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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Nekorune
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No matter how many times I checked, it was 14th place. Just slightly above average.
As I blinked, staring blankly at the ranking,
*smack* *smack*
Miyuki, with a bright smile on her face, slapped my back repeatedly, snapping me out of it.
“Matsuda-kun… look at that, you really worked hard, didn’t you…?”
I nodded, my eyes still glued to the notice.
“I guess so…”
“You seem unusually flustered. Are you that surprised?”
I was, quite literally, very surprised. Honestly, I thought I had done well, but I never imagined I’d rank this high. I felt like cheering. So this was why people studied? I somehow understood Miyuki’s love for studying now.
Some people might suspect I cheated. The guy who was last in the final exams last semester was now in the mid-range? Anyone would be suspicious.
But I would be innocent. This result was achieved through my genuine effort. And the professor who came in as supervisor knew that too. They had seen me diligently working on the test as they walked around the classroom. I still vividly remembered the approving look on the supervisor’s face as he passed by me during the math exam, seeing me diligently solving problems on the test paper.
Since the professors were already talking about how hard I had been working lately, even if someone reported me, the suspicion would quickly subside.
“I’m surprised.”
The hallway in front of Class 1-A had fallen silent after Miyuki checked my ranking. Everyone was staring at me with wide eyes, and most of their gazes were favorable. It seemed like my efforts to avoid trouble and greet people first since leaving the circle had finally paid off. A few students whose rankings I had surpassed were glaring at me, but I didn’t care. It was their own fault, I had no reason to be concerned.
Looking at Tetsuya, I saw a complicated expression on his face. His pride was clearly wounded… I should just quietly pass by instead of mocking him now. Ignoring him would be more frustrating than teasing him outright.
Looking down at Miyuki, I said,
“Hey.”
“Yeah?”
“That’s much higher than the 20th place you predicted.”
“I’m really surprised too. I didn’t think you’d do this well.”
While praise was nice, I wanted a reward. Won’t you give me something like a one-time squirt ticket or a foursome with your mom and your sister? I’d have to pester her for either later.
“Congratulations, Matsuda-kun.”
At Miyuki’s words, I grinned from ear to ear and entered the classroom, accepting congratulations from other classmates.
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There was a minor cliché in youth stories. Whenever something good happened to the protagonist, the surrounding environment, like the weather, would brighten up.
It was the same now. The weather, which had been getting colder, was warm like spring today, and the sky was clear without a single cloud. It was a perfect day for sunbathing, so I lay sprawled on the rooftop floor, not caring if my uniform got dirty.
It was childish, but so what? I was in a romantic comedy, so I had to be sentimental like this to be a proper protagonist.
As I basked in the warm sunlight, I heard the rooftop door creak open and lifted my head. Miyuki’s small face peeked out from the gap.
“Wh, what are you doing…?”
Miyuki was dumbfounded to see me lying down. I beckoned her to come over.
“Come lie down too. Let’s look at the sky together.”
Miyuki stared at me as if examining a strange object, then let out a light laugh and closed the rooftop door. She came over to me and crouched down. After glancing up at the sky, she said with a smile,
“There’s nothing in the sky.”
“That’s the point, looking at nothing.”
“Why are you so sentimental today? Is it because you got 14th place?”
“It’s 6 ranks higher than you predicted, of course I’m happy.”
At my slightly elated voice, Miyuki smiled gently and brushed her bangs aside.
“I was really proud of you. I mean it.”
“Well, you should be.”
“You’re getting a bit too confident already, aren’t you…? Getting too arrogant is never a good thing. Ruin can come in an instant.”
“Are you trying to jinx it? Just let me be arrogant today.”
“Okay. But you’re surprisingly talented at studying. How about aiming for the top 10 in the finals?”
“Are you kidding?”
“Why? It’s only a difference of 4 ranks.”
“Even so, the amount of knowledge you need is different from the top ranks.”
“That’s true. Actually, I don’t expect that much.”
She spoke mischievously. Clicking my tongue, I lifted the hem of her skirt, which was touching the floor, and put my head inside. Miyuki, startled by my action, yelled,
“Wh, what are you doing…!”
“I can’t see anything.”
“Of course you can’t…! You pervert…!”
Isn’t it more perverted that you’re not even trying to dodge even though I’m doing this?
I swallowed those words and blew upwards.
“Eek!”
Miyuki flinched and slapped my chest hard enough to make a sound. Then, she jumped up and scolded me,
“Stop doing weird things…! What are you doing all the time…!?”
“I’m expressing my affection.”
“What kind of expression of affection is this?”
“If you like it, it’s okay. Come on, lie down with me. Don’t ruin the mood.”
“But you’re the one ruining the mood, Matsuda-kun…!”
Miyuki, who was about to argue back in an exasperated voice, closed her mouth. She rolled her eyes, as if recalling my past antics, then chuckled and smoothed out her skirt. She came over and lay down next to me, pulling my arm to use it as a pillow.
