As the anticipation of midterm exams loomed just three days ahead, the atmosphere in the school was thick with a mix of anxiety and determination. Students were scattered throughout the hallways and classrooms, clutching textbooks, scribbling notes, and occasionally glancing at the clock, hoping for more time to prepare. Among them, Sakuno was deeply engrossed in her math studies, her brow furrowed in concentration as she wrestled with complex equations.
Sitting beside her was Ryoma, his golden eyes fixed on her notebook. "Ryoma-kun, why do you keep staring at my notes? I can't focus!" Sakuno exclaimed, breaking the silence that had settled between them.
"I don't have anything else to do," he replied nonchalantly, though his attention remained locked on the pages filled with Sakuno's neat handwriting.
"Then why aren't you studying too?" she shot back.
"I'm tired. I can't study all the time," Ryoma retorted, a hint of defiance in his voice.
"That may be fine for you," Sakuno said, narrowing her eyes, "but you always manage to score 95 and above on quizzes without even trying!"
Ryoma shrugged. "I study at home."
Sakuno's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Really? I remember when you weren't that interested in studying back in junior high."
"There are requirements to maintain good grades if I want to continue playing tennis in the US," he explained with a slight smirk.
Sakuno giggled, shaking her head. "You'd do anything for tennis, huh?"
"I guess so," he admitted, a hint of pride edging into his tone.
Sakuno sighed, glancing at her watch. "I'll be home late today. I'm heading to Tomoka's house to study," she informed him.
"Okay," Ryoma replied.
The school day wrapped up, and they parted ways. When Ryoma returned home, Sumire greeted him. "Your granddaughter will be home late today," he informed her.
"Yeah, she chatted me earlier," Sumire replied, folding laundry.
After changing into comfortable clothes, Ryoma headed downstairs for dinner. As he made his way to the table, he glanced at Sakuno's darkened room, a slight feeling of unease settling in his chest. He ate alone since Sumire was waiting for Sakuno to return.
"Is she not home yet?" Ryoma asked, concerned.
"Not yet, but she should be back soon," Sumire replied as she continued to watch the news. Ryoma shifted uncomfortably as the program reported incidents of a pervert targeting girls nearby. He hastily finished his meal, washed the dishes, and decided to grab his tennis racket and a ball.
"I'm going out," he said to Sumire.
"Out? This late?" she questioned.
"Yeah, just need to pick something up from the convenience store."
Racket in hand, Ryoma wandered the streets, bouncing the ball off the ground, lost in thought about where Sakuno might be. At the convenience store, he ended up buying various flavors of Papico ice cream before exiting, glancing around restlessly.
"What am I even doing?" he muttered to himself, pulling his phone from his pocket. He hesitated to call Horio, knowing his loud personality would only lead to more chaos, so he opted for Kachiro instead.
"Kachiro, do you know where Osakada's house is?" Ryoma asked.
Kachiro didn't question it; he simply sent the location. "Thanks," Ryoma said before setting off toward it.
The path was dimly lit, and as he walked, he heard a soft voice call out, "Ryoma-kun?" He turned to see Sakuno approaching.
"Ryuzaki..." he stammered, caught off guard.
"What are you doing here?" Sakuno asked.
"I... was just walking," he replied shyly.
Then Sakuno noticed the plastic bag in his hand. "Did you go to the convenience store?"
"Yeah," Ryoma admitted, scratching his head. "Just got some ice cream. Want some?"
Sakuno's eyes lit up, and she nodded with a smile, causing Ryoma's ears to tint slightly red. They found a nearby playground, sitting on the swings to enjoy their grape-flavored Papico.
"Why are you back so late?" he asked.
"I lost track of time talking with Tomoka," Sakuno chuckled awkwardly.
"Didn't you go there to study?" Ryoma asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I did!" she said defensively, but her smile betrayed her.
"It's dark and dangerous out here…" he cautioned.
"I know! Tomo-chan offered to walk me halfway home, but I thought I could just run since our houses are close," she explained.
Ryoma fell silent, digesting this as Sakuno began to swing slowly. "You know, when I saw you, I felt safe… I was happy. So thank you for being here." The words slipped out, and a blush crept across her cheeks.
His heart raced suddenly, and he couldn't help but blush in response. "Yeah…," he managed to say.
Finishing their ice cream, Sakuno suddenly jumped up. "Let's race, Ryoma-kun!" she declared excitedly.
"Race? What?" he replied, confusion etched on his face.
"Let's race to the houses!" she grinned, invitingly.
Ryoma's eyes widened, his heart skipping a beat at the prospect. "You're going to regret this," he called back as he took off after her.
Sakuno laughed, the sound echoing sweetly in the night air. She pushed herself harder as Ryoma closed in, a burst of competitive spirit igniting within her.
As he overtook her, she squealed playfully, "It's not fair! You have more stamina!"
"Mada mada dane, Ryuzaki," he teased with a smile.
Sakuno stopped abruptly, her eyes widening at his playful challenge. A blush spread across her cheeks, and her heart raced. 'I really like him,' she thought.
"What's wrong?" Ryoma called back, momentarily pausing.
"Nothing!" she exclaimed, shaking her head before sprinting again. 'It's okay if we stay like this. It makes me happy already.' With her thoughts dancing in the air, they raced together under the stars, sharing the warmth of companionship amidst the thrill of the chase.
As the midterm exam approached, a palpable tension filled the classroom. Students shuffled nervously, glancing at each other, their expressions a mix of anxiety and determination. When the bell rang, signaling the start of the exam, they took their seats, faces serious as they confronted the question paper before them. The teacher paced slowly around the room, observing the concentrated faces, jotting down notes in her clipboard.
After three grueling days of tests, the final paper was handed in, and an air of relief washed over the classroom. Students exchanged glances, smiles beginning to break through the stress of the week. Once the papers were graded, the teacher called the students up one by one, the atmosphere buzzing with anticipation.
Sakuno beamed as she received her marks—every single one above 80. It was a personal victory that made all her late-night studying worthwhile. Across the room, Tomoka watched her friend with a grin plastered on her face, relieved to see that her hard work had paid off as well.
Meanwhile, Ryoma sat quietly, his usual air of confidence intact. He glanced at his scores, which once again soared above 95, solidifying his position as the top student in their third year. Just then, Heisuke approached, a spring in his step as he showed off his results with a wide smile. "Look at this! I've improved!" he exclaimed, pride radiating from him.
Sakuno clapped her hands together, her eyes sparkling. "Congratulations, Ookami-kun! That's amazing!" she exclaimed, her genuine excitement lifting the mood even further. Heisuke, encouraged by her enthusiasm, grinned back, while Ryoma merely smirked, his usual cool demeanor intact.
Tomoka broke the momentary silence, her eyes shining with anticipation. "I can't believe the school trip is next week! I'm so excited!"
The mention of the trip ignited chatter among the classmates, their worries about exams fading away. Plans were discussed, laughter filled the air, and for a brief moment, all any of them could think about was the adventure that awaited them, leaving the stress of midterms behind.