Also, could the feeling of accomplishment be from doing homework?
My sharp mind, one of my few strong points, really shone here.
Yes, just the other day—
“Suzuna, let’s do our homework together!”
“…Why together?”
“Well, you know how it is; when you’re alone, you end up slacking off. But if we do it together, we can keep each other in check and stay focused, right?”
“I don’t slack off, though.”
“Then think of it as helping me out! It’s just the right amount of pressure to have someone watching. Please! I’ll do anything!”
“I don’t think this is something that warrants doing anything…”
For me, spending time with Suzuna is priceless.
It’s worth every bit. Definitely!
“…I suppose there’s no helping it.”
Moved by my enthusiasm, Suzuna agreed to do homework together in the living room. And, as it turned out later, this idea wasn’t entirely bad for her either.
“Mmm…”
“Hey, you stuck on something?”
Suzuna was staring intently at her math textbook, grumbling. When I peeked over, it seemed she was stuck on a practice problem.
“It’s not that I don’t understand… um…”
“Ah, it looks a bit complicated at first, but try breaking down the equation here. And don’t just use the formula you learned recently—think back to some earlier ones too…”
“Um… Oh, I see!”
It was more of a slight shift in thinking than a direct solution, but it seemed to be just what she needed. After struggling a bit here and there, she managed to complete the formula.
“Heheh, see, your big brother’s helpful, right?”
“You’re good at studying, aren’t you?”
“Well, I am a third-year, after all.”
Not only do I have a solid foundation in studying, but my past life’s memories help, too, so I’m confident I can teach at least up to a first-year’s level pretty well. For a moment, I felt like Suzuna might even be looking at me with some respect for her big brother… No, probably not. She looked away as soon as our eyes met, after all.
“Being a third-year means you’ll have entrance exams soon, right?”
“Pretty much, yeah.”
As a third-year in middle school, it’s the year for high school entrance exams. Although, with my past life’s memories, exams still remind me more of university entrance exams… so it doesn’t quite feel real yet.
“Which high school are you aiming for, Eiji-san?”
“For me… it’s Seiten High, probably.”
Seiten High. It’s a decent public high school around here, known for its academics. And it’s also the setting of the game Love-Colored Sky.
If I wanted to change the game’s future, the surest way would probably be to choose a different school. Though, it might not change anything if a side character like me doesn’t enroll there.
But it’s not that I want to ruin the future in the game. I just want to protect Suzuna, even if it changes the game’s storyline.
And regardless of the game, Seiten High is a great choice for my future. It’s not too far from home, has a high academic level, and, since it’s a public school, it’s cheaper than private schools. Even my homeroom teacher encouraged me to go there in career counseling, so it seems like a no-brainer.
“Seiten High…”
Suzuna murmured, looking down at her hands.
If she doesn’t want to burden my parents, Seiten High is probably the best choice for her too. Whether or not she goes to college afterward, if she wants to be independent sooner, it’s best to aim for a strong high school.
“Suzuna, do you struggle with math?”
“Not struggle, exactly… I think I’m not that good at studying in general. I’m just a bit above average.”
“Is that so?”
Is it surprising to feel this way? Come to think of it, there wasn’t much focus on Kanazaki Suzuna’s academics. In a dating sim with multiple heroines, a character’s appeal usually comes from being either exceptionally strong or remarkably weak.
So maybe the reason Suzuna’s academics weren’t highlighted was that she didn’t fit into either extreme.
The slightly downcast look on her face might be because she’s worried that stumbling over these problems means she might not make it into Seiten High…
“You’re just a first-year, so there’s no need to worry about exams yet.”
“But…”
“Well then, if you don’t mind, Suzuna, I could help you study like this every day! Like a tutor?”
“Eh!? Ah… but, every day is a bit much…”
“Then just sometimes! Only whenever you feel like studying with me!”
“If that’s the case, then… okay.”
“Really?! Yes!”
I was so happy with Suzuna’s response that I made a big, celebratory fist pump. Suzuna looked down shyly and muttered, “Why is Eiji-san so happy about this…”
Well, getting relied on by my little sister is the ultimate joy for an older brother! Although I kept that part to myself, since saying it out loud would probably freak her out.
…And that’s how it went.
I managed to secure our next “study session” (date TBD)! A definite success… no, a huge success!