More than friends, but not quite lovers — people often use this phrase to describe the ambiguous relationship between a man and a woman.
Hayasaka Ai felt that her relationship with Sakurai Saki was exactly in that limbo. To say it was romantic wouldn't be accurate since they hadn't officially started dating, but to say it was purely friendship also didn't feel right, because the feelings between them were mutual.
At least from Hayasaka Ai's perspective, she and Sakurai Saki already had something between them.
They had confessed to each other — didn't that mean their hearts were connected?
Just like Fujiwara Chika thought, Hayasaka Ai also believed she had already won more than half the battle.
She even crossed Fujiwara Chika off the list of [S]-rank love rivals.
But seeing Fujiwara Chika come looking for Sakurai Saki after school so they could go home together made Hayasaka Ai snap back to reality!
'Standing still means certain defeat! Give in once today, give in ten times tomorrow — sooner or later, it's game over!'
She quickly packed up her things and headed toward a place she had scoped out earlier that afternoon — the music room.
During lunch, when Fujiwara Chika came by, she overheard something about Sakurai Saki and Shirogane Miyuki heading to the music room together.
Hayasaka Ai didn't know about Shirogane Miyuki's "Domain Expansion: Whisper of Eldritch", but she figured, someone who could be student council president couldn't possibly have a flaw as blatant as that! Maybe he was trying to surpass Kaguya-sama in music during the Golden Week break?
After all, those two had clashed plenty of times already, and scores were always one of the most important factors.
If he was willing to seek help from Sakurai-chan and Chika-chan just to beat Kaguya-sama… this was something she needed to report to Kaguya-sama right away!
Besides, Chika-chan was very gifted in music. She had won many piano competitions as a child, so teaching someone to sing shouldn't be difficult for her.
'Still, better go check it out myself.' Hayasaka Ai made her way toward the classroom door.
"Eh! Ai-chan~ you're heading out early today? Wanna hang out?"
ヾ(＾ ∇ ＾).
A cheerful Riajuu girl who was on friendly terms with Ai-chan invited her.
"Sorry, Suzu-chan~" Hayasaka Ai gave an apologetic smile.
"I've got plans today, so I can't hang out. Sorry~!"
"Really? Is it a date with Sakurai-san?"
( • ̀ω•́ )✧
Hayasaka Ai smiled: "That's a secret~!"
(˵ •̀ ᴗ - ˵ ) ✧
And with that, she hurried off toward the music room.
After a few minutes and a trip down the stairs, Hayasaka Ai arrived in front of the music room door and stealthily pressed her ear against it.
"Mgsyha'h gonna ymg' goka yogor, mgsyha'h gonna ymg' mgah'ehye mgyogor"
From within came sounds that resembled the whispering of the Void, mixed with the foul stench of rotting innards. Even though it was just a sound, it somehow transmitted sensations from her ears to her nose and even to her taste buds—just how horrifying was this?!
Hayasaka: ∘ ∘ ∘ (っ º - º ς) ?
Hayasaka Ai blinked. For a moment, she couldn't even comprehend what that "song" was trying to convey.
But she knew — this wasn't a sound any normal human could make.
"Maybe… I should just leave, yeah." Hayasaka Ai nodded as she spoke.
This door was the gateway to hell — as an ordinary person, it would be best for her to stay out of a genius's domain.
...
"Hmm? Was there someone outside just now?"
Shirogane Miyuki seemed to faintly hear footsteps outside the door.
He was extremely sensitive to this kind of thing — being found out as tone-deaf by Fujiwara Chika was already humiliating enough. If even more people found out… Shirogane Miyuki might seriously consider swimming to another continent and living the rest of his life singing freely in the jungles of a cannibal tribe.
Yes, Shirogane Miyuki's mind wasn't all there anymore.
Practicing during lunch, then again after school, being "bombarded" by Sakurai Saki and Chika in turns — Miyuki was mentally and emotionally destroyed.
"Ehm, maybe… we should take a break?"
"We're almost done with scales. Next up is rhythm practice. Shirogane, you're not need break yet." Sakurai Saki chimed in.
Whether someone was outside or not didn't matter — anyone hearing that voice would bolt instantly anyway. The only question was how fast.
"Rhythm…" Fujiwara Chika sank to the floor, despair written all over her face.
૮(˶╥︿╥)ა
She wanted to get out of here. This prison — she couldn't endure it any longer.
At this point, rest was no longer the issue. Right now, Chika just wanted to "deal with" her ears first!
"Saki-kun! We've been teaching scales for two full days now! Two days! And look at him!" Chika rushed over to Sakurai Saki, grabbed him by the shoulders, and pointed accusingly at Shirogane Miyuki, who was smiling blissfully.
Shirogane Miyuki felt insulted.
He turned his head and muttered, "SoLaSi~"
It sounded almost right… but not quite. Nearly on pitch, but still not exactly correct.
Three musical notes — unbelievably miraculous.
"He still hasn't submitted…" Fujiwara Chika said with a deadpan expression.
"It's not perfectly on pitch… but it's not that bad, right?" Shirogane Miyuki honestly felt like it was pretty decent.
"Saki-kun! Let's just go home! Forget about him!" Fujiwara Chika finally let her true motives show.
Why had she put up with this torture for so long? Wasn't it just because she wanted to be near Sakurai Saki?
Sakurai Saki took her hand and looked at her face — which instantly lit up with happiness.
He gently reassured her, "I think Shirogane is actually learning pretty fast."
And he wasn't wrong.
Just yesterday, he had thought this would be a hopeless cause. But now, from "a voice that could kill" to "a voice that could ALMOST kill" — wasn't that a remarkable improvement?
