Chapter 121: Trouble from Exams [side Mishima Satsuki]
I accidentally posted this on the main story side...
Thank you for pointing it out. Sweat
⭐︎ ⭐︎ ⭐︎
And now, finally, it's time to face the final exams...
I'm so nervous...
If my grades are bad here? No questions asked, I'll be repeating the year for sure.
If I can get a good score here, I can raise my yearly average and maybe have a shot at moving up safely.
That's why I've been bowing my head and asking for help, doing study groups, and even teaching Yukari the subjects we're both bad at for over half a month.
Even so, I'm still anxious.
My first and second semesters went like that... Do I even have any chance of doing well in the third?
These negative feelings, my heart that's gotten used to losing, just sap my motivation...
I don't have even a single ally in the class...
Everyone's only thinking about themselves... but that's normal.
I messed up a lot and ended up turning the whole class against me.
Watching Osada, I realize: the top clique girls especially need people's support and popularity, and you can't put yourself first.
...Come to think of it, Rena Kashii was like that.
She would run around for the sake of everyone as some big righteous cause? I used to think she was just being stupid.
If I'd realized this back when I was one of the top clique girls... haha! Not that it matters now.
For now, I need to focus on the tests.
Day one, went well...! I mean, my strong subjects help, sure? I usually drag them down by focusing on my weak spots, but this time went great!
Since we have the afternoons off during test period, I'll go study at Yukari's house this afternoon.
Tomorrow is dreaded English...!
I'm glad my weak subjects didn't overlap!
Yukari's being really thoughtful, quizzing me and focusing on English for me!
Tomorrow's Japanese is Yukari's weakest subject! I'll help her out tomorrow!
Second day, dreaded English comes.
...It's okay, I studied this part!
Calm down! It's okay, I know this!
No way it'll be like before, where I finished in 15 minutes and couldn't solve anything after that!
Yes! It feels good!
Getting in the 90s is tough, but if things go well, I might break into the 80s!
Tomorrow is Yukari's big test! Now it's my turn to support her!
I need to hurry and get ready to go home!
Meeting up with Yukari?
Even if we end up just chatting and slacking off together, we should study while we're still motivated and full of energy!
I hurry to head home!
I leave the classroom, go down the stairs, and head to the entrance!
Bam! I bumped into someone because I was rushing!
I almost snap for a second, but what would Yukari do...?
"I'm sorry, I was in a hurry..."
As I lower my head lightly and try to pass by,
A big hug! My hand gets grabbed.
Don't touch me!
I snapped.
My hand, about to slap, gets grabbed.
Masaki "...Come on, Satsuki. We haven't broken up yet, you know?"
"...Masaki..."
I'm shocked.
Masaki, who used to be that fashionable, cool, confident guy?
His uniform's all wrinkled, hair a mess, his whole vibe is just run-down.
While I'm frozen in surprise,
Masaki "...During third semester finals, like, if I scored over 90 in every subject or something? I begged the teacher if I could move up with that. But since I didn't take the second semester exams and didn't do the remedials or makeups, they said that means I have no will to learn, so I don't even get scores. I'm automatically not allowed to advance..."
"...I see."
That's all I can say.
I've been desperate to move up myself lately, so I do feel a little sorry that he doesn't even get a chance to recover. Not even a shot at it...
Masaki "Hey, you're not gonna move up either, right? Didn't you always say we'd always be together? Satsuki...!"
Half-crying...no, fully crying, Masaki clings to me.
...The thought of being hugged by a guy I have no feelings for anymore makes my skin crawl!
I brush off his hands and step back.
Masaki "Remember what I said before, about doing YouTube? Or do you wanna be a VTuber, Satsuki? Or do both? As long as one hits, it's fine!"
Maybe before, but now, I want nothing to do with being tied to Masaki anymore!
I desperately fend off Masaki, who's trying to cling to me...!
Everyone just watches and no one helps.
Hehe! What is that? Disgusting!
I can hear voices like that...
Masaki "Maybe I should've let you slap me earlier. If I made a big deal out of it and turned it into an incident? An assault case? Suspension? Then we could be first years together again for real!"
I get chills.
Was I really about to throw away all my efforts, Yukari's feelings, and Osada and everyone else's help over something like this?!
Suddenly, it hits me.
Everything is connected, and there's always a reason behind things.
...The fact that no one helps me means...
A big hug!
A hand grabs the hand that's grabbing me!
Masaki "!"
It was Kousuke.
...My first boyfriend, the one I dumped so cruelly.
Kousuke "...Don't start trouble during test period..."
Kousuke drags Masaki away, not caring that he's in pain, and pulls him all the way to the entrance.
Masaki fusses, but Kousuke just brushes it off coolly.
Teacher "What's this? Is there some kind of trouble?!"
Masaki "Teacher! Saito-kun! Kousuke-kun pulled me away by force...!"
Masaki acts like a victim, saying Kousuke dragged him by force...and that his arm hurts...
...I was helped...Should I say something?
The moment I think that,
Nagase "Kousuke-kun just moved Yamamoto, who was bothering someone!"
Tanaka "Kousuke-kun just stopped Yamamoto from bugging people!"
At the same time, Nagase and Tanaka jump out from the crowd and report to the teacher.
The two of them stare at each other in surprise...
"Hmph!"
...and turn away at the same time? Are they not getting along?
Not just their follow-up, but the gallery that stayed quiet during my part,
"Saito-kun just helped a girl."
"Yamamoto was pestering people about repeating a year—!"
"Saito-kun did nothing wrong!"
Tanaka's digital video camera had footage, so Kousuke was cleared and Masaki was taken to the guidance office...
Well, I was saved, I guess...?
Should I say thank you?
Kousuke told me before that he's not interested in me anymore, but?
See! He's still totally hung up on me!
I nervously approached Kousuke to try and thank him...