Chapter 9
The Midterm
Today is Thursday after school. The day before the midterm.
After Chiyabashira-sensei ended homeroom and walked out, Kushida quickly took action.
She took printouts of the old midterm that I copied at the convenience store the other day and brought them with her to the podium.
"Sorry, but can you guys listen to me before going home?"
Sudou also stopped and listened.
I couldn't leave this role to anyone but Kushida.
"I hope everyone has been studying a lot for tomorrow's test. I have something that can help for some final studying tonight. I'll hand them out now."
She handed out the questions and answer sheet to everyone in the front row.
"Test… questions? Did you make them, Kushida-san?"
Horikita was also surprised.
"Actually, these are old test problems. I got them from a third-year senpai last night."
"Old test problems? Eh, eh? Are these actual valid questions?"
"Yea. Two years ago, the midterm had nearly the same questions as the one on this problem set. So, if you practice, I think we'll do better."
"Woah! Seriously? Kushida-chan, thank you!"
Ike hugged his test in happiness. All the other students also couldn't hold back their emotions.
"What the hell, if we have these problems, doesn't all of our studying become useless?"
While laughing, Yamauchi was complaining at the same time. My prediction was completely right.
"Sudou-kun, do your best while studying today."
"Yea. Thanks."
Sudou also received the problems happily.
"This is a secret from all the other classes! Let's all do well and succeed!"
Ike shouted out loud with determination, but I had to agree. There's no need to send help to the other classes. Everyone returned home in high spirits.
"Kushida-san. Good job."
Horikita went up to Kushida and praised her uncharacteristically.
"Ehehe, is that so?"
"I never thought to use the old tests. I'm also thankful that you went to see if these questions were still valid to use."
Looks like Horikita, who doesn't have any friends, didn't come up with the idea.
"It's nothing special. I'm doing this for my friends, after all."
"Also, I think it was right to announce it today, after school. If word got out earlier, everyone would've probably lost motivation."
"It's only because I got the problems pretty late. If the same problems are on tomorrow's test… everyone will probably get good scores."
"Yea. Also, our last two weeks of studying weren't in vain."
Even though it was probably an extremely long two weeks for the students who got failing grades, but I think they all got into the habit of studying.
"It as hard, but it was fun too."
"I don't think that trio had the least bit of fun while studying."
Well, we've done all we could. It was up to how much effort the other three put into studying.
"I just hope that I don't blank out during the test."
There's not much that can be done about that one. No matter how well we do while studying, all that matters is how well we do on the actual test. Only practicing with the old test problems can help with this issue.
"Well then, I'm going home too."
Horikita silently looked at Kushida, who was putting her textbook and notes into her bag.
"Kushida-san."
"Hmm?"
"Thank you very much for everything up to now. If you weren't here, the study group wouldn't have succeeded."
"Don't worry about it~ I just want to aim for the higher classes along with everyone. That's why I agreed to help. I'll help any time."
With a smile, Kushida stood up and grabbed her bag.
"Wait. I just want to confirm one thing."
"Confirm?"
"I need to confirm something because you said you wanted to keep cooperating with me."
Horikita looked straight at the smiling Kushida and asked.
"You hate me, don't you?"
"Hey, hey…"
I was wondering what she wanted to ask, but that was unexpected.
"Why do you think that?"
"You're not answering because it's true… am I right?"
"…Ahaha, you got me."
She put on her backpack and slowly lowered her hand back down. And then she faced Horikita while smiling.
"Yea. I really hate you."
She replied directly, without trying to hide it.
"Should I tell you the reason?"
"…No. It's not necessary. It's good enough to just know the fact. It just means that I can now talk to you without any hesitation from now on."
Even though she was told directly that she was hated, Horikita calmly replied to Kushida.
1
"No absences; looks like everyone's here."
In the morning, Chiyabashira-sensei walked into the classroom with a smile.
"This is the first obstacle to being able to stay in school. Does anyone have any questions?"
"We have been studying diligently for the past few weeks. I don't think there will be any dropouts in this class, you know?"
"You have a lot of confidence, Hirata."
All the other students also had a look of confidence. Lining up the tests by tapping them against the table, she then passed them out. First period is social studies. I guess you can call it the easiest test among all the subjects.
If anyone trips up here, honestly, all the other tests will be a difficult struggle.
"If no one fails on this midterm and the finals in July, everyone will get a summer vacation."
"Vacation?"
"Yea, that's right… You'll be on a dream-like vacation on an island surrounded by the blue sea."
Summer and the beach means… we'll be able to see the girl's swimsuits…
"W-what is this strange pressure…"
Chiyabashira-sensei took a step back from the pressure she felt from the students (mainly the boys).
"Everyone… Let's do our best!"
"Yeaaaaaaaaaaaa!"
Ike loudly shouted in agreement. I also shouted, blending in with the confusion and noise.
"Pervert."
Horikita glanced at me. No more sound came out of my throat.
Before long, the tests were handed out to everyone. And with the teacher's signal, everyone started at the same time.
Looking through the problems, I quickly scanned over the whole test. Can the trio pass the test? I checked if the questions were similar to the old test questions.
—Alright.
I made a small triumphant pose. All the questions are recognizable. I didn't look at the questions too carefully, but I couldn't see any differences.
It was obvious that I could get a near perfect score if I memorized all the answers.
