Grades
It's getting close to midterms so let us see if all my efforts to improve on my studies have paid off! Weeks I've went barely going out, hardly speaking with my friends. I had to turn down a few offers to see the local sports championship and I really wanted to go on that ferry. But no more! After this is done, my place in this school will be solidified, I will accomplish great things! Summer, here we go!
Oh- right. This is a test so they won't be allowing me to have this on my person while I'm taking the exam.
Log 0759
"Hey Sweetie. How was class today?"
"Oh, it was real intense."
"Intense."
"Yeah Dad. Today we had midterms."
"So how well do you suppose you did."
"I have no ideal. I'm confidant I did pretty well. Anyways, grades are expected to be posted by tomorrow."
"I see. So you have any plans after this?"
"Oh do I ever. I'm so making it up with Pachiko. Can't forget about Yona or even Takemi either."
"So you're hanging out with them later this weekend?"
"Of course I am! We've got a lot of catching up to do. We're planning on going to the movies, watching that sports game, ya know, what people do to hang out."
"I see. Well, have fun then."
"Thanks dad. You're the best."
The relationship I have with my dad is one I'm certain plenty of girls would be envious of. At times between classes, the stories I hear from my other classmates detailing their family relationships worries me.
"Oh boy. I sure my grades aren't lacking behind."
"Yeah, after seeing what your pops did to you- whew! That is not something I wish to witness again."
Those are just some examples of the conversations I've heard. From what I understand, some people have really demanding parents. In fact, a few of my classmates had to send in absentee notice. It had something to do with failing to adhere to the wishes of their parents. Anyways, it's not something I wish to contemplate my navel on. All I can say is that at least I won't have to worry about receiving a thrashing should my grades be struggling, not that I would actively go out of my way to prove this. Why, the last time my grades weren't doing so super, my mom had considered placing me into tutoring. Thankfully with a bit of cooperation with my middle school's counsellor I was able to come up with a solution and in the end complete all my assignments and turn them in. And here we are now. So what are my grades?
"49th. Well that wasn't surprising."
"152th."
"Again?"
"Yeah- hey uh! It's not my fault."
"Sure it wasn't:
"I had things to attend to, business to take care of."
"And your grades weren't one of them."
"Whatever."
This line is pretty long. I wonder how much longer it will before I get the chance to see my ranking.
"3rd. Ha. I'll try again next year."
"...No, I'm not even going to bother."
"Aw. Don't you want to know what you got?"
"Probably nothing really good."
"Geez. Where's your confidence. Anyways, where's mine? It should be around here somewhere.."
"Is this it?"
"Oh yes. Let's see.. That's a- Yes! Oh my parents are going to be so proud of me!"
The birds chirping amongst the auburn sky feels surreal, a tranquility. Sometimes when I look to the skies, I feel as though I'm free. Free as a bird, no longer shackled to my chains. Chains. I wonder why I thought that. Hmm. Well, in any case it's only a matter of time before-
"Hey Nishi!"
Great. Here she is again.
"It's Aoi."
"Oh, sorry. I'm not use to greeting people by their last name. Ya know, force of habit. I always grew up addressing people by their first."
Yeah, I know.
"You know Nishi? Sometimes I feel as though people are silently judging me. Everyone puts on smile but deep down, i get the impression they're talking behind my back, like I'm some sort of outcast. You don't think I'm going crazy, do you?"
"Of course not. You're doing just fine. People make mistakes, it's okay."
"You're just saying that to be nice."
"Oh don't be silly. I like you."
Yeah right.
"I don't know. Something tells me you're not being honest."
"Hey Hazy. Here's a word of advice. A general way of developing friendships is that you have to develop trust. Well? Do you trust me?"
"I- I gotta think about that one."
"If you can't trust me, then we cannot be friends."
"I- I do! I'm sorry, I just got all flustered all of a sudden. I'm okay now."
"Good."
"So want to hang out after all this is said and done?"
"Whoa- whoa. Too quick. That was way to quick."
"What? Why not?"
"Trust isn't something you can develop instantly. You have to nurture it over time."
"Aw. I'll try again. Anyways, nice talking to you, I hope you have a pleasant rest of the evening."
"You too. I hope to speak with you soon."
Just get lost already. You're making me look like some social pariah.
"The pleasure's all mine, Nishi."
Finally. She's finally gone. God, how embarrassing. It's only been a few weeks and this American girl still hasn't gotten a hold of our customs. Did she even study our culture before traveling over here? Well. at least she did learn a bit of Japanese through a foreign languages teacher but she still struggles quite a lot. Ha. I wouldn't be surprise if her grades were amongst the lowest of the-
"23rd! I knew it! I just knew it!"
What. The. Ever living fuck. How did she of all people end up in 23rd place? She must've cheated or paid someone to adjust her grades. There's no way Haisley should even be that high up. Well, whatever. Her day will come. The line's finally moved up to the point where I can finally see my grades, my rankings. Ya know? This is a first for me. Typically grades are sent as copy to us and then to our parents. My guest is that after numerous reports concerning tensions between parents and children, some schools have become reluctant to send a copy of their student's grades back home with them, instead opting for some parent teacher conferences to address any issues. Still, it is a peculiarity that Yabaize's school rankings takes place in its courtyard. Whatever. I came here for one thing and now it's time to let the cat out of the bag. Or is that how the saying goes?
Nishi Aoi
Chemistry … 79%
Calculus … 74%
Mechanical Engineering … 83%
P.E … 97%
Japan History … 82%
World History … 75%
Literature … 61%
Stock Trading … 94%
Ranking … 33th