The Heroines Want to Confess.

Chapter 80: Nose stings, this pain is unbearable

After trying to use his powers to make the five sisters smarter but failing miserably,Sakurai Saki firmly gave up on that idea.

Mainly because he didn't like this kind of behavior—trying again and again a hundred times just to achieve a goal felt too utilitarian. It didn't seem like something a person with superpowers should do!

Human desire is infinite. If it worked once, Sakurai Saki felt he might very well try it a second time. And if that continued, then he wouldn't need to do anything else anymore. Just shout "The Nakano quintuplets are geniuses" over and over again and that'd be it.

All of the above were the reasons Sakurai Saki used to convince himself.

In reality, right after seeing the five sisters' test papers, Sakurai Saki nearly had a heart attack!

He just wanted to go home immediately and chant tens of thousands of times the incantation that could make them smarter!

┻━┻ ︵ヽ(`Д`)ﾉ︵ ┻━┻

But does word spirit really have that kind of power? No way! It's seriously hard!

"(ノ _ <,, )

Sakurai Saki held his face in his hands—he felt completely hopeless.

"How the hell can you even get such simple words wrong!! The part Ichika got wrong, you also got wrong!"

Don't use your sisterly connection for things like this!

"Ahaha..." Yotsuba gave a dry laugh, then lowered her head.

(๑-﹏-๑)

Sakurai Saki slumped into his chair, tilting his head back to stare at the ceiling.

By high school, you're supposed to have mastered over 3000 English words, but these five—forget 3000—even saying they know 1000 is being too generous… No! Even 500 is already a stretch!

Then what the hell is the point of taking exams?

Sakurai Saki seriously suspected that the reason these five sisters passed English last year was thanks to RNG God's blessing! If the English exam didn't have multiple choice questions, their scores would definitely be in the single digits!

"Go study vocabulary! Start with the textbook first!"

At the very least, you have to understand the meaning of the question first, right? If you can't even read the question, how are you supposed to answer it? Are you really going to rely on pure luck for every test?

"Stuff like grammar can come later."

Even though he had mentally prepared himself, the gap between expectations and reality still made Sakurai Saki's vision go dark!

"I've been studying vocabulary regularly."

(,,¬﹏¬,,)

Nakano Itsuki said in a small voice.

It seemed like she wanted to prove her words were true, so Itsuki pulled an English note-taking booklet out of her bag.

Sakurai Saki saw the first word on the previous page — it was an absolute classic: [abandon].

A lot of people get stuck on this word when studying English vocabulary. They spend the whole semester and still just circle around abandon.

(Note: I don't understand...)

Studying is already dry as it is, and memorization is even more boring. Sometimes when you're studying, you casually scroll through your phone, watch a video for a bit, and next thing you know, several hours have passed.

It feels like night has already fallen, and when you look down again, the review materials are still on the first page — that's the typical state of students these days.

Truth is, Sakurai Saki also wanted to mess around when studying, but he didn't have the time. He was already lacking sleep and constantly had to pay attention to matters related to his superpowers. His study time had to be wrung out from a sponge drop by drop. If it fell to the ground, it was gone for good, never to be retrieved.

"I understood the questions!" Nakano Itsuki said proudly.

Sakurai Saki picked up her test paper, flipped it to the back — not a single question was answered.

"If you run out of time next time, at least fill in all the blanks before turning it in. Maybe you'll get lucky and snag a few points."

Still the same old problem — working too slowly. Sakurai Saki didn't expect her to fix it in just one day.

While the two were talking…

Nakano Nino glanced at her test paper.

46 points!

Much higher than her sisters.

But why didn't he praise her?

"Miku did pretty well." Sakurai Saki picked up Miku's test paper.

34 points — much higher than expected.

"I promised you, didn't I?" Miku looked at Sakurai Saki with gentle eyes.

(..◜ᴗ◝..)♡.°⑅

She had said yesterday that she would pass next time.

Sakurai Saki nodded in response.

Since Ichika had already been evaluated earlier, Sakurai Saki didn't say anything more.

Right next to him, Nakano Nino had already been waiting for a long time.

From the moment Sakurai Saki started giving evaluations, Nino had been watching him intently.

But after he finished commenting on Miku, over ten seconds passed and Sakurai Saki still showed no sign of saying anything further.

'Eh? What about me? What about me?'

(๑✪ᆺ✪๑)

Nino lowered her head to look again at her test paper.

She got 46 points!!!

Wasn't that way higher than Miku?

Why would he praise Miku and completely ignore her!? Isn't a teacher supposed to treat students equally?

"Um... Sakurai-san, I..."

Sakurai Saki glanced at her. "Oh, 46 points, not bad, keep it up."

Nakano Nino: ∘ ∘ ∘ ( °ヮ° ) ?

Hey! Isn't this kind of favoritism going way too far!?

He's so gentle when it comes to Miku, but when it's her turn, he's so indifferent?

Being answered like that by Sakurai Saki, tears began to well up at the corners of Nakano Nino's eyes.

She had already cried so much last week, it was practically becoming a habit.

Her stomach pain also started acting up again.

It was so damn uncomfortable.

