[SD] Even a Secret Crush Can Make It to the Top

"Miyamoto, please! Help Mitsui study! He's failing four subjects, and if he doesn't pass the make-up exams, he won't be able to compete in the national tournament! You understand, right?" Kogure stood in front of me with his hands pressed together, pleading.

"Miyamoto, you don't have cram school today, do you?" Akagi stood before me with his arms crossed. I swallowed the words of refusal that had been about to leave my mouth.

"O-Okay," I heard myself stammer.

"Mitsui, you should use partial fractions here. And here... This is Ceva's theorem, not Menelaus's theorem! Are you even studying?" Only after I said it did I realize I shouldn't have, and I instinctively glanced at Mitsui's expression.

"Mm, got it." He kept working as if nothing had happened, and I felt even guiltier.

"Ah! It's already 9:30! I'll walk you home!" Kogure said as he gathered his things.

"Ah! Okay." In the end, though, Mitsui was the one who walked me home. We didn't say a word the whole way, and the atmosphere was awkward. We both knew the other wanted to say something, but neither of us spoke.

"Thank you so much, Mitsui. You should get home too! You have a make-up exam tomorrow."

"Mm. Are you coming to watch the national tournament?"

"Huh?!"

"You'll come watch the national tournament, right?" Mitsui's handsome face suddenly leaned in close. I had no backbone and agreed.

"Guess being handsome really does let you get away with anything," Mitsui Hisashi thought to himself as he watched Miyamoto, utterly dazed by his charms.

Theme: Two wayward young people save each other