Previously:
"Study… just memorizing is hard enough… teaching!?" Mash wailed.
BWEEEE! Overwhelmed by the prospect of teaching, Mash fainted.
"Didn't know studying was that bad for you," Nagisa said.
"Sorry… studying's my worst nightmare," Mash groaned, three lumps swelling on his head from Mika's "revival" punches.
"You fainted over it?" Mika asked.
"My body just… rejects it," Mash said, wincing.
"We were so worried!" Mika said. "You wouldn't wake up, so I punched you!"
"Thanks… your arm okay?" Mash asked.
"Aw, you care? I'm fine!" Mika beamed.
(She hit hard, but only lumps? He's no ordinary guy…) Nagisa thought.
"Good," Mash said, rubbing his head.
Studying was his kryptonite, and teaching it? Impossible. But…
"Anyone else to help those kids?" Mash asked.
"Sadly, no," Nagisa said.
"…" Mash frowned.
"No pressure!" Mika said. "We can't force you, but… if you don't, they might not advance."
Mash twitched.
"Failing means repeating a year… or worse, expulsion," Mika added.
"Expulsion…" Mash muttered.
"They'd be lost," Mika said.
"Lost… expelled…" Mash grabbed a cream puff, mulling it over. After finishing it, he nodded. "I'll take the advisor role."
"Yay! Thanks, Sensei!" Mika cheered.
"Relief at last," Nagisa smiled, handing Mash a file with Trinity's emblem.
"What's this?" Mash asked.
"The Supplementary Lessons Club's roster and student info," Nagisa said.
"Trinity's troublemakers—" Mika began.
"Needs more love," Nagisa corrected. "'Students needing love.'"
"Love, huh," Mash said.
"Call it what you want," Mika shrugged.
Mash opened the file, spotting four names. The first shocked him. "Shoo-chan?"
"Shoo-chan!?" they echoed.
"Sorry, nothing," Mash said.
Hifumi Ajitani—his partner in the (unauthorized) Cream Puff Couple Gang's bank heist and ally against Binah—was in the club. (Hifumi struggles with studies too? Kinda relatable.)
"Questions?" Nagisa asked.
"Tea Party's three people, right? Where's the third?" Mash asked.
"…" Nagisa hesitated.
"Seia-chan's hospitalized," Mika said, her voice heavy.
"She'd be host, but I'm filling in," Nagisa added.
"It rotates," Mika explained.
"Hope she recovers soon," Mash said.
"Yeah…" Mika looked troubled, Nagisa bitter.
"We'll arrange for you to join Trinity as needed," Nagisa said. "Thank you, Sensei."
"Let's have tea again!" Mika said. "Not sure when, though."
"It's a busy time," Nagisa agreed. "The presidents rarely gather like this."
"Thanks to you, I got to see Nagi-chan's face!" Mika grinned.
"And I yours," Nagisa replied.
They smiled, but Mash noticed something off. (Forced smiles? Bad blood? Fighting? Better not ask.) He kept quiet.
"I'll talk to the club members," Mash said. "Thanks for the tea and roll cake."
"My pleasure to escort you as host," Nagisa said.
"Call me if you need help!" Mika added.
"See ya," Mash said, heading to the double doors. He paused. "Uh… pull or push? Forgot."
THUD! Both hosts faceplanted.
At the Supplementary Lessons Club's classroom, Mash opened the (already open) door. Hifumi greeted him.
"Sensei! Long time no see! Um, looking forward to working with you!" She offered a handshake.
"You too," Mash said, shaking her hand. "Shoo-chan."
"Stop calling me Shoo-chan!" Hifumi yelled.
To be continued.
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