I asked if I could visit Wakaba-chan during the break, and she replied, "Please come! We'll be waiting!" so I left for the Takamichi household carrying some fruits sherbet.

"Welcome, Kisshoin-san!"

"Wakaba-chan!" As usual, Wakaba-chan came to meet me at the train station. "I'm sorry to make you wait in this heat."

"Don't worry," she replies with her usual smile, full of energy. We quickly walk to her home. "Oh, Ikoma-san's at the store today."

"Huh? She's still working?"

"I told her she didn't need to, but… she asked to keep working until summer vacation when she had time," she smiled, lowering her eyes.

"I see." Ikoma-san seems to be more responsible than I believed. "Has Ikoma-san seen Kaburagi-sama since the initial near miss?"

"No. With the exams and such, they've only met that once."

"That's good." She was awfully excited when she told us about Kaburagi-sama coming to shop when Ikoma-san came to takigyou, so I was worried if they ran into each other again.

"Kaburagi-kun came while Ikoma-san was out studying for the exams."

"Oh!? He came again!?" I asked in surprise. How often does he show up without me knowing?!

"Yes. About that incident with the sophomores. He came out not long after to apologize about any unpleasantness." He came while giving the Spartan study regimen to me and the sophomores?! I called her later that night to apologize about not stepping in, but Kaburagi was also involved? He made time to help those sophomores study, made handouts for me, studied for himself, and still made it out to see Wakaba-chan? Is he superman?

"I see."

"Yes, I thought that the apology during the incident was more than enough, but he said that he wanted to do it in person." …Is it just me, or wasn't that just an excuse to see her?

"I thought so then, but didn't it surprise you that Kaburagi-sama would apologize?" That was shocking. To see the Emperor of Zuiran bow his head.

"Hmm. I guess. But he came to my home to apologize about the auto accident with me, so I think that he can admit guilt properly when he's at fault." Oh, so that's how she sees him. "I admire Kaburagi-kun for being able to apologize in that situation."

"Yes, it's not easy to apologize." There a question of pride. Would I have been able to do so, being seen by so many, and in front of the one I liked? But Wakaba-chan admired Kaburagi for that. Was the rift I saw between them my mistake?

"Oh, and Mizusaki-kun asked me to thank Kaburagi-sama his handling of that incident. I haven't yet, though." Should I tell him when I next see him in the Salon? Oh, but the exam results are announced on that day! …Frightening. Depending on the result, I'm running away.

"Oh, Mizusaki-kun. He was a little down after that. To have that ruckus that we couldn't handle smoothed over so easily. Mizusaki-kun called him incredible." So that's how Fellow Stalking Horse speaks with Wakaba-chan. "But I think Mizusaki-kun works hard as the student council president, too."

"Yes, he does. He's helped me, too. But his ideals are too high or his self-appraisal is too low." His wants to be Tomoe-senpai, after all.

"I think Mizusaki-kun should have more confidence in himself," declared Wakaba-chan, clenching a fist.

"You seem to get along with him."

"Really? Seems like all he does is help me. That's why I want to be of some help to him," she replied with a chuckle. She intends to support Fellow Stalking Horse until he steps down with all her might, while Kaburagi can't even see her without using excuses to see her. Fellow Stalking Horse has built a huge lead on you, Kaburagi…

"We're here!"

As we arrived at the cake shop, Ikoma-san stepped outside. "Welcome home, Takamichi-san. Gokigen yoh, Reika-sama."

"Gokigen yoh, Ikoma-san."

Ikoma-san looked at the both of us and murmured, "You really were friends…" That's right.

"So you're working again, today, Ikoma-san."

"Yes, but today's my last day." She's in normal clothing, with the apron off, now that she mentions it."

"Oh, really? Then…" I glance at Wakaba-chan, and she nods.

"Why don't you come inside, Ikoma-san?"

"I brought some nice sherbet."

"Wow! Ikoma-san, let's have some together! Kisshouin-san's gifts are always delicious!"

"Oh, but…"

She seems hesitant, so I asked, "Do you have plans?"

"Yes. Um, I have cram school after this…"

"Oh…" I guess that I can't keep her.

"Has the summer session started at the cram school that you're using, Ikoma-san?"

"No. That's after summer vacation starts. This is normal class. It starts in the afternoon, but I wasn't to preview in the self-study room." So she previews what's coming up. That's great. I've thought about it, but never can.

"I'm planning to go to the summer session at cram school. Also the special supplemental classes at Zuiran."

"Oh, me, too."

"Both of you? I plan to attend the summer sessions and the school's supplemental classes," I revealed to the two, who were surprised. They didn't think I'd bother with the school's supplemental classes. I guess not. None of my friends will be. Taking classes is okay, but a being in class alone is lonely. Especially as 'Reika-sama of the Pivoine', sitting alone by myself with nobody around me saying anything to me is hard to handle. I should go to class just before classes start. But… should I only be studying as two smart external students are? "What are your plans for this summer?"

"It might just be studying this year. I have to help the shop, too, though."

"I'm similar."

"…Any trips with your family?"

"Probably impossible this year."

"Yeah."

