Choosing Target Schools- The Year End Is Tough For Exam Students!

The seasons turned, and it was now late November.

The moment I stepped out of the school building, a biting wind swept right down my collar.

“Ugh, so cold!”

I involuntarily pulled my neck back like a turtle.

“En-chan!”

A voice called out from behind.

Turning around, I saw Asuka Ishida, my best friend since middle school, jogging up to me.

“Asuka, didn’t you have your special Japanese History class today?”

Like me, she was taking the entrance exams for a humanities department. But while I was taking the three subjects of Japanese, English, and math, she had opted for Japanese, English, and Japanese History.

“Yeah, the teacher was out today so class was canceled. What about your special math class, En-chan?”

“I didn’t take it for the second term. I don’t really click with Mr. Nishijima, the math teacher, so I figured I was better off studying on my own.”

“Well, you do have Yuu-san tutoring you, En-chan.”

Ugh… she’s got me there.

Asuka sees right through me.

And besides… I felt a bit guilty toward Asuka regarding that whole situation.

“Asuka… um, I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“Well, you know… about me asking Yuu-san to be my tutor…”

“Oh, that.”

Asuka kept looking straight ahead, acting as if it were nothing.

“It’s really not something you need to apologize to me for. You’re taking the exam with math, so it just makes sense that a convenient, capable person nearby happened to be Yuu-san.”

“I guess so, but…”

“Ever since I became a senior, I haven’t taken a single math or science class, so it’s not like I could have asked Yuu-san anyway.”

Hearing Asuka say that made me sigh with relief.

After all, this was practically a stealthy head start on my part.

Asuka continued:

“Besides, just because you asked Yuu-san to tutor you doesn’t mean things are going to progress between you two.”

“Wait, why’s that?”

I asked back without thinking.

Just as Asuka said, it had already been six months since I asked Isshiki-san to start tutoring me.

Yet during that time, things between him and me hadn’t moved forward in the slightest.

Of course, since we see each other every week, we’ve gotten to know each other much better than before, and he stopped actively avoiding me.

But to him, I was still nothing more than “Toko Sakurajima’s little sister,” and my position as “the student he tutors out of obligation” hadn’t changed either.

I’ve tried all sorts of tactics to grab his attention, but he always deflects or completely ignores them.

“Based on that reaction, I guess things really haven’t progressed.”

Asuka looked at me and gave a sweet smile.

Asuka’s smile is cute, but under these circumstances, it’s a bit frustrating.

“I used to have Yuu-san help me with my studies a few times back in middle school too. Every single time, I tried to close the distance with him, but he never noticed my approaches at all.”

“Right? Isshiki-san completely misses it even when I throw flags right in his face. Is he just totally dense?”

I agreed profoundly.

“His romance radar isn’t exactly high. Plus, he’s a serious guy at heart, so even if you say ‘Teach me!’, he literally just teaches you. That’s why that approach won’t move your relationship forward.”

I see. So Asuka had already tried this playbook and run into a wall.

“You might be right, Asuka. Though I guess that earnest side is also part of what makes Isshiki-san great.”

“How are your grades doing, though?”

Asuka abruptly shifted the topic.

“My math scores have gone up quite a bit. Though having said that, they’re still nowhere near the level to pass Joto University.”

“Even you will actually study hard when taught by the person you love, huh, En-chan?” Asuka teased with a laugh.

“Don’t make fun of me. Even setting that aside, I want to become a college student, so of course I’m studying properly!”

After pouting my lips, I turned the question back on her.

“Where are you taking exams, Asuka?”

“I’m still wavering… but Meio University is my first choice. And based on my deviation score, East Japan Women’s University. Then a few places a bit below that.”

“Are you not applying to Joto University?”

“It’s too difficult with my current grades.”

“Ugh, then for me, since my grades are even worse than yours, applying there is just a total waste of money.”

“I don’t think that’s necessarily true… I think you’re naturally smart, En-chan, plus our exam subjects are completely different.”

“Yeah, yeah, thanks for the save. So, Asuka, you’re giving up on going to the same university as Isshiki-san?”

“In the end, if you’re in different departments, university is basically like going to separate schools anyway. It’s not like we’d ever take the same classes. Besides, I can just join the circle Yuu-san is in. Wakaba has members from other universities too, right?”

“I guess that’s true. When you think about it that way, maybe forcing myself to take the Joto University exam is meaningless too.”

