Chapter 7

Anya met Kurumi-sensei during elementary school and Kurumi was in high school. She and Anya were like sisters and Anya lost many high school admissions due to the entrance exams as Anya completely flunked the very first exams. Every single subject was a mess, and in English, she even ended up the lowest of the entire year. With

280 students in every school year, there's bound to be somebody who is the lowest. In other words, even high-level schools like this have dropouts, which includes Anya. Backed

into a corner, she went to seek help from Kurumi-sensei and she taught her and now ended up in this high school.

Now Anya has been been secretly going to Kurumi to studies, shes planning to enter a good university.

"I thought I was being fairly diligent with my studies back in middle school, but I find myself struggling a lot now that I'm in high school. I'm losing confidence in myself."

Surrounded by desks, Kurumi-sensei nodded.

"I see. We have a lot of diligent and talented people at this school, so it must feel like you're the only one being left behind."

"That's right. I at least don't want to be left behind." "Hmm..." Sensei put her hand on her chin and started

thinking.

After a brief silence, she stood up and grabbed a bundle of paper.

"This is the list of universities our graduates headed off to."

She put the papers down in front of her. "I'd like you to split them up between active students and normal students, and give me the total sum. You can use the pen over there."

"U-Um..."

Anya couldn't follow the situation. Did she get work pushed onto her? Even though Anya came to ask for help? Also, should a student like her really be looking at these documents?

"Once you're done with that, we can talk."

"...All right, I understand."

Back then, Anya still didn't know how irresponsible and uncaring Sensei is, so she accepted the work without much thinking. After a short hour passed, she finished my work.

"Sensei, I'm done."

"Seriously?! Now I can go home early." she said and started cleaning up his desk.

"W-Wait a second! What about my advice?!"

Kurumi-sensei stopped in her tracks.

"Oh yeah, I almost forgot, haha..."

When Anya glared at her, Kurumi smiled akwardly,"Ara Ara" she awkwardly took out a smile and said "The thing is, this is the first time I actually pushed work onto one of my students."

"Can I go home now?"

"Now hold on. This is where stuff gets important. At this school, it's common sense that the higher the grades, the better. That's what you're worried about, yeah?"

Anya dropped her hips back on the chair again.

"You know, this is actually the third school I'm teaching at, but I don't really like it here."

"...Why is that?"

"Because the students are all diligent in their studies. They may have some worries here and there, but they know that studying is the path to success."

"So you're saying that studying isn't important? Where is this going?"

"No no no. I'm saying that students being too diligent is boring. There's nothing for me to do. That's why I'm relieved to meet a student who actually has trouble in his life. And to answer your question... Yes, studying is very important."

Anya didn't expect an answer from Sensei like that, she came her for advise but the teacher gave her some advise which doesn't make sense.

"Don't look at me like that. This is where it gets really crazy." Sensei cleared her throat. "How did it feel doing the work of the future guidance counseling?"

"How... I felt like a slave."

"Haha, I bet. By the way, the data you put together will be collected and put on the homepage for potential applicants and guardians to look at. It'll act as a guiding ray for the people graduating from middle school. And because you helped me, I get to go home early. I'm thinking of cooking for dinner tonight. Sounds good, right?"

"I don't know what to say..."

"Anyway, you just helped somebody, Anya . No matter how much you may have studied, you won't immediately be of use to someone. That's why what you did just now was wonderful. Even if you ended up with bad grades, you just got first place in the helper ranking. You can be more confident now, right?"

It was just miscellaneous work, so she don't see how that would suddenly make her feel more confident. However, the idea of having helped someone started to fill her chest. It's not like her fear in regards to grades and school suddenly vanished, but Anya at least felt as if her horizons had widened.

That being said, she couldn't just accept that honestly, which is why she happened to respond in a rebellious manner.

"You say that, but studying is still crucial, no? I may have helped somebody, but that doesn't just remove my bad grades."

"You're right. If you want your grades to improve, all you can do is study."

Receiving an answer that didn't help her in the slightest, her eyes turned into dots. she came here because she wanted advice in regards to my anxiety, so being told to "Just study more" really didn't resolve anything. Right as she wanted to throw another complaint at his big sister, Sensei continued.

"But, you're not worried about your bad grades, right? You just hate yourself for not holding any special talent or skill. There are other methods to resolve that. Helping others as you did just now is one of those."

"So my worries will be resolved if I do miscellaneous work again?"

"That fully depends on you, Anya . But, it's worth trying, no? However, you can't completely ignore your studies either."

