Chapter 117: Exams

“Masashi, here’s your tea.” Mafang Junko placed a cup of tea in front of him.

“Thank you.”

Watching the kendo club members practicing diligently in the dojo, Junko said earnestly, “Since you started helping our kendo club a little over a month ago, our members have improved so quickly. On behalf of the entire club, I want to thank you.”

“You’re too kind. Honestly, I didn’t teach them much—just corrected some of their mistakes. If they weren’t open to learning, there wouldn’t have been much I could do,” Lei Yin replied before taking a sip of tea.

“Masashi, with your skill, you could achieve amazing results even in the national championships. Have you really never considered officially joining the kendo club?” the club manager asked.

“Did Instructor Omura ask you to persuade me?” Lei Yin smiled as he looked at her.

“Instructor Omura did mention it, but this is also my personal wish. I really hope you’ll join us,” Junko said, gazing at him earnestly.

Seeing the passionate look in her eyes—one that could make most young men’s hearts race—Lei Yin silently cursed. That pig Omura, resorting to such a cliched trick like using a beauty to lure me? How shameless.

“Sorry, I’m usually busy and don’t have much time for club activities. Rumi, let’s spar,” Lei Yin said, standing up and calling to Rumi in the dojo.

“Yes, senpai!” Rumi immediately responded.

It was rare for Lei Yin to initiate a sparring match. Everyone quickly stopped what they were doing, cleared the area, and gathered around to watch the bout intently.

Looks like he figured it out, Junko thought with a resigned smile. She had already told Instructor Omura that this tactic wouldn’t work on him. If her boyfriend found out about this, it would definitely cause an argument.

Still, he’s such an odd one. He genuinely doesn’t seem to care about fame. What a waste of his incredible kendo skills.

Despite her thoughts, Junko joined the others in watching the sparring match.

***

“Finally, some peace and quiet again,” Rumi said with an exaggerated stretch as they left the kendo club.

“What’s wrong, kid? Still upset about the selection tournament?” Lei Yin glanced at her.

“Not at all. We tried our best, so we don’t have any regrets.” Although she said that, her eyes reddened slightly.

Lei Yin had only brought it up casually, not expecting the topic to affect her so deeply.

After a moment of silence, he said, “If you want to cry, just let it out.”

Seeing the warmth in his eyes, Rumi couldn’t hold back anymore. She rushed into his arms and started sobbing.

“Senpai, you’re so mean. I was already trying so hard not to think about it, but you had to bring it up again. I’m so frustrated—I really am. We were only two points away. We worked so hard, but in the end, we still lost. If that person had been there, we definitely would have won. Even the third-year members, who are busy preparing for college entrance exams, took the time to train for this competition. We truly gave it everything we had. We really did, senpai,” the kendo girl cried.

Lei Yin remained silent, letting her vent. Once she had calmed down, he finally said, “This might sound like a cliché, but if you truly gave it your all, then there’s nothing to regret. Sometimes, it’s not just about winning the competition.”

The girl looked up at him with her tear-streaked face, staring dazedly for a moment before leaning her head back against his chest.

“Senpai.”

“Yes?”

“Can I ask you for a selfish favor?”

“Let’s hear it.” He was curious about what a gentle and obedient girl like her would request.

“Can you carry me home on your back?”

“Are you feeling unwell?” Lei Yin asked, puzzled.

“No, it’s not that. I just… I just want you to carry me, like you did that time I got hurt during the kendo tournament. Please, senpai,” she said, her face flushing red.

Looking at her tear-stained yet earnest face, Lei Yin chuckled softly and nodded.

The kendo girl immediately broke into a radiant smile, her tear-streaked yet delicate face blooming with a charm as moving as a rain-kissed pear blossom.

“Senpai,” the girl resting on the boy’s back whispered softly.

“What is it?”

“I’m so glad to have you by my side,” she murmured after a moment.

“Kazumi’s already prepared dinner at home and is waiting for you. If anything ever bothers you, make sure you talk about it, alright?”

“I will.”

Resting her head on his shoulder and gazing at his gentle, albeit not conventionally handsome profile, Rumi’s face lit up with a deeply contented smile.

***

“Senpai, you’re amazing!” On the rooftop, Rumi was still excitedly going on and on.

“Amazing? I lost. Steam me, boil me, do as you please,” Lei Yin said with a wry smile.

“How is that losing? You shot up to the top 20 in one go! Seriously, I don’t know how you did it. You barely study, skip classes almost every day, and yet you scored better than me! It’s just not fair,” the kendo girl pouted.

“It’s skill. But still, a deal’s a deal. Our bet was that if I didn’t make the top 10, I’d lose. So, Boss Rumi, from now on I’m your loyal underling. Whatever you need, just give the order.” Lei Yin dramatically clasped her hand in mock submission.

“Ugh, senpai, stop joking around!” Rumi protested, blushing furiously but making no move to withdraw her hand.

“Hey, you two, quit playing around and eat already,” Kazumi called from the side.

Lei Yin and the kendo girl exchanged a smile and obediently began eating.

As Kazumi watched her brother quietly eating his meal, she couldn’t help but think about the results announced today.

He had done it. Though he didn’t break into the school’s top 10, he had leapt into the top 20—a feat that left many students and teachers stunned.

She’d gone through his exam papers. Most of his scores were exceptionally high, with subjects like math and physics even earning perfect marks. But strangely, his history exam was missing. When she asked him why, he only said it had been “lost.”

