40 - Efforts do not necessarily bear fruit (Patreon)

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“Yosshaaaa!!”

Tadashi raises his voice in the classroom. Today is the test return day.

“Look at this score, Kazuki!”

The score Tadashi showed is 50 points. To be honest, I don't think it's a score that he should be overjoyed with, but... well, considering Tadashi's usual score, I guess it's a score that he can be happy with.
Tadashi was concentrating during the joint test study meeting, so this increase in his score is understandable.

“That's a twenty-point increase from last time!”
“Good for you, Tadashi.”

Tadashi was especially happy because this subject was one where he barely avoided a red mark.

I, on the other hand, wasn't that happy. After all, the increase in score was only by about five points.

“For you to not be happy even though you have an overwhelmingly higher score than me, that’s rude.”
“I tried my best this time too...”

In addition to study meetings with Tadashi, Hayashi-san and the others, I have also been studying with Hiuri-sensei in the dream while sleeping at night. So I thought ‘I’ll get over 90 points this time’ and yet...

“Kazuki, didn’t you say you’re not good at math? I think getting 80 points is good considering that.”
“I wonder if I set my goals too high...”

I'm not saying that I want to turn my weak subject into my strong subject, but I think setting a goal of getting 90 points on a test that has a specified scope is good.
For the end-of-year test, which doesn't specify a scope, I set a goal of around 80 points, but for mid-year tests, I want to get a higher score. I told Hiuri in the dream about my goal, so I'm frustrated that I couldn't achieve it again this time.

...

“Hm? boyfriend-kun is not feeling well, huh—”
“Well, I didn't achieve my goal after all.”

Lunch break. We, who have become better friends than ever before through the study meeting, were chatting in the classroom. Even Tadashi, who had kept his distance before the study meeting, is now talking together with us.

“This guy has a better score than me, but he's not happy about it.”
“So, you’re aiming for a perfect score huh—?”
“No, my goal was 90 points, but... I ended up getting 80 points.”

By the way, Kannazuki-san is here, but Hiuri isn't. Hayashi-san said that she was called by the teacher.
It seems that Kannazuki-san was forced to come here by Hayashi-san. Kannazuki-san is the one who stops Hayashi-san when push comes to shove, so having her here is helpful.

Since these two are talking to us, the gazes from the surrounding boys hurt. Before the test, their gazes were directed only to me, but today they were directed to Tadashi as well. From now on, Tadashi will also become their object of jealousy.

But, because of Tadashi’s act of talking to them in front of a large number of people, it seems that Hayashi-san's number of male friends has increased. After that time, it seems that many people had the courage to follow Tadashi’s example and started to talk to her.
Hayashi said that she was happy since the boys didn't approach her too often.

“How did Hayashi-san do?”
“Perfect!”

Apparently, Hayashi-san scored over 80 points in every subject, and over 90 points in some subjects.
Considering that at the beginning of the study session, she was constantly asking questions to Hiuri, the fact that she was able to understand so much in such a short time is astounding.
She's probably a genius type unlike me...

“Aah, cheer up. You did your best, boyfriend-kun.”
“It's okay, I'm not depressed...”

While I was feeling overwhelmed by the differences between me and Hayashi-san, Hiuri came back.
Now that the favorite has returned, the surrounding gazes become even harsher, but we don't worry about it and continue our conversation. As expected, we have already gotten used to it.

“Hiu, cheer boyfriend-kun up.”
“Eh?”
“He’s depressed because he didn't reach his goal, you know—”
“I’m fine, you know. I’m fine.”

As expected, I can't do anything disgraceful in real life, so while I was holding back, Hiuri approached me.

“Are you depressed?”
“No, I’m fine.”
“Hmm.”

When I said that, Hiuri moved away.
Phew, I was nervous.

...

“Even though you were holding back in real life, here you feel depressed.”
“Well, yeah... the one I mainly learn from is the Hiuri here anyways...”

In the dream on the test return day.
I was eating crepes alongside Hiuri. The location is the roof of the castle I saw in a photo.

“But you couldn't even get 80 points before. The scope changes every time, but your scores are properly increasing, so there's no need to get depressed.”
“But Hiuri's scores were all over 90, right?”
“That's true. But you shouldn't compare yourself to other people because their brains are built differently.”

This is a common saying. It is said that your grades will not improve if you compare yourself to other people.
Still, I think it's inevitable that we compare ourselves with others. Especially in an environment like a school where there are competitors right next to us.

“...I thought Kazuki-kun doesn't like being patted?”
“I guess it's a little embarrassing.”
“Then come here.”

Hiuri, who had devoured her crepes, guided me to a room in the castle. It is a bedroom with a large canopy bed.
Eh, what are you planning to do here?

“Hiuri-san?”

While I was getting anxious, Hiuri sat on the bed.
And then she's patting her thigh.

“Umm.”
“It's a lap pillow. It's still fine if it’s here right?”

A lap pillow is also embarrassing though... but as expected, it's impossible to refuse after she did this much.
I give up and lay on the bed with my head in Hiuri's lap.

“Ara, this distance is pretty embarrassing isn’t it?”
“This is embarrassing after all, isn’t it?”
“But, somehow I feel a little fluttery. Maybe it's because I'm touching Kazuki-kun.”

Somehow, Hiuri looks happy. Hmm, I can't get up when you make that kind of face.

“Come on, sleep in the dream.”

She even starts patting my head. Um, this is supposed to be a compromise because I don't like being patted though?

I spend the night while my embarrassment is breaking through the heavens.

――――

(T/N: I thought both of them aren’t that smart, but they get 80 and 90 points? Is the average that high, or was Kazuki being humble when he said he wasn’t smart?)

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