Kiyomaro was actually feeling pretty good today, when lunch time was over he and Itsuki decided to meet in the library when the day ended to have a better grasp at what her weaknesses were and whatever strong points she had to reinforce them.

While everyone would be happy to set up a date with a cute girl, Kiyomaro was focusing more on the aspect that he finally had someone to interact with within the school. His pride wouldn't let him admit it in an honest way but in the Ashiyama high school he was a loner. Since the admission exam he always has been the top of the year, alongside with someone else. the best score in every exam during his first year of highschool and it seems to be the same for his second year.

Unlike middle school where he was outcast due to the envy of his classmates and partly his fault for being arrogant, in Ashiyama his classmates wouldn't get close to him due to the fear of being looked down upon.

Ashiyama was a prestigious school most students were serious about their studies and their future some even having cramp school after classes or a tutor, then comes this guy and does everything with ease, were ever he would get called by the teacher to answer a question he would do it perfectly almost like the most natural thing in the world for him. imagine putting all your efforts into something only for someone to walk through it like it was the more natural thing to do. But why don't they try to get close to Kiyomaro and ask him about whatever question they have a problem with?, between a classmate and a teacher a classmate should be the most comfortable option to ask something after all one is closer in age to you, so it should be a more equal relationship, right?

But they simple were afraid of asking Kiyomaro and only getting a "that's it, you're wasting my time in something so simple" or "you're really stupid to be stuck in this", Ashiyama was High School that was not easy to enter, so some student were among the best in their middle school and have the experience either answering rude when getting asked for help or getting a rude answer while asking for help. No one likes to be looked down on. especially if it is something where you put a great amount of effort.

So without realizing there seems to be an invisible wall between him and his classmates, it also didn't help that Kiyomaro had bored looks on his face during class or would study something completely unrelated and when called by the teacher to see if he was paying attention he would simply give a perfect answer.

"Is not like I don't study too, is just that I already learned what they were going to teach this semester" Kiyomaro has been doing a private research about ancient cultures looking for anything related to the Mamodo world, either looking for a way to communicate with Gash or a danger that could be preview like Faudo or the Mamodos of the battle a thousand year ago, so for this research to go smoothly and without interruptions as possible Kiyomaro decided to learn about what was going to be taught in the semester and cramp it, so that way he could focus more on his research.

In conclusion he had no one to interact with in school and not much to learn, which gave Kiyomaro an uneventful high school life at least in comparison with how crazy his middle school years were.

"And anytime I tried to talk to Uesugi or invite him to lunch he rejects me" Uesugi Fuutaro, another top student that usually was on part with Kiyomaro, even through the later had tried to be friendly it seemed Uesugi viewed him as a rival.

The young genius just let out a sigh "to think it was that hard to break ice with new people, now that I think about it Gash was usually also there helping smooth the chat" he remember his friend sneaking into the school to play with everyone and how sometimes he will bring Umagon with him causing even a bigger mess but it really was a fun mess.

And due to his highschool situation he was feeling really positive with the fact he finally got something to break the boring routine, it is not like he was using Itsuki as a source of entertainment Kiyomaro really was going to help her with everything he could, but honestly he would take anything to break the routine.

The classes for the day had ended, Kiyomaro went to the library as he promised to the red head, as he walked he saw some people looking at him and leaving some comments the moment he already passed them some had malice other admiration there also was some of rivalry but he tried not to give it much attention.

Upon arriving at the library Kiyomaro quickly found Itsuki with her studying materials ready, wearing some red glasses and some snacks close to her. She was looking around trying not to show how anxious she really was 'did I arrive too soon? I hope I don't appear too desperate' Itsuki had arrived 10 minutes ago and she was starting to become nervous 'what if he doesn't come, or what if he decide to retract his word after seeing how bad my notes are' the negative comment keep pilling as the time keep pacing even she was the one that come way earlier to the library.

"hey" Itsuki instantly looked at the voice that talked to her she give happy smile upon realizing it was the person she was waiting for "did you waited long"

"No, I just arrived haha"

Kiyomaro just looked at the empty packings of snacks and wondered how long ago she actually arrived [10 minutes ago] was the answer his ability give him 'I really need go back and practice answer-talker I feel like i'm only getting the answers to personal questions about this girl' he let out cough to focus himself.

"Well first, is there any question that needs urgent attention? or we go straight to look after your tests" mention Kiyomaro entering teacher mode while sitting in the chair in front of Itsuki.

"Yes I actually had some problems following the classes but I did take some notes" said Itsuki while passing her study friend her notebook.

