Chapter 114: The Start of Summer Vacation

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Translator: Soafp

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As soon as homeroom ended that morning, Sora came trotting over to Ginji's desk like a little squirrel.

“Ginji! Let's go check the test results!”

“Oh yeah, they should be posted by now.”

Caught up in the giddy atmosphere before the closing ceremony, the two of them headed to the bulletin board on the first floor.

Murmurs followed them as many eyes turned in their direction. From the opposite end of the hallway, Aika walked toward them with tightly pressed lips. She gave the two of them a sharp glance and passed by. Ginji noticed her expression, and seeing Sora's worried face as she watched Aika walk off, he gently nudged her forward toward the bulletin board.

There were twelve subjects in the year-end exams for first-years, with a maximum score of 1200 points.

“1st Place: Sora Takagi – 1200 points”

Right at the top of the list, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Even though he had expected it, Ginji let out a dry chuckle. It didn't need confirmation—this was unprecedented.

“Haha, even manga would tone it down a bit.”

Sora looked up at Ginji nervously.

“Umm… was that okay?”

She wore an uneasy expression. But her worries were quickly proven needless. Ginji smiled and placed his hand on her head, ruffling her hair.

“You did great. I better start thinking of a reward.”

“…Yeah!”

Her nose stung slightly with emotion. To be praised for doing her best—such a simple thing, yet something so rare and precious for Sora. She wiped her teary eyes roughly.

“What about you, Ginji?”

“Just barely made it. Phew… Honestly, I was more worried about my own score than yours.”

“10th Place: Ginji Momoi – 1055 points”

Following the list down, his name appeared. He was tied with two others for 10th, but still made it into the top ten—his goal. The two bumped fists in celebration.

“Alright! Time for a celebration!”

“Hell yeah! What a way to kick off summer break!”

The two of them, caught up in their own joy, didn't even notice the various stares around them—envy, curiosity, even fear. The more time someone had spent studying, the harder it was to believe Sora's perfect score. Even if the year-end exams were easier than mock exams due to set topics, they still included many applied questions. That Sora had made not a single careless mistake? Unthinkable. Even if she had cheated, no one could get a perfect score like that. Her results felt like an undeniable wall that couldn't be overcome by effort alone.

Sora noticed the stares. But unlike before, she didn't shrink away.

“Don't worry about them. Let's go to the closing ceremony.”

Ginji's voice lifted her chin. There was someone who understood everything—and still stood by her. There was no need to be afraid anymore.

She was truly glad she had fallen for this person.

“…Today, I'll be in super-devoted girlfriend mode.”

“Why though?!”

How much more is he planning to make me fall for him?
If there weren't people around, I'd hug him and kiss him right now.

With those thoughts swirling in her chest, Sora grabbed Ginji's sleeve, doing her best to contain her pounding heart.

—

As the closing ceremony began, the principal and grade head gave their boring speeches. Near the end, the student council president addressed the students, and finally, Aika stood up to give the speech as the first-year representative. The composed, universally admired smile she wore was completely different from the face she had shown earlier that morning. Applause followed her flawless delivery, and the ceremony concluded.

—

Afterward, summer homework and printouts were handed out, and homeroom ended. Once the teacher left, a crowd gathered around Sora.

“Congrats, Takagi-chan! First in the grade, and a perfect score—that's insane!”

“Hey, don't get too close to Takagi-chan!”

“You're the one getting too close!”

“Ahaha…”

Some of Ginji's male friends were trying to talk to Sora, who looked visibly uncomfortable. Ginji immediately stepped in.

“Quit swarming around someone else's girlfriend.”

“Shut up, Ginji. You made it into the top ten too—must be that girlfriend power, huh?!”

“So what if it is?”

“You said it! Boys, surround him!”

“Why are you guys so good at forming a scrum?!”

As Ginji got swarmed, some of Aika's clique and a few boys looked on with conflicted expressions. Aika had already left with Mio to head to the student council, and the others seemed unsure of what to do. While Ginji was caught up wrestling with the guys, one girl quietly approached Sora.

“Um… Takagi-san?”

“…Yes?”

“Uh, well, your test scores were amazing. I was just wondering… about your boyish style and stuff… If you'd been like this from the start, maybe I—or, I mean, we—could've…”

She tried to seek forgiveness for the bullying, the stolen items, the gossip. But Sora cut her off with a hand.

“Sorry. I'm celebrating with Ginji today. Tanaka-kun, can I have him back?”

“Uh, yeah…”

The girl blinked in confusion at being cut off, while Sora had already turned away—clearly done with the conversation.

“If Takagi-chan says so, I'll let him go!”

Ginji, crushed under the weight of the others, finally escaped.

“Those guys weren't holding back… Anyway, shall we go?”

“With pleasure!”

Sora responded playfully and followed him into the hallway. A few students from other classes had come to catch a glimpse of her, but were blocked by the crowd.

“You're really getting attention.”

“…Being ignored was easier, maybe.”

“Well, I doubt they'll mess with you anymore now.”

Ginji glanced back at Aika's lingering clique in the classroom.

“Yeah. I don't think they'll be hiding my stuff again.”

As they chatted, they changed into their outdoor shoes and hopped on Ginji's bike. It was just past noon—summer break had officially begun.

“What should we do for lunch?”

“I want to eat a lot tonight, so something light—maybe somen noodles?”

“Sounds good! We've got to plan our summer break too. There's so much to do!”

“Then dinner at your place, lunch at mine with somen.”

“Let's stop by the supermarket for some side dishes!”

They picked up groceries and returned to Ginji's house. Sora, holding the shopping bag, reached for the door—but it swung open from the inside first.

“Ou, Ginji. You're back. Hurry up and make some food—huh? Who's this?”

A woman with a familiar delinquent face and sharp eyes shoved her face out the door.

“Uh, um…”

Sora froze like a frog in front of a snake. Ginji, who had just parked the bike, opened and closed his mouth wordlessly.

“I thought you weren't coming back this soon… Mother!”

When Ginji called out, the woman stepped out barefoot and smacked him on the head.

“Don't call me ‘Mother'—it's ‘Mom' got it?”

“Ginji's… mom…”

Suddenly confronted by the infamous Momoi matriarch, Sora could only stand there in shock.