"Secretary Fujiwara… perhaps I should just lip-sync…" Shirogane Miyuki said, face full of gloom. "I've been lip-syncing since elementary school, so I'm used to it... These past two days, I'm truly grateful to both of you for teaching me. During Golden Week at karaoke, I'll just endure the loneliness… I'll just clap whenever you sing."
Fujiwara Chika hadn't expected such a dramatic reaction and panicked.
"No, that's not it! I mean, yeah, Shirogane-kun, your singing is really awful — like, like sea cucumber guts, seriously disgusting! But I really want to teach you how to sing!"
Shirogane Miyuki wiped the corners of his eyes.
Ara ara? Why were the tears falling by themselves… why?
"This world… living in it is exhausting."
"( – ⌓ – )
For the first time in his life, Shirogane Miyuki felt — living was just too damn hard.
"President Shirogane, don't cry anymore. Let's work together… to cleanse the sea cucumber guts!!" Fujiwara Chika cheered with enthusiasm.
Shirogane Miyuki cried even harder.
Even if you clean out the guts, it's still a sea cucumber! Dammit!!
"Come on~ don't cry! Let's keep going!" said Fujiwara Chika. Then, out of nowhere, she pulled out a red ribbon and tied it around Sakurai Saki's head, giving his hair a quick ruffle. She also conveniently patted his head..
The battle — was only just beginning!
Operation "Cleanse the Sea Cucumber Guts" — let's gooo!!
Chika: ᕙ( ᗒᗣᗕ )ᕗ
...
One hour later.
It's still Chika: ᕙ(˚ ˃̣̣̥⌓˂̣̣̥ )ᕗ
The three of them exited the music room.
Sakurai Saki and Fujiwara Chika staggered out clutching their heads.
Their heads were pounding.
They now fully understood how Nobita felt when he had to listen to Jaian sing. True torture. There was no greater agony.
"Saki-kun, my head hurts so bad… When I get home tonight, I'm eating sea cucumber…"
"Stop… mine hurts too…"
...
...
Having escaped from Shirogane Miyuki's "Jaian Concert", Sakurai Saki was now preparing for his evening part-time tutoring job.
He had already told the five sisters earlier — he might not be free after school, so today's lesson would take place at their house instead.
Ichika had acting work today, so she couldn't join.
Yotsuba said she would try to wrap up basketball club early — clearly, she still hadn't shaken off her "good friends" yet.
For now, Sakurai Saki could only teach three of them, but he wasn't too worried. During the upcoming Golden Week, he planned to put them through an intense Spartan training course. Learn until they foamed at the mouth!
Sakurai and Nakano sisters: (╬ `益 ')੭♱ (ó﹏ò｡)(ó﹏ò｡)(ó﹏ò｡)(ó﹏ò｡)(ó﹏ò｡)
There was also something else that hadn't been mentioned yet — a matter involving Ishigami Yuu's academic results.
His score on last week's test had actually improved — from dead last in the class, he had jumped up ten ranks. To make that much progress in just three or four days was beyond what Sakurai Saki had expected.
By the time Sakurai Saki arrived at the apartment building of the five sisters, it was already 5:30 p.m.
He had finished school at three, taught singing until past five, and biking here had taken him nearly half an hour.
He pressed the intercom, and after a moment, the call connected.
"Hello, is this Sakurai-san? I'll open the door now."
Itsuki's voice came through.
The automatic gate in front of him opened.
"Thank you," Sakurai Saki said, stepping into the elevator.
He rode it to the top floor.
As soon as he stepped out, he saw Nakano Nino standing at the door. When she saw him, her whole demeanor turned awkward and uneasy, her left hand fidgeting with her hair like she was trying to distract herself with the motion.
Seeing this, Sakurai Saki asked with a puzzled look, "What are you doing out here? Waiting for me?"
"No—" Nino reflexively replied, but not even a second later, as if realizing something, she sighed and said, "Fine, yeah… I was waiting for you."
Sakurai Saki walked past her, and a certain entry in the future diary surfaced in his mind.
"Why were you waiting for me?"
His question caught Nino off guard.
She'd thought he was just going to ignore her.
"This is you." Nino spoke while holding something out. In her hand was a small slip of paper labeled: [Wish Ticket].
Sakurai Saki turned to look at her palm.
A Wish Ticket — essentially a coupon that granted someone any wish, no strings attached. But she hadn't been there when he originally handed them out.
"Umm…"
(｡Ó﹏Ò｡)
Nino mumbled, lowering her head. "I made a trade with someone to get it."
"It's fine. I accept tickets, not people. So? Got a wish?" Sakurai Saki smiled.
Nakano Nino looked up at him, her expression serious.
"If I use this ticket… will you forgive me?"
"I'm not mad at you anymore. Are you sure you want to use it like this?"
Nino looked up at him again.
Liar! Of course you're still mad!
"I've decided! That's how I'm using it!" Nino declared, holding out the ticket.
"All right then. From now on, I'll treat you all fairly."
Nino: (·•᷄_•᷅ )
So if she hadn't given him the ticket, he really was planning to keep playing favorites?
Sakurai Saki gave her a few glances before finally taking the Wish Ticket from her hand.
"Congratulations, Nino-san. You're officially no longer just 'some stranger' — you're now my student."
As long as she didn't interfere with his work, he didn't mind being a bit gentler — but that kindness would stay within the boundaries of a teacher-student relationship.
Work is work. Personal life is personal. Keeping them strictly separated was always for the best — especially when the students were his own age.
"Umu." Nakano Nino seemed visibly relieved. Deep down, she even felt a little happy.
(๑>◡◡<๑)