Episode 26 – Childhood friend don’t want to lose to returnee
Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818622172789075625/episodes/16818622174351030628
[Kako’s POV]
After the test results came back, my life changed completely.
I was dumped by Rio kun, whom I had been seeing every day, my smartphone was confiscated, and I began a life of studying.
I remember my parents getting angrier than ever before that day.
My mother went crazy, and my father looked at my report card with cold eyes.
There was no mercy, and they immediately decided to enroll me in cram school.
Until my grades improved, I was forced to continue this lifestyle.
It wasn’t just my home and my surroundings that changed.
At school, I was mocked by students I had never spoken to before and gossiped about behind my back.
Unable to endure it anymore, I approached Rio kun with the desperate hope of starting over, but reality was as harsh as ever.
[U-um, about yesterday’s assignment, there was something I didn’t understand—]
[…Tch, this guy doesn’t even understand Japanese.]
I knew he had told me not to get involved.
But he was my ex-boyfriend, someone I had been intimate with many times.
I thought he might still have some feelings for me.
Seeing him act that way, I finally realized that our relationship was truly over.
Strangely, no tears came.
Maybe because I had already suspected it.
Maybe Rio kun was just a scumbag who was only with me for sex.
Maybe Tsukushi, who I had always looked down on, was actually better.
Ironically, I only realized this after ending up in this situation.
After I started studying on my own, I finally realized how valuable Tsukushi was.
Over the next few days, I tried various things, but no teacher’s guidance or tutor’s explanation was as clear to me as Tsukushi’s teaching method.
When I tried the review method he had mentioned, I was able to solve some problems that I had previously struggled with.
Looking at the study materials he had left behind at home, I couldn’t help but notice how meticulously they were prepared.
He had created problems and written notes tailored to my understanding level, all for my benefit.
[What the hell? That’s way too intense…]
He was the one who cared about me the most.
The time we spent together since childhood wasn’t wasted, and the very thing I hated most about him—his identity as a studious person—made me realize that.
That fact made me furious, but at the same time, it gently healed my broken spirit.
[That’s right. I should just ask him again. He’s probably not still upset about what happened before, right? It’s been a while now, so he’ll forgive me, right? Haha, now that I’ve decided, I’ll talk to him tomorrow.”]
Tsukushi is kind.
Unlike some other jerks, he never says anything to hurt me.
Plus, he’s always helped me out when I’ve been in trouble.
If it’s my request, he’ll probably agree, I thought.
Until just now, at this very moment.
“Ugh…why is everyone avoiding me? We’ve been together all this time ! You’re so heartless !”
After being scolded by Amakusa Nagisa, I glared at Tsukushi.
He looks at me like a pigeon that has been hit by a peashooter.
“Eh? …That’s my line.”
“Huh !? What’s that !? If you’re talking about that day then I’ll say it too, but wasn’t it your fault for your grades dropping !?”
“Ha, I don’t really want to argue with Amakusa san listening.”
Tsukushi, who had never argued back with me before, looked at me after making that preface.
“Sure, my poor grades are my problem, but you don’t need to meddle in it. If you hated me that day, you could have just left quietly. I didn’t stop you.”
“Eh? ….Huh?”
“Even if you’re still hurting from being dumped by Takagi, it’s all your fault, so stop asking me about studying and figure it out yourself. Why can you blame me for my mistakes, but when it comes to your own issues, you can’t do the same? Logically, your poor grades are your fault, aren’t they? That’s the logic Kako is using.”
Tsukushi had a calm expression.
The girl next to him, Amakusa Nagisa, had a similar expression.
I understood.
This was the expression one makes when pitying someone.
I was now being pitied by my childhood friend for my embarrassment.
Like Rio kun, even Tsukushi was looking down on me.
“Are you saying I’m a burden too? Putting aside the two of you, if you start teaching me your grades will drop?”
“Eh, no. That’s not…I don’t know.””
It was disappointing that he didn’t explicitly blame me.
His hesitation, as if he wanted to say that his grades would drop if I was around, brought back memories of Rio kun’s despicable behavior.
This is a replay of that day.
I’m going to be abandoned again.
Even my childhood friend, who I had always mocked, was cutting me off as if to say, “There’s a beautiful girl nearby now.”
As I was about to give up hope, I suddenly realized something.
