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Chapter 78: Toward Finals
🕑 Added 2025-08-11 15:11:26 +0000 UTCAoki noticed that Kita had hesitated for a moment before saying, “I understand, Aoki-senpai.”
He had opened his mouth, ready to say something like, “If you have any concerns, it’s okay to say no,” but before he could put the words together, Kita had already accepted the role of lead vocalist.
His chance to speak was cut off.
For a brief moment, he fell silent.
After a moment of hesitation, Aoki decided not to push the topic further.
The group dinner didn’t wrap up until around 1 a.m., but they managed to finalize most of the details regarding “Uchiage Hanabi.”
Originally, Aoki had planned to hang back after the meal to speak privately with Yamada Ryo and properly apologize.
Ryo, too, had wanted to clear the air.
Unfortunately, those plans fell apart when Nijika dragged Ryo off for some spontaneous shopping.
After politely declining Nijika’s offer to join them, Aoki returned to his apartment alone.
With nothing particularly exciting to do by himself, he spent the afternoon reading and watching some variety shows.
For dinner, he headed to a nearby ramen shop and had a bowl of miso ramen.
After returning home, he washed up and went to bed around 10 p.m.
The summer heat was still in full swing.
It was now mid-August, and there was less than a week left until the end of Aoki’s second term of his second year of high school.
Finals and summer break were right around the corner.
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The next day, Aoki got up early, went for a morning run, had breakfast, and caught the train to school.
Upon arrival, he began the familiar climb up the seemingly endless hill toward Shuchiin High’s front gate.
Summer always carried this energetic atmosphere—aside from the incessant buzzing of cicadas, there were the trendy high school girls who, in defiance of the dress code, rolled up their uniform skirts several inches.
But of course, not everyone was bursting with energy.
“...Morning, Aoki…”
A familiar monotone voice greeted him from behind.
Aoki and Hikigaya Hachiman usually arrived at school around the same time and often ran into each other on this hill.
Sometimes Aoki would be the one to greet Hachiman.
Today, though, it was Hachiman dragging out the greeting in his usual lifeless tone, sounding like he was halfway to giving up on life.
Aoki couldn't help but think—though he knew it was a little mean if skipping that depressing “good morning” from Hachiman might actually make his whole day feel lighter.
Not that he’d ever say it aloud.
Yawning, Aoki casually returned the greeting.
Hachiman gave a slight nod and said no more.
In silence, the two continued up the hill—a hill that could probably turn any high school girl into a "thick-thighed warrior."
They finally reached the school gate.
While Hachiman parked and locked up his bike, Aoki stood by and suddenly asked, “Hey, Hachiman. You ready for finals?”
Hachiman paused in the middle of locking his bike.
Glancing up with his trademark dead-fish eyes, he replied, “I should be able to maintain my usual grades, but climbing any higher might be tough.”
Then he returned the question.
“What about you? Feeling confident?”
“Confident, huh…” Aoki paused.
He was sure he could keep up his current performance.
But beating Yukinoshita again this time… That was harder to guarantee.
With everything going on in the band, the past two months had been hectic.
He hadn’t had much time to study.
“Keeping my scores steady shouldn’t be a problem. But surpassing the top-ranked student again? That’s... questionable.”
As Hachiman finished locking his bike, the two began walking toward the school building again.
“Top-ranked… You mean Yukinoshita?” Hachiman said, then added, “Oh right! You two have that weird bet going on—straight out of a rom-com.”
Then, almost offhandedly, he muttered, “But is she even taking the finals this time? I heard she hasn’t been to school in four days.”
“…Huh?” Aoki blinked, confused.
He had taken Thursday and Friday off from club activities, so he had no idea what had been happening with the Service Club.
Since he usually didn’t pay much attention to school gossip, hearing that Yukinoshita hadn’t been at school for several days genuinely surprised him.
He paused to think.
If she really didn’t take the finals, then technically… he’d win the bet, right?
But it wasn’t just about the bet—there was also the 800,000-yen scholarship.
Still, winning under these circumstances felt a little… hollow.
He shook off the stray thoughts.
Curious, he asked Hachiman if he knew why Yukinoshita hadn’t been coming to school or attending the Service Club.
Unfortunately, Hachiman didn’t seem to know either.
So while it piqued his interest, Aoki didn’t dwell on it.
It might affect him slightly, but not enough to really matter.
And besides, Yukinoshita might just show up today—nothing was certain yet.
With that thought, the two of them entered the building, changed into their indoor shoes, and made their way to class.
Shuchiin High was known for its pricey tuition, so naturally the facilities were above average.
The classroom was cool and air-conditioned, a welcome contrast to the summer heat outside.
After entering, there was still time before the first period.
Aoki figured he’d use the extra time to brush up on his classical literature.
He pulled out his textbook and flipped to the page on Oku no Hosomichi, when suddenly—
‘Thump thump.’
“Yo, Aoki.”
There was only one person in all of Tokyo who would casually knock on his desk like that and call him by name in such a tone: Hiratsuka-sensei.
Without even looking up, Aoki responded while flipping the page, “What is it, Hiratsuka-sensei?”
“You little punk, show some respect…” she muttered, shooting him a look.
But then she sighed, seeming to let it go.
“Anyway, I came to tell you something real quick,” she continued. “Yukinoshita Yukino won’t be coming to school for a while due to family matters. So no need for you or Hikigaya to attend the Service Club on Friday.”
“With the club leader gone, there’s no point pretending it still exists. Might as well treat it like it’s been dissolved. Who knows when she’ll be back…”
Aoki looked up, visibly surprised.
Friday marked the end of the finals.
So... Yukinoshita really wasn’t going to take them?
Family matters...
His curiosity flared, but he didn’t pry.
It wasn’t really his business, and it wasn’t his place to dig.
The rest of the school day passed without incident.
Now, only two days remained until finals.
Nothing out of the ordinary happened.
And then, Wednesday arrived—August 18th.
The final exams at Shuchiin Private High School had officially begun.
