After parting ways with Sharleen, I headed home and went straight to the living room.
"You're late. How far did you run?" my mom asked without looking up from the TV.
My dad was also there, sipping coffee and reading the newspaper.
"I ran into a friend and ended up chatting for a bit," I replied.
"Oh, really? What about breakfast?"
"I'll eat," I said. My mom stood up and headed for the kitchen.
"Where’s Toko?" I asked my dad, though I already had a pretty good idea.
"Still sleeping, I’d wager. She doesn't usually crawl out of bed at this hour."
Just as I thought.
"Hmph. How slothful of her."
"You’re one to talk," my dad countered. "You were exactly the same until last week."
Last week? I don't look back at the past. The only thing that matters is the present—and the future.
"Dad, can I have some money? I'm going to a family restaurant."
"What? Breakfast is almost ready. What are you talking about?"
"No, no. A friend offered to help me study, so I'm heading out to meet them."
"Ah, I see... Study?" My dad gave me the kind of suspicious look a father really shouldn't give his own son.
"Study. I’m not exactly thrilled about it, but she said she’d look over my work."
"Hmm... Wait, is this for the Magic Academy?"
"Yeah. One of the girls from the academy lives nearby." It was a complete coincidence—assuming she wasn’t stalking me, which I was fairly certain she wasn't.
"Is it that Akabane girl? Well, I suppose that makes sense..."
Yuika was currently down with a cold. Besides, I hadn't even met her yet.
"It's not Yuika, but someone like her. So, money?"
"Well, if it's for your education..." My dad pulled a thousand-yen bill from his wallet and set it on the table.
"My study partner is a girl, by the way. A cute one."
"...So that's why you're suddenly so studious on a Saturday."
My dad set another thousand-yen bill down next to the first one.
"Thanks, Dad!"
"Just make sure you actually get some work done."
"I will, even if you don't tell me to. My arm is literally on the line here."
With two thousand yen in my pocket, I ate the breakfast my mom prepared. After a quick shower, I changed into some decent clothes.
"I guess I should bring my materials..."
I stuffed my textbooks and gear into my bag. Once ready, I headed back downstairs and poked my head into the living room. Toko was there now, looking half-asleep with a spectacular case of bedhead as she nibbled on a piece of toast.
"Huh? Big bro, you going somewhere?" she asked.
"Yeah. I'm going out to study."
"Ahaha! That's a good one."
It seemed she thought I was joking. Honestly, I couldn't blame her. I hadn't had the slightest intention of studying this weekend, either.
"It’s the truth. Anyway, Mom! I don't need lunch!" I called out toward the kitchen.
"Got it!"
"See ya."
I left the house and made my way to the family restaurant Sharleen had picked. I arrived five minutes before our 10:00 AM appointment and stepped inside.
"Welcome! A table for one?" the waitress asked.
"Actually..." I scanned the room to see if she was already there, and I spotted her immediately. Sharleen stood out, mostly because she was wearing her academy uniform.
"I'm meeting someone," I said, pointing her way.
"Of course. Please, go ahead."
I walked across the restaurant and took a seat opposite her. "Sorry to keep you waiting. Why the uniform?"
Sharleen had ditched the morning ponytail in favor of a side-tail, looking exactly like she did back at the academy.
"It's a study session, so I thought this was more appropriate," she explained.
"Huh. Personally, the last thing I want to do on a weekend is put on a uniform." It felt like a waste of a day off.
"You might feel that way, but many people wear their uniforms when they go out in the Town of Astral, regardless of what's common in this world."
"Really? I'm hanging out with Frank and Cedric tomorrow. Should I wear mine?"
"A lot of shops give student discounts, and many girls prefer wearing them anyway. Especially the girls."
I see... Maybe I'll go with the uniform tomorrow, then.
"I was kind of hoping to see you in your private clothes, though."
"Don't be silly. Now, let's get to work. We'll start with Basic Studies." Sharleen smiled and pulled a textbook from her bag.
"So you brought a bag after all." In Astral, you rarely saw anyone carrying one.
"Well, we're in public. Now, get yours out too."
"Yes, ma'am..."
We ordered from the drink bar, and once we had our beverages, we cracked open the Basic Studies textbooks. The study session began, with Sharleen leading the way like a pro.
"By the way, I’ve been meaning to ask... where are your notes from yesterday?" she asked.
"My handwriting is garbage, so I was planning to copy someone else's later." Cedric Seager and Noelle Antoine seemed like they’d have neat writing, so they were my primary targets. Frank Hedrich and Ilmera Henselt were wildcards. Toko's writing was so atrocious it was out of the question.
"In that case, look at mine."
Sharleen slid her notebook toward me. It was immaculate—the organization was incredible, and her handwriting was so perfect it looked like it had been professionally printed.
"Sharleen, I’ll treat you to lunch with the money my dad gave me. Just let me copy these."
"Fine, fine. I'll use these to explain things to you."
Sharleen proceeded to guide me through the material using her notes and the textbook. She was a gifted teacher—patient, clear, and thorough.
"...Does that make sense?" she eventually asked.
"Maybe?"
"I see... This is just Basic Studies, you realize?" Sharleen stared hard at her own notes.
"Look, I'm sorry... I'm a dummy. I never once broke eighty on a test in all of elementary or middle school."
Well, I did get a ninety once in Health, but that was an outlier.
"I think I’m starting to feel the exact same thing you were probably feeling toward me this morning..." Sharleen said, pressing a hand to her temple.
"As in, 'this guy has no talent'?"
"Precisely."
I knew it.