No.
If I’m a burden, there’s someone even worse attached to Tsukushi right now.
“…That’s a lie.”
“Eh?”
“You’re teaching someone dumber than me ! That person is definitely more of a burden !”
That’s right, I heard from Rio kun that the person Tsukushi is hanging out with now, Nanamura F. Reisa, is a real idiot who always gets failing grades.
I’ve never gotten a failing grade before, so I know that person is a real burden.
If Tsukushi is going to teach that person, it would be less effort to teach me instead.
Realizing the contradiction in Tsukushi’s story, I smiled a little.
He really is an idiot.
He’s so weak-minded that he doesn’t even notice the flaws in his own logic.
But he gave a wry smile at my smug retort.
“Well, Reisa and you are different in terms of motivation and consideration.”
“What do you mean by that !?”
He just called that returnee by her first name !
The irritation in his voice, which was clearly biased, made me feel my frustration rising.
“Then I’ll prove it to you !”
“What are you going to prove?”
“That I’m smarter than that red mark returnee ! If I can prove that, you’ll have to teach me again like before !”
“Eh…”
Tsukushi made a sour face as if to say he didn’t want to.
Just then,
“Fine ! I’ll take you on !”
When I turned around, there was a blonde woman who took my breath away.
It was her.
The stupid returnee who stole my childhood friend from me was standing behind me for some reason.
Tsukushi stopped the sudden intruder.
“Wait, don’t just go ahead and make decisions without me.”
“What, you don’t have confidence? After such an exciting night, that’s disappointing.”
“Don’t say things that could be misunderstood ! And why do I have to get involved in a bet where I don’t gain anything whether you win or lose!?”
“Then, if Kako san loses, she should be given an appropriate penalty.”
Nanamura F. Reisa interjected between Tsukushi and me.
Then, she turned her back on Tsukushi and gave me a chillingly cold stare from an angle only I could see.
I was taken aback.
Seeing the face of the woman who had been flirting with Tsukushi just moments ago, I couldn’t believe it was the same person. My fighting spirit was ignited.
“Go ahead. If I lose, I’ll do anything—run around the school naked or whatever ! Hahaha ! Is that enough?”
“No, that’s too much. You don’t have to go that far. If you do that, you won’t be able to stay in school.”
“R-really?”
I was momentarily intimidated by Nanamura, who was thinking about my future and denying my offer.
What’s with this guy? Is she trying to act like a good guy by coming here?
Or is she just naturally considerate enough to think about someone like me, who is her enemy?
Either way, it’s annoying.
I don’t want to be treated with consideration by a stupid woman who’s just pretending to be nice.
“Nanamura F. Reisa, I’ll never lose to you. I’ll prove it in the mock exam at the end of the month !”
“Go ahead. But I’ll be studying with Tsukushi to prepare, so don’t complain, okay?”
I said confidently, but Nanamura shut me down.
Indeed, it wouldn’t be fair as it is.
It’s already rumored that Tsukushi has significantly improved this girl’s grades, and with both Rio kun and Tsukushi abandoning me, the conditions are too unfavorable.
No matter how much of a difference there is in natural ability, the handicap was too great.
But I’m well aware of that.
I know the disadvantage, but I still think I can beat this girl.
At that point, Tsukushi interjected.
“No, if that’s the case, there’s no way Reisa would lose. If we’re comparing who’s smarter, it’s unfair not to teach Kako too.”
“That’s true, but. ….What should we do?”
Nanamura’s testing expression and my childhood friend’s natural attitude of declaring that I would lose were all irritating.
“Hmph ! I won’t lose even if I’m alone !”
It’s okay, I’m not stupid.
Until now, I’ve always been in the middle of the class, and this time was just a fluke.
That’s right, it’s definitely Rio kun’s fault.
Because he kept teaching me useless information that wasn’t even on the test, I failed miserably this time.
Even without Tsukushi, if I hadn’t been so unlucky, I wouldn’t have lost to such a weak girl.
I’ll show Tsukushi what I’m really capable of and make him apologize.
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you !”
I said that and left the scene.
“But the mock exam results won’t be returned for another two months. The next test results will be out next month, so we should just compete then. …Maybe she’s just weird after all.”
After I left, my childhood friend said that with a look of disbelief, but I couldn’t hear it.
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