MID-SEMESTER
Today is Thursday after school. The day before the midterm.
After Chiyabashira-sensei ended class and walked out, Kushida sprang into action.
She took the old midterm printouts that I copied at the shop yesterday and brought them to the podium.
"Excuse me, but can you guys listen to me before going home?"
Sudou also stopped and listened.
I can't leave this role to anyone but Kushida.
"I hope everyone has studied a lot for tomorrow's exam, I have something that could be helpful for the final study tonight, I'll share it right now.
She handed out question and answer sheets to everyone in the front row.
"Exam... questions? Did you make them, Kushida-san?"
Horikita was also surprised.
"Actually these are old test questions, I got them from the third-year senpai last night."
"Old test questions? Uh, are these the actual questions?"
"Yes. Two years ago, the midterm questions were almost the same as the questions in this question. So, if you practice, I think we'll do better."
"Woah! Seriously? Kushida-chan, thank you!"
Ike hugged her in happiness. All the other students couldn't contain their emotions either.
"What the heck, if we have this problem, won't all our studies become useless?"
Laughing, Yamauchi complained at the same time. My prediction was right.
"Sudou-kun, do your best when studying today."
"Yes, thank you."
Sudou also accepted the problem happily.
"This is the secret of all other classes! Let's do well and succeed!"
Ike shouted loudly with determination, but I had to agree. There was no need to send help to the other classes. Everyone returned home in high spirits.
"Kushida-san, good job."
Horikita approached Kushida and praised him as usual.
"Ehehe, is that so?"
"I never thought to use those old tests. I'm also grateful that you went to see if these questions are still valid for use."
It seemed that Horikita, who had no friends, did not find the idea.
"Nothing special, I'm doing this for my friends."
"Also, I think it's right to announce it today, after school. If word got out earlier, everyone might have already lost motivation."
"Just because I got into trouble late enough. If the same problem existed on tomorrow's exam... everyone would probably get good grades."
"Yes, also our last two weeks of studying were not in vain."
Although those two weeks were probably very long for the students who got failing grades, but I think they all got used to studying.
"It's just as hard, but it's also fun."
"I don't think the trio had fun studying at all."
We've done everything we can. It was up to how much effort the other three put into learning.
"I just hope that I'm not blank during the exam."
Not much can be done about it. No matter how well we do while studying, all that matters is how well we do on the actual test. Only practicing with old test problems can help with this issue.
"In that case, I'm going home too."
Horikita silently looked at Kushida, who put his textbook and notes into his bag.
"Kushida-san."
"Hmm?"
"Thank you so much for everything until now. If you weren't here, this study group wouldn't have succeeded."
"Don't worry about it~ I just want to aim for a higher grade with everyone, that's why I agreed to help, I'll help anytime."
Smiling, Kushida stood up and reached for her bag.
"Wait, I just want to make sure of one thing."
"Make sure?"
"I need to confirm something since you said you wanted to continue working with me."
Horikita looked directly at Kushida who smiled and asked.
"You hate me, don't you?"
"Hey, hey..."
I wondered what she wanted to ask, but it was unexpected.
"Why do you think that?"
"You're not answering because it's true... am I right?"
"...Ahaha, you caught me."
He put on his backpack and slowly lowered his hands back down. Then he faced Horikita with a smile.
"Yeah, I really hate you."
She answered directly, without trying to hide it.
"Should I tell you why?"
"...No, there's no need, it's good enough to know the facts, it means I can now talk to you without hesitation a little more now."
Although he was told directly that he was hated, Horikita calmly replied to Kushida.
"There is no absence, it seems like everyone is 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've 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 confident look. Putting the test down by tapping it on the table, she then handed it over. The first lesson is social studies. I think you can call it the easiest test among all the subjects.
If anyone makes the trip here, honestly, all the other tests will be an uphill battle.
"If no one fails the midterms and finals in July, everyone will get summer vacation."
"Vacation?"
"Yes, that's right... you'll have a dreamlike vacation on an island surrounded by the blue sea."
Summer and beach means... we'll get to see the girl's swimsuit...
"W-what is this strange pressure..."
Chiyabashira-sensei took a step back from the pressure she felt from the students (especially the boys).
"Everyone... Let's do our best!"
"Yeaaaaaaaaaaaa!"
Ike loudly shouted in agreement. I shouted too, blending in with the clamor and noise.
"Misleading."
Horikita glanced at me. No more sound came out of my throat.
Before long, the tests were distributed to everyone. And with the teacher's signal, everyone started at the same time.
Looking through the questions, I quickly scanned the entire test. Could the trio pass the test? I checked if the questions were similar to the old test questions.
-Good.
I made a small victory pose. All the questions were recognizable. I didn't look at the questions too closely, but I couldn't see any difference.
After the final exam was over, we all gathered around Sudou once again.
"H-hey, how's it going?"
Ike asked anxiously. Sudou also looked a little uncomfortable.
"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 been studying hard, everything will go well.
"Damn it, why did I fall asleep!?"
She drummed her fingers on the table in annoyance. Horikita was standing right in front of Sudou.
"Sudou-kun."
"What is it, are you lecturing me again?"
"It's your fault if you didn't cover the last part, but as you said, you did your best when studying. You didn't give up even though it was difficult. With how much effort you put in to get in, I think you should feel proud of what you did. "
"What is this, are you trying to cheer me up?"
"Consoling? I'm just telling the truth. When I saw Sudou-kun, I understood that studying was difficult for you."
Horikita praised Sudou. Neither of us could believe that this was really happening.
"Let's wait for the results."
"Yes..."
"Then... one more thing, something needs to be fixed."
"Fix?"
"Earlier, I said that your hopes of becoming a basketball player were foolish."
"Why are you reminding me?"
"I saw how one could become a basketball player in this world. I know that it's a very difficult path to reach the professional scene."
"Isn't that why you told me to give up? Because it's a stupid dream."
"It's not like that, I know you have a passion for basketball, I know you probably understand how difficult it is to become a professional."
It was his usual attitude, but this was really a strange apology from Horikita.
"In Japan, there are many people who want to become professionals. Among those people, there are also people who want to be recognized internationally. You are part of the latter group, aren't you?"
"Yes, I'm foolishly trying to become a basketball player. Although I might be stuck living a miserable life as a part-time worker, I will succeed."
"I always thought that there was no need to understand anyone else but yourself, but when you said that you wanted to become a professional, I immediately insulted you. Looking back, I regret it. A person who doesn't know how hard and arduous it is to achieve a goal has no right to call him stupid and silly. Sudou-kun, don't forget the hard work you put into studying and using it for basketball. You'll be able to become a professional with that. That kind of thing, at least, is what I think. "
Horikita's expression was the same as usual, but he lowered his head to Sudou.
"Sorry for what I said back then... Alright, goodbye."
Leaving her words of apology behind, Horikita left the room.
"H-hey, did you see that? Horikita apologized! And that's good!?"
"I can't believe it...!"
Ike and Yamauchi were in shock. I was also a bit surprised. Kushida too.
Horikita admitted that Sudou did his best.
While sitting in his chair in a daze, Sudou looked at Horikita as he walked out of the classroom.
A moment later, he placed his right hand over his heart and looked at us.
"I-it's bad... I... I think I'm in love..."