Life always seems to be like this; just when you gradually get used to the current rhythm, time seems to hit the fast-forward button, rushing forward relentlessly. Only when you snap back to reality do you realize, "Oh, a whole day has passed."
What Watanabe Yu never expected was that when he broke free from his state of complete immersion, raised his line of sight, the first thing he saw was not the wine-red, slightly tipsy evening glow, nor the faces of Kiriyama Kazuma or Hayakawa Yuki, but rather Anbara Risa looking at him with a grin.
The latter didn't stand on ceremony and stated her purpose directly.
—She needed someone to help organize student data.
So, naturally, he was roped into helping, temporarily forfeiting his title as the Home Return Club MVP.
Fortunately, the amount of data to organize wasn't particularly large.
With his and Anbara Risa's cooperation, in less than half an hour, that stack of data was sorted and processed by category.
In the office, Anbara Risa packed up the teaching materials she needed for the next day while chatting with Watanabe Yu, who was standing nearby. "Watanabe, you seem quite focused in class these past two days?"
"When am I not focused?"
Watanabe Yu retorted.
From the very first day he returned to high school life, he had been studying diligently; there was no possibility of him slacking off in class.
However, due to 'acclimatization issues,' his gains in certain subjects were not ideal.
—This lack of ideal results was something he could feel himself.
"The feeling is different. Let's go. As an exchange for helping with the organization, I'll drive you home and share some useful 'news' along the way."
Anbara Risa put the teaching materials into her bag, gave Watanabe Yu a look, signaling him to follow her.
The two walked out of the office one after the other.
"What do you mean the feeling is different?"
Once they stepped onto the stairs leading to the first floor of the teaching building, Watanabe Yu pretended not to understand and asked.
"Let me put it this way: the old you—yes, you were focused in class, but that focus, how should I put it, gave the impression of putting in twelve points of effort for seven to eight points of result."
Anbara Risa raised her line of sight, nodded lightly to the English Teacher walking towards them, who returned a faint smile, acknowledging the greeting.
"You overestimate me."
Watanabe Yu didn't retort sarcastically or self-deprecate; in those subjects where he was 'acclimatizing,' let alone seven or eight points, even reaching six was a struggle.
"But now it's completely different." Anbara Risa slowed her pace, turned her head, and looked at Watanabe Yu's profile, her expression very serious. "The current you gives the impression that you absorb exactly what the teacher lectures."
"Is that so?"
Watanabe Yu stopped walking.
Without realizing it, the two had reached the shoe lockers on the first floor of the teaching building.
They both opened their shoe lockers, changed into their street shoes, and then embarked on the final stretch toward the parking lot.
"Yes, there is."
Anbara Risa nodded, completely certain.
That afternoon, she had asked the teachers of various subjects, and their answers were astonishingly consistent.
In just these past two days, whether it was the in-class homework Watanabe Yu completed or his demeanor when answering questions, compared to the period before, it was undoubtedly much better—a visible improvement in his learning state.
Yes, she knew her observation period was indeed quite short; counting from the start until now, it hadn't even been two full days.
But she had a very firm feeling, perhaps it was a woman's sixth sense—she just felt that Watanabe Yu could maintain this state of study long-term.
"In any case, keep making steady progress like this!" Anbara Risa reminded Watanabe Yu, then abruptly changed the topic. "By the way, how did it feel to be famous today?"
Regarding the ups and downs in the Class Group, she, as the teacher in charge, was aware.
Don't ask; the answer is that she had infiltrated the Class Group using an alternate account.
Even during the break between classes during the afternoon nap today, a few little girls quietly visited her office to ask about yesterday's Subway incident.
She had given them affirmative answers.
"Even when you're in the restroom, male classmates from your class come over to say hello?"
Watanabe Yu pondered for a moment before giving his answer.
"...Could you consider the setting when you speak?"
Anbara Risa shot Watanabe Yu a look.
"Didn't you bring it up, Teacher Anbara?"
It's not like I wanted to answer that!
