Aoi and the rest of her classmates had been studying together for several days before the exams. During a break, everyone was gathered in small groups around the classroom when Hina suddenly spoke up.
— What do you guys think about studying at someone's house? Like, one final study session before the exams?
Mio made a troubled face.
— My house is kinda complicated right now…
— Mine is… small — Souma admitted.
Hina then turned toward Aoi.
— What about your place, Aoi?
— M-my house…?
She started counting on her fingers.
— Me, Mio, Hina, Misaki, Souma, Yamada, and Matsuda…?
Matsuda pointed at himself.
— Me? You included me?
— You don't want to come? — Aoi asked.
Matsuda smiled softly.
— Actually… I'm kinda happy you did, hehe.
Matsuda Ren quickly thought to himself:
"Misaki's coming too… this might be my chance."
At that moment, Takumi walked over with Hanae beside him.
— I heard you're organizing a study group.
— I told him — Hanae replied casually.
Takumi sighed.
— You didn't have to say it like that…
— Y-yeah… we are organizing one — Aoi answered.
Takumi straightened his tie, adjusted his glasses, and asked seriously:
— Would it be alright if we joined too?
Aoi blinked in surprise.
— Y-you two? The top students in class?
— I've spent the past few weeks helping other groups study. Now I need to review some things myself… so I can help you guys while I'm at it.
— I was helping too, Takumi-kun — Hanae added proudly.
Takumi let out another tired sigh.
— Right… Hanae-chan.
Hina clapped her hands excitedly.
— Then it's settled! Everyone's going to Aoi's house on Saturday!
— W-wait, Hina! I didn't agree to anything yet and—
Souma looked directly at her.
— At your house, Aoi?
Aoi stared into his steady eyes for a few seconds before quietly replying:
— …Okay.
Mio smirked a little.
— Saved by Souma.
— What was that, Mio?
— Hahaha, nothing, Aoi-chan.
After classes ended, Hina created a LINE group called "Studying at Aoi's House."
Aoi sighed the moment she saw the name.
— Well… tomorrow's Saturday. I'll prepare some snacks for everyone, and after that we focus completely on studying.
On her way home, she stopped by a combini and bought snacks, soda, and some tea.
Later that evening, Aoi tried studying alone in her room. But every few minutes, her eyes drifted toward her video game console.
"Focus, Aoi… focus…"
She stretched her arms and walked downstairs just as Yukiko opened the front door.
— Welcome home, Aoi!
— Ah, hi Mom. The girls are coming over tomorrow for a study group.
— Ah, Hina and Mio? That's wonderful! I miss seeing them.
Aoi immediately started sweating nervously.
— T-there might also be one or two more people coming too… is that okay?
— That's fine, as long as nothing gets out of control.
— We're seriously just studying, Mom. Really, hehe.
Yukiko smiled softly.
— Thank you for helping out so much around the house lately, Aoi. Especially with dinner.
— Y-you don't have to thank me…
— And how's the theater club going?
— My performance is after this week's exams. Right at the beginning of December.
— I want to see it, okay?
Aoi looked away awkwardly.
— I-I don't even have that many lines…
— That doesn't matter, sweetheart.
Aoi ended up smiling a little.
— Okay.
After dinner and finishing her chores, she studied a bit longer until her head slowly started drooping toward the desk.
She checked the time.
— Wow… it's already 11 PM. I should sleep.
Before putting her phone away, she noticed a message from Souma on LINE.
"I'm looking forward to tomorrow. Should I bring anything?"
Aoi smiled softly as she typed:
"You don't need to."
She hesitated for a second… then continued typing.
"I just want to see you."
The moment she sent it, her eyes widened.
— Aah… what did I just send…?!
She quickly covered her mouth while staring at the "typing…" notification.
Aoi kept staring at the screen without blinking until Souma finally replied:
"Just seeing me?"
Along with a panda emoji covering its eyes.
Aoi's hand started trembling slightly as she hurriedly typed back:
"Everyone's coming tomorrow."
She added an emoji of someone hiding behind a wall.
The "typing…" notification appeared again… disappeared… appeared once more…
Then Souma simply replied:
"See you tomorrow ✨☺️"
Aoi tossed her phone onto the bed and sat there hugging her knees, unable to stop a goofy smile from escaping.
The next morning, she woke up to the smell of coffee coming from the kitchen.
— I'm gonna take a quick shower, okay Mom?
— Go ahead. What time is your study group coming?
— Probably after lunch.
— Then you still have plenty of time.
After showering, Aoi changed into comfortable clothes and was drying her hair when the doorbell rang.
— Huh… who could that be?
She slowly opened the door.
