Perhaps it was the praise from the recent regular performance—or maybe they didn't want to be laughed at by Watanabe Tetsu—but over the next two days of the three-day weekend, more and more club members came early for morning practice.
Time marched on, and Tuesday arrived. After three days off, normal school life resumed.
At noon, the results of the monthly tests were announced.
Even with his diligent studying, Watanabe Tetsu—top of the humanities—had once again overestimated his science skills and ended up third, narrowly missing second place.
But it didn't matter.
He had already decided that by twenty-five, he would work relentlessly to guarantee a comfortable, leisurely life afterward.
If he had to work hard, having a target to chase wasn't a bad thing.
All that mattered was that, in the end—on the nationwide standardized exam—he could take first place.
Then he could publish a book: "How I, from a Rural Abandoned School in Iwate Prefecture, Became First in the Nation"—a spirited, coming-of-age novel!
Maybe he could win the "Island Nation Bookstore Award," have it adapted into a TV show, movie, anime, or manga, and live a decadent life funded by royalties.
Not a bad plan.
Near the end of the last class, Watanabe Tetsu scribbled a schedule into his notebook:
"Holiday: Write book."
Above it, he had written: "Play music games."
When the bell rang, he closed his notebook, packed up, and prepared to head to the club building with Saitou Keisuke. But Aoina Koizumi called him over first.
"Do you need something, Supervisor Koizumi?"
"Finals are coming up. Next week, there will be triadic parent-teacher-student meetings. Watanabe, make sure you tell your family in advance."
"Oh, got it," Watanabe Tetsu nodded.
Triadic meetings involved the teacher, student, and parents, usually discussing the student's performance and future education or career plans.
For Kamikawa Private Academy students, it was good news—during that week, classes were only half-days.
Afternoons could be spent normally in club activities or at cram school.
Koizumi Aoina looked Watanabe Tetsu up and down, smiling. "You've grown taller recently, haven't you?"
"Really?" Watanabe Tetsu compared their heights and realized he had grown slightly.
Standing close, through the open collar of his shirt, she could faintly see his slowly solidifying chest. Heat rose to her cheeks.
"Don't use me as a measuring stick! There's a physical exam this Friday; we can measure then," she said, laughing as she pushed him away.
"Physical exam? What do they test in Tokyo?"
"Just normal stuff: vision, height, weight, blood pressure, heart…"
"Mixed genders?"
"What are you imagining!" Koizumi Aoina flicked his forehead lightly. "As punishment, you'll clean the pool tomorrow at noon."
"Eh—!" Watanabe Tetsu groaned. Noon, and in this heat.
She whispered slyly, "There's a benefit."
Pool benefit.
"I'm very willing!"
Having gotten some insider info from Koizumi, Watanabe Tetsu returned to the classroom, called Saitou Keisuke, and the two headed toward the club building together.
"What did Supervisor Koizumi want with you?"
"Friday's physical exam, next week's triadic meetings, and… swimming class might start soon."
"Swimming class? I heard Kamikawa separates boys and girls completely. No hope of seeing anything. Akari Private next door is better—still separated, but just half the pool each!"
"Really?!"
"You didn't know?"
"I thought Tokyo was supposed to be open-minded—why is it like this!" Watanabe Tetsu fumed, feeling deceived.
"Open-mindedness doesn't depend on location. There are progressive people everywhere—and conservatives too," Saitou Keisuke said, patting his shoulder to console him—and maybe himself.
"Still, the 2D world is better!"
"Exactly!"
The two agreed as they walked down the school corridor.
Before ensemble practice in the music room, Rinn Kiyono asked, "Did anyone's monthly test scores drop?"
About six students raised their hands.
Rinn Kiyono suggested ending practice at noon and starting study sessions an hour earlier in the evening, but the students refused.
"Even if we make it to the national competition, everything will end this summer. We want to give it our all!"
"We'll make up grades in the second and third terms!"
Finally, in their hearts, a spark of hope: maybe we really can make it to the national competition.
This was good news for both the wind ensemble and the human observation club.
Practice, as always, ended late at night. Everyone's faces showed fatigue.
They hoped their hard work would pay off.
The next day at noon, Watanabe Tetsu was called to clean the pool, along with several girls from his class and the tricked Saitou Keisuke and Kunii Osamu.
Everyone changed into summer sportswear. Boys cleaned the pool; girls handled faucets and finer tasks.
In the pool, shallowly filled with water, the three wielded large mops against the walls.
"Tetsu! I'm going to kill you!"
"You promised I'd get to see the girls wet! They aren't coming!"
"Don't get reckless! The mop is filthy—keep it away! I was tricked too! Koizumi said there'd be a benefit!"
After scolding Watanabe Tetsu, they boredly discussed recent anime.
"Have you seen the latest episode of Girls und Panzer?"
"Oh, I recorded it, haven't watched yet. What's up?"
"The main group started fighting Soviet tanks! Katyusha's little fangs are so cute!"
"Katyusha?" Watanabe Tetsu frowned. "Isn't that a song? Where are the fangs?"
Kunii Osamu explained: "There's a young girl—well, looks young—named Katyusha. She has adorable little fangs, and they even sing 'Katyusha.'"
Singing their own song?
He rambled on about his admiration for the character, then picked up his mop like a gun:
"For the Soviet Union! Ura!"
"While pear blossoms bloom across the land, soft veils float on the river."
"Katyusha stands on the steep bank, her voice like radiant spring sunlight."
"Join in!"
"Ah?"
Did this guy even know about the Northern Territories dispute between Japan and Russia?
But Katyusha was just a love song—it didn't matter.
Regardless, the three got into it, singing roughly along to Katyusha while mopping—energetic and chaotic.
"The girl sings a beautiful song, praising the eagle of the plains."
"She sings for her beloved, keeping her lover's letters hidden."
"Katyusha stands on the steep bank, her voice like radiant spring sunlight."
The song ended with Kunii Osamu shouting "Ura!"
Nearby students in the classroom and by the pool stared at him like he was insane.
Watanabe Tetsu decided to stay away from him in the future.
Though men remain boys at heart, his own chuunibyou tendencies were clearly this guy's fault.
As a card game foil, Watanabe Tetsu reminded himself—don't get lost in 2D worlds!
After cleaning, Koizumi Aoina bought everyone an iced drink—the promised "benefit."
Watanabe Tetsu really was an idiot for expecting benefits from the supervisor.
He popped open a can and guzzled the soda.