Chapter 144: Commission from Totsuka Saika, Deciding Superiority and Life or Death
Next day, Monday morning.
After walking into the classroom, Hiratsuka Shizuka scanned the students in the classroom, then knocked on the podium. After all students focused their attention on her, she spoke slowly.
"As everyone knows, next Monday, we will conduct the final exam."
"After the exam, it will be the summer vacation you have been looking forward to for a long time."
Hearing this, the students couldn't help showing excitement.
This long first semester was finally coming to an end.
Speaking of summer vacation, what comes to mind?
The sea!
Fireworks festival!
And more than two months of free time.
Before the students started to get excited, Hiratsuka Shizuka crossed her arms over her chest and sneered twice.
"Hmph hmph, don't be happy too early."
"This final exam is a bit different."
Hiratsuka Shizuka put her hands on the podium, scanning the students of Class 1-A, speaking slowly word by word.
"This final exam will be set jointly by our Sobu High and Private Shuchiin Academy."
"Then, the first-year students of both sides will participate in the exam at the same time and in the same examination area."
"By this, to decide the winner."
Hearing the name Private Shuchiin Academy, most students were already dumbfounded.
When hearing Hiratsuka Shizuka's last four words, "decide the winner," basically everyone was completely stunned.
"No, is the school authority crazy?"
"That is Shuchiin..."
"Decide what winner; just surrender and admit defeat directly."
"Isn't this humiliating ourselves?"
....
While discussing, the students involuntarily turned their eyes to two people in the classroom.
A small part of the gaze was on Yukino.
After all, she was the second in the grade in comprehensive scores.
And most of the gaze was focused on Yoru, who was lying down sleeping on the throne of the King by the window in the back row.
First in the grade.
Hard to say for upper grades.
But through the Spring Exam, Sobu High students had a cognition.
Yoru was the strongest in the first grade of Sobu High.
And the strongest who left others far behind, ranking first in all three subjects.
If really holding a joint exam with Private Shuchiin Academy...
Only these two people had a tiny hope of winning, right?
"Anyway..."
Looking at the A-class students whispering to each other without any confidence, Hiratsuka Shizuka just sighed helplessly.
No choice.
If the students showed an appearance of being determined to win after hearing her words just now, the problem would be really serious.
Suggest going to the psychiatric department for an appraisal.
After all, the opponent of this joint exam was the Private Shuchiin Academy, which stood firm and was hailed as the cradle of future talents in Sakura Prefecture.
Although Sobu High was considered a good school, compared to this behemoth on the opposite side, it wasn't in the same league at all.
Sobu High authorities weren't stupid enough to hold the foolish idea of being naively fearless and defeating Shuchiin in average scores.
They didn't even pin their hopes on Yukino, the second in the grade.
Only Yoru, who had achieved first place in the Joint Exam, had the hope of defeating Private Shuchiin Academy.
Sobu High authorities placed all their bets on him alone.
....
Lunch break.
"Finally over; so hard."
Rio, who had transferred to Class A, heard Yoru say this sentence and couldn't help complaining.
"What's hard? Didn't you sleep all morning?"
"Eh, words can't be said like this."
Yoru waved his hand seriously.
"I was racking my brains thinking about the future grand plan of the Super-Quant Club, not sleeping."
Rio asked curiously.
"Then what did you think of?"
Yoru looked straight into Rio's eyes and replied with a chuckle.
"For the future grand plan of the Super-Quant Club, next time I go to your house, please wear a maid outfit and call me Master."
Rio blushed instantly upon hearing this, lowering her voice.
"No nonsense; this is in school. Alright, stop chatting nonsense with you; waiting for you in the clubroom."
At this time, Kazusa was looking forward to the segment she expected most every day at school.
She lay on a small pillow, arms seemingly blocking the surrounding sight, burying her head deeply like an ostrich.
Actually.
Kazusa was peeking at Yoru sitting beside her through the gap between her arms.
"Kazusa, wake up."
Yoru stood up and patted Kazusa's shoulder.
Correct.
This was the segment Kazusa expected most every day at school.
Yoru's wake-up service.
Usually, Kazusa would pretend to just wake up, rubbing her eyes and raising her head.
But this time...
Kazusa raised her head quickly, a cold light flashing in her delicate slender eyes, staring straight at Yoru's face, speaking softly.
"Why don't you come to my house?"
Facing this sudden question, Yoru showed no surprise, just looking as expected.
"Hehe, I knew it; you were pretending to sleep every day."
Being exposed so straightforwardly, Kazusa couldn't help blushing slightly.
But she focused on being stubborn.
"Less useless talk. I ask you, why don't you come to my house?"
Yoru asked back plainly.
"Go to your house for what? Does your cat do backflips?"
"Uh... I don't have a cat at home."
Kazusa paused, as if looking for an excuse. After a long while, she spoke.
"Come to my house... come to my house to practice playing, right, this is it! Didn't you promise me last time to practice with me?"
