[player] I'm sorry, Haruna, but some of these questions really have me stumped.
[Haruna Igarashi] Huh?! What should we do then?
[player] Don't worry! I may not be able to solve them, but a homework helper app can. Wanna try asking one?
After using a homework helper app
[Haruna Igarashi] Oh! We'll get the answers instantly if we use such an app!
[player] R-Right, but you can't rely on the homework helper app too much! You still have to do the work to solve problems yourself, but today is a special case.
[Haruna Igarashi] Okay! Then I'll do what you did--try my best for a VERY long time, then when I really can't come up with the answer, I'll get help from the app.
[player] Ha... Haha... Right, like that.
[-] She's only stating the facts... Why does it sound so harsh though...?
A few hours later
[Haruna Igarashi] Finished!
[-] With Haruna's efforts, my guidance, and the magic of technology, we manage to finish all of her summer homework just before it gets dark.
[Haruna Igarashi] Yay! Now Mom won't know I lied to her!
[Haruna Igarashi] When I get my next allowance, I'm gonna treat you to a hundred popsicles!
[player] Haha, thanks. But you know what would be even better? If you didn't need me to help you cover up a lie next time. Come on now, let's get you home.
[-] Seeing her back to her happy-go-lucky self, my heart swells with a sense of achievement.
[-] At Haruna's house
[-] But this turns into panic when we get to Haruna's house and see her mom...
[Mrs. Igarashi] You went out today to ask a friend for help with your homework?
[Haruna Igarashi] Yeah... because I wasn't sure about the answers to some of the questions... Here's my workbook.
[-] Mrs. Igarashi looks at the brand-new workbook timidly offered up by her daughter. Without saying a word, she turns and takes out another workbook with a dirtied cover.
[Mrs. Igarashi] Then how did the janitor end up finding this?
[Haruna Igarashi] Ah!! {var:Shake}
[-] Crap, busted!
[Haruna Igarashi] Now what, PLAYER...?
[Mrs. Igarashi] Still trying to get your friend to cover for you?
[-] Hearing this, I steel myself. Avoiding Haruna's pleading eyes, I reach out and pat her on the shoulder.
[player] The evidence is irrefutable... Time to confess, Haruna.
[Haruna Igarashi] ...I'm sorry, Mom!!! {var:Shake}
[Haruna Igarashi] I didn't actually finish my homework and I was afraid you'd find out so I hid my homework on purpose but then I was worried I'd turn into a long-nose monster and I know what I did was w-wrong *sniffle* I-I'm s-so sorry Mom--
[-] Haruna rushes to her mother at the speed she normally reserves for chasing stray cats up trees and, prostrating herself before her with a "plop," spills the beans without stopping for air.
[Mrs. Igarashi] !!
[Mrs. Igarashi] Wh-What are you doing?! Where did you learn to apologize like that?
[Haruna Igarashi] I saw it on a TV show with Dad the last time you went out to play mahjong!
[Mrs. Igarashi] What is your father doing, letting you watch anything and everything...?!
[-] Mrs. Igarashi quickly helps her daughter up. The corners of her mouth twitching, she casts me an awkward smile.
[Mrs. Igarashi] Sorry you had to see all that...
[player] It's totally fine, haha...
[Haruna Igarashi] *sobbing* I'll never do something like that again, Mom...
[Mrs. Igarashi] ...Good grief.
[Mrs. Igarashi] Haruna, when I saw your original workbook, I more or less guessed what happened. Not only did you lie to me and tell me you finished, but you tried to destroy the evidence as well. I was going to teach you a serious lesson, let me tell you.
[-] Mrs. Igarashi takes out her phone and opens up a shopping app. Summer workbooks of all kinds fill the screen.
[Mrs. Igarashi] See that? There's more than one kind of summer workbook, you know. I was going to order all of them and make you complete every single one. I was certain you wouldn't lie to me again after that.
[Haruna Igarashi] Waah... No, please! I couldn't finish all those even if there were 10 of me! PLAYER...
[-] Confronted with Haruna's pleading eyes once again, I know deep down that I'm partly responsible for this. So, I take a step forward...
[player] Mrs. Igarashi, buying a new workbook to cover up Haruna's lie was my idea. I'm sorry. We know that what we did was wrong. Could you find it in your heart to forgive us?
[Mrs. Igarashi] Sigh... I'm angry that Haruna tried to hide this from me, but you meant well by trying to help her, so how could I blame you?
[Mrs. Igarashi] But you're not getting off scot-free, Haruna. Just finish your original workbook. You usually take your sweet time doing your homework... PLAYER must have helped you quite a bit indeed for you to finish the new workbook so quickly. This time you'll do it again on your own--think of it as reinforcing what you learned.
[player] Since your mother is willing to forgive you, that arrangement works just fine for you, right, Haruna?
[Haruna Igarashi] I'll get started right now!
[-] Haruna quickly wipes away her tears, grabs her original workbook, and starts diligently working at the dining table.
[-] But after just a few strokes of her pencil, she rests her cheeks in her hands and sinks deep into thought...
[Haruna Igarashi] Hm... I know PLAYER showed me how to do this one...
[-] Looks like she didn't retain the solution whatsoever...
[player] Here, I'll explain it to you again. You can do it, and once this "homework overtime" is finished, we can enjoy the last few days of summer vacation to the fullest!
[Haruna Igarashi] Okay!
[-] That said, if I'd been more insistent that she apologize to her mom in the first place, we probably wouldn't have needed to do more than finish the remainder of the original workbook. Is this additional "tutoring" punishment for my weak will...?
[-] Covering up a lie with another lie is probably asking for trouble. If something like this happens again, I'll tell her to fess up sooner rather than later.
