HS Chapter 42: The hopeless sister convinces them.

“Whew, I did them, I’ve solved them!”

Since then, I’ve been solving them all the time, and I’ve managed to finish all the problems assigned to me by Koma. Once I put down the pencil, I stretch my body and the muscles that had been stiff till now are stretched out and it feels good.

“Ooh, it’s already this late?…. Un, I think I worked hard.”

I look at the clock in the library and see that an hour has already passed since I started solving the problems. I was studying pretty intently, so I didn’t notice the hour fly by. I haven’t studied this intensively since I took my junior high school entrance exams.

“Now, all that’s left is to check whether my answers are wrong or correct. Koma, I’m sorry but could you grade th— Eh? Koma, Koma… Where…?”

In a math exam, even if the answer is correct but the formula is wrong, points can be deducted for that alone. Unfortunately, textbook problems often contain only the answers, and the best way to make sure I’ve gotten all the formulas right is to have Koma look at them.

So I tried to ask my tutor, Koma-sensei, to grade it, but… For some reason, I couldn’t find Koma, who had been sitting next to me and watching over me.

“Hm… Is that so? Koma left her seat before me, it seems.”

I was momentarily bewildered by my sister’s absence, but then I realize that I had been working on a problem for a while

‘I’m sorry, I’m going to go find problems that’ll suit Nee-sama. Please continue solving the problems, Nee-sama.’

And I suddenly remember saying that as she left her seat. I remember now. I forgot since I’ve been busy solving the problems.

“…No, wait a second. She went to borrow books… Koma, she’s very slow coming back…”

I nod my head while sitting… It’s strange when I think about it. It’s probably been about ten minutes since Koma left her seat. The workbooks she said she would borrow are in this library, so isn’t it time for her to come back?

But it’s strange that there’s still no sign of Koma coming back at all… Or?

“Hmmm…? Since it’s before the exam, it’s not surprising that someone else has already borrowed the workbooks and such… Could it be that the reference book she was going to borrow has already been borrowed… So she has no choice but to look for other workbooks? … No, even if that was true, she should’ve come back by now then…”

Other things I can think of are… She maybe went to the bathroom, or maybe she went all the way to the staff room to borrow workbooks…

“—-Chan, teach me next!”

“Aah! Don’t cut in line, senpai! I’m next!”

“Whatcha saying!? It’s my turn to be taught!”

“Hm…?”

As I am thinking about this and that, I notice that the library is noisy. I look towards the direction of the voice to see what is going on, and I find a large crowd of people around the entrance of the library.

What’s up? Did an accident occur? I’m a little curious, and while I’m looking for Koma, I decide to go on the lookout to see what all the fuss is about.

‘Hey, hey! How do you solve this problem?’

‘Oi, bastard! Wait your turn! I told you it’s my turn!’

‘S-Senpai… It’s my problem before yours, though…’

Apparently, the crowd was made up of students who were studying in the library. From the side, I can see that they’re constantly asking questions to someone in the middle. 

I don’t know who it is but they are popular. And students of all years, first year, second year and third year are asking questions to that figure in the center… I wonder if a teacher that teaches well has come?

My curiosity gets the better of me and I peek through the gap in the crowd to see who is being questioned.

“Ehm… Everyone, please calm down… I have to hurry back to Nee-sama… but…”

“… It’s… Koma!?”

And then there was my beloved angel, my sister Koma, who I hadn’t been able to see, surrounded by these people with a confused look on her face.

Why are you surrounded by people like that, Koma? I hurriedly kick and step through the crowd to get to Koma.

“Eeei, get out of the way, bastards… Move! Koma! Are you okay!? You’re not hurt or anything, right!? Did they do anything to you!?”

“Ah… Nee-sama. I’m sorry. I intended to come back immediately, but…”

I managed to get to the center of the group where Koma is, and I immediately check her for injuries. 

I’m glad… At a quick glance, it doesn’t look like Koma has any injury. I can be relieved.

But still, I don’t understand this situation. It’s true that Koma is the idol of this school, and it’s not that unusual for her to be surrounded. But normally, she wouldn’t have been surrounded so uncontrollably. So why is this happening today…?

Anyway, It’s no use thinking about it until I hear what happened from Koma’s mouth. So I ask Koma to explain the situation.

“Hey, what’s this uproar about, Koma? Did something happen?”
“Etto. I’ll tell you till the point you see currently…”

Koma immediately answers my question. According to Koma, she happened to meet one of her classmates who came to the library right after she finished checking out a math workbook.

And then, her classmate…

‘I met you just at the right time. Hey, Tachibana-san, I have a request for you.’

‘Yes? What’s wrong?’

‘To tell you… There’s a problem I can’t figure out. If it’s fine with you, would you help me figure it out… Do you have time now?’

