Chapter 34: Test Result 2

Translator: Soafp

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The classroom was a little tense and taut, just like last time, and I could hear people saying things like, “It was bad this time!” and “This time ……”

I guess it’s no use being nervous now, but I was more nervous than last time, too.

“Ah ……, I’m getting nervous ……”

“Haha, I’m more nervous than last time too.”

“Really? You don’t feel confident?”

“Yeah,……, I guess I’m just nervous in general.”

Not that I’m not confident because I’ve checked my answers. …… I still have a strong sense that I’m competing because I said I wouldn’t lose or something.

“Oh ……, I think I might be in a bit of trouble this time.”

“Oh, really?”

This time, unlike the last midterm exam, we didn’t get together to study together, so I don’t know how well Yuki and Obata are preparing for the exam or anything like that…….

　While we were talking about this, the door rattled open and the homeroom teacher with several brown envelopes appeared. And at the same time, the chime rang.

“Now, the chime has sounded, take your seats.”

　The homeroom teacher’s voice was followed by a rush of people who had been standing or sitting in other seats returning to their own seats.

“Well, it’s time to return the exam, which everyone has been waiting for”

“I’m not waiting.”

“I’m going to return the examinations as soon as possible. …… I’m going to start with the person behind the attendance number this time. Therefore–“

　What do you mean by ” finally”? We were preparing ourselves for a quick return, only to be surprised to find that it started from the back. …… No, it is okay, but the people behind us who suddenly had their turn moved up are surprised.

　The homeroom teacher called out the names from the back of the attendance number, not caring about the upset of the students.

“…… I prepared myself so much.”

“Ahaha, me too.”

While Yuki is saying this to me, the returning of the exam begins. The teacher calls out the names of the students from the back of the attendance number and returns the examinations. I could hear the voices of my classmates saying, “I just barely survived,” or “Crap crap crap”

　As I gazed at the scene in a daze, it was Sumika’s turn to take the next test.

Last time she came in fifth place, and her classmates were praising her. I’m not that interested in …… but I’m a little curious.

　Sumika had a very subtle look on her face after receiving the exam, saying “Thank you” after the teacher’s words. Well, she was 5th last time and said, “I still have to work harder,” and I guess she wouldn’t be happy unless she was 1st.

“Sumika, you’re in 5th place again!”

…… I knew there was no such thing as privacy.

　The test return proceeded and it was almost my turn, so I went to the teaching table.

“Ishikawa. Uhm…Ishikawa is …… Oh, amazing, just like the last time.”

“Thank you very much….”

　The homeroom teacher smiled and handed me an answer sheet and a piece of paper with the results written on it.

I looked at the paper I received and immediately looked at the overall ranking section and saw that it said 1.

Fuuu….

　Good.

　My breath, which had been a little stuffed up, suddenly left my lungs, and I felt light in my chest at once. I hadn’t felt this way in a long time.

“I wish Abe could have …… gotten a little more in the Japanese classics. Good job.”

　I can hear the homeroom teacher’s words to Yuki, who was following right behind me. He didn’t seem to do so well in humanities subjects last time, and apparently not so well this time either.

“How was it?”

“It was good.”

　He then makes the paper with the results visible only to Yuki.

“Wha….Better than last time……”

Yuki said this with deliberate surprise.

“You don’t have to be so dramatic.”

“No, I’m not overreacting! …… Eh? Any chance it’s still going up since then? Scary. ……”

Yuki says to me in a hushed voice. And I did better than last time. I was in first place except for Math I, Math A, Modern Japanese, and English.

“All right, everyone, take your seats.”

　The homeroom teacher, who was checking something after handing the test to Yuki, seems to have finished it and calls out to the whole classroom. The classmates returned to their seats in a hurry.

　After the same explanation as before, the homeroom ended with a talk about tomorrow’s end-of-school ceremony and the summer vacation precautions.

“All right, let’s go, shall we?”

“Yeah.”

　Today, just like last time, we were going to review the exam at my part-time job. I had to leave my part-time job last time, so I told Makoto ahead of time this time.

　I finished getting ready to leave and replied to Yuki as I stood up. When I turned around as I was replying, I saw Miyamoto-san just entering the classroom.

　…… Eh? That’s unusual. Lately I’ve been meeting her in the cafeteria during lunch break and at the front entrance when we go home together, so it’s been a while since Miyamoto-san has been in this classroom.

“Huh, Miyamoto-san–“

“How was it, Ishikawa?”

