Chapter 57: Complacency is not desirable
Watanabe Toru, who thought that the dispute had passed him by, did not expect to hear a piece of news that could turn the situation around just after lunch break.
To be precise, that should be the reason why he was buried.
The first class in the afternoon was English class. As the class teacher, Koizumi Aona used her class to talk about the midterm exam.
When she walked into the classroom, she saw that everyone looked dejected, so she smiled like a friend and said, "Are you still regretting not getting first place?"
"Yes——" Kunii Osamu answered in a long tone.
Watanabe Toru glanced at this guy. There are 160 people in the first grade. Why would you, a person ranked after 100, be so upset?
"Although the dream has not been achieved, I still want to praise everyone. Everyone has made great progress compared to the monthly exam, especially Watanabe."
Faced with Koizumi Aona's gratified eyes, Watanabe Toru did not feel the slightest bit happy about being praised.
"Teacher, although I have improved one place, I am still third in terms of number of people. Essentially, I have not improved."
"How could that be?" Koizumi Aona laughed, "Watanabe, you took the liberal arts exam and got 886 points. Last year, the highest score in the liberal arts exam for students admitted to the University of Tokyo was 883 points. Although the test paper is relatively simple, you are only in the first year of high school, which is already very, very good."
Watanabe Toru thought for a moment and asked, "Teacher, Kiyono-san and Miki, are they studying arts or science?"
"This is why the teacher wants to praise you . They took the science exam. Among the students who were admitted to the University of Tokyo last year, the highest score in the unified science exam was 893 points. Seino-san and Kujo-san only scored 888 points. In a sense, Watanabe, you are better than them!"
Watanabe Toru was stunned.
Koizumi Aona looked at his expression and explained, "The reason why we didn't separate the rankings and let the students who chose the liberal arts and sciences be ranked together is because it's the first year after all, and the liberal arts and sciences haven't been finalized yet, and the Ministry of Education will not allow it."
What? It turns out that I am the first. Hard work really pays off.
Watanabe Toru almost cried for joy.
He raised his hand: "Teacher, I want to reschedule an exam. I will take science, or they will take arts."
"You want to take first place? Are you planning to ask Kiyono-san to do something?" Koizumi Aona looked at Watanabe Toru with dissatisfaction in her almond-shaped eyes: "Watanabe, you are already with Kujo-san, you must be loyal."
When talking about this, the class burst into laughter.
People of this age always like to make fun of relationships between men and women.
"Teacher," Toru Watanabe said helplessly, "The reorganized exam is not a midterm exam, so there won't be a condition where whoever comes in first can make the other two do whatever they want. I just want to prove my ability."
That being said, given the narcissism of the other two, a simple provocation would be enough, right?
This kind of thing can be discussed privately, there is no need to let others know. This is a game between the three of them.
"I see." Koizumi Aona thought for a moment, "If you can get the consent of the other two, the teacher will find a way to convince the principal to arrange the test papers and examination venue for you."
"That's great! I like Mr. Koizumi the best!"
"oh--"
"Watanabe, you bastard! You already have Kujo-san, but you're trying to steal Teacher Koizumi from us!"
“Unforgivable!”
Koizumi Aona's oval face turned slightly red and she glared at Watanabe Toru in reproach. She clapped her hands, signaling everyone to keep quiet.
"In addition to Watanabe's outstanding performance, many other students have made progress, such as..."
…
Originally, after the midterm exams were over and club activities resumed as normal, Toru Watanabe only needed to go to the Human Observation Department on Friday, but he had to go today.
As he walked along the corridor leading to the club building, he felt his steps were lighter and he felt more confident.
The Human Observation Department's activity room is located alone at the innermost part of the fifth floor of the club building.
It was originally a storage room, with the walls filled with miscellaneous items. In the remaining space, there was an old beech wood table.
Of course, this was before. When Miki Kujo stepped into this activity classroom, except for the beech table and steel chairs, it was arranged into a small and luxurious living room.
What Toru Watanabe likes most about this activity room is that at dusk, the entire classroom will be dyed a honey color by the setting sun.
A breeze blew in through the open window, rustling the pages of Kiyono Rin's book or his Spanish dictionary on the beech table.
And now, this mobile classroom is about to become his private territory for studying "Clothing and Design".
In addition, he has decided that if he gets first place in the re-examination, he will waste 10,000 points to exchange for <Mastery Level·Photography>.
He couldn't understand why Watanabe Toru, who had always been very rational, would do this.
But men are slaves to their desires, whether it is power, beauty, or money.
Toru Watanabe doesn't like power, and he just wants enough money, and he doesn't have a strong desire for beautiful women.
He is just a pure photography enthusiast.
