Hah, as promised, I released this chapter within 48 hours!
...
I did say 48, right?
Okay, maybe I didn't.
At any rate, it's done, so please enjoy.
...
P.S.: No unexpected plot twist here, sorry, it really IS our favourite loner who rang the intercom!
[~ Iroha POV ~]
"Senpai! Irrasshai!"
"…Ou."
When I greeted Senpai in this way with a cheerful smile, he gave a brusque reply and averted his face slightly.
I actually find that reaction kind of sweet.
"…Hmm? Something smells good. By any chance, has dinner already been cooked or something? Though, it seems a bit too early for that."
Sh-sharp…
Though, I can't let him know just yet. I want his honest opinion. If possible, it'd be best if he actually tried the Doria at dinner time first before I reveal that I was the one who had prepared it.
In any case, a timely diversion is required here…
"Ah! To tell the truth, that's Iroha-chan's – "Senpai, let's go up to my room!" – !"
That was close…
With my hands on his back, I hurriedly pushed Senpai up the stairs before he could ask my mother about what she had been trying to say.
"Okaa-san! Even after I went through so much trouble to keep it a secret, you almost…!"
"I'm sorry! It's just that after seeing Iroha working so hard like that, I ended up wanting to share my excitement…"
…
Okaa-san looked very downhearted, like a child who had just been scolded by their parents and was regretting their actions.
Well, looking carefully at her face, I could see that – "Iroha…?" – this sort of reaction was somewhat of a testament to her youthfulness.
About an hour and a half after the tuition session had begun,
"Senpai! I've answered all the questions!"
"Alright, show me your work."
I passed Senpai the answers that I had written down on several sheets of loose-leaf lined paper.
He then started marking them, all the while carefully comparing my work with the answers.
I don't know if it's just me, but Senpai's profile looks really attractive when he's serious about something…
In fact, even back in high school, there had never been anything wrong with his looks. If only he had opened his eyes a bit wider, then, discounting his attitude, he'd likely have had many female admirers.
Ever so slightly moving his right hand so as to mark a correct answer with a circle, occasionally bringing a finger to his mouth as he thought about what comment to write whenever he found a mistake… every individual action of his was causing my heart to beat a little faster.
Back then, was I even affected to this extent when it came to Hayama-senpai?
…
"O-i-, Isshiki? Is everything alright?"
"Fuahh!?"
I snapped back into reality.
"Whoa!? That surprised me, Isshiki… suddenly calling out like that."
Before I knew it, Senpai had finished checking my answers and was now looking worriedly in my direction.
Actually, I had been so zoned out, I hadn't noticed that as a result of my absentmindedness, he had moved closer to check up on my condition, such that the distance between us was certainly a lot smaller than usual…
"I-I-I'm alright! There's nothing wrong with me!"
"No, your face seems a little red… I wonder, is the summer heat getting to you?"
Saying so, Senpai placed a hand on my forehead.
"Ah…"
"Well, it doesn't seem to be a fever. Uh, Isshiki?"
Like this, it's just like that time when he stroked my head…
Somewhat conscious of this fact, I quickly faced my head downwards embarrassedly.
I could tell that I was blushing furiously up to my ears.
Finally realizing the situation, Senpai –
"Ah, no… sorry about that…"
"…"
This situation is really identical to what had happened during the previous lesson.
Certainly, at this point, Okaa-san had…
"…!?"
I quickly turned around to check the door, separating his hand from my forehead as I did so.
…Well, it's not open.
"A-ah… just another one of my bad habits. Really, I'm truly sorry for doing that."
"Huh?"
Senpai suddenly started being very apologetic
Eh? Why… ah.
"That, that's not it! Just now, I was just checking to see if Okaa-san was sneaking around as always! I wasn't shaking you off because I hated it! In fact, rather than hating it, I… no, never mind!"
"Is… is that so… well, anyway, you seem well enough, so are you alright with doing a test in the remaining time?"
How embarrassing… wait. A test?
"I'll do it!"
"Like I said last time, I absolutely cannot understand why you're so enthusiastic about these. Well, all right. I'll be giving you a test in the same format as before."
"Ryoukai desu~!"