Looking around the classroom, I didn't see any students that looked confused or impatient. Seems like a good majority of the students did some last minute studying.
I also slowly went through each of the problems.
During second and third period, the test continued with the Japanese and chemistry sections. While I was solving the problems, I realized another thing. The topics that Horikita taught are pretty consistent with what the test covered. From the class lessons, she was able to accurately predict the type of questions that would appear. The silent girl who continued to write down answers in the seat next to me was more impressive than I first thought.
And then it was fourth period. Math. All the abnormally hard problems that were at the end of the mock test are, without a doubt, in this test. They probably don't understand what it means, but they should've done well if they memorized the answer.
And then it was break time.
Some of the study group members, like Ike, Yamauchi, Kushida, and Horikita all gathered.
"This is an easy pass!"
"I feel like I'll get a 120 this time!"
Ike was pretty relaxed. From the smile on his face, Yamauchi also looked pretty relieved.
While they were smiling, they were holding the old test questions for a final review.
"Sudou-kun, how are you doing?"
Kushida called out to Sudou, who was reviewing in his seat.
But Sudou looked gloomy, and was staring at the questions with great focus.
"Sudou-kun?"
"…Huh? Oh, sorry, I'm a bit busy."
He was staring at the English questions. He had a thin layer of sweat on his forehead.
"Sudou, by any chance… did you not study the questions?"
"I did everything but English. I dozed off in the middle."
Sudou was getting irritated. In other words, this is his first time looking at these questions.
"What!?"
Sudou only had about 10 minutes of break time left to go over these problems.
"Dammit, none of these answers are sticking in my head."
English is different from the previous tests and isn't that easy to memorize. In the first place, trying to memorize all the answers in the next 10 minutes is practically impossible.
"Sudou-kun, memorize the answers that are shorter and worth more."
Getting up from her seat, Horikita moved next to Sudou.
"O-ok."
And then he started studying the easier to memorize and worth more, as Horikita said.
"A-are you ok?"
Trying to not get in the way, Kushida asked from the side, looking anxious.
"Unlike Japanese, I don't know the basics, so this looks like a magic spell to me. Memorizing this will take some time."
"Y-yea. I also have trouble with English…"
10 minutes quickly passed by, and the unforgiving chime rang.
"I did what I could do. Before I forget, I'll try and do all the questions that I crammed first."
"Yea…"
And then the test started. While all the other students started solving the problems, Sudou was having trouble. Occasionally, he tapped the pen on his head while thinking and kept pausing while writing. But no one can help him now. The only way to pass the test now is for Sudou to work his way through by himself.
2
After the last test finished, we all gathered around Sudou once again.
"H-hey, how was it?"
Ike asked anxiously. Sudou seemed to be slightly uneasy as well.
"I don't know… I did what I could, but I don't know how well I did…"
"It'll be fine. Since you've studied hard, things will turn out well."
"Dammit, why did I fall asleep!?"
He was tapping his fingers against the table in irritation. Horikita stood right in front of Sudou.
"Sudou-kun."
"…What is it. Are you lecturing me again?"
"It was indeed your fault that you didn't go over the last part. However, like you said, you did your best when we were studying. You didn't throw in the towel even when it was difficult. With how much effort you put in, I think you should feel proud of what you did."
"What's this, are you trying to comfort me?"
"Comfort? I was only speaking the truth. When I look at Sudou-kun, I understand that studying is difficult for you."
Horikita was praising Sudou. None of us could believe that this was really happening.
"Let's wait for the results."
"Yea…"
"Then… one more thing. I have something to correct."
"Correct?"
"Earlier, I said that your hopes of becoming a basketball pro were foolish."
"Why are you reminding me?"
"I looked into how one could become a basketball pro in this world. I learned that it was a really difficult path to get on the professional scene."
"Isn't that why you told me to give up? Because it's such a reckless dream."
"It's not like that. I know you have a passion for basketball. I know that you probably understand how difficult it is to become a pro."
It was her usual attitude, but this was clearly an awkward apology from Horikita.
"In Japan, there are a lot of people who want to become pros. Among those people, there are also people who want to become internationally known. You're part of the latter group, right?"
"Yea. The incredibly foolish me is trying to become a basketball pro. Even though I might be stuck living a sad life as a part-time worker, I'm going to succeed."
"I always thought that there was no need to understand anyone else but myself. But when you said you wanted to become a pro, I insulted you immediately. Looking back on it, I regret it. Someone who doesn't know how difficult and hard of a goal it is to achieve has no right to call it stupid and foolish. Sudou-kun, don't forget the hard work you put into studying and use it for basketball. You'll be able to become a pro with that kind of effort. At least, that's what I think."
Horikita's expression was the same as always, but she lowered her head to Sudou.
"Sorry for what I said back then. …Well then, goodbye."
Leaving behind her words of apology, Horikita left the room.
"H-hey, did you see that? Horikita apologized!? And that nicely!?"
"I can't believe it…!"
Ike and Yamauchi were in complete shock. I was also somewhat surprised. Kushida too.
Horikita admitted that Sudou did his best.
Sitting in his chair in a daze, Sudou looked at Horikita as she walked out of the classroom.
A short while after, he put his right hand over his heart and looked backed at us.
"T-this is bad… I… I think I'm falling in love…"