Can Cats Eat Octopus? Chapter 4
AN: Welcome back everyone! Chapter four is finally up and this one definitely took awhile! It was more of a filler chapter but so much happens and goes on that it's another long chapter! But this is pretty much the end of the prologue! The first four chapters I wanted to be like a prologue of how Neko goes through the beginning of the anime till I get to the episodes and start playing off them! So now definitely by after at least chapter 5 or 6 we'll be getting to the episodes!
Enough of the author's notes though, I hope you guys like the chapter! I only own the fanfiction and the OCs, Assassination Classroom the anime and manga is owned by Yusei Matsui. Please enjoy and thank you so much for reading!
"You want to go to a school?" My mom asked me when I went to visit her that day.
It was nerve wracking standing right there in front of her in her office when I went to see her. She even glanced up from her computer that she was working on at her desk to stare at me with her purple eyes.
I remembered trying to gulp down the fear. Mother never really looked up from her computer so serious like, so I was definitely more nervous! But I had to do this.
Mother was wearing her usual style of business casual with a blouse and black slacks. Her silver hair was clipped up in a purple clip with also her reading glasses that sat a top of her head.
My mom, while kind and so cool, I learned was someone who you really didn't want to beat around the bush with. She always had this calm but serious demeanor, and while it was hard to get a read on what she was thinking, she never frightened me. As long as I wasn't in trouble though. If I or any of my friends were, yeah, we didn't have to the count of 3 till we were in trouble.
"Yeah! I've been doing research in my free time and think that this school would be a perfect fit for me." I began my pitch to get me into Kunugigaoka Middle School. I walked up to her desk and hand Mother the printed paper about the school. I also handed her a few others, like about the principal, and classes. Though I would've left out the paper that had Class E on it if I knew where it was... I was sure I printed it but when I checked on the train it wasn't in my notebook.
She took them into her hands, adjusting her glasses to on her face to begin reading it. "And why this school specifically? Is there a specific reason?" She asked me to look back to where I was standing.
Well I knew I couldn't say the fact that I am obsessed with this boy that goes there. She would not agree to that. So, I said the half-truth that had come to my head that moment. "Well the school is actually very close to one of my works so I think that it would be a good familiar place to get an education!"
Yeah, mom didn't look like she was believing me with that slow one eyebrow raised up. So, I had a backup plan cause like I thought before, I will not be taking no for an answer. Operation B was full swing.
Beg!
Quickly, I had went to Mother's side behind her desk and went down on my knees placing my hands on her arm rest of her desk chair. "Please mom! I promise I will keep my ears hidden! I won't tell or show anyone! I'll just go there, do the work, get good grades, and still go to my work! I'll still pay for rent, and I promise nothing crazy will happen."
With my beanie off I was even able to show my ears, and I could flatten them to try and give a cute look. I had to use all my weapons to get this to work!
Still looking up at her with Mother just watching me, I added mumbling, "plus I really want to be a normal girl, even for a little bit... go to a normal school for even one year to get at least a bit of education... being homeschooled here for that time was nice but probably won't get me a good future job or career. This school has a high graduating rate."
Mother still watched me, how I knew I had broken her down, was when she sighed placing her other hand on her forehead. "You're not going to let this go until I agree?"
"Nope!" I easily said with a big grin. Mom smiled back at me and placed her hand now a top of my head between my ears. I enjoyed the feeling so much because she always does that since I was younger. My ears relaxed while I could feel a purr coming from my throat.
"Very well Neko. I will call the principal and talk with him. See if he will allow you to join."
To say I was ecstatic at that moment would not describe how I felt best. My face beamed so much that my cheeks hurt from the huge grin, my eyes looked up at this amazing woman that raised me, and I couldn't help but immediately tackle her in a hug.
