Results of periodic examinations

"Hey Zhou, aren't you overly enthusiastic this time?"

　Looking at the regular examination rankings posted on the bulletin board in the hallway, Itsuki muttered, sounding a little taken aback.

　After the study session, Zhou continued to study hard and challenged the test. She was simply trying to make herself proud, which was her first goal, but most of all, she was concentrating on getting that midday smile out of her head.

"... I will not hesitate to spoil you, so please feel free to spoil me, okay? 』

　Just remembering the words that were whispered so seductively made me want to writhe in agony.

　As a result of concentrating on studying so as not to waste my thoughts on those words and expressions as much as possible――I guess it led to sixth place this time.

"Yeah, I didn't expect to go this far either."

"You did your best. Did you feel confident?"

"...I guess it's okay. I need to be able to take this over and over again as a matter of course."

"Stoic guy..."

　I don't want Mahiru to see me letting my guard down and falling just because I got it once. It doesn't make sense unless this high position is constant.

　Considering the university entrance exams in the future, it would be outrageous to be satisfied with this and stop. It's not something that can be solved with just a tacked-on knife, so I want to focus on studying to prepare for the future.

　By the way, midday is running alone this time as well. As expected, it's just as expected, but because it's thanks to my daily efforts, it's not something that can be dismissed as expected.

"Fujimiya-san is sixth this time."

　Mahiru, who came to see him later, seems to have noticed Shu's name and smiles beautifully.

　Mahiru is in angel mode, and Shuu smiles lightly, trying not to show his upset.

　I could feel the eyes of those around me, so I didn't have time to be embarrassed and remember what happened the other day.

"Like. Good, good."

"Hehe. You were working hard. You were studying even during your breaks."

"...ah"

"If you've worked so hard, why don't you give yourself a reward?"

"Yes, that's right."

　Remembering the existence of the reward, I felt like writhing.

　Come to think of it, there was a promise of ear cleaning on a knee pillow in the middle of the day. I usually forgot about it because I was driving out various things from my head, but it seems that if I get in the top ten, they will do it.

　Of course he could refuse...but how could he deny the happiness of being pampered by the girl he likes?

"...Congratulations to Shiina for winning first place. Shouldn't Shiina be the one to reward herself?"

"Yes. But it's not good to spoil yourself too much either."

"Since Shiina is stoic with herself, I think it's okay to be a little sweeter. Well, it's not something I can say."

　Come to think of it, I was supposed to receive a reward, but since there is nothing in the middle of the day, I think I should give a reward.

　However, I don't know what to do, so I'll have to go back and ask about it in the middle of the day.

　As Mahiru smiles like an angel, Itsuki whispers, ``Why don't you do some work?''

　I'm going to do that even if he doesn't tell me, so I swore to myself that I'd ask him when I got home today.

"Oh, is this a reward for me?"

　When I called out to Midday's back, who was wearing an apron and preparing dinner, he turned around with a blank expression on his face.

　Shuu is probably feeling a little uneasy as he remembers the reward waiting for him after dinner and the little devil's smile from the other day, but Mahiru doesn't seem to notice this and his expression shows that this is just something he didn't expect.

"I'm not saying there's anything particular that I want."

"What do you want me to do..."

"Is it for Zhou-kun?

"It's not like that.

　I don't have any greed, but I feel like I'm not taking it seriously, but it's not good to force it too much, so I'm going to go down lightly.

　If you don't need midday, that's fine, but if there's something you want me to do, I'm going to do it to the extent that I can.

　For the time being, it seems that he wants the cucumber to be the prey of the slicer, so I wash my hands and slice it thinly with the prepared slicer, but I'm sure this is just helping.

"Please rub it with salt."

"Aiyo....Is it really not there?"

"Aside from that, I am satisfied with the current situation.

"Do you really want to make a wish come true?"

"What do you think?"

　When I lift my face from the slicer, midday is quietly drawing an arc on my lips.

　For a moment, that expression looked like a small devilish smile from the other day, and I couldn't look directly at it, so I dropped my gaze to the cucumber.

"...I, I don't know."

"Right?

　There was a hint of a wry smile at Zhou's words.

　In the middle of the day, Zhou returned to cooking with an atmosphere that made Zhou not pursue anything further, but Zhou had no choice but to continue slicing the cucumbers thinly without knowing what to do.