July 16th, Saturday.
The Shinomiya Family's mansion in Tokyo Minato Ward.
The diligent maid, Hayasaka Ai, was preparing to help her master wake up.
She looked down and sent a message to her Boyfriend-kun.
Myself: Good morning! Boyfriend-kun~ [Attached photo: Hayasaka Ai's selfie, with the Shinomiya Family's garden in the background, freshly watered. In the morning light, the water droplets on several flower petals sparkled crystal clear.]
A few seconds later—read.
My Most, Most, Most Favorite Boyfriend-kun: Good morning, Ai-chan~ I'm on my way to school now. [Orca licks.jpg]
Hayasaka Ai looked at his last emoji and fell into thought.
What exactly does this emoji mean? This was the first time Sakurai Saki had sent her this expression.
Although it's cute—I can't understand it. Does he want to kiss me?
He can't just send it mindlessly because it looks cute, right?
Never mind, never mind—I won't think about it.
Subsequently, after exchanging several sickeningly sweet love messages with Sakurai Saki, Hayasaka Ai—with a happy and satisfied expression—stood at the door of Kaguya Shinomiya's room.
More than ten minutes later, Kaguya Shinomiya called her name:
"Hayasaka~"
Her voice lacked strength—it seemed Kaguya Shinomiya hadn't slept well last night.
She had been studying very hard recently, and Hayasaka Ai was a little worried.
Not everyone could become Shirogane Miyuki. Studying like this—there was a possibility of sudden death.
"Kaguya Shinomiya—what time did you go to bed yesterday?"
"12 o'clock."
For her, who absolutely had to sleep before 12 o'clock every day—or else she would turn into a stupid Kaguya the next day—this was the absolute limit of her study time.
"Kaguya Shinomiya—can't you go to bed earlier?" Hayasaka helped her put on her clothes.
After pulling her sleeves and making sure she was properly dressed, Kaguya gave Hayasaka a glare and complained: "It's all because you, Hayasaka, aren't working hard!"
"?" Hayasaka Ai was full of question marks.
Kaguya Shinomiya—you've found another angle to persecute me?
How come I'm blamed for everything? Try to be a decent person!
"Hayasaka—think about it. If you worked harder and attracted all of Sakurai-kun's attention, wouldn't he be unable to study?" Kaguya Shinomiya prepared to replicate her previous tactic.
That time, although Sakurai Saki had been unwell during the exam, Hayasaka Ai's plan to keep Sakurai from studying by talking on the phone for hours was also executed perfectly!
"You're absolutely right. Even if Kaguya Shinomiya is 1% responsible for failing the exam—don't I have 99% of the responsibility? Yes! That's so right! That makes so much sense!" Ai-chan said sarcastically.
'I feel better now.'
After venting, she continued: "However—he's going to Kendo Club training these two days, so he probably won't have time to review."
Kaguya wasn't particularly concerned about the latter information—she was more interested in Hayasaka's earlier remark:
"Hayasaka—are you indirectly saying I'm selfish?"
Kaguya tilted her head.
"You have a quality I admire greatly—self-awareness." Hayasaka Ai nodded.
Kaguya's mouth twitched, and she gritted her teeth: "Thank you for the compliment."
After speaking, she pondered Hayasaka's latter sentence.
'This time—I can't lose, can I?'
The exam is next Thursday—and he's still going to train this weekend. Heh—if he can win! If he can win, I'll eat this comforter right here and now!
Inside the Kendo Club.
Minister Kojima looked at the book in Sakurai Saki's hand: "Sakurai—you're coming to train and still reviewing? Isn't that a bit of an overreaction?"
It was just a final exam. According to his grades, he should do well even without reviewing.
"This is war." Sakurai's expression was serious.
The loser has to dance in a shrine maiden outfit—and you're telling me it's an overreaction?
How about if I fail, you dance for me?
Next, Sakurai joined the club members for warm-up activities—first jogging slowly around the track. The Soccer Club and Track and Field Club were also running—and surprisingly, the Baseball Club was there too. Shuchiin Academy's Baseball Club and Soccer Club are very strong—both with a chance of reaching the finals.
The Shuchiin team had even qualified for the Koshien regional baseball selection.
July—the season of passion. On the track, the boys let out a synchronized shout—
"Go! Go! Fight! Shuchiin Academy!"
In the crowd, Sakurai Saki yawned.
His action was as clear as a speck of ink on white paper.
It felt pretty good to just lie flat among a bunch of strivers.
After running, back in the Kendo dojo, Sakurai Saki looked at Miyazaki Ikki—who had recuperated for a few days and was now full of energy again.
Observing Sakurai, he actually walked over.
"Sakurai! You truly have the skill of a regular member—I underestimated you last time. For that, I apologize!!" Miyazaki Ikki said, bowing deeply.
The Kendo Club, in the end, was all about skill.
As a pure academy student, he had originally looked down on Sakurai Saki, who had entered through an outside exam—and felt the same way about Shirogane Miyuki. But Sakurai Saki's last match against him changed his opinion.
After bowing, Miyazaki looked directly at Sakurai: "So! I will defeat you soundly next time!"
"No need for next time—let's spar in a bit." Sakurai smiled.
"...I think we can wait a few more days. Sakurai—you haven't touched a sword in a while, have you? I can wait until your skill returns to its best state." Miyazaki Ikki was a little scared by his smile.
He now understood a phrase—a dagger hidden in a smile.
"Why does your 'next time' have to be a few days later?" Sakurai found his reaction somewhat amusing. "I won't stab your throat this time."
"That's good."
Miyazaki Ikki felt confident again.
"Let's have a match later!!"
Half an hour later.
Miyazaki Ikki lay on the ground, rolling around, clutching his head.
Why does hitting the head hurt so much with this guy?
Damn it—if I spar with him again, I'm an idiot!
Nearby, Ohmonto Saburo—who had watched their sparring—clapped his hands and said: "Next—anyone who wants to can spar with Sakurai."
"Coach—are you sure we won't be sent to the hospital?" Kinoshita Yota—with his bald head and slightly round face—looked quite comical. He was also a regular member of the Kendo Club.
"You're wearing protective gear—what are you afraid of?"
"True."
Hearing their instructor say that, all the club members breathed a sigh of relief.
Then—they had a nightmare of a day.
'The teacher misled us!' The club members' eyes went black as they were successively knocked to the ground.
After that day, only Minister Kojima and Miyazaki Ikki dared to spar with Sakurai Saki.
The former could fight Sakurai back and forth with skill—while the latter was simply unwilling to admit defeat, thinking: 'If I'm an idiot, then so be it—but I can't keep losing.'
July 21st, Thursday—the final exams officially began.
The Five Sisters entered the examination hall with nervous hearts.
Outside another examination hall—
Sakurai Saki and Kaguya Shinomiya exchanged glances, both revealing confident expressions.
'I can't lose this exam!'