Doma Umaru [That really scared me just now! Shiina Mahiru's aura and presence completely overwhelmed me earlier. Only now am I realizing it—why was I even nervous?
But what exactly is her relationship with Saiki-shishou? From the way she acted, it seems like she might like Saiki-shishou a little. Could she be my shishou's wife?]
(She's not.)
Doma Umaru [Even if she is my shishou's wife, it doesn't really concern me. Wait, no, she's not anyway. Saiki-shishou has never mentioned having a wife, and he treats her like a normal classmate, nothing special.
Mm, that's right. And someone as great as Saiki-shishou shouldn't be dating anyway. He should focus on playing games. Mm, I can't let Saiki-shishou just find some random wife, or else he won't be able to play games with me every day.]
(No matter what, I'm not playing games with you every day.)
Doma Umaru closed her eyes to confirm, her ahoge nodding in agreement too.
Doma Umaru [Better to just study properly.]
(Yeah, study properly.)
After making up his mind, Saiki opened the textbook, glanced at it, and instantly felt bored again.
(I just want to relax, read manga, and eat coffee jelly.)
...
"Saiki-kun, I don't really understand this problem…"
[Oh, let me see where.]
Saiki turned to look at Shiina Mahiru beside him, checked the math problem, then picked up a pen and started teaching her.
Pay close attention and learn well, everyone who's aiming for a good school next year.
[Like this first… then like that, and then like this… Mm, got it now?]
Readers: Got it, coach!
"Oh, so that's how it works. Saiki-kun, you're amazing."
After Saiki's explanation, Shiina Mahiru understood it instantly.
Saiki nodded calmly. Teaching smart people is really nice—they get it right away. Otherwise you'd have to repeat it so many times, which is seriously annoying.
"Saiki-shishou, over here, over here…"
Umaru reached out and pulled Saiki closer to her side, scooting her stool over too: "Look at this problem, I don't get it…"
[Oh.]
Saiki propped his cheek on his hand and started teaching with the pen.
[Like this first, then like that, and finally like this. Understand?]
...
"Got it, thanks. As expected of Saiki-shishou."
[It's nothing.]
"Saiki-kun, over here."
Saiki had just finished teaching when Shiina Mahiru pulled him back to her side again.
(Again? She already has another question so soon?)
No choice, Saiki had to look again.
Just as he finished explaining, Umaru beside Shiina Mahiru tugged him over again: "Saiki-shishou, here…"
Finally done, he let out a breath.
"Saiki-kun, here…"
"Saiki-shishou, here…"
"Saiki-kun…"
"Saiki-shishou…"
Saiki: …
What does this feel like for Saiki right now? It's like having younger siblings at home constantly asking him to play, but each wants to play something different. Just when you calm down one, the other has something, then after calming the sister the brother has another issue. It's exhausting.
...
Saiki closed the book.
[Mm, let's stop here for now. It's already one o'clock. Time to rest.]
(I need a break too.)
"Ah~ Saiki-kun is really amazing. Just like a real teacher."
Shiina Mahiru checked the time—yeah, one o'clock—set down her book, yawned a little tiredly.
"Saiki-shishou, thank you. Coming to you really was the right choice."
Umaru stretched lazily, trying to shake off all the fatigue in her body.
Saiki mainly just got up and flopped onto the sofa.
[I've already used up all my energy for activities today.]
"Ah! Saiki-shishou, you're done already? Seriously."
Umaru squatted beside him, poked his cheek, and teased.
"Isn't the top student in the grade supposed to be studying from morning till night?"
[You're top in the grade too. Are you like that?]
That remark left Umaru completely speechless.
"Hehe, then I'll go prepare lunch. It's about time anyway. How about noodles?"
Shiina Mahiru tied her hair back in advance, walked skillfully to the kitchen, and put on an apron.
[Yeah, noodles are fine.]
"I can help too."
Umaru smiled in response, then leaned down and whispered to Saiki: "Hey, Saiki-shishou, Shiina-san is way too skilled at this. How many times does she usually come over? Does she come here a lot?!"
[No, just occasionally.]
Saiki rolled over on the sofa, face toward the Doraemon plush, and said weakly,
[Not often.]
"Liar, I don't believe you."
[Believe it or don't.]
"How can you be like that?"
Umaru looked helplessly at Saiki lying there like a slug: "Sigh! I'm really worried about your future, Saiki-shishou."
[You don't need to worry about my future. Yours needs way more worrying than mine.]
...
After lunch.
The three sat on the sofa.
[Finished eating now. Do you two still want to review?]
"Saiki-shishou, I'm good for today. I've reviewed enough already."
"Me too, Saiki-kun. I consolidated a lot today. I'll just go home and preview properly."
(It's exactly like a three-minute enthusiasm thing. But whatever, I'm tired too.)
Saiki sat on the sofa, took out his coffee jelly, picked up the remote to choose a program, but his hand was grabbed by Umaru.
[What are you doing?]
"Hehe."
Umaru grinned: "Saiki-shishou, how about we watch the movie I brought?"
[You brought a movie too?]
"Of course! Umaru predicted she'd be tired after reviewing, so she wanted to relax with a movie. That's why I brought it. Shiina-san, come watch with us too!"
(Predicted?)
"Oh, sure."
Shiina Mahiru set down her novel.
"I actually like watching movies quite a bit."
[You like movies? What about horror movies?]
Saiki Kusuo opened the box Umaru brought and pulled out the Grudge series movie inside.
"H-Horror movie… Is this one really scary?"
Shiina Mahiru swallowed, picked up the Doraemon pillow, and hugged it tightly to her chest.
Saiki looked at the terrifying ghost face on the cover, then at the synopsis.
[It should be pretty scary.]
"Ah, then this…"
"It's fine, Shiina-san! Nothing will happen. With so many of us watching together, how could we get scared? Relax, and Saiki-shishou is here too!"
[Sure.]
Saiki picked up his phone and searched for reviews of this movie series.
"Really super scary. I couldn't watch it alone at all. Good thing I dragged a friend along, or I wouldn't have made it."
"Same here. Heard from a friend it's super scary, but I was too scared alone, so I forced my little sister to watch with me."
"Was your sister willing?"
"Anyway, super scary alone. I really couldn't finish it. Last time I got so scared halfway through I ran outside to find my mom."
...
Saiki looked at Umaru still comforting Shiina Mahiru, narrowed his eyes, and thought,
(This girl probably couldn't watch it alone at home, so she deliberately brought it over! Seriously.)