Chapter 45: The Next Day’s Test Study

Alright, let’s get to studying for the test today too.

There are members from yesterday, and new ones today—quite the group.

But today’s highlight is definitely Sugisawa!

I want to see how her dependent-type talent is doing, how she interacts with friends normally now, stuff like that.

Has her talent faded, or has it powered up even more…

We don’t get chances like this to talk deeply or study together otherwise.

If I can see her talent growing further, nothing would make me happier. After all, I’m like her foster parent.

Today’s study session went smoothly too.

It started more lively than yesterday, with everyone teaching each other, but focusing when needed—that kind of vibe.

Yeah, this is great. Way better than studying alone, keeps things paced well.

Plus, I can scout for yandere talent? Perfect, right?

I was sitting next to Sugisawa. Of course, I arranged it that way. I panicked when someone else almost sat there.

Obviously, being next to her is advantageous, easy to turn questions into chit-chat.

Kinda like a group date, not that I’ve been to one.

Alright, time to talk to her.

About 30 minutes in, I decided.

She should be good at Japanese. I’ll use that as an opener to expand the conversation.

Okay, here goes! Getting this pumped feels like the first time talking to her.

Can’t help it. It’s been a while since we talked. Her circle has expanded, the days of just talking to me are over, she’s living her own life now.

That said, we still chat on SNS. So she probably hasn’t abandoned me.

Right? Yeah?

“Hey, what do you think this means?”

Start with a light jab.

I point to a Japanese question and ask her.

She looks a bit surprised but turns to me with a smile,

“Which one?”

She says.

Clearly different from before. In a good way, of course.

Before, even when spoken to, she’d look unsure if it was directed at her. So she wouldn’t respond without her name called, which was kinda her charm.

But now, she seems to have more self-confidence, aware when addressed. She responds when spoken to, and even initiates sometimes.

Yeah, that’s wonderful too. Her abilities improving, doing things she couldn’t before—this is amazing!

This must be a byproduct of her yandere talent blooming.

Good, I’m glad I could help her talent bloom.

She answered my question concisely but accurately. Thanks, alright, from here I’ll steer to chit-chat… but then she did something unexpected.

After answering, she immediately went back to her own studying.

Huh? Let’s talk more. I asked because I wanted to chat with you. And I thought you’d be looking forward to it too.

Maybe I was being conceited.

I felt a bit down. Am I nothing to her now? Has she lost her yandere side…?

Did she find another path while I was away…?

I got a little anxious. Worried her talent vanished in the meantime.

While down, I figured I should talk to others too, and tried to speak to someone else.

But then something unexpected happened.

When I try to talk to someone else, she interrupts; when someone talks to me, she naturally joins the conversation.

Huh? Is it my imagination?

I think that and try talking to people around, but she cuts in, and when spoken to, she becomes the center naturally.

Huh? Huh? Huh!

What—her talent hasn’t faded at all; in fact, by improving her communication skills, she’s enhanced her yandere talent even more.

She looks like a normal person at first glance. As if not yandere at all. But I can tell. I feel it, your talent.

When I talk to others, she stares intently. That gaze is fierce like a predator hunting prey, yet filled with love.

The more I feel that gaze, the more I crave it. Yeah, this is what I wanted.

You really are a bundle of talent.

Chapter 46: The Next Day’s Test Study (Girlfriend’s Perspective ①)

“Hey hey, we’re doing a test study group after school today, wanna join?”

A classmate asked me.

Eh, invited? Me.

Yesterday’s study in the classroom was a hit, apparently, and everyone’s pumped to do it again today. It turned into a snack party midway, but still, you can focus, and someone teaches what you don’t get—it was great, I heard.

Well, I didn’t think I’d be in a position to get invited, so I was totally off guard.

This is the high school life I dreamed of. Unimaginable from middle school—my growth. I want someone to notice. How amazing this growth is.

But no matter how much I’ve grown, getting invited to a big group and actually joining feels too risky emotionally.

What if it’s just politeness, what if I stick out if I join—that’s how much I haven’t grown yet.

“Lots are coming, like, um…”

She continued regardless of my thoughts. Who else is coming doesn’t matter. Joining or not is my issue.

Thinking that,

“And Takashiro-kun too…”

Eh? He’s joining?

I looked up sharply.

Takashiro-kun, who changed me. Freed me from bullying’s curse, helped me find my path.

Lately, we haven’t talked much.

He’s popular. People always around him, and he interests himself in various people.

Lately, he’s reaching out to other classes; I saw him in the courtyard with someone from another class the other day.

Inevitably, our interactions thinned.

If I can get a chance to talk to him, I have to try. No choice but to join.

After school, everyone moves desks.

Phew, decided to join, but actually doing it makes me tense, and if I’m not near him, I won’t even get a chance to talk.

I watch his movements.

Ah, someone’s talking to him. That guy who bragged about his girlfriend in another school. He seems kinda off-putting.

Thinking that as I pass by,

“Thanks”

I heard him say thanks. Eh? If my memory’s right, he hasn’t talked to that guy in front of me. So if they interacted, it was probably yesterday’s study.

In just 2-3 hours, enough to say thanks?

He’s different from others, as expected of my him!

He’s still the same. Thinking that made me happy.