Before the first evaluation exam, the final Make-Up Work Club session lasted a little longer than usual.
Even if they failed this time, there were still two more chances. But if possible, who would not want to settle things sooner?
"More importantly, keep your mindset steady."
Before wrapping up, I reminded the girls, "Go back and rest early. Just do your best this time and treat it as a check of what you have learned so far. If you get too nervous during the exam, it will be easy to underperform and fail to show your true ability. Understood?"
As I said that, I instinctively looked at a certain someone, causing her, already sensitive by nature, to instantly bristle.
"Why are you looking at me! Listen up, I am an elite of the Justice Task Force! An exam like this is obviously a piece of cake! The ones you should worry about are these idiots!"
Koharu spoke with such conviction that I almost suspected she really was confident.
Unfortunately, judging from how she was too embarrassed to ask Hifumi and Hanako and instead privately came to me for help with basic questions, her progress was not optimistic. She was probably just putting on a brave front again.
Without exposing Koharu's bluster, I turned to the other Make-Up Work Club member who needed concern.
Azusa gave a light nod. Her brilliant pink violet eyes looked at me calmly.
"I understand. In order to maintain sufficient mental energy for tomorrow's exam, I will rest properly. But as a side note, I have received night operation training. Even if I do not sleep for five days, it would not be a problem."
"...Don't push yourself too hard." Azusa was a little too serious, which made it hard for me to feel completely at ease.
Come to think of it, where had she received that kind of training? At her previous school and club?
Setting aside that small question, I symbolically looked toward Hanako.
"My, my~" Hanako wore her usual smile. "I will work hard too. After all, Sensei has taught me all sorts of things, and I have grown a lot because of it. In every sense."
Since yesterday, when faced with her sugar coated attack, I had decisively licked the sugar clean and fled before it could explode. So I could not tell whether the hidden meaning in Hanako's words was her habitual teasing, dissatisfaction toward me, or both.
But in the eyes of someone with an impure mind, there was clearly only the former.
"Mm!" Koharu's face turned bright red, and her pupils shrank into vertical slits like a cat stepping into bright light. She had definitely misunderstood.
However, since Hanako's phrasing this time was relatively subtle, Koharu did not shout anything about lewdness or demand the death penalty.
I felt that such a pause better matched her true intent.
In short, after the three problem children left first, the spacious classroom was left with only Hifumi, the club president, and me.
"You have worked hard during this time." When alone with Hifumi, my tone unconsciously softened compared to when I was in front of everyone. "It feels like everyone is in pretty good condition."
"Yes!"
Hifumi nodded vigorously, a relieved smile on her face. "Hanako-chan feels really amazing... And Azusa-chan is full of motivation to study! Koharu chan said she was hiding her true ability, and these past few days she has started actively participating in the tutoring activities too! It is all thanks to Sensei's help that we have such results!"
Aside from Azusa, who was mainly talented and serious by nature, the changes in the other two really could not be separated from my contribution.
I felt rather pleased with myself, though out of habit I remained modest. "It's because Hifumi, as the president, has been quietly working hard that everyone was motivated."
"Ehehe~ Then today, I will accept Sensei's praise~"
Perhaps she really was in a good mood. Hifumi did not flusteredly deny it.
"At this rate, maybe everyone will pass easily...!"
...That was a bit too optimistic.
Still, with Hifumi's spirits so high, even though I knew the chances were slim, I would not pour cold water on her. I only reminded her tactfully.
"We still cannot let our guard down. Let us celebrate together after the results are announced."
"Ah, you are right. Sorry, I got a little too excited..."
Watching Hifumi immediately put on an apologetic expression, I could not help but sigh at how well behaved she was.
Well... even though she sneaks into the black market, robs banks, skips exams, and goes on dates with adults, she really is a good girl.
"That is such a relief..." Lord Faust murmured, then confided in me as if venting her worries. "Actually, I was very concerned... The Tea Party told me, 'If anyone fails the first evaluation exam, please hold a training camp.'"
"A training camp?"
I repeated in surprise. This was the first I had heard of it.
Although I had been entrusted as the Make-Up Work Club's advisor, I was not a Trinity student. My responsibilities were limited to adjusting the curriculum and assisting with tutoring. On top of that, I had other work to handle in daily life. So in the information provided by the Tea Party, some irrelevant parts would be omitted at their discretion.
Nagisa had explained this to me from the very beginning, and I had no objection and agreed readily.
And yet she had hidden such an exciting episode arc!?
She must have thought about how, as someone secretly in love with me, she would be forced by duty to let me go on a training camp with the girls from the Make-Up Work Club, and jealousy had flared up.
To still act as if nothing was wrong, she truly was Nagisa.
"Yes, that's right..."
Hifumi nodded gently. As soon as the topic came up, worry returned to her cute face. She could not help but say, "And if we fail all three evaluation exams in a row... ah, um..."
From her tone, I sensed something unusual. "Wait a moment. What happens if you fail all of them? Would it not just mean repeating a year individually?"
"It's, it's nothing...!" Hifumi suddenly waved her hands at me in a panic, then stiffly changed the subject. "Worrying about that is probably just needless anxiety. Let's stop with the heavy topic... In any case, the exam should be fine!"
Seeing her regain her optimism, I did not press further and simply buried the doubt in my heart.
With such an obviously evasive reaction, what Nagisa had concealed from me hardly seemed irrelevant.
It looked like I needed to find a chance to talk to her.
At that moment, Hifumi also murmured, "Hanak-chan seems so good at studying. Why would she fail...? Is it like me, not taking the exam, or is there some special circumstance...?"
And so, with both of us harboring our own doubts, we said our goodbyes, marking the official end of today's tutoring session.