Chapter 4 Toward the Test, and Then—
Mid-May was approaching, and with it, the regular tests. My motivation was sky-high.
Even Sota and Kaito seemed curious about what was driving me to be so fired up. But when it comes to studying, whatever the reason, it’s a good thing. Perhaps influenced by my enthusiasm, they too were brimming with motivation.
“Sota’s been studying hard, saying he can’t let Hayato-kun beat him!”
“Kaito’s the same way. He’s like, ‘If my best friend’s working hard, I’ve got to step up too!’”
The fridge was looking a bit sparse, so I headed to the shopping district. There, I happened to run into Sota and Kaito’s mothers. They told me this, and hearing how hard my friends were working only fueled my drive even more.
(…Haha, I’m so simple-minded.)
Whether it was for building a foundation for the future or the upcoming hot spring trip—honestly, it doesn’t matter which one was pushing me more—it was kind of funny to think that my friends’ efforts were sparking even greater motivation in me. I couldn’t help but laugh at how straightforward I am, but this drive to study hard is definitely a good trend.
And that effort was paying off in spades.
“…Alright!”
I pumped my fist in excitement after seeing the results of a quiz handed back by the teacher.
It was a short quiz meant to simulate the real test, but I’d scored pretty well in math and English—subjects I usually struggle with. This was no doubt a reflection of my hard work, but more than that, it was thanks to the two reliable “teachers” studying with me.
“…Hehe.”
Oops, I let a creepy grin slip as I recalled our study sessions with them. I quickly glanced around to make sure no one had noticed.
First, I checked the guy sitting to my left—a friend I’d gotten to know in our second year, Irie-kun, who’s recently been obsessed with kendo.
“Ugh… This is bad. I really need to study harder…”
He was completely focused on his quiz results, so I was in the clear there.
Next, I glanced at Arisa on my other side… and she was staring right at me. When our eyes met, she gave me a small, amused smile.
“You look pretty happy. Did you do well on the quiz?”
Yup, she definitely saw me.
I scratched my head with a nervous laugh and nodded, careful to keep my tone neutral since we’re keeping our relationship under wraps from our classmates.
“Yeah… Just like you thought, Shinjo-san. Guess my studying’s paying off.”
“That’s great to hear. It’s good to see you studying so diligently.”
If we were at home, I could’ve said it was all thanks to Arisa and Aina, who study with me outside of school, but at school, this is as far as I can go.
Still, as Arisa pointed out, my studying was producing results—big time. It’s given me a huge confidence boost. But I couldn’t help but give a wry smile thinking about that study method of ours. There’s no way I wouldn’t give it my all with that setup.
(Come on, anyone would go all out in that situation… It’s super simple, but studying with those two is just so much fun.)
Their soft, pleasant scent… it’s like the ultimate remedy for my tired brain. And the whispered words of encouragement right by my ear—they set my heart ablaze!
If you put it into words, it sounds like someone might retort, “Are you actually studying?” But this is absolutely studying. I mean, the results speak for themselves, don’t they?
“Domoto-kun, I don’t know what you’re imagining, but keep it in check, okay?”
“Ah, uh… Sorry.”
“It’s fine… Hehe♪”
Arisa probably figured out why I was grinning like that.
Her amused reaction must be because she knows I’m thrilled about what they’ve done for me. Honestly, when I think about it, I realize just how lucky I am.
“For now… I’m gonna keep studying hard like this.”
“Yes, I’m rooting for you. Let’s keep at it together, okay?”
I nodded firmly at her words.
I’m not sure if we’ll study every single day until the test, but at the very least, we’ve got plans to study at the Shinjo house every day after school this week.
“How about just staying over until the tests are done?”
“Yeah, what do you think, Hayato-kun?”
Arisa and Aina had made that generous offer, and even Sakuna-san seemed on board, but I declined, thinking it’d be too much of an imposition. Even though I knew they wouldn’t mind at all, I also felt uneasy about being away from home for that long. And, to be honest, I was a little scared that spending so much time with them might make me… well, too comfortable in all sorts of ways.
