After Tennoji-san successfully turned down the marriage arrangement, the proficiency exams were held at Kikou Academy.
Unlike regular midterms or finals, the proficiency exams covered fewer subjects. However, because this was a prestigious institution, the sheer number of questions was immense, and the testing was carried out over three full days.
About a week later, the results were finally announced.
"Everyone! Over here, over here!"
A large number of students had already gathered at the bulletin board in front of the staff room.
After leaving our bags in the classroom, I headed toward the board with Hinako. Asahi-san beckoned to us from a distance. Tennoji-san was standing right beside her.
"I just ran into Tennoji-san!" Asahi-san chirped.
Tennoji-san gave a silent, elegant bow. Then, she turned her gaze toward me.
"Let's check the results together."
If I wasn't being conceited, those words felt directed at me personally rather than the group as a whole.
Tension weighed on my shoulders, and I swallowed hard. At Kikou Academy, the names and scores of the top fifty students were posted publicly after every exam. My goal was to break into that top fifty.
Steeling my resolve, I looked at the board.
My name was—
"……It’s not here."
My knees felt ready to give way, but I managed to keep standing through sheer willpower. I hadn't reached my goal.
"That is only to be expected," Tennoji-san said from beside my dejected self. "Every student at this Academy has received a gifted education since childhood. If you wish to catch up to them, you will need years of effort."
She was right, of course.
Even so, I had wanted to show results. After Tennoji-san had gone to the trouble of tutoring me, I couldn't even give her a good report.
As I fell into a sullen silence, Tennoji-san let out a soft sigh.
"……Did you self-grade your exam?"
"Eh? No, I haven't yet..."
"From what I observed of your progress, I believe your score was very close. At the very least, in terms of sheer improvement, your growth is likely the highest of anyone here."
Tennoji-san looked at me with eyes of praise.
"If you are still not satisfied… then you simply need to continue putting in the effort from now on."
Those words instantly lifted my sinking spirits. Seeing the faint smile on her face, the pressure on my heart vanished.
"……You're right."
That’s right. I just needed to keep working. Because Tennoji-san wasn't going to leave this Academy anymore. I could entrust this frustration to the future.
"Hmm, I'm not on the list either. Well, I expected that much," Asahi-san said.
"I'm obviously not on there, either," Taisho added.
"Yeah. Me neither," Narika finished.
The three of them seemed to have given up from the start. That left… Hinako and Tennoji-san.
"Konohana-san and Tennoji-san look like they’ll be in the single digits. Hmm… but the crowd is so thick, I can't see the top from here."
Asahi-san stood on her tiptoes, trying to peer over the crowd toward the top of the board. The names of the top ten were announced grandly on a separate section. An even larger crowd had gathered in front of that one.
"Whoa, look at that! There's a perfect score!" Taisho shouted, sounding impressed by the chatter around us.
"Is a perfect score that rare?" I asked.
"You bet! The exams here are notoriously difficult. A perfect score almost never happens."
The questions had certainly been brutal. For a moment, we all turned our gazes toward Hinako and Tennoji-san. If anyone had achieved a perfect score, it had to be one of them.
"This time, I will certainly… surpass Hinako Konohana…"
Tennoji-san let out a tiny murmur that no one else caught. But I heard it. I was the only one who knew the depth of her resolve.
As the tension peaked, the students in the crowd noticed Hinako and Tennoji-san standing there and quickly made way. The noisy crowd parted to either side like the Red Sea before Moses.
The two great Young Ladies of Kikou Academy stepped forward and stood before the board with serene grace.
Looking at the results—our eyes widened.
"This is..."
"Two… perfect scores…?"
The name at the very top was Hinako's. Immediately below it was Tennoji-san's. However, their scores were identical—a perfect 800 points.
The surrounding students began to applaud. Amidst the clapping, I leaned in and whispered to Hinako.
"You worked hard, Hinako."
"……Mm," Hinako replied in her natural voice. "Because… I didn't want to lose to those two."
She sounded a bit sulky.
I couldn't help but chuckle. Thinking about it, it was obvious. Tennoji-san wasn't the only one who had poured her heart and soul into this exam. Hinako had been working just as hard.
"……Hehe."
A smile escaped Tennoji-san's lips. She hadn't technically achieved her goal of beating Hinako, but she looked satisfied.
"Ohohoho! That is exactly why you are my rival!"
Tennoji-san laughed in high spirits. It was as if she was simply delighted that she could continue being Hinako's rival from here on out.
"And for that rival, I have a proposal."
Tennoji-san's cheeks flushed slightly, and she looked at Hinako with a trace of nerves.
"W-would you… like to come to my home tonight?"
That evening, I visited the Tennoji manor once again.
"Well then, we shall go our separate ways for now."
Ms. Shizune stepped out from the passenger seat of the car and bowed to Hinako and me.
"What are you going to do, Ms. Shizune?"
"I shall accompany Kagon-sama to offer our greetings to the head of the Tennoji family first. Itsuki-sama, please go with the Young Lady to pay your respects later."
"I understand."
Behind Ms. Shizune, Kagon-san was adjusting his tie. While Hinako and I talked with Tennoji-san, Kagon-san and Ms. Shizune were going to meet with Masatsugu-san and Hanami-san, the leaders of the Tennoji family.
