Chapter 124: Final Exam Results
The second week of March—after finishing the final exams, the rankings are finally posted!
I've been working hard, balancing club activities and studying for exams, but this brought back memories I hadn't thought of in a while...
Once again, I'm competing with Nagase-san this time!
Once again, I go with Nagase-san, Koji, and Hiroshi to check the results.
Hiroshi: "...If I don't mess up this time, I should make it into the special advanced class... I think!"
Koji: "...If I'm in the top 30... maybe I'll make it? Or is that too tough?"
(Well, I feel about the same as last time... but how did I do?)
While the students gather, chatting noisily, the teacher posts the rankings!
Final Exam Rankings
9th place: Nagase Aya
10th place: Kousuke Saito
"...I'm... 10th."
Nagase: "...9th! YES! YES! YES we Can!!"
She clenches both fists, scrunches up her eyes (＞＜), and makes a small guts pose!
That's not the Japanese "Yes, I can do it," but rather the "Yes we can!" from the American president—meaning "If you try, you can do it!"
Frustrating... 10th place isn't bad at all, but it's a bit lower than my previous 8th place...
Nagase: "...! Ah, sorry, I got a little excited because I'm so happy..."
Nagase-san blushes, embarrassed.
No, no, I got a little carried away and excited last time too, so I can't say anything, can I?
☆ ☆ ☆
Kousuke from the last ranking announcement.
8th place: Kousuke Saito
Yes!!
I can't help but make a guts pose!
Put in the effort and get results! Is there any better stress relief, sense of affirmation, or confidence? No, there isn't (rhetorical).
I really felt it this time! My score is better than last time, and my ranking went up by two!
I did my best! Hell yeah!!!!
*A rare Kousuke in high spirits.*
From Chapter 91: Final Exam Results.
☆ ☆ ☆
10th place isn't anything to be ashamed of, but I lost.
Nagase-san had a conflicted expression—part apologetic for my loss, but also happy for her victory and revenge.
"You won, so you're allowed to be happy, you know?"
Nagase: "...Yeah, I'm happy! I did it!"
Nagase-san declares her win in our competition, looking apologetic and a bit nervous toward me...
Nagase: "So, um... since I won... could you grant me a wish?"
She looks around shyly, her eyes darting, and asks for her reward for winning.
Well, a bet's a bet.
"Sure, what is it?"
Nagase: "Spring break! Will you go out with me for a day during spring break? ...please."
...Wait, me, who's afraid of girls, going out with Nagase-san, who's even called the most beautiful girl in our year?
There've gotta be other guys who'd be thrilled to go, right?
But Nagase-san likes me.
And I think Nagase-san's a good person—cheerful and easy to talk to... or is she?
I need to overcome this, too...
Nagase-san glances over at me anxiously. I try to answer as brightly as I can.
"...Yeah, sure. Where should we go? Want to decide before spring break?"
Nagase: "...Yay!"
With the same dazzling smile she had when she won, Nagase Aya does a guts pose—she's undeniably cute, and all the surrounding boys' eyes are on her.
By the way, Hiroshi was 24th, and Koji was 38th.
Hiroshi's barely on the line for the special advanced class, while Koji probably has it tough.
And then—
Osada: "Saito-kun, this time I beat you, didn't I?"
...Osada-san?
Osada-san...?
8th place?! Did she pull ahead?
Osada-san... her mouth is twitching...?
She can't hide the joy at the corners of her mouth...?
Osada: "Well, I lost twice, so if I didn't win this time, it'd be three losses in a row, you know?"
Osada-san is a bit scary and gal-like, but she's hardworking and hates to lose.
She must have worked really hard studying this time.
Is there anything more satisfying than putting in effort and getting results?
"You won this time, Osada-san! It's especially amazing how you scored so well in English and Math, since those were tough, right? You must've done a ton of practice!"
Osada: "...Yeah, I guess so."
"How did you do it? Like, over there..."
We chat for a bit about math and English.
Osada-san was cautious at first, but in the end she shyly revealed a lot of her strategies.
"That was helpful, thanks."
Osada: "Haha! Well, maybe we'll be classmates next year?"
"Looking forward to it!"
After parting with Osada-san, I head back to the classroom with Nagase-san.
While I was talking with Osada-san, Nagase-san was silent.
Nagase: "...Ai-chan has a boyfriend, you know? She and her boyfriend have been lovey-dovey since back in middle school!"
"...? Uh, yeah? I know that..."
Nagase: "...If you know, then that's fine..."
Nagase-san puffs out her cheeks a little and pinches my upper arm.
Ouch!
☆ ☆ ☆
After school
Airi: "Kousuke-kun. How'd you do on finals?"
"...I was 10th."
It's Airi-senpai. Lately, Airi-senpai refers to herself as 'big sis,'
and she's gotten overwhelming support from the first-year basketball club members.
With her nurturing goddess-like warmth, even the second-years—
Captain: "Manager! Can I call you 'big sis' too?"
Airi-senpai looks troubled.
Airi: "...But we're the same year, you know? ...Don't you mind?"
The captain and the others: "So it's no good after all..."
The second-years, who'd been watching the captain's attempt with bated breath, were disappointed.
Airi-senpai is basically an idol! Everyone's crazy about Airi!
...Meanwhile, Sahori-senpai didn't get into university...
Looks like he'll graduate, at least... My condolences. Chiiin.
The sky-high popularity of Airi-senpai, and Sahori's completely empty schedule for both further education and jobs.
Seeing the contrast between those two, the basketball club members—
"Airi's an idol! Sahori's got nothing going on!"
—so the rumor went.
Sorry, got off track.
Airi: "That's amazing! You're balancing club and studies and doing so well! Big sis is proud of you!"
Airi-senpai always praises and acknowledges us out loud, and in a big way.
She knows exactly where our motivation switches are, doesn't she?
While chatting as we checked our shooting form, she taught us all the things to look out for in our second year and the quirks of the special advancement class.
It's always so helpful, thank you, Airi-senpai.
As I watched that smiling senpai, for a moment I wondered what happened to "that senpai"...
Bang! The gymnasium door was flung open roughly,
Sahori: "Airi! Today for sure! Give me a good answer!"
You know him! Sahori-senpai...!
This person... I wish he'd just hurry up and graduate...!