"So this is the Civic Center... It’s about ten times more impressive than I imagined."
"Yeah, it's huge. I was picturing a regular community center, but this..."
The Nishikawa Civic Center.
It was a public facility equipped with three halls—the largest of which could hold five hundred people—as well as exhibition rooms, meeting rooms, a kitchen, and a library. It was supposedly a popular hub where citizens of all ages came to relax and socialize.
Based on the name, I had pictured a modest, single-story building, but the structure before us was on a completely different scale. It was a modern reinforced concrete building with expansive glass walls that created a bright, open atmosphere.
We passed through the automatic doors and stepped into a spacious entrance hall that felt more like a high-end hotel lobby. An information counter stood near the entrance, where a staff member greeted us with a warm smile.
When I gave a slight nod and Akise-san bowed politely, the staff member's smile widened. Perhaps guessing we were students from our appearance and bags, they kindly informed us, "The study space is on the second floor."
"The second floor, huh? Looks like we can take the stairs or the elevator."
"Let's just take the stairs. It's not that far."
As we climbed the stairs, Akise-san spotted a poster on the wall and spoke up.
"Look at that! A running clinic for elementary schoolers!"
"Heh... I didn't know they did things like that here. This one is... a healthy smoothie-making workshop?"
"I might actually be interested in that one..."
Looking around, there were surprisingly many interesting events. From staples like cooking and handicrafts to running clinics, smoothie workshops, and even a "secrets of cleaning" class, the variety was impressive. It really felt like a place open to everyone.
As interesting as they were, that wasn't why we were here today.
"This is it."
Before long, our destination came into view. I opened the door labeled "Free Study Space," but the scene inside was a bit different from what I had expected.
"Rather than a study room, it looks more like a trendy cafe."
"True."
I nodded in agreement as I surveyed the room. Plush carpeting lay beneath wooden round tables and mismatched chairs arranged in an orderly fashion. Warm, eye-friendly lighting and natural sunlight streaming through large glass windows bathed the entire room in a soft glow.
There were quite a few people there already. I saw not only students like us but also working adults silently engrossed in their reference books. The air was filled with the sound of pages turning, pens sliding across paper, and hushed whispers, all accompanied by a faint background track of soft piano jazz. It wasn't loud, but it wasn't stiff or stifling either.
"The atmosphere is great."
"Definitely. I feel like I can really focus here."
We nodded to each other and sat down at a table where we wouldn't be in direct sunlight. As we laid out our textbooks and notebooks, Akise-san spoke up.
"Okay, let's just ask each other whenever we hit something we don't understand! Let's give it our all."
"Got it. Though I'll probably be the one doing all the asking..."
And so, the study group began.
Since I had Akise-san here to teach me, I planned to focus on my weakest subjects: math and science. In high school, math was split into Mathematics I and Mathematics A, and since they were tested as separate subjects, I essentially had to study for two math classes.
Usually, the first midterm would cover a fair amount of middle school review, but our school had already gotten that out of the way with the freshman test back in May. Whether that made things easier or harder was a matter of opinion, but as someone who struggled with math, I definitely leaned toward the latter.
I kept my textbook and notebook open so I could check formulas at a moment's notice while I worked through the problems in our school-issued workbook. For a while, the only sounds between us were the rustle of paper and the scratching of lead... until, eventually, my hand stopped.
Hmm, no, this part... maybe I should just ask.
I stole a glance at Akise-san. Seeing her hunched over the desk with such a serious expression created a striking contrast to her usual bright, energetic self or the mischievous side she showed me. It was a "gap" in her personality that I hadn't quite seen before.
I had intended to wait for a break in her concentration to ask my question, but before I knew it, that thought had slipped my mind entirely. I was completely captivated by the sight of her.
Suddenly, perhaps sensing my gaze, Akise-san looked up.
"Mmm? What's wrong? Do you have a question?"
"Ah, yeah... ahem. It's this part. Even looking at the textbook's explanation, I can't figure out why I'm getting the answer wrong."
"Hmm... Ah, I see. For this, first you have to..."
