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Probably, after the talk, everyone’s mindset, including me, had changed a little regarding the matter. The three of them worked even harder than before, giving Umi and I an easier time to review the materials. This was one big step on its own.

“Ngh~ …Huh? It’s already this late, I didn’t even realize it… My parents are going to come back home soon, so I should get going. Let’s go home together, Yuuchin.”

“Okay. Ah, what about you, Nozomu-kun? Do you want to go back with us?”

“Huh? Ah… S-Sure, I mean, it probably isn’t safe for two girls to walk around at night by themselves, right?”

“Rather, it’s more dangerous for us if you were to go with us.”

“Hm? Did someone say something?”

“Oh jeez, you two, stop! Anyway, Maki-kun, sorry for bothering you until this late…”

“Ah, don’t be, I don’t mind…”

Looking at the clock, I realized that it was already eight. I had been eating the snacks we bought, so I didn’t feel particularly hungry, but I still had to make dinner.

“Oh, I’ll go with you guys. What about you, Maki?”

“Me too. I’m planning on escorting you back home anyway.”

In the end, all of us decided to leave my house together. I didn’t need to take Umi home because it wasn’t the weekend, but it felt a little lonely if I were the only one who didn’t go with the group.

Honestly, I just wanted to stay with them a little longer.

Cold wind brushed our hair as we stepped outside. Although we still had to wear short-sleeved uniforms, it was already October. The weather was too chilly to walk through without wearing a blazer.

“It’s dark around here, Umi. Watch your step.”

“I know… Hehe~”

Umi looked at our intertwined hands. It had been a year since we came to know each other. It was a blessing that we were able to stay close during all this time.

“Can’t you two wait until we’re gone before doing something like this?”

“…Seriously, you guys can flirt anytime, anywhere. I’m actually curious how you manage to do that…”

““…””

Nitta-san and Nozomu chided us, but that didn’t make us let go of each others’ hands. Instead, we brought our bodies together even closer.

At first, I was reluctant to show off our relationship like this, but that changed. Nowadays, I welcome the idea. Everyone should see how close we were.

Well, ‘everyone’ as in ‘everyone in our group.’ Yeah, I wouldn’t do this in front of a crowd.

“I’m so jealous of you two… I wish I could have a boyfriend too…”

“I understand how you feel, but that isn’t important for you, is it, Yuu? You have to deal with midterms. There’s also the matter of you not studying properly during our study session just now.”

“Ugh…”

Hearing Umi’s words, Amami-san’s expression stiffened as she looked away from us with a bitter expression on her face.

It seemed like Umi was telling the truth.

“Is that really the case, Umi? I mean, I was the one teaching her, it felt like she studied a lot…”

“You don’t know her well enough yet, Maki. She was faking it. She forced herself to make it look like she’s studying properly, but she actually wasn’t. Am I wrong, Yuu?”

“…Ahaha… Nothing gets past you, huh, Umi?”

Amami-san slumped her shoulders, as if she had given up on resisting and let out a wry smile.

From what I’ve seen, she was studying quite seriously. Unlike usual, where she’d twirl her pen around or plop down on the couch while using her notes as a pillow, she listened to what I said and wrote everything she needed to write.

I had thought that she was studying hard enough, but it seemed like Umi had a different opinion.

“Yuu isn’t the type of person who can stay still. If she were into something, she’d immerse herself in it to the point that she lost the sense of time, otherwise, she’d just mess around, as you already know. Honestly though, you could do it if you try harder, Yuu. I know you were just like that when you studied for our school’s entrance exam…”

“Yeah… Well, back then, my parents were watching me closely, so I had to do my best whenever I studied… They let me off doing whatever I wanted when it was time to rest, though. Yeah, the studying part was tough, but I didn’t spend all my time studying. I did well in the exam too, so all is good.”

Come to think of it, there was that kind of story, wasn’t it? Amami-san decided to take the entrance exam to our school because she wanted to go to the same school as Umi.

Although she wasn’t good at studying, it seemed like she could actually do it if she were to put her mind into it.

Everyone had their own ways of studying. Some people loved to sit down for hours, studying everything they could study, while others would take a more efficient way and study things as needed.

Amami-san was in the latter group. Up until now, she had been talking as much as she studied (well, if I may be honest, she talked twice as much as she studied). Despite that, her grades still improved, little by little.

Of course, while she seemed to be slacking off, Umi was still watching her progress closely. Because of that, at the very least, she did what she had to do.

But, today was different. She tried to keep up with us and didn’t seem to be slacking as much as she used to.

“U-Um, you see… I also have been thinking that I have to work a little harder… I mean, I’m going to continue my studies and all… So, I’ve been trying to study more, listening to what the teachers said, asking Umi, Maki-kun and Nagisa-chan if I didn’t understand something… But… No matter how hard I tried, I always forgot everything the next day…”

“So, you feel like you didn’t make any progress?”

“Yes, something like that…”

Anyone could feel like that when studying, but usually this would only happen if you had mastered the basics first. Amami-san obviously wasn’t someone like that, so it felt a little strange that she felt that way.

Based on what we had discussed, it seemed like she had doubts about her career path. Maybe it was because of that?

…Or maybe it was because of a completely different matter?

“I see. Well, I understand your feelings, Yuu, but there’s no need to rush. Just do it slowly and try to think about the upcoming exam first before anything else. Even if you can’t get a good result, you can always try for the next exam.”

“Umi is right. As long as you don’t get all red marks, you should be able to graduate, so don’t worry about it too much.”

“You’re just scaring her by saying that, Maki…”

“I’m just telling her that she also needs to be a little careful…”

Anyway, you never know what the future holds. Even if she was currently struggling with her studies, things might change down the line. It wasn’t uncommon to hear how people became successful after overcoming things that were holding them back.

Considering that Amami-san could only improve from where she was currently, I wouldn’t be surprised if later in the future, she managed to get into a famed university before Umi and I.

The ‘Amami Yuu’ I knew was a girl with a ton of potential, after all.

“…Thank you. You see, the parent-teacher interview is coming up soon and everyone seems to be anxious, and I… Kinda get swept by the waves… But, you two are right! Others are others, I’m different from them. I don’t need to try and get high grades! I just need to avoid getting red marks first and start from there!”

“Yes. You can increase your goal little by little afterwards. First, avoid getting red marks, then try to reach your class’ average grade and so on. We still have plenty of time, so you don’t need to rush.”

“Thank you, Umi…”

Her tense expression finally softened.

She stared at both of us with teary eyes, but that wasn’t something to be concerned about.

“Ehehe… I didn’t want to be a nuisance to both of you, that was why I haven’t told you this until now, but now that I’ve told you, I’m feeling much, much better! And now that the matter is finished, I’m hungry! Do you guys mind if we were to visit a convenience store first? I want to get some steamed buns!”

“You’re still going to eat more? Well, sure, I’m down with that. What about you, Maki?”

“Me too. I need to buy something for dinner anyway.”

“Hm? The convenience store? Well, since everyone is going there, I’ll tag along as well. You aren’t invited, Seki. Go back home on your own, shoo!”

“Buzz off. I’ll go with you, Maki.”

“Hehe, everyone is going then… Alright, let’s go!”

We all nodded to each other and smiled.

The time when I was a loner felt like a dream. I was surrounded by a lot of good people now.

Compared to back then, I had more worries and anxiety, but I also had more fun.

Of course, I knew that this would persist even in the future. Perhaps even more painful things were waiting for us.

‘But, with the five of us together, I’m sure…’

I muttered to myself, as we walked together under the autumn night.