Chapter 62: It wasn’t all in vain

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Translator: Soafp

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“Morning… Toumachi?”

“Ou.”

It was Monday morning.

I entered the classroom and sat at my desk.

As usual, the two of them were already seated, working on their studies together at their desks.

“Good morning.”

Following their example, I opened my textbooks and placed them on my desk. After taking a sip of bottled coffee, I grabbed a mechanical pencil.

The test starts this Wednesday.

There's no time to relax.

Every student has the same amount of time.

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First period, second period, third period.

The classes before the test are filled with the most information relevant to the test.

They're essentially review sessions covering the test material.

However, the only points you can gather here are the “easy ones.”

At most, they'll only get you a 70.

Our school, likely with college entrance exams in mind, includes past questions from prestigious universities (only within the test scope, of course).

To maintain an average score of 90 and stay in the top five of the grade, the only option is to keep solving problems and going through past exams.

“――Ah!”

But still, missing those “easy points” would be fatal.

I can't afford to miss a single word during these last pre-test classes.

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Then came break time.

Aside from drinking my coffee, I continued working on problem sets and past questions.

It was a cycle of intense focus.

Before I knew it――the fourth period had ended.

“…Phew.”

“Hey, Toumachi!”

“What is it?”

“Today, you look kinda cool☆”

“I don't think so.”

“――Eh?”

“Sorry, see you.”

With just that, I stood up from my seat.

I was heading to the library.

Right now, I needed to devote all my time to studying.

So――I couldn’t afford to care about appearances.

Everything is for the test in two days.

“――Hey!”

“! W-What?”

Suddenly, Yumesaki-san's sharp voice called out.

Shoot. Did I make her mad?

“――You forgot your textbooks.”

She said without looking at me.

“Oh… thank you.”

“Yeah.”

Even with her blunt response, I could feel a certain warmth behind it. I thanked her, picked up my bag full of textbooks, and headed to the library.

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“…You’ve got to be kidding me.”

The library.

I arrived, opened the door, and――it was full.

Looking around, I saw mostly first-year students. This year’s batch is really motivated… but now's not the time to be impressed.

Ah, crap.

Nothing I can do about it. Even though it's harder to focus, I'll have to manage in the classroom――

“――Uhm!”

“!”

Suddenly, I felt my jacket being tugged.

Looking down――it was Momiji-san.

[Please, come this way.]

“O-Okay.”

She skillfully twirled a pen in her hand, then handed me a note. Following her, I walked in silence.

[Here, you can sit.]

“Eh…?”

We arrived at a self-study space.

It was clear from the setup that Momiji-san had been studying there.

[I'm done, so it's okay.]

“No, but――!”

Momiji-san quickly packed up her scattered textbooks.

It had only been five minutes since break started. Obviously, she wasn't finished.

Feeling bad, I tried to protest――

[No talking allowed here.]

She slid over a piece of paper with those words.

“…Ah.”

[I'm a library committee member, so I'll go study in the student council room. Don't worry.]

Another note was placed on the desk.

I couldn’t say anything.

Without a word, she left.

[Let's both do our best with our studies.]

She handed me that final note before walking away.

“…Thank you.”

I muttered softly, making sure no one could hear.

I took out my textbooks and immediately got to work.

Flipping through the pages, I studied diligently, filled with gratitude toward her.

---

Lunch break, fifth period, sixth period.

The cycle of classes and break time continued.

I didn't have lunch, just studied relentlessly.

Time flew by.

I guess it was because I was so focused.

“…!”

“Oh, Toumachi-kun. Thanks for yesterday. I think I'll get a good score this time because of you.”

“That’s great. Let's both do our best.”

On my way home — or rather, as I was about to leave the classroom, I saw them talking in the hallway.

“Uh…”

“What about you, Hatsune-san?”

“Me too… Ayanon.”

“I see. I guess the study session paid off.”

“…Yeah.”

“Good. Well then, take care.”

“What about you, Icchi?”

“Of course, it helped me too — see ya.”

“!”

With just those words, I left the hallway behind.

And they weren’t a lie.

I've never felt this motivated to study before.

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――Beep, beep, beep, beep!

“…!”

The piercing alarm brought me back to reality, signaling the end of another study session.

The Pomodoro timer.

Twenty minutes of studying followed by a one-minute break. After four sets, a ten-minute break resets the cycle. I just kept repeating this rhythm.

This method boosts efficiency by alternating between work and rest in a structured way.

I hadn't used it since studying for high school entrance exams.

“…”

Several loops had passed — it was already 9 p.m.

Time had flown by.

The accumulated stack of papers on my desk justified the hours I had spent.

“…”

I let out a breath.

I hadn't eaten dinner yet — maybe I’ll just have a snack.

I stood up, grabbed some bottled water, and replenished my energy.

Even though I concentrate better on an empty stomach, I had reached my limit.

The snack, though simple, was surprisingly satisfying.

But it didn't last long.

Soon enough, I was back at my desk.

---

――Beep, beep, beep, beep!

I checked the time.

Midnight. It was already that late.

“…Phew.”

I exhaled.

But I could still keep going.

The stack of papers was even higher than usual.

…Ah, this must be why.

‘Basic Modern Japanese’

‘The World's Easiest Math’

‘The World's Easiest Physics’

‘High School Textbook Guide’

‘On Teaching’

I had crammed all these books the night before the study session, staying up until 5 a.m.

Not for myself, but for them.

No, that sounds too noble. Honestly, I just wanted to make a good impression, to be invited to the next study session.

That's why I worked so hard.

Now, my own notes were piling up on top of that earlier stack of books and papers.

At the very bottom — a post-it note I had scribbled something on in messy handwriting:

‘Understand the basics of English, Classical Japanese, and Physics thoroughly.’

“…The basics, huh—”

The unease I had felt disappeared the moment I whispered those words.

――”This feels different from usual.”

As I flipped through my textbooks, past university entrance exams, and problem sets, I noticed something.

Everything was sinking in more easily than before.

In the past, I had always been obsessed with advanced problems.

I thought I had already “fully understood” the basics, so I kept focusing on the harder problems.

In fact, if you looked at my test results, I had never missed the basics. It was expected.

To raise my ranking, I believed I had to outperform the top students, so I was desperate to go beyond the basics.

But — to prepare for the study session with them, I had started from scratch.

Breaking things down, then breaking them down even further, digesting every concept.

And I finally understood that all advanced problems are rooted in the basics.

“…So, that's how it was.”

The stack of papers in front of me seemed to be giving me the answer.

The basics were at the bottom. The advanced problems, at the top.

I hadn't realized such a simple truth.

“…None of this was wasted after all.”

The wall that had been holding me back.

It wasn't anyone else who helped me break through it — it was them.

That missing puzzle piece.

The step beyond my limits. The world I had finally crossed into.

I moved my pen swiftly across the page, driven by that realization.