Chapter 355: Annoying |
1. Sasaki Ayane - 839 points
2. Sato Toru - 818 points
3. Takanashi Chisaki - 810 points
'First place again, as expected of that young lady... Oh! This transfer student is really impressive! Risa-sensei must be thrilled!'
Squeezed within the crowd of students looking at the ranking list, Shimizu Yu scanned the names from top to bottom with anticipation. Every time she saw someone she knew, her gaze paused as she shared her thoughts internally.
She was not in a particular hurry to find her own ranking. After all, she knew her own capabilities. Even though she had made massive progress this time—to the point where even the usually fierce middle-aged math teacher had given her praise—if she really wanted to find her name quickly, counting from the bottom up would definitely be faster.
The main reason she searched from the top down was to see what level Hoshino Gen, who had memorized entire textbooks word for word, had reached by now.
37. Hoshino Gen - 788 points.
Looking at the name in thirty-seventh place on the ranking list, Shimizu Yu could not help but click her tongue in secret. This guy was truly formidable now. Although he had been amazing before, his poor grades used to be a notable weakness. Now, even that final weakness was completely gone.
'No wonder a girl of Sasaki Ayane's caliber is willing to be his fiancee... I suppose only a girl like that is worthy of him, right?'
Thinking about these random things, Shimizu Yu's mood became somewhat melancholy again, and her anticipation for her own ranking dropped a few degrees.
248. Shimizu Yu - 447 points.
Her progress was indeed massive. Jumping from the bottom ten of her grade to around the bottom fifty was considered overachieving the promise she had made to her mother.
'But, why can't I bring myself to be happy?'
Looking at Hoshino Gen in thirty-seventh place, and then at Sasaki Ayane sitting high up in first place... She gently puffed out her cheeks, turned around in silence, and planned to head back to the classroom.
......
"Sasaki-san! Hoshino-kun from Class A actually ranked thirty-seventh in this exam! What a huge improvement! Did you give him tutoring during the summer vacation?"
Ever since she became engaged to Hoshino Gen last semester, people in class were always trying to strike up conversations with her about him.
She did not feel any aversion to it, she was just simply... filled with helplessness.
However... thirty-seventh place? It was indeed a great improvement, but to call it surprising would be a lie. In fact, she felt that since it was him, it would not be shocking even if he surpassed her to take first place tomorrow.
He just had that kind of trait. Or rather, the impression he left on her was that he was omnipotent in almost everything.
Pausing for a moment, Sasaki Ayane stated in a calm tone, "No, that is the result of his own hard work."
"Eh? Is that so? Then Hoshino-kun really is amazing! I bet he worked so hard just to be worthy of you, Sasaki-san!"
"..." Sasaki Ayane remained silent, but at that moment, another classmate passing by chimed in, "After the first period this morning, I saw Hoshino from Class A taking a walk in the maple grove with a really beautiful girl!"
Sasaki Ayane followed the voice and looked over. The boy who had spoken laughed awkwardly. "I just heard it from someone else..."
After saying that, he turned his head and quickly walked away. However, the girl who had used Hoshino Gen's grades as an excuse to start a conversation thought for a moment and added, "What he said seems to be true. I heard about it from a friend earlier too..."
Sasaki Ayane interrupted her, her voice still perfectly calm. "Whether it is true or false, I have neither the desire nor the right to interfere with Hoshino-kun's normal personal social life."
"Eh? How can you not?!" the girl asked in disbelief. "Hoshino-kun is your fiance, Sasaki-san! Let alone a fiance, if my boyfriend went walking with another beautiful girl behind my back, I definitely wouldn't be able to accept it. I would demand a clear explanation..."
"I feel that... whether I have the right or not, it is my own business. I do not need others to make decisions for me." Sasaki Ayane looked earnestly at the girl in front of her. "Don't you agree, Koizumi-san?"
"..."
......
As soon as school ended in the afternoon, Shirayanagi Ayaha was picked up and taken home by a black Maybach.
On the way to the Antique Shop with Hoshino Gen, Shimizu Yu held back time and time again before finally losing her patience and asking, "Just what is your relationship with the transfer student... Shirayanagi-san?"
"A lot of people in class are secretly saying that Shirayanagi-san is exactly your type. The rumors have almost spread to other classes!"
"Didn't I already tell you?" Hoshino Gen gave her a strange look. "She is a friend I knew from the past."
Shimizu Yu pouted and muttered softly, "If she's just a friend from the past... why were you eating lunch with her so intimately at the same school desk at noon?"
"What?"
"Nothing—" Shimizu Yu asked with curiosity. "Why haven't I ever heard you mention it before? Not just about her, but it seems like you haven't talked about anything that happened before I met you."
"There is nothing worth talking about," Hoshino Gen replied, walking ahead with his hands in his pockets, his tone indifferent.
"But I'm really interested! Which junior high school did you go to? Which primary school? When did you meet Shirayanagi-san?"
"...Shimizu-san, has anyone ever told you that you are quite annoying sometimes?"
"..." Shimizu Yu blinked innocently, remaining silent for a long time before finally uttering, "Oh."
For the rest of the journey, she really did not say another word.
When they arrived at the Antique Shop, a familiar black Rolls-Royce was unexpectedly parked at the entrance.
Seeing Hoshino Gen and Shimizu Yu approaching, the rear door of the car promptly opened.
Sasaki Ayane stepped out of the vehicle.
Hoshino Gen could roughly guess the purpose of Sasaki Ayane's visit. He gestured toward the door, indicating that they should talk inside, while Shimizu Yu greeted her rather listlessly, "Good afternoon, Sasaki-san..."
"Good afternoon, Shimizu-san," Sasaki Ayane responded politely and calmly.
Hoshino Gen opened the door and took the lead inside, with Shimizu Yu and Sasaki Ayane following closely behind.
Shimizu Yu went to the front to begin her preparations for cleaning, while Hoshino Gen took Sasaki Ayane directly to the backyard.
The Antique Shop's backyard looked beautiful against the backdrop of the blue sky and white clouds. Even though autumn was gradually approaching, it was still a scene filled with singing birds and fragrant flowers.
"Have you finished the first stage of Object Control practice?" Hoshino Gen asked, cutting straight to the chase.
Sasaki Ayane did not answer. Instead, she bent down, picked up a cobblestone from the ground, and placed it in the center of her palm.
After a short moment, the cobblestone floated up unsteadily into the air, gradually becoming more and more stable...