Chapter 55 - Private School Entrance Exams
Third term.
Sudden tests.
Tests and exams are all jumbled together, and I'm in a panic.
Maybe I played too much during winter break... but excuses like that won't work.
Airi was at the top, as usual.
It's truly mysterious.
Well, we didn't fail either.
The first to take the lead in exams was Makoto.
The scholarship exam for Ida High.
"Well, I'm off."
He said it lightly, but... is he going to be okay?
Eh? You're wondering why Airi didn't take the special advancement course exam?
"Eh? I'm taking the general course at Ida High."
"Why! You don't have to match me that much!"
"Airi, weren't you recommended for the special advancement course at Fujiaki?"
"...Yeah. But I turned it down."
"Why! It's like we're holding you—!?"
Suddenly, Airi kissed me.
"I told you let's drop that subject."
They really do this often right in front of Kanna.
In fact, Kanna is whistling "Whew~".
"Hofu is my first choice, so it doesn't matter where I go for a private school, right?"
Airi said, smiling.
"I get it. Do whatever you like, Airi, but I'm not certain that I'll pass for Hofu."
"In that case, I'll go to Ida High."
"What if you fail Ida High too?"
"You'll be fine, Toya-kun. You mustn't be nervous."
"Yeah..."
"Well then, shall we do our best!"
From that day on, the way I studied changed.
First, finish the homework.
Next, thoroughly solve past questions from the target schools.
"Kanna, memorizing the answers is not allowed, okay?"
Airi emphasized to Kanna.
"I know that."
Kanna is also studying desperately.
Kanna has changed quite a bit too.
A few days later
A message arrived from Makoto.
"I passed! Thanks."
I replied immediately.
"Congratulations!"
With this, Makoto's path is secure.
The four of us gathered that day as well.
"Congratulations, Makoto-kun."
Airi said, looking at Makoto.
"Thanks, Tosaka-san."
"Don't you not need to study anymore?"
When Kanna said that, he glossed over his words, saying, "No, well..."
"Kanna. Makoto-kun wants to make time to be with Kanna. Since you'll be at different high schools. As a final memory of middle school."
When Airi said that, Kanna laughed.
"You're making it sound like it's the end once we graduate middle school. You're exaggerating."
"W-well, that's true, but..."
Makoto was vague.
At that, Kanna seemed to get annoyed.
"What? Do you plan on getting another girlfriend once you go to high school?"
"No way!"
Makoto said clearly.
"It's just, it's the end of middle school life, right? I just thought I wanted to spend it with the four of us."
When Makoto said that, Kanna said, "I see..."
The end of middle school life...
A lot has happened.
Is this the last time we'll study together at the same table...
While I was immersed in such sentimentality, Airi poked my cheek.
"Don't space out, solve the problems!"
That's right.
"With your current grades, Ida High should be fine."
It has Mickey's seal of approval.
It'll probably be fine.
It's hard to say it's absolute.
You never know what will happen until the end.
That was exactly the case.
Did overdoing it take its toll?
Was I beaten down by the consecutive days of rain?
Had it been getting cold these past few days?
There's no doubt I neglected my health management.
I caught a cold on the day of the exam.
I tried to take the exam wearing a mask, but my parents stopped me.
...It's frustrating.
I felt like crying.
Why did it have to happen on such an important exam day.
Couldn't it have shifted by just one day?
While thinking such things, I spent all my time in bed.
"Here, say ahh."
I eat porridge for lunch.
Huh?
A voice I've heard somewhere.
I look at the girl carrying the porridge to my mouth.
Eh, a girl...?
It's Airi.
Why is Airi here!?
I check the time; it's past 12 o'clock.
The exams should still be ongoing.
"What's wrong?"
Airi tilts her head.
"What do you mean 'what's wrong'! Why are you here, Airi!?"
"Because I heard Toya-kun caught a cold, so I was worried."
"The exam!?"
"I stopped taking it."
Where should I even start with my retort.
"It's not just a test, it's an entrance exam!"
"If Toya-kun isn't taking it, there's no meaning in me taking it."
"You idiot, then I'll..."
"Don't say any more! I'll get angry, okay?"
"I'm the one who wants to be angry!"
"I sort of understand what Toya-kun wants to say. But it wouldn't help if only I passed. Because Toya-kun isn't there. Ah, don't think that I'm holding you back. I did it because I wanted to do it."
"I understand what you want to say, Airi. But it only makes me blame myself more. Thinking that if only I hadn't caught a cold..."
"It can't be helped. You've been working hard all this time. Overdoing it took its toll."
"Even though you and the others didn't catch a cold..."
"...The porridge will get cold."
Saying that, she brings the spoon to my mouth.
I eat it obediently.
"Is it tasty?"
"Yeah."
"I'm glad~ I asked Maya-san and made it myself~"
Just how hardworking is she?
I hugged the devoted girl.
"W-wait, Toya-kun!?"
Airi is surprised.
"Sorry..."
I mutter a single word.
"Don't blame yourself."
Airi says, hugging me back.
And then she puts me to sleep.
"Rest slowly for now. Let's do our best again starting tomorrow, okay?"
While looking at her as she smiled, I fell asleep.
When I woke up next.
Airi is sitting next to the bed, looking at a problem set.
"Airi?"
"Ah, you're awake? Wait a moment."
Saying that, she takes out a Convenience Store bag.
Sweets and juice were inside.
"Thank you."
"It's a return for the other day."
After finishing eating, I slept again.
When I woke up, Kanna had come.
"Is your cold okay?"
"Yeah, I feel much better. Kanna, how was your exam?"
"It was perfect."
"I see, that's great."
Airi is happy.
"That's all well and good, but is Airi okay?"
"It's okay because it wasn't like I couldn't take my first choice."
"That's true, but..."
"I was glad because I got to see Toya-kun's sleeping face for the first time in a while."
...So she was here the whole time.
The next day.
I solve the entrance exam questions written in the newspaper.
Kanna's score was quite high.
With this, there should be no problem.
The day of the passing announcements.
Kanna had passed.
We celebrated modestly.
"Now, at worst, you can go to the same high school as Makoto-kun."
"Yeah, thanks. Being able to get this far is thanks to you and Airi. But the next one is the real deal... you guys have no more chances."
"That's true."
"Yeah."
I must keep my health in check.
But I also have to study properly...
Airi rubs the shoulders of the determined me.
"If you're this nervous already, you'll mess up the real thing again," she says...
Valentine's Day
I received handmade chocolates from Airi and Kanna.
Airi's were nama chocolate.
"Passing high school is enough for a return!" Airi says, laughing.
"True, if I can't study because I'm thinking of a White Day surprise from now on, it would be no laughing matter."
Kanna seems to be of the same opinion.
The achievement test results were sufficient.
All that's left is the real thing...
"You're nervous again."
Airi says, poking my cheek.
Whether I cry or laugh, the next one is the last.
I can't make any more mistakes.
Naturally, I was tensing up.