Chapter 65: 1st semester midterm exams(3)

The exams were over for the day, and it was lunchtime. While most students were heading home or staying for afternoon self-study, I just wanted to go home and sleep. I felt unusually tired.

As Aya, Mizuki, and I were walking to the cafeteria, I spotted Fujimoto eating lunch alone, his expression… stormy. ‘…Did he do badly on the exams?’ He was usually aloof, but today, he seemed particularly agitated. I made a mental note to avoid him. I didn’t need any extra drama.

“So, what are we having today?” Mizuki asked cheerfully, scanning the menu. I also looked at the vast selection, my mind blank. ‘What should I eat…?’ It was always a difficult decision.

Curry?

Omurice?

Or maybe a tonkatsu set, since the exams were over?

Nothing appealed to me. ‘What’s wrong with me? I can’t decide…’ Was I just tired? Or was my brain still fried from the exams?

“Rina, if you don’t hurry, we won’t get a table,” Aya said quietly, and I quickly picked something simple.

Our usual table by the window was taken, so we found a quieter spot and started eating, making small talk, avoiding any mention of the exams.

“So, Aya-ring, Rina-ring, should we stay and study this afternoon?” Mizuki asked.

I paused, my chopsticks hovering over my food. Aya also considered the question. “Should I stay too?”

I thought about it. I really wanted to go home and rest. I felt a chill despite the warm weather, and my body ached with exhaustion. Studying now would be pointless.

“No, I think I’ll go home. I’m really tired…”

Mizuki glanced at me, concern in her eyes. “Rina-ring, are you feeling sick?”

I forced a smile and shook my head. “Just tired.”

Aya looked at me, her gaze soft, then nodded slowly. “Okay. Get some rest.”

****

After a quick lunch, I returned to the classroom, gathered my things, and headed home, relieved to finally be free. But as soon as I stepped outside, the temperature seemed to plummet.

‘…It’s suddenly so cold…’ I shivered, my hands and feet icy, my shoulders slumping with exhaustion. The unexpected chill was unsettling. ‘…Don’t tell me I’m terminally ill or something…?!’ It was probably just my imagination, but I needed to rest.

I walked home slowly, noticing a number of students also heading home or getting into cram school vans.

****

Back at home, I kicked off my shoes and dropped my bag onto the floor, my body aching with exhaustion, and then…

“Ah…” A sharp cramp doubled me over. I realized what was happening. The herbal medicine my mother had given me this morning, and my overall weakened state…

‘…Of all times, during exams…’ My luck was… well. At least this wasn’t my first time experiencing this as Kurosawa Rina, so I knew what to do. If I hadn’t, I would have been curled up in a ball, crying for my mother. If this had happened during my first month here, when my past life memories were dominant, I would have panicked.

But it still felt strange, unfamiliar. This wasn’t something I’d experienced in my past life. I heated some water in the kettle, drank it slowly, then went to the bathroom. I felt a little better, but my overall condition was still… not great. ‘I should just rest… but I can’t, not with exams…’

I lay down on my bed and opened my phone, a message from Aya waiting for me.

Aya: Are you okay?
Rina: Yeah…
Rina: Sorry for making you worry.

I put my phone down, wondering if I should tell her the truth. But… how?

How did girls talk about this? Searching through Kurosawa Rina’s memories, I realized she’d never discussed this with anyone in middle school. ‘Better to just… avoid the topic…?’ But with Aya… my girlfriend… what was I supposed to do? Being too direct felt weird, but being vague felt… awkward. I couldn’t bring myself to reply, so I just buried my face in my pillow.

But I had to study. I rolled over and started reviewing the subjects for tomorrow’s exams.

English. This one seemed relatively easy. The practice questions were easier than I’d expected, the grammar basic, the vocabulary familiar.

Chemistry. I’d been worried about this one, but it was just introductory level, so it shouldn’t be too bad. I’d just review a few calculations and key concepts.

Geography. This was the problem. Japanese geography. I’d have to focus on understanding the concepts, not just memorizing facts, which was surprisingly difficult.

‘Still, better than the first day.’ The initial exam jitters had subsided, and I was getting used to the format. Thankfully, studying wasn’t making me overthink things. I sat at my desk for a while, then gave up and returned to bed, my body too heavy to sit upright for long.

‘I should be drinking lots of warm water…’ I thought, but I couldn’t fill my stomach with just water. It helped temporarily, but the discomfort always returned. I considered replying to Aya, but eventually, I just gave up and pulled the covers over me, hoping I’d feel better tomorrow.

****

The next morning. I woke up feeling… worse.

‘…Ugh, I feel even weaker…’ My head throbbed, my body ached with exhaustion. My condition had worsened. At this rate, I would fail the exams.

This had never happened in my past life… and now, this. Of all times, during exams. My luck was…

I dragged myself out of bed and into the kitchen, where my mother was making tea. She sighed, looking at me. “Rina, you’ve looked unwell since yesterday. Exams today, right?”

“Yeah…”

She pulled something from a drawer and poured it into a small teacup, handing it to me. “Drink this.”

“…” I hesitated, then nodded, accepting the cup. I’d been surprised yesterday, but now, I was too tired to care. I took a sip.

Ugh, bitter. So bitter. I forced myself to swallow. “Haa…” I set down the empty cup, and my mother gently stroked my hair.

“Don’t push yourself. Come straight home and rest after your exams.”

“Okay… thank you.”

I grabbed my bag and headed to school, the walk feeling longer than usual, my steps slow and heavy.

I’d told Aya and Mizuki I wouldn’t be meeting them this morning. As I arrived at the classroom, my classmates were discussing yesterday’s exam, their voices a familiar buzz.

“What was the answer to question 3 on the math exam?”

“I got root 3.”

“No way, it’s root 5!”

‘What was the answer to question 3…?’ Normally, I’d join their discussion, but today, I was too tired to care. I just sat down quietly at my desk, a strange sensation creeping over me, a sense of… time slipping away. From the moment I’d left the house, to arriving at school, to sitting here at my desk…

‘…This is weird. Why is time moving so fast?’ Was I just… out of it? Or was it because I wasn’t feeling well?

Aya was already at her desk, her gaze fixed on me, her blue eyes filled with a quiet intensity.

‘…Aya, why are you looking at me like that?’ It wasn’t just concern; it was something… deeper, more thoughtful. I looked away, trying to appear nonchalant, but I could still feel her gaze on me. It was unsettling. ‘…I have to… take these exams…’ I took a deep breath, trying to focus.

I had to get through this.