Chapter 3

"Do I know you?"

It took me a while to come to my senses, it was 2018, a year and a half before I died, and in the first day of school at that. Clearly Itsuki wouldn't recognize me, this was supposed to be the moment I first met her!

"Oh! Uhhh... I heard one of your friends call you by that name! I noticed that you're new here, given that you're wearing a uniform from... Black Rose Academy, judging from the design. And I thought I'd try and get to know you"

"Ah... yes, our uniforms still haven't arrived, so we were told to attend our first day in our old uniforms. And I suppose I can have lunch with you, seeing as no one else will accompany me! Although you know my name, I'll introduce myself again, my name's Itsuki Nakano. And you are?"

I smiled as I followed Itsuki to a table. "I'm Fuutarou Uesugi, I hope you didn't find this to be awkward, I would understand how having a guy you don't know suddenly bring up a conversation with you would be a little alarming..."

Itsuki smiled as we found a table to sit at. "Oh not at all! In fact, I actually dislike eating alone, so your company is much appreciated, Uesugi-kun!"

"I see... well I guess we should start eating then, classes start pretty soon after all." I said as I instinctively reach into my pocket, where my flashcards and the results of the mock exam were. I casually flipped through my notes as I ate my rice and soup.

"Don't you think it's rude for you to study whilst eating?" Asked Itsuki

I looked up at her and was about to argue that she should mind her own business but remembered that this was the reason why she hated me initially. "Ah! Where are my manners! Sorry about that, I was just so used to studying alone that it became a habit..."

Itsuki the started reaching for my test results "For you to study even while you're eating... you must be really lacking in terms of your academics! Would you mind if I look at your tests scores? I'm sure it won't be too bad..." the look on her face was the same as when I first met her. "A score of 100! How is that possible?"

"Ah! How embarrassing!" I said jokingly as I resumed to eat. "Let's just say a certain encounter with someone in my past made me want to become a better person, and this is my way of keeping my promise to her... Uhhhh are you alright, Itsuki? You're staring at me..."

Itsuki couldn't help but look at me with stars in her eyes, as if the stars on her hair weren't enough already. "Could you please be my tutor? Regrettably I'm rather... inadequate in terms of studying, and I would really appreciate it if you assist me, that is if you're okay with doing so..."

I smirked, knowing full well that regardless of what I say I'll end up tutoring her and her sisters anyway. "Sure, I don't mind. But I will be charging you, money's pretty tight back at home so I'm looking for a source of income anyway."

"I don't mind! As long as it's within reason I'm sure my father will pay for your services, Uesugi-kun! Although to be honest, I actually have another tutor, and I'm supposed to be meeting him later after classes. I was against it at first because I let my pride get the better of me, but after seeing your scores, I'll request that you'll be my tutor instead of the man my father will be hiring!"

"Oh I don't think that would be a problem, I'm sure your father hired someone just as competent as me, or even better if you're situation is really as bad as you make it sound." I said as I finished my food, while Itsuki still hasn't finished her huge bowl of food.

"Oh you're done already? That was quick!"

"Well, I only did have a bowl of rice and some soup, but don't worry, I'm pretty full after all that food." then suddenly my grumbling stomach invalidated what I had just said.

"You can have some of my food if you want! I still have some udon that you can have, I don't mind sharing with you after you agreed to help me with my studying!"

I hesitated for a bit before getting some of her food "I... I guess I'll take you up on that offer. Thank you so much, Itsuki. I'll pay you back for the food someday, I promise."

With that we ate our lunch in silence, enjoying the food before my phone started to vibrate. "Oh! My sister's calling me, this might take a while. Don't wait up for me, I'll meet you later!" I stood up and headed for the restroom, leaving Itsuki at the table.

Once I was in a stall and safe from any prying eyes, I answered the call. "Hey Raiha, what's up? You don't usually call unless it's important."

"Onii-chan! Dad found you a really nice part-time job!"

"Let me guess... a tutoring gig that pays five times more than the usual rate?"

There was a stunned silence before Raiha replied. "How did you know? I was really hoping to surprise you since it pays so well..."

"Don't feel down Raiha, let's just say that I had a bit of a heads up before you called me." I looked at my phones clock and saw that classes were about to start. "Classes are starting soon, Raiha. We can talk more about it when I get back home. Tell pops to just send me the details. Love you and see you soon!"

"Love you too, Onii-chan!"

After ending the call I made my way back to my classroom. Readying myself for the introduction of a transfer student I'm all too familiar with.

And just like in my first life, Itsuki introduced herself as the transfer student of my class. Coincidentally Itsuki's seat was in front of mine. "What a coincidence that we're in the same class, Itsuki! I guess I'll be helping you study both in and out of class."

Itsuki smiled as she sat in front of me, "I suppose you're right, Uesugi-kun!" was all she could say before being surrounded by my classmates. She was being showered with questions from everybody that I decided to just keep to myself, since I practically knew the answers to majority, if not all of the questions regarding her and her sisters, who unsurprisingly are a hot topic among the students in my year.

Class went by pretty quickly, a mock test was given yet again and I aced it, like usual, with Itsuki getting subpar grades, which was a weird sight after seeing how well she became towards the end of our third year.

"Gahhhh Uesugi-kun! I just cant seem to get a passing grade! I'll really need your help on this!"

"Don't worry about it, I'll help you out tomorrow. You still have to meet with that tutor of yours, right? Although you can ask him for help too if you're so eager to learn." I teased "I also got another tutoring job, I'm meeting my client later today too, so I really can't help at the moment, sorry!"

"Oh that's okay! I guess I'll see you tomorrow, Uesugi-kun!"

Once I said my goodbyes to Itsuki, I headed to the library to pick up some materials I know would help the quints out. But I stopped in my tracks when I saw someone I didn't expect to see just yet. Sitting at the far end of the library, with a book about Japanese Warlords in her hands.

"Miku..."