“Ryotaro-kun, how can you be happy right now? We all failed that test!”
Ah, it’s good old Ike. He’s a reliable guy usually. However, he tends to be prideful.
“Come on, Ike-kun. Ryotaro is always so cheery, and smart too.”
The gyaru that’s in front of me is Saki, she’s alright and is somewhat of a mediator. I also knew her in high school, we were steady friends.
I simply nodded in agreement. I think it’s better to sit this one out, I believe my classmates can handle this.
“Well, I usually pass these big tests, but there’s simply no way!”
“Um, well you see.”
Never mind then, I’ll handle this with my suave speaking.
“Ike-san, I did some simple studying and some guesswork.”
I didn’t really do either, but that’s alright.
“Honestly, I’m surprised I didn’t do bad haha.”
“Hmm, How about I tutor you for the retakes? Kanji-sensei should be offering those next Monday.”
Ike was at a loss for a few seconds.
It seems I got him, he’s usually too prideful to take help from others.
“Uh, you know what Ryotaro-kun, I’m good, I’ll study up as you did.”
He later walked off, and I went back to relaxing.
A long-haired girl in a hoodie with her notebook (It had a distinct cherry sticker) clutched to her chest walked to my table.
“Excuse me, Ryotaro-kun?”
“Ah, yeah Kaoru-san?”
I believe Kaoru was one of the quieter people in the class,
“Could you tutor me in some lessons? I missed a few of Shiba-sensei’s lectures.”
“I suppose I could, any particular place?”
She looked slightly overjoyed, and her face was slightly red.
“I didn’t know you would agree, I hadn’t thought of that yet.”
Yikes, I thought I gave off a warm vibe.
“Then, should we exchange numbers? You can just text me the place and I’ll be there.”
“Ah, that sounds nice, sure.”
I sifted through my bag, and grabbed a sticky note, then tore it crisply in half.
“Here, you can write yours on this half, and I’ll write mine on this half.”
I handed her my pen, and she wrote her number swiftly, then she handed it to me.
“Excuse me Kaoru-san, my pen so I could write it down too?”
“Oh my, er, um here.”
I guess she was cherishing my pen? Whatever, that was a bit awkward.
Kaoru had shyly passed the pen over, and I wrote my number down.
“Here you go.”
She took it quickly and just stood there awkwardly.
“Alright, I have to go get lunch, call me later alright Kaoru-san.”
She nodded and stuck the sticky note onto her notebook.
I waved as I headed out of the lecture hall.
I’m hungry but I’m also a bit broke today, so only glorious and filling vending machine sandwiches. The trick is to think it’s nutritious and you’ll be full, provided you chug some water.
I stuck my card in and bought 2 sandwiches.
“Hey Nifuji, want some lunch? I have some extra food today.”
That’s Fuutarou, I’ve known him since high school. He’s strong, and has a good heart but he always had a habit of showing up at the worst times. He’s a favored friend though.
“Bro, reaalllly? I just bought these.”
“Don’t sweat it, we can share those and some fried chicken I bought.”
“Hot and crispy?”
“Hot and crispy.”
That was a secret code we used for skipping class and eating some fried chicken in an empty classroom. Nowadays, we just use it for eating, as we can skip a lecture and watch the digital recordings later.
We walked, made small talk, and looked for a comfy bench. It was nice the way the leaves were blowing around us. It felt rather magical and serene.
I reached for a drumstick and bit into it. A satisfying crunch. I grabbed my sandwich, and also bit into it. The nice contrast of soft and crunchy. We had split the 2 sandwiches into halves and gave each other half of each sandwich.
“So, Nifuji, I saw you talking to Kaoru, you guys exchange numbers and plan a date?”
The man had a wide smirk on his face, and he thought he said something pretty slick.
“Close but no cigar, she had asked me for personal tutoring.”
“Oh, that’s a shame man, you have good looks, but you never get close with anyone.”
“Pssh, I’m close with you aren’t I Fuutarou?”
“I MEAN CHICKS MAN!”
The people in our vicinity turned to look at us, some probably thought we were playboys or boytoys, or something along that line.
“Jeez you don’t have to yell man, we just chillin and enjoyin chicken bro.”
“Man, I’m just sorta disappointed.”
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“I’m just shocked that you’re tutoring someone in their apartment.”
“Well besides, I tutor Saki at her parents all the time.”
