A few days had passed since the school was sent into an uproar by our relationship announcement. Far from the commotion, the two of us had enjoyed our first after-school date, but now the reality of student life was settling back in.
After finishing second period, I groaned as I stared at the memo section of my student handbook.
Recorded there was a summarized list of the test ranges for every subject announced in class so far. As I’d feared, the scope was daunting. Just reviewing the material once was going to be an ordeal.
The real trouble subjects were Home Economics and Health and Physical Education—classes that hadn't been included in the midterms. Since I hadn't been reviewing them regularly like my core subjects, I had to start from absolute zero.
The only saving grace was that they were almost entirely based on rote memorization... but conversely, that meant I had to sink significant time into drilling the facts into my brain.
I was just thinking that I’d need a solid plan to review efficiently when Hashimoto, who had been wearing a pained expression with a textbook in hand, suddenly turned around.
"Hey, Yanagida. There’s something from that last math lesson I didn't quite get."
"O-Oh... Where?"
I was taken aback. I never expected Hashimoto to actually ask me a study-related question.
Undeterred by my slightly rude reaction, Hashimoto glared at his textbook with a look of intense focus. Seeing him so serious made me feel like I had to match his energy. I straightened my posture and opened my own book.
"It’s this part here... I don’t get why the answer turns out like this."
"Ah. For this section, you need to apply the formula we learned previously..."
As I explained the logic while tracing the notes in the textbook, Hashimoto’s eyes sparkled. "I see!"
"I get it now! I was skipping this calculation, so everything was coming out wonky! You’re a lifesaver, Yanagida. Thanks!"
"I’m glad I could help. That part covers the summary of the whole unit, so I’m sure it’ll be on the test."
"Ugh..."
Hashimoto made a look of pure disgust. However, even though he looked incredibly reluctant, he vigorously scribbled a note in his textbook: "DEFINITELY ON THE TEST!!"
I wasn't sure what had brought this on, but he seemed remarkably motivated. I wondered if he’d had some kind of sudden epiphany.
Perhaps noticing my suspicious look, Hashimoto puffed out his chest with pride.
"The truth is, I might actually be a starter for this year's Inter-high."
"A starter... as a first-year? That’s impressive."
"Right?"
Looking at Hashimoto’s smug grin, I felt a genuine sense of admiration. According to Akasaka, our school’s soccer club was a powerhouse. To be a starter for a major tournament in the summer of his first year spoke volumes about his talent. His passion for soccer was clearly far beyond what I had imagined.
"So, yeah. I can’t let my Victory Road be blocked by some stupid test."
"Right. Because if you fail and have to take supplementary classes..."
"I will absolutely, no matter what, even if it kills me, stay out of the red...!"
Hashimoto declared this with a terrifying intensity. Studying hard just to avoid extra classes so he could play soccer to his heart's content—it was a simple, healthy motivation.
While I felt a pang of envy at how he could enjoy a sport with his whole heart and soul, I purely wanted to root for him. Hashimoto had helped me out plenty since I'd started here. If I could repay that debt by helping him study, it was the least I could do.
"If there’s anything else you don't understand, feel free to ask. I’ll help however I can."
"O-Oh... Man, you're pretty reliable, aren't you?"
Hashimoto looked surprised for a second, but a happy grin quickly spread across his face. I smiled back and patted his shoulder.
"I’m looking forward to seeing you go wild on the big stage, future Ace."
"Leave it to me, best friend!"
§
"Yanagida~~"
"I’ll listen, just wait until I’m finished eating."
The day after I promised to help him, during lunch break, Hashimoto came crying to me again. I gave him an exasperated reply while swallowing a mouthful of Kinpira Gobo.
Since then, despite the occasional complaint about being tired, Hashimoto had been tackling his studies with a level of seriousness that shocked everyone who knew him.
Today was particularly impressive. Immediately after morning practice, he’d come to the classroom and headed straight for his desk to open his notebooks. He’d even surprised the teachers by actively raising his hand during class. Even during self-study periods—times he’d normally spend shamelessly napping—he worked in silence, only pausing to ask me questions from the seat behind him. He hadn't grumbled once.
