How We Met Again

Chapter 32: A Query in the Cold (Part Two)

"Ah, no, see-- the Ounin war is widely agreed to be the beginning of the Sengoku period, that's why it's included in the curriculum. Yet, it's not an umbrella term -- it is but one war within the Sengoku period. The two are hardly synonymous."

"Oh... hmm, right."

I shrunk further back behind the bookshelf where I had instinctively stepped to hide myself. My eyes narrowed as I peeked at the two of them sitting together, heads leaned in as they spoke. As Takeda continued explaining the beginnings of the Sengoku period to Itsuki, who was nodding along to his explanation, my head slowly tilted in confusion -- she looked tense, her shoulders hunched up as though shielding herself.

What the hell is this?

Whatever it was, I wouldn't find out by hiding. Shaking my head, I stepped out from behind the bookshelf and approached the duo.

"Yo."

Both jumped at my greeting, and turned to look at me. Itsuki's face flushed, while Takeda simply beamed at me.

"Ah, Uesugi-kun! Why, you surprised me! Pray tell, what brings you here?"

"This is my usual studying spot," I said, my eyes lingering on Itsuki as I spoke. I hoped she could read the psychic message I was trying to burn into her with my eyes. It was simple enough, after all, readily understandable from my face.

Why didn't you tell me?!

Maybe Itsuki understood, because she looked away from me and whistled softly. I could tell she was embarrassed. Rolling my eyes, I re-adjusted my bag on my shoulder.

"Do you mind if I join you?" I asked carefully, glancing back and forth between Takeda's eager face and the back of Itsuki's head, the red hair tumbling down over her shoulders doing an adequate job of hiding her face from me.

"If Nakano-san has no objections," Takeda nodded. Itsuki was silent for a moment, before quietly muttering her assent. As I sat across the table from them, I could feel a smirk creeping its way onto my face.

Don't make fun of her. Don't make fun of her. Don't make fun of he--

"So, Itsuki... what's this about?" I asked, trying desperately to restrain the full-on grin that was threatening to break out over my face.

I could see her start at my question.

"W-Why, Uesugi-kun, I have no idea what you're talking about," Itsuki said, turning to look at me with a pained look on her face. "Is it that weird that I'm getting help from my tutor?"

"Yes," I said honestly. "Extremely yes."

Itsuki blanched, and then lowered her head into trembling hands.

"I-- ok, fine, fair enough," she eventually sighed. "I'll tell you."

I waited. Itsuki raised her head, and then looked away from me, her face strained.

"Uh... After the session on Thursday, I mentioned to Takeda-san that my individual studying wasn't going very well, and... he offered to help me outside of our tutoring sessions."

"I see, I see," I said, stroking my chin. "So is that why you were being so shifty on Saturday? Because you were going on a tryst with--"

"Don't," Itsuki said flatly, turning back to glare at me. "Of all people... you don't get to make that kind of joke, Uesugi-kun."

"Wait, what? Why not?!"

"Mr. 'Love-is-stupid-and-for-people-who-peaked-in-high-school', who's currently completely consumed in his own drama, doesn't get to make dumb jokes about a completely innocent meeting between a girl and her tutor!"