The Story of A Beautiful Girl I Rescued From An Attacker Who Became My Seatmate. - Chapter 33

As you know, with the end of the regular exams, the atmosphere in the class has become light-hearted.

Until the summer of our second year in high school, we have the period where we can enjoy ourselves, but after that, we’ll start intense exam preparation, making it physically impossible to do such things. Perhaps because of that, this summer feels like the last summer of our youth, and some people are determined to make the most of it.

Amidst all that, I feel like I’m missing out on the “life” of youth. Well, I think indulging in games with a few friends can also be considered a part of youth, so it doesn’t bother me much.

But still, even though we’re supposed to be attending a school known for its academic focus, I can’t help but wonder if it’s okay to be so carefree. Despite having assignments and tasks, very few students actually submit them properly.

“So, what’s up?”

“Well~, I just didn’t have enough time.”

Hoshino avoids my gaze awkwardly. Sweat drips down his forehead.

“You keep pestering me to show you my notes, yet you don’t even do your assignments properly. And you barely passed the test. It’s not a laughing matter, you know?”

“I have no words to say in my defense.”

During the morning class, our English tests were returned, and during the break, seeing Hoshino’s obvious strange behavior, I decided to question him a bit. To my surprise, Hoshino’s disastrous test was revealed. He had managed to grasp the key points I had summarized in my notes and earned some points, but he just barely avoided failing.

“I can’t lend you a hand anymore, you know? To someone who can’t make a sincere effort.”

“I’m sorry. I’ll change my ways and ask for your help.”

I let out a deep sigh. I could only feel disappointment for my supposed friend’s unfortunate situation.

“Sure, your gaming skills are impressive, but since you’re here at this school, let’s try a bit harder. I can help you with the parts you don’t understand.”

“Yes…”

If you wanted to improve your gaming skills, there might have been different paths to take. Even if you didn’t go to high school, you could still obtain a high school equivalency certificate.

As I continue talking to Hoshino, his gloomy tone gradually returns to his usual one. I’ve known for a while that he has a quick change of mood.

“By the way, I heard that Kirishima, who sits next to you, was seen walking with a guy in town.”

Saying that, Hoshino shows me his smartphone screen. The screen displayed an image of someone who appeared to be Kirishima in her school uniform and a guy wearing clothes that I distinctly recognized.

“But until now, I’ve never heard anything about her being involved with someone romantically. It’s surprising, isn’t it?”

“Hmm, I see.”

The person shown in this image is almost certainly me. Fortunately, since the photo was taken from behind, it’s unclear who the guy is, so the excitement doesn’t go any further.

“But seriously, I never thought Kirishima had a boyfriend.”

“Isn’t it her brother? I mean, it’s unlikely she would meet a boyfriend in her school uniform.”

Actually, Kirishima does have a brother. They have a strained relationship, but I’m not lying.

“Well, I’ve never heard anything about Kirishima having a brother. Well, it could totally be true, though.”

“But where did this image come from?”

“I think it was circulated within our class group. The source was… um, Taniguchi, I think.”

Who’s that? I don’t even know if they’re in the same class since they rarely interact with others.

“Well, you probably don’t know Taniguchi. In a nutshell, they’re a rich, flashy kid.”

“Yeah, seems like the type who will definitely mess up in the future.”

They probably spend their student days being carefree, and their future is guaranteed through their family’s influence. Ah, it’s a sad story. This is the privilege of hereditary succession.

“I can’t deny that. After all, there are rumors going around that aren’t exactly favorable.”

“Like what?”

“For example, rumors that they go through women like changing clothes, and every time they commit wrongdoing, they use their money and their parents’ power to cover it up.”

It’s a phrase I’ve heard somewhere before. It just reaffirms that there are people who have lost their humanity no matter where you go.

“Sigh. Must be nice to have such a privileged background.”

“Indeed. And to top it off, this guy’s father is a politician. I believe he was a member of the House of Representatives. They’ll probably end up with a cushy job with their parents’ support.”

“Or they might use their parents’ connections to become a politician. Either way, it’s a rotten world.”

If you have the power of your parents, you can even enter through the back door. Things like recommendation slots at private universities are often decided subjectively by the university itself. It would be easy to admit the son of a wealthy family.

“Damn, this world really sucks.”

I mutter quietly and start preparing for the next class.