They say a man can transform in just three days, but what on earth had happened to him overnight?
As for me, while I racked my brain trying to find the best way to explain things to him, I truly felt the weight of Haruka’s words from our study group: "Teaching others helps you organize your own thoughts."
I actually felt a bit of gratitude toward Hashimoto for the opportunity, but at the same time, I couldn't help but feel a little regretful on his behalf.
"If only you could show this much enthusiasm for your schoolwork all the time..."
"There's no point crying over the past! What matters is the future!"
"You're the last person who should be saying that."
I retorted to his shameless declaration, but it didn't seem to faze him. I let out a sigh and turned my attention back to the bento in front of me.
Today was one of the two days a week I got to eat Haruka’s handmade lunch. I felt bad for the desperate Hashimoto, but if I had to choose between my best friend’s grades and my girlfriend’s cooking, the latter won by a landslide. Besides, if you stay red-lined all the time, you’ll just burn out. He needed a breather.
"Whimper... whimper..."
"...Are you seriously pretending to be a dog? Do that again and I’m unfriending you."
"That’s a bit extreme!"
I actually got goosebumps for a second. I chewed on a piece of fried chicken to distract myself from the sheer creepiness of the sound. God, this was delicious.
Watching our exchange, Haruka, who was eating her own lunch across from me, let out a bright laugh.
"Ahaha! You two really do get along, don't you? Even though you haven't known each other long, it's like you're childhood best friends."
"...Well, this guy is just exceptionally friendly."
It had been about a month since I’d met Hashimoto. I’d often been staggered by his communication skills, thinking, So this is what a true extrovert looks like... but I think his truly amazing trait was his ability to gauge the appropriate distance.
He used his natural brightness to step into someone’s space, but he never overstayed his welcome. There was no calculation behind it; he just interacted with people with genuine goodwill. He was naturally gifted at maintaining a "just right" relationship with everyone.
In short, he was just incredibly good with people.
For my part, I couldn't deny that talking to Hashimoto gave me a sense of security that was different from being with Haruka. I’d never tell him that, though.
Haruka was smiling as if she had sensed my inner thoughts, and I reflexively looked away. Was I really that easy to read?
Having no idea what I was thinking, Hashimoto pouted.
"Wait, am I being treated like a dog? I thought that whimper was pretty spot on."
"Don't ever do it again."
"Stop with the scary face! ...Akise-san, what do you think? ...Whoa, that’s a textbook polite smile. Wait, was it really that bad?"
Hashimoto looked genuinely shocked. Was he really that confident in his dog impression?
A hand was placed gently on Hashimoto’s shoulder. Standing there with a wry smile was Moriyama, a fellow member of the soccer club.
"You shouldn't get in the way of a happy couple, Hiroto. If you have a question, I’ll help."
"But you hardly ever give me the answers!"
"That’s because you try to get the answer without thinking for yourself. There’s no point in teaching you like that. It’s not good for you. If you try to solve it on your own first and then hit a wall, I’m happy to help."
"Guh."
Hashimoto groaned, unable to argue back. Hearing that, Takamiya, who was eating lunch nearby, nodded in firm agreement.
"Well said, Moriyama-kun. Hearing the answer won't help you at all. Do you understand, Miki?"
"Guh!"
Another groan came from the other side. Following a lecture that seemed destined to continue for a while, Mukai’s head sank lower and lower as she nibbled on her bread. I could’ve sworn her twin-tails were wilting.
...I thought I saw a flicker of an indescribable, complex emotion on Moriyama’s face when he saw Takamiya’s reaction, but I decided it was probably just my imagination.
At the table where Moriyama had led him—which was only two seats away—the usual group of guys like Akasaka and Hamasaki spoke up.
"You're putting in a lot of effort for once, Hashimoto. It wouldn't be funny if you failed and couldn't even make it to the tournament."
"This is what happens when you don't study properly during the term, sir. You reap what you sow, sir."