“Yes,……”

Close ……, you don’t have to ask me like you’re trying to cram me. Why are you so pushy? I guess what you mean is about the exam, but since I have already answered the questions the other day, I wonder if there is anything you can ask me now as if you are in such dire need.

　The classroom is a little bit crowded because she suddenly came to the classroom and crowded in. I looked at Yuki and saw Obata-san behind her. …… No, I wanted him to stop before he put his hands together and told me he was sorry. I mean, I want it to stop now. It doesn’t look promising with that feeling. ……

“Well, that’s good, I guess. Let’s see,…… Miyamoto-san, calm down a little,……”

“I see,……, it was good,…….”

When I raised both hands to the level of my face in a soothing manner, Miyamoto-san mumbled something like that and then looked around as if in shock.

“Ah, s-sorry!”

　Saying that, Miyamoto-san ran off in Obata-san’s direction and walked out of the classroom.

“….. what was that?”

“I don’t know?”

Well, Yuki was also surprised, and I don’t know,…….

　The atmosphere in the classroom was very delicate and it was hard to stay there, so Yuki and I quickly left the classroom.

　I wonder if my classmates will find out that I’m ranked first in the exam. …… According to Yuki, it’s actually a well-known story among the students that Miyamoto-san was ranked second in his grade. I don’t want to be known too much because I was suspected of cheating in the past. …… Well, I guess it’s too late to talk about rumors now.

　I walked out of the classroom and looked around the hallway, but Miyamoto-san and Obata-san were not there.

　…… Did they go to the main entrance?

As I walked up to the main entrance while talking with Yuki, I saw Miyamoto-san and Obata-san, who had changed their shoes, whispering to each other at the end of the hall.

After changing my shoes, I went to them with Yuki, and Miyamoto-san noticed us.

“Oh, Ishikawa-kun,…… I’m sorry about earlier!”

　Miyamoto-san apologizes.

“Ah yes, it’s all right. …… Let’s go.”

　As we walked, I asked Miyamoto-san, who was in second place, about what happened in the classroom, and Obata-san said, “Ishikawa might be in third place, you know?” Miyamoto-san sometimes can’t see or hear what’s going on around her …… Well, I kinda knew that, and I guess that’s just the way it is sometimes. Oh, that’s all? I thought.

“I didn’t expect you to ask me in the classroom.”

“B-beacuse …… I’ve been studying for the past month in part to win over Ishikawa-kun. ……”

　Miyamoto-san said, as if making an excuse for Obata-san’s words.

“If Ishikawa came in third, that would be a very subtle feeling.”

“That’s true, but ……”

‘Well, actually Shota was a solid first place. It was too good to pull off. That score.”

“Well, that score for Mizuki puts her in second place. Well, Ishikawa is way above that, and he’s scoring enough points to pull it off. ……”

　Talking about how many points I got in that subject, I walked in the hot weather and arrived at the usual coffee shop. I greeted Makoto and took a seat in the back.

“Uwaa. …… Damn. ……. That’s really amazing.”

　Obata-san murmured, holding both of mine and Miyamoto-san’s test result papers in his hands.

Beside her, Miyamoto-san was reviewing mainly the subjects she had been beating me in: ancient Japanese, modern Japanese, and English.

“Mmm …… I knew it, this mistake was painful ……. If only I hadn’t made this and the mistake I made earlier,…….”

Miyamoto-san was extremely disappointed, but I was also a little frustrated because I had lost both in Math A.1. Math is the only one where I always make one mistake somewhere …….

As I was thinking about this, Yuki was shocked as he looked at the results of his and Obata’s exams.

“Damn …… I’m so frustrated …….”

“Hehehe! I guess I won this time!”

“This is the humiliation……”

“Hey, aren’t you saying too much?”

This time Obata seemed to be in good shape and won the overall score over Yuki.

Obata-san seemed to be in good shape this time, beating Yuki in the overall score. Yuki seemed to have been slowed down by his weak point of ancient Japanese literature.

I was thinking that Obata-san and Yuki didn’t review at all. …… We were all talking about reviewing together at one point, but they are only looking at the result sheets. Well, it’s good.

“Ishikawa-kun.”

“Hmm?”

“Next time, next time I won’t lose!”

I won again, but by a smaller margin than last time. …… I’ll have to do my best next time, too.

“I’ll do my best not to lose next time too.”

Miyamoto-san looked at me with a serious face and I laughed and said so.

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