After buying and eating ice cream with Mash, she takes Ritsuka to her house to discuss what will he aid her during the first stage of the year.
"How in the world..?" - Ritsuka said, as he looked at Mash eating a wasabi ice cream like it was nothing, not even caring for how spicy it was.
"I don't know why, but spicy food really doesn't do much for me, ever since I was a kid. Wasabi is the only thing that half does it, that's why I like it so much" - she explained as she finished eating hers - "By the way, you're a fan of chocolate Senpai?" -
"Bit so, yeah" - he answered, finishing his own ice cream - "Well, this was fun but I need to get back home, so..." -
"Do you have anything important to do?" -
"I mean, I guess you could call it that. I have until quite late at night to finish it and..." -
"Perfect, then can we go to my place? We can discuss what you'll teach me" -
"Wait, now? I thought we agreed that we'd do so on weekends" -
"We have the time now, and none of us have important stuff to do, so why not?" -
She was right, there was no argument there, and while Ritsuka didn't exactly enjoyed the company of others, he made an agreement, and had to fulfill it.
"Alright, but let's not take too much time, I do have things to do" -
"Don't worry, we'll just have a quick talk and you'll be able to go!" -
With that, Mash led Ritsuka to her home, which wasn't far away from the ice cream place. They ended up in an apartment building, as Mash told him she lived in the 6th floor.
"Looks pretty new" - Fujimaru said.
"Dad wanted to search for something recent and close to the school for when we moved here, and this was perfect, or at least as perfect as possible" -
"Well, doesn't look half bad" -
"Thanks Senpai" -
After entering the appartment, Ritsuka noted how it was perfectly clean, it was also fairly big for japanese standards, or at least bigger than the one he used to live in before his mother bought their current house.
"Make yourself at home Senpai, I'll go for some water to drink, want me to bring anything for you?" -
"No need. You parents aren't home?" -
"No, they went to visit my grandpa and they won't be back 'til wednesday, a bit sad that they couldn't join me for my first day but it is what it is" -
"Alright then, let's get straight to the point so we can get this done, what do you need my help for?" -
"Well, I don't have much of a problem with japanese, health, english or science, but mathematics has always been my worst enemy and social studies sounds very complicated" -
"I get that, social studies is a bitch, you'll better get used to it during this year since second and third grade are going to eat you alive if you don't" -
"That's why I'm asking for your help Senpai" -
"I know I know. Well, I'd say that this weekend as soon as you get your first excercises we should start working on that to make sure you're well prepared for the midterms in May" -
"Great, thanks for your help Senpai! Oh, don't we have a school trip next month?" -
"Yeah, originally it was only for third graders but recently the school started to make it opcional for first and second graders to go as well, same for the October one. Whatever the case, hope you don't distract yourself since it's in the same month as the midterms" -
"Don't worry about that, I might be a bit active, but I can focus on one thing if I need to" -
"I hope so, because if I teach you and you still mess up somehow, that's gonna be on you, not me" -
"Have a little faith in me Senpai, I told you I might not be the best but I still managed to have decent grades all the way over here" -
"Decent grades aren't going to cut it Mash, especially if you're aiming for a better university after your three years here" -
"Right, right... Speaking of that, what are your plans after you finish? This is your last year right?" -
"I told you alredy didn't I? I just want to finish this year with good grades again and get out of here to study in Tokyo, not difficult" -
"Yeah but, why would you want to leave? I mean, Kioto might not be as big but it's a pretty nice place overall" -
"Personal preferences, none of your business" -
"Hmph, bummer, I just wanted to get to know you a little bit better" -
"Why? I'm just helping you get through this year, that's all" -
"You're no fun Senpai, I just wanted to see if you and I could maybe become friends" -
"Sorry, but I'm to busy for that this year, I'll help you all you need but for that, ask some of your same grade classmates. Now that we're done with that, if you excuse me, I'll be taking my leave" -
With those words, Ritsuka left, Mash didn't said a word to him as he left, she just simply went to her room to prepare for tomorrow, while thinking to herself.
"Don't worry Senpai, I won't give up! I promise, after this year ends, you and I will be the best of friends!" -
Ritsuka made his way through the streets of Kioto while the afternoon sun shone directly into him. He was about to reach his home, when a voice spoke to him.
"So, you're the top student of the high school?" - it was none other than Morgan.
"Yeah, and you're the new student right?" -
"Indeed I am, my name is Morgan, a pleasure to meet you" -
"Ritsuka, what do you want?" -
"For the moment, nothing, I just wanted to see who would my main competitor be and... I do believe this will be rather interesting" -
"What the hell?" -
"Oh, don't worry too much about it, you'll see in due time" -