Why Not Make Both Twins 'Girlfriends'?-Chapter 7Volume 2 .3 - Cultivating the Soil...?

Cultivating the Soil…? 3

“Still, Arisuyama Academy is mainly about studying, right? In the end, it all comes down to whether you can study or not. The hierarchy that arises from that creates unnecessary barriers between internal and external students. I find that kind of thing boring, personally.”

“Huh, I didn’t know you thought about it that way, Higashino-san──What about you, Hikari? What do you think?”

“I don’t really know much about it. I’m not even interested in where this is or anything like that…”

Hikari replied with a wry smile.

As expected, Hikari seemed detached. She didn’t seem eager to delve deeper into Wakana’s thoughts.

Perhaps she wanted to keep her distance because she knew too much.

“But that atmosphere… don’t you feel it, Hikari?”

Ever since she scored first place in the June proficiency test, the atmosphere Wakana mentioned seemed to intensify.

Internal students whispered among themselves while looking at them, and external students were still hesitating on whether to interact or just observe the situation.

Hikari probably sensed it too, but she dodged the question.

“I… don’t really get all that.”

She said evasively.

Sakuto decided it was best to change the subject, sensing the conversation wouldn’t go any further.

“By the way, why did you join the Newspaper Club, Higashino-san?”

“Eh? Well, actually, I’ve wanted to join since junior high school.”

Updat𝓮d from freewēbnoveℓ.com.

Wakana said with her eyes narrowing in nostalgia.

“I read the school newspaper distributed by the high school division when I was in my second year. At that time, they had won a major award at a national competition, and I thought I wanted to create a newspaper like that.”

Indeed, two years ago, there was a significant achievement, “Asada Newspaper Award.”

The club was thriving back then, but now it had declined to a shadow of its former self for various reasons──

“In the end, I was the only one who wanted to join in my first year. I thought it was in danger, so I tried my best to get the first years to join.”

“And that’s why you chose me?”

“Yeah. At first, I just wanted to secure members. But then you started missing school frequently, and when you did show up, you were top of the grade… That made me curious, so I looked you up and was surprised to find your name online with all those amazing awards.”

“Digital footprint…”

Sakuto chuckled as Hikari said this with a look of distaste.

“Don’t talk about your brilliant achievements like that.”

“That’s right. I think Hikari is amazing.”

Hikari looked puzzled as if she couldn’t quite believe it.

“Me, amazing?”

Without hesitation, Wakana affirmed, ‘Yes’.

“You’ve won so many incredible awards. It’s kind of enviable. I’d be happy if you could now use that talent in the Newspaper Club.”

“Happy? Why?”

“Because I want to see you do something amazing up close, Hikari.”

Sakuto felt the same way. He wanted to see what Hikari, who was called a genius, would do. He had never mentioned it before because he thought it would put pressure on her, but Hikari seemed somewhat flattered when Wakana said it without any hesitation, though a bit embarrassed.

“Besides, we’re the only first-years, so having Hikari with us is reassuring.”

“I mean, it’s not like… or rather, didn’t you just invite me to the Newspaper Club because you wanted anyone?”

Wakana made a surprised face and said,

“Eh? Hikari, did you really think that?”

“Yeah… is that not it?”

“I wanted to be friends with you, Hikari. We’re in the same class, and you seemed easy to talk to… To be honest, you were so dazzling and attractive.”

“Me…?”

“Yeah. I invited you to the Newspaper Club because I wanted to spend time with you and become friends. I found out later that you were really amazing.”

“That’s how it was…”

Wakana said, ‘I feel kind of embarrassed’ while blushing, but Hikari just stared at her with a surprised look on her face.

(I see… It wasn’t just because Hikari is a genius that she was invited…)

It seemed that Wakana’s desire to have Hikari in the Newspaper Club was based on purer feelings, a simple wish to be friends.

It appeared that she had been overthinking things.

“That’s why, Hikari, I’m really glad you’re here. The senpai also said so. Tank you so much.”

“Uh, yeah…”

Hikari made a face that was a mix of bashfulness and awkwardness.

“Oh, right! Hey Hikari, Takayashiki-kun.”

“Hm?” “What is it?”

“It might be too late for the finals, but could you teach me how to study sometime?”

“Eh? Why?”

Sakuto asked.

“I’m not very efficient, but I thought I might be able to do a bit better if I could mimic the methods of the two top students in our grade.”

Wakana said this with an untroubled smile.

Nodding with smiles as if to say, ‘of course,’ both Sakuto and Hikari agreed.

“I don’t know if it’ll be helpful, but…”

“If we’re good enough for you…”

Wakana smiled happily and said, ‘That’s great’.

“By the way, could you tell me what kind of study methods you two practice? Just for reference.”

Even when asked, Sakuto and Hikari tilted their heads with a look that said they weren’t sure how to answer.

“I just memorize the textbooks. Like the content of the lessons, workbooks, and notes. Just memorization for starters. Then I can apply meation for the calculations and so on..”

“For me, it’s like… intuition? It’s like something just comes to me, that kind of feeling?”

After sharing their study methods, Wakana somehow looked terribly disheartened.

“Sorry, it was my fault for asking… Hehe…”

” ” …? ” “

The two didn’t understand why Wakana was feeling down, but then Hikari had an idea.

“Maybe Chii-chan’s study method would be good.”

“Chii-chan… could it be Usami Chikage!?”

Suddenly, Wakana’s complexion changed as she stepped back in alarm.

“No, there’s no need…”

“Come to think of it. Higashino-san, you always seemed to have a hard time with Chikage?”

“Yeah, well, sort of…”

” that?”

“It’s like… her cold, aloof demeanor is intimidating… I feel like she’s someone you wouldn’t want to anger…”

It seemed that there was indeed a sense of discomfort.

Chikage had become more approachable than before, but it was possible that she was still feared by some students.

Moreover, as a member of the student guidance department overseeing the Newspaper Club, and considering the recent incident where Chikage had lost her temper, Wakana might have felt even more intimidated.

“Don’t worry. Chii-chan might seem that way, but she’s actually kind and takes good care of others.”

“Like a big sister type?──’Don’t underestimate me or you’ll regret it’ or something?”

“Uh, not really… If anything, I feel more like the older sister… And what’s with that image of Chii-chan?”

Hikari chuckled, but she could somewhat understand what Wakana was trying to say.

There were rumors that Chikage had softened up recently, but there was still something about her that made people keep their distance.

It was probably her dignified demeanor that made her seem intimidating.

If there was a chance to talk with Chikage, Hikari thought that Wakana would surely be able to warm up to her.

As the three of them approached the entrance hall,

“I’m going to stop by the staff room to ask some questions before heading home, okay? See you──”

With a smile, Wakana left them.

Afterward, Sakuto and Hikari approached Chikage, who was leaning against the wall near the entrance.

“Huh? Weren’t you with Higashino-san just now?”

“She said she was going to the staff room to ask some questions.”

“Is that so. Hmm…”

“What’s wrong?”

Chikage showed a troubled expression.

“It seems like I’m being avoided by Higashino-san… Is it because I’m one of the dogs of the student guidance department? I don’t recall acting like a dog… Well, I did bark on the first day, but there was a valid reason for that── What’s wrong? Hii-chan, Sakuto-kun?”

Seeing Chikage’s concern, Sakuto and Hikari remembered what Wakana had said earlier and couldn’t help but laugh at the situation.

They thought that perhaps it was all just a lack of communication.