After hearing my question, Akise-san flipped through her own textbook and showed me a specific page. It wasn't the page I had been looking at; it was a section at the end of the chapter covering more advanced material.
Looking at it again, I saw it featured a sample problem and explanation for the exact format I was struggling with.
"It's a bit hard to understand just by reading the main text, but if you think about it like this..."
As she spoke, her pen tip traced rounded, handwritten notes she had scribbled in the margins. Reading them, I found that the complex descriptions became much easier to digest.
"I see... Thanks, that makes perfect sense. Your notes are really clear and helpful."
"Oh, they're just like doodles, really. I'm not naturally amazing at studying, so I try to jot down my thoughts and ideas as I go."
Akise-san smiled shyly, but those notes were undeniable proof of her hard work. They were something to be admired, not brushed off.
...Still, insisting on that would probably just embarrass her. I decided to keep the rest of my praise to myself for now.
We continued studying after that, and before we knew it, noon had already passed. Maybe it was the environment, but I felt like I had focused better than ever before. Being able to ask Akise-san questions the moment I hit a wall allowed me to make incredible progress.
On the other hand, Akise-san hadn't asked me a single question. I didn't think I could solve anything she couldn't, but being entirely on the receiving end of a "study group" made me feel guilty.
"Nngh... time really flies when you're focused. Should we eat soon?"
"Yeah. ...And, sorry. Even though this is a study group, I was the only one asking questions."
When I bowed my head, Akise-san hurriedly waved her hands in dismissal.
"Not at all! Teaching you helps me organize my own thoughts. They say that teaching someone else is the best way to make information stick, right? It's helping me too, I promise!"
"I-I see. If you say so..."
I was a bit overwhelmed by her earnestness. It was a common saying that teaching others acted as a high-level review, but the sense of being a burden still lingered. However, if she insisted it was helpful, saying anything more would just be self-indulgent. I decided to accept her help gracefully.
"More importantly, we need to fuel up if we want to survive the afternoon session! Here, this is yours, Yanagida-kun."
"Thank you...!"
I accepted the lunch bag she held out as if it were a sacred offering. I was a simple man; the moment that bento was in front of me, my guilt vanished. I eagerly opened the bag to find a basket-style bento box inside.
"Is this...?"
Predicting the contents from the container, I opened the lid with a slightly trembling hand. The sight inside was exactly what I expected, yet it far exceeded my imagination.
"Incredible...!"
"Since it's a study group, I made a sandwich bento that’s easy to eat!"
Akise-san laughed cheerfully at my involuntary gasp of wonder. The basket was packed with colorful, meticulously prepared sandwiches. They were arranged with the fillings facing up so you could see the cross-sections, and each one was wrapped in wax paper so your hands wouldn't get messy. It was an incredibly thoughtful touch.
The first thing that caught my eye was a thick teriyaki chicken and lettuce sandwich on fluffy white bread. The thick cuts of chicken, glistening with sauce, and the vibrant greens created a stunning contrast. It looked obscenely delicious.
Next to it was a classic ham, egg salad, and lettuce sandwich. The colors were vivid and appetizing. Finally, there was a staple tuna and cucumber sandwich, packed to the brim with filling. All of them looked amazing.
Suppressing my racing heart, I pressed my hands together.
"Let's eat...!"
"Go right ahead!"
I reached for the teriyaki chicken first. Just bringing it to my mouth, the aroma made my stomach growl and my mouth water. If it smelled this good, I couldn't imagine what the first bite would be like.
I took a large bite... and an exclamation escaped me.
"So good...!"
The thick chicken was far juicier than I had imagined, and the rich, savory-sweet sauce hit me like a physical force. My jaw practically locked from the shock of the flavor, but as I forced myself to chew, the crisp lettuce provided a perfect, refreshing accent. It was a calculated harmony of flavors, and I was completely entranced.
"Yanagida-kun... I'm glad you like it, but you're being a little loud."
"Sorry... I lost my head for a second."
The impact was so great that I had forgotten I was in a public space. For the record, eating was permitted in this study area—I had checked with my sister beforehand.