"Thank you thank you! Thank you so much! You're the best mom ever!" I could feel her pat my back chuckling a little before I let her go still grinning. "I promise, you will not regret this! I really want to go to this school! I've looked at others but this one just stood out to me..." I muttered that last part imagining Karma in my mind.
"Alright. But if you can go to this school, you will not only have to keep your grades up, but also follow their rules and mine. Understood?" She told me with her serious face back on.
Of course I agreed! I was just too excited to think of it completely. Cause I just immediately thought that I was now going to be in the same class as Karma! What a dummy I was.
Turns out getting into even just the school was a hassle!
Mother called the Principal, named Principal Asano I believe, that day when I spent the rest of it talking to my friends.
And after they talked, she had called me back into her office and said that the principal wasn't too keen on just anyone suddenly joining the school in the middle of the first term. The transfer exams happened before the year started and are now over...
I didn't realize it was too late to get in! Luckily, Mother said she pulled some strings and she told Principal Asano I was incredibly determined and really wanted to join his school. Turns out he seems to be one to challenge those who think they can qualify and gave me a challenge.
I can take the midterm that's coming up at the school in a week. If I can make it to at least the 25th place in the whole school he will "consider" me joining and I'm like, that's impossible!
First, I must score in the highest of 25, in a school with I think over 180 students. In a Prep School! Secondly, I must take this test in a week! I got to study as much as I can ASAP!
Which is what I'm doing right now as I was remembering that flashback. It's been only a few days since then and I really needed to begin studying! So, I decided to call my works, take the whole week off, and began cramming as much information as possible in my little shabby apartment!
Which is also where I am right now.
I was sitting on my bed with all these textbooks I checked out at the library sprawled out all over my small bed. It creaked as my back hunched over to lean and do the practice math problem I had to do for this one unit. And it was being difficult. I punched what I think is the right formula into my calculator and when I hit enter, all it said was error.
"How do you say error?! I put numbers in! Use those numbers and give me my answer!" I growled ready to chuck this stupid thing across the room but it was a little pricey so I can't just break it.
So, all I did was cry out leaning my head back against the wall behind my bed and felt my ears flatten against my head while I cover my face with my hands. Why did I agree to do this? "I don't understand anything..."
My eyes began to water, and I could feel them stinging with the tiredness in them. I looked at the clock hanging on my wall to see it read 5 pm... Karma is probably getting out of class by now... if he didn't ditch again.
'Do these problems frustrate him too? Maybe he doesn't need to worry that much being in the lowest class...' I thought getting up from my bed to pop all my joints after such a long study session. Walking not even a few steps I was in my kitchen grabbing a water bottle from my mini fridge.
Feeling that it wasn't as cold as it should have been made me groan. "Great... another thing I need to probably replace in this apartment."
Looking back at my whole setting made me sigh opening my water bottle then taking a sip. It's no wonder I more enjoyed spending time at work, my old home, or just out of this place. Those places are a lot more functional and don't make strange noises without the occasional mouse popping up. But it was a place to sleep, now study in, and was an independent roof over my head.
I'd rather sleep here then back at home anyways. The apartment room was in the back of the whole complex and looked like it was just a storage room they stuffed a kitchen counter and added a smaller bathroom then called it a day saying it's a home. That explains why it's so cheap to pay rent, so I won't complain too much. At least not in front of Mother because I was lucky enough she lets me stay here and she's letting me try to go to Kunugigaoka.
Walking back over to my bed to look at my textbooks. I was focusing right now on math, but I just hate these numbers mixed with letters. How are you supposed to do them?
"Guess Akane is right. Studying is basically murder for students!" I laughed now knowing what my best friend meant looking at all the work I've done before. Sighing I tried to even figure out how I got the answer I put down.
Though before I could just slam it shut and never work on math ever again, my ears perked up at the knock on my front door. Immediately I got jumpy and confused since not that many people know where I live, only my family. Not even Akane which I did feel bad about...
