Chapter 111: Summer Break—What Should We Do?

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Translator: Soafp

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As the exam period progressed and the day before the final test arrived, announcements for summer make-up classes and special college prep lectures were posted on the school bulletin board. The sports club students were getting restless, itching to move their bodies again, while the academically driven ones pored over their answer sheets, grading themselves and swinging between joy and despair.

Among them, Ginji—who had continued doing his cleaning duties even during exams—was now delivering some handouts to the teachers' office at the request of his homeroom teacher.

“Excuse me. First year, Ginji Momoi.”

“Ah, Momoi! Over here!”

His homeroom teacher raised a hand and called him over. Ginji placed the documents down in front of him.

“Sorry about this. I asked the class rep, but they said they were too busy studying for exams. There's kind of a lot, and I couldn't manage it alone, so I ended up asking you.”

Apparently, there was more to carry. The teacher rubbed his lower back and bowed slightly in apology.

“It's fine. If there's anything else you need help with, just let me know.”

“Nah, I'm good. You've got exams too, don't you? …Well, not that I'm worried. You seem to be doing really well. We bump up the difficulty for first-year finals, but you look like you're handling it.”

The teacher kept glancing at Ginji with a guilty look, his mouth moving as if he wanted to say something but couldn't. It became clear that the handout delivery was just an excuse to call Ginji to the office.

“You're not supposed to talk to students before the results are announced… So what's this really about?”

“Still sharp as ever. It's about Takagi… I was just wondering if she's going to be okay living as a girl. I keep telling everyone she's fine, but… well, the higher-ups have been poking around.”

He cast a glance at the vice principal sitting near the front of the office.

Though Sora's crossdressing had initially been forced on her by Aika, the teachers maintained the official story that it had been her own choice. Given that Masomi—Sora's grandfather—had donated a considerable amount to the school, the faculty was being extra cautious about her well-being.

“She's fine. I'm sure she'd say the same herself.”

The teacher looked away, guilt written all over his face.

“I figured. That's what I've been saying, too. But the grade chair and other teachers keep asking questions about how much Takagi has changed lately… and with what we've seen of her test scores so far—it's unheard of—”

“Kasagi-sensei! It's not a good idea to have students in the teacher's office during the exam period.”

The vice principal's sudden interruption made Kasagi-sensei jump. It seemed their conversation had drawn attention.

“Yes. Thanks, Momoi. That'll be all.”

“…Right. Excuse me.”

As his teacher was called away by the vice principal, Ginji silently offered a prayer for him.

When he stepped out of the office, he found Sora standing there, holding both her and Ginji's bags.

“Good work. Tanaka-kun told me you were delivering handouts to the office… Did something happen?”

Ginji gave a wry smile at the sight of Sora, grinning like a dog greeting its returning owner, holding his bag with a bright expression.

“I'll tell you on the way home. Thanks for the bag.”

“I'll carry it to the bike rack for you.”

“Dummy. You brought it all the way here, so from now on, I'll carry both of ours.”

“I refuse!”

“What?!”

They playfully bickered over the bags as they got on Ginji's bike and began their ride home. As they coasted down a gentle slope, Ginji explained the conversation he'd just had in the office.

“…And that's what it was about.”

“Why would they ask you about me?”

“Well… guess it's awkward for them to ask you directly. Oh, and he said your test scores are… unprecedented.”

Ginji glanced back to see her eyes—round and mysterious—meeting his. Her delicate jawline and translucent skin were a constant reminder of how incredibly feminine she had become. Even though Ginji saw her as a girl every day now, it was hard to believe that just a while ago, she'd been attending school as a boy. He could understand why the teachers didn't know how to approach her.

“Maybe it's about my test results. I've been working hard this time.”

“I've got high hopes. When exams are over, wanna go somewhere? I'll get paid at the end of the month, so we can even take a trip.”

“Yay! Then… I wanna go tour that factory next to your house!”

“I said trip, didn't I? We can go there anytime. Let's pick someplace farther. How about the northern part of the prefecture? I could use a work connection to get us into a real factory tour.”

“Really?! I wanna go! Oh, and the north has a beach too, right? Since it's summer, maybe we could go swimming?”

“Sure can. Tetsuya and I go every year.”

“Awesome! Then I have to do my best on tomorrow's exam so I can earn my reward… And since tomorrow's mostly memorization subjects, I think I can get perfect scores on everything.”

A breeze blew through, and Ginji didn't catch the second half of her whisper.

“Huh? Did you say something?”

“Nope. Tonight's dinner is stir-fried pork with asparagus. Let's eat up and study hard.”

“Sounds good. I'm starving—let's hurry back. Hold on tight.”

“Okay!”

Sora happily hugged Ginji from behind. The summer sun blazed overhead, as if to tell them the season was only just beginning.