(I mean, it’s not just Arisa and Aina—Sakuna-san’s there too! Just staying over for one night already makes me want to stay forever. If I stayed until the tests were over, I might never want to leave…)
…
Wait, now that I think about it, that might be exactly what they meant by “drowning” in their words. If that’s the case… if it’s a place so comfortable and overwhelmingly blissful, maybe jumping in and letting myself get caught wouldn’t be so bad after all.
“Domoto-kun, focus.”
“—Ah, right.”
The quiz had been handed back, but we were still in class.
I gave a mental nod of thanks to Arisa for snapping me out of my thoughts and focused on the lesson.
Time passed, and soon it was after school. I left the classroom with my best friends.
“Another day done, huh?”
“Yeah, but the real work starts when we get home… Studying, man.”
“The test’s in a week. Let’s do this, you two.”
They nodded at my words, and from the looks of it, their motivation for the test was just as high as mine.
(I wonder what they’d say if they saw how I study…)
They’d probably kill me, so there’s no way I’m ever telling them. Besides, it’s my private time with them, so there’s no chance of anyone else seeing it anyway.
“Hey, Aina, you heading home already?”
“Of course! Gotta study for the test!”
“…Ugh, yeah, I guess we do have to study… Man, I just wanna hang out.”
Aina, who’d come to pick up Arisa to head home together, approached from the other side.
As we passed, she gave me a quick wink, which apparently I was the only one to notice.
“Shinjo-san’s studying too, huh?”
“Both sisters are super smart, right? And they still study? That’s intense.”
Exactly! Arisa and Aina are crazy smart, and they’re amazing at teaching too. For some reason, I felt like puffing out my chest with pride.
I passed by Aina, knowing we’d meet up again soon, and we headed to the shoe lockers, blending in with the other students. I exchanged greetings with a few classmates I don’t talk to much before leaving the school.
“This time of year, with no clubs or committee stuff, it gets pretty crowded, huh?”
“Who knows how many of them are actually using this time to study for the test.”
“Well, some people probably see it as a chance to goof off.”
Even with the test coming up, how people spend their time is up to them.
Whether they study hard or mess around, I don’t care. It’s their choice, and they’ll either celebrate or regret the results when the time comes.
“Alright, see you guys.”
“Later.”
“Catch ya.”
We waved and started to part ways… but then Sota picked up a stick from the ground.
“Sota?”
“What’s up?”
What’s going on? We were just about to head home…
For some reason, Sota pointed the stick at us.
“You minions of the Demon King, how dare you show your faces so boldly?!”
“…”
“…”
Kaito and I exchanged glances at the sudden outburst. But then I remembered we hadn’t played around like this in a while, so I decided to go along with it.
“Hmph, so you’ve seen through us. What will you do now, Hero?”
For now, Sota’s the hero.
“You think you can take on both of us alone? That’s awfully naive, Hero,” Kaito added, clearly getting into it.
Sota grinned—whether it was intimidating or not, I couldn’t tell—and struck a pose that practically screamed shing! with sound effects.
“You think I’d cower before the likes of you? I’ll defeat you both, slay the Demon King, and return to my kingdom—for the princess waiting for me!”
Oh, so that’s the setup.
I couldn’t resist asking something that popped into my head.
“Is that princess cute?”
“Of course she’s cute!” Sota nodded confidently.
Kaito jumped in. “How’s she cute?”
“She’s… Hey, the Demon King’s minions wouldn’t ask that! You’re trying to throw me off, but it won’t work! Here I come!”
With that, Sota raised the stick and charged at us!
But then, ding-ding, a group of middle school girls rode by on their bikes, giggling as they passed. Instantly, we all dropped the act and went stone-faced.
“What are we even doing?”
“You started it, man.”
“…Yare yare.”
I shook my head. I really didn’t want to think about how we must’ve looked to those girls… Alright, let’s just forget this ever happened!
After that, we finally parted ways for real.
Without stopping anywhere else, I headed straight to the Shinjo house.
By the time I arrived, Arisa and Aina were, of course, already there.
Aina greeted me at the door. Apparently, she and Arisa had come straight home after school.
“Sorry, am I a bit late?”
