Saijo no Osewa ~ Takane no Hana [LN] - V1 Chp 4 part 3

[Midterms?]

I was currently in the classroom of the Academy, which I’ve grown accustomed to.

I asked Taisho as I sat down in my seat.

[Ah. Tomonari just transferred in, so I thought I mentioned it. Midterms start next week]

[Next week… It’s very early for midterms]

[We also have earlier opening ceremonies compared to other schools]

I was convinced by Taisho’s words. 

I haven’t heard anything from Shizune-san… but in any case, I never skipped preparing and reviewing every day. Even though I know it’s right before an exam, I’ll do the same as usual.

[By the way, here’s some questions from past years. If you want to, you can try and do it]

Taisho then showed me a stack of papers.

I read through the contents and… I began dripping with cold sweat.

…I could be in trouble.

It’s something I hardly know how to solve. Even though I’m receiving guidance from Shizune-san, I wonder if I’ll be able to solve this before next week.

It’s not that I’ve never cut corners before, but I felt a sense of urgency.

♢♢♢

Lunch break. As usual, I was eating lunch with Hinako.

[Itsuki… I want that next]

Hinako said, looking at her lunch box.

But I kept my mouth shut, deep in thought.

[…Itsuki?]

[…N, Ah, sorry. Hamburger steak?]

I picked up the hamburger steak of Japanese beef with chopsticks and brought it to Hinako’s mouth.

[Ishuki… whash wong?] 

[…Swallow it before speaking]

I can’t understand what you’re saying.

Hinako swallowed her food and then spoke again.

[Itsuki… What’s wrong?]

It looks like Hinako sensed that I was acting strangely.

I answered with a sigh.　

[It’s not a big deal, just the midterms seem to be harder than I thought. I was feeling a little down]

In truth, it was a big deal. At any rate, a bad score could jeopardize my position.

Social Studies, Economics, and English are subjects that can be managed by memorization. These can be managed over time…. But I can’t do anything other than that.

[I can teach you, if you want…?]

[Eh?]

[I may look like this, but I’m still at the top of the class…Doya?] (TN: I can’t just leave Doya out now can I, or a certain Doya god will kill me) (EDN: Basically a smug face if you didn’t know)

Hinako puffed out her chest and said with full confidence and pride.

[…Come to think of it, you were always in the classroom teaching all kinds of people how to study]

[Nn. My ability is well known. …Doya~?]

Hinako looks very proud of it. 

It feels weird to me, who knows the real Hinako, that Hinako is the top student of the academy.

I’m trying to be someone who Hinako can trust, but… I feel complicated that I have to get help from her, but I can’t go back now.

[Can I ask you then?]

[Leave it to me~]

I fed Hinako, who was now in a good mood, her dishes from her lunch box as a sign of gratitude.

After finishing lunch, I returned to the classroom and sat down at my seat.

As I was relieved that I had a way to prepare for the exam, Taisho and Asahi-san approached me.

[Tomonari-kun, I heard about it. You’re anxious about the midterms?]

Asahi said. Apparently Taisho told her.

[Yes… For reference, I’d like to ask both of you, do you have anything special you do to study for the exams?]

[Well, I don’t really have anything. If I had to say something, it’d just be spending more time studying than usual, or something like that?]

[I’m the same as Asahi. Instead of prep work, I do review]

Students at Kiou Academy normally study after school so they can keep up without doing anything unusual.

[On the other hand, how did you study in your previous school?]

[That’s right… sometimes I pull an all nighter, and there was also study groups]

[Study groups?]

I explained to Asahi-san, who tilted her head.

[We all get together to study. When there’s more people studying together, it motivates me to do my best, and sometimes we cooperate by teaching others our areas of expertise]

This type of cooperation, however, mainly consisted of chatting to one another and not actually studying.

[Then, why don’t we try it out?] 

[Eh?]

Asahi-san happily replied to my explanation.

[A study group! Let’s do it, sounds fun and interesting]

Both Taisho and Asahi-san’s eyes were shining brightly for some reason.

[Let’s have the same members as we had at the tea party. You know a lot of people with high grades]

[That’s a good idea! I’ll try to invite them!]

It was just supposed to be a conversation, but before long, they’re completely on board.

But… what to do. I was going to ask Hinako to teach me instead….

[Tomonari-kun, when are you free?]

[No, about that… I haven’t decided to participate yet]

[Ehhh~ Aren’t you coming, Tomonari-kun!? You came up with it!]

[Yeah! Tomonari explained it, so participate as well!]

The mood was making it hard to refuse.

Well… we can have a study group and let Hinako teach us.

[…I understand]

That’s all for now, since I have exams, though ED did graduate (words of congratulations are appreciated), so we’ll see.

Donations are very much appreciated.

Discord/Ko-fi

TL: Ezu
ED: Animu
PR: Mateo