The weather outside the house is starting to get cold and now it's the beginning of November, but the sunshine in the district located above the equator is still hot.
Right now I'm sitting on a bench looking at the plants and herbs in the greenhouse with Umi.
"Umi"
"yes?"
"Is there anything you would like?"
"Are you asking this honestly?" Umi asked while looking at me with narrowed eyes.
I only shrugged lightly in response.
"I'm ok with anything." Umi replied while smiling lightly.
"heh, that's really difficult."
"Whatever I want, I can find it myself. Hehe."
After that we didn't say anything for a while.
"Aren't you able to sleep lately? Are you worried about anything?" I asked softly.
"..um, nothing."
"Are you sure?"
"The results of the exam will be released tomorrow."
"Even though you definitely have a place to study, what is there to worry about?"
slap!
"Ouch..why do you have to hit me?"
"Why aren't you worried?"
"Tomorrow's problems, let tomorrow's me handle them."
"Sigh, I don't understand you at all."
'Although there are many things I am preparing for the future.'
"Oh, I just remembered that you asked me back then if you scored higher than me in some subjects, right?"
"Yes, that's right."
"What do you want from me? Even if it's very difficult, hehe."
"Let me think about it for a moment. Um.. How about watching football with me at the stadium?"
"I don't think that would be considered a request at all. You could just invite me."
"But you don't like crowds and loud noises, right?"
"Maybe. Can you change it to something else?"
"Eh~ I'll think about it later. Oh! However, are you that afraid of going to study alone?"
"Just a little"
"By the way, you probably have many friends."
Umi turned and stared straight into my eyes.
"Do you really see me like that?"
"Isn't it like that?"
"Not even close. People approach me only for profit and with hidden intentions."
"Well, you're so good at everything and cute, so it's no wonder that's the case."
"..." Umi didn't answer but quickly turned away.
"Hmm, are you sad?" I saw her turn away and keep her head down, so I gently patted her head to comfort her.
Umi flinched slightly but didn't move away.
"Oh, little Umi~ If there's something bothering you, you can come and consult with me."
"Un..you idiot," Umi mumbled, barely audible.
"huh? what?"
"Hmph, I'm going home now. Umi said before rushing out.
"Oy! Where are you in such a hurry?"
Umi ran and disappeared from my sight.
***
The next day
[11.58 a.m.]
Inside the living room, the three of us were eagerly waiting for the exam results.
The person who was supposed to be the most comfortable seemed the most worried.
[12.00 p.m.]
When the time came, it was full of silence.
"I think the website might be down.." while I was talking
Ding!
There are three notifications at once. Without any further delay, the three of us hurriedly checked the exam results.
Iris and Umi had satisfied expressions on their faces as they turned to look at me, who was trying to maintain a calm expression.
"Nate, how are the results?" Umi asked as she waited nervously.
"Erm.."
"Hurry up and speak, big brother!"
"Ahem, I have passed the entrance exam for The Hexagon. Hehe," I replied with confidence.
"yay! Congratulations! "
"We have to celebrate."
"So, how are Iris's exam results?"
"Easy, no problem, hehe."
"What about Umi's exam results?"
"Take this, and show me your exam results as well."
[Umina Shimizu's exam results]
Mathematics [95/100]
Science [94/100]
English [100/100]
Social studies [91/100]
Health education [95/100]
Total results [475/500]
Uh, I'm speechless. Although each subject had different scores, Umi's three main subjects achieved incredible results.
I looked up to see Umi and Iris staring at my exam results with surprised expressions.
"N..Nate, how did you do it?" Umi asked curiously.
"Hm~"
"You don't have to act like you don't know!"
"Ay~ Well, you told me to study hard and I kept the promise I made to you."
"Seeing big brother focus on something makes me proud," Iris said as she gently wiped the corner of her eyes.
"Oy! You don't have to act like that, what was wrong with me before?" I quickly protested.
"Well, Big Brother seemed to study just to pass the exam, so your previous scores were slightly above average."
"You really complain a lot," I replied, gently tugging at Iris' cheek.
"Wahh! Iris-chan, please help me. My brother is teasing me again.
"..." Umi seems still shocked by my score.
[Nathan Wolfsberg's exam results]
Mathematics [100/100]
Science [100/100]
English [100/100]
Social studies [80/100]
Health education [80/100]
Total results [460/500]
"Ahem, you did great!" Umi said after recovering from her surprise.