Sakurai Saki lowered his head, thinking about what kind of memory method he should teach them next, when he suddenly caught a glimpse of Nino's face.

'Crying again?'

No way, right?

Just because I didn't praise her, she's going to cry too? Anyone who doesn't know would think I bullied her.

Sakurai Saki sighed inwardly and said, "Nino got the highest score on the test this time…"

Before he even finished the sentence, he saw Nino go from gloomy to cheerful, her face looking like she just ate honey.

'This girl is so easy to please.'

His earlier judgment had been correct.

She didn't even need anyone to actively pursue her—she'd conquer herself. Not even a full week needed!

In the future, she'd definitely be tricked into bed by some trashy guy. Or maybe she wouldn't even need to be tricked—she'd drag him to a love hotel herself.

Sakurai Saki was thinking some pretty rude things.

Maybe only after experiencing a painful, unforgettable relationship would a girl like Nakano Nino realize love isn't as beautiful as she imagines.

He praised Nino just a bit to stop her from crying and disrupting the lesson, then Sakurai Saki moved on to the main topic:

"Everyone has different ways of memorizing things. Some people can memorize just by thinking it over in their heads, while others prefer using a pen or speaking aloud. You don't need to change those habits. Next, I'll talk about chunking techniques…"

Chunking means breaking down complex information into smaller parts to make it easier to remember. Like when memorizing phone numbers, many people divide them into three or four sections.

English vocabulary can be memorized this way too.

Although this method doesn't work for everyone, it's still much better than mechanical rote memorization.

...

One hour later.

Class was over.

Sakurai Saki started packing up.

The Nakano sisters, feeling like a heavy burden had been lifted, slowly dragged themselves toward the door.

Ishigami Yuu too.

After a few minutes of neatly tidying up his desk, Sakurai Saki was grabbing his half-packed bag and just about to put in a book when he looked up and saw Nakano Nino walking back in.

At this moment, her movements were a little awkward.

She walked up to Sakurai Saki, looked at him, took a deep breath, and seriously said:

"Sakurai-san, I'm really sorry about last week!"

Umu?

Sakurai Saki showed a look of amusement.

Only apologizing now—wasn't that a bit too late?

"What are you referring to? If it's about insulting me, honestly I don't really care. I'm over it now," Sakurai Saki said expressionlessly. "After all, I'm being paid to tutor you."

"I've at least earned the right to do the bare minimum."

"Oh."

Nino let out a relieved sigh, then cautiously added: "Sakurai-san, are you going to eat later? Would you like to come with us?"

She'd already been forgiven, so eating together shouldn't be a big deal, right?

But Sakurai Saki didn't seem to think that way.

"Sorry, but I don't think our relationship is close enough to eat together, right?" Sakurai Saki smiled lightly.

"If it weren't for this tutoring job, we wouldn't even be considered friends. Um, we'd just be strangers."

His definition of "friend" wasn't that simple.

"Strangers?"

Nino was confused, not knowing what expression she should make.

Are we just… strangers?

"That's right. Or what did you think we were? Friends?" Sakurai Saki placed the book into his bag and zipped it up.

"Our relationship isn't that good yet, right?"

"Is that so… but earlier, you smiled…"

Sakurai Saki tilted his head, looking at her like she was an idiot. "You're asking why I smiled at you? A tutor smiling at a student is weird to you? Praising you was just to boost your confidence. What kind of nonsense are you imagining?"

"Then…"

Nino probed, "You… hate me, don't you?"

Sakurai Saki walked past her and coldly replied, "You think I have feelings for you? You came to talk to me about all this just to confirm whether I like you?"

"Well then, sorry, I hate you."

Nino clung to her last straw, nervously saying: "But you said you wouldn't hate me…"

That night, he did say he wouldn't hate her.

"I like you, Nakano Nino! If I say that, would you believe it?" Sakurai Saki said while turning his face to glare at her.

"Don't you understand what social pleasantries are? Didn't you hear it was just something polite to say? I only said it because I was afraid if you tried to kill yourself, you'd think of my name. If that happened, I'd be stuck carrying the burden of someone's life for no reason."

Sakurai Saki patiently said: "I'm still young, saving you was just a sudden act of kindness. Please don't cling to me anymore, alright?"

"You… remember everything?" Nino felt a stinging pain in her nose—she was miserable.

At that moment, all the joy she had felt from yesterday vanished without a trace.

Sakurai Saki, hearing that, didn't bother pretending anymore.

"Just being saved once and you fall for me—this kind of fall-in-love-with-anyone-who's-nice-to-me attitude, don't you think it's shallow?" Sakurai Saki said while pointing a finger to his cheek, "If I were a little more average, maybe you wouldn't have liked me at all, right?"

Nino quickly tried to explain: "That's not true…"

The tension caused her mouth to salivate more.

She choked mid-sentence.

She covered her mouth with her hand, coughing a few times.

She wanted to keep explaining, but the pain overwhelmed her to the point that she couldn't even form a complete sentence.

"No rebuttal? So that means you agree, right?"

'No…'

She wanted to tell him that it wasn't because of his face that she liked him.

But why couldn't she say it?

Nino's vision gradually blurred.