Please forgive him for this little personal hobby.
"Photography is all about light. As long as the light is good, everything will look good. The light in the activity room is very good! Hmm!"
Pulling open the sliding door of the activity classroom, the atmosphere inside seemed peaceful on the surface. Miki Kujo and Rin Kiyono were reading and eating as usual.
But there is no doubt that they must have reached some kind of compromise after some debate.
"Uh-huh." Watanabe Toru cleared his throat, "Good afternoon, both of you. I have something I want to talk to you about."
"What's the matter?" Qingye Rin responded while continuing to look at the hardcover book in her hand.
Watanabe Toru explained the matter of arts and science again: "...So, I think, for the sake of fairness, we should retake the exam..."
"Watanabe-san," Qing Ye Lin was still looking at the book in her hand, "Don't make excuses for yourself. Only by admitting failure can you move forward."
Kujo Miki added disdainfully: "When you are not strong enough, you must learn to submit to the powerful."
So, Watanabe Toru, who had been fantasizing all the way and fighting against fate with all his might...his will was destroyed before it could be conveyed, his ambitions had nowhere to go, and his long-cherished wish drifted in the void.
Although he didn't really want to do anything excessive to the other two.
"I'm going back home today." After saying this dejectedly, Toru Watanabe prepared to leave this annoying activity classroom.
Let them go this time, and next time I will be the number one with honor!
"By the way." Qing Ye Lin said, "Please post this on the bulletin board in the club building."
Watanabe Toru took the flyer, which read:
"We can help you achieve love. Those who need it, please go to the Human Observation Department on the fifth floor."
"We will keep your secret, and please trust our ability."
「BY: Human Observation Department」
"Are you really going to do this?"
"Unlike Watanabe who is unwilling to admit failure, I am very aware that I am a little lacking in love."
"It's a little lacking... Kiyono-san, have you ever been in love? You don't understand anything at all, right?" The other party spoke rudely, and Watanabe Toru was not in a good mood.
"Watanabe-san and Kujo-san have only been dating for a few days. I don't think you have enough experience to say this to me."
That's what I said.
"Boring." At this time, Kujo Miki stood up and said, "I won't come here for a while, and Watanabe, you are not allowed to come either."
Qingye Rin also stood up . She leaned against the open window and crossed her arms. "According to the agreement, I am the first and have the right to make you do anything."
Kujo Miki sneered, "I am number one too."
"You know very well how you got your first place."
"Of course I know it, but I'm still number one."
"Well," Watanabe Toru began, "I am number one in a sense, right?"
They both looked at him at the same time, then looked away.
Watanabe Toru was not happy: "Take the test again if you have the guts! Forget about Miki, but do you dare to say that you can definitely beat me in the test, Kiyono-san?"
Miki Kujo looked at Rin Kiyono with a smile.
Qingye Rin lifted her long hair and said, "I finally understand why you two are together. You have already lost, but you still don't want to admit the reality."
"Please answer me directly, whether I passed the exam or not." Toru Watanabe looked straight into her eyes.
Kiyono Rin looked away slightly: "Why should I answer you? The facts are very clear. Kiyono Rin is ranked first on the notice board."
"Didn't you say that admitting your own shortcomings is also what makes you better than me?" Watanabe Toru reminded maliciously.
"I have 888 points, and you have 886 points, and this is after I taught you the 'Dispute over the Northern Four Islands'."
Speaking of this, Watanabe Toru felt like he was caught cheating, and instantly lost his confidence: "Just wait for me during the final exam. By the way, are you going to take the arts or sciences? I want to take the same exam as you!"
The two beautiful girls fell silent at the same time.
Watanabe Toru laughed: "Are you panicking? You must be afraid that I will surpass you!
He also said, "For that level of knowledge, if you don't know it before the teacher explains it, you're not smart enough, and if you still don't know it after the teacher explains it, you're even worse off."
"People who don't naturally acquire that level of knowledge as they age can be eliminated."
The two beautiful girls' faces turned pale.
Watanabe Toru had a good memory and repeated exactly what the two had said.
Qingye Lin exhaled lightly: "It seems that I need to be serious and let some people know clearly the gap between me and myself."
Kujo Miki stared at Watanabe Toru with a horrified expression and sneered, "Tonight, I'm going to punish you well."
“…I, I was just kidding.”
"Follow me!" Kujo Miki ordered without turning her head.
"Miki, you see, I still have to participate in club activities." Watanabe Toru looked at Kiyono Rin for help, hoping that she would continue to contradict Kujo Miki.
Qingye Rin chuckled and said, "Watanabe-san, don't forget to post the flyer on the bulletin board when you leave."
“…”