Kiyomaro was pleasantly surprised over how clean her notebook was and how easy how detailed her notes were, which make wonder how a girl that put this much thought into studying was having problem keeping up with classes "ok, the notes are good but where is the problem you are having"

"here when the teacher mention to use an specific equation to solve it but I didn't quite get it"

"Did you ask the teacher to repeat the way to use the equation?"

Which made Itsuki go red, while trying to think of an excuse.

"You know they are there to teach right?"

"B-b-but is embarrassing everyone was following the class so well, if I were to interrupt the flow of the class to ask something everyone knew I-I"

"Would look like an idiot?" He just gives a serious look to Itsuki which makes her feel dumb for worrying about something that small.

"yes.."

"I suppose that is one way to read the room, but you are the one in the losing end"

"I know but I just transfer here I don't want to bring more attention than necessary"

"If it is any consolation you're probably not the only one who's loss in class there always are more students like you who stay quiet not wanting to bring attention to themselves, in that case you can always ask the teachers in the break or before class"

"Yes I'll try to do that" Itsuki had an embarrassed but happy smile, kiyomaro was really trying to help her!

"Any more problems you had in class"

"Ah, yes in the next page there is also something I didn't get" points Itsuki to the notebook with renewed vigor and strong conviction.

That way two hours have passed and the sun was already setting. most of the people in the Library were already leaving or they were packing up their things to leave, the pile of snack next to Itsuki keep growing during their study hour's leaving Kiyomaro surprised over much food she could eat without getting full but at least it didn't impede in their studies so at the end of the days there was no problem this little gimmick that was cute compared to his middle school friends that at the most little distraction they would start talking about aliens, UMA's, baseball or sculpting heads in apple's and disrupt the studying session.

Itsuki sadly wasn't a fast learner in any means it was clear some subjects cost her more than other mainly math and social studies but the focus to better herself made up for that, Kiyomaro notice that main problem was that she did not have a strong foundation, it was like running without knowing how to walk you're just going to fail and fall in your face. At some point she probably had been left behind and couldn't pick up the pace again. to which Kiyomaro tried to remember where did he left his notebooks or the book's that he used in middle school so he could lend them to her. He just hoped the girl he was helping didn't really mind some scribbles Gash and Umagon made here and there.

Itsuki noted that the person who was helping her was looking through the window without any focus then she realized he had been helping her for quite some time "Sorry, it must have been tedious, me asking about every little thing" just during this study session she had practically asked about everything she had problem in class which was a lot even sometimes having trouble in the same problem two or three times "you helped me a lot today if you want we can leave it here" she give him an apologetic smile and hope he wasn't fed up with her, after all he was doing it for free and even some tutor's she and her sister's had would already be looking at her with exasperation by now.

"No, sorry for pacing out" Kiyomaro shock his head trying to clear his mind "I was thinking where did I left some of my study material of middle school"

"Middle school?"

"Yeah, it seems your bigger problem is that your foundation is not good enough so going back a little might help"

"Middle school? That's around the time when mom" Itsuki started to think about what Kiyomaro mentioned. If that were her problem started, then it would make sense for her and her sister's. While it made Itsuki happy that she found a route for her to finally get better it also brought some sad memories.

"But yes it is better if we leave it here for today" said Kiyomaro while starting to pack up his things.

"Ah, yes is getting really late" that made Itsuki focus again on the present, she hoped he didn't get fed up with her and they can do this again someday.

"I would normally have no problem in keep going I also have a call for the tutoring job I told you this afternoon about setting the schedule and the place, to be honest I don't know anything about the person I'm going to be tutoring"

"Really? that seems kinda sketchy"

"Haha I know but is a friend of my dad asking for the favor, so it should be trusting"

"Then yeah let's leave it for today" to which Itsuki also started packing up her things and also doing a ball of trash to later dump in the trash can "thank you very much you really helped me today"

Itsuki had a big smile on her face, she was starting to think that maybe this change of school had been for the better, she already meet someone willing to help her without getting fed up or frustrated and even better she found were her score's started to go down maybe with this she could also help her sister's and if things go well they wont need a private tutor! Maybe it was wishful thinking but if she puts effort and shows good results to her sister's then she can convince them to also study with kiyomaro!

While Itsuki didn't wanted to take advantage of kiyomaro helping spirit, she also knew how much her sister's need the help with their score's too it might take some effort to get everyone together but the younger Nakano already had her mind made, she just hoped everything went well enough from now on.

"Ah right, here" Kiyomaro passed Itsuki a paper full questions

"Eh?"

"These questions should help you repass what we talked today, I wrote them to reinforce in what you seemed loss, just answer what you can and the rest we can see it together when you can"

Itsuki just looked at the paper and it was just as he said the questions involved the things she had problem today but it was put at a level she could solve them "Thank you takamine-kun" at Itsuki earnest smile he could only look away, Kiyomaro had always been bad dealing when someone that was so honest.