“Not at all. Come on, let’s hit the books!”
“Yeah♪ Hurry up and sit, sit!”
Aina tapped my shoulder, practically pushing me toward Arisa’s room with an eagerness that said she couldn’t wait to get started.
In the middle of Arisa’s room was a fairly large round table, pulled out from the closet just for our study sessions. It was spacious enough for the three of us to spread out our study materials with plenty of room to spare.
“Here we go.”
I sat on the floor, and Arisa and Aina followed suit.
They’d taken off their blazers, leaving them in just their white dress shirts—a relaxed look they’d never show outside.
(…Weird. They just took off their blazers, but it feels kinda… suggestive.)
Ugh, it’s my own fault for thinking like this.
But the way their white shirts revealed the faint outline of their undergarments or the curves underneath… At first, I was worried I wouldn’t be able to focus, but somehow, I managed. Or rather, the fact that I have managed is why we’ve kept these study sessions going.
“…Alright! Let’s do this today too. Arisa, Aina, I’m counting on you!”
“Yes, let’s do our best.”
“You got it!”
I slapped my cheeks to switch gears.
Since it’s after school, we don’t have a ton of time, but we usually study hard until around six.
Sakuna-san comes home partway through, but she’s considerate enough not to interrupt until we’re done and come out of the room.
“…”
Arisa, Aina, and I focus on our individual studying without any idle chatter.
Of course, there are times when I hit a wall with a problem I just can’t solve on my own.
But that’s when they come to my rescue.
“This one…”
“Where are you stuck?”
“Tell us.”
“Thanks.”
The moment they see me struggling, Arisa and Aina pause their own work and lean in close.
I feel a bit guilty for interrupting them, but we’ve already talked this through—they’re happy to spend time helping me, and I’m determined to make their efforts worthwhile. That’s another thing fueling my motivation.
“This problem… Do I use this formula?”
“No, that problem uses a different one.”
“Yup, there’s a trick to figuring it out. It’s like this—”
If I were studying alone, who knows how I’d be doing? I’m endlessly grateful for how patiently they explain things.
(People who get high scores are smart, sure, but being able to teach like this? That’s a whole other level of brilliance.)
I really feel that when I’m learning from them.
Arisa and Aina each have their own teaching style, but both explain things so clearly that it sinks right in. I’m constantly amazed by how incredible they are.
“Thanks, both of you. So… like this… and then this?”
“That’s right. You got it, Hayato-kun.”
“Awesome, awesome! You’re killing it, Hayato-kun♪”
And above all, they’re so good at praising me!
I guess I’m the type who thrives on praise, and they’ve figured that out, so they shower me with it.
More candy than whip—that seems to work best for me.
(Studying with my precious girls… We did a bit of this last year, but I don’t think I was this fired up back then. Yeah, the me studying right now feels so fulfilled.)
Things are going almost too well, it’s almost scary, but I want to keep this momentum going and push even further. That’s why I’m giving it my all.
I kicked my focus up another notch.
Whenever I hit a snag, I asked them for help, aiming to make everything perfect. Then, beep-beep-beep, the stopwatch went off.
That was the signal for a break.
We study hard for thirty minutes, then take a five-minute break—that’s the usual flow of our study sessions… and, in a way, the moment I secretly look forward to.
“Alright, break time.”
“Okay~”
“…Phew.”
I let out a breath, trying to act like I’m not eagerly waiting for what’s next.
It’s my little act of resistance, but… I’m pretty sure they’ve seen right through me.
“Yesterday was Aina’s turn, right? So today’s mine.”
“Got it~ I’ll grab some drinks, so you take care of healing Hayato-kun, nee-san~”
Aina left the room, and Arisa sat down next to me.
She spread her arms, waiting for me. I slowly leaned in, burying my face in her chest.
“There, there. Good job, Hayato-kun. You’re doing great.”
“Ahh… I might be working this hard just for this.”
“Hehe♪ It tickles when you talk into my chest.”
Yes, this is exactly what happens during the breaks in our study sessions.
To soothe the mental fatigue from studying, Arisa and Aina envelop me like this.
It’s simple—just resting my face against their chests while they embrace me.
