Chapter 86: Preparing for final exams

A week before finals. The atmosphere in the academy was tense, the upcoming exams weighing heavily on everyone. Students hurried home for self-study, or remained in the library, classrooms, or club rooms, poring over their books. Finals were always more stressful than midterms, especially for first-years, the initial casual approach to midterms replaced by a frantic scramble for good grades after the public posting of rankings and scores.

We—the Trinity—headed towards the student council room, our usual study spot. Even Mizuki and Aya seemed on edge, the pressure of the upcoming exams palpable. Mizuki, in particular, had been unusually quiet lately, her playful banter replaced by a quiet introspection.

And then there was me… My body felt unusually heavy today.

‘…Not now…’ It had been over a month since my last period, and I’d been worried it might coincide with the exams again. Thankfully, it had arrived a week early. The familiar dull ache, the heavy, sluggish feeling… I’d never get used to this.

‘Ugh…’ My steps slowed, and Aya, noticing this, gently took my hand.

“Rina.”

“Mmm…” I obediently offered my hand, like a well-trained puppy, and she held it, her warmth a comforting contrast to my own cold fingers. The gentle pressure of her hand against mine seemed to ease the ache slightly.

Aya… she was an angel.

“Rina, shouldn’t you be resting at home?”

“…Finals are next week…” I mumbled, my shoulders slumping as I unconsciously rubbed my abdomen with my free hand. Aya sighed.

“The infirmary is closed after school. If you collapse again, you’ll have to go to the hospital.”

“I’ll be fine! It’s not that bad! I can handle this!” I tried to sound cheerful, but I couldn’t hide the pallor of my face.

Mizuki, walking a step behind us, smiled faintly. Lately, she’d been more… reserved, her usual playful energy replaced by a quiet intensity, almost… sharp. I’d seen glimpses of this side of her during the festival… While she wasn’t angry with us, I hoped she’d cheer up soon.

We reached the student council room. It was eerily quiet. I’d expected to find at least a few of the upperclassmen here, even if it was exam season and student council duties were minimal. I hesitated at the door, and Aya reached for the doorknob.

‘Was someone here… just now…?’ I had a strange feeling…

“No one’s here,” Aya said, opening the door, and as Mizuki stepped inside, glancing around, we heard muffled voices coming from the meeting room inside. We froze. “…?”

It was a hushed conversation, a man and a woman… and then… the unmistakable sound of a kiss. Not just a peck… but something… more.

Aya and I exchanged a look, our faces burning, and Mizuki covered her mouth with her hand, her eyes wide. “Oops… I think we interrupted something…”

“E-Excuse us…!” I quickly reached for the door, but a familiar voice called out from inside.

“Kurosawa? Is that you…? And Yukikawa…?”

It was Hiiragi Haruto, the Black-Haired Prince.

‘What’s going on…?’

“Yes, Vice President. We’re sorry. We came to study… we didn’t mean to interrupt,” Aya said calmly.

“No, it’s fine. We were just leaving. We should be the ones apologizing,” Hiiragi-senpai’s voice replied, and then, Tachibana Kaho emerged from the meeting room, her expression as calm and impassive as ever as she walked past us. But her slightly disheveled appearance, the stray strands of hair escaping her usually neat bun, her flushed cheeks… it was a scene that sent a jolt of… something… through me, through all of us.

“…Good luck on your exams,” she said curtly, then disappeared down the hallway. Hiiragi-senpai followed, a slightly awkward smile on his face. “It wasn’t anything important, so don’t worry about it.”

“O-Okay…” I couldn’t think of anything else to say. He bowed his head slightly and left.

Silence descended upon the student council room, the three of us left alone. Mizuki broke the heavy silence. “Did we… just walk in on… something…?”

“…I think so…” Aya and I nodded awkwardly. “Hiiragi-senpai and Tachibana-senpai…”

“Mizuki, shush…” I quickly hissed, placing my finger on my lips, and she nodded, her eyes wide. If they’d been this careless… it probably wasn’t the first time…

The thought of them, constantly bickering and almost hostile towards each other in the novel, being a couple… it was strange.

****

The student council room, after the brief interruption, returned to its usual quiet stillness. We sat at our desks, spreading out our textbooks and workbooks. I tried to focus, but… my body ached, a dull throb in my abdomen making it difficult to concentrate.

‘…Ugh…’ I unconsciously rubbed my stomach, trying to ease the discomfort. Aya, noticing my pained expression, whispered,

“Rina… is it getting worse?”

“No, I’m fine… I can… manage…”

She reached into her bag and pulled out… a mini hot pack. A hot pack in the summer? It was surprising, but Aya always seemed to be prepared for anything.

“Here. This should help.”

“Thank you, Aya…” I clutched the small pack, the warmth spreading through my body, a comforting sensation that eased the ache slightly, allowing me to focus on my textbook.

But as the afternoon wore on, and the temperature in the room dropped, the throbbing in my abdomen intensified. I glanced out the window; the sun was beginning to set, the light in the student council room fading. Mizuki stretched, yawning dramatically.

“Ugh~ it’s getting dark. Should we call it a day and get some dinner?”

We looked up at her words, and Mizuki, seeing my pale face, her brow furrowed with concern. “Rina-tan, are you sure you’re okay? Do you want to go straight home?”

“I’m… I’m fine. Maybe some food would help…” I forced a smile, and Mizuki chuckled wryly. Aya closed her book and stood up, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder.

“What do you want to eat?”

“Hmm~ how about that pasta place Aya-ring likes?”

“What about you, Rina?”

“Sure, sounds good.”

“Okay~ let’s pack up~!” Mizuki gathered her things, and Aya and I slowly followed suit.

****

As we left the student council room, the setting sun cast a warm, orange glow over the academy. The cool evening air was a welcome relief. I felt self-conscious about my discomfort. Both Aya and Mizuki seemed to be handling their… monthly issues… with much more grace and composure. I rubbed my stomach; the dull ache persisted. How were they so good at hiding it?

Aya, noticing my subtle movements, looked at me with concern. “Rina, are you sure you’re okay? Don’t push yourself.”

“I’m… I’m fine. Really…”

She quietly took my hand, and I intertwined my fingers with hers, the warmth of her touch, the reassuring weight of the promise ring, a small comfort. Mizuki, observing us, smiled mischievously. “Aya-ring, you’re paying extra attention to Rina-tan lately~”.

“…Do you want to hold my hand too, Mizuki?”, Aya replied and Mizuki scoffed.

“That’s not what I meant~! Aya-ring, you’re so serious!” Her tone was playful, but there was a sharpness to it, a hint of the tension I’d noticed lately, probably stemming from the ongoing issues with her family.

“Let’s go! Dinner’s on me tonight~!”

“Yay~! Thanks, Mizuki.”

I pulled out my phone and texted my mother.

Rina: Mom, I’ll be having dinner with my friends.
Mom: Okay, be careful. The same friends as last time?
Rina: Yeah.

My mother, a child of the late 80s, was surprisingly tech-savvy, secretly following the school’s Twitter account, and even the Trinity fan page. She pretended not to know, but… she knew everything.

‘Not the “same friends,” Mom… it’s the Trinity…’ I chuckled, shaking my head at her playful deception.

I felt a little better, the sharp cramps easing slightly. I walked alongside Aya and Mizuki, the warm glow of the setting sun casting long shadows behind us as we left the familiar grounds of Takamari Academy and headed towards Shirasaki Street, entering a small pasta restaurant, a cozy, unpretentious place Aya seemed to like.