So in the end, it's still all about studying? But Anya can at least gain something from it. she can't really respect Kurumi-sensei for pushing his work onto students, but she doesn't seem like a bad person at least.

"Thank you very much for giving me advice."

"Aye. Did that help?"

"Half of it, maybe?"

"That's more than enough in my book."

With this, my advice came to an end, and Anya's relationship with Kurumi-sensei should have ended. Yet, she still came over to the future guidance counseling room even after that. Seeing that she visited again, Sensei blinked in confusion.

"What's wrong? Is there something else plaguing you?"

"No, I was just wondering if there was anything I could

help you with."

She said, to which Sensei's face lit up.

"Really?! That means I can leave early again, today!"

That's how Anya started regularly showing up at Sensei's future guidance counseling room. It's not like this helped her change from an average person who can't study, but just Sensei said, Anya thought she might become someone who can be special outside of studying. Maybe she could be more confident one day. And with this event as a trigger, my days changed ever so slightly.

Roughly a year passed since then, and Kurumi-sensei stopped being her teacher, but she still help her from time to time. she can't say for certain if she have suddenly gotten more confident, but she at least have more faith in the days she spend. That's why she's doing the slave work again today.

"Sensei, can I use the interview room?"

"Yep, it's open."

The future guidance counseling room is connected to a small room used to practice interviews, but whenever nobody is occupying it, it's free to use for Anya. she usually use it to do her work.

She accepted the documents and files from Kurumi-Sensei and opened the door of the interview room. Two sofas with enough room for two people were facing each other, with a small low table set up between them. she could even use the sofa as a sleeping place, which she definitely can't complain about.

Anya sat down on one sofa, starting on her work. Since she just have to do some simple filing today, it's not that bad. Anya would basically had to be careful not to write the wrong date, but nothing more.

Right after she started working, the door of the room opened. she thought it was Kurumi-sensei, so she raised her head, but it turned out to be Hime-san.

"—Found you!"

Hime-san's skirt was as short as before. she tried her best to not look at her thighs while responding.

"What's wrong? Did you need something?"

"I still have some time until my club starts, so I thought I might just talk to you a bit. Am I in the way?"

"No, it's fine..."

she calmly responded like that but felt dubious on the inside. Hime-san has a lot of friends, so Anya don't see the reason why she would look for her like this.

"What are you doing?" Hime-san asked, sitting down across the table.

"Sensei asked me to organize these files."

"You're working as hard as always, huh. That's Anya - kun for you."

"Well, this is about all I can do, anyway."

As their conversation came to an end, Hime-san suddenly changed the topic.

"By the way, don't you think that I'm different today?"

Anya almost dropped the files in my hands. She's clearly talking about her skirt. guess it was obvious how much she was staring, huh.

A cold sweat ran down her back. However, hiding it probably won't work either. So she just pointed it out.

"Are you talking about your shortened skirt?"

"So you realized? You've been looking at me all day, after all."

She knew! Anya hands started sweating profusely, but she still continued her work. It probably was too late by now, but she tried to remain calm.

"Everybody would realize such a big change."

"You're right. If I kept it this short, there's no way you would miss it."

She spoke with a teasing voice, which made Anya's head heat up even more.

"Hime-san, are you teasing me?"

"Now, who knows."

she said, but she was pretty much admitting to it.

So the reason she shortened her skirt was all to tease Anya? She then swallowed some fresh hair, concentrated on her brain, and continued with her work. If her eyes met with Hime-san's right now, she would probably bully her even further. Almost as if she had seen through her emotions, Hime-san let out a sweet voice.

"Fujiyama Anya, I've been wondering—" She slowly crossed her legs, as if to show them off. "Between a long and short skirt, which one do you prefer?"

As she kept her legs crossed, the skirt was lifted up. If she had turned towards Anya , she may have been able to see something she shouldn't. Anya kept her gaze glued to the documents in front of her, and answered her question.

"A long one."

"Why?"

"...Because it looks more diligent and serious. I think it'd definitely look better on you."

"Huh... I see..."

She knew she was just pulling stuff out of nowhere. Though she's a gyaru, she too would not go beyond this , her eyes would naturally drift towards a short skirt. However, her thighs are poison for her eyes. Talking to her

like this, she don't even know where to direct my. That's why Anya wanted her to fix her skirt.

"Do you really prefer long skirts?"

Hime-san moved her legs, changing her position. Anya's gaze was almost sucked in entirely, but she barely kept calm.

"Definitely a long one," she spoke with as much confidence as she could muster.

"Ah, it's time already." Hime-san suddenly got up. "I have to head over to my club now. See you tomorrow."