(…It’s so calming and makes me feel so happy… How could I not want to work harder after this?)
This lasts for five minutes… This is what they meant by “healing time” to motivate me to study harder, and it hit me right in the heart.
“How is it? Does it make your fatigue melt away?”
“It seriously does.”
“By the way, Aina loves this time. She’s always saying how cute you look, like a little baby, Hayato-kun.”
“A baby… huh?”
I kind of want to protest that, but at this point, being called a baby doesn’t even bother me anymore. I’ve already thrown shame out the window.
After exactly five minutes of being pampered by Arisa, it’s time to dive back into studying.
With juice and chocolate brought by Aina for a sugar boost, my mind is sharp again… Alright, let’s get back to it!
Repeating study and breaks like this, we hit the six o’clock time limit, and today’s study session comes to an end.
“…Phew, we’re done… Ahhh~”
I stretch my arms toward the ceiling, loosening up my body.
On weekdays after school, studying at the Shinjo house only gives us about two hours at most, but the sense of fulfillment despite the exhaustion is proof of how hard I worked—or so I like to think.
“Good work, Hayato-kun.”
“You worked hard today too♪”
“Yeah… You two, good work as well. And thanks, as always.”
It’s obvious, but I always make sure to thank them.
Of course, I thank them for every little thing they do, but since they’re spending so much time helping me, I can’t feel at ease unless I express my gratitude, even if they say it’s not necessary.
“We keep telling you, you don’t need to thank us.”
“Yeah! We’re doing this because we want to.”
“Even so. If I stop saying thank you, even for the little things, it feels like something important would slip away.”
I don’t really know what that “something important” is.
Still, those words came naturally, and I believe they’re worth holding onto.
“So, thank you both.”
Thank you. Just five characters in writing… just one word when spoken, but to me, it’s an important word.
“…Jeez, Hayato-kun.”
“You’re just too wonderful.”
“Huh, wait… Whoa!?”
Before I knew it, they’d tackled me to the floor.
I tried to brace myself, but it was no use. All I could manage was slipping my arms under them.
“Thank you… I never thought a single word could touch my heart so deeply.”
“Yeah… It’s a word we use so casually, something said in passing.”
“But it can make you so happy… It’s strange.”
“Totally! It’s like my heart’s all bright and warm. It’s so nice♪”
Smiling at their beaming faces, I couldn’t help but smile back.
So here we are, the three of us lying down, grinning at each other. But it’s past six o’clock… Oh.
“Shouldn’t we head downstairs?”
“You’re right. Mother’s being considerate and hasn’t peeked in. She might think we’re still studying.”
“Haha, if that’s the case, she might be feeling lonely. I’ll head down first!”
Aina jumped up and dashed out of the room.
The wide-open door spoke to her boundless energy, and Arisa and I chuckled again.
“She’s a bundle of energy. I wish she’d calm down just a bit.”
“But Aina’s liveliness is part of her charm, right?”
“Of course. As her older sister, nothing makes me happier than seeing her smile.”
I know how close Arisa and Aina are… but I also understand that their bond goes deeper than typical sisterly love.
“I think I’ve said this before, but…”
“What?”
“You really love Aina, don’t you, Arisa?”
“Oh, that? That’s obvious. I can’t say there’s no such thing as a sister who doesn’t love her sibling, but at the very least, I love Aina with all my heart.”
“Yeah, I knew that.”
Anyone who sees Arisa would know that.
Being with them as their boyfriend makes me happy, of course, but their sisterly interactions also warm my heart. Honestly, just watching them quietly could be enough to satisfy me… Yeah.
“Hey, Hayato-kun.”
“Yeah?”
“Aina… she used to be even more uncomfortable around boys than I was. Even the slightest touch would make her recoil. But now, she’s smiling so freely by your side… That makes me so happy.”
“…I see.”
“Yes, so thank you, Hayato-kun. Thank you for meeting us, for connecting with us.”
I’m the one who wants to say an endless amount of thanks.
Realizing we could go on saying thank you forever, we decided to head downstairs.
We ate the dinner Sakuna-san prepared, and then it was time to part ways for the day.
