Shiro had expected a little resistance, but the sighs and subtle head shakes from the Nakano sisters still made him chuckle inwardly.
He'd barely pulled out the review notes when Ichika raised her hand.
"Shiro-kun… we already know these things just by glancing at them. But this method—honestly—it hasn't really helped us."
The others nodded in quiet agreement, sharing her sentiment.
Shiro stayed calm.
"I get that you're tired of this approach. But even if we go my route, you still need to remember the basics."
He paced slowly, then pointed at the board.
"Think of exam questions like locks. And these knowledge points? They're your keys."
"What I want to teach you is how to use the right key, not how to force the door open. That's not how it works. Nobody can break through math problems with brute force."
He tapped a finger against the whiteboard for emphasis.
"Everything in life can deceive you. But math? Math doesn't lie. If it says no, it's no. There's no wiggle room."
"You need to gather the right keys—and learn to use them well—so no lock can stop you."
The sisters looked at each other, visibly processing his metaphor. It wasn't flashy, but it landed.
Internally, Shiro gave thanks for the mental resonance technique he picked up from the Cthulhu Original Codex. It made his words more compelling—subtle influence, not manipulation.
If this had been Futaro Uesugi, the impact would've dropped by at least 20%.
---
"Since today's our first session, and I didn't have time to prepare properly, we'll officially start the full lessons the day after tomorrow."
"Yeah!" the five sisters cheered together, already more engaged.
"But even if we're not diving into the big stuff, you still have today's homework. Take it out."
"Aww, homework? Really?" groaned Ichika.
"I'm so sleepy…" Yotsuba added, fake yawning.
"Shiro-kun, you're totally a demon in disguise," grumbled Miku.
"Hmph. In the end, you're just like all the other teachers," said Nino, arms crossed.
Only Itsuki didn't complain. Adjusting her glasses, she calmly pulled her homework book from her backpack.
With her leading by example, the others reluctantly followed suit.
They couldn't deny it—Shiro might be strict, but he cared. And they had grown strangely comfortable with him, even respectful.
By the time he helped each of them through their assignments, it was already close to 10 p.m.
---
Later That Night – Back at Shiro's Apartment
When Shiro returned home, he found Misaki Senpai already there, her suitcase beside her.
"Junior, welcome back. I hope it's not inconvenient, but I'd like to stay here for a while."
Shiro smiled gently. "Not at all. You're always welcome, Misaki-senpai. In fact, I'm glad."
"Hehe, I knew you were the best. But I'll pay rent this time."
"No need. Honestly, I'm fine. You staying here doesn't cost me anything."
He lifted her suitcase with ease and headed to the spare bedroom.
"You'll be staying in the same room as last time—right next to Kanna's."
"Perfect. Thank you, Junior."
After helping her settle in, they returned to the living room. Shiro handed her a cold bottle of milk.
"There are towels and toothbrushes under the bathroom sink. Snacks are in the kitchen. Make yourself at home."
"Mm!"
"I'm going to collect the laundry. Help yourself in the meantime."
---
On the balcony, the evening breeze cooled his skin as he gathered the clothes from the line.
He paused when he noticed Haruno's undergarments still hanging there. She'd clearly forgotten to take them.
Seeing them made his heart ache a little.
It's only been a few days… and I already miss her.
Without overthinking it, he dialed her number.
It rang twice before she answered.
The background was noisy—she was likely walking in a crowded street—but her voice was bright and full of life.
"Hi~ Good evening, darling. Did you miss me?"
Shiro smiled. "Yeah. I do."
"Aww, you're sweet. I'm on exchange right now with classmates—abroad."
"Abroad?"
"Mm-hmm. I'm in the U.S. It'll take about a week before I'm back."
Shiro's tone shifted, gentle but serious. "Take care of yourself, Haruno. Don't go out alone at night."
"I know. I'll be fine. Just wait for me."
They talked for a long while, sharing bits of their day. Shiro eventually mentioned Misaki staying over.
Predictably, Haruno got a little jealous—but she didn't complain. In fact, it seemed like she'd been expecting something like this.
There was even a hint of amusement in her voice.
After thirty minutes of gentle conversation, they finally hung up.
---
Remembering that Chihiro-sensei ought to be informed about Misaki's temporary stay, Shiro made one more call.
"Hello? Chihiro-sensei? It's Shiro."
"Shiro? Calling me this late at night? Don't you know that sleep deprivation causes aging?"
Her voice was sharp, but he could tell she wasn't actually mad. From the background noise, she was clearly in a bar—likely an izakaya.
As expected, Shizuka Hiratsuka's voice could be heard faintly nearby.
He chuckled. "You're not sleeping either, sensei."
"Tch. Don't get smart with me, kid. What's up?"
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