Chapter 51: A Student's Duty
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 51: A Student's Duty
Midterms.
A name that strikes fear into the hearts of many students.
In Japan, midterms are especially dreaded because they start just one or two weeks after Golden Week, the country's longest holiday period. For anyone who hasn't been studying consistently, a strange pressure begins to build as the exam period approaches.
And that was certainly the case for Rika, who I had rarely ever seen studying.
"Waaah! Help me, Ryu-chan-emon!"
"Alright, what are you asking about this time?"
"I've been staring at this math problem, but I just don't get it! Please, teach me!"
"...You just have to plug in the formula I taught you a minute ago."
"Hehe, I didn't actually understand it."
People often say you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but Rika was, for better or worse, exactly as she appeared.
During class, unless it was a subject she was interested in, she'd spend her time either dozing off, doodling, or just spacing out. Now that midterms were around the corner, it seemed her instincts were screaming at her that she was in danger.
I'd heard that if her grades dropped, her allowance would be cut.
After I explained the math formula and showed her how to solve the problem one more time, Rika thanked me and sat back down at her desk to start working on her practice workbook.
I let out a small sigh watching her, then went to pick up the issue of Jump I had left face down on my desk. Just then—
"Kim-kun. Could I ask you something?"
The class president had suddenly spoken to me.
"What's up, Ayase?"
Ayase Satsuki.
Also known as the Class President.
She's been in my class since our first year, a model student characterized by her black hair braided into two pigtails and thick, studious-looking glasses.
Ayase was one of the few people in our class who would talk to me without any hesitation.
For the record, she was the class president last year, too.
"In Mr. Matsuda's class the other day, he mentioned a few things that would be on the test. I think I missed something by mistake, could I see your notes?"
"Just a second."
I rummaged through the bag hanging on the side of my desk and pulled out my history notebook.
Thankfully, I hadn't left it at home.
"Here."
"Thank you. I'll bring it back when I'm done."
The class president bowed her head slightly and returned to her seat.
Rika, who had been watching from the side, asked a question.
"I thought the class president was super smart, but maybe not? She's borrowing your notes, Ryu-chan."
I picked up the copy of Jump from my desk again and said, "She is super smart. I think she's in the top ten of our grade."
"Then why would someone like that borrow your notes? You're just a meathead who only knows how to work out."
"Says the dummy asking that same meathead for help with math formulas."
I turned a page and continued, "Besides, I'm surprisingly good at studying. You'd probably be shocked if you heard my grades from first year."
Rika tilted her head and asked, "What was your rank in first year? Like, 50th?"
...Considering there are about 270 students in our year, that's not exactly a low score, but did this girl really think I was bad at studying?
I couldn't focus with her constant questions, so I closed my magazine and answered.
"Top of the grade."
Rika nodded along, saying, "Uh-huh, uh-huh," before her eyes went wide like a rabbit's.
Then, for the first time in a while, she gave me a truly manga-like reaction.
"EHHHHHHHHH?!"
"You're being loud."
I put my index finger to my lips, gesturing for her to be quiet. Realizing she'd been too loud, Rika's face turned red as she covered her mouth with both hands.
Just then, Satoru, who sat in front of me, turned around and said, "Yoo-Sung does look like he'd be bad at studying. If he hadn't been the freshman representative at the entrance ceremony, I probably would've had the same reaction as you."
"You little..."
I glared at Satoru for his unnecessary comment, but he just said, "Ooh, scary," and continued his explanation undeterred.
"He wasn't this beefy back in the first semester of our first year. But then, was it the second semester? After he joined the student council, he suddenly started working out like crazy, and now he looks like this."
As Satoru said this, he patted my shoulder. Rika looked at him with fascination.
"You're not very scared of Ryu-chan, are you, Momochi?"
Satoru shrugged in response.
"That's because I know he's actually a really good guy. You know that too, right, Kishimoto?"
Rika smiled brightly and nodded.
"Yep, that's right. He even showed me the way when I first transferred here."
Suddenly bombarded with praise from both of them, I didn't know what to do with myself and hastily stood up from my seat.
Satoru asked with a sly grin, "Class is about to start. Where are you going?"
"The bathroom."
Rika, sitting next to me, decided to pile on.
"Heehee. You got embarrassed."
...These two.
"That's not it."
With that, I fled the classroom in a strategic retreat.
*
"Kim Yoo-Sung-kun, are your exam preparations going well?"
After 6th period on Wednesday, the President asked me this in the student council room, which I was visiting for the first time in a while. She sipped her green tea elegantly as she spoke.
"Well, it's the same as always for me."
