"Hey, get to your seats... And look, I told you that you could use antiperspirant, but stick to unscented or light scents."
It was after 5th period. Just as the majority of the girls had finished changing and returned from the locker room, Mr. Azuma arrived, clutching a stack of documents.
As soon as he stepped into the classroom, he frowned and offered that sharp critique, prompting several students to groan and boo in protest.
"Then let us use the air conditioning, please! It’s so hot!"
"Yeah, what she said!"
"Usually, the cooling doesn't start until July, but... it really is a scorcher this year. I'll try bringing it up at today's faculty meeting."
"Yes!"
"Mr. Azuma, you're the best!"
"You bunch of opportunists..."
Mr. Azuma stood at the podium, a wry smile on his face as the class flipped their attitude in an instant.
Haruka stood up to help him distribute the handouts, but he raised a hand to stop her and grinned.
"Thanks, Akise. But I’m planning to hand these out after homeroom is over. If I gave them to you now, none of you would listen to a word I have to say."
"Does that mean, by any chance..."
"Yeah. These are your individual grade reports. They list your total midterm scores, your rank within the grade and the class for each subject, the averages, and all that."
The reaction to his declaration was a chaotic mix of triumph and despair.
While those with less-than-stellar scores, like Hashimoto and Hamasaki, let out audible screams, the high-achievers like Haruka and Takamiya-san remained perfectly composed.
I was surprisingly calm myself. I’d scored 833 points across ten subjects. With a result like that, I didn't think I had much to worry about.
Homeroom proceeded just like it had this morning. After the announcements from the subject liaisons and the committees, the teacher began his final talk.
"There aren't many announcements, so let's move fast. First, the transition period for the summer uniform ends this week. Temperatures are climbing steadily, so make sure you're ready. Also..."
He conveyed two more points of business, and following the signal from the student on duty, we gave our closing greetings. Finally, the moment everyone had been waiting for arrived: the distribution of the grade reports.
"These reports will record your academic progress over the next three years. I'll collect them at the end of the term, so until then, write down your reflections on the exams and get a signature from your parents. I'll hand them out by attendance number. First, Akasaka—"
"Here."
As Akasaka stood up with an anxious look, Haruka lined up behind him.
She accepted her report with a natural, unpretentious grace, gave a polite bow, and returned to her seat. Immediately, the girls nearby swarmed her desk.
When Haruka opened the report, a chorus of cheers erupted from the girls even before she could get a good look at it herself.
"No way, first in the entire grade!"
"As expected of Haruka! You're a genius!"
"How does it feel to officially be the smartest student in the first year?"
"At this rate, you'll take first place during the finals too!"
"Don't say it so loudly! I’m not a genius or anything. My study habits just paid off this time. We’ll have two more subjects for the finals, so I can't let my guard down. I have to keep working hard!"
"Ooh, such a humble and considerate comment..."
The rest of the classroom was just as rowdy.
Students were comparing scores with friends; some were collapsing in mock despair the moment they saw their ranks, while others were practically jumping for joy. It was incredibly lively.
Since my surname is Yanagida, I still had a while to go. Hashimoto stood up, passing Akasaka and Oka as they walked toward me.
"Hey, Akasaka, Oka. How'd it go for you guys?"
"So-so. At least I’m in the top half."
"Oh, better than I thought."
"Why does the guy with worse grades than me look so relaxed?"
"Hey, I avoided failing any subjects, so it's a win in my book! Anyway, my turn."
As we watched Hashimoto head for the podium with a carefree air, Akasaka turned to me with a teasing grin.
"I heard Akise-san got first in the grade. As her boyfriend, I bet you're feeling pretty proud, right, Yanagida?"
"That's the result of Haruka's hard work. Even if I am her boyfriend, it's not my place to take credit for it."
"O-Oh... Sorry. Didn't mean anything by it."
The way Akasaka pulled back slightly made me feel guilty.
I should have just laughed it off with a joke, but I’d gotten too serious over a bit of lighthearted banter. I apologized for killing the mood, but Akasaka just laughed and shook his head.
"I’m the one who said something insensitive, so don't worry about it. Besides, that... sincere side of yours? It's definitely a good trait. Both Hashimoto and I like hanging out with you because you're that kind of guy."
"Akasaka..."
I really was lucky when it came to the people around me.
Considering we met through Hashimoto, it was a perfect example of "birds of a feather" in the best possible way.
While we were chatting, Hashimoto returned with his report in hand. Hamasaki, who was next on the list, was with him.
"Sup... Oh, are you guys bonding? What were you talking about?"
"Nothing important. So, what were your results?"
"Heh heh heh..."
Hashimoto let out a suspicious chuckle and shoved his report toward us. We all let out a collective "Whoa" the moment we saw the numbers.
It was a disastrous mess. Almost every subject was well below the average, with some teetering right on the edge of a failing grade. Naturally, his rank was buried near the bottom.
"Hashimoto, how did you even pass the entrance exams?"
"He's here on a sports recommendation," Akasaka explained. "This school is a pretty big name in soccer, after all."
"I thought even sports students needed a certain baseline of academic performance, though," Hamasaki added, tilting his head.
For some reason, Hashimoto puffed out his chest with pride.
"Back in middle school, my girlfriend whipped me into shape so I could keep my grades up. She even helped me study for the entrance exam!"
"I see..."
I wasn't sure if that counted as bragging. It sounded more like a testimony to his girlfriend’s immense patience.
As the line progressed, I heard the teacher call Moriyama, who was right before me. I gave a quick nod to Hashimoto and the others and stood up.
After solemnly accepting my report and turning back toward my seat, I found Moriyama walking alongside me.
"Hey, Moriyama! Show this idiot what the soccer club is really capable of!" Hashimoto shouted.