— Hina…?
Hina stood there holding a small cake.
— Sorry for showing up so early, Aoi-chan.
— Me too, hehe — Mio said while stepping out from behind her.
— Mio?! Who else is here?
— Just us.
Yukiko appeared behind Aoi.
— Ah, hello Hina, Mio. Thank you for taking care of my daughter.
The two girls blushed slightly while glancing at Aoi.
— But why did you come so early? — Aoi asked.
Mio scratched her cheek.
— Sorry, it was my idea. We wanted some time with just the three of us before everyone else arrived.
— Good thing I haven't started cooking yet — Yukiko laughed. — Otherwise there wouldn't have been enough food.
— Mom…
— Go enjoy yourselves. I'll finish things here.
The three girls smiled together.
— Thank you.
— I'll make some tea — Aoi said.
While Mio and Hina sat on the couch, Yukiko smiled nostalgically.
— It's been years since you girls came here. I'm happy you're still friends.
— Well… we all have more things going on now — Mio replied.
— Same here. I'm finishing my manga too, along with club activities and everything else… — Hina added.
— Oh? A manga? — Yukiko asked with interest.
— You said you'd show it to us once it's finished, remember? — Aoi said.
— I wanna read it too! — Mio quickly added.
Hina blushed a little.
— Y-yeah… once it's done, I'll show everyone.
— There's that "everyone" again. Now I'm excited — Mio laughed.
Not long after, the three girls went upstairs to Aoi's room and started studying.
Or at least… they tried to.
Because Mio suddenly dropped her pencil and bluntly asked:
— So, Aoi… when are you going to confess to Souma?
Aoi blinked twice.
— W-WHAT?!
Hina looked at her gently.
— You don't have to deny it, Aoi. We support you, okay?
Aoi immediately stood up.
— B-but… how do you guys even…?
— It's painfully obvious, Aoi. Seriously — Mio replied.
Aoi looked away.
— I… don't know. I think I like him… but I don't really know how to explain it.
Hina sat down beside her.
— Does your heart race when he's near you? Do you get nervous? Feel like you don't know what to say?
— Easy there, Hina — Mio started laughing. — You're gonna scare her.
— I-I might feel things like that… I can't think properly when he's around…
Hina smiled softly.
— Then I think it's time.
Lying on the floor, Mio casually commented:
— I heard he rejected Misaki.
— Maybe he likes you too, Aoi-chan — Hina added.
Aoi lightly held her chest.
— Do you really think so…?
— You could try finding out without asking him directly — Mio suggested.
— I-I don't know…
— I can make him confess if you want.
— Mio! Y-you don't need to do that!
Hina burst out laughing.
— Do you seriously want to become a romance novelist, Mio?
Aoi started laughing too.
— Hahaha… the straightforward romance novelist.
— Ah, shut up. I'm still learning.
Aoi lowered her gaze for a few seconds before quietly saying:
— I feel safe when I'm with him.
The room fell silent.
Then Hina and Mio stared at each other wide-eyed before shouting together:
— Aaaawwwn… Aoi and Souma!
— S-stop teasing me!
Hina stood up smiling.
— We're not teasing you. We're supporting you.
— Yeah — Mio agreed. — And honestly, I think you two are definitely ending up together.
Aoi turned completely red. She clenched her hands tightly, trembling slightly while trying to keep a serious expression… but eventually she just took a deep breath and covered her face.
— T-thank you…
Hina smiled proudly.
— Now you just need to stay calm.
— Souma's gonna be here soon — Mio pointed out.
Aoi's eyes widened.
— I didn't even think about that… Souma's coming into my room…
She instantly turned red again.
Hina laughed.
— Everyone else is gonna be here too, so relax.
— Y-yeah… I'm trying to think about that instead… but… when do you think I should talk to him?
— Today — Mio answered immediately. — At the end of the study session, we'll find a way to disappear.
— And leave the two of you alone — Hina added. — Whether it's here or outside.
Mio suddenly stood up excitedly.
— I know! You could go to the combini with him while we stay here studying.
— B-but I don't want to leave my room unattended!
— Relax — Hina reassured her. — Nobody's gonna touch your stuff.
— Especially Hanae — Mio added. — She's nice, but kinda eccentric.
— Hahaha, true.
Aoi sat on the bed, hugged her pillow tightly, and mumbled:
— Maybe… either the combini or after the study session… but I think after is better.
— Why? — Hina asked.
Aoi buried her face into the pillow.
— Because I won't be able to focus if I'm alone with him before that…
Mio dramatically placed a hand on her chest.
— Wow, Aoi-chan… you're growing up.
— Stop saying weird things, idiot… hehe.