Chapter 326: Nino: Hurry up and Invite Buddha Chika
At the dinner table.
"Nino-chan, why did you run away from home?" Hayasaka Ai asked curiously.
"Because of him!" Nakano Nino put her chopsticks down and pointed straight at Sakurai Saki without hesitation.
Then, the two of them sat across from Sakurai Saki and laid out the whole situation clearly.
"So that means, Sakurai-chan said he wanted to quit his job, then the five sisters split into two sides — one side didn't want him to quit, while the other side did?"
Actually, Hayasaka Ai had already heard about this from Sakurai earlier.
At that time, she was even happy about it — because if Sakurai quit tutoring, he would have more time to spend with her.
But looking at it now, it seemed that had hurt some other girls.
"Pretty much." Nino mumbled as she picked up a piece of food and put it in her mouth.
"Hm? It's really good."
The taste was no worse than her own cooking. With skills like this, they could probably learn from each other.
"None of your sisters tried to talk you into going home?"
"Itsuki texted me and told me to stop sulking." Nino said with a hint of irritation.
Itsuki always played the "mom" role at home, which annoyed Nino to no end.
Ever since their mother passed away, she had straightforwardly placed herself in the mother's position.
She's just a chubby idiot who doesn't even know how to ride a bike! So arrogant!
And this time, too, using that superior tone — who would want to go home like that?
"Ah, I see." Hayasaka Ai glanced at Sakurai Saki.
'This kid's in a tough spot.'
Sakurai glanced back at her.
'Exactly.'
After exchanging looks, Ai-chan continued, "We've got a spare room here. If Nino-chan doesn't mind, you can stay for a few days."
"Are you sure?"
"Of course it's fine."
If a woman always acts too jealous in front of a man, it only makes people annoyed — sometimes showing a bit of generosity is the right move.
"Thanks, I'll head back soon anyway."
Once Miku apologizes to me, I'll go straight back! — Nino added silently in her heart.
"How about you just keep letting boyfriend-kun tutor them?" Hayasaka Ai suggested.
After all, it's only nine hours a week, split into three days — not that long if you count carefully.
And most of the time is spent in the library, so there's no chance for any "feelings" to grow anyway.
"But I already told their father I'd quit. If I go back now…"
"Male pride issue?"
"Umu, besides that, I also feel like I've failed as a tutor. Forget about grades — they haven't made any progress in other areas at all. Their personalities are exactly the same as a year ago."
Yotsuba still doesn't know how to say no, Itsuki eats even more, Nino is still quick-tempered, Miku is still clumsy with communication, and Ichika is still lazy and likes sleeping without clothes.
One by one, not only is there no improvement — some have even regressed!
I'm talking about you! Itsuki! Your thighs are rounder now, it's enough to make me cry.
In Sakurai Saki's mind, a tutor not only helps improve grades but should also help the girls fix those flaws as well.
"I know Sakurai-chan isn't the type to give up so easily. Besides, according to what you said, this tutoring job isn't over yet, right? Grades are fine now, but there's still work to be done on personality, isn't there?" Hayasaka Ai said gently.
"You're right." Sakurai Saki showed a thoughtful expression.
'That's terrifying…'
At this moment, Nakano Nino finally realized the difference between herself and Hayasaka Ai.
No matter how much she and her sisters begged Sakurai, they couldn't get him to change. Yet Ai only said one sentence and he already wavered!
Compete with her? No way!
Might as well invite Buddha Tathagata to help!
But then again… is there really anyone who can match Ai-chan?
"Reeng reeng——~"
The phone rang.
It was Hayasaka Ai's phone.
She glanced at the screen and froze immediately — oh no, the person she least wanted to face: Variable F, Cancer of Earth, Ender of the World — Fujiwara Chika.
"What is it, secretary-chan~"
"Nothing, just wanted to ask if Ai-chan and Saki-kun's house is all fixed up." Chika's cheerful voice came from the other end of the line.
"Yeah, it's done. We're having dinner."
"Oh, then enjoy your meal. Don't forget we're going to Disneyland tomorrow~"
"I won't forget. After all, you're the one who invited us — four people together."
"Hmph, if you hadn't forced your way in, I wouldn't have invited Kaguya-san." Fujiwara Chika's voice sounded a little annoyed.
She originally planned for it to be her and Saki-kun's two-person world, but it got ruined.
"Isn't it a little too much to invite my boyfriend to Disneyland?"
( ≖‿ ≖ )Ai-chan smiled and asked back.
She turned on the video call.
On the other end, Chika looked at her and smiled as well: "The Disneyland tickets are a birthday present he gave me. Birth-day-present~ What's so weird about going together?"
(≖⩊≖)
"..."
"Ai-chan, what are you afraid of? Afraid I'll steal him from you?"
"I have nothing to be afraid of."
"If I were in a running competition and broke the rules, even if I won the medal, I'd still be afraid."
A few minutes later, Hayasaka Ai coldly hung up the call.
Next to her, Nakano Nino picked up a piece of rice and quietly chewed.
'Thank god I didn't plan to fight over a boyfriend…'
So scary.
Without any combat power in the "Shurafield," you can only rely on feelings.
No technique, only sincerity.
Sakurai Saki, the protagonist of the field, just pretended not to hear anything.
"Alright, let's keep eating."
...
After finishing dinner.
After taking a bath, the three of them changed into pajamas.
It seemed Hayasaka Ai wanted to talk with Nino — the two were about to start a girls' talk.
Sakurai Saki was naturally isolated outside by the two.
Fortunately — he could still play on the computer.
"Ding dong~"
A chat window popped up, it was Fujiwara Chika.
She said there was no one at home and she was secretly playing games, asking if Sakurai wanted to join.
Of course Sakurai Saki agreed right away.
"Moshi moshi, Saki-kun, can you hear me?"
"Umu, OK."
So while Hayasaka Ai and Nino had their "girls' talk," Sakurai started playing enthusiastically with Chika.
After a while, his phone buzzed with a message.
Sakurai glanced at his in-game character lying face down on the ground and shifted part of his attention to the phone.
"Gabriel?"
Saki tilted his head.
A rare guest.
Gabriel: [Help me!! My sister is coming down to earth to take me back!! Help!! I'll do whatever you say, this is my one and only plea in my life!!]
Sister? A figure of a woman somewhat resembling Gabriel popped up in Saki's mind.
That lazy brat who had been fooling around on earth for so long… it's finally time to face retribution.
"What's wrong, Saki-kun, someone's coming!"
"Yeah, Sakurai-senpai, stop spacing out."
"I'm checking a message. Hey, Shiranui, wait! Don't rush in so fast!" Saki said quickly.
Running in like that, aren't you stealing all my kills?
As for Gabriel's matter, he'd deal with it in a few days.
Other than causing more trouble, that girl wasn't good for anything else.
"Ah, I died." Shiranui Koromo exclaimed in surprise.
"It's fine, we can still revive."
First-year student Shiranui Koromo was a famous figure at school, on par with Shinomiya Kaguya and Koyasu Tsubame, known as the "First-year Fairy."
She was in the same class as Iino Miko.
Sakurai was also a bit surprised that Chika knew her.
But then again, with Chika's communication skills, it wasn't strange at all.
Even though Fujiwara Chika couldn't read the room, she had some kind of mysterious charm.
Just seeing her could lift people's moods — that could basically be called a superpower.
After gaming.
Sakurai Saki heard the joyful laughter of the two girls in the next room, stretched a bit, then lay down on the bed.
'Tonight, I can sleep well.'
No need to "pay living tax," what a relief.
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