After the Tutoring Session
Su Yu and Yuigahama Yui stood outside Sōbu High's front gates, watching as their classmates departed.
As Ebina Hina walked away, she suddenly turned back and flashed Su Yu a playful smile.
That smile reminded him of what she had just said.
He understood what she meant—but he had absolutely no intention of going down that path.
Still, considering that her words weren't completely baseless, he knew he had to handle things carefully.
"Su Yu-kun, what did Hina say to you?"
Yui, having noticed Ebina's expression, asked with curiosity.
Su Yu glanced at her and spoke calmly.
"She told me to take you to Sakura Dormitory. Then, once she got home, she'd send me some materials—so I could study them and learn how to bully you properly."
Yui froze for a few seconds—
Then, her entire face turned crimson.
Su Yu had already started walking toward Sakura Dormitory, but Yui, flustered and embarrassed, quickly ran after him and clung to his arm.
"I-I… I don't have to go home tonight."
"I wasn't planning on taking you home anyway."
Hearing that, Yui's cheeks burned even hotter.
D-Did that mean… Su Yu-kun was planning to…?
One Hour Later – Sakura Dormitory
Inside Su Yu's room—
"I'll go make dinner. You stay here and study," Su Yu instructed.
"After dinner, I'll give you a small test. For every wrong answer, you'll get one extra hour of tutoring."
Then, without waiting for a response, he left for the kitchen.
Yuigahama sat there, still processing his words.
"…Oh."
So that's what he meant.
After Dinner
Su Yu gave Yui five test questions.
Her results?
She got three out of five wrong.
Su Yu sighed.
"Hand me your phone."
Yui, pouting in frustration, obediently passed him her phone.
Su Yu dialed a number.
The call connected after a few rings.
"Hello?"
It was Yuigahama's mother, Yuigahama Asuna.
"Good evening, Asuna-san. Yui won't be coming home tonight," Su Yu stated flatly before she could even ask.
"Her grades are too bad, so I'm helping her catch up."
A brief pause.
Then, Asuna chuckled.
"Tutoring? No problem! Su Yu-kun, I completely trust you. I'm sure Yui-chan is delighted to have you as her tutor."
Su Yu glanced at Yui.
She was staring back at him with big, pitiful eyes, her face full of grievances.
"Alright, Asuna-san. Goodnight."
"Goodnight. Take care of her."
Click.
Su Yu ended the call, set the phone aside, and picked up a textbook.
"Alright, let's continue."
Yui sighed defeatedly and focused on taking notes.
By the time they finished, it was already 9 PM.
"That's enough for today," Su Yu said, glancing at the time.
"There's a spare set of pajamas in the guest room for you."
"Mm."
Yui stood up and headed to the guest room, grabbed the pajamas, and made her way to the bathroom.
The moment she closed the bathroom door—
Su Yu pulled out his phone and made another call.
After a few seconds, a calm, familiar voice answered.
"…Do you need something?"
It was Yukinoshita Yukino.
"No reason. I just wanted to talk to you."
"…Is Yuigahama-san at your place?"
Su Yu heard faint background noises through the phone—Yukino had sharp hearing.
"Her grades are too low, so I'm tutoring her."
"…That's understandable."
Yukino didn't seem suspicious at all.
Then, in a quiet, teasing tone, Su Yu murmured—
"Yui's grades are kind of like your figure—both have a lot of room for improvement."
"Su Yu-kun… what did you just say?"
"Nothing. I said you're really cute."
"Hmph. Don't think I didn't hear you."
A pause.
"…If you can't get Yui to pass her exams, then during the summer trip, you'll be spending your time stuck indoors tutoring her."
"Yukino, I'm only human."
"If you complete my task, I'll grant you a reasonable request."
"…Your task?"
Yukino's voice held a hint of amusement.
"Yes," she said. "Consider it accepted."
A faint, pleased chuckle followed before she ended the call.
An Hour Later
By the time Yui left the bathroom, Su Yu had already cleaned up the table and returned to his room.
She walked into the living room, expecting to see him—
But he wasn't there.
After hesitating for a moment, she walked to his bedroom door and pushed it open.
Su Yu was sitting at his desk, drawing pages for Yuru Camp.
Hearing the door open, he glanced back at her.
"Su Yu-kun…"
Her voice was soft.
"…Goodnight."
Su Yu smiled slightly.
"Come here."
Yui blinked.
Then, realizing what he meant, she happily walked over—
Only for Su Yu to pull her into his arms, holding her tightly.
Yui's cheeks burned, her head lowering shyly.
"This is your reward for being obedient," Su Yu whispered near her ear.
"If you improve, I'll give you even better rewards."
"…Mm."
Yui felt like her whole face was on fire.
They stayed like that for several minutes before Su Yu finally let go.
"Go to sleep," he said gently.
"You too, Su Yu-kun. Goodnight."
With a sweet smile, she left his room.
As she closed the door, she lightly patted her warm cheeks.
She knew—
Su Yu had definitely been thinking weird things.
But… he had held back.
Not because he was some perfect gentleman—
But because he was too busy, and… because of Yukinoshita Yukino.
And how did she know what he was thinking?
Because when he hugged her—
His hands were definitely not staying in a proper place.
Thinking about it made her flustered, so she hurried back to her room.
The Next Morning
After preparing breakfast, Su Yu woke Yui up.
She yawned, got dressed, freshened up, and joined him at the table.
They ate together, then cleaned up and headed downstairs.
As they reached the first floor, the door suddenly opened.
Out walked Hiratsuka Shizuka.
Su Yu raised an eyebrow.
Since when did Shizuka-sensei wake up this early?
"…What's with that look?" Shizuka frowned.
"Is it so strange that I woke up early?"
Su Yu smirked.
"Something must have changed in your heart, for you to act like this."
"…None of your business."
Then, her sharp gaze landed on him and Yui.
"…You're living with a girl under the same roof while your teacher is right downstairs?"
Su Yu didn't even blink.
"I was tutoring her, not cohabiting. If you don't believe me, feel free to tutor Yui yourself."
Shizuka narrowed her eyes.
"…If she actually improves, I'll pretend I didn't see anything. But if her grades don't improve—"
She smirked.
"Then during summer break, I'll personally teach both of you a lesson."
"…For the sake of our summer trip, I'll do my best."
Su Yu sighed.
But Yui's grades…
He really wasn't confident about that.
Notes-Read advanced chapters in patreon.com/Shadow_D_X