"Itsuki… is that suit… a new one…?" Hinako asked in a small voice.
"Yeah. Since I heard tonight’s dinner would be French, I thought I’d go with a French-made suit since I had the chance."
Before leaving the manor, Ms. Shizune had asked which suit I would be wearing, so I’d tried to coordinate it myself. Since I had worn an Italian suit for the previous Konohana social event, I wanted a change of pace.
Hearing our exchange, Kagon-san murmured softly from nearby.
"You've become refined."
"Eh?"
I could hardly believe my ears. "……Did you just… praise me?"
"I was praising the Tennoji family's talent development techniques. Not you."
With that, Kagon-san turned and began walking away with Ms. Shizune.
I wasn't so naive as to take those words at face value. Realizing that I had actually been acknowledged by Kagon-san, a slow sense of accomplishment welled up within me. This was all thanks to the time I’d spent with Tennoji-san.
I stepped into the manor alongside Hinako.
"I have been waiting for you! Konohana-san, Tomonari-san!"
Tennoji-san welcomed us with a radiant smile. In that moment, she looked less like a noble Young Lady and more like a girl who had been eagerly waiting for her friends.
"Thank you for inviting me today," Hinako said, having perfectly switched into her Young Lady mode. "I have visited several times before, but this is the first time I have been invited as a private guest. Was there a specific reason?"
"There is no deep reason," Tennoji-san replied with a soft smile. "If I had to say… I simply realized that I wanted to become friends with you as a classmate, rather than just as the daughter of the Tennoji family."
Hinako's eyes widened slightly. For her to almost lose her composure while in Young Lady mode meant Tennoji-san's statement had been genuinely shocking.
Tennoji-san had changed. She now accepted both sides of her reality: being the heir to the Tennoji name and being an individual girl.
"……I, too, wish to become friends with you, Tennoji-san," Hinako said with a smile, regaining her poise.
Tennoji-san’s cheeks turned pink. "T-to have it said so directly is rather embarrassing..."
I watched them from a short distance as a slightly awkward but sweet atmosphere settled between them. Then, I happened to glance over to the side.
"Ugh…! Mirei… our Mirei is growing up…!"
"You're right, dear…! Our daughter looks more brilliant than ever…!"
Mirei's parents were standing there, literally weeping with joy.
"Tomonari-kun.……No, Itsuki-kun."
Masatsugu-san wiped his tears with a handkerchief and approached me. For some reason, he had changed how he addressed me.
"I’ve heard the story from Mirei. It seems you were the one who drew out my daughter’s true feelings."
"No, I wouldn't say..."
"Mirei has found a good friend.……I see now. It certainly would be a waste for her to leave the Academy."
Masatsugu-san looked at Hinako and me. Looking at his gentle face, it was clear that he cared about Mirei’s happiness far more than the family's business standing.
"By the way, Itsuki-kun. Are you interested in the Tennoji Group?"
"Pardon?" I blinked, caught off guard.
"Was that too roundabout? Let me be blunt… would you have any interest in marrying into our family?"
"Huh? No… wait, what?"
"It seems Mirei desires a marriage for love. Currently, you are the man closest to my daughter, are you not? First, I would like to hear your intentions—"
"—Father!"
Tennoji-san’s shout echoed through the room. She must have been eavesdropping. She rushed over, her face a bright, burning red.
"Please do not move the conversation forward on your own!"
"B-but, if Itsuki-kun is to join the family in the future, we must have him learn the business starting now—"
"You are being far too ahead of yourself!"
Perhaps because Tennoji-san had reasserted herself as his daughter, Masatsugu-san’s fatherly instincts were running wild. He eventually slumped his shoulders and fell silent.
"Honestly…… my apologies, Tomonari-san," Tennoji-san said, looking mortified.
"No, I don't really mind..." I gave a strained smile. "Even as a joke, it gave me quite a shock."
When I said that, Tennoji-san’s expression turned strangely pensive. She looked at me with a slightly sulky pout.
"……It might not necessarily be a joke."
"Eh?"
"At least for me, there is no member of the opposite sex I am closer to than you. Perhaps the Tennoji family might eventually bring a formal marriage arrangement to you after all."
"……No, but I’m… in truth, I’m not actually the successor to a company..." I whispered the last part so the others wouldn't hear.
Tennoji-san flashed a smile full of confidence.
"Oh? Do you think my parents would care about a title like that?"
They wouldn't care, I realized. It was precisely because they didn't care that Tennoji-san had been liberated from her original arrangement.
"If an arrangement with me were brought to you, what would you do?"
"What would I do? Well… first, I’d have to hear your intentions, Tennoji-san..."
"Then, if I were eager for it, you would accept?"
"Th-that's..."
I found myself at a loss, unable to even imagine such a future. Seeing me struggle, Tennoji-san let out a soft chuckle.
"I'm joking. It would be cruel to interrogate a swindler like that."
She said it playfully, but then she leaned in.
"But, if such a time comes—"
With her usual self-assured grace, she reached out and softly touched my lips with her index finger.
"—I will definitely make sure you choose me."