Asked Koma that. At that time, her older sister was still solving the problems and Koma had time to spare, so she thought she could answer just one question quickly, so she gladly accepted.

In fact, she could have answered that problem itself in less than a minute… The story didn’t end here.

Immediately after answering the problem, a first-year student who was watching the scene said, ‘I’m sorry… but I’m having trouble understanding something too. Please help me, Tachibana-senpai.’. As soon as she answered the first-year’s question, a third-year student asked her, ‘Koma-chan, I’m sorry, but do you understand this problem?’ and when she answered that problem, she was asked another question by another person. If she keeps repeating this—-

“… Before I noticed it, the situation had somehow become like this…”

“I see….”

Koma finishes her explanation with a troubled look on her face as she looks around at the group of people surrounding her. OK, I understand it now. That’s why Koma is in this mess.

We’re not the only ones who come to the library to study for exams. Naturally, there were many other students studying here as well, and I’m sure that as they were solving the problems, they were highlighting what they didn’t understand or what they wanted explanations for. 

In the midst of all this, the presence of Koma, who is brilliant at academics and a good teacher suddenly landed in the library, and seemed like a goddess of salvation to those who wanted to score as many points as possible.  In that meaning, it can be said it’s inevitabl—-

“No, no, no, wait a minute…. There’s one part that’s strange about Koma’s story…”

“Which one?”

“… Why are third year students asking my Koma…?”

It’s no wonder if her juniors 1st year or the same year students are asking questions to Koma. But why are our senpais the 3rd year students asking questions to Koma…?

And you call yourselves senpais?

Koma that can naturally answer the third year’s questions is still Komal, but isn’t the third year usually the one who teaches the underclassmen in the first place? When I asked that of a senpai I knew who was nearby, the senpai replied with a wry smile.

“Ahahaha… Sorry, Mako. You see, we third-year students also think it’s wrong to ask questions we don’t understand to our underclassmen… But, Koma-chan’s explanations are very easy to understand… I just have to have her teach me.”

“No matter how easy it is to understand, please don’t ask your underclassmen questions about units that they haven’t learned in class yet, senpais! Besides, Isn’t it more reliable to ask questions to your homeroom teacher than to ask questions to Koma?”

“Well, truthfully… Koma-chan’s explanations are easier to understand than the teacher’s.”

The senpai says that so openly. The teacher’s standpoint is shaky…. I guess there’s such a thing as being too brilliant.

Anyway, if she’s surrounded by a bunch of people like this, she can’t move, and more

importantly, she might get in the way of the other people who are studying hard in the library.

With that in mind, I clapped my hands to get attention and then tried to convince everyone around Koma to disband.

“Look here, everyone. Koma has to study for her exams too, you know? Do you understand this properly?”

“””Uuuu…”””

The group that had been making the noise looks away at once, as if they had been caught red-handed.

“In addition to that, you were asking questions at will without choosing a place… Did you think you wouldn’t bother Koma? Did you not think it was scary for Koma to be surrounded like this by a group of people?”

“””…..”””

“Why’s everyone just only about themselves… Why can’t you think about how Koma feels at least a little bit? Don’t you all think you’re a little too self-centered, what do you think?

“””….”””

The group hangs their head low at my words. It seems they were aware that they were bothering Koma. They’ve been eager to learn, but now they begin to stare at Koma apologetically.

Okay, okay. I’ve persuaded them well.

….. While I am thinking that in my mind,

“But. Is that something that an older sister who’s been having her sister teach her how to study ever since she came here would say?”

“Eeh?”

One of the students said that. A counter flew at me… Those words make my look away now.

“I’ve been watching you two for a while now, and Mako was learning from Koma-chan, right?

“That is… Well, yeah…”

“As I remember, Koma-chan doesn’t have time to study for the exams, but she was there to teach you how to study.”

“U, un…”

“… In other words, isn’t Mako the greatest bother to Koma-chan? Am I wrong?”

“No… When you put it like that, it’s kind of hard to object… to you…”

They continue to plunge a swarm of swords at me…. I’m in trouble. They’re plunging at me… I can’t talk back at all.

It’s true that she had to cut down on her time studying for exams in order to help me avoid getting red marks, and I’m aware that I’m causing a lot of trouble for her… 

“What!? Your little sister has been helping you after all, hopeless sister!”

“After all that talk, Mako just wants to keep Koma all to herself, doesn’t she!? She’s cheating!”

“That’s right, that’s right! Mako is cheating! I mean, you’re living with Koma-chan, you can get help from her with your studies when you get home, can’t you!? The only time Koma-chan can teach me is at school! This is injustice!”

“Let me take your place, Tachibana-san! I’d love to have Koma-san teach me everything I need to know!”

As soon as they saw that I couldn’t say anything back, the group surrounding me started booing me. Gununu… Saying whatever you want since you don’t know what’s happening in other people’s lives! 