“My arm hurts. Let go.”
“No. I don’t like getting dust in my hair.”
“The side of your head is already touching the floor.”
“I don’t like getting it on the back of my head. Other places are fine.”
It was ridiculous how her preferences changed depending on the situation. Would it kill her to just honestly say she wanted to use my arm as a pillow?
I bent the arm that was supporting Miyuki’s head and gently rubbed the top of her head as if massaging it. A smile spread across Miyuki’s lips. She let out a long breath with a slightly sweet nasal tone, as if she was feeling good, and snuggled closer to me.
“I guess I have to spend this weekend alone.”
“Should I come back on Saturday if I can?”
“I wasn’t whining, so don’t even think about it. I was just saying it because I’ll miss you… But you’ll call often, right?”
“I will every time I send you a picture.”
“What picture? A picture of me?”
“Yeah.”
“…Matsuda-kun, you’re not talking about, like, a lewd picture… are you…?”
She was getting good at understanding my implications.
“Think about it carefully and send it.”
“I’m definitely not sending anything. Why are you setting conditions for calling…?”
“It’s not a condition. It’s a suggestion.”
“The way you’re talking, it sounds more like a demand than a suggestion…?”
“I said it’s a suggestion.”
“See…! Your tone is scary…!”
I turned towards Miyuki and placed my hand on her abdomen. Then, I started stroking it clockwise, very slowly, like giving a massage.
“I said no.”
Did my touch calm her down? Miyuki let out a long breath, turned to face me, and shifted her hips closer. She wanted a hug.
Lately, Miyuki had become much more affectionate, and her libido seemed to have increased, which was really nice to see.
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Inside the kendo club changing room.
I frowned at the sight of Tetsuya sluggishly changing into his uniform. He had been gloomy all day, was he that upset about losing to me in the rankings? Or was he sulking because Miyuki hadn’t mentioned his grades much today?
Whatever the reason, it was bothering me, so I stopped undressing and nudged Tetsuya.
“Why are you so down today? Are you sick again?”
“No… it’s not that…”
“Then what is it?”
“I’m just not feeling well.”
What an unmanly bastard… Ugh… Live like that for the rest of your life, would you?
By the way, Tetsuya had bulked up a bit. He seemed bigger. He must have been working out secretly.
Keep at it. I’ll cheer you on. So please, show some competitive spirit.
I’m starting to get a little suffocated by your defeatist aura.
“Buy some energy drinks or something on your way home. I’m leaving first.”
“Oh, okay. Thanks for your concern, Matsuda.”
It wasn’t concern, it was mockery, you bastard. You’re always like this.
As I waved my hand dismissively and left the clubroom, Chinami, who was humming, greeted me.
“Matsuda-kouhai! Were the ranking notices also posted for the first years?”
Her voice was bright and cheerful, making my ears tingle.
Tightening the chest strap of my changed uniform, I approached Chinami and replied,
“I did well. 14th place.”
“Huh? 14th place? Didn’t you say you weren’t good at studying?”
“I used to be, but I guess not anymore.”
“What’s with that vague answer? It sounds like boasting… is it?”
“Of course not. How did you do, Master?”
At my question, a mischievous chuckle escaped Chinami’s lips.
“Ohoho… I did better than last semester. I finally beat a classmate I could never beat before. I was nervous because it was a very close call when I checked the answers, but it turned out the same.”
Chinami puffed out her chest with a proud expression. She seemed pleased to have beaten her rival. It felt good to win a close fight. Nodding in understanding, I asked,
“Would it be rude to ask what rank you got?”
“No. It’s posted in the hallway anyway, so anyone can see it. I ended up getting second place for the first time since I entered Yeboni Academy.”
“…Huh?”
“Second place.”
Did I hear that right? Chinami… second place? Did she misspeak…? My mind went blank for a moment as a rank I couldn’t even imagine popped out.
“Master… Are you sure you meant second place…?”
“Huhu… You look like you can’t believe it. Yes, kouhai, second place.”
This was as unexpected a twist as my own ranking. Our Chinami… was much smarter than Renka. I was prejudiced. I’m sorry. Let me give one of your favorite thump-thump massages as an apology.
By the way, how could someone so smart be so naive…? Of course, being smart didn’t mean being wise, but… it was a bit baffling.
Blinking to clear my dazed mind, I said with a smile,
“Congratulations.”
“Hmm hmm…! Thank you. You too, kouhai… Good job on getting 14th place. It seems like just yesterday you were memorizing math formulas while working as a manager, and now you’re showing the results. I think you’re really amazing.”
“Thank you. It’s a day to celebrate, so why don’t we postpone the cleaning and go get some ice cream?”
“Ah…! Sounds good…! But did you pack all your things for the training camp?”
“I finished packing yesterday.”
“Very good…!”
Chinami clapped her hands like a kindergarten teacher praising a child. She seemed to be looking forward to this training camp. Just like me.
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Thanks neko!