Chapter 24: After the exam, everyone

Translator: Soafp

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“Aaaah …… tired ……”

“Good work.”

“It’s been a hard all night…”

As the teacher says, ” That’ s the end of the midterm exam,” and leaves the classroom, the air in the class lightens up. All classmates are saying to each other which part was difficult and whether this is the right answer for that part.

In the back, Yuki is slumped over his desk, looking as if he is about to fall asleep.

“Are you okay? Can you go to karaoke?”

“Of course I can. I’ve already made reservations.”

Eh, aren’t you too prepared for that? So why did you stay up all night …When did you make your reservation ……?

While I was thinking about this, Yuki, by the way, started talking about the contents of the exam until a while ago, just like the others around him. Everyone was talking about how difficult it was, but I don’t think it was that bad. There were some questions that were difficult in each subject, but I don’t think there were any questions that I thought were mean-spirited. The problems in the memorization subjects were also pretty much what I expected.

　–Kīnkōnkānkōn

“Look, the chime has sounded. Take your seats.”

They were talking about the writing questions on the last biology exam, and as Yuki was saying, “Oh, I wonder how many points I can get on the way ……,” the chime rang, and the homeroom teacher came in at the same time.

Every time he comes in at the same time as the chime, I wonder if he decides when to leave the teacher’s office by the second. No, I wonder if he adjusts it by the speed of his walk.

　While I was thinking about this, the homeroom teacher sits down on her chair at the teacher’s desk and starts talking.

“Well, …… then, good job on your midterms. Eh,……, some of you got a good score, some of you didn’t, some of you missed the mark, some of you rolled your pencils, well, there will be a lot of people, but I hope everyone can relax just for today and start working hard again tomorrow.”

　I wonder if anyone in high school uses a pencil. I haven’t seen any, but I wonder if there are some if I look for them. Well, even if there are, I don’t think anyone is rolling them.

” Uhm,……, you all know that exactly one week from now,……, I’ll be handing out the answers to the exams and the rankings for each of them during long homeroom next Wednesday, so …… Well, yes. Come prepared. …… and this is what your respective subject teachers will tell you, and will tell you again next week, to bring in your answer sheets the day after the class following the return of the exam.”

I feel the brightening air in the class change to a somber one when the teacher talks about the return of exams. The teacher who created such an atmosphere said, “Well, that’s all I have to say about the exam ……, then, I’ll hand out the handouts,” and reached for a handout that a class committee member had brought.

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“Well then, good job on the exam~ kanpai!”

Arriving at the karaoke bar where Yuki had made reservations, we went to the reception desk and each brought a drink from the drink bar. Then when everyone was seated, Obata-san, who was very excited, said so and raised her hand holding her own apple juice high.

　And we all joined our cups together, saying goodnight and kampai too. There was no beautiful sound …… and the plastic cups clinked with a konk.

Yuki sipped grape soda, Miyamoto and I sipped orange soda, and Obata sipped apple juice. When I took a small sip from my cup, Yuki and Obata drank the entire glass.

　…… I haven’t had juice in a while, but this is delicious.

“Fuaaa ……Oshjii, then, let’s sing!”

　After saying this, Obata-san brought a tablet from the end of the room and started searching for songs.

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“Ishikawa, are you not going to sing?”

“No, I was just wondering what I should sing. I don’t know much. Especially, I don’t know what’s popular now. It’s my first time coming to a karaoke place.”

“Oh, it’s my first time at karaoke, too. I was a little nervous.”

“Really? You have a very good voice.”

“I-Is that so? Fufu…..Thank you very much.”

As for Miyamoto-san’s singing, it was a little bit unfamiliar to me, but she has a lovely voice, so it was soothing to listen to her.

I wonder what I’m going to sing ……. Well, just sing a song you know at random.

Right now Yuki is singing, and Obata-san is booked next. The two of them have been getting pretty excited since a while ago. …… I wonder if they will hurt their throats.

“…… Hey, how was your exam, Ishikawa-kun?”

“Eh, umm,…… none of them were that bad. What about you, Miyamoto-san?”

“I’m a little …… bad at literature.”

“Ah,…… you said you weren’t good at it.”

Still, I guess she scores better than normal. Probably. She even said she was going for first place. …… No, it was Obata who said that.

　Well, that’s okay. Let’s see, …….

“Okay, I’ll put something in there too.”

“Oh, I’m looking forward to it.”

When people say they’re looking forward to it, it makes me kind of nervous. …… I’ll do my best. ……

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“Oh! Amazing …….”

“Is this your first time singing karaoke, or are you kidding ……?”

“Ishikawa, you are a good singer. ……”

On the monitor, there was a score of 92. The highest score was 90 when Yuki and Obata were singing some songs earlier, so I think it must be a pretty good score.