"Yeah, bye..."

she could finally breathe. However, right as I relaxed for a second, Hime-san stopped in front of the door.

"If you like them longer, then I'll keep it short again tomorrow." Hime-san smiled at her and left.

"What's this about...?"

she said she preferred them longer, so why did she say that? Anya doesn't get it. In the end, the reason for her odd behavior remained a mystery, and her final words filled her head. She took out her smartphone and sent a message to Sakura.

——That skirt logic of yours is probably wrong.

Sakura might be able to solve this mystery. With that hope in mind, She sent Sakura this message.

After weeks went by the two made it through the rainy season, what greeted them was a beautiful evening. The river passing the residential district had risen, but the flow of water was calm nonetheless, radiating in a beautiful light. Wind ensemble practice was quite tough, but being met with this comfortable evening breeze, all the exhaustion healed away.

"Hime , is it doing better now?"

As two girls walked along the river, Hime's friend Itsuki asked her

"Hmm... I'm not sure."

"How are things with Anya ? I saw you were testing all sorts of stuff."

"I think it's working."

"Oh?"

Since they've been together for a long time now, Hime regularly told her about love and all that. She's the friend that Hime can trust the most.

"That reminds me, you never really complained or questioned that it was Fujiyama Anya, right?"

"Hm?"

"I mean, normally you'd say 'Don't try it with that guy'."

Hime has been confessed to a few times in my school career or by the noble meeting and every time asked Itsuki asked for her opinion, she immediately and always said to reject the boy.

"Anya 's a good girl despite been a gyaru, so I shall let it slide. I can support you two."

"And why is that?"

"I told you before, right?"

"I want to hear it again."

"We were in the same class and both have come from same schools, so I know how hard she worked during the cultural festival. she didn't do it while expecting anything in return, she just wanted everybody to have fun, so I thought she must be a perfect match."

"I can totally see that, it sounds very much like Anya - kun."

"She seems like the gyaru sitting in the corner of the classroom, but she doesn't just get excited when it really matters."

Today, Fujiyama Anya was helping in the future guidance counseling room. The work may be simple, but helping others is always difficult and complicated. Fujiyama Anya was kind enough to do such a thing.

"Is that the reason you started to like the gyaru, Hime ?" Itsuki grinned as she looked at me.

"Come on, stop it."

Hime's head started to boil. she fanned some fresh air on my face when Itsuki asked another question.

"That reminds me, did shortening your skirt show some kind of effect?"

"Sure did. Fujiyama Anya said that he slikes longer skirts, so making mine short was the right choice. She never looked at me once when we were talking."

"You sure she wasn't just embarrassed?"

"Of course not."

Itsuki let out an exhausted sigh.

"I still think your approach is going in the entirely wrong direction."

"Really?"

"He may have rejected you for being too perfect, but that doesn't mean you have to turn into a no-good woman."

"But if I don't do that, I won't be able to go out with Anya."

"You're just too honest, Hime . Be on the attack, but... in a normal way. You're so clever when it comes to studying, so why are you only a moron when it comes to love?"

"I'm not a moron."

"Listen, it's good to be diligent and serious, but you took it a step too far. I'm being worried here, and you're probably aware of it by now, no?"

"That is true, but..."

"Anyway, if you really want to date Anya , then you should probably not try anything weird."

"Whaaa~ I feel I'm doing good work here."

"That's just your imagination..." Mayuko sighed.

Hime felt a great response from Anya today. If she continue destroying her perfect image, Fujiyama Anya should start accepting her. But even so, Itsuki shook her head.

"I don't think you should be doing something you're not used to. Shortening your skirt is one thing, but you really have to be careful when moving."

"There are other girls who have shorter skirts than me, though?"

"But they are used to shorter skirts, remember?"

"I was being careful, you know?"

"Oh come on..." Itsuki ran her hand through her hair. Looking upwards, she muttered.

"...White."

"White?"

"Your panties today, Hime ! Since you kept your skirt this short, I thought you'd be wearing spats beneath that!"

"W-W-W-When did you see them?! Wait, was I even wearing white ones today?!"

"At least remember that!"

So then... maybe Anya may have seen them in the future guidance counseling room. she tried to attack Anya while keeping them hidden on a close level, but if she saw them...

"Just out of curiosity, but what will you do tomorrow?

Keep your skirt this short still?"

"I'll return it back to normal..."

"Very well."

The setting sun vanished behind the mountains, as darkness befell the riverside path she was so used to. Hime felt relieved that nobody could see her beet-red face.