An after school affair with an unattainable flower - Chapter 4 (Clover): Part 1
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Translator: Noir
Editor: Seventails
Chapter 4: Clover
2nd year of high-school. End of July.
“Okay then, I’ll be returning the test papers. Aizawa, come forward.”
After the final exam was over, it was time to receive the tests back.
The return of the test papers, which riddled many people with happiness, depression,
frustration, and anger, was, at last, about to end with the math test.
The teacher in charge of English, also famous for being the scariest looking in the school, returned our test papers one after another.
One by one, we walk to the podium with tense expressions on our faces.
“Next, Sato.”
“Hey, Taichi, he’s calling you.”
As for Taichi Sato, the owner of the seat in front of me, he was a fellow member of the sad-people section.
Taichi left his seat in silence and walked to the podium with a stooped back. While looking at his paper, as if not focusing on it, he returned to his seat just like that.
“Shiranui.”
And, of course, I am the next one to get called.
I quietly stand up and go to pick up my test paper.
“Shiranui, just what happened to you?”
When I got in front of the podium, I got flustered because that tough-looking math teacher asked me such a question all of a sudden.
“Eh… Did I… do something?”
“Look here.”
While saying that, I saw a 3-digit number written on the paper handed out from him.
“You did really well this time around, didn’t you? Keep up this pace and work hard for the next time as well.”
With that, ‘Do your best’, a hard shock ran down my back.
It looks like I got hit.
I got a little confused.
It was certainly a test that felt good while answering, but never in my wildest imaginations would I imagine getting a perfect score.
And when I was returning to my seat, my gaze met with that girl’s gaze.
She narrowed her eyes and smiled in a way that only I could tell.
My heartbeat immediately accelerates.
While scratching my head, I return to my seat.
Then the person in the seat in front of me made a half turn and snatched my test paper from my hand.
“A hun, dr e, d, ma, rk, you sayyyy~!? AMANE, YOU F—–ING TRAITOR!”
Taichi grabbed both my shoulders and shook me hard.
“Wait a minute, Taichi. What do you mean by a traitor?”
“Don’t be stupid! Isn’t it part of our buddy-alliance that you and I can’t study at all!?”
When did I become a member of that alliance at all?
“Moreover. You began betraying me right when you stayed in class to study extra time.”
“Even if you say betrayal, didn’t I actually invite you to accompany me that time?”
“Who the he–k would study by their own will!”
Saying so, Taichi rolled up his test papers and threw them out the window.
“Ehhh…”
Well, it’s true, I also don’t think I’ll continue my studies, but…
“Even so, Amane, you really got good marks in all subjects this time~ Did someone teach you or something?”
My heartbeat suddenly increases.
It is as he thought.
I was taught by the Takamine Hana, who never ceases to fascinate the whole school.
But if I told him that right now, it’s not hard to imagine what would happen to me.
Perhaps, before such an outrageous person, I would end up in a bloodbath done by the boys in the class, or rather, the entire school at that point.
“… Wait, that is impossible, huh? Since Amane doesn’t have that many friends after all.”
Apparently, I can survive without telling the truth now.
Instead, I heard something that hurt me deeply…
“Ah, those who scored red marks on this test will have to attend compulsory classes during the summer vacation, so be sure to come.”
As soon as the math teacher announced it, Taichi’s stature slowly and suddenly started withering away.
Seeing him like that, I patted Taichi’s shoulder while saying in my mind, ‘serves you right for hurting my feelings like that’ as revenge.
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“Well, that concludes the last homeroom for this semester. But be sure to not expand your wings out too much. With this…
“Stand up. Bow.”
“”Thank you very much—-!!””
At that moment, the atmosphere in the class exploded.
The arrival of summer vacation that everyone has been waiting for.
And I am also one of them.
I want to use my summer vacation to read various books I have been planning and also to write various stories.
I also want to visit places that can serve as references for novels.
Anyway, I have a lot of things I have planned to do.
“Taichi, let’s go home together.”
“Ah, sorry for inviting me, but I have to go to the staff room after this… so.”
“Well, let’s meet again during the summer vacation to visit second-hand bookstores.”
“Un, for the time being, thanks for your hard work. Well then~”
“Bye-bye, Taichi.”
I pack my things and leave the classroom alone ahead.
Going out through the corridor, I head to the entrance.
Come to think of it, would keeping Taichi’s test papers unattended like that be all right?
Isn’t it possible someone else will pick that up and play a trick on him?
With that in mind, I decided to go find Taichi’s test paper.
“The window Taichi threw was on the courtyard’s side, so that must be somewhere in the courtyard, I guess.”
As per my guess of the courtyard, I decided to go there.
After passing through the corridor leading to the courtyard, I quickly found what I was looking for.
“Here it is, ah—”
“Will you go out with me, Takamine?”
… that was absolutely unexpected.
Looking in the direction where the voice was coming from, I can see a tall male student with a handsome face and a familiar female student.
There was no doubt.
That was Takamine-san.
I knew there was no end to the number of people confessing to her, but it was the first time I had actually seen it take place.
The male student confessing had a well-groomed face, even from a perspective of a fellow male student of the same grade, and his looks felt like any girl student could fall head over heels for him.
Seeing that figure, I felt like I couldn’t even stand in the competition in the first place. Such a feeling started haunting me.
“I’m sorry, Oishi-kun. I am happy about your feelings, but…”
… What am I even thinking, someone like me was going to confess to her?
With someone good-looking confessing and getting rejected, and a student who is just in love with literature confessing to her, the result is clearer than looking at fire.
“Why is it? I want to hear the reason, at least.”
Even I want to hear it as well.
“I have someone I like.”
“!”
My heart seems to thump aloud a lot today.
“So, that’s how it is. Then it can’t be helped, I guess. I will pray for your and that person’s success together.”
After saying that, the male student gracefully gave up and left the place.
And I didn’t even realize.
If she were to turn around, we would meet each other’s eyes right now.
“Ah, Shiranui-kun.”
“Hey, Takamine-san.”
“… Did you perhaps see that?”
“Well, how do I put it? Like a coincidence, or just an accident…”
“To spy on people’s confession? Surprisingly, Shiranui-kun has got a bad personality as well, huh.”
It pierced far deeper than Taichi’s hit from earlier today.
Seeing me in dismay, she burst out into laughter.
“Fufufu, I’m joking! Don’t make a face like that now.”
“Eh?”
“Follow me for a minute.”
She took my hand and pulled me somewhere with force.
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