At noon, after lunch.
Takashi, Ōtani Shōta, and Tanaka Kōta walked out of the cafeteria. As they passed the bulletin board on the first floor, they noticed it was crowded with students.
Ōtani Shōta suddenly remembered something. "Hey, wasn't the test from the other day getting results today?"
"Takashi, wanna check the results?"
Takashi yawned, not slowing his pace. "I'm first anyway, what's there to see?"
He had already estimated his score right after the test.
Out of 800 points, he figured he'd scored somewhere between 797 and 799.
As for why it wasn't a perfect 800, well, blame the essay section.
No matter how well you write an essay, the grader always docks one or two points—just for show.
"That kind of smug confidence is so annoying. Just wait, Takashi. Before we graduate, I will beat you once."
"I hate geniuses like you the most. What's with coasting on talent? Try beating me with hard work! I've got no respect for you guys who live off talent."
Ōtani Shōta and Tanaka Kōta grumbled.
Takashi ignored them, heading straight back to class, where he laid his head on the desk and went to sleep.
Meanwhile, Ōtani and Tanaka stayed at the bulletin board, wanting to check their own ranks and scores—and maybe, just maybe, see if Takashi had finally messed up.
After squeezing through the crowd, they looked up and instantly saw Takashi's name at the top.
NO.1 Takashi – Score: 798
The two exchanged wry smiles.
As expected, in Aoba High, Takashi's spot at the top was untouchable.
Ōtani Shōta spoke with mixed feelings. "Seriously, what kind of brain does he have?"
They studied when he studied.
When he played, they played too.
When he worked a part-time job, they snuck off to cram school. And yet somehow, his scores were still way higher than theirs.
Tanaka Kōta sighed. "Guess that's just what talent looks like."
"If Takashi's first, then second must be his girlfriend Narii."
Back in school days, students loved shipping classmates together.
Even though Takashi and Narii hadn't officially gotten together, a lot of students already considered them a couple.
Ōtani glanced at the list and shook his head. "Wrong guess. Narii's third this time."
"Nani?!"
Shocked that someone had outscored Narii, Tanaka turned his head to look.
NO.2 Yoizakura Hitomi – Score: 791
NO.3 Kamikawa Narii – Score: 790
"Yoizakura Hitomi? Who's that?"
—
At Aoba High, in the student council president's office.
Sitting in the chair that usually belonged to the president was a silver-haired girl with a high ponytail.
"If I remember correctly, you were already set to enroll at Phillips Exeter Academy, weren't you? Why the sudden interest in transferring to Aoba?"
On the other side of the desk sat a refined older gentleman, dressed in a classic British-style vest, his hair swept neatly to the side.
Had Takashi been here, he'd have recognized the man immediately.
He was none other than the principal of Aoba High—Haseo.
"Just didn't feel like going anymore."
Even while facing the principal, Hitomi remained calm, showing no signs of deference. It was as if she were speaking to an ordinary person.
She lounged like she would at home, one leg casually draped over the other, her elbow resting on the armrest, hand loosely supporting her coldly beautiful face.
Her voice was detached and even.
"Your father was furious about it."
"Pfft."
A mocking smile curled on Hitomi's cherry lips.
A smirk, or maybe scorn.
"If I'm not mistaken," Haseo said, gently stroking the rim of his teacup like it was a priceless antique, "a certain student at our school is what made you change your mind, right?"
Hitomi lifted the steaming cup to her lips.
"Seems I guessed right, huh?" Seeing she didn't deny it, Haseo felt he'd hit the mark.
"His name is Kitahara Takashi, right?" Haseo asked again.
Hitomi raised an eyebrow. "You're smarter than you look."
Haseo gave a helpless smile. "Was that really so hard to guess?"
Takashi was already the top freshman and was closely associated with Narii—it wasn't hard to put two and two together.
Hitomi set her cup down on the saucer with a crisp clink. "Originally, I wasn't planning on making him mine so early."
Her original plan was to let him enjoy a bit of single life before marriage.
Once they were married, she'd completely mark him as her own.
So back then, whether it was Utaha, Eriri, Shizuka, or even later girls like Yotsuba —Hitomi never considered them a threat.
To Hitomi, they didn't even qualify as rivals.
The real pressure came from girls Takashi met later: Shijo Maki, Kashiwagi Nagisa, Shinomiya Kaguya, and Ryuju Momo.
Maybe they weren't interested in him yet, but as a woman, her instincts told her they would fall for him eventually.
If she didn't act now, someone else might steal him away.
That was something she absolutely could not allow.
To Hitomi, if she sets her eyes on something, she'd rather destroy it than let another woman have it.
"You know Kamikawa Narii likes him too, right?"
The thought of two girls liking the same guy made Haseo's head throb.
Hitomi shrugged. "I know. So what?"
"You still—"
"Just because she's younger and has a crush on Takashi, should I back off? Why should I?"
Seeing how resolute Hitomi was, Haseo knew trying to persuade her was pointless. He said nothing more.
…
At 3:30 p.m., the bell rang to signal the end of classes. Takashi swiftly packed up and headed to the kendo club.
Like it or not, he was a member now, so he figured he should at least make an appearance.
As usual, Narii chirped like a happy little bird beside him, chattering nonstop.
"Takashi-senpai, you came?"
Takashi gave a polite smile to Toji Rina.
"Takashi-kun, I washed your kendo uniform for you!"
Toji Rina smiled brightly as she handed over the gear, which gave off a faint scent of sweet osmanthus.
"Manager, that's not fair!"
"Why does only Takashi-senpai get that? I want it too!"
"Me too!"
Toji Rina put her hands on her hips and glared with her big round eyes.
"If you can beat my brother, I'll wash yours too."
Toji Taku grinned, clearly fired up. "So, who's going first?"
Everyone instantly backed off.
"Thanks," Takashi said.
Takashi was just about to take it when Narii came over and shoved the other girl aside.
"No need to trouble yourself. I've already ordered two new sets for Takashi."
Damn b*tch.
I knew you didn't have good intentions.
"Kamikawa Narii, you're not even a member of our Kendo Club. What are you doing here?" Toji Rina glared, refusing to back down, and bumped into her as well.
But it didn't work.
All she could do was glare at Narii.
Being barely 150 cm tall, she had to look up to people, making her seem weaker from the start.
"Who says I'm not a member?"
"I haven't received your application to join."
"You're just the manager. Your brother's the real club president."
"Brother, why did you let her in?" Toji Rina turned furiously to Toji Taku.
Didn't he promise to keep her out?
Toji Taku averted his eyes, not daring to look at his sister.
It's not like he wanted to let her in either—but she offered to install air conditioning in the clubroom!
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