Episode 25 – Childhood friend who doesn’t learn will be made to understand
Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818622172789075625/episodes/16818622174296064491
After a tumultuous weekend, the mock exam is steadily approaching.
The goal for this year is to score 100 points in all subjects (Japanese, English, Mathematics, and Science), and I intend to take on this challenge with a bold spirit.
With the relaxation and the recent good results, there is little sense of frustration.
I’m reviewing my weak points for sure, and at the same time, I’m preparing for and reviewing my regular classes, which are separate from the mock test.
After the mock test, the next thing that awaits me is the mid-term exam.
For students who are aiming to enter a higher education school, or even a difficult-to-enter university, there is no time to rest.
Whether or not they can actually get the target score, they want to set the hurdle high enough to completely eliminate their past weak self.
One day, when I was spending my time with such enthusiasm, I received a call from Nagisa.
She asked me to come to her classroom at the beginning of lunch break on the next day.
There are some people in the third class with Nagisa whom I don’t want to meet, but it would be foolish to be conscious of them forever.
So, I stepped into Nagisa’s class before noon on Wednesday.
“Edano san.”
“What is it?”
Fidgeting with the unfamiliar stares of the other classes, I went to Nagisa who called out to me.
She glanced around and then chuckled.
“Excuse me, shall we move places?”
“I guess so.”
Apparently realizing that her forecast was too optimistic, Nagisa frowned in confusion.
It seems the situation was so dire that she didn’t feel like talking.
So we left the classroom and went to a less popular area to look for a place where we could calm down.
After wandering around the school for a while, we arrived at a special hallway where we stood side by side by the window.
There’s no way anyone would stare at me rudely here.
Come to think of it, this had happened before.
As I recall, that was the first time Nagisa asked me to help her with her studies.
It has been only half a month since then, but we have already spent a lot of time together, including daily study sessions, staying at Reisa’s house, and the launch party last weekend, so I was under the illusion that we had spent a lot of time together.
I leaned my weight against the railing, feeling the comfortable breeze blowing through the window on my cheeks.
Nagisa, her hair flowing in the air, smiled at me.
“It was imprudent of me to call you to the classroom.”
“Amakusa san is very popular.”
“Edano san is the popular one. I think they must be interested in us, the top students in our grade, talking together.”
It didn’t seem like such a friendly look to me, but Nagisa said it with satisfaction, so I guess it’s fine.
“So, what do you want?”
I asked her and she took out a flyer from her pocket.
When I looked at the document that was handed to me, it seemed to be an invitation to a special lecture at a cram school.
“The cram school I go to will be holding a special exam preparation class for first-year high school students. And it will be open to people who aren’t students of the cram school.”
“So, for me?”
“Yes. My friend who was supposed to take the test with me had to come because of some other commitment. I have a seat available, so would you like to take it?”
Nagisa is the one who always asks me to explain difficult questions.
I was bracing myself for some unreasonable request this time, but when I got there, it was something I’d never expected.
There are not many students at this school who are as diligent as I’m and do not attend cram school.
I also wanted to take a lecture if it was possible, but only because of financial problems.
That’s why I was so excited about this unexpected opportunity.
“C-can I? Such a precious…….”
“Yes, of course. If you are free this Saturday, please come with me.”
“I’ll come !”
I had no reason to refuse.
I answered excitedly and leaned forward, and Nagisa gave me a shy smile.
……..I see.
If you think about it rationally, even if it’s to cram school, going out alone on a weekend is still a date.
For a moment, I thought about that and broke out in a cold sweat.
However, I immediately shook my head.
It’s too late for me to be with Nagisa, and the place to go to begin with is the cram school.
Even if it was a holiday, who would look at something like that and think it was a date?
I put aside my foolish thoughts and clenched my fists.
For now, I’m looking forward to the opportunity I’ve just gotten on the shelf.
After all this talk, I turned on my heel to go to lunch.
When I turned around, I noticed a person standing behind me before I knew it, and Nagisa and I closed our mouths.
I felt a negative force of attraction that instantly pulled the corners of my mouth back to its original position.
“I-it’s been a while.”
It was my childhood friend standing there.
The last time I spoke to her face to face was that day at the fast food restaurant when she made fun of my grades.
After that, I had no direct contact with her, except for a single line message that I had ignored.
I was tense as I saw Kako for the first time in about a month.
However, without caring about that, Kako continues to close the distance between us.
As I unconsciously leaned back, she spoke.
“Y-you see. Can you teach me a little more?”
“…..Eh.”
She asked me with a flirtatious, superior look, which is her usual method when she wants me to do something she wants me to do.
Although she usually has a condescending look on her face and laughs, she’s really a shameless guy.
When I looked at Nagisa next to me, she was looking at me as if she wanted to see how I was doing.
Nagisa doesn’t know what happened between me and Kako, so I guess she doesn’t know what to do.
But to be honest, that’s the same with me.
But for the time being, my response is bound to be one thing.
“I don’t want to.”
“Eh?”
I was taken aback when Kako let out a surprised voice.
“W-why?”
“Because you wouldn’t listen to me even if I told you. Besides, after what you said that day, I can’t believe you even wanted me to teach you.”
I will never forget that, even though it was only a month ago.