"No time during this period."
Hearing Yoru say this, Kazusa's expression became very dim, the whole person feeling down.
"However..."
Yoru suddenly changed the subject, reaching out to pinch Kazusa's fair cheek, smiling.
"After the final exam ends and I deal with the club affairs, I will accompany you during the summer vacation."
"Really!?"
Hearing this, Kazusa looked happy first, like a wronged puppy getting the owner's caress and reward, wagging her tail excitedly to show goodwill, showing excitement and thrill.
But immediately after, she realized her gaffe, hurriedly sorted out her expression, returning to that usual iceberg appearance, just with a slight blush on her pretty face.
"Mmhmm... that's good; I remember."
"Let's go, to the clubroom."
"Mmhmm, okay."
.....
When Kazusa and Yoru arrived at the Super-Quant Club room together, they saw an unexpected person sitting there besides the club members.
"Finally all here."
Hiratsuka Shizuka crossed her legs, looking careless, sitting in Yoru's usual exclusive seat by the window.
"Since everyone is here, I'll make a long story short."
Speaking of this, the smile on Hiratsuka Shizuka's face disappeared. She took out her phone, pointing at the content on the screen, staring at Yoru hatefully, biting her silver teeth lightly.
"Leaving my email address for the club commission, what do you mean? And, what is 'violent single old woman nearly thirty'!!!"
Yoru maintained a kind smile.
"Aren't you nearly thirty?"
"This... still far..."
"Aren't you violent?"
"...."
"Aren't you single?"
Asked by Yoru up to here, Hiratsuka Shizuka's voice gradually lowered, a blush of shyness inexplicably appearing on her face, tucking her hair behind her ear, saying in a voice as tiny as a mosquito's.
"I... am single..."
Yoru nodded with satisfaction.
"Then isn't it fine? I gave a precise descriptive portrait."
"Moreover, normal people seeing such adjectives will definitely avoid it."
"This equals preliminary screening of those busybodies who are bored and have no real difficulties to solve."
"Shizuka-chan, learn more."
Hearing Yoru's words, Hiratsuka Shizuka was speechless.
She realized.
Every time the opponent did some very abstract things, he could give a perfect explanation that justified itself and closed the logic loop.
But Hiratsuka Shizuka always felt...
The fundamental reason Yoru did these things wasn't what he said on the surface.
He just purely did it for fun, right?
Hiratsuka Shizuka shook her head, throwing away those meaningless thoughts, speaking seriously.
"Anyway, I recently received several commissions from students in the school, compiled them together, and report to you."
Hearing this, Yukino couldn't help frowning.
According to her original plan, no matter what the commission content was, as long as the client sincerely wanted to get out of trouble, she would provide assistance.
But listening to Hiratsuka Shizuka's meaning now, commissions would be selected?
Yukino had some opinions on this.
However...
She looked at Yoru sitting beside her, thinking helplessly.
I have no say.
"First commission, a second-year student said he needs to work part-time after school, but no one walks the dog at home..."
Before Hiratsuka Shizuka finished, Yoru waved his hand.
"Pass. Don't bring up such boring things."
Hiratsuka Shizuka nodded slightly: "I thought so too."
Her finger scrolled on the screen, checking emails one by one, murmuring while reading.
"Hmm... tasting the light novel written by himself? Using the word 'tasting' feels boring... skip."
"Gathering companions with special powers... to fight against the Priestess? What the hell is this... Chunibyo..."
"Improving the strength of the Tennis Club? This sounds somewhat reliable."
Reading here, Hiratsuka Shizuka raised her head, looking at the Super-Quant Club members sitting opposite.
"Can you play tennis?"
Yoru's answer was simple.
"Know a little."
Yukino tucked her black hair behind her ear, speaking faintly.
"Helping improve strength, even people not good at tennis can do it."
"Then..."
Hiratsuka Shizuka scanned other members, asking tentatively.
"Then, set this as the first on-campus commission undertaken by the Super-Quant Club?"
To be honest, Hiratsuka Shizuka was very reluctant to do these troublesome things.
But Yukino was different from ordinary students; her status in her heart was very special.
Leaving aside the relationship as the younger sister of her good friend and former student Haruno.
For a student like Yukino who was overly idealistic, had a personality different from ordinary people, but happened to have good grades, Hiratsuka Shizuka as a teacher really didn't know what path the opponent would take in the future.
Hiratsuka Shizuka's idea was simple.
She didn't value students' grades much. As a teacher, what she valued more was actually whether her students could grow into sound people after graduating from high school.
Letting Yukino and Kazusa, two problem students with strange personalities, join the Super-Quant Club was the first attempt made by Hiratsuka Shizuka.
"Then it's decided..."
Just halfway through speaking, Yukino paused, looked at Yoru, and asked softly.
"Is it okay? Captain?"
"Okay, won't take much time anyway."
Seeing Yoru nod and agree, Hiratsuka Shizuka breathed a sigh of relief as if a heavy burden was lifted, smiling.