Looking at one of my many beanies on the dresser in front of my bed, I grabbed it as the knocking continued. So cautiously I called out, "who is it?" Grabbing my beanie and beginning to cover my ears sloppily as I walked to the door slowly.
"Pizza delivery!" A male voice answered back making me tilt my head and furor my brows.
"Pizza...? I didn't order any pizza!" I called back going closer to the door placing my hand on the handle waiting just a bit to hear what else they had to say.
"Awe really? I thought you usually ordered a tall, large, handmade looking order like myself Neko~."
Wait a gosh darn halibut second! I know that flirty voice like the back of my hand!
Swinging the door open with a big grin, I tackled the person who was on the other side not even completely looking at him just so excited to know he's here!
"Usagi!" I called out immediately wrapping my arms around this tall boy's neck as he had to even lean down to hug back. I always must greet friends with a tackle.
I heard the male in my arms laugh, "I don't know if you're excited to see me or to see the pizza I brought!"
"You actually brought food?!" I squealed letting him go and looking at the two boxes of pizza he brought in one of his hands. Grabbing them quickly then bolting back into my apartment giggling all the way back inside.
"Well now I know where I rank compared to food." I heard Usagi following behind me. Right after I placed the boxes down on the counter, I looked over to watch my childhood friend enter and close my front door behind him. His large grin on his peach like skin. He had lavender eyes that contrasted his bright golden hair under his own blue beanie on his head.
Usagi wore a casual denim blue over shirt a top of a standard white t shirt. Then of course, he had on some black ripped skinny jeans with white shoes. I knew by this look he was either just getting back from or going on a date soon. Smiling I asked that question curiously, "so who's the lucky person this month? Still dating Mio?"
"Nah I already went on date with her last weekend, and I decided to break it off then. This time I got a date with that cute barista I was telling you about and I just got his number!" I laughed shaking my head but happy to know he was excited.
Opening the boxes of pizza he brought, I almost drooled over the cheese with pepperoni and sausage goodness. "I don't know how you're so comfortable with dating people and not worry about revealing yourself." I commented not paying attention to when suddenly out of nowhere, my beanie was snatched right off my head letting my ears free to puff up in surprise. "Ack! Usagi! Give that back!"
The tall boy laughed at my dismay towering over me, darn him and his almost 6-foot height!
"Because I'm not gonna stop having fun even with all the stingy rules~." He teased finally letting me take back my hat. I just tossed it on my bed then responded with jumping up and grabbing his beanie from his head before walking to my kitchen.
I chuckled though looking back at him twirling the head-ware on my finger as I watched him fix his hair with a pout. The two long bunny ears on his head all pointed up now also out of their confinement. When Usagi was done fixing his hair, one of his rabbit ears flopped over while he looked back at me. "You know it takes forever to get this hair to perfection!"
I giggled grabbing two paper plates smiling innocently, "I sorry." I wasn't sorry at all.
Hearing him huff then shift behind me around the apartment before I watched him look at all my textbooks on my bed and everything all over the place. "I'm not the only one who bends Mom's rules though. Gotta say, I was pretty shocked hearing from Koara that you're planning on joining an actual school."
"Yeah," I answered placing his plate down then grabbing a slice of pizza for me. "Though turns out the school I picked to go to has a dictator for a principal and is testing me hard to see if I qualify."
Jumping up I sat on the counter still watching Usagi as he just chuckled at my annoyance. "Yeah, I heard that too. How's that coming along." When my only response was a groan, he added, "that bad huh?"
"It's a good school for a reason that's for sure..." I muttered gnawing on the point of pizza.
"So, then what's your reason for joining such a school? I'm sure you can get into any other school a lot easier without that much of a hassle." Usagi questioned while grabbing his plate, then opening the other box of pizza he brought that had bell peppers, spinach, and artichoke as toppings.
