During the week, everyone gave their best during practice, whether it’s for singles or tag duel. It looks like all the students are well prepared for the upcoming midterms.

…or so it seems.

———

Saturday afternoon, Sigulf’s room.

“Uuugh…”

“…so?”

After Chelsea came up with the idea during one of their post-council teatime, Celina agreed to do a group study session for the exams. As expected, Sigulf gladly tags along. However…

“Gaaah, I don’t get it! Why do we have written tests in the first place!? I thought we are duelists!?”

“Oi, oi, isn’t it too soon to give up?”

Turns out it was Alba who has problem with her studies, and Chelsea wanted to help her out.

“Mm, I feel you. It’s totally pointless and irrelevant.”

“…Master, don’t encourage her.”

And yet for some reason, Vigdis is with them.

‘More importantly, why my room of all places?’

Being the only male made him quite self-conscious.

“Do your best! You can do it!” Chelsea cheered.

“Augh… All this thinking made me hungry… Siggy, go cook something…”

“So that’s the reason!”

“Well, everyone knows you can cook.” Vigdis grinned. “Oh, by the way, I’d like some snack too.”

“Not now…” he sighed. “I’m working on a problem here.”

“Oh? You got a subject you’re bad at?”

“It’s math.” Celina clarified. “I’m tutoring him on it.”

“I suck at numerous numbers… I’d rather do history or language.”

“What, so Siggy’s not bright after all. Wahahahahah!”

“…I don’t want to hear that from you.”

“Fufu, now, now, let him finish first.”

“Seriously…”

Celina’s assist was well-appreciated by him. Sigulf immediately returned to concentrate.

“…hmm. This is… …alright, I think I’m done.”

“Let me see…”

She moved closer the check on his work.

‘Ah, she smells nice—‘

“Boy, don’t you dare play dumb so she can tutor you all the time.” Vigdis narrowed her eyes.

“Why would I!?”

“Suspicious…” Chelsea accused.

“Suspicious~” Alba echoed.

“…are you girls so hungry, you can’t think straight anymore?”

———

So they decided to take a short break, and Sigulf, with Celina’s help, made them some fish fingers and fried potatoes for snack.

“No more complains, alright?”

“Yeeesh~”

“Shush, Alba, don’t speak while you eat.”

Celina simply laughed at their interaction.

“You know, I’m actually surprised my boy managed to be fine outside of duels.” Vigdis said.

“Wha— So you didn’t believe me? I do pay attention in class; I don’t have the time to gaze wistfully at the cherry blossoms outside!”

“…who would even do that?”

“Um, Amakawa?” Alba guessed. “I mean, his seat is just right beside the window…”

Sigulf crossed his arms and began thinking.

“…somehow I can picture him doing that.”

“I know, right? For some reason, it fits.”

“What are you guys even talking about?” the older woman can’t help but to laugh.

———

Things calmed down minutes later, and the students put their focus back on studying. Even Alba who has begun to get the hang of it.

“Hmm, I see, I see…”

With Chelsea’s guidance, Alba made some progress.

“Hmm…”

Sigulf didn’t have as much difficulty and was content with Celina and Vigdis watching over him.

“Celina, about this part here…”

“Where, let me— Ah.”

She inadvertently knocked Sigulf’s eraser and it bounced under his bed.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to.”

“No, it’s fine. I can—“

Celina was too fast, however, and already searched under. That’s when Vigdis realized something.

“Err, son? You might don’t want her over there…”

“Eh? Why—“

She slides out not long after with his eraser… and something that looked like a wrapped magazine.

“Umm, is this yours?”

“Ah…”

‘Shit! That’s the magazine from Armstrong! I completely forgot about it…!’

“Ohoho, what’s this, what’s this?”

Chelsea was the first to react, followed by Alba.

“Uwaa, Siggy, you perv…”

“…do you even know what’s inside?”

“””It’s porn, right?”””

“…well, okay.”

“Caught red-handed, huh?” Vigdis said, looking a bit apologetic.

“If it’s even that…”

“Amateur.” Chelsea sighed. “Forget the wrapping, why didn’t you hide it somewhere less obvious?”

Sigulf blinked.

“I’ll give you that one about the hiding place, but I wouldn’t wrap something I bought for myself.”

“…what? Are you giving this to someone?”

“Uhh, no, it’s the other way around.”

Chelsea wasn’t convinced, so she turned to Vigdis.

“Yeah, it was a gift from his friend.” She defended.

“Hmm…”

“Seriously, you don’t even believe me?”

“But who would even do that? Nevermind that you didn’t throw this away…”

“Mm, is it Armstrong?” Celina suddenly guessed.

“Uh-huh.”

“Figures.“

“…him, huh. No surprises there.” Chelsea sighed. “And so! What should we do about this? Should we tear this open?”

