Chapter 15: Imposed Conditions

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Translator: Soafp

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[Aoi Pov]

After I realized that I liked Yamato, I think I changed a little.

I used to be shy and timid, but I started to open up to the people around me.

“Hey, Yamato, how do you solve this?”

“For this, you use the quadratic formula—”

After we became middle school students, studying ahead like this became part of our daily routine.

Yamato had already covered the entire textbook through self-study, even parts we hadn't learned at school yet. He really was smart.

Thanks to him, my grades were fairly decent too, but there was something that worried me…

“Yamato… which high school are you planning to go to?”

“I haven't decided yet, but for now, probably the private school around here with the highest deviation score…”

“Kaimei Academy?”

“Ah, yeah, that one. My family is middle class, so it'd honestly be easier on my parents if I went to a public school, but Kaimei has that merit-based scholarship system for top students.”

As expected of Yamato.

He was probably the only one at our middle school who even had Kaimei Academy High School within reach.

And on top of that, he was aiming for full tuition exemption, which only top-performing students could get…

“Kaimei… huh…”

“What's wrong, Aoi? You're sighing.”

A school with such a high deviation score… it might be too difficult for me as I am now…

But still…

“I might… try aiming for Kaimei too.”

I knew it was probably beyond my level, but… I really wanted to stay with Yamato.

That feeling was what led me to say those words.

“You should! There's no way you won't get in, Aoi!”

“Y-yeah, but… with my current ability…”

“It'll be fine!”

Yamato said that confidently, giving me his full endorsement.

“Hey, Yamato… if we ended up going to the same high school together… would you be happy?”

“Uh… y-yeah. Of course I would. Let's do our best.”

Seeing him say that shyly made me unable to stop grinning.

Maybe Yamato felt the same way I did… or so I thought.

“H-hey, what are you smiling about?”

“N-nothing! Come on, let's keep studying!”

Going to the same high school as him.

That became my big goal.

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One Sunday, a day when school was off.

Not only Yamato, but also his father, Yuji-san, came to my house.

Now that we were third-year middle school students, we spent even our days off studying.

With the entrance exams only a few months away, we were working hard every day.

“Let's take a short break.”

“Yeah.”

A brief break.

We ate snacks, watched TV, and chatted about trivial things.

I loved this time more than anything.

“Why can't you understand this!?”

“I can't accept something like that!”

Suddenly, the angry voices of our fathers, who had been talking in another room, rang out and shattered our peaceful moment.

“Hey, Yamato! We're leaving!”

“Huh? What happened?”

Yuji-san stormed into the living room where we were, his face twisted with rage.

“Makino, wait!”

My father called out to him, but Yuji-san didn't even spare him a glance.

“What's going on, Dad!? S-see you later, Aoi.”

Just like that, he took Yamato and left through the front door.

My father had a deep crease between his brows, clearly in a bad mood.

“Dad… did something happen?”

It was the first time I had ever seen my usually quiet and composed father so agitated.

In the heavy atmosphere, he slowly opened his mouth.

“Aoi… you need to stop associating with Yamato-kun.”

“W-what!? Why!?”

I couldn't understand my father's sudden words at all.

“You'll be a high school student next year. It's time you start thinking about interests and relationships.”

“I-interests…?”

“Living life means living in society. Reputation, ability, benefit or disadvantage.”

I understood even less what he was talking about.

“Anyway, you need to distance yourself from Yamato-kun.”

“Why do you get to decide that!? You always said Yamato was outstanding! And now you say this?”

“Is he truly outstanding?”

Dad… what are you saying…?

“You know his grades, don't you!? He's always first in our grade!”

“Being first at a low-level public middle school doesn't prove excellence.”

Proof of excellence…?

Those words made me angry.

“Yamato is outstanding! And I'm going to the same high school as him!”

“The same high school… which one are you aiming for?”

“T-that would be… Kaimei Academy…”

My grades had improved a lot since becoming a third-year, but lacking confidence, I hesitated slightly when saying Kaimei Academy's name.

“Kaimei Academy…”

My father muttered and lowered his gaze.

I couldn't tell what he was thinking from his expression.

“Kaimei is a high-level school. If you get in, then yes, at this point you could be called excellent.”

“Yamato will definitely get in! And I'll work hard too and get accepted with him!”

Going to the same high school, and beyond that… staying together forever.

“Do you want to be with him that badly?”

“Yes, I do!”

“Why?”

“Why… well, th-that's…”

The answer was obvious.

Because I love Yamato.

But there was no way I could say that so easily.

Saying something like that to my parent… it was embarrassing…

“Why do you want to be with Yamato-kun?”

Seeing me hesitate, my father asked with a serious look in his eyes.

“Because… being with Yamato is fun…”

Unable to honestly say that I loved him, that was how I put it.

I braced myself, thinking I'd be scolded for such a shallow reason, but…

“…Dad?”

“Ah… I see…”

My father, who had been wearing such a stern expression, widened his eyes at my words.

“So… it's fun, huh…”

He looked at the photo of my late mother, which was propped up on the table in the living room.

His expression was gentle.

It was the first time I had ever seen him look like that.

“Let me ask you again. Yamato-kun is outstanding, correct?”

“Y-yes! No matter what kind of school he goes to, Yamato will definitely be outstanding!”

“Then it wouldn't be difficult for him to pass Kaimei Academy's entrance exam as the top-ranked student, would it?”

“Huh… top-ranked…?”

Yamato really was smart, but… I didn't know if I could confidently say he'd pass as the top student.

“If he can accomplish that, then I'll allow you to attend the same high school as Yamato-kun.”

“W-what is that supposed to mean!? If we both get into Kaimei but Yamato isn't top-ranked, are you going to do something!?”

“In that case, you can transfer schools, and I'll arrange a school that suits you.”

“You won't even let me choose the high school I want!?”

When I strongly protested, my father shot me a sharp glare, warning me to stop.

“That's right. Guiding a child with their future in mind is a parent's duty!”

His piercing eyes, his raised voice…

The brief gentle expression he had shown earlier vanished, and the fear I felt from his current attitude made my body tremble.

“I… I just want to… be with Yamato…”

Faced with my father like this, my once-timid heart resurfaced.

This atmosphere… I'd felt it before…

“Yamato-kun is outstanding, isn't he? Even so, is passing as the top student too difficult?”

“H-he can do it. Yamato will… definitely…”

Having let my weak, timid self show again, all I could do was respond in a small voice.

“Very well. I'll look forward to the exam results.”

Leaving those words behind, my father walked out of the living room.

“Why… did it turn out like this…”

My father had always been quiet and a little scary, but after my mother passed away, he had been kind to me.

But his words and actions just now filled me with fear, and… I ended up saying that Yamato could pass as the top student without thinking.

“Yamato will be fine… surely…”

…Yes.

…I remember now.

“He looked just like Grandpa.”

The image of my father just now overlapped with that of my grandfather, who had passed away when I was very young.