“So, Hayato-kun, you’ll come over this weekend as promised, right?”
“You better not say you’ve got other plans now!”
“Hey, you two, don’t be too demanding,” Sakuna-san lightly scolded.
But they didn’t seem to care, staring at me expectantly, waiting for my response.
“It’s fine, I don’t have any plans. I’ll definitely come.”
“Yay!”
“Alright!”
What we’re talking about is me staying over at their place this weekend.
It’s the final push before the tests, so we agreed to study together at night too… Well, it’s more like a reconfirmation of a promise we’d already made.
“Wonderful!”
Arisa and Aina were thrilled, and even Sakuna-san clapped her hands happily.
Feeling the warmth of being welcomed by their family, I left the Shinjo house.
Walking through the dark night, I safely returned home.
But the moment I opened the door, I nearly jumped out of my skin at the sight of a pumpkin head lying in the hallway.
“W-What the…!?”
A pumpkin head rolling in the dark… It’s the kind of thing that’d make a kid cry.
Why is this thing, which is supposed to be in my room, here…?
For a moment, I wondered if my sixth sense had awakened, but then I remembered what happened this morning.
“…Oh, right. I left it as a charm to ward off bad luck.”
See, the fortune on the morning TV show was absolutely terrible. To chase away bad luck, they said to place something scary at the entrance.
“I got spooked, so I guess it worked.”
This pumpkin is definitely the lucky item that connected me with the Shinjo family, but catching it off guard like that is terrifying.
In bright light, its smug, mocking face kinda ticks me off, but… well, whatever.
“…I’m home. Wait, why am I greeting this thing?”
If this pumpkin head said “Welcome back,” I’d be convinced it’s cursed and haul it to the dump immediately.
“…”
I stared at it for a bit, but of course, it didn’t speak. With a small sigh, I headed to my room.
“Well, it probably repelled any curses or whatever from outside.”
If I got possessed by a ghost or evil spirit, this thing might just save me.
“…Phew.”
Back in my room, I changed into pajamas.
I already showered at their place, so no need for a bath at home… But my night’s not over yet.
“Alright, let’s do this.”
Go to bed after coming back from their house? Nah, it’s too early for that. What I’m about to do is review what we studied today.
I set up my study materials on a small round table perfect for solo use and dive into studying for about an hour.
“…Time for a quick break… Man, it’s lonely.”
Lonely… Sure, being home alone is part of it, but not having that heavenly moment during break time is what really gets me.
“That thing… It’s seriously powerful.”
Every break, Arisa and Aina take turns pampering me.
It not only sparks more motivation but also somehow instantly refreshes my tired brain. It’s indescribably effective for me.
That’s the ultimate healing technique they’ve created… It’s the best.
“Hm?”
As I was reminiscing about their pampering, a message from them popped up, as if perfectly timed.
‘Knowing you, Hayato-kun, you’re probably studying right now, aren’t you? Don’t push yourself too hard, okay? Overdoing it can backfire, and we can’t be there to give you a break.’
‘Hayato-kun! You’re probably studying super hard right now, but don’t overdo it, okay? Take breaks when you’re tired! I’m not there to give you a puff-puff!’
I gave a wry smile and replied that I’m fine, but… Aina, where did you learn a term like “puff-puff”? She’s definitely doing this on purpose, no doubt.
Their messages are similar but flavored with their unique personalities, which is fun. And, of course, it makes me incredibly happy.
“Well… I’m just doing some light review, so it’s all good.”
I added a thank you for their concern and sent it off.
I wasn’t planning to overdo it to begin with, but their words definitely make me want to ease up a bit.
“…I’ll do a bit more and then sleep.”
The test is a little over a week away… Or rather, that’s all the time I have left.
Either way, I’ll solidify the basics and tackle applied problems.
I’ll trust in the skills I’ve built and face the test head-on… That should be enough.
“Well, the midterms are one thing, but finals will cover more subjects and a wider scope… Ugh, no! Focus on the test in front of you!”
Alright, just thirty more minutes today.
I lightly slap my cheeks, entering a state of peak focus and diving back into studying.
