Chapter 41
Chapter 41
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: Midterms #1
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After my meeting with Yoon Jia, things stayed pretty quiet for a while.
To be precise, I’d been putting off our plans because they sounded like a hassle.
Going out with the girls took a ton of mental energy anyway. Actually, going out at all was a huge drain on my stamina.
So, using the upcoming midterms as an excuse—not quite an excuse, since I actually studied at home—I skipped after-school activities a few times.
And hey, it wasn’t entirely a cop-out because I did study when I got home.
Thanks to that, my schedule was now packed solid after the midterms ended.
First up was Lee Soyun’s birthday.
May 5th. Children’s Day, which suited her petite frame perfectly. To celebrate, we debated various spots and finally settled on an amusement park.
Children’s Day at an amusement park... I could already feel the exhaustion building. But my vote was just one among many.
Luckily, my input got factored in somewhat, and with Seong Yurin’s help, we snagged the priciest tickets.
I offered to pay her back later, but she said to just deposit it into the group fund instead.
Anyway, thanks to Seong Yurin, we wouldn’t spend the whole day queuing for rides. That was a relief.
That settled Lee Soyun’s birthday.
Then came the plans with the other girls, one by one...
And the cosplay event...
Ugh! Give me a break already!
Thinking about the future drained all my energy.
I shoved thoughts of what lay ahead out of my mind. Future me could deal with it.
"Come on, homeowner Seo Ijin! This is the second friendship study session—put a smile on."
Wasn’t it the Dawn High School friendship study group?
I scratched the back of my head, inwardly grumbling at how Hong Yeonseo had casually shortened the event’s name.
Yeah. Today, we were holding another study session.
At my place, for some reason.
"There are other people’s houses, so why...?"
"Oh, come on. Yours is the only empty one."
Lee Sea covered her mouth as she laughed. She was definitely doing it on purpose.
After some chit-chat, everyone quieted down and started pulling out their books one by one.
"Let’s study properly today. Midterms are next week."
Seong Yurin said as she took out her textbook.
She was right—midterms were right around the corner. Time for some cramming.
I might be tooting my own horn, but I’d put in solid effort preparing for them.
Compared to elementary and middle school, it felt like I was a whole new person. I’d started with just the basics, but momentum kicked in, and I got really into it.
I flipped open my notebook, twirled my pen, and checked on the others.
"Jiu. Let’s focus on the memorization subjects at least."
"Ugh..."
Lee Sea was drilling knowledge into Yoon Jiu’s head.
Next to them, Hong Yeonseo looked like she was on her last legs...
"Hong Yeonseo. What’re you doing."
I called out to wake the dying girl and propped her up.
"Uwaaah... Can’t I just sit in a massage chair for a bit first, then study?"
"You can after you study."
"Tch."
After reviving Hong Yeonseo, I glanced over and saw Seong Yurin tutoring Lee Soyun in English.
The harder Seong Yurin taught, the more Lee Soyun’s eyes spun like pinwheels. It was hilarious.
Back to my own studies, I flipped through the history memorization notes I’d borrowed from Seong Yurin and couldn’t help but be impressed.
Her handwriting was like it came straight from a printer, with key parts highlighted to draw your eye right to them.
Like notes from a star tutor with that slicked-back ponytail vibe. Easy to picture.
When it came to studying, nothing beat getting help from Seong Yurin.
After grinding away for a while, we took a break, sprawling on the sofa to rest our fried brains.
"Ahh... I’m dying."
"You’d think we studied all day."
"It was a lethal dose for me."
It’d only been about two hours, but Hong Yeonseo groaned and claimed the massage chair.
"Ooooh... Feels so gooood~"
She wriggled around on it happily.
I looked away from Hong Yeonseo and started thinking about dinner. It was that time, and since we were resting, delivery sounded perfect.
"What should we get for dinner?"
I grabbed my phone and asked the group.
"Hmm... Sushi?"
"Sushi. Everyone cool with that? I’m good."
