“Akito-senpai, hello!”
“Why are you here?”
Saturday. After finishing my daily morning training and returning home, I found Noa sitting on the sofa in the living room.
She was wearing a light purple mini-skirt so short that it was more like a loincloth than mid-thigh length.
A white off-the-shoulder top.
She had her arms through a baggy black hoodie, and her delicate white shoulders and collarbone were visible.
The level of exposure was high, but since it was Noa-style clothing, I didn't think much of it.
“What do you mean 'why'? That's mean. I'm here to study with Kotono-chan~”
“...Eh? What did you say?”
“Pfft, that sudden 'clueless protagonist who can't hear' move is hilarious (lol).”
Don't find it hilarious.
Wait, study? This girl? Eh, study?
“If you're studying fighting game combos and frames, you should go to an arcade instead of here.”
“Senpai, what do you think of me... The midterms are coming up soon, so I'm studying with Kotono. Right now, Kotono has gone to the convenience store to buy drinks.”
Ah, I see. That explains it.
Kotono should have prepared things in advance, though.
“...Wait, midterms? Like the periodic tests?”
“What else could it be?”
“...Did you eat something bad?”
“How rude! Even I have a high school I want to go to, so lately I've been super worried about my internal grades and stuff!”
“M-My bad.”
But... I see, I see. Noa is growing up too.
The last time I saw her was at the beginning of March, and at that time, she was still a second-year middle schooler. Two months have already passed since then.
They say that if you haven't seen a boy for three days, you should look at him with fresh eyes, but that might apply to girls too.
“I see. Good luck, Noa.”
“Roger that!”
“Nihi~,” Noa laughed and gave a two-handed salute. She's in high spirits, this one.
“By the way, where are Mom and Dad?”
“Ah, if you mean Auntie and the others, they said they're going on a date.”
“Again?”
Well, they are connected by the 'Red Thread of Fate,' so it's a good thing they're always lovey-dovey.
Even so, don't leave the house while leaving a guest behind...
Then, this time, she started fidgeting with her fingers and looked up at me with upturned eyes.
“By the way, Senpai. I have a bit of a consultation...”
“! ...Could it be, about *that* thing? Are you okay?”
“Ah, no, it's not that.”
Whew... thank goodness.
For a moment, that thing crossed my mind, but it was just a needless worry.
As I exhaled to release the tension, Noa made an 'ω' mouth and poked me in the side.
“Mufufu. What is it~ Senpai~? Did you get worried about me~?”
“Don't poke me, you're annoying.”
“You don't have to be so shy~”
Annoying. Also, seriously, stop poking me.
“So, what's the consultation?”
“The thing is, you know I want to go to Gin'nan High School, right?”
“Don't act like I already knew something I'm hearing for the first time. ...Wait, you want to go to my high school?”
“Yes, yes.”
“Our school's deviation score is reasonably high though... Don't tell me.”
“Exactly!”
Noa put her hands together and bent her waist at a right angle.
“Please, please help me with my entrance exam studies!”
“I knew it... Sigh, I guess it can't be helped.”
“Eh, then...!”
“But I refuse!”
“Wait, you're refusing?!”
Well, of course I'd refuse. It's a pain. There's no benefit for me.
Besides, I don't have that much time. I'm busy enough in my own way. Mostly with things regarding Riran.
“Mumumu. To think I'd be refused...! Then, I'll increase the reward!”
“Reward?”
“Yes! A 'served on a silver platter' reward for an adolescent virgin high school boy!”
“'Virgin' was unnecessary.”
In this day and age, being a virgin is normal, normal.
...But, just a little bit... just a tiny bit, I'm not *not* curious about what this reward is.
“...Let's hear it.”
“Ooh, Senpai, you're a man of taste too! Hehehe, then as a down payment...”
Noa moved a little away from me and pinched the hem of her skirt.
“Here. A, pan, ty, flash ♡”
By slightly lifting the hem of her skirt, a surprisingly pure white fabric was visible for just a moment.
It was cute underwear with a one-point lace, which in a good way, didn't seem like Noa's style.
“How was it? Did it excite you?”
“Hmm... cloth.”
“Wait, that impression actually hurts my feelings...”
“Even if you say that.”
When I was called out by Riran at the top of the stairs, I saw a bit because she was sitting on the stairs... but the impact wasn't as great as that time.
As I thought, the impression one receives seems to differ greatly between a fated person and someone who isn't.
Riran's panty flash was a *real* panty flash.
In contrast, Noa's panty flash felt more like a 'cloth flash' rather than a panty flash.
It's not that Noa isn't cute.
From a general perspective, she's a beautiful girl, and if it were me from before I could see the red thread, I'd definitely be flustered.
Even so, it's just different after all.
“Sigh... don't do that kind of thing to other guys. Men are wolves, you know.”
“Rest assured, I only do this kind of thing for you, Senpai~”
“What's with that mysterious trust?”
“Because since *that* happened, I've had absolute trust in only you, Senpai!”
“...Is that so.”
Well, that's the ultimate privilege of being a senior.
When I patted Noa's head, she blushed and let me pat her as she pleased.
Honestly, she's a cute junior.
As I wore a wry smile, Noa clenched her fists in front of her chest.
“Then, since I've paid the reward, please look at my studies!”
“...Alright. In exchange, I can't do it every week.”
“Of course! I'll send a message when I want to ask!”
“Do that.”
While I was making that promise with Noa, I heard Kotono's voice from the entrance.
“I'm home! Oh, welcome back, Onii!”
“Yeah, I'm home.”
Kotono, who had bought a huge amount of snacks and juice, spread them out on the table.
“Now, let's play!”
“Aren't you supposed to be studying?”
“That's right, Kotono! We're studying today. We promised to go to Gin'nan High School together, didn't we?!”
“Ehh~... just a little bit is fine, isn't it~?”
“No!”
Watching the mature-looking and serious-looking Kotono wanting to play, while the gyaru-looking Noa scolded her... it's interesting to watch.
“Besides, Akito-senpai promised to help me with my studies. So Kotono should do it together too!”
Stop—.
Kotono, who was moving the snacks aside to make a study space, stopped moving.
“Um... Onii is helping with the studies...?”
“Eh... y-yeah. That's right... Kotono, your face is pale? Are you okay?”
Kotono looked at me and started shaking and trembling.
She didn't need to react like that...
“W-Wait...! No, absolutely not!”
“Why? We have a Senpai who survived high school entrance exams here, so shouldn't we use what's available?”
“It's not good! Listen, Noa. When Onii teaches something, he's serious among the serious! He doesn't hold back at all! Do you have any idea how scary that is...!”
That's not true. Even so, I teach with a fair amount of leniency.
“Hmm... well, you won't know until you experience it once. So, Senpai, please!”
“Yeah, I got it. Might as well have Kotono do it together too?”
“I-I think I'll pass...”
“I see. Then Noa, open your textbook.”
“Aye aye, sir!”
One hour later.
“No, seriously, I'm soooooo sorry I honestly underestimated you I didn't think it would be such a demonic Spartan style I'm really apologizing so please forgive me please I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry.”
In the end, Noa gave up in just one hour, and the study contract with me was returned to a blank slate.