Facing glory and taking a step toward change

　　"After school?" Shinichi replied without thinking, "Sorry, I have things to do, I didn't have time until 6 p.m. recently."

　　Miku didn't expect Shinichi to refuse so easily, her footsteps stopped, she clenched her fists, her original determination faded in an instant, and a feeling of unease enveloped her heart.

　　But she didn't show it, she just lowered her head and looked at the shadow on the ground, speaking quietly.

　　"I see."

　　She didn't ask, because she realized that she didn't have the qualifications to investigate further.

　　"You want me to continue teaching you after school?" Shinichi looked at her.

　　Miku nodded lightly.

　　"I wanted to take advantage of today's better conditions to learn more, but if you don't have time, forget it. I will go back and review it myself."

　　"Well, if you have any questions, you can find me on LINE, or if you have more questions, you can find me during the day, I will help you solve them at once."

The time is used to prepare Furuhashi and Ogata. Shinichi really didn't have any more time to help Miku.

　　"It's good if the enthusiasm for learning, let alone getting high marks, is maintained, at least you don't change schools anymore because you don't want to repeat classes."

Considering Miku's mood, Shinichi gave a few more words of encouragement.

　　"En."

　　...

　　After the conversation was over, Miku stopped talking and followed behind Shinichi.

　　The atmosphere is a little boring.

　　(Is it too easy to refuse...)

　　Even though Shinichi has no reason to keep Miku in a good mood, if her confidence to study is affected because of the relationship. As an educator, Shinichi really has no way to clean up his mistakes.

　　While approaching the labyrinth exit, Shinichi suddenly said.

　　"Even though it's against morals to say it, Miku, I want to tell you something."

　　Miku raised her head, and asked without energy: "What's wrong?"

　　Shinichi stopped, and Miku also stopped. He turned around, and the two faced each other at close range for a moment.

　　Shinichi looked at Miku.

　　Miku didn't back down.

　　Shinichi's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly looked away, pretending to be calm.

　　"Recently, someone will attack you."

　　Miku's eyes widened slightly, her hands hugged her chest reflexively, and alert.

　　Miku thought for a moment, and instead hugged her school bag tightly, her wallet inside.

　　"I didn't want to steal your money… Forget it, it's my fault that I didn't explain." Shinichi sighed, "Fuutarou probably has been coming to you a lot recently to break the quintuplets defense, he is planning to look for opportunities to carry out tutoring activities smoothly."

　　"Uesugi?" Miku was confused when she heard this "There is also a quintuplet defense, what is that?"

　　"He probably thought that as long as you became his team's supporter and took the lead in acknowledging him as the Nakano family's tutor, he would be able to persuade others to study together. Otherwise, the five of you will be alert at any moment, and he won't be able to find a chance to do his job."

　　Miku understood: "Just like before, he chased after me just to make me accept guidance… I've been hiding like this, he hasn't given up yet?"

　　"This time is different." Shinichi's expression became serious, which made Miku feel a bit nervous, "Didn't you already write down the test paper he gave you? He found out your secret from that paper."

　　"My secrets?" Miku tilted her head in thought, her face suddenly changed, and she gripped Shinichi's hand in panic, "Does he know that I like the general of the Warring States?!"

　　"Not for the moment. He only saw that you were good at social studies, and that you answered a lot of questions about Japanese history correctly. You might like Japanese history."

　　Just as Miku breathed a sigh of relief, Shinichi's next sentence made her heart ache again, "But if you continue like this, your interest will surely be found by him. Even though the man has a bad mouth and low EQ, he has a smart brain. As long as there is a hint of it, we can't hide that you like the general of the Warring States for a long time."

　　"What will happen next, you know?"

　　Facing Shinichi's serious gaze, Miku swallowed her saliva and shook her head.

　　Shinichi said word by word: "He will use this topic to arouse your interest, and then focus on Japanese history to develop the tutoring content, tempting you to come to class!"

　　"W-what..." Miku let go of Shinichi's sleeve, took two steps back in shock, then her expression collapsed and she said weakly, "That's it."

　　"Although it's not a big deal, isn't your reaction a little too flat?"

　　Even though Shinichi's intention was to change Miku's mood, instead of actually making her wary of Fuutarou, seeing her look of complete indifference, he asked curiously.

　　Miku lowered her head, ruffled her hair with her fingers, and said slowly.

　　"If it was then, maybe I'd be a little confused? Since I don't want others to know that I have strange interests, especially Uesugi, he will likely reveal it to my other sisters, or as you say, use this to annoy me."

　　Shinichi looked at her: "Then now..."

　　"Now?"

　　Miku also asked herself in her heart, what about now? What has changed between the present and the past?

　　Miku is an ordinary, moody person, with no unique traits, and has strange interests.

　　Until now, those things were still the same, and she didn't think of making herself the same as Nino and the others.

　　So the change is not in yourself.

　　Where is it?

　　Then, Miku noticed it.

　　pounding—

　　Lifting her head and looking at Shinichi, her heart suddenly pounded, but she laughed softly.

　　Smile with relief and gentle.

　　(I see.)

　　She took a step forward, deliberately stepping on the stone slab on the ground, letting a dull sound cover her beating heart.

　　"Right now, I'll let Uesugi have his way. It's not impossible to let him teach me. After all, it looks like it would be fun for us to study together."

　　She looked back, facing Shinichi, then smiled.

　　"However, when I'm confused, when I don't know what to do, can you tell me the answer?"

　　As if distracted by that smile, Shinichi forgot to blink and asked confusedly.

　　"Can't Fuutarou?"

　　"Uesugi can't, he's just 'our' tutor."

　　"What do you want me to answer?"

　　"I'm still confirming." Miku turned her back, her voice soft and clear, "I'll tell you when I'm absolutely sure."

　　"When the time comes, please give me a perfect answer…"

　　"Until then, I will keep trying."

　　When she reached the labyrinth exit, she lowered her head and looked down at her toes.

　　Then, she raised her foot and took a step with a smile.