Episode 102: Test Results and Summer Vacation

「How’d you do?」

「I thought I could’ve done a bit better.」

It was the day they returned the tests, and during the break, the classroom was buzzing with the topic. I had my own test results back in my hands, and I was right in the middle of being shocked by a score that was way better than I’d imagined.

Studying really makes a difference… though it’s all thanks to Sara-senpai.

「Takanashi, you’re actually pretty good at studying!」

「Damn it, I should’ve had you teach me.」

Even if they said that, I was only being taught myself.

「It’s the first time I’ve ever gotten a score like this, too. It’s because we did study sessions in the student council.」

「You mean the Goddess teaches people in those? Man, I’m seriously jealous…」

「I want them to let the general public join.」

No… if you joined, you’d probably just get scolded and that’d be it…

「Kazunari, how were your tests?」

「To be honest, they were surprisingly good…」

Since it was break time, Hayato came over too. Seeing as he was smirking, he probably did well too.

「Heh, so you worked hard on your studies… oh wait, that’s right. Kazunari has a dedicated beautiful female teacher.」

「What, you had such a great female teacher? I’d love to have you introduce me.」

Because Hayato said something unnecessary, the conversation headed in a bad direction.

「Nah, that person won’t deal with anyone but Kazunari, so it’s absolutely impossible. Even I can barely manage to talk to her.」

「If even Yokogawa is no good, then what kind of relationship do you have with Takanashi, anyway?」

He just had to say more unnecessary things, so now they’re even more curious.

「Now then, thanks to the study sessions, I think everyone was able to achieve excellent results. From now on, let’s make sure to hold study sessions before exams.」

Including me, it seemed the student council members all had good grades. By the way, Sara-senpai did almost no teaching to anyone other than me, so the President looked after everyone else by himself. It’s pretty amazing that he raised everyone’s grades like that…

「So, since the student council is also on break during summer vacation, I want everyone to be careful not to get injured or sick and have fun. Let’s meet again after the summer break.」

The President wrapped it up like that, and the final student council meeting of the first semester ended.

「Now, say ‘ahh’.」

Munch.

Munch, munch…

「Ahh—it’s so good! It’s tasty in a bento too, but freshly made is something else.」

Tonight’s dinner was hamburger steak. A reward for working hard on the tests.

「Yes, and being able to cook on the spot like this allows me to do all sorts of things.」

Starting tomorrow, there won’t be any bento, so on the flip side, we have to decide what to do about lunch too. Besides, I wonder what Sara-senpai’s summer vacation plans are…

「Sara-senpai, do you have any plans for summer vacation?」

When I asked, Senpai made a thinking gesture before giving her reply.

「My parents are basically busy, so I don’t have any specific plans. If I had to say, I just have some simple chores to help out with at my grandmother’s place.」

Even though it’s called a shrine, that place only has a small sanctuary; it’s not the kind of place with a resident priest or formal prayers. So, there aren’t any events like summer festivals there, apparently.

A summer festival, huh…

「Sara-senpai, in that case, let’s do all sorts of things together. Let’s go on dates and to festivals!」

「Yes, I am looking forward to it very much. Of course, even during summer vacation, I shall properly look after you, Kazunari-san. That means we will be together the whole time… I am so happy, it feels like it will be a very fun summer vacation.」

Sara-senpai said that with a very happy smile.

「Good work~」

「Good work… did something happen, calling me out of the blue like this?」

「? Not really.」

The person who suddenly called me was Yuzuki Natsumi-san.

She’s the best friend of Satsukawa-san, who’s Kazunari’s lover, and we met when I went to watch over (oversee?) their date before and she happened to be there for the same reason.

Since then, we’ve been in contact to exchange information. Though more often than not, it’s for other reasons… mainly complaining.

「Sigh… then why?」

「What? Are you saying I shouldn’t call just for small talk? You’re happy about it, yet you’re so dishonest.」

「Yeah, yeah, I’m so happy I’m crying.」

Yuzuki-san seems to be quite personable, and she always carries this atmosphere that’s easy to talk to. In reality, we’ve only met once, but being swept along by her casualness makes it easy for me to talk freely too.

「Oh well. More importantly, listen to this, those two…」

Apparently, this time too, she called to complain about those two flirting right in front of her. Man… this might be a long one.

「Hey, are you listening?」

「I’m listening. But those two… especially Satsukawa-san, she doesn’t seem to care about being seen if it’s for Kazunari’s sake, so it’ll probably get even more intense as their relationship deepens.」

It’s plenty intense even now, but I can’t imagine what it’ll be like if they become official lovers.

「Those two… won’t they be inseparable?」

「Maybe. I only realized it after she got like that with Takanashi-kun, but it seems Sara is devoted to the point of being overly devoted to someone she likes, so she’ll probably even think about the future eventually.」

The future… as in, beyond being lovers… I wonder if high schoolers think that far ahead…

「I mean, if you’re so bothered by their flirting, why don’t you just get a boyfriend yourself? I’d think someone like you, Yuzuki-san, would have plenty of choices.」

She’s different from the Yamato Nadeshiko type of beauty like Satsukawa-san, but I think Yuzuki-san is also a neutral beauty with a slightly boyish vibe.

「Eh, r, really?」

「Yeah, I think you’re a beauty of a different type than Satsukawa-san.」

There’s no reaction. That’s rare…

「For a Tachibana-kun, you sure have some nerve teasing me. Just you wait until the next time we meet!」

「”For a…” that’s so unreasonable.」

She’s the same as ever…