"No, Hamasaki, you're not one to talk. Your midterm rank was almost the same as Hashimoto's."
"That’s exactly why, sir! I can’t let him be the only one to escape! You’re going to work hard with me in extra classes, Hashimoto!"
"This guy is the worst!"
"Agh, shut up, shut up!"
Hashimoto raised both hands and shouted to silence the rowdy group, drawing the eyes of everyone nearby. At the center of the attention, Hashimoto wore a fearless smile.
"Heh heh heh... Failing grades? Supplementary classes? Please, stop with the low-level talk. My eyes are fixed on a much higher goal..."
"What did you say...?"
"What is he talking about all of a sudden?"
"Has he gone crazy from studying too much, sir?"
"No, it hasn't even been half a day."
"Silence! The passion boiling in my chest won't be satisfied with just avoiding a failure! Set your sights high! I, Hiroto Hashimoto, hereby declare—that I will aim for the top thirty in the grade for the final exams!"
A stir of "Ooh..." rose from the surrounding students at Hashimoto’s grand declaration. It was no wonder they were surprised; Hashimoto, who was famous for hating his books, had suddenly set a massive goal.
Hashimoto waved back to the mix of encouragement and heckling, looking very satisfied with himself.
In contrast to Haruka and Mukai, who were giving him small rounds of applause, the gazes from me, Akasaka, and Takamiya were cold.
...What was he plotting? Until first period, Hashimoto was desperate just to survive, but now he was boasting about a pipe dream. However, he seemed entirely serious. As I’d observed, he was putting his heart into his work.
The mystery was the source of his motivation. What on earth was driving him this far? Just as I was about to ask him directly, a voice came from the classroom door.
"Hashimoto! Shiori-chan is calling for you!"
Looking toward the door, I saw one of the gyaru who had approached me before, and a female student peeking inside. She had black hair cut into a short bob and eyes of the same color that felt almost cold. Judging by her height, she was quite small, and the hand she placed on the door was white and slender.
She had a cutely refined face, but right now, it was contorted as she watched Hashimoto thrusting his fist in the air. To put it bluntly, she looked completely repulsed. Her thin lips trembled as she spoke in a low voice.
"Wait, Hiro, what on earth are you doing...?"
"Oh, it's Shio! What’s up? Did you come to see me again even though we just met a bit ago?"
"I just came to return the textbook I borrowed... Don't come near me. Don't drag me into your bizarre behavior."
"Calling it bizarre is harsh; it's just a declaration of determination."
The moment Hashimoto saw the student called Shiori, he ran over to her looking delighted. She was clearly treating him like a nuisance, but he didn't care and aggressively closed the distance. I was a bit surprised by his forcefulness. Given the nicknames, they seemed to be on very intimate terms.
Wait, could it be...?
"Hey, Akasaka. That girl..."
"Hm? Oh, Yanagida, you don't know her? That's Shiori Shinohara. She's Hashimoto's girlfriend."
"I see, so that's the one..."
I remembered what Hashimoto had told me before. They were childhood friends, and they’d started dating after Hashimoto confessed to her following their last middle school tournament. He said he’d only passed the entrance exams because she’d forced him to study.
"Did you know her, Haruka? Shinohara-san?"
"I've talked to her a few times, just small talk. Shiori-chan is the Vice-Chairperson of Class D, so we meet during Committee Chair Meetings."
"I see."
While we were talking, Hashimoto grabbed Shiori’s arm and brought her over to us as if dragging her. She had her brow furrowed, radiating an aura of absolute reluctance.
"Wait, I told you not to pull me... Ah, honestly."
In contrast to Shiori, who sighed in resignation, Hashimoto wore a wide smile.
"The guys in the soccer club probably know, but I’ll introduce her since the rest of you don't! This is my girlfriend, Shio!"
"If you're going to introduce me, use my actual name... Nice to meet you, I'm Shiori Shinohara. Thank you for taking care of this idiot."