Not only am I having a family trip, but I'm planning a short trip with friends. Am I taking the entrance exams too lightly!? I thought that I was doing a lot by going to the school's extra classes on top of cram school, but that might be much at all… Oh! And I have the handicrafts club! I said that I'd do the wedding doll!

If Wakaba-chan and Ikoma-san are the average in terms of studying, won't I be well behind everyone by the time summer vacation is over!? I thought that I was the ant, but am I actually the grasshopper?!

"Let's share our notes from our summer classes," Wakaba-chan was saying. So they intend to study even more by sharing study material from different cram schools. Wow… I should re-work my study schedule for this summer when I get home…

We saw off Ikoma-san, and went in the house. Wakaba-chan brought out the spoons so we could have the sherbet.

"What do you recommend, Kisshouin-san?"

"I like the muscat."

"I'll have that, then? And you?"

"I'll have the grape fruit."

"It's completely different from the ones in the convenience store!" Wakaba-chan exclaimed. I had the sherbet full of fruit juice, and discussed studying.

"I'm getting worried after hearing about the two of you studying. I'm not studying much compared to the either of you since I'll be taking trips, and I'm worried after thinking about everyone studying while I relax."

"Oh… Hmm…" Wakaba-chan murmured with the spoon still in her mouth. "I won't be taking trips, but I'll be visiting my relatives and going to the Bon festival (festival of the dead)."

"Really?"

"Yes, and I still have my job in the student council." So maybe my handicrafts club activities is like the student council for Wakaba-chan. "I can't say with certainty, but I think quality is more important than quantity." Quality…As she says. I can probably make time, if I felt like it. But if I study by myself, I get distracted too easily. That's why I don't get results despite all the time I spend studying.

"I get distracted when I study on my own…"

"Ahaha. I understand." Really? I thought that Wakaba-chan could concentrate like Kaburagi. "Then, you want to study with me?"

"Huh? Together with you!?"

"You're going to attend the special supplemental classes at Zuiran, right? We can study together in our spare time then. We can teach each other what we're bad at." Thank you! I have bad subjects, but I'm not sure I can teach anything to a scholarship student like Wakaba-chan. We'd draw too much attention to study together in school, but I'd like to study with her this summer.

Kanta came home from junior high and exclaimed, "I'm hungry!" as he entered the living room. "Oh, Kifli's here."

"Kanta! I told you to call her Kisshouin-san!"

"It's okay, Wakaba-chan. Sorry to be intruding, Kanta-kun."

"Sure." The Takamichi family's set in calling me Kif-chan, and I don't really care.

"At least, speak properly with her," says Wakaba-chan, but it's too late for that, too. As Kanta-kun rummages through the refrigerator, I feel that he's grown, again. "Didn't you have lunch?"

"I did." Growing junior high boys must grow hungry quickly. "Udon (noodles) will do," and he took out some frozen udon. "Sis, Kifli, you want some?"

"No thanks, I won't be able to eat dinner."

"So only Kifli. Kifli, hot or cold?" Huh? It's been decided that I'll have some?

"I don't need any."

"Don't hold back." Wakaba-chan's not having any, so I don't feel like imposing. But Kanta-kun ignores me and starts preparations. He emerges shortly with slow-boiled eggs, finely shredded cucumbers, and some pickled plum pulp over cold udon.

"Wow, looks delicious."

"It's just what I found in the fridge."

"That's plenty!" I take a bite and exclaim, "Delicious!"

"You're exaggerating."

"That's not so." He made it easily, but it tastes great. He just grabbed what was available, which is ideal for a good sense of cooking. Akemi-san's teaching me to cook sometimes, but my repertoire hasn't increased at all. I want to try making something from what's available. What can I make…? I know! "Um, Kanta-kun. I had a delicious apple compote jelly recently. Jelly's easy to make, so thought about making it, but what if I used cider instead of water for a more mature taste?" It's not making something from what's available, but I think it's a good idea. It seems fashionable using cider!

Kanta-kun put down his chopsticks and pointed at me. "Kifli, you're cast out!"

"Huh!?" My master of snack-making cast me out suddenly!

"I've told you repeatedly. Quit trying to improvise. Follow the recipe. And cider!? What's that?!"

"Cider is the apple's…"

"Not what I meant! If you used that instead of water, the gelatin won't melt properly, and you'll get something lumpy." I'm left distraught. "It's 10 years too early for you to improvise!" and he started to eat his noodles. Humph!

After I finished having the cold udon, Wakaba-chan brought out some problem sets and study guides, and said, "Why don't we study a little?" I flipped through the study guide, and found notes written all over by a mechanical pencil. "Sorry it's so messy."

"Not at all." I want to keep my books clean, so I might highlight or underline, but I rarely write notes. But maybe it's better to write down key points like this. I can tell how well she understands the material from looking at this.

Wakaba-chan started on a problem set, so I borrow some paper and a problem set. When I looked at the study guide when I got stuck, her notes were so useful! Wow, Wakaba-chan. So this is how smart people study!

"Wakaba-chan, do you mind if I copy this study guide?"

"Sure."

I was able to get a lot more done than when I studies by myself. Wakaba-chan's mom asked, "Kif-chan, why don't you stay for dinner?" but I turned down this great offer, and headed home.