I Just Hope Etsuka Won't Mind

The next day.

Most of Class B packed their books in disbelief. It was true—they were actually on summer break.

Nakanishi Jiro was grinning like a sun, packing his books and shaking his head again and again.

"Aw, I was planning to buckle down and study, but I guess I won't get the chance."

"Tch." Moriyama Sei rolled his eyes at Nakanishi Jiro's smug tone and said scornfully, "Oh, give me a break."

Nakanishi Jiro immediately took offense. With his hands on his hips, he said, "Hey, Moriyama Sei, how come you always pull that face whenever I say something?"

Moriyama Sei stopped what he was doing and stared at Nakanishi Jiro. "So what?"

"Gah!" That one line completely broke Nakanishi Jiro. He was so furious that he couldn't help stomping his feet.

At the back of the classroom, Himeno Yuki had a lollipop in her mouth and wired earphones in her ears. She showed no sign of packing up.

Horikita Etsuka rested his chin on his hand and teased her.

"Hey, Yuki, why aren't you packing your things?"

Himeno Yuki lifted her fair chin, the lollipop still in her mouth. "You haven't packed yours either."

Etsuka waved a hand.

"Come on, what's there to pack? We'll be back next term. It'll just get a little dusty. No big deal."

Himeno Yuki took out one earbud and asked curiously, "Aren't you worried your books will be gone when you come back after summer break?"

Horikita Etsuka tapped his temple. "If they're gone, they're gone. I've got everything memorized."

"Oh." Himeno Yuki nodded thoughtfully, then put all the books on her desk into the compartment. "Then I won't take mine home either."

"You've memorized everything too?"

"No."

"Then what'll you do if your books are gone when you come back next term?"

Himeno Yuki blinked at Etsuka. "You don't need yours anyway. Can't you give them to me then?"

Etsuka reflexively touched the books in his desk compartment.

"Yuki, that's not very nice. You're already eyeing my books?"

"Here, have a candy." Himeno Yuki held out her fair palm, with a lemon-flavored candy in it.

"Don't!" Etsuka immediately covered his eyes with one hand and turned away. "What are you doing? Trying to bribe me? I'm telling you, I'm not abandoning the books that kept me company all term."

"Then I'll throw in a lollipop." As she spoke, Himeno Yuki placed a lemon-flavored lollipop in her palm too.

Etsuka opened a narrow gap between his fingers, took a quick look, then reached out and snatched them. He muttered, "Seriously, what kind of official could resist a test like this?"

Looking at Etsuka, Himeno Yuki smiled without thinking. She had basically no friends at this school. Horikita Etsuka was her seatmate and her only friend.

Hamaguchi Tetsuya packed his books with a long sigh.

Listening to the conversation behind him had practically given his ears cavities. It felt as if someone had force-fed him a mouthful of affection, and he found that very uncomfortable as someone who only cared about studying.

Just then, Amikura Mako walked over with a Student Terminal in her hand.

"Etsuka, look at what these people are doing."

"What are they doing?" Etsuka looked up and asked.

"This anonymous chat system." Amikura Mako showed him the screen and held it out in front of Horikita Etsuka.

User 429: "What! Sudo! Was it Sudo? Did he leak the Secret Key?!"

User 260: "Hey, you! Can you stop slandering people? Where are you?! Say that to my face if you've got the guts!"

User 439: "Heh, foolish mortals..."

User 160: "You people from Classes C and D think this is fun? Spreading rumors here every day?"

User 177: "Did something happen? Can someone explain?"

User 91: "Sudo! You bastard!"

User 260: "Damn it, who are you? Show yourself! Don't make me take action!"

User 249: "By the way... Sudo, did you really leak the Secret Key?"

User 260: "Damn it! Damn it! I already said I didn't!"

Watching the messages scroll by, Etsuka was speechless. It really was an anonymous free-for-all—anyone with something to say could jump in.

"Etsuka, could this have any effect on us?" Amikura Mako put away the Student Terminal, looking worried.

"Don't worry about it. Just ignore it." Etsuka waved a hand. "Also, be careful around people from Class A lately. If anyone approaches you, assume they're fishing for information."

"Okay." Amikura Mako nodded anxiously, but then her expression turned shy, and she began fidgeting.

"Um... Etsuka, are you free tomorrow?"

As she asked, Himeno Yuki glanced up briefly, then lowered her head and went back to reading.

Etsuka's expression immediately turned serious. "Tomorrow? Since it's the first day of summer break, I've decided to really let loose."

"Huh? Really let loose?" Amikura Mako looked surprised, then seemed to think of something. Her cheeks instantly grew hot, and she lowered her head.

Even Hamaguchi Tetsuya, who had been packing his things, stopped. He perked up his ears and listened quietly.

"Wait, Mako, why are you blushing?" Etsuka said. "Haven't you noticed I hardly ever play video games?"

"Huh? Video games?" Amikura immediately snapped back to her senses.

"Hm? What else?" Etsuka raised an eyebrow in surprise, as if he'd thought of something. "What did you think I meant, Mako?"

"Uh..." Amikura turned away and awkwardly scratched her cheek with her index finger. "I thought you meant going singing or something."

Her flimsy excuse was obvious to Etsuka at once.

But he didn't say anything. Who could understand what went on in a girl's mind? He certainly couldn't.

Then Amikura's eyes lit up. She put both hands on Etsuka's desk and said excitedly, "Etsuka, can I play games with you? I haven't played in ages either."

"Huh?" Etsuka froze, then looked Amikura up and down in confusion. "Mako, do you know how to play?"

"Um... well." Amikura touched her fair chin as if thinking. "It's a little difficult."

"But!" With a smack, she slapped her little hand on the desk.

Everyone nearby turned to look.

Amikura stayed still, her expression unchanged, but her cheeks, slowly turning red, gave her away.

She pinched her index finger and thumb together, leaving the tiniest gap, and spoke in a voice as soft as a whisper:

"I-I only know a little. I just hope Etsuka won't mind."

Instead, I want to spend a dozen or twenty chapters on everyday life and make up for some of the emotional gaps.

As for the Special Exam results, according to the timeline, it's only around Wednesday or Thursday now, so there's still time.

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