Chapter 99: Test Results (1/2)

“Say Amane, you overdid it this time, didn’t you?”

Itsuki looked a little dumbfounded as he muttered, staring at the test results rankings pasted on the corridor bulletin board.

After the study group ended, Amane continued to study head, and finally took on the tests. His initial objective was to have a reason to be proud of himself…but more importantly, he wanted to purge away Mahiru’s smile from his mind, and concentrate.

“…I will make you a good-for-nothing, so please go ahead and do so, no?”

Amane had the unbearable urge to twitch the moment he recalled that alluring mutter.

He concentrated on his studies, and pondered over Mahiru’s words and face while trying not to be distracted. He ended up 6th this time.

“No, I didn’t think I could do this well.”

“You worked hard. Got some confidence now?”

“…More or less. I have to maintain these grades though.”

“Such high expectations…”

Amane scored well, but he did not want Mahiru to see his grades slip thereafter out of carelessness. The high ranking this time was pointless if he did nothing to maintain it.

He could not be content with this, as they would have to take the college entrance exams later on. He could not attend college with the mentality that he could leave everything at the last minute. He hoped to put some effort into studying, even if it was for the sake of his future.

On a side note, Mahiru performed as usual and was the undisputed first ranked. It was due to her daily hard work, and not easily summarized by the word ‘usual’.

“You’re 6th this time, Fujimiya-san.”

Mahiru noticed Amane’s name on the rankings as she stood behind him, and gave a beautiful smile.

Amane smiled in the face of Mahiru’s angel mode, and did not falter.

He could feel stinging glares around him, and was not in the mood to be embarrassed about the incident that happened days ago

“I guess. That’s good.”

“Fufu. You have been working after all, Fujimiya-san. You were studying during breaks.”

“…Yeah.”

“Since you worked so hard, you may give yourself some reward, Fujimiya-san.”

“Y-yeah.”

Amane’s heart got unbearably ticklish once he thought about the reward.

By the way, he did promise Mahiru that she would give him a lap pillow if he was ranked in the top ten, and that she would dig his ears. He was purging various things from his mind however, and had long forgotten about this promise.

Of course, he could refuse…but could he refuse the happiness that was the endearment of the girl he liked?

“…Congrats on getting first too, Shiina. You should be giving yourself a reward too, right?”

“Yes, but it is a bad thing to spoil myself too much.”