Hiyori's Request for a Bedtime Companion

"I'm home~"

"Ah, welcome back. It's just finished, please take a seat."

When I returned to the room after buying mechanical pencil lead and an eraser, Hiyori, wearing an apron, was busy bringing over the dishes.

"Do you need any help?"

"No need. Taking care of Hachiman is my job, after all."

Hiyori flatly refused my offer, so I had no choice but to sit down and wait for her to set the table.

"Sorry to keep you waiting. Let's dig in."

"Oh. But this pork cutlet is huge."

Tonight's dinner was an extra-large serving of tonkatsu.

Hiyori makes different dishes every day, but she rarely prepares high-fat meals, so I was a bit surprised to see the pork cutlet.

"Since the midterm exams are tomorrow, I wanted to bring Hachiman some good luck."

"I see. Thanks."

Since that was the case, I wouldn't hold back.

Besides, refusing food made by Hiyori is simply impossible.

As soon as I bit into the pork cutlet, the savory flavor spread throughout my mouth.

Feeling that impact, I truly felt it was the perfect choice for a good luck charm.

In the end, I wolfed down everything Hiyori had prepared.

Though, I always eat with that much enthusiasm anyway.

"You're welcome. Ah, you've got some sauce on the corner of your mouth."

As she said that, Hiyori used a tissue to wipe the corner of my mouth.

I had been treated the same way by Sakanayanagi before, and it was quite embarrassing.

However, seeing Hiyori looking so unashamed, I managed to barely keep my composure.

I thanked her and continued my meal, only to find that I couldn't stop using my chopsticks.

I felt like today's meal had even more soul poured into it than usual.

Could this be the legendary ultimate dish...!

While I was thinking such silly things, the meal was undoubtedly a happy time.

Three hours later...

"Hiyori, tomorrow is the big day, so we should probably finish reviewing and head back."

As it neared 11 PM, I suggested this to Hiyori.

We were both well-prepared, so there was no need to pull an all-nighter before the exam.

If anything, it would be worse if staying up all night caused our performance to drop; resting well before the exam is the best strategy.

In the end, although we didn't memorize the past exam papers prepared by Kushida, looking at the questions, there shouldn't be any issues answering them normally, and rote memorization wasn't necessary.

At the end of the day, as long as you've reviewed diligently, there's no problem.

When I explained this conclusion to Hiyori...

"Hachiman. If you don't mind... could you let me stay in your room tonight?"

"What's this all of a sudden?"

Although Hiyori sometimes comes over early in the morning, this was the first time she had asked to stay over the night before.

The time I spent the night with Sakanayanagi and the others was just a matter of circumstance.

But this time, it was a clear request to stay over.

It was completely unexpected, and I couldn't help but ask back.

"Yes, because I want to be spoiled by Hachiman... is that not okay?"

She looked at me with uneasy eyes at the end. Seeing an expression like that, refusing would make me look like the bad guy.

Not to mention, the reason is that she wants to be spoiled by me? That makes me both happy and embarrassed to death.

"...I understand. Go back to your room, pack your things for tomorrow, and bring your luggage over."

I sighed and agreed to Hiyori's request.

Although it was embarrassing, I've been taken care of by her so much that I really couldn't refuse.

"Thank you so much, I'm so happy... see you in a bit~"

Hearing this, Hiyori beamed and left the room. That's good; I didn't have to see her make a sad face.

An expression like the one from the incident with Ryuen is enough for one lifetime.

(For now, Hiyori is preparing her things for tomorrow, and a shower will take about half an hour, so I might as well look over the math problems during this time.)

Although I have already gone through the test papers for all subjects, given this level of difficulty, I could score full marks in English, Japanese, and Social Studies without even memorizing the questions.

The only subjects I am uneasy about are Math and Science, so I will review Math before Hiyori returns.

As for Science, I will leave that for tomorrow morning and the breaks between classes.

Just as I was reviewing the questions, the door clicked open.

I hurriedly shoved the test papers into my bag. A moment later, Hiyori walked in wearing her pajamas, carrying her school bag and uniform; it seemed she was well-prepared.

"Everything is packed, so... shall we sleep together?"

Hiyori said this as she set down her luggage and gently tugged on the corner of my shirt.

That kind of small gesture is just too unfair.

"...Alright."

In the end, I couldn't resist lying down on the bed, and Hiyori crawled under the covers and hugged me. Then...

"Good night... Hachiman-kun."

Smooch.

A light kiss on my cheek.

As a result, I was so embarrassed that I tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep until one in the morning.

The next day...

"There are no absentees today. Everyone being present is better than anything else."

As I was yawning—having barely slept last night because of Hiyori's kiss—Chabashira-sensei said this with a pleased smile.

Today, we finally face the first major hurdle for the underachievers: the midterm exams.

