Baki turned around and started walking toward the door.
“Hmph.”
“We’ll settle this later.”
As soon as she stepped outside—
Aria suddenly ran after her.
Before anyone could understand what happened, she grabbed Baki’s hand and pulled her into a hug.
Baki froze instantly.
“…Huh?”
Aria rested her chin on Baki’s shoulder and smirked lightly.
“Today you survived.”
Then she laughed softly.
“But next time, I won’t go easy on you.”
Baki narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
“You’re saying that while hugging me?”
Aria grinned.
Then her voice became quieter.
“You already know, don’t you?”
She looked at Baki for a moment.
“You know why I always act scared of you in front of everyone.”
Baki stayed silent.
Aria smiled faintly.
“Because if I act normal with everyone…”
“…they’ll start treating you differently too.”
Her eyes softened a little.
“You’ve always been my family first.”
Baki looked away immediately, trying to hide her expression.
“Tch.”
Then she crossed her arms.
“…You talk too much.”
But despite her words—
She didn’t push Aria away.
Aria suddenly stopped walking.
Her eyes widened.
“…OH NO!”
Everyone looked at her in confusion.
Aria grabbed her head dramatically.
“My assignments!”
“I DIDN’T COMPLETE MY ASSIGNMENTS!”
Panic instantly took over her face.
Without wasting another second, she rushed toward Shin and grabbed his shoulders.
“Shin!”
She looked at him with puppy eyes.
“Pleaaaase complete my assignments for me.”
Shin immediately removed her hands and stepped back.
“…Why should I?”
Then he crossed his arms proudly.
“I’m not doing it.”
“Do your own assignments.”
Aria looked betrayed.
“You call yourself my friend?”
Shin pointed at himself dramatically.
“Yes.”
“And that’s exactly why I’m telling you to do your own work.”
Aria narrowed her eyes.
“…Traitor.”
Then she immediately turned toward Roy.
“Roy…”
Before she could even finish, Roy raised his hand.
“No.”
Aria blinked.
“…But I didn’t even ask yet.”
Roy looked at her suspiciously.
“I already know what you’re going to say.”
Aria immediately smiled awkwardly.
“Hehe…”
“Roy, please complete my assignments.”
Roy stared at her blankly.
“…Why would I?”
Aria instantly pointed at him.
“Because your handwriting and my handwriting are similar.”
Roy looked offended immediately.
“Aria.”
His voice became serious.
“Don’t compare my beautiful handwriting to your handwriting.”
Aria raised an eyebrow.
“Oh really?”
Roy fixed his collar proudly.
“At least mine looks readable.”
Aria slowly narrowed her eyes.
“…You want to fight?”
Roy immediately raised both hands dramatically.
“Okay, okay, relax!”
He took two steps back cautiously.
“But I’m still not doing your assignments.”
Aria narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms.
“…Useless.”
Just then, Tashinora casually spoke from behind.
“I’ll do your assignments.”
Silence.
Aria instantly turned around.
Her eyes suddenly started sparkling.
“…Really?”
Tashinora nodded calmly.
“Yeah.”
The next second—
Aria grabbed both of his hands dramatically.
“Tashinora!”
“You’re amazing!”
“Thank you!”
Meanwhile, Muichiro stared at him suspiciously.
“…Why are you helping her?”
Tashinora shrugged casually.
“Because unlike some people, I’m kind.”
Muichiro narrowed his eyes.
“…I suddenly want to punch you.”
Before they could continue arguing, Elli’s voice came from the dining area.
“Children, come here.”
“Muichiro, Tuantuan, come eat breakfast.”
Tashinora instantly froze.
Then he slowly turned toward Elli with a completely serious expression.
“Elli Grandma…”
He pointed at himself dramatically.
“I’m not Tuantuan anymore.”
Then he fixed his collar proudly.
“My name is…”
“Tashinora.”
“…Tashinora Agutsu.”
Elli blinked twice.
Then smiled innocently.
“Oh.”
A few seconds passed.
“Okay, Tuantuan.
Come eat.”
Silence.
Tashinora: “…”
Shin immediately burst out laughing.
Just then, Roy smirked and looked toward Tashinora.
“By the way…”
He tried holding back his laughter.
“Tuantuan is actually a pretty good name.”
Tashinora slowly turned toward him.