“Wait, I didn’t mean it like that at all! Don’t go giving up so easily over this! You’re making it sound like I just sabotaged you!” Asuka hurriedly corrected herself.

To be fair, I was only joking just now.

I have no intention of giving up on Joto University over something like this.

I want to show Isshiki-san that I’m not inferior to my sister, and make him acknowledge me for who I am.

The results of our mock exams came back.

“They’ve gone up quite a bit. With these marks, wouldn’t you be able to get into Hokei or Seigaku?”

Scanning the exam results, Isshiki-san spoke in a bright, encouraging voice.

While I was happy my grades had improved… that wasn’t my goal.

“But Joto University is still a C-rank evaluation. I guess it’s still impossible for me.”

Perhaps feeling sympathetic toward my gloomy tone, Isshiki-san tried to reassure me.

“You don’t need to look at it that way. Exams are a gamble. If I recall correctly, I had a C-rank evaluation for Joto University around this exact time too.”

“Wait, really?”

“Seriously. I had C-rank evaluations for both Takada University and Joto University, and my homeroom teacher even told me, ‘Passing on your first try might be tough.’”

“Then how did you manage to pass from that point?”

“I’d have to say I got lucky. Plus, I thoroughly drilled past exam questions. Eventually, I started to understand the test patterns, and by the start of the new year, I was scoring right around the passing mark.”

“Do your scores really go up just by doing past exams?”

“For that specific university, they definitely go up. Though even with that, I still ended up failing Takada University.”

“Then I’m going to start doing past exams too!”

However, his expression turned complicated.

“Hmm, but in your case, wouldn’t it be better to solidify your basics a bit more first? Diving into past exams might be a little too harsh right now.”

“But November is already ending! The entrance exams are in February, so if I don’t start doing them soon, I won’t make it in time!”

At that, Isshiki-san looked at me with a measuring gaze.

“But still, if you’re going to do past exams, shouldn’t you focus on the universities you want to go to that have a high probability of acceptance? You’re applying to places like East Japan Women’s University, right?”

“Of course I’m going to do those too!”

“Plus, with your current grades, you can apply to quite a few universities using the Common Test. To do that, you’ll need to run through Common Test past exams as well.”

His unspoken attitude—clearly trying to get me to give up on Joto University—struck a nerve.

“That’s why I said I’m going to do all of them! Why are you always trying to make me give up on Joto University, Isshiki-san?!”

“I’m not trying to make you give up. I’m just trying to maximize your chances of getting in on your first try. If anything, why are you so utterly obsessed with my university?”

Are you seriously asking me that now?

A surge of pure irritation flared up inside me.

The reason is completely obvious.

The person I love with all my heart is at that university, so I want to go to the exact same school!

If I do, there will be so many more chances for us to run into each other on the commute.

Besides, Isshiki-san should already know how I feel!

Yet he still says things like this!

“Wouldn’t it be best to first run through past exams for the Common Test and places like Hokei or Seigaku, while balancing that with reviewing your foundational knowledge?”

“Like I said! I’m going to do all of them! By next week, I’ll have finished the ones you just mentioned along with the Joto University past exams!”

At this point, it was pure stubborn pride.

I made my declaration fiercely.

But saying it is easy; doing it is a whole different story.

Naturally, I also had to study English and Japanese (including classical Japanese and classical Chinese).

But since I had gone and declared it so boldly, I had no choice but to deliver.

Moreover, one of my main goals was “to make Isshiki-san acknowledge my existence.”

I couldn’t afford to back down here.

For the next week leading up to our tutoring session, I cut into my sleep schedule to study. There were times I went to school having slept for only two hours.

“You shouldn’t push yourself too hard,” even my sister noted, looking worried.

Though having the sister who currently held an absolute, overwhelming advantage as my rival in love tell me that only served to fuel my fighting spirit even further.

A week flew by, and the day of our tutoring session arrived.

The night before, I had once again slept for only two hours.

Because of that, my body felt flushed and heavy, and my head was a bit foggy.

To make matters worse, the timing was terrible: today was the maid’s day off.

Since both of my parents work as doctors, either the maid or our grandmother who lives nearby handles all of our housework.

And when I searched for cold medicine, it turned out we were completely out.

This is bad, I feel kind of feverish. I happen to be on my period too; maybe my resistance is down.

The intercom rang.

Stumbling slightly, I went to answer the front door.

“Good evening.”