***
A little time passed.
The sound of the door opening
And two women walked into the house with cloth bags.
"I'm home," Irene said.
"Welcome back," the three of us said as we rushed over to help her carry the bag of ingredients.
"Hi Nate~" Yuki said cheerfully as usual.
"Hello," I replied, bowing my head slightly.
"How are everyone's results?" Irene asked.
I shrugged in response with a small smile.
"Alright! Just wait a moment. Delicious food doesn't take long. Hehe."
Today we celebrate both exam results and birthdays on the same day. Even though Umi was technically born a day before me, in fact we were born only a few hours apart, so we held birthday celebrations on the same day.
Moments of happiness passed quickly.
Mother's cooking is still as delicious as ever. The cake made by Yuki-san is delicious as well.
Surprisingly, both my father Erwin and Umi's father Akira, who are always busy people, had free time to come to me and Umi's birthday.
After about 11 p.m. , Iris was so sleepy that she asked to go to bed before us.
At this time in the house, both my parents and Umi's parents were about to talk about something and told me and Umi to wait outside for a moment. Umi and I are now sitting on the bench where we sat yesterday in the greenhouse.
In the awkward silence I tried to start a conversation.
"Umi-"
"Nat-"
"Ahem, you said it first," I said.
"Uh, take this." Umi handed me a box.
"You too, take this."
"Can I unwrap it now?" Umi asked excitedly.
"It's up to you haha"
I silently watched her unwrap the present.
"Eh, the box is empty!"
"Oh, I forgot to put it in~"
Umi stared at me with narrowed eyes.
"I'm just kidding. Give me your hand."
She held out her hand as I told her. So I slowly put on a bracelet for her.
It was a simple-looking bracelet with an ocean blue magic stone in the center and was made from a magical metal that might be silver or sometimes the color of the wearer's mana.
"completed What do you think?" I asked nervously.
"I love it so much hehe," Umi replied with a smile that made my heart skip a beat.
'Arg!'
Now we sit very close to each other.
"Hey! , Hurry and open the gift I gave you," Umi said, waving his hand in front of my face.
"okay"
Inside the box is a black leather wallet with a simple style that I like.
"Wow, thank you very much."
"Nate~"
"yes?"
"..Um, do you have any wishes?"
"Can I wish for anything?"
"S-sure"
gulp
Seeing Umi talk nervously made me want to tease her.
"Are you sure?"
"Of course!"
I slowly moved closer to her before moving my face closer. Seeing this, Umi closed her eyes even more nervously.
"Can I ask you to smile for me more often?" I whispered softly into her ear.
"Kyaaa!"Umi bounced like a spring and moved away from me, shyly covering her ears.
After seeing her cute reaction it made me laugh.
"Don't do something like this! I..uh, you know," Umi stammered with red cheeks.
"Huh? What did you say just now~?"
Umi only stared at me silently with narrowed eyes. And after competing in staring at each other for a while
"Cute." Before I knew it, I accidentally said it. When I realized it, I saw Umi's face turn even redder and her head bowed even deeper.
"I'm not cute at all," Umi muttered softly.
I gathered up my courage before teasing her even more.
"If you're not cute, who will be cute?"
"You idiot! "
"I'm sorry~"
"Hmph! Today is your birthday, I will forgive you. Umi sat back down and turned away from me, and we now had a somewhat nervous atmosphere. So I chose to ask random questions to change the atmosphere.
"After all, I'm going to study at the same place as you. What do you think?"
"Well, it's good in many ways."
"Umi"
"yes?"
"If one day you had a friend or someone you were close to..would you still be my friend?"
"Why do you ask something like that?" Umi asked in a serious tone.
"Nothing~"
"I'm serious."
Umi stared at me seriously.
"I just thought, It's sad how the people you were once so close can become just another stranger you don't know."
"Nate, do you think that one day we will be like that?"
"What will happen next? How do I know?"
"It won't happen," Umi said confidently.
"Why are you so confident?"
"You idiot, stop thinking about nonsense."
"Um"
"Looks like the adults have finished their discussion and it's getting late now."
"Nighty Night"
"Good night." Umi smiled slightly before leaving.
I was alone in the silence before slowly heading towards the bedroom.
.