190 Chapter five, 2016, days of waiting: 7 (1/2)

Yukio slid open the door to Urufu's room, or rather the room he shared with another two patients.

One look inside told him one of those patients had been discharged. The bed was neatly made and still untouched for the day. Urufu sat in his bed by the window and looked out. He barely turned to wave Yukio welcome before he returned to staring outside.

The third bed was currently unoccupied; it's owner away for rehab or something.

'Next week they promised,' Yukio thought. 'You look like a bird in a cage here.'

”Urufu, I have the midterm results,” Yukio said and zipped open his bag.

”What's the fallout?” Urufu wondered, but he still didn't look inside the room.

Yukio took the long way, grabbed a chair and positioned himself by the window. He quickly produced Urufu's five exams.

”You won't end up on the wall, that's for certain.”

”Top fifty? No, no I guess not.”

Yukio smirked. It wasn't like he was anywhere close to placing among the top fifty himself. There were close to 350 freshmen, so if he made it into the top hundred and fifty he'd be happy. As it was he scored number 160 overall.

Urufu leafed through the papers. ”Fuck! Oh well, could have been worse.”

”How bad?” Yukio asked.

”Three make-up exams. Should have been two, but our beloved basket case keeps screwing me over.”

”English again?” Yukio asked already knowing the answer.

”Yeah, the retard doesn't know the language in the first place, and it shows in his grading.”

Yukio avoided meeting Urufu's eyes and stared at a tray with the leftovers from a nondescript hospital meal. 'Stop being so damn cocky! You're deliberately misinterpreting his tests and receive poor grades.' But truth be told Yukio did suspect that Urufu's English was superior by far compared to their teacher's.

”You look down,” Yukio said to change the subject.

”Don't worry. Just feeling restless. How did the rest of the gang do?”

”Kyoko scored number 130. She's pretty unhappy about it.”

Urufu grimaced before saying anything. ”Soz, but if she ever makes it into the top third that's her cap I'm afraid.”

”Like you've been a teacher!” Yukio said and barely managed to keep his voice down.

”I have, and you know it. Learning assessment was part of my job. Top third in this school if she makes an effort. Push her to make it into double digits.”

Yukio didn't respond. Urufu could be a condescending arsehole, but he was very seldom wrong.

”The others?” Urufu wanted to know.

”Don't know about Kuri, but you can ask her yourself. I think she bombed pretty badly.”

With a sigh Urufu slowly started to laugh. ”Yeah, I could see that coming. OK I'll ask her when she comes here next time. The twins?”