"Me too."
"Same..."
Lee Sea’s suggestion got nods from me, Seong Yurin, and Lee Soyun. Hong Yeonseo was melted into the chair with no response, but she never picky-ate, so I counted her in.
"Jiu. Sushi okay?"
"Yeah."
With Yoon Jiu’s approval, sushi it was—unanimous.
"Sushi... I want cold soba too..."
Hong Yeonseo raised her arm to vote.
"You eat a whole set by yourself then."
She wiggled her fingers in response.
"Food’s ordered. Rest till it gets here, eat, then back to studying."
I said, eyeing the crew lounging in every possible pose.
Yoon Jiu on the single sofa scrolling his phone, Lee Soyun curled up against Seong Yurin, and Lee Sea teasing her right beside them.
I was on the floor, back against the sofa.
"Jina."
Then a soft hand landed on my shoulder, and legs slid down on either side of me.
"...Huh?"
Lee Sea’s voice whispered close to my ear, her legs trapping me in place. It was overwhelming.
"Nnh. Nah, it’s nothing."
She straightened up without a word but didn’t move her legs.
I hunched over awkwardly to create some space.
...Why was she boxing me in like this?
I couldn’t read Lee Sea’s intentions. The warmth felt nice, though.
A faint, unnamed floral scent lingered at the tip of my nose. What flower was that?
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Beep beep bleep—
"It’s here!"
Just like last time.
Hong Yeonseo bolted at the doorbell.
I slipped out from in front of Lee Sea and followed her.
The delivery guy stared blankly at Hong Yeonseo like last time, but we sent him off and returned with our hands full of plastic sushi containers.
We’d ordered set menus: sushi plus karaage, salmon salad, and more, all packed together.
"Nice selection."
And it wasn’t even that pricey.
I handed over cold soba and a two-person set to Hong Yeonseo, then Yoon Jiu and I split one, while Seong Yurin and Lee Sea shared with Lee Soyun.
Decent taste for conveyor-belt sushi, and cheap too. Added to my list...
We wolfed it down quick and dove back into midterm crunch mode.
...Well, two of us did.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "If I catch you looking up, it’s an instant zero. Keep your head down and eyes on your own paper. I’m not looking."
...Teachers like that always end up peeking anyway.
Anyway, the big day—first exam period.
The strict proctor handed out the papers with those words.
The start bell rang soon after, and I flipped through mine.
Surprisingly easy questions overall.
I breezed through without much hesitation, then double-checked from the start suspecting traps. Nope, still easy.
All that studying paid off.
I double-checked every question meticulously, and with time left, I doodled face-down on my desk.
The end bell rang shortly after.
First period done without a hitch. Yoon Jiu turned around.
"Hey, Ijin. Lemme see your paper—wanna check answers."
"Here. But I’m not sure I got everything right."
This guy half-assed studying, but now he wanted to compare scores.
Lee Sea and Lee Soyun leaned in too.
Hong Yeonseo and Seong Yurin were surrounded by their classmates.
Both top of the class, but Seong Yurin had way more recognition, so they flocked to her.
"Uwaa. Three wrong compared to you, Ijin..."
Lee Soyun despaired after matching her answers to mine. Lee Sea patted her back consolingly.
Lee Sea was thrilled hers matched mine perfectly.
"Th-this feels off."
Yoon Jiu alternated between his paper and mine, incredulous.
Told you to study.
"Focus on memorizing the next subject."
I jabbed at Yoon Jiu and folded my paper into my desk.
Then I comforted the moping Lee Soyun next to me.
"That’s a great score. Don’t sulk—nail the next one."
"Yeah..."
Am I playing favorites?
Well... Yoon Jiu’s a scruffy guy, and Lee Soyun’s a cutie.
Of course it’s different.
Ahem.
Either way, no changing past exams.
Beating yourself up over them isn’t productive—better prep for what’s next.
We’d just finished the first period; no need to despair yet.