▼▽
The days leading up to the test were nothing short of fulfilling.
Not only my school studies but also the study sessions with Arisa and Aina were bearing fruit, evident in my quiz results. I could strongly feel my growth.
Of course, there’s still room for improvement, but at this rate, I’m confident I’ll get satisfying test results… No slacking, though. That confidence is real.
(Don’t let your guard down… Keep this up. Get good results and head to the hot spring trip with them in high spirits!)
With that in mind, I charge through the remaining days.
…That said, studying nonstop can be suffocating, so I decided to do something different today.
“Huh, Hayato, you’re heading out already?”
“Yeah! Got somewhere to be!”
“Got it… See ya tomorrow!”
“Yep!”
I told my friends and quickly left the classroom.
I’d already told Arisa and Aina I’d be making a stop before heading to their place, so now it’s just a matter of getting it done!
Leaving school, I headed to the bustling station area, specifically to a famous cake shop—that was my destination.
“I hope they still have some…”
What I wanted was a limited-edition cake that sells out quickly.
Arisa and Aina have been spending precious time studying with me, and since Sakuna-san’s been so kind to me too, I wanted to buy these cakes as a thank you.
“…Yes!”
The moment I spotted what I wanted, I couldn’t help but pump my fist.
I was prepared to buy something else if they were sold out, but finding them still in stock was a thrill.
And there were four—exactly enough for all of us.
“Hehe, welcome. Are you here for the limited-edition cakes?”
“Yes!”
I felt a bit embarrassed under the warm gaze of the shop clerk, but I bought the four cakes and left the store.
Sakuna-san apparently got off work early today, and when I arrived at the Shinjo house, all three welcomed me. Since they were all there, I figured it was the perfect time to show them the limited-edition cakes.
“Is this… no way?”
“It’s from that cake shop by the station! The limited ones!”
“What’s this about?”
“Well…”
I explained that I rushed out of school to buy these as a thank you for everything they’ve done.
“So that’s why you were in such a hurry… Oh, Hayato-kun♪”
“Thank you, Hayato-kun… Ehehe, I’m so happy♪”
Seeing their beaming smiles, I couldn’t help but want to pat myself on the back for the effort.
“Thank you to me too, Hayato-kun?”
“Of course, Sakuna-san. I had to get one for you too.”
Normally, we’d head straight to studying, but since we had the cakes, we decided to eat them together first.
“…This is delicious.”
“So yummy!”
“The texture’s unlike anything I’ve had before… It’s amazing.”
After seeing their reactions, I took a bite… and, embarrassingly, I lost all vocabulary from how good it was, devouring it in a flash.
“Oh, Hayato-kun, you’ve got cream on your face.”
“Huh?”
Aina wiped the cream off my cheek with her finger and then licked it off.
The way she eagerly licked her finger was… uh, way too suggestive! I mean, Arisa and Sakuna-san are right here, and I couldn’t help but stare…!
“Hayato-kun?”
“…I mean, can you blame me for looking?”
“I know. I should’ve been the one to do it…”
“Ehehe~♪ First come, first served, right?”
Arisa pouted at Aina’s teasing tone.
Even if Arisa had done it, it’d still be super suggestive, but in a setting like this, it’s a bit much… Wait, what am I even saying?
“Thank you for the treat.”
“Thank youuu♪”
Everyone finished eating, looking satisfied.
I bought the cakes this time, but their smiles were what I really wanted to see… Alright, with these smiles, I’m ready to study even harder today!
“Let’s hit the books!”
“W-Wait, Hayato-kun…?”
“He’s on fire…!”
“Do your best, Hayato-kun. You too, Arisa and Aina.”
Right now, I feel like I could fend off a meteor hurtling toward Earth… Okay, maybe not, sorry.
But that’s how pumped I am.
We headed to Arisa’s room as usual, studying hard with them while savoring the breaks in between, wrapping up another fulfilling day.
▼▽
This is just my selfish wish.
Working hard toward a goal like this… maybe the ones I most want to show it to are my family.
I sometimes wonder what my mom and dad would say if they were here to see me now.
“That’s our son! You’re such a hard worker, just like me!”