Though at his question, my head immediately imagined a specific red headed, sunset eyed boy smirking at me. My heart immediately fluttered with my face warming up in my cheeks as I sighed. "No specific reason... The school is just close to my work so I thought it would be a good idea to get a better education for a higher paying job."
Even though I read that the school regulations said students aren't supposed to have jobs for them to focus more on studying... I have to figure out what I'm going to do when that time comes. 'Ugh if that time comes with how horrendous studying is!' My inner thought chimed in.
I barely could hear Usagi humming over my thoughts, but what I did hear made me freeze mid bite, "it's because of a boy isn't it?"
To say I probably looked guilty, would most likely be an understatement! My eyes felt wide to the point of feeling them stretch looking at Usagi when I stopped eating. His smug smile told me that he knew he was right! I was as readable as a book right now! Especially when from my chest to my neck, all the way up my face felt hot. My ears flatten as I slowly responded a drawn out, "no...?"
He hummed a response, "oh really~? Then who's Karma?"
'What the sardines?! Is he a gosh darn mind reader?! I'm not that obvious, am I?'
My answer though as to how he figured it out who Karma was coming in the form of the blonde bunny boy slowly raising my notebook I had left on the bed open. Where of course the page it had to be on was the one where it said at the top 'Karma Notes'!
"Uh... That's not mine..." Oh yeah that's a great excuse!
"Oh, okay if you say so... then I guess I should go meet this Karma and ask him on a date~. Judging by these points written about him, he sounds just my type~."
Suddenly, at those words that left his mouth, my whole world felt distant as I stared at him. "What?" I questioned, before I grabbed the nearest thing in the kitchen behind me, which was a wooden spoon, and chucked it at him growling, "Don't touch him!"
Usagi quickly jumped out of the way from my attack, laughing even though I didn't find it amusing at all. Something inside me didn't like that idea of Usagi asking Karma out on a date. It didn't like the idea of Karma dating anyone at all! Like even just the thought of him being around anyone else in that way left a bad feeling in me I wanted to get rid of. I felt it when I saw Karma around that Nagisa at the train station, but I don't know what they're relationship is. They don't act like a couple from what I've witnessed.
"Relax your little pink ears, I'm joking Neko! As much as I wanna find the love of my life, my handsome or gorgeous mate, I'm not gonna take yours from you."
This time my body and mind felt normal again, knowing he wasn't completely serious about asking Karma out made me feel better. I still didn't like his implications of Karma and I though, cause now I was getting hotter in the face. "He is not my anything! And says the guy who is too afraid to commit to a relationship for more than 2 weeks!"
I knew I got him with that when he froze and pouted at my direction while I stuck my tongue out eating another slice. "Et tu Neko. Et tu."
He sighed before sitting at the foot of my bed nibbling on a spinach leaf with both his ears drooping down. Now my ears went down as well, before I hopped off the counter walking to him, shoving my stuff aside on my bed to sit next to him. "Sorry Usagi..."
"It's fine, you know how dating is hard." I nodded in agreement with that statement. Even if I only dated once, and now have no idea what I'm feeling with Karma, I know his point. "I want to find the right one, but with everything that we have- "
"You're afraid of what they will think of you when they find out." I finished his sentence. "I know how that feels now when I think of Karma... what will happen if he finds out what I am? Why would he be interested in someone like me? But who knows? Maybe we might get lucky this time."
I tried lifting his spirits turning my head to look at him. Usagi looked back at me and smiled back before chuckling. "Yeah maybe. If you do go out with this Karma guy, let me know so we can plan a double date."
"I am not dating him Usagi!" I retorted making him feel better and laugh again.
"I said 'if' little Neko~. Tell me first a little about this secret boy who you're keeping from Mother and are practically throwing away your free time to go to school willingly for! How did you meet him?" He questioned excitedly that he even went to the floor to sit cross legged and look up at me like we were having a chat about boys at a slumber party.
