Chapter 22: After-school study group

Translator: Soafp

Author note: Obata-san → Nanao Obata

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” Sensei! I don’t understand!”

“Which one?”

In a whisper, Obata-san appeals to Miyamoto-Sensei . From a while ago, Miyamoto-san has completely become Obata-san’s personal teacher. …… Well, there’s nothing to say about Miyamoto-sensei, because she seems to be very lively.

　Since the club activities are off because of the upcoming exams, the four of us are holding a sort of study group after school. The place is a seat at the end of the school library. Miyamoto-san is in front of me, Yuki is to my right, and Obata-san is diagonally in front of me.

　The school library is divided into two sections: one is called the “concentration area,” where even the sound of pages being turned can be heard, and the other is a place where only whispered conversations are allowed.

I’ve never used either of these spaces because I normally only use the library as a place to borrow books, but this one is pretty noisy even after school. …… I’ve never really had the experience of studying in a group before, so it’s a bit refreshing.

“This. I have no idea what’s going on.”

“Let’s see. ……”

　The two in front of me seemed to be solving a math problem. Miyamoto-san, who said she was good at math and science subjects, was teaching them how to solve the problems easily.

“Ah,…… my brain is tired,…….”

Next to me, Yuki is studying English and mumbles something like that. I thought he was getting tired fast ……, but when I looked at the clock, quite a bit of time had passed.

“Are you okay? Why don’t you try a different subject?”

“No, I’ll do a little more English. There is no more time,……, by the way, do you know what this means?”

Yuki shifts the handout from his English class toward me, and traces a sentence in English on it with a mechanical pencil.

　Ah, this is the part where the teacher said during the class that this translation was a bit difficult. I remember listening to the teacher’s lesson and thinking, “heeh”.

“This one’s a bit complicated. …….”

Yuki was listening with a nod as I explained what the teacher was explaining in class so that it would be easier to understand.

“Umm…… I see? ……I think the teacher said something resembling.”

“He said it was kind of hard to explain.”

“I remembered that he said something like that, but I didn’t remember the content at all. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome”

I’m kind of glad that I was able to help Yuki. ……Ah, I guess this is also why Miyamoto-san was so lively.

A few days ago, I saw Miyamoto-san studying at my part-time job and wondered if Yuki and Obata-san would be okay with the exam, but Yuki seems to be doing fine. Although he doesn’t seem to understand some parts, the level of what he is struggling with is very high.

　I guess my concern is for …… Obata-san.

“Ummm ……, yes? Why is this happening?”

“Uhm,…….”

Miyamoto-san has been teaching her carefully since a while ago, but she doesn’t seem to get it and is shaking her head.

It doesn’t seem that there is a problem with Miyamoto-san’s teaching style, so I feel that perhaps the fundamentals are not properly solidified. With a vague foundation, it would be impossible to try difficult problems, and it would be better to try the previous problems once.

“Maybe we should go back and work on the other side of the problem first?”

“I guess so.”

“Ugh. …… sorry.”

　I took out her own problem and said to Obata-san, Miyamoto-san agreed, and Obata-san mumbled apologetically as she got down on her desk.

“We’ll have to start with the basics, Nanao.”

“Hai. Mizuki-sensei.”

When Miyamoto-san said this while patting Obata-san on the head, Obata-san started to turn the pages of her own question book back to the front of the book while leaning forward.

…… something, nice. This scene.

　…… There are only five days left until the math exam. I have Saturday and Sunday, so I should still be able to make it. I know it will be hard because I have to study other subjects as well. Obata-san said that he is good at current and ancient Japanese literature, so I guess I have to study memorized subjects and English. ……

“Do you want me to pick out the parts of memorized subjects that you think you should memorize? I have written my notes in my notebook.”

“Eh, is that okay?! Thank you!”

　I wonder……. if she is usually busy I don’t know much about what goes on after school because I only get involved with Obata-san other than lunchtime, when we meet in the hallway, but she is involved in club activities, so it must be tough for her. That makes me want to lend a hand.

　Okay, I’ll do my best.

After that, Miyamoto-san was teaching her carefully, but Obata-san was craning her neck every time she did a new problem.