"What do you mean by that...? It's not like I have anything to be especially proud of," Moriyama said with a wry smile.
Akasaka snatched the report from Moriyama’s hand. I winced at the boldness, but Moriyama didn't seem to mind.
Maybe I was just being too sensitive. I felt a sudden pang of sentimentality, wondering if I just lacked experience when it came to how friends acted with each other.
Akasaka and the others let out impressed groans as they scanned the report.
"Dude, third in the class and eighth in the grade... How is that not something to be proud of?"
"If this isn't good enough, what does that make our grades? I knew you were smart, but I didn't think you were this good."
"I'm better at soccer than Moriyama, but Moriyama's better at studying than me," Hashimoto declared. "He wins at books, I win on the pitch. It's a perfect balance!"
"What kind of balance is that?" I interjected, though I followed up with my own words of praise.
Moriyama didn't look particularly happy. Instead, a bitter smile masked his expression.
"...I have a childhood friend who’s incredibly talented. I’ve been studying hard since we were kids because I wanted to catch up to her. In the end, I never beat her once... but thanks to that effort, I can still pull off decent grades today."
"I think you're underselling 'decent'..."
Moriyama's gaze wandered across the classroom as if searching for a ghost of the past, finally coming to rest on a tall girl wearing silver-rimmed glasses. The moment he looked at her, he wiped the bitterness away and replaced it with a smile, as if nothing had happened.
"More importantly, how did you do, Yanagida-kun? You were being tutored by Akise-san, weren't you?"
"Oh, yeah... Let's see."
Since he’d changed the subject himself, I figured it wasn't a topic I should pry into, especially since we’d only met an hour ago.
I shifted my focus and opened my report.
...6th out of forty in the class, and 29th out of two hundred and forty-two in the grade. It was significantly better than I’d hoped for. I was genuinely thrilled.
When I showed the report to the group, Hashimoto and the others looked genuinely stunned.
"No way. You're actually high-tier."
"As expected of my Master! My respect for you knows no bounds!"
"I didn't really peg you as the studious type, Yanagida. This is a surprise... You're amazing."
I felt my face heat up at the flood of compliments.
Right then, a figure beside me collapsed with a thud. I looked down to find Oka, who had been silent this whole time, on his hands and knees with his shoulders shaking.
"Damn it... I lost to Yanagida...!"
"Is it really that devastating? What was your rank?"
"............"
"Let's see... Wow, you're not as bad as Hashimoto, but you're definitely closer to the bottom than the top. Why did you think you could compete with him?"
At Akasaka's blunt words, Oka slumped even further.
Apparently, my "rival" wasn't exactly a scholar. I hoped he’d use this frustration as fuel to work harder next time... though I wasn't sure what right I had to say that.
Watching them bicker—teasing Oka, only for the verbal fire to spread to Hashimoto—made me smile.
I realized this was the first time I’d ever experienced this: hanging out with friends and making a fuss over test results.
There was a time when I would have looked on with bitter jealousy, wondering what was so fun about it. But now that I was actually part of it, it was unexpectedly wonderful.
In the middle of my quiet reflection, a cheerful voice reached my ears.
"Tatsumi-kun!"
"Oh, Haruka."
I looked up to see Haruka standing there with a radiant smile, thrusting her report toward me.
The sheet was filled with single-digit numbers, clearly marking her as the top student for the midterms. She was looking at me expectantly.
"First in the grade... That's incredible," I said, smiling back. "You really worked hard for this."
"Hehe, was I a good girl?"
"The best. You did amazing."
"Ehehe, I'm so happy...!"
The way she blushed and held her cheeks at my simple praise was so cute it was almost hard to look at. I felt a sudden, powerful urge to pull her into my arms.
The restraint I’d been exercising all day was starting to backfire. I had to consciously force my arms to stay at my sides. I was dangerously close to throwing caution and public decency to the wind.
Unaware of my internal struggle, Haruka cleared her throat and pulled her phone from her pocket.
"I think that as my boyfriend, Tatsumi-kun, you should give me a reward for working so hard!"
"Is this... a crepe shop?"
"Yes! They just opened a stand in front of the station, and they have a great reputation. It looks like they’re open until six. Want to go?"
So, this was the reward she wanted for taking first place.
I certainly wasn't going to say no. If a simple crepe was enough to reward my hardworking girlfriend, I’d buy her as many as she wanted.
"Of course. I'll get my things ready."
"Thank you, Tatsumi-kun! Hehe, our first real after-school date!"
She held her phone to her lips, wearing a purely joyful smile.
A date. Right... now that she mentioned it, this would be our first official date since we started seeing each other.
"Actually... that might not work as a reward for you, Haruka."
"Huh? Why not?"
"Because I wanted to go on a date with you too."
If this was supposed to be a reward for her effort, it felt like it should be something solely for her benefit. I knew I was being a bit pedantic, but I didn't want to compromise when it came to doing things for her.
Haruka just laughed at my concern, as if it were the simplest thing in the world.
"In that case, why don't we just say today’s date is a reward from me to you for working hard on your tests?"
"...That's a brilliant solution."
"Isn't it?"
I felt like a date plus crepes didn't quite balance the scales between my effort and hers, but any further argument would just be boorish. Besides, my own heart was racing at the prospect of our first after-school date.
I decided to accept her kindness and enjoy the date to the fullest—while making sure I did everything in my power to make it a reward she wouldn't forget.
"Those two are on another level... I actually respect them at this point."
"We were completely tuned out in record time."
"Behold, the majestic form of my Master! I must learn from this...!"
"I really think you shouldn't."
I thought I heard some whispering from the sidelines, but it was probably just my imagination.