Sheepishly laughing and rubbing the back of my neck, I looked at anywhere but him thinking freely about nothing else but Karma. "Well... how we met was he saved me at work from this drunk guy. He bashed this guy's head with a glass bottle! Gave him six stitches!"
Usagi cooed, "a knight in shining armor! What a hot stuff~!" The playful comment made me glare at him unamused.
"Anyway! When I looked at him, it just felt like my whole world got complete... like there was a gaping hole in my heart before, but just even staring at his eyes, it was right away filled." I continued looking down at my hands in my lap fiddling with my long-pointed nails. "So, I followed him... I followed Karma to the train station even though I had no idea who he was. Something in me just wanted to see him again. Even after I followed him there."
"Ah so you got obsessed with him?" Usagi asked knowing obviously what the answer was.
Especially when I groaned covering my face nodding my head. "Yeah... and that's not the worst part! I made it my mission to know more and well that was difficult for the next couple of weeks till a friend of mine at my other job suggested I try doing research on the internet at the library. And and," I repeated looking at the bunny boy hyper, "I was seeing him everywhere, but it wasn't him! My mind went completely crazy, and he was suddenly in my head no matter where I looked!"
I threw my hands up in the air groaning as I fell back on my bed, my ears shifting back, as I just kept rambling since I haven't told anyone any of all of this, "I even imagined that this customer looked like him, especially with how similar their uniforms were. So, my brilliant psycho mind made a correlation that they probably go to the same school."
"And that's the school you're trying to get in now?" He was trying to fit the puzzle pieces together. My only reply was a head nod and muffled noises. "How do you know they go to the same school?"
Lifting back up, my shoulders shrugged finding the right answer to that. "Well, I just kind of assumed after researching and looking at so many middle schools on the web. Then figured he went to the one that was by my work he saved me in, also the uniforms are exactly like that boy I saw, I just guessed. I also talked to him the day I last visited and that helped too."
Usagi stared at me blankly raising a brow this time. "So, you went through all this... for a guy? Neko I've done crazy things to get someone's attention. Oh who am I kidding I'm too beautiful not to get attention," he said playfully acting like he was all high and mighty which made me laugh, "anyways, I've flirted and did a lot of things. But never too this extreme! If Mother found out-"
"I know, I know! But Usagi there's something about him! His mischievousness! His smile whether crazy or not, how he carries himself without any problems! He's someone I should want nothing to do with, but I want to be around him! See him again, even if that means going against every rule we have." My determination coming back while looking straight into his purple eyes with my red ones. "I have to know why he makes me complete. I must figure it out myself. And I can't ask him until I know more about him."
Usagi and I stared at each other for only a few seconds, his ears twitching with whatever he was thinking about, before his expression turned soft with a smile and laugh. He got on his knees patting my head making me purr a little, "okay your secret is safe with me. But if he does anything, I won't hesitate to bury him no matter how cute he may be. Also, if there is any way I can help then let me know, okay?"
Grinning then nodding, "of course! Well, if you could do my math portion of my exams that would be nice." I half joked; half told seriously picking up the work I was doing earlier. It still was giving me a headache while I'm not even trying to solve it!
Usagi got up from his place on the floor, dusting himself off, then wedged his butt next to me to look. "Scoot over your butt and let the wizard have a look. It can't be that hard?"
With an eye roll, I just did as he said with also taking the crust he left on his plate to nibble on. I watched as he looked at the problem mumbling to himself, then took my pencil off the bed to work on it. "Good luck. I've been stuck on that problem for thirty minutes- "
"Got it!"
"Wait what?!" I practically shoved him out of my way to look at what the heck he did. Sure, as caviar he had the formula down all neatly with arrows to guide me on what to do! Then all circled at the end was the answer! "How did you?! Witchcraft! Burn you at the stake! How did you know what formula to use?!"
Usagi was laughing as he went to grab another slice of the pizza he brought, then going to my kitchen to raid my fridge for water. "I'm not a witch, I'm a wizard. Also, math is simple when you see the places where things go. It's a simple quadratic formula."
