Chapter 10 | A Candy and a Whip, and an Exceptionally Sweet One

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The first semester’s midterm exam was already just around the corner.

It was the first regular exam since I became a sophomore.

Since I was going to take the entrance examination for a university on the designated school’s recommendation, I had to keep my grades at the top.

In my freshman year, I was in the top half of the class, but recently, due to various reasons, I have not been able to study much.

It was already less than a week before the test, but I was still at home with Rinka on a casual date today.

I used to start studying two weeks before the regular test date…

As expected, this made me feel a sense of crisis.

“Hey, let’s not play after school for a while.”

“What? Why? I don’t want to. I want to be with you as much as possible.”

We were sitting next to each other and even though we were in close proximity, the distance between our faces was so close that we could have kissed. 

“I’m going to have a test next week. You have a test next week too, right?”

“I’ll teach you. Then I can stay with you and you can expect to get better grades. Win-win, right?”

“Are you sure? You won’t be able to study by yourself?”

“Don’t worry about that, just because it’s before the test doesn’t mean I have to study. I’d rather not spend less time with Ikki.”

If I ask Rinka, who has never given up the top of the grade to others since she entered the school, to teach me, I am sure that my grades will improve. And you can be with Rinka. There was no reason to refuse.

“I’ll be counting on you, then.”

I bowed my head to the girl next to me.

“Of course! I’m gonna be strict, okay?”

The days that followed were truly hellish Spartan. From the time we woke up to the time we went to bed, the amount of assignments we were given each day was unbelievable. The better Rinka taught me, the more I was able to get into my head. Moreover, this speeded up the speed of my study.

If the quiz at the end of the day was passed, the student was rewarded with a passing grade. If not, the assignment is doubled.

Her teaching method, which used both the whip and the candy, was very effective and efficient.

At first, studying with her was an amusing situation, but now there is not a shred of it.

Every day she works hard at her studies for a reward from Rinka (an ear cleaning on her lap).

After going through a thorough military-like schedule, the mid-term exam was finally coming up tomorrow.

“You’ve done a great job so far! Great job!”

I looked up, feeling the soft touch on my head, and saw her smile at the end of a rich mountain.

I had endured a grueling morning of studying, and I was enjoying my lap pillow to the fullest.

“-Ah, I thought, I could die at any moment.”

“You’re overreacting.”

“No, no, really. Thank you for being there for me.”

I can’t thank her enough for teaching me all morning.

“It’s only natural. Because I’m Ikki’s girlfriend.”

“Yes.”

Seeing her say it with such confidence, for some reason I felt embarrassed.

“Ahaha, you’re so embarrassed!”

“Shut up.”

I stopped looking up and looked at the TV attached to the front of the house. It was Sunday, and since it was evening, there were not many interesting programs on.

“Nee~.”

I looked up in response to her voice, and she quickly brought her face close to mine.

The look was somewhat inviting.

“Do you want me to cast a spell that will help you get a good score?”

I’m not so obtuse as to ask what it is here.

“No, thanks. If you do that, I’ll forget everything I’ve done so far.”

“Oh, really? Then maybe you’ll put up with this.”

A little touch of the lips on the cheek. It’s apparently a mouthful, but I’ll leave it at that.

“Nevertheless, it’s still very destructive.”

“Oh well, I’ve been putting up with it for a week, okay? You’ll just have to tolerate me, will you?”

“I can’t say anything when you put it like that.”

“Then, I think I’ll go home soon.”

I looked out the window and saw that the sun was beginning to set and it was getting a little darker.

“I see. I’ll walk you to the station.”

“No, no, no, I’m fine. Just to the door.”

“Really?”

I watched her as she sat down and began to put on her shoes. Her hair was slicked back. Her slim waist. I felt like hugging her from behind.

“Then, I’m going to go now.”

After putting on her shoes, she sat up and put her hand on the front door.

I stared at it blankly.

“Yes.”

At that moment, she quickly closed the distance between us.

With the same momentum, something soft touched my mouth.

“You must never let your guard down.”

When I looked ahead, I saw her smiling like a child who had successfully pulled off a prank.

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