As Shiori bowed politely, those of us who hadn't met her before returned the nod with various greetings. Haruka, who already knew her, waved brightly.
"Long time no see, Shiori-chan! Not since the last committee meeting."
"Yes, it's been a while, Haruka-san. I've heard various rumors. ...Could it be, this is the boy?"
Shiori’s eyes, shining with curiosity, turned toward me. Haruka nodded with a proud smile.
"I’ll introduce him to you, Shiori-chan. This is my boyfriend, Tatsumi-kun!"
"...Hello, I'm Tatsumi Yanagida. Nice to meet you, Shinohara-san."
"Nice to meet you too, Yanagida-kun. I've heard a lot about you from Hiro. It seems he's been causing you all sorts of trouble..."
"No, not at all. If anything, I'm the one who's been helped by Hashimoto."
We bowed to each other repeatedly. While I was often caught in the wake of Hashimoto’s whims, I didn't mind. I’d been able to fit into the class thanks to him, and I was grateful.
...But that aside, it was annoying when he gave me a smug look as if he were my savior.
"Right, right? I've been thinking of all sorts of ways to help the shy and introverted Yanagida-kun fit in, you know? You should be a bit more grate—ow!? My shin! You can't do that to a soccer player's leg...!"
"You're exaggerating; I didn't kick you that hard. ...Anyway, if this guy is being annoying or getting carried away, don't hesitate to say so. I'll handle him."
Hashimoto was hopping around holding his leg while Shiori ignored him, wearing a smile that carried a strange, heavy pressure. It seemed this was a familiar sight, as the soccer club members just shook their heads.
"Well, it's fine to get carried away, but you made a loud declaration in front of everyone. Make sure you actually make the top thirty."
"Ow, ow... Heh, who do you think you're talking to? Once I've said it, I won't take it back. On top of that, I'm going to beat you too, Yanagida! I have a promise with Shio, after all!"
Hashimoto thrust his fist up with full confidence. While I felt a strange sense of reliability in him, we all tilted our heads at the word "promise." Even Shiori looked confused.
"A promise with me...? I don't remember any—... Ah, you, don't tell me."
Something clicked for her. Shiori’s face turned beet red as she began to panic. Hashimoto flashed a grin and spoke out boldly.
"We promised yesterday, didn't we? If I can make it into the top thirty in the grade for the finals, Shio and I are going to the pool in our swimsuits!"
"...What?"
The word leaked from my mouth before I could stop it.
"...Well, I had a sneaking suspicion it was something like that," Moriyama noted.
"He's certainly honest with his desires, sir. ...Wait, is being that hungry the secret to success? Ugh..."
"If he hadn't said anything, it might have been cool. But that’s just Hashimoto for you," Akasaka added.
I was largely in agreement with the others. Wanting to enjoy soccer was surely part of it, but... I felt a bit conflicted, wondering if this was the primary reason I was helping him.
"A pool? That sounds great! Hey, Haruka, Karin, let's go too!"
"I’m in! We’ll have to go buy swimsuits!"
"I'll pass," Karin said. "It's hot, and I don't want to go outside... Plus, I can't swim."
"Don't say that! Let's go, Karin! The water will be cool!"
"It's not just about swimming; just soaking in the water and relaxing is a great way to enjoy the pool too. Right?"
"Exactly!"
"Wait, Miki, you're too close. ...Fine, if you two are going that far."
"Yay!"
Regardless of the exasperated men, the girls were already buzzing over the idea of a pool trip. It was good to see them having fun, at least. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Shiori approaching Hashimoto.
"I thought you were joking... I don't remember agreeing to that."
"Ehh? What's wrong with the pool? We went every year when we were kids."
"Our ages and our relationship are completely different from back then! Everything is!"
"Well, yeah, but that's exactly the point."
To Shiori, who was expressing anger—likely out of embarrassment—Hashimoto spoke with a gentle smile.
"We only started dating after our last summer in middle school, right? Since this is effectively our first summer together, I want to enjoy it to the fullest."
"I... I understand that, but..."
