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The alarm clock had just gone off, and Uesugi Kazuki, having enjoyed a refreshing sleep, sprang out of bed.
He grabbed his school bag, which he hadn't opened yesterday, and went downstairs.
Just like yesterday, Uesugi Riko had already prepared breakfast, and today, she'd even packed a bento for lunch.
However, Uesugi Riko looked a bit haggard today, with dark circles under her eyes, as if she hadn't slept well.
After Uesugi Kazuki wolfed down the breakfast on the table, he wiped his mouth and asked Uesugi Riko about the dark circles under her eyes.
Uesugi Riko didn't say anything, simply shook her head, then picked up the car keys and drove Uesugi Kazuki to school.
An awkward silence filled the car during the ride, but this time, before getting out, Uesugi Kazuki said to Uesugi Riko, "Mom, I have to work part-time tonight, so you don't need to make dinner for me."
"Oh."
Although Uesugi Riko's expression remained cold, the [Uesugi Riko Affection +1] that flashed before Uesugi Kazuki's eyes was definitely real.
Watching Uesugi Riko drive away from the school, Uesugi Kazuki rubbed his chin, wondering if he should try to maximize Uesugi Riko's affection first.
Combining the two instances of affection increase, Uesugi Kazuki felt he had found a way to raise Uesugi Riko's affection.
However, raising affection could wait. The most important thing now was to copy... no, to write his homework.
Walking to the classroom, Uesugi Kazuki recalled yesterday's somewhat embarrassing scene, so he first knocked on the door.
Hearing no response from the classroom, he then opened the door.
After opening the classroom door, Akichi Aya wasn't tidying her futon like yesterday. Instead, she was sitting at her desk, propping her face with one hand and looking out the window.
Since no awkward scenes were triggered this time, Uesugi Kazuki smoothly walked to his seat, opened his school bag, and began catching up on his homework.
Then, just like yesterday, Uesugi Kazuki had only just started writing.
A few more assignments with "Akichi Aya" written on their covers landed on Uesugi Kazuki's desk.
And when Uesugi Kazuki looked up, wanting to ask Akichi Aya what this meant,
He saw Akichi Aya stretch, then walk out of the classroom.
Since that was the case... he could only proceed accordingly. After thanking nature's bounty,
Uesugi Kazuki opened Akichi Aya's homework and furiously copied everything, quickly finishing his own.
But just as Uesugi Kazuki finished replicating the homework, he heard light footsteps approaching him.
Judging by Uesugi Kazuki's enhanced Perception, the person approaching him should be a girl.
"Tha..."
Thinking the owner of the footsteps was Akichi Aya, who had gone out and returned, Uesugi Kazuki looked up, intending to thank her. At the same time he heard a whooshing sound, he also saw a wooden sword rapidly growing larger in front of him.
If it were anyone else, facing such a surprise attack, they would likely just have to accept their fate.
But Uesugi Kazuki, having boosted his achievements, was clearly no ordinary person. As the wooden sword was about to hit him, Uesugi Kazuki reversed his grip on his thermos and blocked it.
With a "clash!", Uesugi Kazuki's left arm felt slightly numb after blocking the wooden sword. Only then did he see who had swung it.
Without any surprise, it was still Tokushima Masako.
After her surprise attack failed, Tokushima Masako didn't hesitate. She turned with her sword and ran.
Faced with Tokushima Masako's three shameless sneak attacks, even a Buddha would lose his temper.
As Tokushima Masako turned and fled, Uesugi Kazuki also leaped from his chair, ready to chase after her and ask,
How deep is the grudge between us?
Why do you keep ambushing me like this? That last attack, you were trying to kill me, weren't you?
However, just as Uesugi Kazuki chased after Tokushima Masako out of the classroom, he bumped right into Akichi Aya, who was returning.
Although he stumbled, Uesugi Kazuki, relying on his agility, managed to catch Akichi Aya and perform a 180-degree mid-air spin,
Placing himself beneath Akichi Aya so she wouldn't be harmed by the collision.
But Tokushima Masako, meanwhile, ran off and disappeared down the hallway.
Lying on the ground, Uesugi Kazuki watched Tokushima Masako disappear down the hallway, then lowered his gaze and saw Akichi Aya in his arms.
As their eyes met, Akichi Aya's expression gradually stiffened, and then Uesugi Kazuki saw a hint of fear and more anger in her eyes.
So, Uesugi Kazuki quickly released his grip on Akichi Aya.
As Akichi Aya climbed off him, Uesugi Kazuki raised his hands in a French salute, demonstrating his harmlessness,
While attempting to explain to Akichi Aya, "I'm sorry, I bumped into you because I was chasing Tokushima Masako, the girl who just ran away. I only held you to keep you from getting hurt."
"In that case, Uesugi-kun, you'll need to be more careful next time."
After saying that, Akichi Aya returned to her seat.
Uesugi Kazuki, not understanding what Akichi Aya meant by that, could only get up from the floor and return to his own seat.
The rest of the day was as ordinary as usual, an uneventful day.
The only slight ripple was at lunchtime, when Uesugi Kazuki tried to glean some information about Tokushima Masako from Takeda Masaaki.
He was refused by Takeda Masaaki, who said, "I don't want to get involved in your disputes!"
Even when Uesugi Kazuki put Takeda Masaaki in a headlock with his arm and vigorously rubbed his head with his fisted right hand, he couldn't make him speak.
Finally, Uesugi Kazuki had no choice but to release Takeda Masaaki, who had "even if you choke me, punch me, throw me out the window today, I won't say a word" written all over his face.
After releasing Takeda Masaaki, Takeda Masaaki rubbed his head and said,
"It's not that I'm not loyal, brother, it's just that I'm still involved with the Kendo Club. I don't want to offend that 'Demon General'."
Facing such a righteous Takeda Masaaki, Uesugi Kazuki could only pat Takeda Masaaki's shoulder and say, "Alright, alright, I know you have your reasons."
And incidentally, wiped off the hair oil he had just gotten on his hand.
After school, Uesugi Kazuki walked out of the school gates, preparing to go to his part-time job at the convenience store.
He hadn't walked far when he saw Akichi Aya's mother, whom he had met in the alley yesterday, getting out of a commercial van.
Several people in black suits and sunglasses accompanied her.
Seeing this scene, Uesugi Kazuki quietly walked to a nearby public telephone booth and dialed the number of the convenience store where he worked.
"Moshi moshi, Manager-san, this is Uesugi. Something unexpected came up at school today, so I won't be able to come to work. I'm truly very sorry for the inconvenience."
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