"Then after school, I'll let the client come here to explain the specific situation of the commission to you in detail."
.....
In a blink of an eye, it was after school.
Although undertaking a commission, obviously, so many members of the Super-Quant Club couldn't all stay in the clubroom.
Kazusa went to play the piano.
Kawasaki Saki and Marin also left the school, planning to continue the last plan, picking up Keika and going to the shopping street together.
Miko, Rio, and Mai, the three spirit mediums, followed the usual action pattern. One of Miko and Rio stayed in Kyoto City Hospital to prevent evil spirit attacks targeting Makinohara Shoko that might appear at any time.
The free one took Mai to find evil spirits nearby, fighting monsters to level up.
Everyone had a bright future.
Only Yukino, Yoru, Yui, and Amano Hina, who had rare sunny weather today and no Sunny Girl commissions to handle, sat in the clubroom waiting.
In the silent waiting, the door of the clubroom was carefully pulled open.
A student wearing sportswear, with short silver-white hair, fair skin, petite figure, exquisite face, a shy blush on the face, looking very obedient and cute like a beautiful girl, spoke softly and somewhat shyly.
"Excuse me... is this the Super-Quant Club?"
As a veteran of the Super-Quant Club, Yui, the image ambassador who felt she was gradually being marginalized and hadn't played a role for a long time, hurriedly stood up to greet, smiling sweetly.
"Correct, this is the Super-Quant Club. Is this student the client?"
"Mmhmm... mmhmm, yes."
The girl seemed somewhat shy, stealing a glance at the people sitting in the clubroom. When seeing Yoru sitting by the window, excitement appeared in her eyes. Led by Yui, she entered the clubroom.
She sat down, looking a bit nervous, pursing her pink lips, speaking carefully.
"Um... I mainly want to find Yoru-san."
Noticing the strange looks from Amano Hina and Yui, the girl waved her hand hurriedly to explain.
"No... not like that. I have no other meaning, just Yoru-san is very good at sports, so I want him to help."
Yui's eyes were still somewhat skeptical.
She had seen many such things.
Because she was popular and looked easy to talk to, girls from other classes or even upper grades often asked Yui for help.
The request was simple.
Pass love letters.
Yui wasn't good at refusing others, so every time she could only endure the inexplicable sourness in her heart, accept the love letter, and pass it to Yoru.
As for the result...
The result was that the garbage bag of the Super-Quant Club would be full every day or two, needing frequent replacement.
"You are Totsuka Saika-san, right?"
Yukino checked the student roster and remembered the appearance and corresponding name of every student in Sobu High.
So at this time, she could call out the opponent's name with certainty.
"So... sorry, I forgot to introduce myself."
Totsuka Saika stood up immediately, bowed, looking very reserved.
"I am Totsuka Saika from Class 1-B. Nice to meet you; please take care of me."
"Okay okay, no need to be so polite."
Yui smiled.
"My name is Yuigahama..."
"Yuigahama Yui-san, I know."
Totsuka Saika smiled embarrassedly, speaking carefully.
"Your Super-Quant Club... is also considered a very famous club in our school."
Yukino said calmly.
"Probably not a good reputation, right? But it doesn't matter; tell us about your commission."
"Mmhmm, okay."
Totsuka Saika spoke softly.
"Actually, the content of my commission is to ask you to help me improve my strength in tennis. The current Tennis Club, if I don't become stronger... I'm afraid I won't even qualify for the national competition..."
"So that's how it is."
Yui nodded, then asked slightly puzzled.
"But... does our school have a Girls' Tennis Club?"
"Eh?"
Totsuka Saika froze.
Yoru and Yukino looked at Yui together, then spoke in unison.
"He is a boy."
"Eh?"
This time it was Yui and Amano Hina's turn to be dumbfounded.
"Ah? Boy?"
Yui and Amano Hina examined Totsuka Saika in front of them carefully.
Fair and smooth skin, exquisite and cute face, slender limbs, that shy blush of a girl on the face.
This can be a boy!?
Totsuka Saika smiled embarrassedly, whispering.
"I... am indeed a boy."
"Alright, this question is not important."
Yoru stood up directly and spoke slowly.
"Let's go, play tennis."
Yui looked puzzled.
"Ah? Just this simple? Can you play tennis?"
"Oho, I can play too well."
Seeing Yoru looking confident, Totsuka Saika couldn't help asking curiously.
"Yoru-san, can you really play tennis?"
"Of course."
Yoru said seriously.
"Have you heard of Zero-Shiki Serve, Tsubame Gaeshi, Hadokyu, Black Hole, Tornado Destroys Parking Lot?"
"Uh..."
Totsuka Saika said carefully.
"Is the last one a bit exaggerated?"
"Not exaggerated; you'll know when you see it. Let's go."
Yoru walked out of the clubroom, saying faintly.
"Tennis is not such a simple sport."
"Today, we decide superiority, and also Life or Death."