"'Simple' my butt..." I grumbled. "Math is just not my thing... I think it might be what fails me, also with all the other subjects I'm not able to study for all at once in a week."
He sat back next to me taking a swig from the water. Gulping it down looking at my notes again. "Well what subjects are they testing you on?"
Humming in thought I tried to remember the core subjects that will be focused on in the midterms. "Math, English, Japanese, Civics, and Science I believe. And I have to score at least the 25th place out of 186 students. Why?"
"Okay well five subjects means 500 points in total, 100 points each... you need to score at least 25th place..." Usagi began to mumble to himself all the math that was going on in his head that I tuned him out, until he figured it out when his long ears pointed up. "Ah! I got it! You need to score at least 450 points!"
"Okay. And that helps me how?"
"It's simple, you don't need to get A's in all the subjects, get A's in the ones you know well by heart and the ones we all can help you with!" I just stared at him blankly this time blinking like he was speaking Greek. Seeing my confusion, he continued, "Look you're already fluent in English, it came with working so much and Mother moving us around. You will pass that test easily! Science is Hebi's department, ask him to tutor you. Kit is totally into Japanese so she can help ya there. And I'll help you in any way I can with Math. Civics, just use your knowledge now with some extra studying."
I thought about what he said. The offer was tempting, but I would feel bad asking for their help on a choice I made. "I don't know Usagi... What if you guys are busy? Plus, I chose to do this, and I wouldn't want to drag you all- "
"Woman! I am offering to help you with Math and it's not like any of us have anything better to do. We're friends and we're family, and we help each other out. No matter what." Usagi assured placing his hand on my shoulder when he got to my side. "You wanna see your Karma, right?"
Mumbling with my ears down, "He's not really 'my' Karma and we only talked-..."
"You want to see Karma again, right?!" He asked again with more emphasis in his words. I glanced up at him nodding with determination in my head again. "Then it's settled! We're going to help you get into this school! All of us!"
"Thank you Usagi! But please maybe not mention the real reason why I'm going to this school to the others? I want to tell them myself... maybe not when we're studying unless they ask, just want to see what happens during the exam." I pleaded.
Usagi's ears flopped down before he sighed, smiling afterwards, and nodded, "of course. It's your secret to share, not mine. Now move over and stop procrastinating on this math! Let's take on this beast together!"
"Okay!" I let him sit next to me while I grabbed my notes and Usagi grabbed my textbook to begin our study session for the day!
It was difficult of course but I really did feel like I was beginning to understand it! There were some things that confused me, and honestly, I had no idea how much I had to learn but we kept studying till it got late.
He came back the next day to help me some more, then the day after that my friend Kit came over to help me with Japanese. That went a lot better than math I felt, then the day after that my other friend Hebi helped me with science which was a lot harder to understand! More formulas and things to learn.
If I didn't have anyone over or they left early, I spent my time studying on another subject. This went on for the rest of the week. Studying, tutoring, occasionally eating and sleeping, then the cycle continued.
Until it was finally the day of Midterms at Kunugigaoka Middle School.
I sat in the back of the classroom of the school staring down at the paper in front of me. The numbers and characters staring back at me, watching me gnaw and chew on my pencil eraser frustratingly.
Since I wasn't a student, a teacher that Principal Asano told the situation to lead me to Class D to take the midterm and be seated in the back of the classroom as the teacher sat in the front to watch over all the students. I wore a nice blouse and a skirt with leggings to look professional. My ears tucked securely under the simple white beanie.
I was the first kid in the class when they all arrived but they all either didn't pay attention to me or didn't notice, since before I took the test, I watched all the kids cramming last minute studying before they sat down. And now I can see why! All that studying I did the week prior to help me manage so far, but some of these questions were simply crazy!
