Chapter 3 ā Interacting With Enami-san\nVolume 1\n<hr class="wp-block-separator is-style-wide">\nIt was after I got home and finished cleaning up for dinner.\n\n\nI had just gotten out of the bath and was sitting on the couch in the living room trying to cool down from the heat. I was watching the news on my phone when I suddenly received a notification on Line.\n\n\n\nRisa Enami: What are you doing?\n\n\n\nć\nI was surprised when I saw the senderās name. I had no idea it was Enami-san. Even though I had registered for it, I didnāt think she would send a message to me. My body, which had been leaning against the backrest, slumped forward.\n\n\nI hurriedly responded to it.\n\n\n\nNaoya Ookusu: I just got out of the bath and cooled off.\n\n\n\nMy body is still burning, and sweat is pouring down my face and arms. In a daze, I look at the screen of my phone.\n\n\nThe message was read immediately. A reply comes.\n\n\nRisa Enami: I just got out of the bath too\n\n\nA casual exchange. But when I think of it as a conversation with Enami-san, it feels really strange.\n\nWiping my wet head with a towel, I was wondering what I should say. It was so sudden, I didnāt know how to respond. I donāt exchange Line with many people in the first place, so I donāt know what a safe response would be.\n\n\nWhile I was in a daze, I received another message from Enami-san.\n\n\n\nRisa Enami: Are you sure you donāt need to study?\n\n\nShe seemed to be worried about me.\n\n\nNaoya Ookusu: Iām about to.\n\n\n\nItās not like I can study as soon as I get home. I have to cook for my sister and father and clean up after dinner. Laundry is also my job. There are so many things I have to do.\n\n\nRisa Enami: Is that so?\n\nNaoya Ookusu: What about you, Enami-san?\n\n\nI raised my head and looked out the window. Itās a garden that hasnāt been used since my mother died. In the past, there used to be several plants lined up. Now itās just a bleak place with weeds growing out of it. I can hear the faint cry of a cricket.\n\n\nMy phone trembled slightly.\n\n\nRisa Enami: I wonāt tell.\n\n\nSomehow, I thought that was typical of Enami.\n\n\nNaoya Ookusu: You should study.\n\nRisa Enami: Why?\n\nNaoya Ookusu: Probably because itās better.\n\n\nEnami-san will be able to get good grades with a little study. I thought it would be a shame not to take advantage of her potential.\n\n\nRisa Enami: Hmm.\n\n\nWell, itās none of my business.\n\n\nNaoya Ookusu: Are you going to come for the midterm exams?\n\n\nIf I remember correctly, she was late during the test period, and the evaluation for what you couldnāt take must have been disastrous.\n\n\nRisa Enami: Iām coming.\n\n\nStill, I think itās inevitable that Enami-san will be held back in school. She was far too late. In that sense, maybe thereās no need to take this test so seriously.\n\n\nNaoya Ookusu: Then get a good score!\n\n\nIt wasnāt for the sake of the teacher. Itās simply that Iāve begun to take an interest in Risa Enami. I still havenāt gotten rid of my negative image of her, but I honestly hope that she can do at least a little bit better.\n\nRisa Enami: Whatās a good score?\nć\nNaoya Ookusu: At least avoid red marks!\n\n\n\nEven though sheās become more serious, itās only been two days at most. It might be difficult to make your grades skyrocket with such a quick fix.\n\n\n\nNaoya Ookusu: Since Iāve taught you so well, you should at least do that!\n\nć\nRisa Enami: Well, I can try giving my best.\n\n\nBut she might at least be able to get out of the bottom grade. As far as I taught her today, there was no subject that she couldnāt do anything about. All subjects were universally weak, but none of them were that bad.\n\n\n\nEnami Risa: Speaking of which, I heard that youāre always the top test ranker.\n\nć\nNaoya Ookusu: Thatās right!\n\n\n\nSince I started high school, Iāve never once given up the top spot. I may have been beaten by others in some subjects, but I always beat them in the overall score.\n\n\nNaoya Ookusu: How did you know?\n\n\nUntil recently, you must not have been interested in me even a millimeter. I didnāt think you knew.\n\nAs I typed, I got a reply right away.\n\n\nRisa Enami: I heard from Nishikawa recently. Youāre surprisingly amazing.\n\nć\nNaoya Ookusu: Iām making that much of an effort.\n\nRisa Enami: Now thatās a little gross.\n\nNaoya Ookusu: Why is that!!\n\n\n\nThis is not good. I donāt know where to stop the conversation. If I donāt, itās going to go on forever. Iāve decided to study for four hours a day. If I donāt start soon, it will be too late for me to go to bed.\n\n\nNaoya Ookusu: I want to go study soon.\n\n\nI felt apologetic, but I had no choice.\n\n\nRisa Enami: Are you mad?\n\n\nShe must have thought I was trying to end the conversation because I heard the word āgrossā.\n\n\nNaoya Ookusu: No. Iām not mad at you.\n\n\nSayaka has been calling me āgrossā every day. If I lost my temper every time she said it, my body wouldnāt be able to handle it.\n\n\nRisa Enami: Right. Well, good luck with that.\n\n\nIāll just add one last text.\n\n\nNaoya Ookusu: Ah!\n\n\n\nThe message was read, but there was no reply from Enami-san.\n\nć\nI put my phone to sleep and get up from the sofa.\n\nI looked at my watch and saw that it was only about 8 pm. If I study from here, Iāll be able to go to bed by the time the day ends.\n