After some calculations, she realized that all his other scores combined were just 30 points shy of his total. This meant he had barely scraped by in history with the minimum passing grade. Why was it that only this subject had such a dismal score?

In truth, Lei Yin himself was annoyed. With over a thousand years of accumulated knowledge, high school exams were nothing but a joke to him. That’s why he’d confidently made the bet with Rumi.

But as it turned out, things didn’t go as planned. Most subjects were fine, but when he got to the history paper, he simply couldn’t bring himself to write anything.

Some of the questions were outright infuriating, especially one that read:

“Japan and China have historically fought wars roughly every 100 years. In the 19th century, there was the Sino-Japanese War (known as the First Sino-Japanese War in China), and in the 20th century, the Second Sino-Japanese War. If Japan and China were to go to war in the 21st century, when do you think it might happen? What might the long-term and short-term causes be? If Japan wins, what would contribute to its victory? If it loses, what factors might lead to its defeat? Analyze and discuss.”

What utter nonsense!

Lei Yin couldn’t be bothered to write a lengthy rebuttal. Instead, he used an artistic skill acquired during one of his past reincarnations to draw an enormous, vividly detailed, and lifelike middle finger on the exam paper.

In Japanese high schools, a passing grade in each subject requires only 30 points. However, failing even one subject among the dozen or so offered could result in being held back a year. Lei Yin wasn’t reckless enough to ignore the consequences entirely. So, after submitting his paper, he immediately wrote a heartfelt and “sincerely moving” letter addressed to the principal. It was so “touching” that it could make the principal break out in a cold sweat. He left it on the principal’s desk.

Sure enough, the letter “moved” the principal. Despite the history teacher’s vehement objections, the principal resolutely allowed Gennai Masashi, this “once-in-a-century gifted student,” to pass his history exam.

Though Lei Yin wasn’t thrilled with just barely passing, he didn’t care enough to pursue the matter further. After all, with Rumi’s straightforward personality, she wasn’t likely to treat him like an actual subordinate just because of their silly bet.

“Kazumi, exams are finally over. Summer break is just a few days away. How are you planning to spend it?” Rumi asked halfway through their meal.

“I’m planning to enroll in a summer tutoring program,” Kazumi replied.

“What? You’re already ranked first in the entire school! Why do you need to take extra classes?” Rumi asked, bewildered.

“The advancement rate for public high schools is low, and the exams here are too easy. Being first here means nothing. If I don’t prepare now, it’ll be tough to get into a top-tier university during the national entrance exams,” Kazumi explained calmly.

“You’re amazing, Kazumi! You’ve already thought this through,” Rumi exclaimed in admiration.

“Don’t be silly. There are plenty of people who think like me,” Kazumi said with a smile.

“Alright, starting now, I’ll work hard too. I’m determined to attend the same university as you and senpai,” the kendo girl declared with fiery determination.

Seeing her intense expression, as if she were unleashing her inner power, Lei Yin couldn’t help but laugh. She was as pure-hearted as ever.

Summer break? If nothing else came up, he planned to visit Amy in Switzerland. He had decided this when they parted, which was why he had bought a house and car there in advance.

Of course, Naoko would go with him. He couldn’t leave her alone here—it wouldn’t feel right. Alternatively, he could bring Amy to Japan for the summer. She likely hadn’t been here before, so it could double as a vacation.

Rumi would probably love meeting Amy, though the language barrier might lead to some amusing misunderstandings. The thought made Lei Yin smile.

***

“I’m so tired. Finally done with exams,” Aiko said, tossing her bag aside and flopping onto Murashima Mami’s bed without a care for her image.

“Same here. Feels like I just came back from battle,” Kogure Ryouko said weakly.

“How did you two do?” Mami asked, sitting on a chair.

“Don’t even ask. Math and English were brutal. Hopefully that old spinster will show mercy and not deduct too many points,” Kogure groaned.

“And you, Ai? You’re always good at exams. You must’ve done well, right?” Mami asked Aikura Ai, who was sitting nearby.

“I guess it’s okay. I’m not too sure,” Ai replied uncertainly.

“Please, let’s stop talking about exams. Just hearing the word gives me a headache. Let’s think about what to do for summer break instead,” Aiko said, turning her head from the bed.

“What else can we do? I can’t think of anywhere good to go. How about a trip? Isn’t it trendy now to organize small group trips?” Kogure suddenly suggested with enthusiasm.

“Forget it. Just the few of us girls? If something happens, no one will even know. Besides, our parents would never agree. Come on, think of something more realistic,” Mami doused her enthusiasm.

“Then what great idea do you have? Let’s hear it,” Kogure challenged.

“I haven’t thought of anything yet. Summer break hasn’t even started—we’ve got plenty of time to figure it out,” Mami said with a laugh.

“Tch,” Kogure said, unimpressed.

“Everyone, I’m planning to do something very important this summer,” Aiko, who had been silent, suddenly said mysteriously.

“What is it?” Kogure asked, intrigued.

The other two also turned their attention to her.

“I’m going to confess to him,” Aiko declared firmly, her face flushed.

“Go for it, Aiko! I support you,” Kogure cheered immediately.

“Are you sure about this?” After a moment, Mami asked seriously.

“Yes. I can’t wait any longer. I want to tell that dense guy, clearly and honestly, that I want him to be my boyfriend,” Aiko said with a determined light in her eyes.

Moved by her resolve, Mami sat beside her and said, “I’ll support you too.”

“Thank you,” Aiko said, tightly gripping her hand, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

Aikura Ai silently watched the emotional scene, feeling an inexplicable emptiness in her heart.