"If you really hate it, I'll give up... but honestly, Shio, weren't you interested too?"
"Wh... why would you..."
"Because Shio, you're the type to clearly refuse when you really mean no. You've been dodging the subject since yesterday... but you haven't said 'no' or 'I hate it' even once, have you?"
"...In the first place, this is only if you can actually make the top thirty."
"Hehe, you know I can do it when I set my mind to it."
"Idiot... Honestly, you're such an idiot."
Shiori muttered the insult affectionately, and Hashimoto laughed cheerfully.
I, who had been listening to their exchange while finishing my lunch, couldn't help but be impressed. They were childhood friends, but it was clear a deep bond of trust existed between them—something others couldn't easily replicate.
As I sipped my tea, immersed in a strange sense of emotion, my sleeve was gently tugged. I looked up to see Haruka peeking at my face with a mischievous smile.
"What do you think, Tatsumi-kun?"
"About what?"
As I tilted my head, Haruka’s smile deepened.
"A pool trip with me in a swimsuit. Do you want to go?"
"I want to go."
My mouth moved on its own before I could think. Sorry for doubting you, Hashimoto. This was an incredibly important matter. My immediate response was so blunt that Haruka laughed out loud.
"Ahaha! Even though you said sleepovers were a no-go... do you want to see my swimsuit that much?"
"That's not—! ...Well, it's not that I don't, but more than that, I thought playing at the pool with you sounded like a lot of fun."
"...Lewd."
"Ngh...!!"
Blushing slightly, Haruka narrowed her eyes with a grin and whispered the tease. My heart throbbed at that gaze and the faint heat in her voice. I imagined Haruka in a swimsuit... then hurriedly shook my head to banish the thought. No more than that. It was dangerous territory.
Whether she knew of my inner struggle or not, Haruka spoke with a lively voice.
"To help the lewd Tatsumi-kun get motivated for the tests, let's have a match."
"For now, stop with the 'lewd.' ...A match, like the one we had for the midterms?"
When I asked, remembering our bet over the right to use each other's first names, Haruka nodded with a smile and dropped a bombshell.
"If Tatsumi-kun wins, I'll give you the right to choose the swimsuit I wear."
"Eh."
"A cute, frilly one, or something a bit sexy... I'll wear anything you pick, okay? Though if it's too revealing, that's embarrassing, so I’ll only wear that for you when we're alone."
So she'd wear it even if it's embarrassing? a strangely calm part of my brain retorted amidst the total chaos. Naturally, I couldn't say that aloud. My mind, which had been scattered in the aftermath of the explosion, gradually regained its order.
In the process of reorganization, I accidentally imagined a "too revealing" swimsuit, but I forcibly excluded it. After thinking about putting her in something like that, how could I claim I wanted to cherish her?
While cursing the pervert inside my head, I slowly looked up at the ceiling. Finally, my thoughts converged toward a single point of focus. I turned and spoke to Hashimoto, who was still chatting with the others.
"Hashimoto. For the final exams... let's give it everything we've got. Our goal is the top two spots in the grade."
"O-Oh...!? What's with the sudden fire!? ...But I don't hate it! Let's do this!"
Driven by a wholesome—if slightly unwholesome—impulse typical of high school boys, we shared a firm handshake. I felt a sense of unity like never before. Surely, Hashimoto felt the same... With heat in our eyes, we shared a smile of pure fighting spirit.
Our battle starts now—!
...Well, maybe it goes without saying.
Naturally, Hashimoto and I were defeated.
I managed to raise my rank by ten spots compared to the midterms, and Hashimoto leaped up more than fifty spots, easily clearing the failing grade line. But looking at the final results, it was a crushing defeat.
Haruka, who had secured her expected victory, demanded her reward: I had to accompany her on her swimsuit shopping trip.
In the end, I wondered what on earth the match had been for. But at any rate, our grades improved significantly, and Haruka seemed very happy... so, I guess it’s fine.
By the way, Hashimoto was also praised for his hard work and managed to get permission for the pool date. Good for him.