I reflected on my behavior and ate in silence after that, finishing one piece in no time. I must have looked devastated that it was gone, because Akise-san giggled from across the table.
"You really look like you're enjoying yourself when you eat, Yanagida-kun."
"That's because it actually is delicious. ...Thinking that I'll be able to eat food this good every week, I'm worried I'll get spoiled."
I realized once again just how lucky I was.
"I wouldn't mind making it every day, though."
"I appreciate the sentiment, but I have to decline that for the sake of my own sanity. Oh, right—I’ll pay you for today’s lunch later."
Our agreement was that I would cover the costs of the ingredients for the lunches she made. This might have been outside the scope of that since it was a weekend, but I couldn't settle for receiving something this good for free.
"Oh, don't worry about it! I just made it because I wanted to..."
"Please, let me. I was actually planning to treat you to lunch today and had looked into a few places. Think of this as a way to make up for that. Please."
Akise-san hummed, weighing my plea, but eventually she let out a resigned sigh.
"...Fine. Then this time, I'll accept it under the premise that you 'treated' me. Does that work?"
"Yeah, that helps."
I breathed a sigh of relief. Akise-san gave me a wry smile.
"You're so formal and stubborn, Yanagida-kun. Isn't it a little weird to feel relieved because you're paying money?"
"It's not stubbornness, I'm just a coward. I can't relax if I'm always the one receiving things."
I shook my head to show I was serious, and Akise-san gave a helpless shrug.
We finished our lunch while chatting and continued with some idle talk as we rested. The topic eventually turned to the parting words Hashimoto had left us with yesterday.
"Somehow, he managed to turn the midterm scores into a competition. I don't really have a reason to accept... but regardless, it would irritate me to lose to him."
"A boy's pride? That's kind of sweet. ...Oh, I know!"
Akise-san clapped her hands as if struck by a sudden inspiration. I had a bad feeling about this.
"Let’s have a contest too! Based on our test scores!"
"I don't think there's much of a contest between us, Akise-san."
"You don't know that until we try! And the winner gets to make the loser do one thing—whatever they want!"
Just as I feared. I thought I had grown accustomed to her sudden whims over the last few days, but I was clearly still a novice. I tried to protest, but when I saw her eyes sparkling with excitement, I gave up. There was a strange pressure coming from her that didn't allow for a "no."
She called it a contest, but the gap between our academic abilities was vast. Winning was practically impossible, and withdrawal wasn't an option. Therefore, my only choice was to plan for the aftermath—damage control to keep the consequences to a minimum.
"...Out of curiosity, what would you have me do if you won?"
When I asked in a voice heavy with dread, Akise-san gave a beaming smile.
"If I win, I want you to call me by my first name."
"Haruka-san?"
"The contest hasn't started yet! And no honorifics! Just my name!"
"............Ha-Haruka."
"Nnh...! I-If I win, you have to do that all the time! Not just when we're alone, but in front of everyone at school! Oh, and I'll call you by your first name too, of course!"
"Wait, what?"
I had cast aside my shame to try calling her by her name once, which had shaken her for a moment, but then she had added an even more terrifying condition. Saying it once had drained a massive amount of energy—doing it constantly? In public?
Ignoring my total confusion, Akise-san gripped her mechanical pencil, her spirit ablaze.
"Now I'm motivated! I am definitely not going to lose!"
She declared this boldly and turned back to her desk. Her eyes burned with a fierce determination, and she seemed to be radiating a level of focus far beyond what she’d shown earlier. What exactly was driving her that far?
"This is trouble..."
The real trouble was that I felt a small but undeniable sense of anticipation for what would happen if she got her wish. Our classmates already reacted wildly whenever we seemed even slightly close. If we started calling each other by our first names in front of them, the resulting uproar would be legendary.
Maybe her love for mischief was rubbing off on me.
"Guess I'd better work hard too."
Regardless of the motive, I had to match her energy. I switched my brain back into study mode and gripped my pencil. I couldn't help but notice that my own lips were curved into a smile.