“Y-You’re too good…”
A few dozen minutes later, after multiple character and stage changes, Mina still hadn’t won a single game. She got close a few times but just couldn’t clutch it out in the end.
Mina hung her head, letting go of the controller. It appeared she had had enough. “Why… How...“
The unexpected turn of events left Yuuki in just as much awe as her.
Unlike a certain someone, Rio didn’t start screaming “I won! Let’s gooo!” like a complete moron. She calmly put her controller down, placing her hand on Mina’s shoulder with a warm smile. “You played well, astonishingly well. You’re using your head. Only a smart kid can do that.”
Instead of rubbing it in her face, Rio had nothing but words of praise.
Mina was uneasy at first, as if expecting Rio to break out into a victory dance or something, but her face lit up at the unexpected kind words. “She said I’m a smart kid, Yuukie!”
“Cool.”
It was perhaps the first time Mina had ever been praised for her gaming skills. Yuuki being himself had no idea if the praise was warranted or not, but he took Rio’s word for it.
“I didn’t know you were a god gamer, Rio.”
“Far from it. The path to godhood isn’t so easily tread.”
She practiced so she could play with Yui, huh? With a skill gap as wide as that, won’t you just... further deepen the rift between you two? The thought crossed Yuuki’s mind, but he decided to keep it to himself.
“Let’s go study in your room, Mina. And as for you, Yuuki…” Rio got up, rummaging through her bag. She took out a thin stack of papers, handing it to Yuuki. It appeared to be a copy of the elusive notes of “things guaranteed to be on the midterms”. “Here.”
“Thanks.”
After handing Yuuki the notes, Rio and Mina left the living room.
The most surprising part was that Mina didn’t talk back whatsoever. She became awfully obedient, as if recognizing Rio’s alpha status.
Yuuki, left to his own devices, began studying at the living room table using Rio’s notes. The notes exceeded expectation: Rio’s summaries were simple and easy to digest.
Yuuki thought Mina would come running out of her room within minutes, only to be proven wrong. It was quiet, peaceful, no trouble in sight.
I’m making massive progress today.
An hour passed, then another. Rio and Mina returned to the living room. Mina’s eyes were, for some inexplicable reason, shining with confidence.
“I’m a smart kid! I can do anything if I put my mind to it!” Whatever Rio did worked; Mina seemed ready to take on the world.
Rio stood beside her, gently patting her head. “You did great today, Mina.”
“Thanks, teach!”
Teach? Yuuki looked back and forth between the two.
✦ ✦ ✦
Both of them had genuine smiles adorning their faces. Seeing Mina this obedient left Yuuki deeply impressed. It was quite the sharp contrast from the person she’d jokingly refer to as Yue.
“Living up to the name, I see. Seatmate breaker.”
“Again, what does that even mean?”
“It means you’re good at bending others to your will, carrot and stick in hand.”
“I-I just happened to recall my little brother. He used to be a lot like Mina back in the day.”
“The smile helps too. Gives you that gentle older sister vibe.”
“C-Can you stop with that already? Mina’s a gifted kid, she just never put the work in.” Rio touched Mina’s hair, as if trying to hide her faintly flushed cheeks.
Praised yet again, Mina double fist pumped. “I’m a genius! A genius, ya hear! Prepare a meal worthy of my genius, Yukkie!”
“Gyudon?”
“Ayeeeeeee!” She yelled out as if releasing all that built up energy.
Well, whatever helps her take her studies more seriously. Yuuki thought.