That harsh voice that didn’t just ridicule my grades, but denied my efforts, crumpled up my report card and laughed.
And then there were the times when she and Takagi would gouge my heart out.
I’m still angry at her for the insanity of blabbing about other people’s family affairs.
I’m also pissed off at Kako’s expression as she widens her eyes.
It’s as if she thinks that if she asks me nicely, even just a little, she can make me do whatever she wants.
In the first place.
It’s also annoying that it’s obvious that she came back to me because she was dumped by Takagi.
You said you liked Takagi more than an inept idiot like me.
You switch sides when things get bad?
I can’t help but think that she is looking down on me.
“W-what are you talking about? I’m listening to you.”
“Well, even if you say so, you don’t have any data to back it up.”
I’m a science guy, of course I’m a data character.
As she pushed her mental glasses up, Kako gave a wry smile, seeming anxious.
“W-what’s that? Maybe you’re still holding a grudge about what happened last month? That’s just a joke.”
“You were being serious, weren’t you? How many years do you think we’ve been together? Enough already.”
I think I know Kako well enough.
I don’t want you to think that you can erase what was said that day.
What does it mean to hold a grudge in the first place?
Why is it my fault?
My childhood friend’s face began to contort in response to my firm refusal.
“…..You also say things like Rio kun.”
“Huh?”
“Shut up ! What is going on !? With that returnee girl and that Amakusa san over there, does that mean I’m in the way !?”
“No, it’s not like that.”
Her demure demeanor easily changed.
I cowered as Kako became agitated.
To be honest, I don’t really want to get involved even if those two weren’t there, so it doesn’t really matter to Reisa and Nagisa in particular.
However, it is too emotional and childish to mention it, so I suppress it.
When I remained silent, Kako began to laugh, wondering what she had misunderstood.
“Really? I mean…..are you already in a relationship with the two of them? I don’t think so. You’re a disgusting virgin, there’s no way a beautiful girl like that would pay you any attention. Kyahaha.”
“Hey, that’s not respectful to the two of them. Apologize.”
“Woah ! Are you sure you’re not mistaken? Just because a popular beautiful girl from school talked to you, you didn’t know your place even though you’re not popular with girls. Ah, gross. That’s what virgins are like. Kyahaha.”
Kako’s laughter, which I used to think was cute, now makes me feel really uncomfortable.
It’s true that I’m not popular and I’m a virgin.
But I draw the line.
At least I draw the line between the two of them.
I was feeling a bit down after she gave me a massage in bed just the other night, but that aside, I didn’t mistakenly think that she liked me romantically.
I thought she had grown up a little through getting the lowest grade on the test and being dumped by Takagi, but now I know once again that she’s a guy who never learns.
It’s really depressing.
I wonder if she doesn’t think she is at fault.
“You’ve always been like that. Whenever a girl talks to you, you misunderstand, get excited, and then get ridiculed. Maybe you just don’t have enough learning ability? Like Kitano chan in elementary school, or Yamayoshi san in middle school. Oh, I bet you still jerk off to those girls’ yearbooks, it’s hilarious.”
She even dredged up the past, and I was finally getting annoyed in earnest.
Even though I was trying to remain calm, I couldn’t help but narrow my eyes when she brought up such a vulgar and potentially damaging topic.
It was rude to both Reisa and Nagisa to begin with, and I was angry about that as well.
I wonder how Nagisa is feeling listening to this guy’s stupid talk.
I can’t stand it anymore.
It seems that I have to reject her more strongly and more thoroughly to make her understand.
It was when I was thinking that.
“Please take it back.”
Both Kako and I widened our eyes at the words coming out of my side.
I looked at Nagisa, who was unusually angry.
She looked at Kako coldly and continued.
“Please don’t take it out on him just because your own grades are down. Edano san and I…we don’t have that kind of relationship. Correct yourself and then apologize to him.”
Kako blinked at her anger, then shook her head and muttered, “You’re kidding, right?”
“…Huh? What’s that? I don’t understand. Ah, maybe I hit the nail on the head and you lost your temper? Kyahaha, even the brilliant Amakusa Nagisa has a childish side to her. But did she really sleep with such an incompetent bookworm? That’s disappointing.”
“What are you talking about? I just denied it.”
“Eh.”
“He and I are study buddies who help each other with the subjects we’re weak at. Nothing more, nothing less. And even if either of us had that kind of relationship with Edano san, it wouldn’t have anything to do with you, right? There’s no consistency in any of the logic behind what you’re saying.”
“……”
Kako, who was making fun of me like a fool, was silenced by Nagisa’s righteous argument.
She has always solved every argument with me by crying and screaming, but apparently she couldn’t do that to Nagisa.
She just stared at me desperately with tearful eyes.
Seeing this, Nagisa suddenly panicked.
“Um, well, I may have said too much…”
“What is this all about? I don’t understand any of them.”
Having been defeated in the argument, Kako uttered these words half in tears.
All I can do is chuckle at her weak reply.
When did my childhood friend become so stupid?
No way, is it my fault for spoiling her?
I sigh as I come up with a ridiculous thought.
If she were a normal person, she would have learned from the quicksand that life doesn’t work out this well.
Unfortunately, my lunch break has only just begun.
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