Several days have passed since the declaration of war from Kanade.
Despite the declaration, we started studying together after school to improve each other's academic performance.
“Kanade-chan. Won’t you come to karaoke with us today?”
“Sorry, Kadokura-san. I have to study today too.”
“Aw, that’s too bad.”
Before the test period started, Kanade would occasionally hang out with Kadokura-san and the others after school, but during the test period, she seemed to be putting a lot of effort into her studies.
Well, as for that, I personally think Kadokura-san and the others should be studying instead of going to karaoke during a test period.
I don't know what Kadokura-san’s academic level is like... but with that attitude, their future looks pretty dark, doesn’t it?
“You have a look in your eyes like you’re looking down on people, Hagiwara-kun.”
“Ah. If it isn't Takagaki-san, who hasn't interacted with me at all lately.”
“What’s with that? That explanatory tone like a manga introducing a character who’s appearing for the first time in a while.”
Takagaki-san let out a sigh.
As usual, she must be spending all her time studying. Her complexion didn't look very good.
“...So. Where you’re looking... Ah, Kadokura-san and the others.”
Takagaki-san sat down in the seat next to mine and opened a reference book.
I didn't know if her purpose for coming to me was to ask how to solve a problem she didn't understand... but she seemed to have enough leeway to engage in small talk first.
“That’s right.”
“...Cheating?”
“Cheating?”
“Did you switch from Ichinose-san?”
“Ahaha. Switch? Kanade and I aren't even dating.”
“Drop dead.”
Ahaha. Well, well. As always, Takagaki-san’s jokes have a sharp edge to them!
“So, why were you looking at Kadokura-san and her group?”
“Ah—I just thought they have a lot of leeway to go to karaoke even though it’s the test period.”
“...”
“No, well... how should I put it. They are technically Kanade’s friends, right? It’s troubling for me too, if Kanade’s friends are delinquents.”
“Are you her parent?”
“It would be a problem if Kanade was enticed by them and ended up participating in some crime, wouldn't it?”
“I said, are you her parent?”
“Kanade has a gentle personality. ...I want her to think carefully about the friends she keeps.”
“That’s why I’m asking if you’re her parent.”
Takagaki-san let out a deep sigh. It was a sigh deeper than the Mariana Trench. She must be living a difficult life.
“Well. If you don’t want Ichinose-san to go astray, Kadokura-san and the others would be the perfect friends, wouldn't they?”
“Eh?”
“...Kadokura-san and her friends are in the single digits for grade rankings.”
“...Eh.”
That means...
“...They’re ranked higher than you.”
“You’re really picking fights in every direction today. If I weren't in a position where I needed you to teach me, I would have ended our friendship.”
“Sorry. ...During test periods, I get a bit edgy.”
“...Come to think of it, during the last test period, we were hurling terrible insults at each other.”
Takagaki-san spoke as if it were an event from the distant past.
...To be honest, I still hold a considerable grudge regarding many of the verbal abuses I was told back then.
“Well. This time, we’ve properly established a gentleman's agreement to work hard together, so let's end the provocations here.”
“True. ...Sorry.”
“No, don't worry about it.”
After I taught her how to solve the problem, Takagaki-san quickly stood up from her seat.
“Later.”
“Going already? If you want, we could study together a bit longer?”
“Is that okay?”
“Eh?”
“I’m keeping things peaceful because of the gentleman's agreement, but it's the test period for me too, so I’m feeling edgy on the inside, you know?”
“...Ah.”
In other words, she was saying that if rivals stayed together any longer, they would end up fighting again.
“And also... Ichinose-san, who is staring fixedly at us from the classroom door, is scary, so I’ll leave it at that for today.”
“Eh?”
When I looked in the direction Takagaki-san pointed... I noticed Kanade peeking at us, using the classroom door as cover.
“U-Ufufu.”
Having been noticed, Kanade approached us while her indoor shoes made squeaking sounds.
“Were you studying together? Ak-kun. ...And A-ya-ka-chan.”
“T-That's not it...”
Takagaki-san’s voice was trembling.
Oh. Did Kanade use to call Takagaki-san by her first name?
Since they had been exchanging presents and such, had they become close without me knowing?
“W-Well then, I’ll be going now.”
“Ah... and here I thought the three of us could study together...”
Kanade looked dejected.
It seemed she had been secretly waiting for the right timing to invite Takagaki-san and me to study.
“Shall we head home too?”
“Yeah.”
We decided to start our walk home.
“The tests finally start tomorrow.”
Kanade said to me inside the train on the way back.
“Yeah.”
“...You haven't forgotten our showdown, right?”
“Of course not.”
“...Hmph. You seem quite composed.”
“That’s not the case.”
During the test period, I’ve seen Kanade’s academic level up close. It goes without saying that she’s not an opponent I can take lightly.
“...To be honest, I feel like I’m going to throw up.”
“P-Please don't throw up inside the train, okay?”
“Right before a test, it’s always like this. ...Even so, I’m quite desperate every time.”
“...I see.”
Kanade looked down.
“Does your heart ever break?”
Kanade asked.
“It doesn't.”
I replied immediately.
“...Is it for the sake of studying abroad in France?”
“That’s part of it. ...But to be honest, that’s not the only reason.”
Of course, that is a reason... but more than that, I am working hard for an even simpler reason.
“I don't want to lose.”
The scenery visible from the train window... flowed past.
“I... know that I am powerless. I know that I am a powerless existence who could only wail and cry, unable to save an important girl.”
“...”
“That’s why I spare no effort. Because I believe that as a result of sparing no effort, this time I will be able to save what is precious.”
“...Ak-kun.”
“That’s why I don't want to lose. I am the smartest. I am the one who spares no effort more than anyone else. I am the one... working the hardest toward my dream. I want to reaffirm that through the test.”
“...I see.”
Kanade’s smile was gentle.
“Kanade, let's both do our best tomorrow.”
“Yeah.”
And so, we prayed for each other's success in the tests starting the next day.
...And then, the day of the test arrived.
“Good morning.”
During the morning short homeroom.
“Ichinose-san will be absent today due to poor health.”