After a Heartbreak, My Bitter Childhood Friend is now Sweet Like Sugar - V2 Chapter 5.8
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Chapter 5.8
The next day after school.
“Yucchi, I have a favour to ask you.”
Kasugai came to my seat and said something unexpected.
“Favor? Just because I’m in good shape doesn’t mean I can help you study.”
“Not that. I want you to cheer me up, like this, out loud, ‘DO YOUR BEST!’ I’m trying to help someone~”
“Hmm? YOU CAN DO THIS. Is this what you want?”
“Put more feeling into it! With a heart mark at the end of the word.”
“What’s that? Why would I do that?”
“Come on.”
“Do your best ♪ … Is this it?” [EN: Hard to describe in text, also it is ‘ganbare’ in Japanese, so it is called ‘one word.’]
It felt a bit cringy. No, not just a little. If someone cheered for me just like how I did now, I’d probably think they are trying to stir things up and punch them in the face.
But Kasugai seemed to be convinced and nodded in satisfaction.
“Okay, okay That’s it, that’s what I’ve been waiting to hear. I’ll take it then, okay?”
“You’ll take what?”
She did not respond to my words, did something on her phone, and smiled with satisfaction.
“Yeah, okay. See you tomorrow~!”
“Hey…”
She walked out of the classroom without saying a word.
What did she come here for?
Whatever, I had to go home soon.
Normally, Kokoa would have come to my classroom by now, but she hadn’t yet arrived.
I went to her classroom to see if I could find her.
Kokoa was in her seat, fidgeting with a flushed face, looking at her smartphone.
To my surprise, she was kind of embarrassed.
What’s going on?
“What is it, Kokoa?”
“Waa!? W-wait, you scared me!”
“No, no need to be so surprised. What were you doing?”
“N-nothing, I wasn’t doing anything!”
Kokoa hurriedly put her phone into her bag.
“Then let’s go home! I couldn’t concentrate last night, and with the test coming up, every second counts!”
Just as I said that, Kokoa dashed out of the classroom.
What? Why did she?
Maybe she too couldn’t focus last night, and now she wanted to hurry up, but still…
“Come on, Yu, hurry up! We need to get back to studying as soon as possible! I can’t wait to study after I get this stuff. Uuu…”
“What? Well, I understand your hurry, but I need to stop by the convenience store to get lunch. Well, if you want to go home as soon as possible, you can go ahead.”
“I don’t want to do that because there’s not enough time.”
“Time for what?”
“For…”
Kokoa hopped, then got embarrassed.
Ehh…
Maybe she wanted to keep me company while she could, or so I thought.
“… Okay, then we have to get home as soon as possible. Let’s walk fast.”
“Wait, there’s no need to be in such a hurry. If you do that… we will reach too quickly!”
“What do you want me to do then?”
It’s too much of a hassle.
Well, that’s okay.
“Just focus on studies when you get home.”
“I know. Don’t worry. I’ve got the best charm.”
“What’s the best charm?”
“… It’s a message, a cheer from someone I love.”
After a moment of thought, Kokoa played the audio.
Aa! Maybe that’s what Kasugai asked me for earlier… that voice, that girl recorded it on her phone and sent it to Kokoa!
“I just told you that we’ve to study separately. And then, umm… I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to do this. I’ll delete it if you don’t want me to.”
“Fine, but doesn’t it annoy you to hear it?”
“Why would I be?”
Then, I hope it didn’t make you cringe.
── All right, though it’s very embarrassing.
“Well, do whatever you want. As long as my voice can help.”
“I will!”
Kokoa, while embarrassed, shouted loudly.
“R-really?”
“Y-yes.”
Well, if it helps her study.
So be it.
◆
As June ended and July arrived, our finals finally began.
My studying was going well.
Perhaps because I had been reviewing regularly, I felt more confident than I had in the previous test, and my grades had skyrocketed.
Kokoa was also worried when she first started studying for the test, but she was soon able to concentrate. She even said, “I can do this,” after the first day of exams.
The second, third, and fourth days passed…
It soon became July 6th, the last day of the first semester’s final exams.
After that, all the tests were over.
In homeroom,
“Well, you all did a great job. But don’t get relaxed just because the exams are over. They are only over once you review the parts you didn’t understand. While there is still a lot left to do…”
──Chattering.
“Well, it looks like nobody’s listening,” Kamishiro-sensei said with a blank expression on her face.
As ruthlessly as she said it, no one listened to her. The students, who had just finished their exams, didn’t have time to listen to the teacher.
She gave up on continuing the conversation and ended the class.
“What are you going to do after this, Kazama? Do you want to hang out or go home?”
“Sorry, but I have an important guest today, my sister. I have to go home and decorate the bamboo branches for Tanabata.” [EN: Star Festival.]
“You’re going to do all that?”
“Haha, nothing is impossible for me.”
Kazama walked out of the classroom.
No, it wasn’t a matter of it being possible or not. I was just surprised that he was so devoted to his family. How could someone be a good guy, a family man, and a good helper?
So, the usual members of the group that remained were…
When I looked at Kasugai’s seat, I saw that the other classmates had gathered around her seat and were discussing something about lunch.
My eyes met hers, and Kasugai walked over to my seat.
“Sorry, sorry, I promised to go out with everyone else today. I think Kokocchi also has to work for the committee.”
“Is there something going on with the library committee?”
“Apparently. That’s what Uchiyama-san, our class library committee member, said.”
At that time, my phone shuddered in my bag.
|| “I’m sorry, but I have some work today. It’s going to be a long day, so please go ahead and leave.”
I received a message from Kokoa just now.
I had just finished my exams, but I couldn’t help it.
I guess I’ll go home alone today.
◆