A few days later
Kamiyama High School
An
*Sigh*
An
Urgh, supplementary classes...
Mizuki
Yeah... I don't know if I'll survive going to them for five days in a row...
Mizuki
And I can't believe you're joining us, Li'l Bro. You failed too, then?
Akito
Shut up... You're taking these classes too.
Mizuki
Unlike you two, I'm just here because of attendance.
An
Ahaha... By the way, what are we actually going to do in the supplementary classes? I haven't heard anything.
Akito
Oh, I heard it's mostly time for self-study.
Akito
But on the last day, we've gotta take a test for the subjects we failed, and we'll get into second year if we pass that.
An
O-Oh... I guess we'll need to work hard.
Akito
Yeah...
???
Hm? Is that...
Akito
Urgh...
An
Tenma?
Tsukasa
Akito? Shiraishi? And Akiyama!
You must all get on well to be traveling in a pack!
You must all get on well to be traveling in a pack!
Akito
No, that's not why... We're just headed the same way.
An
We're headed to supplementary classes.
Tsukasa
Supplementary classes? You too...
An
Huh? “You too”? You don't mean...
Akito
You're taking supplementary classes too, Tsukasa?
Tsukasa
Y-Yes...
Unfortunately so...
Unfortunately so...
Mizuki
Wow! Who knew I'd know so many people in the supplementary classes!
Mizuki
By the way, how many tests did you not pass, Tsukasa?
An
Oh yeah, I'm curious to know too!
Tsukasa
It was physics for me. It's never been my strong suit, so I did put effort into studying for it... But I was bested nonetheless...
An
So, you were studying then?
Tsukasa
Fruitlessly, it seems...
Tsukasa
What about you three?
Mizuki
I failed English! My attendance was too low.
Tsukasa
I see. And you two, Akito and Shiraishi?
Akito
Uh, yeah, about us...
An
Come on now! You don't want to hear about us. Let's just all work hard in the supplementary classes!
Tsukasa
Yes, you're right. The classes won't be easy, but we can persevere if we encourage each other!
Several dozen minutes later
Empty Classroom
Teacher
Alright, does everyone have their own worksheets?
Teacher
In that case, you may begin.
An
(Whoa... I didn't realize just how many worksheets there were...)
An
(Anyway, I've gotta work through them!)
An
(There's an answer sheet with explanations, so all I have to do is score myself using that...)
An
(And then keep doing that until I can get them right... Then repeat with the next worksheet...)
An
(Urgh... But I'll never get through all these sheets! This is worse than regular classes...)
Akito
(This sucks, but getting held back would be worse...
Not to mention that I don't wanna cause any more trouble for Toya and everyone.)
Not to mention that I don't wanna cause any more trouble for Toya and everyone.)
Akito
(I've just gotta do it...)
An
(Let's see...
“Read the following excerpt from the medieval anthology Tsurezuregusa and answer the questions below.”)
“Read the following excerpt from the medieval anthology Tsurezuregusa and answer the questions below.”)
An
(“The chaunginge of...the sesoun...stirreth the...pathos of thinges in...alle manere...wyse.”)
An
(“And autumpne...stirreth it most of al, oft it...hath bin said...”)
An
(Urgh... I don't understand any of this...)
An
*Sigh*
(I really am hopeless with Classical Japanese... The words all look familiar, but I don't have a clue what they mean.)
(I really am hopeless with Classical Japanese... The words all look familiar, but I don't have a clue what they mean.)
An
(I wonder how everyone else is doing...
Mizuki...)
Mizuki...)
An
(Mizuki's asleep?!)
An
(Well, I guess that makes sense...
There's no point in studying hard if you already have good test scores.)
There's no point in studying hard if you already have good test scores.)
An
(What about Akito?)
An
(Yay... He's suffering as much as me...)
An
(Wait, no! We're all going into second year together! I have to do my best!)
An
Um...
An
(“Fill in the conjugation table below for the underlined word.”)
An
(I have to try... I have to try...
But...)
But...)
An
(Urgh... What am I supposed to do? I don't understand any of this!)
After class
An & Akito
*Sigh*
Mizuki
Whoa, you guys look terrible...
Are you okay?
Are you okay?
Akito
You're...chirpy.
Well, I guess you got a nap in...
Well, I guess you got a nap in...
Mizuki
Well, yeah. I took a flick through the worksheets at the start, but I knew it all already. I figured the test on Friday should be a breeze.
An
*Groan*
That's nice. I wish I could say the same!
That's nice. I wish I could say the same!
Toya
Hello, everyone.
It looks like your supplementary class is over.
It looks like your supplementary class is over.
Akito
Toya?
An
Wait, did you... Did you come here just to check in on us?
Toya
Yes, because your chances of entering second year are hanging in the balance.
Toya
How was it, you two?
Mizuki
Ahaha... It took a lot out of both of them.
Toya
I suspected as much...
Toya
Then it's decided.
Toya
I'm going to teach the two of you.
Akito
You are...?
Toya
Yes. At this rate, you two may actually be held back a year.
Akito
I'm definitely grateful...
An
But... Are you sure?
An
I hate to say it, but don't you think teaching us by yourself is gonna be pretty tough?
Mizuki
Yeah, you have a point. Between the two of you, he'd have to cover four subjects.
Toya
As you say, teaching you by myself will not be easy. That's why I brought help.
Akito
Help?
Rui
Hello there.
Akito
K-Kamishiro?
An
And Tenma...?
Rui
Aoyagi here asked me to help the two of you study.
Akito
What?! You asked Kamishiro?
Toya
I did. He's the most talented student in his school year. Is there a problem?
Akito
N-No... Not a problem...
An
But, why is Tenma here too?
Tsukasa
Well, I was planning to get help with my studies from Rui as well.
Rui
But then Aoyagi also asked for my help.
Rui
If possible, I wanted to help all of you. So, Tsukasa and I discussed it, and—
Tsukasa
Do you want to join us for study sessions after the remaining supplementary classes?!
Rui
If we all gather in one place, I'll be able to help all three of you.
An
That makes sense...
Akito
*Sigh*
Akito
(I seriously have to be taught by Kamishiro?)
Akito
(I don't feel great about it...
But Toya's right that he knows what he's doing when it comes to studying. In which case...)
But Toya's right that he knows what he's doing when it comes to studying. In which case...)
An
Kamishiro, please help us!
Akito
We'd appreciate it.
Rui
Certainly. I'll do my best to be of help.
Rui
By the way, Mizuki. Would you like to join the study sessions?
Mizuki
Huh, me?
Rui
That's right. There's strength in numbers, so we could use another teacher.
An
Oh yeah...
An
I agree with Rui. We'd be asking a lot of you, Mizuki, but please consider it.
Mizuki
Huh? Hm... I don't know...
An
Please...!
Mizuki
Oh, what the heck.
Mizuki
I'm in! I'll teach you guys what I know!
An
Really?! Thank you, Mizuki!
An
Hey, Akito! You should be saying thank you too.
Akito
You're right...
Thanks, Akiyama. You're doing us a solid.
Thanks, Akiyama. You're doing us a solid.
Mizuki
Ooh! A rare sighting of Li'l Bro's soft side.
Mizuki
Heh heh heh. I think that alone made it worth agreeing.
Akito
Cut it out...
Rui
Hehe. Well then, let's all do our best with these study sessions.
An
Okay!
Next Chapter: Students, Assemble!