I Was Cheated on by My Girlfriend but My Devilish Junior Now Yearns for Me - Chapter 14

Chapter 14   Last Day of Test

At my university, in most of the humanities departments except for law, it’s relatively easy to earn credits. There’s no class where over 80% of students fail, and more than half usually pass. My impression is that as long as you attend class and study decently, you’ll be fine.

And today’s test is the final one of the semester. I copied Ayaka’s neatly organized notes and crammed through the entire broad range of material overnight. Though it’s a class where notes aren’t allowed during the test, I’m not too worried about failing.

The test starts in about 20 minutes, but at this point, I don’t need to keep cramming. I cleared off my desk, leaving only my writing tools. Then I sensed someone looking at me, so I glanced up.

“Is this seat taken?”

A student who looked about my age asked.

“Go ahead,” I replied.

The unfamiliar person nodded slightly and began preparing for the test. Back in high school, even if someone was a stranger, you’d never use polite language if they were the same age. That’s one of the things that changed when I entered college.

With nothing else to do, I glanced around the room. Ayaka was sitting across the room, reviewing notes with her friends. I couldn’t see her expression from this angle, but I could tell it was her just from her mannerisms — we’ve known each other that long.

The lecture hall we’re in today is one of the larger ones, with about 15 rows front to back and 20 columns side to side. The long desks fit three students each. For tests, only two people can sit per desk to prevent cheating, but there’s always enough seats.

When the professor walked in, the bustling lecture hall gradually quieted down, and the test papers were distributed. I squinted at the back of the paper, trying to see if any multiple-choice questions might be visible through it, but it didn’t look like there were any. The text seemed to be split into just two sections.

“Ugh…” came a mutter from the person next to me.

With only two sections, it was clear that we’d have to write a detailed essay. Anyone who had only studied the material broadly and shallowly was in trouble.

The start signal played, and I gripped my pen.

The test had begun.

◇◆

“It’s over.”

I managed to finish the first question somehow, but the second one? It completely slipped my mind. I could only write four lines. For an essay that probably needed at least twenty lines, four was nowhere near enough.

It was like being asked, “What did you do during winter break? Write in detail about your most enjoyable experience and the best food you ate,” and my response being, “I’m planning to go to a café today.”

I was so far off the mark that I didn’t even grasp the point of the question. There’s no way I’m getting any partial credit for that.

As I sat there in a gloomy haze, despite being free from the test, Ayaka sighed in exasperation.

“You couldn’t solve that? I even marked the sections in my notes where the essay questions might come from.”

“Haha…” I laughed awkwardly.

“Are you… okay?” Ayaka asked, half-concerned but clearly holding back her exasperation.

She seemed to think for a moment, then clapped her hands as if she’d had an idea.

“Hey, we’re having a little test wrap-up party tomorrow. You wanna come? It’s been a while since you’ve been to a big drinking party, right?”

“A party? Yeah, I guess it’s been a while since I went to a big one, maybe since I was active in the club.”

As soon as I answered, Ayaka pulled out her phone and started typing.

“Alright, I’ve sent the participation notice. It’s a pretty open group, and I think you’ll have fun once the drinks start flowing.”

I hadn’t even agreed to go yet, but Ayaka was always quick to act. Still, this time, I was kind of looking forward to it, so I just thanked her.

“Thanks.”

“Mm.”

Ayaka gave a short response and stretched with a satisfied sigh.

“Anyway, we’re finally free for a while. Let’s enjoy this long, long spring break.”

“Yeah, two whole months.”

“Exactly. My club’s going on a trip, and I’m really looking forward to it.”

“You’re in more than one club, right? Which club is this trip with?”

“The outdoor club.”

“Oh, so you’re going mountain climbing or something?”

“Nope, we’re going to a hot spring and eating crab.”

“Of course you are!”

When you hear “outdoor club,” you probably think of activities like mountain climbing, but in reality, that’s often not the case. Most of these clubs are about large group drinking parties or regular sightseeing trips. It might differ depending on the university, but at least at my university, most of the outdoor clubs are like that.

I remember being shocked in my first year when I found out some clubs even require application forms and selection processes to join.

“Alright, I’m heading out. I’ve got dinner plans with friends from my department.”

“Got it.”

“See you later.”

Ayaka waved her hand and headed back toward the lecture hall. Her friends were probably waiting for her there.

While I’ve met Ayaka’s friends before, we’ve never gone out for a meal together. We chat occasionally when we run into each other, so I could probably join them anytime, but there’s never been a clear opportunity. It’s likely that Ayaka isn’t that keen on mixing me into that group. If she wanted to, she would’ve invited me by now, since she always asks me to group hangouts and club drinking parties.

I wonder if Ayaka has sides of herself that even I don’t know, which those friends of hers might be privy to. I’m not sure, but I realize I don’t know much about Ayaka from before we met in high school. I’m curious, but unless something happens, I probably won’t find out. Even when I’ve tried to ask her casually, she usually brushes it off with a vague answer.

As I was lost in thought, my phone buzzed in my pocket. It was a message from Shinohara.

“Good job on your test! Where are you now?”

I stayed up late studying last night and really just wanted to head home and sleep. But then I remembered I had given Shinohara a spare key to my place.

“Ugh, I screwed up…” I muttered to myself as her name flashed on the screen with an incoming call. After hesitating for a moment, I answered.

“Hey, Senpai! Good job on the test!”

“Yeah, thanks. Sorry, but I’m going to head home and sleep today.”

“Huh? Why?”

“I stayed up late studying for the test, so I’m exhausted. I need to crash today.”

“Aw, well how about just joining me for lunch then? I just turned down another lunch invite, so I’m free until the evening!”

Was she implying she turned down the other invite to have lunch with me instead? For a moment, I started to feel bad, but I quickly stopped myself.

“Nah, that’s just your problem, not mine.”

“Yup, it is my problem. But Senpai is so kind, so he’ll come along anyway in situations like this.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Did you know? If someone tells you you’re kind, humans tend to actually become kinder.”

“Is that so? Well, maybe I’m not human then. Bye.”

“Wait! I’ll treat you to lunch!”

Shinohara, clearly panicking, tried to sweet-talk me into staying, and I hesitated. As a student living alone, there’s no meal waiting for me at home. I either have to cook, eat out, or buy a pre-made meal. Since I don’t cook, the more expensive options are all that’s left. So the idea of saving on meal costs was pretty tempting—even if it meant letting a younger girl pay for me.

“Fine, I’ll go. Let’s meet at the cafeteria on campus.”

“Hehe, too easy.”

With that, she hung up. For a split second, I seriously considered ditching and heading home.