On this topic, Watanabe Yu was quite self-righteous.
Unknowingly, the two walked into the parking lot and arrived next to a white sedan.
"That seems right too." Anbara Risa took the key out of her bag, pressed the unlock button, opened the driver's seat door, slid into the driver's seat, fastened her seatbelt, and said, "Get in."
"Hai~"
Watanabe Yu responded, sat in the passenger seat, and then, as if it were second nature, fastened his seatbelt.
"In private from now on, don't call me 'Teacher'; call me 'Sister'."
Anbara Risa inserted the key into the keyhole, gripped the steering wheel, and started the car.
The white sedan smoothly pulled out of the school parking lot and merged into the traffic flow.
"Risa-nee?"
Watanabe Yu pondered for a moment, then called out.
"You... forget it, just call me that."
Anbara Risa had originally intended for Watanabe Yu to call her Anbara-nee, but he ended up calling her by her first name directly.
However, since he called her that, it was fine.
There was no need to change it now.
"Are you confident about next week's exam?"
After a moment of silence, Anbara Risa was the one to start the topic of conversation.
Next, she was going to start sharing some 'news' with him.
This was the 'news' she had mentioned earlier.
"It's alright."
Strictly speaking, he felt he should score much better than his initial entrance exam results.
After all, his entrance score was at the bottom, meaning there was huge room for improvement.
However, the time was too tight.
Today was Friday; the official Monthly Exam days were next Thursday and Friday, leaving only six days in total.
During these six days, aside from normal classes, the majority of his energy would be devoted to Replicate.
If he had a few more days, perhaps he could challenge what it felt like to break into the top ranks of the Grade in the first Monthly Exam.
"Don't you have any goals or anything?"
Anbara Risa was not entirely satisfied with Watanabe Yu's answer.
In her mind, Watanabe Yu should at least improve from being at the bottom of the entire grade upon entry to the middle tier of the grade.
This way, she would have more room to maneuver regarding the amount of Reward money the school would give Watanabe Yu later on.
She could get the old man to give Watanabe Yu more Gold coins!
"Regarding that, I can only say I'll do my best."
Watanabe Yu didn't make his statement too absolute.
"I thought you would say 'easily'."
Anbara Risa tightened her grip on the steering wheel, gently pressed the brake, as the Traffic Light at the intersection ahead had just turned from Green light to Red light.
"I think your perception of me is skewed, Risa-nee."
Watanabe Yu turned his head, looking out the window through the one-way window tint.
He would have to be crazy to make such an absolute statement.
"The interrogation at the Police Station went very smoothly. At the earliest, your Reward money and Certificate of Merit will arrive next Monday." Anbara Risa ignored him and continued speaking on her own. "Given our Principal's personality, if you perform well in this Monthly Exam, the Reward money the school gives you can be even higher."
"So, do you understand what I mean?"
She had figured it out; this was the key to motivating Watanabe Yu.
"How much more? Is there a specific Number?"
Watanabe Yu immediately perked up.
"Do you think I know?"
The Traffic Light changed from Red light to Green light.
Anbara Risa gently pressed the accelerator.
The stopped car continued to move slowly.
"Fine..."
Watanabe Yu pursed lips.
Thinking about it carefully, before it was confirmed, there probably wouldn't be a specific amount anyway.
Or rather, even if there was, given Anbara Risa's Stance, she couldn't reveal too many specifics.
"In short, if you can do it, that amount will not disappoint you."
Anbara Risa glanced at the dejected Watanabe Yu and chuckled lightly.
The necessary motivation needed to be provided.
"Understood, I'll make a move."
Isn't it just crushing them? That's simple.
Right, Well-informed and Retentive Intermediate!
Buzz, buzz.
Suddenly, the mobile phone in Watanabe Yu's pocket vibrated.
After taking out his mobile phone to check, he fell silent.
The message was from Amemiya Ayana.
Feeling good, I prepared a small gift for you, also as your first reader, a little expectation from me~
1/2
I feel like I'm going to collapse, damn.