I couldn’t concentrate at all when I’m at home, which is why I was studying so hard at the library…

 “Ehm, everyone… I’m the one who proposed to teach Nee-sama how to study. So, please don’t blame Nee-sama. I’m the one who’s wrong…”

“You don’t have to cover for her, Koma-chan. I’m sure she came crying to you and said ‘I’m in trouble, please help me avoid red marks, Koma!’ Don’t worry, we understand.”

“No, not true… It’s true that I proposed to Nee-sama…”

Koma is trying her best to follow up, but this group of heated people doesn’t seem to listen to her. This is troubling. Looking at them, they’re not going to let Koma go away so easily.

“That’s why! I’ll continue from earlier, Koma-chan. Why is this problem solved like that?”

“I told you! Why do you keep cutting in line!? I told her my problem before you did!”

“But, senpai! I was standing in line before you—-”

This group of people again surround Koma and resume asking questions in rapid succession. I think my interruption is backfiring, and their noise is getting louder than before. If we leave this mess as it is, it could turn into a violent incident.

If that were to happen, there’d be a risk of injuring Koma since she’s at the center of the group…

“Ne-Nee-sama… What should we do? We can’t study at this rate…”

“Uun… That’s right…”

I exchange looks with Koma and think about what to do. Even if I try to convince them, they probably won’t be so easily convinced.

Then… No other choice. If that’s the case, I have to try to approach them in a different way instead of persuading them.

“… Okay, I got it. I understand what everyone is saying. Let’s calm down, okay. I have a proposal for you, and I hope you’ll listen to it.”

“””Ha? Proposal?”””

I’m making no progress like this and It’s only a matter of time before the situation escalates to the point where it involves other unrelated students in the library as well as my dear Koma. 

So I came up with an idea and immediately suggested it to the students.

“Nee-sama…? What do you intend to do?”

“Just leave it to me, Koma.—- *Cough*. Everyone, how about we choose only the students who need to be taught by Koma?”

“””Choose…?”””

First, I get up on a chair that was placed nearby, and then I start talking to everyone around me in my usual way, as if I am telling them something. 

“I, too, understand your desire to have Koma teach you. After all, she is very good at teaching, easy to understand, precise, and above all, she is very polite and gentle. I think those who’ve been taught by Koma will agree with me, right?”
“””Un, un.”””

“But, Koma is just a human. The people here now who want to ask Koma questions… At just a quick glance I see no less than 30 students, I think it would be unreasonable to have her answer all of your problems. In terms of time and then Koma’s effort.”

“That’s… Un. That’s true…”

“Well… As expected, she can’t help everyone…”

“See?”

I’m spinning my words like I’m trying to guide everyone. I can feel that everyone who was heated up has lost some of their enthusiasm and is willing to listen to what I have to say.

“That’s why I have a suggestion… I think we should carefully select a student who is in the most dire need of help, and let that chosen student learn from Koma”

“Student who needs it the most?”

“Who’s in dire need?”

“Umusu. In short, I say let’s make a deal where the student who can’t learn the most out of all of you people has the right to be taught by Koma. If she only teaches that one student, her workload will be less, and the people who weren’t chosen will be able to say, ‘Oh, I can study better than him, so it’s no wonder I wasn’t chosen’. What do you think of my proposal? Don’t you think it’s a good idea?”

Everyone thought about my suggestion… Will they accept it? Or will they not? Please… please… accept it…!

“… Un… How is it?”

“How do I put it… Even if it was Mako’s suggestion it’s not a very good one… But…”

“But on the other hand there are no better ideas… And, I’m not sure about Mako’s idea…’

Everyone around Koma and I seem to be slightly unhappy, but they don’t seem to have any other good ideas. They nodded unwillingly at my suggestion.

… You caught the bait, you bastards. This is my win.

“Then, let’s get started with the selection. If you’re confident that you can’t learn more than anyone else in this school, won’t you raise your hand? I want to select one of those students… Is there nobody?”

“””…. (*Moving around*)”””

As I cheerfully say this, most of the people who were so eager to learn from Koma quietly begin to leave the group of students.

Well, it’s only natural. Raising your hand here is like saying publicly, ‘I’m the dumbest person in school’.

“Here, here! I’m going to run for the position of the student who will be taught by Koma-chan! I’m the one who can’t study in this group!”

“No, no, what are you saying. You have better grades than me, don’t you? I’m among the worst three in the last midterm. I mean, I’m the one who most needs Koma-san to teach how to study.”

“What are you on about, senpais? I have trouble keeping up with classes! I think I’m the one who deserves to be taught by Tachibana-senpai!”

“Hey, you people. Don’t try to sneak in. I’m going to take the university entrance exam this year, but I ranked last in my grade in the last national mock exam, so I’m the one who should ask Tachibana-san to teach me how to study!” (TN: Bro, why are you asking Koma to teach you university entrance exams, wtf?)

