ask me to be the one fixing her sister’s mood, but it’s still a good opportunity since Aki’s mood is beginning to brighten .
Looking at Aki’s mood getting better, I thought it was good that I brought along Aki’s favorite food . As expected of Miyu-sensei . She understands that when her little sister is in a foul mood, the best solution is to present her with her favorite food . The fact that Miyu-sensei advised me to compliment her, may imply that my compliment will completely heal Aki’s mood .
“Aki, you look really cute in those pyjamas . ” [T/N: Nyahaha~ Pyjamas~]
I complimented the pink and white, polkdot pyjamas that Aki was donning . Honestly, it has quite the cute design which suits the short and baby-faced Aki .
However, when I complimented her, Miyu-sensei suddenly collapsed . She then placed her palm on her forehead and began to shake her head . “You’re right, but you’re not right?”, is what she seems to be saying to me .
Stange… I did compliment her .
When I glanced at Aki, her face started to turn red, and a moment later, it was completely painted crimson . I wonder if she has a fever? It’s already September, but it doesn’t mean that there isn’t a summer cold going around .
“Senpai saw me in my pyjamas… Ugh… I am so embarrassed… But he told me that I look cute…!”
Aki looks down and mutters something, but her voice is too soft to be audible . However, I can see that her facial expressions are changing rapidly . It looks like she is feeling better . As expected, following Miyu-sensei’s instructions was the correct move .
Speaking of Miyu-sensei, for some reason, she is glaring at me with reproachful eyes . What on earth did I do wrong? I followed her instructions and complimented her .
When I looked over at Miyu-sensei, who seemed to be unconvinced, she closed the distance between us and whispered into my ear .
“Hey, you know? Wasn’t Aki worried about her hairstyle? In that situation, you should’ve complimented her hairstyle… Well, complimenting her clothes isn’t a bad move either… However, you’re not supposed to compliment her when she’s in her pyjamas, okay?”
I was amazed at her criticism . It seems that I was mistaken about what I was supposed to compliment . I see, I guess Aki is flustered because I praised her pyjamas . It certainly may have been wrong to praise her pyjamas .
However, in my defence… I am someone who hasn’t had a girlfriend all his life, so how was I supposed to know the correct way to compliment the opposite sex?
“…Sorry . ”
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Well, there was no way I could give such a pitiful excuse, more like, I was repulsed by the idea of saying it, so I chose to apologize .
“From now, you should start researching more about a woman’s heart . It will benefit you in the long run . ”
“?”
You can say that… However, what can I do to study a woman’s heart? Should I start reading manga? Or should I have Miyu-sensei teach me—No, that won’t work .
I have a feeling that I’d be poorly educated if I were to learn from her . In addition to not having any romantic experience whatsoever, she probably doesn’t even possess a woman’s heart .
“Hey, Aoyagi . Did you insult me just now?”
“No, nothing of the sort . ”
As usual, Miyu-sensei was extremely sensitive to my rude thoughts about her .
Is this woman really a human being? I cannot help being suspicious .
“Senpai…? You’ll be eating dinner together, right? Come inside . ”
As I was busy laughing to pass off Miyu-sensei’s statement, Aki looks up and calls out to me with trembling hands .
Maybe she believes that I came here to eat dinner together .
“No, it’s fine . I’m not tutoring you today, so I can’t have you treating me, can I?”
I usually have dinner at Aki’s house, it is her way to show gratitude for tutoring . The bigger reason though, is that Aki worries about my health since I live alone .
Needless to say, the cost of materials is subtracted from my salary, and I have also received permission from Aki’s parents .
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As for Miyu-sensei, she agreed while saying that the dinner table would be livelier with three people instead of just two .
Since I eat dinner with them almost every day, I often speak to Miyu-sensei rather frankly .
“Neither I or my sister mind! Please have dinner with us, Senpai!”
I refused since I didn’t want to bother her, but Aki persisted . I am appreciative of Aki’s sentiments, but I’d like to keep it within the bounds of a professional relationship . This is a restriction I set on myself when I took on the job of Aki’s tutor .
“However, I was not supposed to come today, wouldn’t we have enough food for the three of us?”
“It’s no problem! I can just cut down on my sister’s share!”
“Hey, wait a minute!”
The instant she heard that her portion would be cut, Miyu-sensei immediately interfered . As for Aki, I know that this is not just a mere threat, because she can easily make it happen if she’s serious .
“What, Onee-chan? Didn’t use up all of my precious time with Senpai by pushing him to do various errands for you?”
While making a cute smile, Aki looked at Miyu-sensei . It seems that she believes that Miyu-sensei is the reason that I was late today . Well, I guess this all originally started when Miyu-sensei asked me for help, so it might not be wrong .
When I left school, Miyu-sensei did contact Aki, so of course she would know that I was asked to help out . Knowing that, she probably believed that it was all Miyu-sensei’s fault . Moreover, a major part of me not being able to contact Aki, was due to all of the teasing that Miyu-sensei had done to me inside the staff room .
Still, I really felt sorry . Thanks to Miyu-sensei, I was able to meet Emma and converse with Charlotte, and I can’t just overlook that .
“Aki, you really don’t have to worry about dinner . Also, it’s not Miyu-sensei’s fault that I am late, so stop blaming her . I’m really sorry for being late today . ”
“Senpai…”
When I apologized, Aki stared at my face with a complicated look . Then after thinking for a bit, she slowly opened her mouth .
“Very well . I understand that Senpai is someone who values drawing the line at some point… I thought it was my sister’s fault that Senpai was late, but if you say so, then I won’t blame my sister anymore… That’s fine, right?”
“Yeah, thank you . ”
I thanked Aki for reluctantly accepting everything . Aki’s gaze seems to be implying that it can’t be helped .
Aki is a kind and gentle girl, she was quick to understand my sentiment after all . I really don’t think she’s Miyu-sensei’s actual sister .
“Yeah, I’m happy to have such a good student . ”
Miyu-sensei, who was ridded of all the crimes, nodded with satisfaction . Aki’s anger has subsided, and it seems that she won’t be scary anymore .
However, it shouldn’t be this simple…
Aki looks at Miyu-sensei with a smiling face as if to prove my conjecture .
“Fufu~ Onee-chan? You can eat dinner, but I can’t change the menu since the dinner has already been prepared . So——today’s dinner is extremely spicy, aren’t you happy?”
“…You must be kidding . ”
“Nope, not at all~”
Listening to Aki’s cheerful reply, Miyu-sensei’s face paled . Even if it’s a bit spicy, her cooking is delicious nonetheless .
However, from Miyu-sensei’s perspective, spicy food is a fatal weapon since she’s very bad with it . It seems like Aki changed the menu when her anger for Miyu-sensei reached its peak . I was originally about to ask Aki to prepare spicy food, but I guess I’ll forget about it now .
Miyu-sensei, you have my condolences .
While looking at the depressed Miyu-sensei out of the corner of my eye, I handed the box containing the chocolate cake to Aki and walked away .