Overwriting Study Group
ā€œā€¦ā€
Silently, I let my pen run.
Doing nothing would block my mood with thoughts of bad things, so I just focused my attention on other things.
I opened my math textbook and turned my head to solve the problem.
Using the formula, I should be able to solve the problem, but the … solution never came, and my moving pen suddenly lost its momentum.
I knew I wasn’t smart enough.
I can’t even solve the practice problems in my textbooks, and I’m at a standstill.
My mother may be right to be angry…, but I can’t even do what everyone else can do normally.
I am really a person who can’t do anything.
I was in self-denial again.
ā€œā€¦Nakayama, are you bad at math?ā€
Suddenly, Kurumizawa-san, who was studying next to me, spoke.
The room was large, so even with a long desk, there was still plenty of space. This allowed us to study side by side, so Kurumizawa-san and I were standing next to each other.
ā€œI’m not good at studying, not just math. I told you before, right? My grades aren’t very good.ā€
When I frankly told her the truth, she nodded lightly and then suddenly leaned closer to me.
Wary of the sudden approach, I almost stood up, but it was not for the purpose of skinship, and she reached for my notebook.
ā€œLet me see a little?ā€
There was a question mark at the end of the sentence, but half-heartedly, Kurumizawa-san took the notebook from me.
She looked at the problem I had just started to solve, checked the past answers, … went through them all, and finally handed the notebook back to me.
ā€œIt’s beyond what I expected.ā€
I’m sure that’s not meant in a positive way.
ā€œNakayama may look sophisticated, but compared to other people, you’d be surprised at how much of a clunker you are. You seem to be very alert, and you have a lot of openings… I’m kind of tempted by your mischievousness.ā€
Suddenly, I noticed that Kurumizawa-san was snuggled up to me.
She pecked me lightly on the cheek and smiled happily.
ā€œNo, no, not at allā€¦ā€
Of course, I stood up and kept my distance from her, but I guess she knew that I would do that.
She didn’t seem too bothered by it and beckoned me over again.
ā€œI’m just kidding… Come here, okay? I’m not going to hurt you anymore, so don’t be scared.ā€
It is as if she is addressing a small animal.
ā€œā€¦!ā€
I felt ashamed of myself for being so, and it seemed very uncool to be so stubborn.
It is not good to be too sensitive. Fearfully, I returned to my seat. I’m not sure what to expect, but I’m sure I’ll be able to find a way to get back to my original location.
ā€œWell, well, … Nakayama seems to be even dumber than I imagined, so I’ll teach you a lesson.ā€
ā€œHuh? Kurumizawa-san?ā€
The unexpected offer left me bewildered.
I didn’t intend to be too friendly, and of course I wanted to refuse.
ā€œYou don’t like it? If that’s the case, well … I will have nothing to do but to aggressively approach and seduce Nakayama, is that okay? I don’t mind if I use this time alone with you for something other than studying.ā€
Once I heard the half-threatening words, I could not refuse the proposal.
I would certainly rather be studying than being tempted.
ā€œHah… if that’s the case, I’d rather study.ā€
When I told her that with a sigh, Kurumizawa-san’s cheeks relaxed happily.
ā€œYes, I think that would be better… You know, I don’t really want Nakayama to have a bad time. If at all possible, if we can spend some meaningful time with each other, that would be great.ā€
Her pink twintails were swaying, probably because her body was fidgeting.
Clearly, Kurumizawa-san was pleased.
It’s only a matter of time before she decides to teach me how to study.
That kind of unconcealed favoritism was really hard to do.
ā€œThen this problemā€¦ā€
And so I ended up being tutored by Kurumizawa-san.
Although I was formally the tutor, before I knew it, the positions were reversed, but … I’m not very smart, so it can’t be helped.
On the other hand, I heard that Kurumizawa-san is quite smart.
She taught me well and explained things carefully, so I was able to solve the problems that were taking me so long with ease.
I found myself concentrating.
I didn’t feel any disgust at the time, and I was spending my time as usual.
I was having a study session with Shiho, though it wasn’t the same as that time…
But it felt like a similar amount of time had passed, and it was kind of creepy.
It was as if my memories of the study session with Shiho had been overwritten.