"Don't worry I said I'll help you, also this help me repass too so win-win"

"Hehe in that case I hope you don't mind if I ask for help again"

As they kept chatting they reached the school entrance, the sky was already orange giving a signal that it was going to get darker soon. Kiyomaro hoped that the books he ordered would have arrived at his home by now.

"Nakano-san do you need me to accompany you home?" He started to think his mother would hit him with an earful if she knew that Kiyomaro didn't escort his new friend home or at least part way. while he just met Itsuki.

"Don't worry I live close by and is not too late" she was surprised by kiyomaro's proposition but she also knew it didn't really mean anything special after all their time studying he never made a move on her or looked at her in a bad way.

"That's good then see you tomorrow"

Goodbye"

They simply weaved at each other goodbye's and went their own way, Itsuki feeling like luck was starting to smile at her.

Meanwhile, Kiyomaro was feeling pretty good about helping someone and honestly surprised by how many good memories of his time with Gash bringed that study session.

"I know that just like nakano-san you're also working hard on becoming a kind king"

Kiyomaro stopped to look at the sky, whether Gash world was up in the start's or another dimension it didn't matter it was the same sky they have shared at some point, he knew Gash was working hard to make the Mamodo world a better place, so what's the deal if he put a little more on his plate to help a classmate on the border of tears.

.

"I'm home" with a tired voice Itsuki enters her new home we're she and her sister started live "I'm beat" while the day have been productive it have also been tiring new faces, new school, having made a clown of herself at lunch, grater the courage to ask Takamine-kun to help her study, then arriving to early just to anxiously wait. it had drained her.

The younger Nakano just wanted to change clothes, eat, have a shower and go to bed, then she remembered the question kiyomaro prepared for her, instead of finding it nuance it brought a small smile to her, yes it has been tiring but it also was a good day.

"Itsuki!" Yotsuba came energetic as usual to greet her sister "is almost night I was getting worried"

"Welcome back Itsuki" Ichika the oldest of the quintuplets came after to greet "you send us message that you would be in the studying in the library but I didn't think it would take you that long"

"Oh? Itsuki I was finishing with the dinner Just in time" Nino told the rest of her sister from the kitchen.

"Itsuki, welcome back" then came Miku with her usual calm tone of voice to greet her sister.

All five girls are the ones that live in this apartment. They are all sisters quintuplets to be exact apart from the clothes they're wearing and their hair, their faces and bodies are the exact same, they could easily pass as each other, anyone that is not family would mistake them for each other.

Itsuki just smiled when she saw all her sister's 'while we have been through some stuff lately but I'm sure as long as we are together we can overcome anything'.

While all the sisters joined the table to eat, Ichika brought the theme of the dinner.

"Itsuki what were you doing in the library that took you so much time"

"Yeah Itsuki usually you borrow some book then head home or to a family restaurant" Nino also got interested in the theme.

"Listen, about that while you ditch me at lunch" said Itsuki with a proud tone. "I made a friend and he helped me study today."

"We didn't ditch you, Itsuki, you were just too hungry to wait for all of us to get to the house and eat lunch together" Miku inserted her piece.

"Itsuki you made a friend already, that's awesome" the four sister was really happy for her.

"Right!? takamine-kun was really helpful, he didn't really mind no matter how much I asked" while Itsuki had face full pride over how much progress she had made with her studies today, but what she just said brought a stop to the movement of the remaining sister's.

"Oh my?" the eldest had a teasing smile.

"Itsuki you spend the afternoon with a boy" Nino already wanted to extract all the information she could of her sister.

"I didn't know Itsuki had it in her" Miku, like usual, had the most direct and cutting comment.

"Could it be that spring has already arrived to Itsuki?" Yotsuba was also super interested in the theme.

"What? Eh? No, it is not like that! Takamine-kun just helped me study that's all" she knew her face was red as her hair and she cursed herself for bringing all her sister's attention to herself, she also knew the questions weren't going to stop anytime soon

.

"Mom, i'm home"

"Welcome home Kiyomaro, how was the day?"

"Mmm normal"

"Really? Did something good happen?"

"Something good? why?"

"You seems to be in a better humor than usual kinda like when Gash-kun was here"

"Mmm not much happen but I did help a classmate with some problem it had, that's I why came home late"

"Is that so? was that classmate girl?" Kiyomaro had to look to see the side in embarrassment, that was all his mom needed to know she hit bull eye.