I glanced up with my eyes a little from my paper to look at all the students in front of me watching them move their pencils skillfully across the pages. Writing all the formulas and knowledge they knew clearly, I'm sure. While I just looked back at the scribbles of trying to solve these equations.
I was stuck on question number 11 of the math portion of the midterm. And this was only the first period! With the question that was much harder to deal with then all the others for some reason. I've been stuck on it for almost five minutes now.
My eyes almost seemed to burn staring at this problem.
This beast! It's going to kill me! Suddenly, I was in a void with just me and the problem!
The giant numbers and letters all swirling around me to suddenly form a large looming red creature with glowing yellow eyes and sharp razor teeth. It growled as it looked down at me before my ears perked up when it took a swipe at me!
I screamed nearly dodging it, but the force knocked me back making me roll and land on my side. "What am I going to do?! This question isn't like all the others!" I cried out in my battle zone with this problem trying to get back up with my pencil in my hand.
"And all those problems were difficult to figure out too... how do I take this thing down? There's too many numbers!"
I tried writing down what I thought would be the correct way to solve the equation on my scratch paper, but when I did the creature only tossed me back again, causing me to erase what I put down.
"I can't do this!" I panted out staying hunched down on the ground my ears twitched back hearing the beast almost sneer at my dismay. "Why did I think I could...? I'm not smart, I'm not anything... I won't pass, I'll just fail... I'm going to fail!" I cried out trying to not let the frustrating tears fall from my eyes.
"You wanna see Karma again, right?" My head shot up when I heard Usagi's voice. He repeated his question even though I couldn't see him. "You wanna see Karma again, right? It's a simple quadratic formula."
"Don't let anything stop you!" I heard Akane's voice next.
"When I... when I get stumped on something, I don't face it head on! I mostly, kind of, look at it in like, like different parts." The sweet stuttering meek male voice of Hebi advised me.
"Take a deep breath. Don't choke. Focus." Kit too.
That's right. If I mess this up, everything that I've worked hard on. All that they have done for me and supported me; it would be for nothing.
Getting back up from my place on the ground to look ahead and saw far away but seemed so close, Karma with his back facing me.
I'm doing this because I have a goal. "I went through all those long studying nights, those late-night dinners and missed many days of work for a reason. I need to see him again."
Giving a sort of low growl from within my throat, I picked up my pencil once more as it turned into a knife that gleamed in the lighting of the void. My head looked back at this obstacle.
"And this damn thing is in my way." My teeth began to grind against each other with my fingers gracefully twirling the knife to hold it in a reverse grip. Feeling my mind almost distant but focused on the problem behind me.
Taking a deep breath like Kit taught then looking back at the problem with a new clear mind. "A simple quadratic formula, huh? Different parts..." I stared at it a little longer before looking at my knife.
Then almost as if something sketched into the blade, I saw a formula! I know this formula! It's the same as the one Usagi used to solve that first question for me! "I need to find the numbers representing A, B, and C..."
My head looked up back at the red monster, and when analyzing it, that's when I noticed something stood out on its right shoulder. Glowing almost yellow like it's eyes, it was a number! It was the A number for the formula! "That's it!"
I ran over to the beast ready to face it one more time! It raised its right arm as it came crashing down to stop me. Quickly though, I dodged and hopped up on its arm to run along the giant. When I got to the glowing number, I took my knife and wrote it down on my paper.
The question screamed at the stab I caused. I looked down at my knife to see that plugged into what I needed was the number I destroyed. Then my ears twitched hearing it's second arm come at me. But seeing its hand coming towards me, I quickly noticed like the first number, I could see the second one on the palm of its hand.
Smiling, I waited till it came closer before jumping off the shoulder and landed on the back of its wrists to take and write down the second number I needed. Looking back at my knife to see the number filling in the B spot of the formula. "One more to go." And I knew exactly where it should be, staring at the face of the monster who's glowing eyes stared back at me.