Those who still can’t give up the idea of being taught by Koma start to raise their hands together in a powerful display of their inability to study.

I can’t tell you how moved I am that you’re willing to give up your pride to have Koma teach you how to study… However, you’re all struggling in vain.

“Fuun? So you’re trying to say, ‘I’m the one who can’t learn the most in this school’?”

“””That’s right!”””.

When I want to check this, several people nod their heads and raise their hands in affirmation. Is that so? Is that so? They’re the worst students in our school? They have some nerve to say that. I wonder if they can say that again when they hear my next words.

“Hooo? I see. That’s good to hear from you. In other words, you people—– You’re saying you’re a worse student than me?”

“””…..Eh?”””

When I play my best trump card against them, everyone’s expression hardens at once.

“Of course, I, Mako Tachibana, run for the position of someone who’ll be taught by Koma too. By the way, don’t forget that I’m an admittedly hopeless person, as you all know.”

“‘“….ch!”””

My beloved little sis Koma, the perfect superhero, is famous in this school in a good way, but I, the older sister, am famous in a bad way. I’m the one with the worst grades in the school year! A habitual offender of getting supplementary lessons due to red marks every time! Even though it’s compulsory education, the grades are so bad that there’s a risk of repeating a year! That’s me. (TN: Are you boasting about this?)

Not only the second year students and the third year students, but even the first year students know.

“You people are saying you can’t study better than me… Can you really proudly declare that?”

“””(………. She got us!!)”””

They glare at me as if I set them up… Ffufun, you idiots realized it too late. This match has already been settled when everyone agreed to my proposal! 

If you declare that you can’t study any better than me because you want Koma to teach you how to study here, you’ll end up… You’ll be labeled up by the surrounding people as ‘Someone who can’t study better than that hopeless siscon perverted sister.’

No matter how you look at it, there’s nobody in this school who’d endure that humiliation. It seems that the fact that you’ve been calling me “hopeless sister” on a regular basis has come back to bite you, ladies and gentlemen!

“There’s no person who I can defeat in studying! Fuhahahaha! The only person who has the right to be taught by Koma is me! King of hopeless people, me, Tachibana Mako!”

“””…. Gunununu!”””

Confident of victory, I raise my arms to the heavens.

“What happened, everyone? Didn’t you want to be taught by Koma? If you’re aware that you’re no better than this me, don’t be afraid to declare it! If you can, that is! I’m the most hopeless in this school year! If anyone has any complaints, they are free to voice them out!”

“””…. F***!”””

I’m laughing while trying to shake everyone up. Hahaha! With this, there will be no one to interrupt the study session between Koma and me!

Someone taps me on the shoulder and agrees with me.

“…. That’s correct. I also believe that you’re the most hopeless person this school has ever seen since it began, Tachibana.”

“Right, teacher? Oh my, I’m so grateful that you understand!”

After all, my uselessness has been endorsed by my teacher, a staff member of this school. Now, no one here can deny the fact that I, Mako Tachibana, am the most useless person in the school.

This means I’m the only one who can get Koma to teach me how—-

….Un? Teacher…?

I wonder what it is… I have a really bad feeling about this. I gulp down my saliva and turn around fearfully,

“I got a message saying that the library is noisy, so I came to see… I knew it was you causing the noise, Tachibana Mako!”

“Ehm… Ehm, my teacher? This is not what it looks… I think you’ve misunderstood something greatly…”

“Don’t worry, Tachibana. I haven’t misunderstood… The library is a sacred place, and you’re making a big noise before the exam, because you’re undoubtedly a fool, and hopeless…!”

My homeroom teacher was standing there with a stiff smile.

◇　◇　◇

“—- That’s why. After that, I was lectured by the teachers in the staff room until the last hour of school…”

“In addition… Nee-sama, who was at the center of the commotion, was banned from the library for a week as punishment, and our plans were thrown out of whack once again. Even though Nee-sama wanted to study hard so much… They are very unreasonable!”

At dinner, Koma and I told Aunty about everything that had happened today. Uu… Why did they do that? Is it me? Is this my fault? It’s true that I got a bit too excited at the end. I admit it…

But, you know? I wasn’t the one who started the noise…. Rather,  I was just trying to help Koma and stop the commotion of those people… And yet, I got this poor treatment…

“… That’s… Well, all I can say is don’t stress about it…”

“”Haaa….””

I let out a sigh that I don’t even know how many times I’ve done it today, along with Koma. Even Aunty is sympathetic without being sarcastic.

In the end, I only had one hour of important math study today, and my precious study time was ruined by the commotion and sermons, and I also lost the best environment to study math.

I wonder if it’s really possible to avoid red marks in all subjects at this rate…?

【Remaining days to exams: 6】