Tears streamed down her cheeks, falling to the library floor.

A moment later, the pain in her chest and stomach made it hard for her to stay upright.

Seconds later—

Thud!

Nino collapsed to the floor, curling up in pain. At that moment, she looked like an injured baby animal.

Anyone who saw her tear-streaked, anguished face would surely feel pity. But unfortunately, Sakurai Saki had a heart of stone.

"..." Sakurai Saki looked at her in pain, then silently took out his phone.

He had no intention of comforting Nino.

Their relationship wasn't good enough for that. If it had been Miku, Sakurai Saki might have knelt down and held her in his arms.

Nino endured the pain, lifting her head and looking at him with hopeful eyes.

Facing her gaze full of longing, Sakurai Saki remained silent.

At that moment, realizing how indifferent he was, the light in Nino's eyes completely went out.

Why are you treating me like this?

Am I so worthless that I don't even deserve a single word of comfort?

A minute later, Yotsuba rushed in and saw Nino lying on the floor.

"Sakurai-san, why didn't you help Nino up!?"

"Men and women should maintain some distance. Besides, it's just a stomachache—it's not life-threatening. Also, I already messaged Miku. And didn't you come here now?" Sakurai Saki replied coldly.

Yotsuba knelt down beside Nino, holding her sister like someone in a trance.

"Sakurai-san is really cold to Nino." Yotsuba had felt uneasy since class ended.

Nino had just said she was going to apologize. Yotsuba thought everything would be fine.

But Sakurai clearly didn't seem willing to accept that apology.

"Work and life, I always keep them separate."

"See you next week."

Sakurai Saki said as he walked out of the library.

A rental boyfriend is a rental boyfriend, the student council general affairs officer is the student council general affairs officer, a tutor is a tutor, and Sakurai Saki is Sakurai Saki.

He kept these four roles strictly separated.

When he was acting as a student council officer, he would be gentle with all students.

When he was a rental boyfriend, he would fulfill his duties and satisfy the client.

As a tutor, he would do his best to help students improve their grades.

But now, after school hours, he wasn't Sakurai the officer, nor the tutor—he was just Sakurai Saki.

And Sakurai Saki was a guy with a difficult personality who didn't care about other people's feelings.

...

"Nino, are you okay? Stomach pain again?" Yotsuba asked worriedly.

"..." Nino's hazy eyes were fixed on the library door.

Liking someone one-sidedly really makes you feel like a fool.

"Sakurai-san was really too much. He just left you lying there like that." Yotsuba was angry at how Sakurai had treated her.

No matter how bad the relationship is, it shouldn't be like this!

"..." Nino still stared at the departing figure of Sakurai Saki.

Half a minute later.

Ichika, Itsuki, and Miku also rushed in, panting.

They had just run into Sakurai Saki outside, but he had simply said goodbye and left.

"How are you feeling? Any better?" Ichika asked worriedly.

"Nino, are you alright..." Miku also showed her concern.

"You should take tomorrow off from school," Itsuki suggested.

Nino looked at them and forced a smile.

"Yeah."

...

Night fell.

The Nakano apartment.

Nino once again came up to the rooftop.

She lowered her head, gazing out at the distant view.

"Regret medicine doesn't really exist..." she muttered.

From the moment she left Sakurai Saki's house, Nino had already mentally prepared herself: if he regained his memories, he would definitely hate her. But the words of her sisters yesterday had made her harbor some naive illusions. Now, those dreams had shattered.

Ever since their mother passed away, Nino had felt like she didn't have much left. Her four sisters were the only treasure she had. She had firmly pushed others away to protect that treasure, but last week's incident had caused even that treasure to drift away. When her heart had nearly gone numb, it was an outsider who saved her.

When one loses all light and falls into darkness, even the faintest flicker is enough for someone to cling to and search for life.

Sakurai Saki was that flicker of light to her, even if he burned so intensely he could hurt others.

Nino leaned against the railing, looking down from the building.

"Thirty floors. That's really high."

If she jumped, her body would be shattered for sure.

She once again recalled that afternoon.

"...Huh?"

Replaying everything in her mind, Nino realized something didn't add up.

Why did Sakurai Saki remember that she had been in his house, and why did he accept it so easily? That was strange!

Back then, Sakurai Saki clearly didn't recognize her—Nino was sure of it. But his behavior today felt off; he accepted everything way too naturally!

Lowering her head to look at the ground, Nino fell into deep thought.

Inside the living room, Itsuki had just walked out and saw Nino leaning against the balcony railing, looking down.

Itsuki: Σ(°Д°υ)

She immediately rushed to the balcony and hugged her sister tightly.

"Don't do anything foolish!"

(つ｡>﹏<)つ(｡· v ·｡) ?

Itsuki held her sister close.

Nino was startled by the sudden embrace.

"What are you doing, Itsuki?!"

"..." Itsuki blinked.

"Huh? Nino, were you thinking of jumping...?"

"Jumping?" Nino asked back in surprise.

Her earlier actions did make it easy to misunderstand.

"I'm not stupid. It's just a setback, that's all. Things like this won't bring me down!"

She wouldn't give up that easily!

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