The reason why I was so enthusiastic, was of course that I was looking forward to what came after the test.
From last night up until now, I had been imagining excitedly what sort of reward I'd be getting. Now, the wait would finally be over.
Well, obviously, I'd need to score high enough first…
…
…
"…Isshiki, you're amazing, you know."
"Ehhen!"
As expected, it's of course a perfect score.
I've said so multiple times before, but I had already perfectly memorized the English words and their meanings beforehand!
"Then, Senpai, since it's a perfect score, my reward please!"
"You shouldn't ask that so directly… anyway, I didn't even bring anything of the sort along with me today."
"Well, it's Senpai after all, so I knew that this was going to happen in the end."
"…Such a heartless thing to say."
"…*cough*… That's why, it should be fine if you grant me just one request!"
This request was something that I had thought about for a very long time last night.
And its contents…
"Let's hold the next tuition session at your place, Senpai!"
While the 'home' part of 'home tutor' certainly implies that teaching would normally be done at the house of the student, in fact, there is no such ruling set in stone.
Depending on what was most convenient for the tutor, classes could be held anywhere: in a classroom, or even a family restaurant or café.
"It's fine, right?"
"Well, I…"
"Ah… even though I did my best to answer those nasty questions that you slipped in, Senpai…"
"Guh… All the same, I don't think it'd be very easy to get your parents' approval. A young man and woman of roughly the same age alone together…"
"Eh?! Senpai, were you planning to do something to me!?"
"Oi, stop that, what do you see me as, some kind of animal? …At any rate, I'm sure your parents would be very worried about the possible implications."
…Though, in actual fact, would they?
Certainly, Otou-san would vehemently oppose the idea, though it's not like I was planning on telling him myself…
As for Okaa-san, she'd be delighted. In fact, the likelihood is high that, she'd consider it such an auspicious occasion, that upon my return, she'd be serving red rice.
"Then, it'll be fine with you so long as I get permission, right?"
"…Well, I suppose so."
"Eh…"
"Then, it's decided!"
After the lesson had ended, we had gone downstairs to the living room. As expected, Okaa-san gave her blessings shortly after I had explained the proposition to her.
"! By all means, I should actually be thanking you, Hikigaya-kun! Ah, in the interests of personal hygiene, plea– OW OW OW! Iroha-chan, could you stop pinching me?
It's good that I was able to get permission from Okaa-san so easily. Though, thankfully, I'd had my guard up high enough to stop her from saying strange things in her second sentence…
Putting aside my future plans for that home-visit event, isn't there a more pressing issue at hand…
"Senpai! Let's have dinner!"
"Ah. I'll help lay the table."
"No, no, Senpai, you should just wait here until everything's done: you're the guest after all!"
"All the same, it'd be inexcusable for me to simply wait here if I'm going to continue to be served dinner for free in the future."
I could certainly see why he'd feel that way… still, since the Doria wasn't fully ready to be served, I as much as possible wanted to avoid having Senpai be in the kitchen.
If that's the case…
"! Okaaaa-san! Senpai wants to have a little chat with you!"
"Eh, wai–"
"Aww, is that so?! Hikigaya-kun wanting to talk to me makes me really happy!"
I left it to Okaa-san to handle the situation, knowing that she was all too aware of the task I had given her: keeping Senpai occupied until dinner was ready.
Arriving in the kitchen, I swiftly made the finishing touches to the Doria and placed it in the oven.
I then arranged the salad on individual plates and brought them to the living room together with the other eating utensils.
From the looks of things, Okaa-san's having a lot of fun… though I can tell from his face that this conversation is really tiring Senpai out.
Once the Doria was sufficiently grilled, I removed it from the oven and placed it on a tray, ready to be carried to the living room.
"It's ready!"
"Ah, sorry for the inconvenience…"
So-somehow, he looks pretty disheartened. Was Okaa-san perhaps too much of a hurdle to overcome for someone as inept at small talk as Senpai?
But, the instant he saw the Doria,
"Oh, it's Doria? Honestly, it wouldn't be wrong to call Doria my favourite item on the menu when going to a family restaurant."
His spirit had returned.
Is that so… Doria's his favourite food? Thank goodness!