His expression instantly became serious.
“…Say that again.”
Roy immediately looked away.
“Nope.
I value my life.”
Tashinora crossed his arms and spoke firmly,
“Listen carefully.”
“No one…”
“…absolutely no one…”
“…is allowed to call me Tuantuan.”
He pointed at himself dramatically.
“Only Elli Grandma…”
“…Bali Grandma…”
He paused for a moment.
“…and Miwa-chan.”
The room suddenly became quiet.
Then Aria casually took a sip of juice and said,
“Oh, Miwa-chan?”
Everyone turned toward her.
Aria looked completely normal.
“She’s his childhood friend.”
Then she smirked mischievously.
“Actually no…”
She looked at Tashinora with a teasing smile.
“…calling her just a childhood friend feels wrong.”
Tashinora’s eyes widened instantly.
“ARIA.”
Aria ignored him completely.
“She used to follow him around everywhere.”
Then she looked at everyone dramatically.
“And this idiot used to pretend he was annoyed every single time.”
Muichiro suddenly grinned.
“Ohhh…”
Roy smirked.
“So that kind of childhood friend?”
Tashinora immediately stood up.
“No!”
Aria innocently blinked.
“Hm?”
Then she smiled devilishly.
“Why are you getting nervous, Tuantuan?”
Tashinora: “…”
“I regret helping with your assignments.”
Aria waved her hand casually and laughed.
“Are, it’s not like that.”
Everyone looked toward her curiously.
She pointed at Tashinora with a teasing smile.
“Miwa-chan has feelings for him…”
Then she paused dramatically and took another sip of juice.
“…but he doesn’t.”
Silence.
Everyone slowly turned toward Tashinora.
Roy’s eyebrows lifted.
“Ohhhh…”
Muichiro smirked.
“So someone likes our great Tashinora?”
Shin grinned mischievously.
“Tuantuan has fans too?”
Tashinora instantly stood up.
“STOP CALLING ME THAT!”
Jennifer covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.
Meanwhile, Aria rested her chin on her hand and smiled innocently.
“But honestly…”
She looked at Tashinora.
“Miwa-chan is actually really nice.”
Tashinora looked away awkwardly.
“…Eat your breakfast.”
Aria immediately gasped dramatically.
“YOU BLUSHED!”
Tashinora: “I DID NOT.”
Muichiro crossed his arms and looked at Aria seriously.
“It’s fine.”
Then he sighed dramatically.
“If Tashinora won’t do it…”
“…then I’ll complete your assignments.”
Aria’s eyes instantly sparkled.
“Really?!”
Before Muichiro could even react, Aria suddenly grabbed both of his hands tightly.
“Muichiro!”
She smiled brightly.
“You’re the best!”
Muichiro froze for a moment.
“…Eh?”
Meanwhile, Tashinora slowly narrowed his eyes.
“…Excuse me?”
He pointed at himself dramatically.
“Where did I disappear from this conversation?”
Then he looked at Aria with an offended expression.
“You’re so selfish.”
Aria blinked innocently.
“Hm?”
Tashinora crossed his arms and looked away.
“I was the one helping you first.”
“And now suddenly Muichiro is the best?”
Aria looked at him for a few seconds…
Then she smiled mischievously.
“Oh.”
“So you’re jealous?” 😏
Tashinora immediately fixed his collar and flipped his hair dramatically.
“Jealous?”
He looked at Muichiro from head to toe and scoffed.
“As if I’d be jealous of him.”
Then he crossed his arms proudly.
“He’s not even handsome enough to compete with me.”
Muichiro slowly turned toward him.
Silence.
“…What?”
Shin almost choked on his drink.
Roy covered his mouth, trying not to laugh.
Jennifer looked back and forth between them excitedly.
“Oho…”
“A beauty competition?”
Aria looked at both of them seriously for a few seconds.
Then she tilted her head.
“Hm…”
Muichiro and Tashinora both looked at her at the same time.
“…What?”
Aria rubbed her chin like she was thinking deeply.
Then she nodded.
“Yeah…”
“You two are both good-looking.”
For one second, both of them looked satisfied—
Then Aria smiled innocently and added,
“But I’m still prettier than both of you.”
Silence.
Muichiro: “…”
Tashinora: “…”
Shin fell off his chair laughing…