As I replied, I set aside the student council documents I was reading. Minami, the accountant, chimed in while tapping away at her calculator.
"He's the top of our grade, after all. If anyone's grades are in danger, I'd say it's me and Shinjiro-oppa."
"Hmph, don't lump me in with you, Minami. No matter how busy I am, I never neglect my studies."
"Is that what someone who was gaming late into the night yesterday would say?"
"Hey, I told you, that was a raid I'd scheduled a long time ago, I couldn't help it. I would've gotten so much flak for bailing."
"Auntie said that if your grades drop again, the first thing she'll do is smash your computer."
"...Let's study hard."
It seemed the Vice President, who was smart but a chronic gamer prone to cramming, and Minami, who had little personal time due to serving the President around the clock, were both in a precarious position with their grades.
After about thirty minutes, I finished the piled-up paperwork. As I was taking a breather with a cup of coffee Minami had made for me, the President asked as if she'd just remembered something.
"By the way, how is Miss Alexandra Ivanovna Romanova doing, the transfer student in Class 2-B? I know she completed her paperwork on Monday, but I've been so busy I haven't had a chance to check in."
"Ah, yes. Sasha is doing well."
"Sasha? Who is that? I was referring to Miss Alexandra Ivanovna Romanova."
"It's a nickname for the Alexandra-something-something you just mentioned. Her name is too long, so most of the kids in class just call her Sasha."
"...How do you shorten that name to get Sasha? Wouldn't it usually be something like Lexi or Alexa?"
"I don't really know either."
I guess that's just what they do in Russia.
Hearing my answer, the President tilted her head with a look of utter confusion, still unable to comprehend it.
In any case, there were only about twelve days left until midterms.
The exams would run for three days starting from Monday the 22nd, two weeks from now, so the entire school was shifting into study mode.
Though for the kids who usually neglect their studies, it still seemed pretty relaxed, since they typically only start cramming a week before the exams.
Enjoying a moment of peace while sipping the coffee Minami had made, I noticed it was almost time to head home, so I grabbed my bag and stood up.
"Well, I'll be heading out now. See you on Friday."
"Yes, take care."
"See you, Kim Yoo-Sung."
"Have a safe trip home."
Hearing the three of them say their goodbyes, I left the student council room.
Time to go home.
*
May 18th (Thu) [11:50 AM]
A light drizzle was falling this morning.
Maybe it was because there were only four days left until midterms, but the entire class was in a slump.
Even the Bald Trio, who would normally be cracking jokes and putting on a skit, were in full-on study mode.
The atmosphere was still lively during break times, but the moment class started, everyone would focus on the teacher's words, straining their ears to catch even a single hint about the exam questions.
Of course, I was no different.
I'd been studying consistently, so I didn't need to cram, but there was no reason to deliberately ignore the teacher when they were practically giving away the answers.
Just knowing that much meant I wouldn't have to study overlapping material separately.
After 4th period, which was classical literature, ended and lunch began, everyone groaned as they headed out to eat.
Karen and Sasha, who had naturally joined our group today, were bickering as they chose their meals from the cafeteria menu.
For the record, I chose the katsudon.
"Haaah... I feel like my head's going to explode. I should've studied more regularly."
"Same here. No matter how much I memorize for history, I forget it right away. And why are there so many dates?"
"I find classical literature difficult. Regular Japanese is hard enough, but classical literature is mostly written in archaic language."
All three of them were barely picking at their food while complaining.
Even Rika, a big eater, only ordered a set of rice balls today, apparently having no appetite.
On the other hand, I had no reason to be stressed, so I asked while eating my katsudon, "If it's that hard, why don't you guys have a study session or something?"
From what I could see, they each struggled with different subjects.
Rika was a classic humanities type, weak in all science and math subjects. Karen's grades were average, but she was terrible at memorization. As for Sasha, she was good at everything else, but being a foreigner, Japanese and classical literature were her weak points.
If they helped each other with their weaknesses, it seemed like they could definitely improve their grades.
My suggestion must have seemed reasonable, because all three of their eyes lit up at the same time.
"That's it!"
"You're a genius!"
"Khorosho (Хорошо)!"
Then, Rika's expression hardened as if she'd realized a fatal flaw.
"But whose house are we going to meet at?"
Karen spoke up.
"How about my place? We have plenty of empty rooms, so you can even sleep over."
Sasha crossed her arms and nodded.
"I don't like it, but I suppose it can't be helped."
And just like that, in the blink of an eye, a study session was scheduled.
Watching them, I popped open a can of cider to finish my meal.
"You three have fun with that."
It had nothing to do with me, anyway.