It seemed midterms were gradually drawing near, and a serious study atmosphere was slowly infecting the entire class.
The laughter and horseplay that could usually be heard faded away bit by bit.
For the teachers this was actually a good thing.
It showed that no matter how everyone usually was, in the end they still took studying seriously.
Amamiya Shizuru, on the other hand, was quite leisurely.
She propped up her chin, half-closed her eyes, and observed those people who were frantically reviewing at this moment, with rather the feeling of watching ants.
But what was a bit unfortunate was that Amamiya Shizuru still had to go tutor certain “ants.”
Originally Saturday and Sunday should have been spent walking the streets of Jimbocho.
That area had many new and old bookstores, and you could often spot unexpected books.
Moreover, in the cafés over there you never ran into those types wearing literary-youth glasses and working on Apple laptops.
She had always sneered at this self-important literary-youth trend.
As if they themselves were so tasteful. It really made one want to splash coffee on them.
Unfortunately, the rest time that should have been easy and pleasant had once again been seized.
It went without saying that Amamiya Shizuru had no choice but to accept that original request for the review camp.
After all, a parent’s order was hard to defy.
◇
She really hadn’t expected that with midterms next week, the school still hadn’t canceled P.E.
This brought a tiny shock to Amamiya Shizuru, who in her previous life had not been Japanese.
P.E. was generally taken by three classes together, boys and girls separate, and the events also differed each month.
This month it was tennis and soccer’s turn.
The teaching content of the class was naturally not what Amamiya Shizuru focused on.
What mattered was the grouping moment.
In a short ten seconds, you could naturally see the interpersonal relationships in the class.
Sure enough, Amamiya Shizuru once again fell into the spectator group.
……
How pitiful. Left alone again.
But Amamiya Shizuru didn’t feel there was anything to it.
After all, whether tigers or mountain bears, they were solitary animals.
If she felt lost just because she was isolated and left alone, wouldn’t that make her look extremely powerless and weak?
But as long as she showed an attitude of not caring, plus pride, it would instead look imposing!
Moreover, rather than joining those girls who couldn’t even pass the ball properly at a basic level, Amamiya Shizuru would still rather practice against the wall by herself.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
The sound of the tennis ball hitting the wall was like drum music.
“Huh? It’s Amamiya-san.”
A timid voice came from behind. Shirakawa Yukio?
Amamiya Shizuru stopped swinging her racket and turned her head.
“Is there something?”
◇
“Um… I didn’t expect Amamiya-san to play tennis this well. I heard the sound from far away.”
Shirakawa Yukio stood at the edge of the court, holding her own racket in her arms, a little embarrassment in her tone.
Amamiya Shizuru didn’t take this compliment.
She only indicated with her eyes for her to continue.
“Ah, actually…” Shirakawa Yukio seemed only then to remember her purpose in coming. “I heard Amamiya-san will also take part in the weekend study camp. Is that true?”
“Mm. That’s right.”
“That’s great!”
Shirakawa Yukio’s eyes lit up all at once.
“If Amamiya-san helps, maybe I can really pass this midterm!”
Expecting one day of camp to raise her scores was undoubtedly a delusion.
I can already see that miserable ending.
But wait.
Why would Yaegaki Ruri invite Shirakawa Yukio?
What secret was hidden in this? She was curious.
Amamiya Shizuru naturally wouldn’t ask directly, and only changed the wording:
“Are there a lot of people taking part in this camp?”
“This… I’m not too clear either.” Shirakawa Yukio thought.
“I only know Ito-senpai seems to have been invited as well.”
Hm?
Ito Yuta?
Isn’t he a second-year?
Although second-years were likewise facing midterms, in this occasion that was generally first-years, how was he supposed to review?
Tsk~ it was also possible.
There might even be other second-years.
For example…
Amamiya Shizuru glanced at Shirakawa Yukio.
For example, Takahashi Nao.
“I think Ito-senpai will definitely supervise our studying properly!” Shirakawa Yukio said, full of energy.
“With Ito-senpai present, it also feels full of motivation to study!”
This full-of-energy look was really something.
But it seemed Yaegaki had invited all the people participating in the election together.
Nn… it felt like she had ill intentions.
A “meeting” was a very good excuse.
The student council president election developing to this point was something even a god couldn’t have predicted.
Looking at Shirakawa’s face full of happiness, Amamiya Shizuru couldn’t bear to shatter a girl’s beautiful fantasy.
“Want to play tennis?” Amamiya Shizuru asked.
“Ah? I… only know a little.”
“It’s fine. I’ll teach you.”
Amamiya Shizuru said.
She wondered how things were on Asano Toru’s side.
If she told him that she would also go to the camp, what kind of reaction would he have?
◇
“Amamiya-san, this is too terrifying!”
During today’s lunch break, Asano Toru and Amamiya Shizuru had not stayed in the activity room, and had instead chosen the stairs slanted behind the east teaching building.
That spot just happened to have a patch of shade, and you could also see the scenery of the athletic field.
The blue sky was washed clean, and a light breeze lifted gently.
Amamiya Shizuru had originally thought that in such a warm environment she would be able to properly enjoy lunch.
Then she would explain to Asano Toru that she would also be going to the camp.
As a result he started complaining the moment he came up.
“Studying, the student council election, the activity room, day after day.” Asano Toru held the bento box, his face looking like there was no love left for life. “It’s practically turning into Endless May.”
“Nn…”
“And these past two days of review, I feel like I’ve entered the Room of Spirit and Time. It seems like a very long time has already passed.”
“Nnh… Asano-kun is working very hard.”
“Yeah.” Asano Toru sighed. “Midterms plus the election. My spirit is about to collapse.”
“On the weekend we still have to go to the review camp. Clearly ‘camp’ is a word that fills people with longing, but why do I only see a weekend demon waving at me? That’s right. It must be the two characters ‘review’ that have defiled this sacred word.”
Ai.
Amamiya Shizuru didn’t pick up the conversation.
She only quietly sent a piece of tamagoyaki into her mouth.
Speaking of which, this person’s complaints really were this exaggerated every time.
But seeing him this energetic actually made one feel a lot more at ease.
“Amamiya-san, are you really not going to take part in the camp?”
Asano Toru asked, unwilling to give up.
He had pretty much completely failed to escape.
Because he had been dragged underwater by Komatsu Ayame.
Komatsu Ayame had said that after that day, he had been subjected to Yaegaki Ruri’s spiritual-pressure interrogation.
If Asano Toru didn’t go, he might have to “get transported to another world.”
“Mm.”
Amamiya Shizuru lifted her head and glanced at him.
“I’ll go.”
The simple answer dealt Asano Toru a severe critical hit.
If verbal damage could be visualized as numbers, then a string of 999s would definitely have been hanging over Asano Toru’s head.
“What?! ……….. Don’t tell me Amamiya-san is doing it for me?”
“Don’t let your imagination run that wild.”
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.