” Well, that’s amazing. ……. I’ll score in the 90s next time.”

“Oh, Abe, you can do that?”

Yuki and Obata-san were even more excited, and they were talking about whose song was more difficult and whose song might be okay. I feel very tired because I haven’t used my voice properly in a long time. I wonder how long it’s been since I’ve squeaked out this much …….

“I’m so glad you’re doing so well. I was surprised at how well you sang.”

“Haha, thank you. I was a little nervous. ……”

　I picked up my own glass because I was feeling a little thirsty. I don’t have a sore throat or anything, but I feel like orange soda wasn’t the right choice for karaoke singing. I think it would sink in after singing a few songs.

Oh, …….”

“Yeah?”

“No, that ……,was yours right, Ishikawa?”

“Uh, yeah. I think it was this one. …… Huh? Was this one of Miyamoto’s?”

“No, I couldn’t tell which one it was.”

　Ah,……, since we brought the same drinks, we should have put them in an easy-to-see location.

Sorry. I should have separated them properly so that it would be easier to distinguish. …… But I put it on top of this pattern, so this one is mine, so I think this one is Miyamoto-san’s.”

“I see,……,then it’s good. I’ll be careful next time. ……”

　I’m glad I remembered where I put it this time, but it’s not a good idea to leave it so close. I’ll be careful next time.

　As I was reflecting on the situation, the two who had been enjoying themselves seemed to have decided what they were going to sing, and the name of the song appeared on the screen and the music began to play.

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　With 10 minutes left to go, the call came in. The two who were already excited had calmed down a bit and …… or rather, about 7 or 8 minutes before, both of them seemed to have suddenly become sleepy and quiet, probably because they were tired from the exam.

“Fuaa………. 10 minutes left already… What should we do after this?”

“I think we should go home. You both look tired.”

“Well, ……, I guess so………. I went to bed late last night and I’m really sleepy right now.”

“Is Nanao okay?”

“I’m fine, I’m fine. I’m just sleepy.”

　A little worried, Miyamoto-san is asking about Obata-san, who is dozing off. Yuki is …… well, he seems to be okay. He feels tired, but that’s what happens when you make fun at karaoke on a day when you’ve been up all night.

“Well then, let’s go.”

“Ou”

“Yeah. …… Huh, Mizuki, you still have some drinks left?”

“Oh,……Y-you’re right. It would be a waste if I don’t drink it. ……”

All that was left was the Orange Soda that she had drunk. She was about to say …… that it was a waste but I guess I could leave it behind, since she suspect it was switched with mine, but then Miyamoto-san drank that orange soda in one gulp as if she was prepared to do so. No, I’m almost certain that was Miyamoto-san’s, so I don’t have to worry about it, but I do feel a little embarrassed …….

　Miyamoto-san, who probably feels that suspicion more strongly than I do, is blushing a little, and I’m getting even more embarrassed too.

“All right, let’s go home then. ……”

“It was fun, righ!”

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Everyone was heading for the station, so I joined them and headed for the station, even though it was a bit of a detour.

“In the end, Ishikawa’s score of 92 was the highest.”

“I scored 92, too.”

“I was beaten by a decimal point.”

“Damn it…….”

　Obata-san says this in a slightly agitated tone, but I think her highest score was about 89. Well, I don’t think she was too concerned about the score, so I don’t know what would have happened if she had been aiming for a higher score.

“I didn’t know Ishikawa was such a good singer. …… He can study, he can exercise, he can sing …… well, what else is there?”

“Eh? What else?”

“I wondered if he was still hiding any of his special skills.”

“Yes,…….”

　I don’t really have any athletic …… skills, maybe soccer, but that doesn’t mean I’m good at that or singing ……. I wonder what it was …….

“Oh, maybe claw crane”

“That was awesome ……. You could hook on to a tag and the prize would magically spin around and fall out.”

“Oh, you’ve done that together?”

“Yeah, when did we go?”

“I think it was during Golden Week.”

Yuki answers Miyamoto’s question with a surprised look on her face. ……Golden Week ……. I had a lot of fun during that time too. We saw a movie, went to the arcade, and played badminton.

　When I thought about that, my right hand unconsciously gripped the racket as if holding it.

I guess I could say badminton is a special skill. …… No, if I played it in a club activity, I guess I could call that a special skill.

　When I had thought that far, I felt my chest grow tight and I stopped thinking.

“……So, let’s go to the next place where we can play claw crane”

“Sounds good. I want to see your special skill too, Ishikawa.”

“Y-yeah…….”

Is that why we decide ……? No, it’s fine with me as long as I enjoy it. ……

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