With the long break
over, the school promptly put up the midterm test results on the bulletin
board.
Since the school is
a preparatory one, the names of the top fifty are posted on the bulletin board.
When I looked at
the posted ranking list, my name was listed at 33th place.
Well, it’s so-so, I
suppose.
I do study to some
extent on regular basis, yet I just can’t fully commit myself to it.
However, i can’t
afford to let my grades drop. Because my parents would cut off my allowance.
Once I confirmed my
rank, I promptly returned to my desk, put my earphones in, and played my usual
music, with reference book in my hand.
It’s not like I don’t have any friends, just
not close enough to make me start talking to them myself.
Suddenly, my
shoulder is tapped by someone.
“Have you checked
the rankings?”
The one who calls
out to me is Takayama Yuuki, who sits behind me.
Since starting high
school, he’s a rare type who, for some reason, often talks to me.
I remove the
earphones from my ears and turn around.
“Hm? I saw it
earlier. It’s not a ranking worth worrying about.”
“As expected. A guy
who’s good at studying really says different.”
This exam’s
material was similar with review of what we learned in middle school.
Basically the test
was simple enough to feel like it was saying, ‘If you can’t score points on
something like this, then you probably shouldn’t be at this school, right?’
“What about
Takayama?”
“Me? Score-wise it
was quite decent, but I didn’t make the rankings.”
Takayama showed me
his answer sheet, which the score certainly not bad.
If the average
score had been just a little higher, it probably be about the same as mine.
Takayama places his
answer sheet on the desk with a small laugh.
“Well, can’t beat
Nadeshiko, though.”
Following
Takayama’s gaze, there is a girl.
Himekawa Anri.
Himekawa Yuuzo’s
sole daughter, president of Himekawa Industries.
Himekawa, whose
name was written at the top of the bulletin board, is surrounded by female
students, chatting with them in a friendly manner.
While, the boys in
the class watching that scene from a distance.
With black hair and
refined features, Himekawa a beauty by everyone’s standards.
Moreover, a
president’s daughter and excels academically. An unmistakably prominent
presence.
The moment I saw
Himekawa, I instinctively felt that I didn’t want to get involved with her.
She belongs to a
completely different world. I felt that staying uninvolved would be best for my
sake.
“Well, with her
looks and scores, anyone would see her as remarkable.”
I returned my eyes
to the reference book I had been reading and decided to read it again.
“Oh? Tendou, you’re
not interested in Nadeshiko?”
Glancing at my
reference book, I answered as if it were a bother.
“None of my
business. Reading book will be much more beneficial.”
“In terms of
appearance, Nadeshiko isn’t just outstanding in class, she even among top-class
in the grade as well. She’s popular, y’know?”
I already know
that. I’ve heard my classmates talking about her a several times.
The number of
people who have confessed to her and been completely rejected is already in the
double digits. Apparently, all of them were turned down.
Moreover, even a
handsome upperclassman get rejected with a single remark, truly a tough one.
Even within the
class, she has a good reputation and is approachable. A kind of flawless
individual.
Every break, there
are even some from other classes who come just to see Nadeshiko.
Just having someone
like this in the same class wears me out.
No need to get
involved, just watch from a distance is fine.
---
I watch the news in
the morning. Each morning, I run several kilometers and eat breakfast.
After watching the
news at breakfast, I head off to high school. That’s my daily routine.
It takes thirty
minutes to commute to school. I ride my bicycle to the station from home and
catch the train.
From the station,
it’s about ten minutes on foot. It’s not that far.
Since I can use the
time on the train to read my reference book, it’s not a bad thing.
What caught my
attention in this morning’s news was that the president of Himekawa Industries
arrested for embezzlement.
Most likely, it’s
the company of Himekawa, who is in the same class as me. Those who have money
crave even more money.
Money should be
saved and spent properly.
Upon arriving at
school, usually there are several students crowding around Himekawa, but today,
no one there.
No one approaches
her to talk, there are only people around whispering about Himekawa.
Everything else is
business as usual. I put my earphones and spread open my reference book.
“Did you watch the
news?”
Takayama
immediately talks to me.
Of course I watch
the news, but even bringing it up feels like a hassle.
Besides, for me it
is a story that brings neither gain nor loss. It’s a waste of time.
“Dunno, I haven’t
checked the news this morning.”
Takayama went over
the morning news in detail, from start to finish.
Of course, I
already knew everything he was telling me.
“Nadeshiko, will
she continue going like this? What about school?”
After her father
was arrested, even I don’t know what will happen.
She’s got to keep
living somehow, so what’s she going to do from here?
“Well, relying on
relatives, or taking care by the country, there are plenty of options, right?
After all, we’re still minors.”
While being
half-forced to listen to such a story, time passes.
No one approached
Himekawa until the end of the school day.
Even those who
usually came to watch Himekawa during break didn’t show up.
In the end, that’s
how people are. They give you hope, then let you down.
Before noticing,
they were already gone. Even without doing anything, the people around caused a
fuss on their own.
That’s why it’s a
hassle. People betray, all the more when you trust them.
While watching
Himekawa go home alone from the classroom window, I also set off for home as
well.
It’s Friday today,
and tomorrow is Saturday. Since I have a part-time job on the weekend, I decide
to head home early.
Did she make go
back home? Well… it’s none of my business.
I don’t work
part-time on weekdays so I can study and take care things at home.
If I worked
part-time on weekdays, my studies would end up neglected.
I have to focus fully
on both studying and my part-time job.
After returning
home, I prepared for the next day and slipped into the futon early.
If the parents get
arrested, what will become of the child?
Would the child
even be able to continue attending school?
While thinking about such things, without looking it up on the internet, I fell into a deep sleep.
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