"Don't be so serious. I'm your brother-in-law after all. Nothing wrong with me calling you that," Shiro Sakamaki said teasingly.
Yukinoshita Yukino shot him a cold glare, clearly annoyed. But she didn't deny it. Stubborn as ever, she reluctantly accepted his antics.
"You and Haruno aren't married yet. Anything could still happen," she said sharply.
"You don't have to worry about that," Shiro replied with a smirk. "I might flirt a bit, sure. But when I commit, I commit seriously."
"Tch—No wonder you're into love triangle novels," Yukino snorted.
Love Metronome was a story built on a delicate emotional tug-of-war between a male lead and two heroines. Shiro had flipped through it after seeing it earlier.
He had to admit, Kasumigaoka Utaha had an elegant writing style, but her portrayal of emotional conflict lacked punch.
The drama never hit hard enough. For someone like Yukino, who had never experienced love, it might seem charming. But for someone who's been through it?
Meh.
"It's not like I liked it. Just because I read it doesn't mean I'm a fan, okay?" Yukino argued.
"And I hate wishy-washy male leads!"
Shiro chuckled, casually raising a fist in mock bravado. "Then if it were me? Easy. Only children make choices—I'll take them all."
---
Evening – After Club Activities
Later that evening, Shiro stopped by Kobayashi's house to pick up Kanna Kamui.
Under the intense, glaring watch of Thor, Shiro politely turned down their invitation to dinner and took Kanna out to eat on the way back.
He didn't want to be late—the Nakano sisters were waiting.
---
Nakano Sisters' Apartment
When Shiro arrived, the living room had been transformed. A whiteboard stood against the wall, flanked by fresh markers and neatly arranged chairs.
It was clear: they'd made serious effort to prepare.
Not bad. Better reception than poor Futaro ever got.
He uncapped a marker and wrote his name in large, clean Japanese characters on the board.
"Even though we're already familiar with each other, I'll start with a formal introduction."
"My name is Shiro Sakamaki, and from today onward, I'll be your tutor. I look forward to working with all of you."
Polite applause followed. But truthfully, only Itsuki and Nino seemed enthusiastic. The others… less so.
Shiro understood. After so many failed attempts to improve, their confidence was at rock bottom. Their high school journey had barely begun, and already they were drowning.
"I took a look at your test scores today. I won't sugarcoat it—they're awful."
He tapped the board.
"Together, you scored a grand total of 100 points. Between all five of you."
A collective twitch went through the group. If they weren't already used to Shiro's bluntness, they might've kicked him out on the spot.
Still, the truth stung.
"But that's exactly why I'm here. My job is to help change that. I won't lie—there will be struggles. But I want you to keep going, even when it gets hard."
He glanced around. "We'll start with your strongest subjects first. Build some wins. Build your confidence."
That caught their attention. Eyes lit up, just a little. A different approach—personalized. Understandable. Hopeful.
In the past, tutors had always jumped straight into dense material, overwhelming them from day one. No one tried to meet them where they were.
Shiro smiled inwardly. First you give them hope. Then you give them direction.
"Set a small goal first—pass one or two subjects in the next exam."
His tone grew warmer, resonant. To drive the message deeper, he quietly laced his voice with mental resonance, subtly nudging their motivation.
And it worked.
Even Ichika, who usually snoozed through lectures, leaned forward.
"I've also analyzed your scores and mapped your strengths," he said, turning back to the board.
"One of you is best at Math. Another English. Social Studies. Language Arts. And finally, Science."
He wrote their names and subjects beneath the headers.
"We'll tailor the workload accordingly. I won't focus only on one person each day, but your homework will be personalized."
"I know it means more work, for me and for you. But I'm not doing this just for a paycheck. I want you to succeed."
Their expressions softened. A few shoulders relaxed. This wasn't just a tutor—they saw someone genuinely trying to help them, not judge them.
Shiro continued, "Once you pass a single subject, the question becomes—why not another? Maybe you're not naturally good at a certain class, but effort counts."
"As your confidence grows, so will your independence. And one day, you won't need me anymore."
He reached into his bag and placed a thick stack of notes on the table.
"These are the study guides I've compiled. Everything from this semester is covered."
The girls looked at him with new eyes.
Not as a stranger. Not as an annoyance.
But as someone who just might lead them out of the pit they'd been stuck in for so long.
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