“Well, Saki’s Saki, and you’re too dense at times.”
Fuutarou mumbled something and looked disappointed.
We finished eating our chicken, and we both went our separate ways home.
~~
On the way home, I got a text from Kaoru
If it's not too inconvenient, could you tutor me at my apartment? ─=≡Σ((( つ•̀ω•́)つ
I’m surprised she invited me to her place, she’s bolder than I thought. If I told Fuutarou this, he would probably give me his cold shoulder, and a good fist to my shoulder.
I’ll send a message back, um. Let’s think about this.
I don’t mind, just name a time, and I’ll show.
That should be fine, I just hope she isn’t planning anything dubious.
I’ll also need your address.
Should be simple enough, I hope she doesn’t find it too awkward.
I live in apartment number 436 of the Kiryūin Building at Setsukenchi Street, and I’ll be available at 14:45 tomorrow.
I checked my watch, it read 15:37. That should be enough time to prep some basic material and pick up some food along the way.
Gotchu, I’ll be there.
I walked the rest of the way home and picked up some convenience store instant-ready meals. It was rice and some beef. The beef and rice will make a great combination with whatever's left in the fridge. I hope there's stuff in the fridge. Sometimes I splurge on my food, usually buying some nicer ingredients every now and then.
~~
Once I unlocked the door to my apartment, I dumped my bag onto the ground, and ragdolled onto my couch. I don’t know what makes it so, but couches are always so comfy for me whenever I get home. It’s like resting on clouds. Moreover, It was slightly cold today, so I had stuck my legs in between the cushions of the couch. It’s really comfortable, and keeps me warm but not too warm. The only problem is that if I lay down in an odd position my neck will hurt for a while.
brrrzt.
Pweh, I almost was about to knock out for a few hours.
Nifuji, are you going anywhere tomorrow? I was reading up on my horoscopes, and I saw you had a bad fortune tomorrow.
Heh, Fuutarou always was a worrywart about me.
I’m just going to a classmate’s place to tutor, remember?
Wait HOLD IT, you’re going to someone’s place?!
Yeah, I don’t see what’s particularly wrong about this arrangement.
Broo… Nevermind then Nifuji, how about after the tutoring, we go out for drinks?
I don’t mind, it’ll be a nice opportunity to unwind. Drinks on you?
Screw you, I’ll pay for half.
Alright ‘preciate it, I’m nodding off.
~~
When I woke up it was 17:47. That was a nice nap, shame it ended. It took me a while to rise up, when I checked my watch it said it was 17:55.
I guess I gotta start prepping for Kaoru’s tutoring while I still can. Hmm, I grabbed my notebook and looked through it. It has to be recent lessons as she said she missed some lectures so I’ll simply start preparing review documents for it.
I made short work of creating review papers. I doubled checked them. Some slight spelling errors, and some odd formatting. However, it looks pretty good, I fixed the spelling, and I can just explain the formatting in teaching.
Tomorrow will be quite the tough day for me, well according to Fuutarou that is.
~~
It was a pretty swell morning. There were special drinks at the coffee stall, I bought a strange concoction of coffee and yogurt. Apparently it was Vietnamese, and the contrast was delicious. The lectures today were simple and enjoyable. Ike apologized to me, and Saki had some extra bento for me. Me and Saki enjoyed her fried chicken cutlets, and takoyaki.
“I’m surprised you found some takoyaki, It’s not common in this area.”
Saki looked slightly peeved, “What do you mean found? I handmade these.”
“Oh, these looked really intricate, like restaurant quality ya know.”
I always found Saki easy to talk to like Fuutarou, however she always complains I’m too insensitive.
She lied her back on my arm, it was rather light.
“What’s the big deal, I can’t grab more takoyaki anymore.”
“I’ll only move if you say my cooking is great.”
When did the topic evolve to her cooking?
“Fine, your cooking is fine.”
She didn’t budge and looked madder.
I gave her a little nudge, and she still didn’t move.
“I love your cooking, just as much as I love you.”
I said in a rather jokey tone. This should rattle her.
She give me a light shove with her shoulder and turned her face away.
“Jeez, you didn’t have to say something like that.”
“But, fine, your cooking is pretty nice.”
She tried to hide it, but she was very delighted.
~~
When I saw Kaoru later in the day, she had looked rather dismayed, and only gave me a silent wave. I guess all the boldness from yesterday was gone, I wonder what happened.