Hearing Masao's way of addressing her, Yukinoshita, sitting in the Service Clubroom, couldn't help but roll her eyes.
"Masao-kun. Let's get this straight. I'm not second. We're tied for first."
It was true. On the midterm exams, both Masao and Yukinoshita had pulled off perfect scores.
So technically, there was no winner or loser.
But thanks to the alphabetical order, 'Ta' sat above 'Yu' on the official list. Just like that, Masao's name was printed right above Yukinoshita's.
For the first time, Masao felt a shot of pure pride in his last name. By the dumb luck of the alphabet, he'd managed a paper-thin coup—usurping the top spot from its usual resident.
"You sound pretty salty there Yukinoshita. But the list doesn't lie. My name's on top. Heh. If you can't handle it, maybe hit the books a little harder."
Watching Masao's smug, gloating face, Yukinoshita felt a real flicker of annoyance. If they'd both gotten a 499, she'd be blaming herself, wondering where she messed up.
But with a perfect score? There was nowhere to look. Was she supposed to change her family name?
The only mistake she could find was her own. She'd gone too easy on him. If she'd really run him into the ground with training, he'd never have had the energy to pull this off.
"Yukinoshita. What's with the smile?" Masao grew wary, noticing her lips curve up. "Stop smiling. It's creepy."
"What are you so scared of, Masao-kun?"
"I'm scared you're gonna kill me to get your solo first-place spot back."
"Really, Masao-kun, how dramatic," she said, her smile getting sweeter—which, by the rules of how Yukinoshita worked, meant she was getting way more scary on the inside. "I'm first place too. Why would I do that?"
Her voice was sugary. "I was just thinking, now that exams are over, it's time to get you back on your training schedule. You've had a nice long break from getting tortured—I mean, from exercising. Gotta get you back in shape. It's for your own good, of course."
"Hah."
Masao let out a sarcastic laugh.
"'For my own good?' Yeah, right. You just want to beat me up again. Let me make this clear, Yukinoshita: you can break my body, but you'll never break my spirit!"
Listening to his big speech, Yukinoshita tilted her head, looking confused.
"Really? Then why are you already begging?"
She pointed. Without even realizing it, Masao had put his hands together in a pleading gesture.
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
Facing his stubborn act, Yukinoshita sighed like she was dealing with a child.
"Ugh. You're so extra. I'm not a devil. I wouldn't do anything that bad to you."
Masao looked up, hope in his eyes. "So... I'm off the hook?"
"No. I just won't let you die during the workout."
"Yukinoshita, you're the worst!" Masao yelled, bolting out of the clubroom like his life depended on it.
"Don't forget to come after school," she said to his fleeing back, her voice calm.
——
No surprise, Masao's test scores caused a stir. The guy who was always at the bottom suddenly being at the top? It sounded like a bad plot twist.
The teachers all huddled together, checking his tests for cheating. But the big question was: who could the top scorer have copied from?
Once Hiratsuka-sensei mentioned Yukinoshita had been tutoring him, they all came to the same conclusion:
[Yukinoshita Yukino would make a great teacher.]
(Masao: What about all my hard work?!)
With the scores being official, the whole school was talking. But the main thing people were asking was: [Who is Masao?]
His plan to stay invisible had worked a little too well. Almost nobody knew what he looked like.
One of the few who did was Kawasaki Saki, who sat in front of him.
He'd helped her out during a test once, so she'd noticed him and learned his name. Still, connecting the quiet guy she knew with "the top scorer in the grade" was a stretch.
Back in the classroom, Masao saw Kawasaki at her desk, staring into space. He walked past her.
"Afternoon, Kawasaki."
She glanced over and gave a tiny nod. It was only after he'd passed that she spoke up.
"So it was you? The first place I mean?"
His heart did a little jump. She started talking to me!
'This is it! Good grades = instant popularity!'
He tried to do a cool hair flip, but his short hair cut wasn't having it.
"Yep. That's me."
"Oh."
It wasn't like in the stories. She didn't turn into a blushing fan, suddenly desperate for his help with homework and maybe a little romance on the side.
It was just a flat "oh." No follow-up. No interest.
'Reality check: flashy school romances don't just happen to regular guys.'
After a few seconds of awkward silence, Masao couldn't take it.
"So, uh, Kawasaki... don't you have anything else you wanna ask?"
Seeing his eager, slightly desperate face, Kawasaki looked puzzled but thought about it.
"Which cram school did you go to? To improve that fast."
She wanted to get into a good school too. All her part-time job money was going toward cram school fees.
'That's it?!'
His excitement fizzled. Shouldn't she be asking for his secret? Shouldn't she be impressed? And he hadn't even gone to any cram school! It was all him! Well, Yukinoshita helped a little.
His mind scrambled for an answer.
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