Though, the respectful attitude might also be attributed to him thinking that it was Okaa-san who had prepared the food.
In fact, I wonder what kind of reaction he'd have after knowing I was the one who had made it…
… I tensed up ever so slightly.
"Fufu, please look forward to it, I think you'll find it delicious, Hikigaya-kun. Then, Itadakimaasu~"
" "Itadakimasu" "
Ah, just now, didn't Okaa-san casually raise the bar?
…
I gave the first serving of Doria to Senpai.
He sank his spoon into the white sauce, and slowly scooped up the rice underneath it, bringing the food to his mouth.
"…Uhh, I don't think I've ever had someone watching me eat so closely before…"
"…!? I wasn't really looking! That… that's just you being too self-conscious, Senpai!"
"No, I clearly saw you… well, whatever."
Had my staring really been that obvious…?
I glanced at Okaa-san. As expected, I could see her desperately trying to hold back her laughter.
Her shoulders were practically trembling.
…
This time, so as to avoid being found out, I pretended to adjust my bangs, while secretly giving Senpai a sidelong glance.
He was currently blowing on the food that he had scooped up in order to cool it down.
And then, finally…
"Oh, this is actually really delicious!"
"Really!?"
"Whoa!? That was a very sudden reaction!"
"Buha-"
I had reacted so happily the instant Senpai had complimented the food.
And Okaa-san, finally unable to contain her laughter any longer, let it out.
Since I was able to see his initial reaction, it should be okay to tell him now, right?
"To tell the truth… tonight's dinner was… all… made by me!"
"Eh, that is… by 'all', do you mean to say you made the Doria too?"
I nodded my head.
"Seriously…?"
With that, Senpai fell silent.
Heeh, is something wrong after all?
…
I'm starting to get anxious……
"Uh, was it not to your liking?"
"What? Ah no, that's not it… how should I say… I was surprised at how good it was. To think that your cooking was this delicious. Uh, Isshiki?"
I was unmistakably grinning madly.
I'd mentally prepared myself for this moment so that I wouldn't show it on my face, but when it had come to the actual thing, I just couldn't help it!
"Fufu, Iroha prepared this for you so enthusiastically, you'd better savour it well, Hikigaya-kun!"
"! Okaa-san! Don't say so many unnecessary things!"
"Okay~"
Mou, Okaa-san always has something to say…
"Well, I do envy the boyfriend who'll get to eat this sort of thing on a regular basis…"
" "…" "
Senpai, was that intentional?
You're doing this on purpose, right?
You're having a laugh at my expense, aren't you?
No, I'm certain that it's on purpose.
It's not funny, you know?
Okaa-san also gave me an exasperated expression.
…
…
Really, there are some times when I honestly think Senpai is being more sly than me.
"Thanks for the meal. It was enjoyable."
"Ah, it was no problem."
Un, having this said to me again face-to-face, I was already starting to grin once more.
I looked down so as to hide my facial expression.
"As always, thank you so much for helping Iroha with her studies. I'm sure she's looking forward to next time already."
"No, no, Iroha-san's been exceeding my expectations through her own effort. It's honestly amazing, I didn't even do that much for her."
!? Referring to me as 'Iroha-san' all of a sudden, it's very embarrassing…
"Well, then, please excuse me for today. Sorry for bothering you."
"Take care!"
"G-goodbye…"
…
…
I was grinning uncontrollably, even as he bid farewell and walked off.
Someone actually uploaded the end (last ~25 minutes) of Iroha's route a while ago (in Japanese, of course). I bookmarked it to watch later, but it got taken down when I checked again T_T
Though in the end it's probably for the best, at least this way I'll know the chronological story piece-by-piece on one of those play through channels instead of spoiling it for myself.
On the note of the ending to the OVA, to be honest I'm not too sure how to interpret Iroha's expression. At any rate, the OVA adapted volume 10.5, which would mean the events probably occurred between volumes 10 and 11, or alternatively right before episodes 11 and 12 of Zoku.
The ship's still sailing until further notice.
...
I'll avoid making a promise I can't keep this time, so...
Ah, whatever. Next chapter in 24 hours.
No, really.
...
Maybe.