“Oh, …… crap ……. I’m definitely in trouble for the exam. ……”

“There’s still time before the exam, so hang in there. ……Yes, I think it looks something like this. The red line is probably words that you definitely need to memorize. The blue line is what I think you will be asked to write in the description. I’ve narrowed down the blue ones a lot, so you might want to memorize some of the others.”

“Uwaa, thanks!”

“You’re welcome. You are usually busy with club activities.”

Obata-san was overjoyed when I handed her the notebooks of biology, geology, and other subjects that she could get through the exam by memorization.

“That’s very helpful. ……. Ah, but wouldn’t you be in trouble if I kept these, Ishikawa?”

“Oh …… no, that’s fine. I remember most of it.”

“No, that’s not how it works!”

“Then, just give it back to me tomorrow. We have to go home now.”

　It’s already time to get out of school today. There is no time to copy and paste the notes. The other two are already getting ready to go home, and I have all my study materials in my bag except for my notebooks.

‘……Then I guess we’ll have to do that…………”

She said that a little apologetically and opened the notebook. Then she opened her eyes.

“Uwaa, it’s so beautiful! Mizuki’s notebook is beautiful, but Ishikawa’s is amazing too.”

“You know, I was surprised too just now.”

“Your handwriting is also beautiful. …… I thought you were a calligraphy teacher.”

Miyamoto-san and Yuki, who were getting ready to return, also looked at my notebook as if peering into it and said something like that.

“No, you’re saying too much. I wrote it in an easy-to-read format so that it would be easier to read later, but…”

“No, no, it’s really beautiful. Thank you so much! I’ll give it back tomorrow.”

“Yeah. …then I’m going to go home.”

“Oh, wait a minute.”

　Only Obata-san’s study materials are left on the desk. Obata-san hurriedly gathered them up and stuffed them into her bag. Finally, she carefully put the notebook I had given her in her bag.

I have never lent a notebook to someone before, but only to Ryosuke. However, I feel more grateful now than when I lent it to Ryosuke. Looking back, I can’t help but think that Ryosuke was taking advantage of me.

　…… No, this is not good. I have a lot of bad memories of middle school, but it doesn’t make the good ones any worse. Maybe it’s the way I take it, maybe it’s the age difference. The way the relationship ended sucked, but that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea to question everything and everyone else.

“Thanks for waiting.”

“Ooshi, let’s go home.”

Chasing after Yuki who was walking in the lead, we left the library.

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　As I change my shoes and walk collectively to the school gate, I am happy to feel that I am in the right place.

“Out of all these people, I’m the worst. ……”

“But from the way I feel today, it doesn’t look like I’m going to get a red mark, does it?”

　The topic of conversation seems to be about exams, as it is the time before the exams. It’s a little easier for me to talk about trendy music and drama, which I usually do, because sometimes I can’t keep up. …… No, it’s not that I’m usually uptight or anything.

“Math A is bad.”

“I can handle one subject.”

“I hope it will be okay ……. Haa …..not good……. this school rankings?”

Aah, that reminds me. I hadn’t forgotten about it, but I didn’t pay much attention to it. When I said that the rankings would be given out, it didn’t mean that the rankings would be posted, but only that my ranking would be given to me.

　…… If there had been a overhang or something, I might have adjusted my scores ……. No, if they had, they wouldn’t have come to this high school in the first place.

“This is not a big announcement, so I don’t think you need to worry about it.”

“Well, the purpose is to motivate you to study, so you should be a little concerned about it.”

Oou ……. I know you are trying to relax Obata-san, but you are being quite harsh, Miyamoto-san.

“I can understand that you are trying to do that. …… don’t you hate it when people say to you, “What rank are you from the bottom?”

“Why is it so obvious that counting from the bottom is faster?”

“Because everyone is so smart. …… Mizuki was the freshman representative, and she wanted to get first place, right?”

“Eh, um,…… well, I want to get as good a score as I can.”

“Uwa, you seem like an honor student …….”

“Shota will probably be at the top of the class, too.”

“That’s right. ……”

“Eh.”

　Eh, I don’t know, they suddenly raised the bar. …… Well, I usually do my best, though.

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