"For you bottom-feeders, this is your first trial. Well? Have you all studied properly?"

"We have been studying diligently for the past few weeks. There won't be anyone failing in this class."

If someone could still fail after getting their hands on past exam papers, that person would have to be hopelessly stupid.

"You're quite confident, Hirata. Let me see if that's just bluster or the real deal."

Chabashira-sensei began distributing the test papers while scanning the classroom.

The first period was Social Studies, my strong suit.

Furthermore, since I had studied desperately for the sake of the reward points during the preparation period, I was confident I could rank in the top ten of the grade even without the past papers.

"If there are no dropouts in this midterm exam and the final exam in July, I will take all of you on a summer vacation."

"A vacation?"

"That's right. The blue sea, white sandy beaches, and brilliant sunshine. I'll let you experience a dream-like life."

Yeah, right.

It's definitely a vacation with some kind of trap.

I won't be fooled.

But the boys in the class seemed to take it seriously, collectively letting out excited roars.

Chabashira-sensei was even startled enough to take half a step back by their intensity.

"Everyone, let's do our best!"

"Wooooooooh!"

Following Ike's shout, the boys erupted into a roar.

In contrast, the girls cast cold gazes toward them.

While everyone was stunned, the bell rang throughout the school building.

The previous commotion suddenly quieted down, and everyone gripped their pens tightly.

First, I wrote my name in the name field of the answer sheet.

It wouldn't be funny if I were given a zero for being an anonymous student.

Solving the problems went unexpectedly smoothly.

I browsed through the questions as I wrote down the answers; at this rate, I should be able to get full marks easily.

The only thing to worry about is filling in the wrong answer column, but I can just check carefully after finishing everything.

I glanced around the classroom as if by accident; I didn't see any students who had stopped writing.

Even the class's "idiot trio" were answering fluently. It seems Hirata was right; there shouldn't be anyone failing.

Thinking this, I finished all the questions and began to double-check the answer columns.

Three hours later...

"That was super easy!"

"I might even get a 120!"

During the break, the class's duo of idiots, Ike and Yamauchi, were holding the past exam papers and looking incredibly excited.

Just looking at them, you could tell they weren't going to fail.

By now, the second period of Japanese, the third period of Science, and the fourth period of Math exams had already concluded.

I should have gotten perfect scores on both Social Studies and Japanese.

I didn't finish the final proof question on the Math exam, but I solved everything else, so I estimate I'll get around 95 points.

As for Science, I realized I had mixed up a few things while reviewing the past papers this morning, so I'll probably get around 90 points.

At this rate, I probably won't make it into the top three of the grade.

It seems like even a top-five overall ranking is hanging by a thread, so I shouldn't get my hopes up for the reward points for Science or the total score.

If I can make it into the top three for Math, I'll consider myself lucky.

However, English is my strong suit, so I should be able to rack up quite a few points there.

While I was thinking about this and making a final desperate struggle before the exam, I suddenly saw Sudo reviewing the past papers with a grimace.

I spoke to Ayanokoji and found out that this guy had actually fallen asleep while studying for English.

He really is hopelessly stupid...

But it doesn't matter what happens to that guy.

He's facing the threat of expulsion, yet he can't even properly review the past papers that are his only lifeline; it's entirely his own fault.

Compared to him, I'm the one with the real problem.

I have to get a perfect score to earn those 30,000 points.

Ten minutes later...

"We will now begin the English exam. As you all know, but I will say it anyway—whispering to one another will be considered cheating."

The teacher recited the routine warning and began distributing the answer sheets and test papers.

Since it was the final subject, everyone was feeling at least a little nervous.

The only one who didn't seem to care at all was probably Koenji; that guy has way too much nerve.

I started answering as soon as I got the paper, and it was just as smooth as the Japanese and Social Studies exams.

This is all thanks to Sakanayanagi, Ichinose, and Hiyori... oh no, just thinking about Hiyori makes me shy.

----Goodnight, Hachiman-kun----

Recalling that kiss from Hiyori, my cheeks started to burn again.

No, no, no, that wasn't a kiss, it was just a peck on the cheek, so it doesn't count! She probably did it out of friendship rather than romance.

But it was so soft; I really want to be kissed again.

Could you kiss me one more time?

...What on earth am I thinking about during an exam?!

I have to focus on the test right now!

When I momentarily lost my concentration and looked at the answer sheet—

(What the hell! Why did I write my thoughts about the kiss in the English-to-Japanese translation section?!)

The answer area for the English translation was clearly filled with my thoughts about kissing Hiyori.

It seems I had written it down unconsciously.

Just as I frantically tried to erase it, the patrolling teacher happened to glance at my answer and let out a chuckle as if nothing had happened.

(I've created another dark chapter in my life...)

In the end, I should be able to get a perfect score on the English exam, but the mental exhaustion goes without saying.