With those words, Isshiki-san stepped inside.

Since I was all alone while feeling so sick, just seeing his face brought an immediate wave of relief.

“Welcome~”

As I greeted him, he looked at me with a suspicious gaze.

“Honoka, are you feeling sick? You look really pale.”

“Not at all, it’s no big deal. Come on, let’s go up to my room!”

“If you’re not feeling well, we can take today off. We can just reschedule the tutoring session for another day.”

“I’m fine, totally fine! Besides, you’re busy too, aren’t you, Isshiki-san? It would be a waste of your time.”

Desperate to hide my unsteady footing, I kept one hand firmly on the banister as I made my way up the stairs.

Once we entered the room, Isshiki-san noted with a puzzled look:

“It’s awfully quiet. Is there no one else home today?”

“Yeah, my grandmother was supposed to come over, but apparently her knee started acting up out of nowhere, so she messaged saying she couldn’t make it today.”

“So it’s just the two of us today?”

An awkward shadow crossed Isshiki-san’s face.

“Don’t worry. My sister knows today was supposed to be the day grandma comes over anyway. She won’t suspect anything.”

Saying that, I reached up toward the shelf above my study desk, reaching for the four volumes of past exams.

“Just like I promised, on top of the regular homework, I ran through one year’s worth of past exams for the Common Test and the other schools. Of course, including Joto University too.”

Right at that exact moment.

The world in front of my eyes suddenly went pitch black, and I felt as though my body had gone completely weightless.

A sudden dizzy spell?

It was completely dark and I couldn’t see a thing; I lost all sense of up, down, front, and side.

This is bad, I’m going to collapse…

Just as that terrifying thought hit me, someone firmly caught my body, pulling me in close.

“Hey, what’s wrong?! Are you alright, Honoka?!”

Isshiki-san’s voice echoed, sounding as if it were coming from a great distance.

And then, I realized I was cradled safely inside his arms.

Feeling his absolute warmth and strength, a wave of profound comfort washed over me, and my consciousness drifted away into a deep sleep.

When I opened my eyes, I was lying in my own bed.

Isshiki-san was sitting right next to me, tapping away on his smartphone.

“Are you awake?”

He noticed me right away.

“How long… was I asleep?”

As I tried to force my heavy body to sit up, he gently placed a hand on my shoulder, holding me down.

“About an hour and a half, I think. You should stay lying down. Don’t force yourself.”

“But… today’s studying…”

“We can just do that next time. I’ll make sure to adjust my schedule, so don’t worry about it.”

After saying that, Isshiki-san pulled out a plastic bottle and a small bag.

“You had a pretty high fever. For now, I went out and bought some medicine and a sports drink, so take these.”

As I reached out to take them, tears unexpectedly threatened to well up in my eyes.

“You were… worried about me?”

“Of course I was. Though I’m just glad there happened to be a drugstore right nearby.”

“Other than that… did you stay right by my side the whole time?”

“Pretty much. I mean, there’s no one else home right now, right? I could hardly just leave you alone when you had a massive fever and literally lost consciousness.”

Hearing that made the tears threaten to spill over again.

To hide my face, I pulled the duvet up over my head.

“You were the one who carried me to bed too, right, Isshiki-san?”

“Yeah.”

“Did you… do anything weird to me?”

“Like hell I would.”

It would have been fine if you did… I whispered silently in my heart.

If anything, I had secretly hoped he might have tried something. Because that would be proof that he viewed me as a woman and felt attracted to my charms.

Though knowing Isshiki-san, there’s no way he ever would…

“Also, I messaged Toko-san to let her know you collapsed. She was really worried and said she’d head straight back. She should be home in another thirty minutes or so.”

Saying that, he made a move to stand up.

He was planning to go home.

In a flash, I extended my arm and tightly snagged the hem of his jacket.

“Don’t go.”

Isshiki-san looked down at me with a deeply troubled face.

But… in that exact moment, I absolutely could not bear to let him go.

“Don’t leave me alone… at least stay with me until my sister gets back…”

He mulled over the request for a brief moment, before letting out a soft sigh and sitting back down right next to the bed.

“Alright. I’ll stay here until Toko-san gets home.”

Even then, I didn’t let go of my grip on his clothes.

If only for this brief stretch of time… this exact moment where Isshiki-san’s eyes were locked entirely on me and me alone… I refused to let go.

Even if it was only a fleeting pocket of time until my sister returned…