Sakura Airi never considered herself as a person who loved reading books, even though her glasses could sometimes give the impression of it to other people. However, ever since she began to study with Kiyotaka and Kei weeks ago, reading books has become somewhat akin to a habit by now. Not that she liked to open a book and read its contents, but it was clear to her now that in order to keep up with everyone else, she had to study.
And despite her most recent success in passing her midterms (it still felt so surreal to her), Airi knew that she would have to work even harder for the upcoming finals. The old her would have been discouraged at the thought because studying was just tiring to do but now that she had a taste of how things would be like if she worked hard to prepare for an exam, there was no question that she needed to do this.
That's why, even on a Sunday where she could be doing anything else, the red-haired girl was heading to the library instead. She was actually going to return a couple of books that she borrowed the past week, which were all stuff that Kiyotaka recommended her to read so she could prepare ahead of their study sessions in the future. Afterwards, she would then read a few reference books in order to pass the time and to study in advance.
If Airi had to be honest with herself, she didn't think that she improved much; her academic ability was still below-average that it's almost a miracle that she even passed, and Mathematics was as hard as ever for her. She doubted that she would ever be good in that subject.
Feeling a short burst of confidence from within her, Airi donned a serious look that one would never see from her.
"Everyone is working hard to get good grades..." she thought to herself while hugging the books she borrowed close to her chest. "It only means that I have to do the same...! I don't want to drag my classmates down with my own shortcomings. I want to be better than before!"
While she was on her way to the library, the girl passed by the bathhouse that opened in the school a few weeks ago, which was apparently named, "Heaven on Earth".
Ever since the first time that she tried out the public bath, there have been two other instances where she went back to the place to experience the onsen again. Honestly, she couldn't focus much on the first time that was here because of Kiyotaka's presence and the fact that he... washed her back.
Airi blushed deeply upon remembering that memory. She honestly had no idea what compelled her to agree to such an embarrassing arrangement. Looking back on it now, she definitely should have refused politely!
Maybe she was just too overwhelmed by everyone else saying 'yes' that she couldn't say otherwise?
Anyway, what's done is done and there's no use in wondering what could have been. In the end, it wasn't even a bad thing. Ayanokouji-kun was really good in the whole thing and thankfully, his hands didn't wander anywhere inappropriate.
"No! I'm only making it worse...!"
Airi shook her head to get the memory out of her mind right now. The more she thinks about it, the more it'll bother her and at worse, she'll continue avoiding him out of embarrassment.
Speaking of which, she'll have to apologize to Kiyotaka soon! Every time he tried to talk to her ever since that day at the Heaven on Earth bathhouse, she ended up staying away from him as much as she could. Mostly out of embarrassment, though.
"Haaauughhhh, I have to apologize to Ayanokouji-kun tomorrow! We have to study together again soon, and I don't want to keep avoiding him..."
She'll apologize tomorrow, perhaps during class and hope that Kiyotaka forgives her for being cruel to him...