“Exactly. But, Kasumi, I think he takes after me.”
“Huh? What’re you talking about?”
“What’re you talking about—”
Oh, my imaginary parents are starting to argue… Whatever.
To me, studying was just a stepping stone to the future—nothing more. I’d never worked this hard before.
But this time, I went all out.
I worked and worked, desperate to get results… Hey, Mom, Dad.
Am I doing alright? Would you pat my head and say, “Good job,” if you saw me now…?
Yes, this is just a selfish wish… A wish that I hope could come true.
“You did great.”
“Good job.”
…Yeah.
I worked hard.
My reasons for studying are a mix of proper ones and some less pure ones, but I really gave it my all.
“Hayato… You don’t have to look so serious, you know?”
“Yeah, man. All that’s left is waiting for the results.”
“…I know.”
I don’t need them to tell me that.
With each test result handed back, I felt a mix of nerves and joy.
For some, getting over 80 in every subject might be easy, but for me, even pushing past that mark in my weaker subjects was a hard-earned victory I can confidently claim.
The proof? Only math is left—all my other subjects scored above 80.
(One more… If I get over 80 in math, I’ll hit my goal!)
I felt good about it… but I couldn’t celebrate until I saw the results.
Even with Arisa subtly reassuring me, my heart was pounding, anxiously awaiting the moment—until finally, the math test was handed back.
“Domoto.”
“Yes!”
The result… I raised a fist to the sky the moment I saw the paper.
“Yesss!!”
Yes… I’d hit my goal of over 80.
I’d been restless all morning, and both Arisa, who knew why, and Aina, who stopped by during break, were worried… But I did it. I achieved my goal!
(Yes… Yes, yes, yes!)
Rejoicing internally, I returned to my seat.
“You did it.”
“Yeah!”
…Oops, I got so excited I answered Arisa loudly.
But with everyone else celebrating or sulking over their results, our exchange didn’t seem to draw much attention.
“You were so nervous all morning. Bet you feel relieved now, huh?”
“Yeah… Absolutely.”
By the way, Arisa, as expected, scored higher than me.
I can guess Aina probably got great results too, but for now, I just want to bask in my own success!
“Hehe… Hehehe.”
But… man, I can’t stop grinning.
It’s not just the test results—knowing I can head to the hot spring trip with them in high spirits is a big part of it…?
No, no, that’s what I worked so hard for… Wait, ugh, I’m so happy my emotions are a mess.
I kept my celebrating at school to a minimum… But when I got to the Shinjo house after school, I let it all out.
“Woooo! I did it!!”
“Hehe, you’re so excited.”
“You worked hard! Of course you’re happy!”
Arisa and Aina shared my joy… I told them over and over it was thanks to them.
Now I can head to the hot spring trip next weekend without a care!
…Huh? That’s what it’s all about?
Well, I mean… it’s fine, right? I got the results, and I worked hard, so it’s all good… Yeah!
I’ll hold my head high and go on that hot spring trip with them.
I worked so hard, so I’m gonna enjoy it to the fullest!
“…Hey, you two.”
“What?”
“What’s up?”
I… might’ve gotten a bit carried away.
I ended up making this request, or rather, proposal… I mean, I deserve a little reward, right? That’s what I was thinking, but still…
“Um… I want you to praise me more.”
That’s what I blurted out.
I’d thought about it a lot… To some people, my goal might not seem like a big deal. But for me, giving my all in my weaker subjects, desperate to get results, was a huge effort.
Even if someone mocked my hard work, I can proudly say I gave it my all… That’s why I wanted them to praise me.
“…Jeez, you don’t even have to ask—we’d praise you tons anyway.”
“Yeah! Honestly, we were planning to shower you with praise until Mom gets home!”
“Oh…”
R-Really…?
Then maybe I didn’t need to say it? But it’s out there now, and they didn’t seem like they’d stop after hearing my wish.
They hugged me tightly from both sides, patting my head like I was their little brother. Too embarrassed to move, I just soaked in their warmth.
“You did so well.”
“You worked so hard.”
At their words, I nodded from the bottom of my heart.
Post a Comment