Chapter 22 | A New Shuraba

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The day that the test results were announced is always a day filled with tension.

When I wasn’t studying at all for the tests, I was almost never tense, but now that I have started seriously working hard at my studies, I’m concerned about the results.

And also, this time, whether or not I’m going to get a reward from Reina is on the line.

I have already decided what kind of reward I want when I win.

The rest depends on whether or not I can beat Reina, who is the top of the grade.

The answer sheets had already been handed out, and I already knew my total score.

All that was left was to find out what my ranking was in the grade.

I went with Reina to the bulletin board where the ranking for the second year final exams was posted.

“The number one spot in the grade is…”

I started from the bottom and slowly moved my eyes upwards towards the top.

My name wasn’t within the top ten spots, and neither was Reina’s name.

I quickly looked at the names for the first and second spot.

“Ah, Shinse Asahioka… number one…”

“Congratulations, Shinse.”

“Y-Yes, I did it!!”

The result was that I was number one, and Reina was number two.

I had never gotten the number one spot before.

I don’t know how many times I have gotten the number one spot for the bottom of the grade, though.

“But, I’m frustrated. For me to lose…”

“It’s because Reina was with me and taught me.”

“…Or rather, I was probably too excited about having a boyfriend this time, and I wasn’t focused on studying. Ah, this is just me making excuses, of course.”

“So you say that you’re making excuses, Reina.”

“When Shinse was Shiina-san’s boyfriend, I was filled with excuses towards Shiina-san in my heart, you know?”

Reina gave a wry smile.

It seems like Reina was having some very agonizing days in places where I didn’t know about.

“Asahioka-senpai, congratulations on being number one in the grade!”

Sora came over while waving her hand with a smile.

“Oh, thanks. How did you do on the test, Sora?”

“I was also number one, you know~. We’re the same!”

Her older brother, Shō’s, name was quite low on the list, but his sister was so amazing.

It seems like Shō got two failing grades, so he’ll probably be busy with make-up classes and club activities during the summer break.

The soccer club also has a training camp, so I wonder if they’ll even have any normal days off.

“Asahioka-senpai, I want some sort of reward as well?”

“Reward? You should just ask Shō.”

“I’m already getting a gaming console from Onii-chan!”

It seems like Shō’s part-time money is going to be blown away by Sora’s reward.

But, Shō is a siscon, so he would probably be happy to spend the money on her.

“…I can’t buy you something so expensive.”

“I’m not that materialistic, you know. What I want is senpai!”

” …Huh?” It was Reina who said that, who was standing next to me.

On the other hand, I was speechless.

What is she saying in front of his girlfriend, this devil?

“Asahioka-senpai, won’t you go out with me?”

Without any regard for my feelings, Sora was saying something conclusive.

It was a straight-up confession that could no longer be covered up.

“Takanashi-san, how dare you brazenly say such a thing in front of me, who is his girlfriend?”

“But, Asahioka-senpai started dating you even though he didn’t like you, right? Does that even count as dating?”

“Of course it counts. To begin with, how do you know what Shinse thinks about me right now? Did you hear Shinse say that he doesn’t like me?”

“I don’t need to hear it to know. Because, Asahioka-senpai was more lively when he was dating Shiina-senpai.”

When Reina heard Sora’s rebuttal, she looked at me with worry.

Right now, it feels like it was such a long time ago since I was dating Ria.

Back then, every day was fun.

The time I spent with Ria was brilliant.

But even so, there’s definitely also a different kind of brilliance and enjoyment in the time I spend with Reina.

“I’m enjoying myself even now while I’m dating Reina.”

“Do you enjoy yourself more now than in the past?”

“…Yeah.”

“So, you heard that? Shiina-senpai?”

“Eh…?”

When Reina and I turned around, Ria was standing behind us.

The atmosphere froze.

When Ria saw my face, she made a slightly sad expression, but her face soon became serious.

“…”

“Now then, I’m going to ask you again after Asahioka-senpai has understood that you’re here. What you just said, is that true?”

Sora made a nasty face.

She’s not a devil, she’s a demon.

What’s the point of asking that?

It would only hurt Ria even more.

But, I can’t back down.

“…It’s true.”

“…Hmm… Is that so…”

Sora lost interest at the response, and then said “Well then, never mind” and left.

I was dumbfounded as I watched Sora’s retreating figure.

“…What is she…”

Reina, who is usually calm, had a rare outburst of frustration, and I was a little surprised, but more than that…

“Sorry, Ria. Even though I didn’t think that it was something you should compare, though…”

Even though we broke up because of that reason, there’s no way that I don’t have any fond memories from when I spent time with Ria.

There were multiple times where I felt that I was having the best time of my life with her from the bottom of my heart.

There’s no doubt that Ria was someone who brought happiness to me.

“It’s okay, it’s fine. If I heard something like that, anyone would answer it like Shinse did…”

“Because it’s true,” Ria said with a listless voice.

“…Ria…”

“More than that, Shinse, didn’t I tell you? Be careful around Sora-chan.”

Be careful or not, it feels like I was suddenly attacked in a way that I couldn’t defend against.

I didn’t think that she would do such a bold act.

“Why did you think that I should be careful around Sora?”

“I knew from before that Sora-chan liked Shinse.”

“Is that so…”

“I think that Sora-chan brought Shinse to the library so that she could show it to me. It was to make me, who had been monopolizing Shinse until just recently and can’t even get close to him anymore, feel pity for myself.”

“…Is that really how it is?”

“That’s what women are like.”

That must be something that only women can understand.

I don’t understand those feelings at all.

Women are scary.

“I’m going to go soon, too. Ah, Shinse, congratulations on being number one in the grade.”

“Yeah… thanks.”

“Well then, see you later.”

Ria also left, and it was just me and Reina.

“…What are you planning to do about the reward?”

“Eh?”

“I’m talking about the reward for beating me, you know? Or maybe you don’t even want my reward?”

Reina turned her face away with a sulky look.

“Yes, yes! I really want it!”

“Oh, is that so? Then, say what you want.”

“I want to go on a date with Reina.”

“…Is that really fine with you? Since we’re lovers, I’m going to go on dates with you anyway.”

“No, I want it to be a special date for both of us.”

“Okay, I understand. If you’re going to say it that far, then I’m going to be looking forward to that date.”

Reina smiled happily.

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