258 Ability Tes (1/2)

On Monday, during lunch break.

Seiji was rather surprised to learn that Kaho and Mika had become friends on a first-name basis.

After all, they seemed rather unfamiliar with each other last week. He didn’t expect that they would improve their relationship so much over just one weekend.

Mika explained it by saying she'd met Kaho coincidentally on the street on Sunday and had found out that they actually got along quite well after chatting for a while. This was how they had become good friends. As Kaho and her had discussed female-oriented anime and manga, Mika learned many interesting things and began to take an interest in anime and manga herself.

Seiji felt that new friendships and hobbies were always good for anyone to have. Of course, the truth wasn’t like this.

Kaho felt conflicted as she watched all this. She felt as if she now had a deeper understanding of societal relationships.

That indescribable feeling aside, objectively speaking, she now had a new friend, and Mika could now get closer to Seigo Harano. Harano-san seemed pretty happy about it all as well, so all was good.

So she decided not to think too much about it.

Just as Kaho was thinking this, she heard Harano-san say: ”I think something’s wrong here.”

”Eh?”

‘Did he notice something?’ Kaho instantly became nervous.

”What’s wrong?” Chiaki asked.

Seiji rubbed his chin. ”I was the first one here to become friends with Miyamoto-san, but Mika started calling Miyamoto-san by her name before me; I think that’s wrong.”

All the girls were rendered speechless.

”In order to fix this, from now on, I’m going to call Miyamoto-san by name as well. Kaho, is that alright?”

Kaho’s heart gave a sudden lurch at hearing her name from his mouth.

”O-of course,” she stammered.

Seiji smiled. ”Great, just call me Seigo as well in the future.”

”Okay… Seigo,” Kaho answered in a soft voice. She could feel her cheeks heating up.

”Since the two of you are calling each other by name now, I’ll feel really awkward if I’m the only one using honorifics.” Chiaki smiled. ”Which is why we should call each other by name starting now as well, Kaho.”

”Okay… Chiaki.” Only after Kaho said it out loud did she discover to her astonishment that she was now on a first-name basis with the three people in class that shone the brightest.

‘I can actually do all this…’ Kaho was still inwardly astonished at the unexpected turn of events.

The four of them, now bound by their new friendship, continued to chat and enjoyed their lunches.

Seiji had already given Mika a copy of Peach-sensei’s new drawing last night, and now he gave Chiaki and Kaho each a copy as well.

With this picture and Honey Candy Girl as the main topic of their conversation, they had an enjoyable lunch.

After discussing anime for quite a while, Chiaki changed the topic to school.

”I’ll be fine,” Seiji answered casually.

”I-I’m not so confident,” Mika replied.

”…I’m also not so sure,” Kaho added.

”There’s a few idiots in our club that might fail, and our vice club president has decided to begin creating study groups so that they don’t affect the overall reputation of the drama club,” Chiaki said. ”I’ve been ordered to participate—I'll be one of the tutors.”

‘A study group... this is perfectly common for high school,’ Seiji thought to himself.

”If you two aren’t confident about the final exam, how about joining our study group?” Chiaki offered.

”Can people who aren't in drama club participate as well?”

”Of course; we’re all studying the same things anyways, and more people will create a better atmosphere.”

Mika and Kaho exchanged glances. Both of them seemed to be considering it, but neither agreed immediately.

”Go ahead and participate—improve your academic ability, and try to aim for better grades.” Seiji attempted to encourage them.

Both girls were swayed by his words.

”Come join as well, Seigo!” Chiaki exclaimed. ”You can be one of the tutors.”

”I need to work on my novel.”