A few hours after I started studying at home with Kanade, it had become completely dark outside. I stood up to turn on the room lights.
“Thanks.”
“No problem.”
At first, Kanade hadn’t been able to concentrate on her studies at all, but for a while now, she had been focusing intensely without engaging in any small talk.
“Kanade, you’ve had amazing concentration for a while now.”
“Hmm? ...Mmm.”
I praised her high level of focus, but the reply I got was just a vague, half-hearted response. It seemed Kanade had already completely forgotten I was even there.
...Come to think of it, Kanade had always been someone with high concentration since she was little.
Whenever she came over to play and we tried to play party games together, she would get more absorbed in the manga on my bookshelf than the game itself. I remember times when it was her turn in a board game, but she would just keep reading and never roll the dice.
‘Kanade, do you want to stop the game and just focus on the manga?’
‘Eh? Why?’
Seeing her like that, I tried to let her focus on the manga... but without understanding my concern, she would end up trying to do both at the same time. I can’t even count how many times things ended up half-baked because of that.
“...Well, it looks like she’s focusing on one thing this time.”
In that case, it wouldn’t end up half-baked like the games in the past. With this much concentration, Kanade might actually manage to secure a high rank all at once.
“...Nn~”
After another hour of studying together, Kanade began to stretch her arms to relax her stiff body.
“It’s already quite late.”
“Hmm? Ah, you’re right.”
Kanade looked at the clock and seemed a little surprised.
“Wow, it might have been a while since I’ve been able to concentrate on studying this much.”
Kanade said this looking very satisfied.
“Is it usually not like this?”
“Yeah. ...There are too many temptations, ehehe.”
Kanade scratched her head.
“Heh, were you always a person with so many hobbies?”
“No, there’s only one thing I do at home, you know? It’s just... I’m really devoted to that one thing.”
“What kind of thing are you doing?”
“Ufufu. I can’t tell you something so embarrassing.”
Kanade’s cheeks flushed as she showed an ecstatic expression. ...I understood well enough that I should not dig any deeper into this topic.
“I think my mom and the others will be home soon.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I think she’ll make dinner once she’s back. Do you want to eat with us?”
“Yay! Yes! I’ll eat! I’ll eat!”
After smiling happily, Kanade took a short break and then started working hard on her studies again. ...Her concentration really is incredible.
“I’m home~!”
I heard my mother’s voice from the entrance.
“Oh my, is Kanade-chan here again today?”
“Yes! I’m intruding!”
Kanade replied in a loud voice so my mother at the front door could hear her. After the sound of pitter-patter footsteps, my mother entered my room.
“Mom, I’ve always told you to knock before opening the door.”
“Kanade-chan, good evening.”
“Obasan, good evening.”
“You’re as cute as ever today. Oh, are you staying for dinner?”
“Yes!”
...I was ignored so smoothly. How cruel. If you ignore a boy of this age, he’ll enter a rebellious phase, you know?
“Well then, I’m going to make dinner, so wait just a bit.”
“Ah, Obasan. I’ll help too!”
“Oh my. Is that okay? I’m so happy.”
My mother rejoiced with great delight. Come to think of it, a long time ago, my mother told me that she actually wanted a daughter instead of a son.
Remembering that statement... just as I thought back then, the feeling that you shouldn’t say such things in front of your son surfaced. At the same time, seeing how happy she was with Kanade’s reaction, I realized she probably really wanted to prepare meals together with a daughter like this.
...My mother probably never imagined she would get to have a simulated experience of that dream after turning forty.
“I’ll help too.”
“It’s okay. Ak-kun, you keep studying.”
“...But.”
“You’re going to take first place in the grade, right?”
...I widened my eyes. Lately, Kanade had been trying all sorts of things to prevent me from studying abroad.
So, I had naturally assumed she found the idea of me taking first place in the academic tests to be bothersome.
“Yeah. I understand.”
That’s why I never expected... her to be the one to push me forward.
“Ufufu. Then, Ak-kun. Good luck.”
“...Yeah.”
After seeing off Kanade and my mother as they left the room, I focused on my studies once again.