Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818622172789075625/episodes/16818622173043853049
About ten days have passed since I finished the quiz.
It is now September, and the summer vacation mood is gradually changing.
However, for a diligent student like me, there is no such thing as a vacation.
I just study whenever I have free time, and even if I spend more time at home, it only means that the ratio of self-study will increase.
By the way, I don’t go to cram school.
Or private tutoring because it’s not something you can get for free.
So, my life so far has been mainly about studying by myself.
“This is a prototype of our new product. Whaddya think?”
“Eh? Oh……chocolate.”
“That’s right. It’s a baked chocolate baked in butter. It has chestnuts inside for an autumn flavor.”
“Heh.”
Reisa handed me the chocolate and I accepted it obediently.
When I put it in my mouth, the moderate sweetness and rich chestnut flavor spread throughout my mouth, creating an incredibly luxurious taste.
Have I ever tasted such a luxurious-looking sweet in my life? No, I hadn’t.
I was in the midst of preparing for a classical Japanese literature class, so I was about to speak antonyms, but it was that delicious.
We’re together like this, but that’s how it’s been lately.
For some reason, I have been spending more and more time with Reisa every day since then.
I guess she was so happy to avoid getting a red mark on a quiz that I have become a kind of light tutor for a returnee girl.
“It’s so good. But is it really okay? I mean, I’m glad you gave me this.”
“It’s fine, it’s fine ! I ask my friends for their opinions on a regular basis, y’know? It’s not even for sale yet. Don’t worry about it.”
“Just out of curiosity, how much do you think it would go for?
I was just curious.
But, however, Reisa said.
“Well, it’s about 4,800 yen for a set of three.”
“E !? 5,000 yen for a chocolate….? 1,600 yen per piece !”
“Ahaha, you’re too surprised. It’s normal in my household. But y’know, how about some mental calculation?”
Not all of Nanamura’s sweets are luxury items.
However, Western-style sweets, which are her household’s main business, are often classified as luxury items.
No wonder it’s a taste I’m not used to.
“Well, the practical exam is just around the corner.”
“……! R-right.”
Speaking of September, there are two exams coming up.
The first of these is the proficiency test, which will be held next week.
It’s worth 800 points, with 200 points each for Japanese, mathematics, and English, and 100 points each for the science and social studies subjects.
The test will be held after a long vacation and is separate from the regular examinations, so the difficulty level of the questions is designed to test the students’ ability, not their comprehension.
“I took the test right after I enrolled last time, but Tsukushi, you got third place on that one, right? You got a perfect score on the last quiz, so I think you can aim for first place this time !”
Ignoring the fact that during this time I had been called by my first name rather than my last name, I shook my head.
The world is not that sweet.
“No, as long as he’s around it won’t be that easy. Besides, my grades have been steadily declining recently.”
“Him……you’re talking about Takagi Rio kun, right?”
“Yeah. He just missed getting a perfect score on the last quiz, so he’s been studying with a renewed sense of determination lately–or so I heard earlier.”
“That’s what I said.”
“Right.”
If I think about it, Reisa was the only friend I had.
Ninety-five percent of the information I received came from Reisa.
I felt embarrassed, and my face started to get a little hot.
“Is he a rival of yours?”
“I can’t say. The last time I got a perfect score was a fluke, and I wonder if I’m in the sights of that guy who has always been in first place since he entered school.”
“I see. That guy has always been number one.”
Takagi Rio.
The only time we really talked was at the fast food restaurant.
My impression at the time was that he was just an annoying guy.
I honestly don’t think of him as a rival.
I don’t want to think of him as a rival.
I don’t know what makes him a good rival. He was like an enemy of my parents.
However, I don’t think I’m a rival in another sense either.
To be honest, the gap is too wide at this point.
When I first enrolled, the difference was only a few mistakes, but now I feel like even if I get a lenient handicap in one subject, I would still lose on the total score.
That’s the level.
“But that girl is amazing too. She’s in the same class as Takagi kun, Amakusa san.”
“The one who basically follows Takagi.”
Even I knew about Amakusa Nagisa.
