Chapter 132
Chapter 132
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Midterms Finally Over
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The midterms ended much more uneventfully than I expected.
We spent the entire week taking exams, and since that's all we did, there really wasn't anything noteworthy. I handled all of them pretty ordinarily well.
I finished everything within 10 or 20 minutes, double-checked about four times afterward, and then took a nap. That's how easy I thought they were.
Mana Studies, Literature, History... I took around nine or ten exams, and the more I took, the more I just breezed through them without much thought.
There were club members I studied with, but I figured it was better to let them handle things on their own rather than fussing over them or striking up unnecessary conversations.
After all, I might unintentionally get on their nerves if I butted in.
"Hehe! The exams are finally over!"
"Yeah. For our first midterms as freshmen, there were more than I thought, huh?"
"But that's all behind us now!"
Well, as Ella said, it was all over now.
Our first freshman midterms were done, and all we had left to do was rest and have fun.
"Ella, how'd you do on the exams?"
"Of course! Did you really think I might've bombed them?"
"Nah, not really."
I wasn't too worried about Ella or Nordal to begin with.
The one I was worried about was, naturally...
"Hm."
"What's up?"
"Nothing. Shall we head to the club room for now?"
"Sure. It's been a while; I'd love to relax there."
I did glance at Grace for a second, but I decided not to call out to her or anything.
We'd run into each other in the club room soon enough anyway, and this was just an extension of how I'd deliberately avoided talking to her much during exam week.
Anyway, that morning after midterms fully wrapped up, we headed straight to the club room.
It was a bit early for lunch, and if we waited there, the other members would show up eventually.
*
Ella and I chatted about the exams in the club room, lightly checked some wrong answers, and passed about five or ten minutes like that.
Lize came by too, preparing cool drinks and snacks for us now that exams were over... and we just hung out.
"H-Hello..."
"Oh, sis. You made it? Want something to drink?"
"Shall I...?"
That's when Karen entered the club room.
We hadn't seen much of her during exam week, so it felt like quite a while.
Not that it felt dramatically different or anything.
She was just her usual self—quiet, a bit gloomy.
As always... she had the kind of looks that could make her super popular if she just brightened up a little.
"How'd you do on the exams, sis?"
"I think I did well...! Way better than last year as a sophomore!"
"That's great. Honestly, the first-years and I had such different material that it was hard to help you..."
"I-It's fine...! You helped Grace a ton instead, right...? If you'd helped me too, it probably would've messed up your own exams, Camellia..."
I always think this, but she's so kind.
I'd felt it ever since getting to know her, but Karen's personality always struck me as genuinely good.
Sometimes it felt like she yielded too much to others, though?
"Oh, but where's Miss Grace?"
"Uh... no idea. I came right after my exams finished..."
"Oh......"
That was unexpected.
I'd been sure—no, convinced—that Grace would come with Karen.
My prediction ended up totally off.
"Hmm... Well, she'll probably show up soon?"
I figured Grace would head to the club room.
Though my guess that she'd come with Karen had failed spectacularly.
"Hoo... Exams being over feels amazing..."
Karen relaxed in her chair, eyes closed, just resting.
Makes sense. Studying nonstop during exam week is exhausting, so I got it.
Ella and I were lounging on the comfy bed too.
"Yeah. Feels great."
Exams were done, the Academy had let out earlier than usual, and we were just chilling in the room.
Doing absolutely nothing, sitting or lying down comfortably.
During exam week, we'd spent every day focused in the club room, but now we were truly relaxing.
Just lying still on the bed felt perfect.
-Slide...
"Hello, everyone."
Just as we were relaxing with Karen too, the club room door opened again. This time, it was Nordal who entered.
I'd thought it was Grace, so her showing up first was a surprise, but Nordal coming anytime wouldn't have been weird.
"Did you do well on the exams, Lady Nordal?"
"Yes, I did."
"That's good to hear. I heard the Mana Studies one was pretty tough this time."
"I focused my studying on Mana Studies, so it wasn't too bad."
"Glad to hear it."
Well, no need to worry about Nordal.
I already knew a fair bit about her capabilities from studying together.
"Sis Karen, did Miss Grace say anything about going somewhere after exams?"
"Uh-uh... nothing like that... Maybe she went back to the dormitory? She looked pretty worn out lately..."
"Could be. With a whole week of exams..."
So maybe she needed a break from the stress.
Hm...
Is she really not coming?
Grace had studied hard for the exams and been super focused during them...
"Hmm..."
What if she bombed them and was off crying somewhere?
Given her personality, that seemed like exactly how she'd react if she messed up, which worried me.
I'd sneakily watched her during the exams.
I'd covertly observed her struggling with the problems from behind.
"Hmm... Think she's skipping today entirely...?"
It was Friday, and if she didn't show today, we wouldn't see much of her over the weekend.
That's why I was so curious about how she did.
"Shall we go grab lunch? We all came straight here after exams."
I'd waited long enough, I figured.
We'd all arrived right after finishing, and all we'd had were some snacks and drinks.
Time to head out for lunch.
Whatever was keeping Grace probably had its reasons.
"Let's eat something tasty out, then decide what to do after... sound good?"
"That works! Exams were so boring lately; I'm all for it."
"Sh-Shall we...?"
"Yeah."
Everyone seemed on board, probably because they were hungry too.
Exams wrapped around 11...?
Yeah, stomachs would be rumbling by now, plus we'd burned brainpower and needed sugar.
We packed up our stuff and got ready to leave the club room.
"Lize, got everything?"
"Yes, Young Lady. All packed."
"Alright, let's go?"
I said that and started getting up from the bed.
The moment I did, the club room door suddenly opened.
"...Grace? Why so late?"
"Just... had some stuff to do."
"R-Really...?"
I'd thought she wasn't coming.
We'd waited over 30 minutes, and when she didn't show, I'd figured she was skipping today.
But against my expectations, Grace showed up.
No idea why it took her until now after exams ended.
Karen had come right away, so it wasn't something with her...
"Uh... why'd you take so long?"
I'd stood up right as she opened the door, so it startled me, but I had to ask.
What kept her so late?
"...Hey."
"Yeah?"
Grace whipped her gaze from Karen to me and called my name.
What?
I hadn't expected a name instead of an answer.
"What's up?"
"...Take this."
"Uh... candy?"
"What, don't want it?"
She suddenly handed me a bag stuffed with a ton of cherry-flavored-looking candies.
Why this?
"...Why'd you give it to me?"
I took the bag, but I had no clue why Grace of all people was giving this to me.
Don't tell me this is what kept her from coming sooner?
"What... don't want it? Then don't take it."
"No, it's not that. Just... surprised you'd give me something like this out of nowhere?"
I'd never even imagined it.
The others behind me were probably shocked too.
"...You helped me study for midterms."
"Oh..."
"Just take it...! Don't want it or what?"
"No, I do. Thanks, I'll enjoy them."
"Yeah, that's all you had to do."
"Uh... thanks. Never expected a gift like this..."
I'd helped her a lot, sure, but I hadn't anticipated her giving me anything like this.
Even a few days before exams... hm.
What can I say? It was like a cat that always let me pet it but hissed every time suddenly approaching me first.
"...What're you staring at!"
Of course, it wasn't a huge departure from her usual self.