Behind its eyes that caused them to glow, I could see the final number I needed to solve this whole thing! So, with one final jump from the arm, I took my knife and took the final key I needed from its face. Then with my knife equation complete, sliced completely down through question 11! Writing my answer down in the answer box.
Solving this problem gave me a sigh of relief! But I knew I'm not done yet. I looked ahead to see all the other questions looking right at me.
This wasn't going to be easy, but with one final look at my knife with another clear formula etched into the blade. I know that I have the skills to do this. I have to do this!
So, with another deep breath, I carried on with this test, and the one after, then the one after that. Each test, each question that I faced, I used what I learned and focused. My goal coming closer and closer.
Until it was finally over. And my results came in.
I sat on the edge of my bed staring at the still closed envelope in between my fingers. My palms were so sweaty I was worried it was going to soak through the paper. Maybe that would help me see what the answer was. I just stared at the front, at the Kunugigaoka Middle School symbol as if daring for it to move or something. Maybe if I watched it long enough it'll open by itself.
Even if I felt like I did okay on the midterms, there were those moments I didn't know what to put as my answer and that's what's scared me. What if my confidence was too high? I don't wanna feel this hope go down, but in turn my doubts are getting higher. Shouldn't they have just called Mother to say if I'm in or not, and not do this to me?
It's been a few days now since I took the midterms, and those days of waiting for their answer has been torture!
Having had enough, just completely done, "alright that's it! Let's get this over with!" I took my pointed nails and sliced through the flap of the envelope quick and easily.
To say I was shaking like a leaf earlier would be an understatement compared to how now I was shaking liked a palm tree in a hurricane. I even tried closing my eyes pulling out the folded letter inside out to the open. Peeking my eyes slightly at it unfolding it cautiously.
'To Ms. Neko', I began to read.
"So far so good..."
'Having someone wish to be a part of our school so late in the school year already was a first. Here in Kunugigaoka we challenge those who wish to aim at the top with a high education and help the ones who make it earn a place in the world strongly after they graduate. We look for those who are high above the normal and will carry themselves to new heights.'
"Blah blah blah just tell me my answer already!"
Gosh this guy seems to talk mighty in letter form. I just kept reading, 'Therefore, testing you with the challenge of our midterm, with extra questions and material taught last minute recently to our students, it was required to see your strengths. I, Principal Gakuho Asano, would like to personally congratulate you on scoring 451 points in our midterm, ranking you 24th place in our entire school.'!
My hand clasped around my mouth not believing those words I was reading! Please don't let this be a joke!
'You took up the challenge and excelled higher than we here at the school expected. It would be our great pleasure to teach and educate you higher to see your success and be a part of us as one of the best. We shall send you your uniform soon, then please come to my office next Monday to meet and get your school schedule and school ID. Welcome to Kunugigaoka Middle School Ms. Neko! From, Principal Gakuho Asano.'
When reading all those words ended there, the wave of frustration and nerves I had lifted off my chest so hard, I fell back on my bed hugging the letter. I was so relieved and happy; I was both laughing and crying. Me tears sliding backwards to almost inside my flat ears.
"I did it..." I whispered to myself shaking. "I actually did it! I made it in!"
I was so happy; I didn't know what to do! I know I have to go tell my mother, but I just want to enjoy this moment myself first! Opening my eyes to look at my cracked ceiling, I didn't care about how bad it looked, the good feeling made me feel like I was looking at polish marble.
"I'm going to be in the same school as Karma... I'll get to see him again." I began to think of Karma. Wondering how did he do on his Midterm? Would he be surprised of how I did on mine?
Will I get to be in E Class?
That's my next issue... me getting into that E Class I read about when I printed it again. I can't be a hundred percent sure if he's even in that class, but that was a chance I'm willing to take. Even if he isn't, I'll be in the same school. I'll see him again! I'm so much closer now! I can't mess this up now.
I have a plan to make sure I won't lose this chance.