"The final exam won't cover new material. We'll just briefly review the previous key points. You should have highlighted the important... never mind, I'll mark them for you."
In the room, the two sat facing each other across the table.
Seeing her doodle-filled notes, Kaoru took a deep breath.
"Is this... really bad?" Karuizawa Kei flushed.
She usually spent her time having fun and rarely studied proactively.
If not for ANHS expulsion policy, she probably wouldn't even attend classes.
"At least your handwriting is neat." Kaoru pointed to a spot in her notes.
"But you got this part wrong. The cumulative formula isn't written like this."
Karuizawa Kei grew even more embarrassed and hurriedly corrected her mistake with a pen.
"You're pretty popular in class, right?" Kaoru glanced at her delicate face—there was no trace of her past bullying history in her.
With her pretty face, slightly pointed chin, and trendy style, she looked like the epitome of a social butterfly.
"Sort of. Some people hang out with me, others don't." Karuizawa Kei was actually quite proud.
She had adopted a tough-girl persona, yet no one in class had seen through her true nature.
On the contrary, everyone flocked around her.
She'd worried that breaking up with Hirata might affect her standing, but people were merely surprised.
Some even thought a gal like her should date multiple handsome guys.
"Are all the students who hang out with you like that?"
"Are you trying to pick a fight with me?"
"No, I was just thinking—if your grades suddenly improved, what would they think of you?"
"It wouldn't be a problem at all. I'd just drop your name."
Seeing Karuizawa Kei's nonchalant expression, Kaoru stroked his chin and asked a few more questions about Class D.
"Can you start teaching me now?" Karuizawa Kei looked at him pleadingly.
"Of course, but I doubt one night will be enough. We'll need more time."
Judging from her notes, Karuizawa Kei's wasnt just dumb—even the former Kamuro could easily surpass her.
Karuizawa Kei fully understood his implication and bit her lip lightly.
"Give me the key."
"What key?" Kaoru froze.
"The room key... I was thinking every day... as long as you're free, I'll come over immediately." Karuizawa Kei tried not to let her voice sound too eager.
"Studying outside would make our pairing look strange, wouldn't it? So we can only have tutoring sessions in your room."
Kaoru looked at her with an odd expression while murmuring.
"Kei, when the wolf wants to eat the sheep, the sheep doesn't obediently walk into the wolf's den."
"We're studying," Karuizawa corrected him with flushed cheeks.
Of course she understood the implications, but wasn't the sheep also putting on an act?
Since it was studying, Kaoru proceeded to teach her the most basic concepts.
To make it easier for this airhead to understand, he explained everything in the simplest terms possible, almost like teaching a preschooler, which helped her grasp the material quickly.
Occasionally during the lessons, he would ask a question or two.
If Karuizawa answered correctly, Kaoru wouldn't hesitate to praise her.
Studying was inherently dull, and without positive reinforcement, motivation and enthusiasm would gradually wane.
Having tutored more than one or two high school girls before, Kaoru understood the psychology of airheads quite well.
Before she realized it, Karuizawa found herself listening more attentively, even breaking into happy smiles whenever he praised her.
At the same time, perhaps to listen more comfortably, Karuizawa gradually closed the distance between them.
The girl had moved from sitting across to right beside Kaoru, their shoulders now touching.
Kaoru glanced at her exposed shoulder—the smooth skin seemed to glow with a milky sheen.
The room's lighting cast a soft glow on her delicate face, while her slightly damp hair exuded an intoxicating fragrance.
With her hands propped on the floor and her body leaning toward him, her collar revealed a glimpse of snowy skin, the soft curves possessing an elastic suppleness that was visually arresting.
Her legs, crossed at an angle beneath her skirt, brushed against Kaoru's—even through the fabric, he could feel a faint, tingling sensation.
.....
"Alright, that's enough for today. Any more and you won't remember anything."
With that, Kaoru closed the textbook.
He had been teaching for three or four hours, and it was nearly midnight.
"Wah, it's over already?" Karuizawa Kei snapped out of her focus, rubbing her tired eyes.
"It didn't feel that long at all, totally different from class."
"That's because you were really focused on memorizing today, so you didn't notice the time." Kaoru paused.
"Honestly, I didn't expect Kei to keep up with my pace. You grasped every concept and could even apply them—it shows you're not bad at all."
Karuizawa Kei froze for a moment, then flushed bright red, waving her hands dismissively.
"No way! I'm completely hopeless at studying!"
"You're not dumb. Once you understand the material, you pick it up right away."
"Guh..."
Karuizawa Kei felt her face burning.
She had come tonight to spend time with Kaoru under the guise of studying—really, it was supposed to be a stay-at-home date.
But... but why had she gotten so absorbed in the lesson?
And why was he such a good teacher?
Being good at teaching was one thing, but he kept praising her every now and then, leaving her utterly flustered.
Noticing her reaction, Kaoru chuckled.
"Today's study session is over. Have you thought about what reward you'll give me?"
Though he hadn't pressed the reward topic earlier, he found it amusing how Karuizawa was clearly mortified yet trying hard to act composed.
Sure enough, her pretty face turned crimson, and she lowered her head, likely from embarrassment.
"Even though you're my boyfriend, spending this much time..."
Before Kaoru could finish, the girl suddenly lifted her face.
Her eyes were abruptly close, and then came the soft, warm sensation of her lips against his.
A sweet, pleasant fragrance drifted from her into Kaoru's nose, tickling slightly.
"Mmm..." Karuizawa Kei slowly pulled back, her eyes slightly raised, biting her lower lip, her face still flushed.
"Is... is this reward okay?"
Kaoru instinctively touched his lips with his fingers.
That brief peck was probably her first kiss—so inexperienced.
"Kei, are you tempting me?"
"Wah! T-tempting? Don't say something so indecent! I had to gather all my courage for that!"
"But you know what I'd do, right?"
"Wha—mmph!?"
The next moment, Kaoru suddenly kissed Karuizawa.
The girl's sweetness was like delectable milk candy, stirring an insatiable craving.
-----------------------------
Please read my new fic : One piece : Scum of the Marine!
Read 50 chapters ahead and support me on patreon.
patreon (.)com/Newbietranslator