"Tutoring: Understanding"

Shiriku, averted his eyes and mumbled, "Let's just go back to the lesson." Ayaka, undeterred, smirked and gently placed her right hand on top of Shiriku's left hand resting on the table, her smile reflecting contentment and happiness. "It's because I want to know more about you," she stated, her gaze fixed on Shiriku with a sense of genuine curiosity.

Confused by Ayaka's sudden affectionate gesture, Shiriku began to protest, "Wha-" Before he could finish his sentence, Ayaka pressed her finger against his lips, effectively silencing him. With her left hand resting delicately on her cheek, she maintained her smirk, enjoying the bewildered expression on Shiriku's face.

Shiriku, still trying to process the situation, gently removed Ayaka's finger from his lips and looked at her with a mixture of embarrassment and confusion. Ayaka continued to gaze at him, her smirk softening into a concerned expression. "Wait, why do you look embarrassed?" she inquired, her tone laced with worry.

Quick to deflect, Shiriku responded, "What? I'm not embarrassed!" He laughed sarcastically, attempting to reassure Ayaka, but his flushed cheeks betrayed his true feelings. Ayaka's concern deepened as she observed Shiriku's reaction. "But Shiriku-sama, your face was red. Did the thing I just said embarrass you?" she pressed, her worry evident in her voice.

Shiriku, feeling increasingly flustered, stuttered, "Wh-what? No... Let's just go back to tutoring, please." He attempted to change the subject, hoping to alleviate the awkwardness of the moment.

Ayaka, sensing Shiriku's discomfort, gently placed her hand on top of his again and nodded. "Let's shall," she agreed, her expression softening with understanding. Shiriku looked at Ayaka, a small smile tugging at his lips as he appreciated her effort to diffuse the situation.

As they resumed their tutoring session, Shiriku couldn't help but wonder, "Why do the girls in this school love to tease me?"

.

.

.

Meanwhile Sachi and Junichi, unable to contain their curiosity, quietly hid behind a nearby bookshelf, their suppressed giggles echoing in the air. From their vantage point, they watched with amusement as Shiriku and Ayaka's tutoring session unfolded.

Sachi, unable to contain her excitement, nudged Junichi and whispered, "Look at them! They're so awkward." Junichi stifled a laugh, nodding in agreement as they continued to observe the two before them.

Meanwhile, Shiriku and Ayaka remained unaware of their audience, engrossed in their tutoring session. As Shiriku and Ayaka continued their tutoring session in the serene ambiance of the library, they delved deeper into the intricacies of the Distributive Property. Ayaka patiently guided Shiriku through each step, offering explanations and examples to reinforce his understanding.

"Okay, let's try another one," Ayaka suggested, her tone gentle yet determined as she pointed to a new problem in the textbook. "Here we have \(4 \times (2x - 3)\). Can you apply the Distributive Property to this expression?"

Shiriku furrowed his brow in concentration, his mind racing as he carefully considered the problem. After a moment of deep thought, he tentatively offered his solution. "So, we would have \(4 \times 2x\) and \(4 \times -3\), which gives us \(8x - 12\), right?"

Ayaka's smile widened at Shiriku's progress. "That's correct!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with pride. "You're really getting the hang of this."

Flushed with a sense of accomplishment, Shiriku nodded enthusiastically. "Thanks, Ayaka," he said gratefully, his confidence growing with each successful problem they solved together.

As they continued to work through the lesson, Shiriku found himself growing more comfortable with the concepts. Ayaka's patient guidance and encouragement gave him the confidence to tackle even the most challenging problems, and he felt grateful for her support.

"Thanks for all your help, Ayaka," Shiriku said sincerely, his voice filled with gratitude. "I couldn't have done it without you."

Ayaka smiled warmly at Shiriku, her eyes shining with pride. "You did great, Shiriku," she said, her voice filled with genuine admiration. "I'm really impressed with how quickly you picked up the material."

.

.

.

As the clock struck 5 PM, Aoi gracefully approached Ayaka and Shiriku, her presence interrupting their study session. "Ahem, Ayaka-sama and Shiriku-sama, it's already 5 PM," she announced politely, her voice breaking the silence of the library.

Shiriku glanced up at the clock and nodded in acknowledgment. "Yeah, you're right," he agreed, a hint of surprise in his tone as he realized how quickly the time had passed.

Ayaka's warm smile remained unchanged as she glanced at the clock. "Oh my... the time moves fast," she remarked warmly, her tone filled with genuine appreciation for the time spent together.

Shiriku turned to Ayaka, gratitude evident in his expression. "You could say that again, but still, thank you so much for your help, Ayaka," he said sincerely, his tone reflecting his appreciation for her guidance.

Ayaka's smile widened at Shiriku's words, her eyes sparkling with warmth. "You're very welcome, Shiriku-sama," she replied graciously, her tone respectful.

Shiriku scratched his head slightly, a bashful expression crossing his face. "Stop with the sama part, Ayaka. I already told you it's Shiriku," he insisted, his tone playful yet earnest.

Ayaka chuckled softly, her laughter echoing through the library. "But Shiriku, time moves so fast when you're doing something, especially when you're doing it with someone you're comfortable with," she explained, her tone light and teasing.

Shiriku furrowed his brow in confusion, unsure of how to respond to Ayaka's cryptic statement. "Okay," he muttered, his confusion evident in his tone as he bid them farewell. "I'm heading out first. Bye," he said, waving goodbye to Ayaka and Aoi before leaving the library.

After Shiriku departed, Aoi turned to Ayaka, curiosity evident in her gaze. "So, Ayaka-sama, do you think he's still the perfect candidate?" she inquired, her tone filled with anticipation.

Ayaka considered Aoi's question carefully, her expression thoughtful as she weighed her options. "Hmmm... I'm still not sure," she admitted, her tone reflective. "Let's give it more time before I make a decision."

Aoi nodded in understanding, her demeanor respectful as she accepted Ayaka's decision. "Of course," she agreed, her tone conveying her willingness to wait for Ayaka's final verdict.

As they gathered their belongings and prepared to leave the library, Ayaka's mind raced with thoughts of the future. She knew that the decision she made would have far-reaching consequences, and she was determined to choose wisely.