Chapter 49

Class had ended, and after returning home, I spent my time lounging around in my room.

Then, as evening approached, Toko came into my room.

“Big Brother, today I was doing drills with Yuika and she was giggling a lot. Do you know why?”

“I don’t know anything about that.”

That girl always has a poker face, yet somehow it still shows. Can she even keep a secret?

“Hmm… I don’t really get it.”

“Basically, she doesn’t make much sense. If we say it nicely, she’s unique.”

To put it plainly, she’s an airhead.

“Still, ya know… Ah, Big Brother, we have tests coming up, right?”

Even at home, it’s always about tests. Though, I did bring it up during the morning class myself.

“Yeah… You’re good at studying, so make Mom and Dad proud.”

Toko and I are twins. Her achievements are my achievements.

“Exactly. Here’s what I thought: If Big Brother gets good grades, then Mom will be in the best mood ever. She’ll probably even cry.”

She probably will cry. She’s quick to shed tears.

“I don’t know if I can get good grades, but I’ll try not to end up at the bottom.”

“Try harder! Ask the president for help in training. Not against Toko this time, but against Yuika?”

This time it’s not against me but against Big Brother instead.

“Something like that. And once Big Brother gets good grades and cheers Mom up, try asking her if we can go outside the town. She’ll probably agree, right?”

Ah, I see.

That could happen.

“Maybe she will. So… that’s the plan.”

It’s not something I want to say about my own parents, but Mom, she’s basically a young lady. Since she’s so indulgent, she absolutely won’t say no strongly.

“True.”

“How about Dad?”

“If Mom agrees, Dad won’t say anything.”

Yeah, that might be true…

“Am I the only one who’s going to work hard?”

“Nope, I’ve been working hard regularly. Big Brother just needs to start putting in some effort.”

Uhh… maybe…

“Is Sharl willing to help out? Sharl has the test coming up too, right?”

“Anyway, ask her. Even if our classes are different, the tests are still the same.”

Though, the subjects we take vary. I didn’t take History or Herbology, after all.

“So, I’ll ask her… But Sharl is really kind, right? It’s the hardest scenario if she can’t say no when asked.”

I feel so guilty already.

“It’s fine! The president is competent and it’ll be no problem. In fact, she probably enjoys being relied on!”

Saying that with zero evidence…

“Let me call her while you just stay quiet.”

“I’ll stay quiet!”

Shut up…

I took out my smartphone and called Sharl. The ringing stopped after a few tones.

“Tsukasa?”

It’s Sharl.

“Sorry for calling out of the blue. Is now a good time?”

“Yes. My classes have ended, and I’m resting at home. Oh, by the way, the next time we meet, I’ll show you something super cool. You’ll love it.”

“Super cool”…

And something I’d “love”…

“…sounds kinda dirty.”

Shut up…

Be quiet for a moment…

“What is it?”

“It’s something to look forward to when we meet next. Anyway, what do you need?”

“Actually, I have a small favor to ask.”

“Favor? What is it?”

“I’d like you to help me study. More intensely than usual, until the test.”

“Oh, I see. That’s fine with me.”

She agreed right away.

“Thanks for letting me ask, but are you sure? Aren’t you preparing for the test too?”

“Specially for tests, I don’t really study. I keep up with my daily studying and review, so it’s no problem.”

When test season comes around and there are always a few people in class who say they haven’t been studying, Sharl is definitely not one of them…

“So, would it be all right if I ask you for help?”

“Yes. But what’s changed? You don’t like studying, right?”

“This has a bit to do with the family situation at the Nagase household. It’s kind of like a plan.”

“Is there some kind of allowance or a Trident involved?”

Sharl laughs dismissively at the mention of the Trident.

“They won’t give me a Trident, but something like that. Plus, I don’t want to lose to Yuika.”

“Yuika-san? Hmm… well… I don’t know what to say”.

Sharl is genuinely kind. If Toko or Ilmera were here, they’d probably say something like “Both of you are idiots”.

“Also, Noel is helping her.”

“Ah, Noel…?”

Sharl hesitates before responding.

“Hey, did I mess up by mentioning Noel?”

I remember—while Sharl is theoretically aligned with Noel’s family faction, Noel herself is more independent and has different ideologies from Sharl as part of the bloodline elite faction. It’s really quite complicated.

“Why would it matter? We’re not exactly bad terms. Anyway, Noel might just be better at things like that.”

Better? Is she good at teaching?

“Is that true?”

“We went to the same middle school but I remember she organized study sessions.”

From the way she said that, Sharl definitely wasn’t a part of it.

“Hmm… Now I’m starting to feel like we’re at a disadvantage.”

“Yes, those two are boarding students. Of course Noel is, but Yuika-san isn’t a part-timer like us—she’s a full boarder. And on top of that, their rooms are next to each other.”

I knew Yuika woke up early because she was a full boarder, but the part about their rooms being next to each other is new information.

“Those guys can really immerse themselves in studying, it seems.”

“That makes sense, doesn’t it?”

Just as we were talking, Toko suddenly came closer and showed me her phone.

[“Tell her to stay over at our place.”]

I silently tapped her head without saying a word.

“What’s that noise?”

“Nothing… Just a bug.”

An annoying bug…

“Bug… uh? Is Toko there by any chance?”

“Hey… who’s the bug?”

Toko mutters something in a low voice. I felt a bit bad saying that just now.

“Ah, sorry. If that’s Toko, could she say she’s here?”

“She’s hesitant because she thinks she might be interrupting… Oh, a moment of ‘deep affection’…?”

“She has a lot of points to nitpick. If she thinks she’s interrupting, she should leave. And what moment of deep affection? This is supposed to be a serious study talk.”

Sharl is so serious. Even if Toko says 90% nonsense, we can just tune it out.

“…She hasn’t noticed.”

“Did anyone say something?”

“Nope. Would Sharl take care of Big Brother’s studying? This is important for the Nagase family. Help turn this former delinquent who got in through the backdoor into someone who can do their filial duty… sniff sniff.”

Wow, 90% nonsense right there.

“Is that so…,”

Uh oh?

Charlene?

Thank you very much for reading this far.

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