"Yes she was but it is not like you think, I just helped her with some questions that's about it" with a red face Kiyomaro went up the stairs toward his room. the mother just looked at her son with a smile. She was just happy that kiyomaro had the same shine in his eyes he had in middle school.

In his room Kiyomaro managed to calm himself a little while organizing his studying material in his desk, the desk in question was a mess apart from school books and homework. It was full of books about archaeology, history and mythology. For quite some time Kiyomaro has been having this feeling that he was behind a good lead to a connection between earth and the Mamodo world but said lead keeps eluding him.

"Egypt seems to be my best chance but without going there myself there is little to do, I'll have to wait for the vacations to see if Apollo can get me a ride" while wondering about his next move the cell phone started to ring.

It was an unknown number but he did remember that he had call schedule for this afternoon "hello" the voice had somber and serious tone "Good afternoon I'm Nakano Maruo while we don't know each other I have hear very good things from your father, please head to the pentagon high rise Apartments after school for your tutoring job, the apartment is in the floor thirty with Nakano plate on it" Before Kiyomaro could say his piece Maruo already said everything he need to say "I hope all the things I hear about you probe to be true, you were not the only option."

And so he hanged the phone, Kiyomaro just looked at it with surprise, he did hear from his dad the one that presented himself as Nakano Maruo was a non nonsense business man that took everything serious and it was not one he couldn't to compare them to Apollo or Professor Riddles who were also successful businessmen but have a way more approachable attitude even if one was more eccentric than the other or maybe they were the exception.

Then Kiyomaro's phone rang again, that was the first scare. The second came when he saw who was the caller "Professor Riddles?" He had to look around to see if there was a camera or something in his room because the timing was too perfect but on the other hand it was always like that with Professor Riddles.

"Hello Professor riddles is been a long time"

"Haha is nice to hear your voice kiyomaro-kun"

"It good to hear you so energetic Professor riddles and how is vino doing"

"I'm still searching for his biological parents but overall the kid has been good"

"I'm relieved to be honest, but what is the reason of this call, not that i'm not happy to catch up but"

"Yes is as you think kiyomaro-kun something is happening again"

"It has to do with the Mamodo world"

"Again you're correct, right now is just weird rumors but they repeat too much in very different places"

"Wait let grab a pen and paper, yeah ready please continue"

"There is not much to say actually some villages or small town's had been attacked some local monuments and or graves had been destroyed in the middle of the night or a relic have been stolen" there was a pause it seems that Professor Riddles is going through his own data to be the most precise he can be for Kiyomaro "I'll send you all locations of the attacks later but the important thing is that the reports mention two shadowy figures one very big hulking and the other being of human size, this the thing the witness mention about how the small figure used a book to make the big guy attack"

That made Kiyomaro choke his breath after all the battle to decide the Mamodo king had ended. Gash was the last one standing, that there still were Mamodo's left was impossible.

"I'm also skeptical. Kiyomaro-kun but you know I wouldn't call unless this information had some weight" the usually jester Professor Riddles was completely serious, that was enough to inform Kiyomaro of the gravity of the situation.

"Yes, thank you for the head's up i'll see what I can do from here"

"Haha but don't worry too much you're still in high school, Kiyomaro-kun you already spend to much of your youth fighting, this was more of a head's up than a call for help, and remember I have the majestic twelve with me haha" Professor Riddles went back to his joking side which made Kiyomaro relax a little is a he said this was a head up if it was something really serious or something he couldn't handle Professor Riddles would already be outside of his house with an helicopter ready to go "I'll also call megumi, folgore and the rest to give them the heads up".

"Yes thank you for keeping me in the loop Professor Riddles just call if you need any help"

"Will do Kiyomaro-kun also big boing tell you hi and she hopes to see you soon"

"Haha, say hi to the gang for me"

When the second call ended, Kiyomaro looked at his desk. He wanted to keep studying and doing his own research but all the new information hit him like a truck, he had to lay down in his bed for a while to digest everything.

"A rogue Mamodo running around causing havoc and and yes the tutoring job for Nakano Marou-san was it? Nakano?..." he practically jumped from the bed "Nakano-san!" He remembered the girl he had helped study today to think she was actually the one he had to tutor as well. destiny had a funny way to make itself present but at least no one broke his window this time, but there is also the matter of the pay. It was too high for a single girl and while Itsuki was very much left behind she wasn't a problem child she had absorbed what he taught her this afternoon just fine so it makes little sense.

"Maybe he is the type of person to throw money at a problem until it solves itself." Knowing that there was no way he would get an eye shut anytime soon, Kiyomaro just went back to his desk and concentrated about what was at hand.

To be honest many times I changed to Professor Riddles and the other way around still don't know which one is better.