The day of the Term-end Test.
I woke up at the usual time, ate breakfast at the usual time, and stepped out of the house at the usual time.
Even though it was one of the few big test days of the year, maintaining a normal routine was vital.
Just because it was a test day, getting weirdly nervous or restless wouldn't do any—
"Good morning, Ryouta-kun. Today is the big day, isn't it?"
Just as I was trying to stick to my routine, there she was, waiting at the usual place and the usual time: Rui Kuroki.
Standing before my front gate, Rui waved as the morning breeze caught her long black hair.
(That part of the routine is the one thing I could really do without...)
"G-Good morning, Rui... You really came all this way again today?"
"Yes. It might be the day of the test, but keeping to our routine is important, don't you think?"
Routine, huh? Why did she have to be thinking the exact same thing I was?
Whether the fact that walking to school with Rui was becoming the "normal routine" was a good or bad thing remained to be seen.
Despite my internal conflict, I set off for school with her again today.
"You look pretty relaxed... Don't you feel any pressure being the top-ranked student?"
"Not at all. After all, I’m always perfect, even if I don't do anything special."
Rui offered a lovely smile while saying something remarkably un-lovely.
What did she mean, "without doing anything special"?
She has a special talent to begin with, for crying out loud...
"But the Inter-High is coming up, so your club activities must have been pretty hectic lately, right?"
"That's true, but... you’re quite well-informed, aren't you?"
"Well, it's because a certain someone keeps sending me selfies after her practice sessions. Compared to your earlier photos, I can see the fatigue in the recent ones—or rather, the sheer amount of sweat is different."
"Heh... So, Ryouta-kun, you even pay attention to how much I'm sweating in my selfies?"
"Eh? Ah, no—"
Carried away by the conversation, I let it slip. Now she knew I had been scrutinizing those photos from corner to corner.
(I-I walked right into it... How do I keep falling for such obvious traps?!)
Rui narrowed her eyes and gave a graceful, elegant smile.
It was a look that said, "Just as planned."
"Don't go teasing a poor, innocent virgin like that!"
"I wasn't really teasing you, was I?"
"You totally were! Look, if any guy gets a slightly lewd selfie from a female classmate, he's going to stare at it! It's just puberty!"
Resorting to a childish, defensive outburst, I tried to bluff my way through the embarrassment.
It was a desperate move, even for me.
"Hehe... At this rate, it's only a matter of time before nobody else can satisfy you..."
"Wh-What?"
"...I'm looking forward to it."
I wasn't entirely sure what she was looking forward to, but I took it to mean I'd keep receiving those photos in the future.
"Oh, by the way, Ryouta-kun? If those two manage to avoid failing marks, you'll have to do whatever we say during summer vacation. You haven't forgotten, have you?"
"Th-That's... well, I already made the promise, so I can't really back out now."
"Even though you're secretly enjoying the idea."
S-She really did have me figured out.
"If I can have my way with you... I think I'll have you come along with me."
"H-Have me come along? Where?"
"That... well, let's keep that as a surprise for after the tests are over."
Rui gave me a calculated, mischievous wink.
(Just where on earth is she planning to take me?! That’s terrifying!!)
I could only pray that she didn't have some remote spot in the mountains in mind.