“Shouldn’t we just return it to Sigulf?” Celina suggested. “It’s his anyway.”

“It’s— …well, yeah, it was given to me.”

“What, aren’t you curious?”

“Eh!? W, well…”

“…wait, why are you the one being flustered, Cel?”

“Forget about it;” Sigulf interrupted. “If it’s such a problem, why is it allowed in the first place?”

“Isn’t it obvious? It’s for some self-relief.”

“Self-rel—“

Sigulf, Celina, and Alba went red(der) due to understanding what Chelsea meant.

“W, what are you getting embarrassed for!? I’m getting embarrassed too!”

“Oh, you kids…!” Vigdis cackled at the sight. “You haven’t even opened the damn wrapping!”

“That doesn’t matter! If there’s no problem, then…!”

“Then what?”

“…on a second thought, you can keep it.”

“I don’t want to, though. I just want to mess with you.”

“But you are the one who’s actually curious with the contents, right?”

“This guy…”

Under the comical situation, Sigulf let out a triumphant grin.

“Both of you, enough. Shouldn’t we return to studying for the midterms?” Celina interrupted, sounding rather exasperated.

“You are not fun…” Chelsea complained… and tore the wrapping anyway.

“Waaaaaahh!”

“D, don’t suddenly scream! Sheesh, Alba, you haven’t even seen anything yet…”

Chelsea took a good look at the cover.

“Oh… Oooh…”

‘…dammit, Armstrong.’

Judging from the cover, it seems to be a magazine dedicated for those who have blonde fetish.

“…”

Chelsea glanced at the covergirl, then to Celina, and finally to Sigulf before narrowing her eyes.

“What?”

“I swear…”

She didn’t follow through, though.

“Huh, it’s less racy than I thought…” Alba muttered.

“Well, it’s just the cover. I mean, just look at this.”

“Waa…!”

“Whoa— Hey, what are you doing!?”

Sigulf was obviously more excited than Celina and Alba when Chelsea showed the contents, so Vigdis had to cover his eyes.

“It’s still too soon for you!”

“Huh? But what about them?”

“They are girls, looking at other girl’s body, so…”

“Ah, that makes sense.”

“You concede too fast…”

Meanwhile, the other three were busy looking at the pictures.

“I think this is the first time I read a lad magazine…” Celina mentioned.

“If it’s even th— Whoa, whoa, whoa.”

“W, why must she spread her legs like that!?” Alba screamed.

“S, spread what!?” Sigulf reacted.

“Oh shit, I can’t cover his ears!” Vigdis cursed.

“Oookay…” Chelsea finally closed the pages. “This is legit porn, not just a lad mag.”

“Uhh, so?”

Vigdis finally lets Sigulf go while Chelsea hands the magazine back.

“I’m not going to confiscate it, so here.”

“Oh, no need to be so reserved. You can have it.”

“Eeeh? I thought Armstrong gave it as a present for you?”

“Yeah, but feels like you enjoyed it more. You even opened it before me!”

“…Sigulf.”

“Allow me to be stubborn this time.”

“Ah-hem.” Celina cleared her throat. “Enough, you two. We will go back to study. And no buts, no if!”

Chelsea was about to protest. But she got immediately shut down.

“Aww, fine…”

“Oi, don’t just throw it back to my bed.”

———

All four managed to regain their composure somehow, and made it through the session.

“And I guess that’s all for today’s, and our first, group study.” Celina announced. “Good work, everyone.”

“Yaaay!” Chelsea cheered.

“Aah, my brain’s tired…” Alba rested her face on the table.

“Good job! I know you can do it!”

“O, oh, thanks…”

“Want another glass?” Sigulf offered some drinks.

“Gimme the cola.”

“Sure, help yourself.”

Alba took the half-full pet bottle for another serving, while the Council duo opted for apple juice.

“Hm? Where’s my—“

“Obviously, I have no beer, so here, have this barley tea instead.”

“Oh, come on!”

The girls laugh at Vigdis’ whining.

“So, what about tomorrow?” Sigulf asked. “Are we going to study again, or…?”

“Mm, I believe it’s better to give it a rest on the day before.” Celina answered. “So we’ll train like usual tomorrow morning.”

“Roger. Swinging my axes feels more natural to me.”

“Agreed…” Alba raised her hand. “I miss morning practice already…”

“You might still have to review a bit more, though.” Chelsea pointed out.

“I, I know…”

———

The three girls finally excused themselves, leaving Sigulf with his master.

“…”

Back in his room, Sigulf stared at the magazine left behind.

‘I swear, if anything bad happened, Armstrong got to—‘

“Oh, are you finally going to read that?” Vigdis teased.

“…no.”