Of course, she had excellent grades, but that wasn’t all.
After all, she was one of the most popular beauties in the school, on par with Reisa, who was sitting before me right now.
The cafeteria during a busy lunch break.
As we were talking in the space that had become our fixed position, I noticed that the surroundings had become unusually quiet.
I looked around and immediately realized the cause.
Almost all the students were transfixed by a figure coming toward us.
The person was walking straight toward us with graceful gestures.
The direction he was aiming for was probably near where we were.
No, our eyes met.
Apparently, she was looking for us.
“S-she comes….!”
Reisa also seemed to have noticed, but the person had already come to our side.
She simply sat down in the empty seat next to Reisa.
In short, right in front of me.
Up close, Amakusa Nagisa was a beautiful girl with a stunningly delicate and somewhat fragile atmosphere.
“Nice to meet you. Edano Tsukushi.”
“Ah, yes. Hello. Ama….Amakusa san.”
When I answered in confusion, she softly smiled.
The short bob of black hair emphasizes the slenderness of the exposed shoulders.
“What’s up, Amakusa san?”
Reisa asked, and Nagisa answered while looking at me.
“I have an urgent matter to discuss with Edano kun.”
“Oh, am I interrupting you?”
“No, it’s fine. I’d be happy if you could listen if you like. It has something to do with Nanamura san, too.”
“I see. …..But please stop calling me by my last name. It makes me feel embarrassed.”
Now, what exactly is the topic?
To be honest, I’m extremely nervous right now.
I’m having lunch alone with Reisa every day.
I’m finally getting used to the pressure around me, but when another beautiful girl is added to the mix, the needle-in-a-haystack feeling from the people around me is only going to increase.
I can say that the firepower has increased 25-fold.
Unlike Reisa, who is frank with everyone, Amakusa Nagisa has more fans who are in love with her.
She doesn’t get overly friendly with boys, so for her to talk to me would be a bloody riot for such fans.
Ah, I can’t stop sweating when I think about it.
Just when I think I’m free from the harassment of my childhood friend, beautiful girls come to talk to me and I don’t know what’s going on.
Life is a series of unforeseen events.
Nagisa began to talk to me.
“My grades aren’t improving. But I really want to beat Takagi Rio in the next ability test.”
“Oh, really? Why?”
“I don’t want to tell you that yet.”
Well, it’s not really something to pursue.
It is quite normal for the second-place to want to beat the first-place.
Besides, I know Takagi’s true nature.
I’d like to break his nose right away.
“So, I heard a rumor about you. A story about how you helped Nanamura Fraser Reisa avoid failing for the first time in her life.”
“Oi ! Did someone just pick a fight !? And it’s not the first time in my life, it’s the first time since I enrolled !? Don’t get me wrong !”
“That’s my reason.”
“You’re ignoring me?
As expected of Nagisa, she ignores Reisa who is being noisy beside her.
But was she really that famous for being the queen of failing grades?
I’m starting to feel a little sorry for her.
“I’ve always been bad at English. My average score in the past tests was only 70% or less.”
“If you’re in second place, I wonder how well you scored in the other subjects.”
I frankly expressed my opinion.
But when I looked at the quiet surroundings, I saw that everyone was looking at me coldly.
“Tsukushi you need to learn some delicacy, too.”
“Eh? …..Ah ! I’m sorry !”
“Fufu, it’s fine. It’s the truth.”
When Reisa pointed it out to me with a cold look in her eyes, I realized that what I said was quite inappropriate.
I regretted the carelessness of my words.
Okay, I’ll start studying early tonight using the reference materials I found online.
“So, if you don’t mind, I’d be happy if you could teach me English.”
“…..Eh? I understand what you’re saying, but why me? From what I’ve heard, I’m better at English than you, but I’m terrible at everything else, so to be honest, I’m a little embarrassed.”
Why would I, a literal trash who ranked 53rd in the most recent mock exam, be the one to teach the 2nd place student?
I honestly don’t get it.
“L-let’s change places, shall we?”
The scene was interrupted by Reisa’s voice.
–
–
If you enjoy our content, feel free to donate, Thank you in advance !