Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818622172789075625/episodes/16818792435622759255
When the conversation ended and I left the classroom, I ran into a familiar face.
“Did you miss lunch?”
“…What time is it?”
“There are about five minutes left of lunch break.”
“Haha, then it’s impossible.”
It seemed that we had been talking without realizing it.
More time had passed than I thought.
Nagisa said playfully to me, who was shrugging his shoulders.
I don’t know how she found this place, but I was a little surprised that she came out to greet me.
We walked down the hallway together.
“I heard about it. You were scared of being called out and cried to Reisa san.”
“I didn’t cry.”
“So you admit you were scared.”
“…I’m not used to this kind of thing, so it can’t be helped, right?”
“Fufu.”
It was a masterful leading question.
I smiled awkwardly, and Nagisa blushed happily.
It felt like I was right in the palm of her hand.
When I talk to Reisa, I’m always surprised by unexpected developments, but when I talk to Nagisa, I always feel like she can read my thoughts.
The more time we spend together, the more accurate she becomes.
As I was thinking about that, Nagisa stopped walking.
“Today, Reisa is supposed to hang out with her friends after school.”
“I see. …But it’s only a week before the test, isn’t it?”
“That’s why it’s supposed to be the final rally.”
“I see.”
It’s a popular community that a former loner like me can’t understand.
Well, with her current grades, it shouldn’t be a problem if she plays today.
Today is Wednesday, October 22, and the midterm exams are next Wednesday through Friday.
Because of the recent quiz, I’ve been studying frantically since the cultural festival preparation period.
Plus, the two of them have been helping me, so I’ve already started studying for the exams.
I’m not just playing around in a festive mood, so don’t worry.
“So, since it’s just the two of us today…would you like to go on a date? It’s a secret exam preparation date.”
“Eh?”
I was thinking casually when she made an unexpected proposal.
Nagisa laughed at me as I blinked in surprise.
◇
“So, we’re going to that cafe from before?”
“Fufu, I haven’t been able to come since then.”
After school, the two of us stopped by the cafe we had visited once before when Nagisa invited me to a cram school lecture.
We had planned to go because there were new sweets, but for one reason or another, we hadn’t had the chance until today.
It was because we were busy with studying and the cultural festival, so it was hard to find free time.
It was already late October, and the sun was setting early.
Before we knew it, it was getting dark outside.
“Oh…the new sweets are gone. They were only available for a limited time.”
“It’s been a while since we last came here.”
“Actually, Tsukushi kun, you can order as much as you want. You haven’t had lunch, have you? I’ll treat you.”
“Eh? No, that’s okay !”
I shook my head in gratitude at her sudden offer.
It would be strange to accept so easily, given how intimidating it is.
Besides, it feels awkward to have a girl treat me.
It would undermine my dignity as a man.
Well, I don’t really have any to begin with.
However, Nagisa doesn’t back down when I refuse.
“You know, right? We’re not as wealthy as Reisa san, but we do have some financial leeway. Besides, I’m the one who dragged you here today.”
“No, that’s different.”
“What are you talking about? Even at our usual study sessions, we mostly learn from Tsukushi kun. Let me repay you somehow.”
“…If you insist.”
Come to think of it, she mentioned something about repaying me before.
As far as I’m concerned, just having her teach me Japanese and be friendly to me is more than enough, but she doesn’t seem satisfied with that.
I’ll take her kindness.
Honestly, café food is pretty expensive.
I didn’t make a lunch box today, and I’m actually hungry.
After ordering something to eat, I line up my reference books.
Since Reisa isn’t here today, it looks like it’ll be a fairly high-level study session.
Still, what should I do about the recommendation?
I rest my elbows on the table and think.
I’m a little confused because a school I hadn’t considered before has suddenly become an option.
My heart had always been set on the special admission program at Kaiho University, so I had been studying with that in mind.
It’s also something to consider that that might be gone.
In fact, I went to the open campus alone in the summer, and the atmosphere there was good, which motivated me.
“What’s wrong? You look down.”
“Oh, sorry. I’ll study.”
“Fufu, tell me about it. I can see right through you. …Did the recommendation come up?”
“How do you know that?”
I was surprised that she guessed it even though I hadn’t said a word.
Nagisai said to me while tucking her hair behind her ear.
“Today, Takagi was bragging happily in class. So, I thought that if he got a recommendation for the medical school, there’s no way you wouldn’t get one too.”
“Is he talking about it that much?”
I was amazed that he could talk about something that wasn’t even confirmed yet.
Does he really think he can beat me in the midterm exams this time, or what?
Still, the school is strange.
Normally, it’s unthinkable that a guy with such a bad personality and behavior would get a recommendation.
When he declared war on me before, saying he would take my special student spot, I told him that if he thought he would be selected based on his lifestyle, I would be shocked.
His verbal abuse and provocation toward others, and that thing too.
From what he said before, it seems he went to a hotel with Kako, but minors are supposed to be prohibited from entering such places.
The more I think about it, the more flaws I find.
Does he think I won’t report him?
Maybe he’s just too stupid to think that far ahead, but that’s still a pity.
By the way, I also talked to Reisa about the recommendation during break time.
She was thrilled as if it were her own achievement.
[Really !? This brings me one step closer to my dream ! The birth of the great doctor Tsukushi is confirmed !]
It was a bit premature, but I was happy too.
He’s a man of his word and would never spread it around.
For some reason, I wanted to tell him first.
“So, what kind of offer is it?”
“It’s about whether I can get a spot in the recommended admission program at Seirin no Jo University, which comes with almost full tuition exemption and super generous benefits. It’s still unclear whether it’ll be me or Takagi who gets it.”
“…It feels so distant to me. A medical school recommendation is just too amazing to grasp.”
“I felt the same way. Honestly, it took me about five minutes to process it when I first heard.”
“Fufu. Well, I guess you’d get offers like that, Tsukushi kun. You got perfect scores in all the math sections of the aptitude tests and mock exams.”
As I blushed from the praise, the food I had ordered arrived.
Since my parents were coming home late today, this was our dinner.
“So, getting first place in the midterm exams is the first condition for getting the recommendation spot.”
“…”
“It’s awkward, isn’t it?”
At my words, Nagisa stopped writing.
She was also aiming for first place, so knowing my situation must have made things difficult for her.
For me, Nagisa was both a powerful ally and a formidable rival on par with Takagi.
In this complicated relationship, the two of us exchanged awkward smiles.
“I’ll aim for first place again this time.”
“Yeah, please do. That way, I can defeat you without hesitation.”
As always, her ability to read my mind is too high for me to keep up with.
She gave me the words I wanted to hear, and I let out a sigh of relief.
Still, there are a lot of things I find hard to talk to Nagisa about.
I feel bad that I might be the only one changing my target school, and the condition I just mentioned about aiming for first place is probably something Nagisa can’t accept.
I can’t help but feel guilty.
The pasta I’m eating now is also being treated by Nagisa, and I feel guilty.
It’s pathetic and I feel bad.
I want to do something for Nagisa too.
And the only thing that comes to mind is one thing.
As I was thinking about that,
“Do you remember what happened at the haunted house the other day?”
The conversation takes an unexpected turn.
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