"Congratulations, you're no longer number one..." Who remembered second place? In response to Utaha Kasumigaoka's retort, Shizuka Hiratsuka said pointedly, "In fact, even second place is hanging by a thread..."
"..." Utaha froze. "What do you mean?"
"Yukinoshita..."
"Yukinoshita?"
"That's right..." Shizuka glanced at her. "Although Yukinoshita hasn't surpassed you, you haven't surpassed her either..."
"What do you mean?"
"It means your scores are tied!"
"..." Utaha's eye twitched. "That much of a coincidence?"
"It is. And it's not just Yukinoshita—there's Natsukawa too..."
"Natsukawa? Her too?"
"Not quite..." Shizuka said faintly. "But Natsukawa is right on your heels..."
"..."
"Kasumigaoka..." Seeing that she remained silent, Shizuka continued, "You know Toyogasaki can recommend students for direct admission to university, right?"
"What are you trying to say...?"
"Originally, barring any surprises, that spot would have gone directly to you..."
"You're saying there's been a surprise?"
"Speaking of grades..." Shizuka did not answer directly. "You can't compare to this guy Doma..."
"Hold it!" Sogo Doma could not help interrupting. "What does that have to do with me? I don't even care about it..."
Utaha Kasumigaoka: "..."
Sogo-kun, how was she supposed to feel after hearing that?
"Shut up..." Shizuka's eye twitched. "Is this about whether you care or not? Even if you don't, the school will take those factors into account..."
"..."
"Besides, there's also the rate of improvement..." Shizuka said again. "Kasumigaoka, compared with Yukinoshita, your rate of improvement..."
Utaha Kasumigaoka: "..."
She had not improved at all, okay? Still—
"Just like Sogo-kun, I don't care either..."
"I know you don't care..." Shizuka said. "But can you really accept it? Something that was clearly yours being snatched away by someone else..."
"Enough! What exactly are you trying to say?"
"If you can't accept it, then show me you can change..." Shizuka said.