Chapter 275. [Confession]

《You’ve become quite the handsome guy, huh!》

《Hey, hero!》

《Hey, cut it out! That’s not it!》

Shitenno wrapped in bandages inside the school bus was being teased by those around him.

As I watched as if it were someone else’s business.

《How long are you going to stand? Sit down already!》

《H-Hey! What are you doing!?》

Shitenno was grabbed by a girl and forcibly made to sit next to me.

Um, what’s this about?

As I tilted my head, the girl whispered softly in my ear.

《Iroha-chan, the school bus is a place for encounters. It’s where many loves are born》

《Huh?》

《Because it’s one of the few chances where you can legally get close to someone you like》

What’s that supposed to mean? Oh, come to think of it, Americans have a wider personal space than Japanese people.

It’s as if it’s proportional to the size of the land.

Although Japanese people are often considered affectionate, it’s the opposite. Even lining up at the register in Japan can feel like you’re being cut in line if you’re not standing close enough.

《See, the engine noise here is loud. So, even if we have a special conversation, no one else can hear》

《Uh, umm?》

And precisely because of the wide personal space, physical contact is used to show closeness to friends or people you want to get close to.

So, hugs are only for close relationships.

If you were to suddenly hug someone else. That’s the litigious country of America.

You’d likely be sued for harassment right away.

《Good luck. I’m rooting for you. For Iroha-chan and for Shitenno too》

《Um, there’s some misunderstanding. Ah, wait a minute!》

Without listening to the end of the conversation, the girl went to an empty seat.

Left behind, Shitenno and I exchanged words to fill the awkward silence.

《Were you okay not resting despite your serious injury?》

《Y-Yeah. Well, fortunately, I didn’t break any bones or anything. But more importantly. If I take my eyes off you, you’re likely to get into trouble again. It’s better to have a guy’s help at that time, right》

《Huh. Am I really that accident-prone?》

《What are you saying now?》

I was even told that by Angu Ogu.

Certainly, I’m not having good luck. No, is it really because of my luck?

《Come to think of it, there’s a regular class today even though it’s just yesterday. They don’t have school closures, do they》

《Ah, that’s right. The friends I made after coming here said, ‘When a student brings a gun into the school and shoots another student, then they have school closures’》

《Wow~》

The idea of school closures I had in mind was on a different level.

Relatively speaking. This incident seemed better.

Wait a minute. Did the seat next to me become Shitenno’s?

Can I play games or watch streams without any problem? Yeah, sure!

I answered myself and took out my smartphone.

Suddenly, Shitenno started talking in a somewhat serious tone.

《Do you remember, Iroha? It’s almost ‘Nine Weeks’》

《What about 9 weeks?》

《It’s not that. I’m saying the regular exams are coming up》

Ugh. Come to think of it, it’s that time already.

I have to start studying soon. Ah, but I can’t stop playing mobile games!

《Let’s have a serious match, just you and me! But, the loser has to listen to whatever the winner says》

《No way》

《Come on, think about it!? Alright. You have to listen to what I say》

《Hmm. Well, if it’s just that》

I owed him for helping me as a fellow VTuber fan, so I reluctantly agreed.

And then, I felt a strong gaze and turned around.

The girl who always sat next to me was staring at us intently.

When our eyes met, she quickly looked away in a fluster.

[……?]

I tilted my head, wondering what was wrong.

But soon, I stopped caring.

I had other things to think about.

“Hah, Angu Ogu’s an idiot.”

Not just the exams. But his face kept popping up in my mind.

Because of that, I couldn’t fully focus on gaming or watching streams――.

***

The day of the exam came in no time.

Testing methods are different between Japan and America.

Firstly, it’s often allowed to bring materials.

For math tests, you can bring calculators. Besides that, it could be an open notebook or an open textbook.

《Exams begin!》

The questions were indeed more challenging compared to regular classes.

Even though American high schools are closer to compulsory education with a moratorium, yeah.

Also, depending on the test, you could leave the classroom during the exam.

If you finished early, you could leave early.

《That’s it!》

And the papers were graded not in red but in blue pen.

Correct answers were checked, while incorrect ones were circled and pointed out.

And the results were.

***

《Iroha─I win》

I got completely defeated by Shitenno.

No, it’s not just about me.

In this test, no student could beat him.

Because he had achieved the top grades in the grade.

《It’s a promise. So, make time after school today》

That’s what Shitenno told me.