Just as the bell rang, students went back to their seats in class 3 of second year of Ao Umi High. Silence fell over the class, which was loud and cheerful a minute ago. The teacher should have been here by now, but her absence was only increasing the anxiety of the class.
Today, the reviewed Maths papers were going to be returned and everyone was on their toes. Some students started tapping their feet, while many looked in every direction, searching for an exit from this reality. But why was there so much tension in the air? Why was everyone so anxious? Since Ao Umi wasn't a prep school, the exam papers here, were quite lenient. But apparently, the students were even more lenient with their studies.
The door slid open with a bang and the teacher walked to the board with an annoyed expression.
"As your Maths teacher and your homeroom teacher, I am not quite satisfied or rather, I am disappointed with these results." Ms. Tsukihi announced in a brusque manner.
"What about the greetings?"
"Shut your mouth."
Some whispers could be heard coming from the back of the class, but Ms. Tsukihi ignored them. She took a good look at the class and saw a few empty seats.
"Why are there so many empty seats today?" she sighed. "Okay, I am going to take the attendance. Urgh! Who was first again?"
A voice came from the far end of the hallway, heading towards Class 3. The doors opened hurriedly, and some students came into view.
"Welcome! Mr. Aoki, Ms. Hina, Ms. Akari, Mr. Ren and who is the one behind? I can't see you, oh... Ms. Mio," Ms. Tsukihi observed with a strained smile. "Fancy seeing you guys here! Didn't the school inform you that your papers would be hand-delivered to your houses? Why would you go out of your way to come here? Well, since you've already arrived, please enter and grace us with your presence."
"Sorry, Ma'am!" the five of them bowed their heads.
"Just come in and sit. We're late as it is." She growled, exasperated.
"Then you should have come on time to begin with." The whole class shared the thought.
As everyone was seated, Ms. Tsukihi started the roll call. After that, the sheets were handed down to the students one by one.
"Ren, come to the front."
"Here goes the scholar."
"Are you expecting a perfect score again?"
"I wouldn't be surprised if he got few less marks. The paper sucked."
Many voices were raised in class. Some in suspicion and some in approval.
Ren took his paper, which was kept upside down on the table. He didn't even look at it, turned around, and showed his paper to the class with a winning smile.
"Whoa! A perfect score again."
"This guy definitely has some dirt on the school."
"Well, the same scene happened yesterday and the day before too. It'll be interesting if the score changes."
While listening to everyone's praise(?), Ren returned and sat on his bench. The students continued taking their papers, and now it was Akio's turn. He walked up to the front of the class hesitantly and took the paper which was turned upside down. He didn't look at it, and just walked back to his seat.
He sat on the chair and put the paper on the desk upside down. He was getting anxious and was wondering whether he should turn it or throw it in Schrodinger's box. A little drop of sweat started to roll down his forehead as he kept staring and thinking. He knew he couldn't escape this fate but his heart wasn't ready to accept the loss. With trembling hands he took the paper by a corner and turned it in a swift motion.
62/100. Relief washed over him as he saw his score. Waves of dopamine hit his nerves bringing joy and happiness. He sat there, smiling. His hands were trembling. Ever since he gave the Maths Paper, its worries had haunted him every single day. But now it has been exorcised.
"Okay! 62. Well, isn't it great? You managed to pass the exam, after all." Ren observed with a peaceful smile while he was mentally noting the questions his student had answered incorrectly.
"Yes. Thank you, Ren. I owe it to you and Hina." Akio expressed his gratitude with a beaming smile.
"How did it go, Akio?" Hina came to his side with a concerned voice. Akio turned to her with a smile and showed his paper. Hina's eyes widened in joy.
"Congratulations! Akio. From 43 in the last mock test to 62 is a great improvement. I knew your hard work would pay off."
Akio's face was flustered. "Thank you, Hina. It's all thanks to you. Your teaching really helped me."
"I am happy to be of help," Hina beamed with a smile.
By now, all the papers were passed down to the students, and the teacher started explaining the hard questions. The class fell silent and everyone went back to their studies.
✵✵✵
The classes for the day were over, and Ms. Tsukihi had left the class. Everyone was now going around in the class, chattering with their friends. The topic at the heart of all the conversations was the Maths test scores.
After packing and checking her belongings, Hina walked to the back of the class where Akari, Ren, and Mio were standing by Akio's desk.
"You say that, but you got only 6 more marks," Akio argued as he pushed his books into the bag.
Akari laughed loudly. "You are a sore loser."
"What are you guys doing?" Hina asked as she went and stood beside Akari.
"Oh, you are here, Hina. Tell us, what is the second ranker's score?" Akari looked at her in anticipation.
"Umm... You go first." Hina replied flusteredly.
"Here you go." Akari swung her paper in front of Hina.
"Oh, 68. You have improved since the last test, haven't you? Congrats, Akari!" Hina looked at Akari, who had a victorious smile on her face.
"Thank you, Hina. And to answer to your question earlier, I was making my position clear with Akio who has got far less marks than I do." Akari's voice dripped in smugness.
"It's only 6 marks!" Akio argued as he stood up.
"By your logic Akari, I stand quite above you." Ren said with a smirk.
"Bullying a cute girl right at the start of the day; you stand quite below me as a human." The knight took her stance.
Hina noticed Mio, standing at Akari's left, turning into a ripe tomato.
"Who's this cute girl you are talking about?" Kiyoshi jumped into the conversation.
Akari shifted to her left a little as she stared at Kiyoshi coldly. "You wanna know."
"Uhh... err... Nevermind. How much did you score, Ren?" Kiyoshi asked in a hurry.
"Huh?" Everyone stared at him blankly.
"Akio! I was asking Akio." Kiyoshi continued as he got his calm again. He grew too calm. "Did you pass?"
"Of course, I did. And tell me your marks first," Akio barked.
Kiyoshi showed his paper to the group with a smug face. "I know I didn't do well, but my score would still be higher than yours. By a good margin."
Everyone kept staring at the paper for two whole seconds, then burst into laughter.
"Haha....I have... got mor..... Hahaha." Akio tried to speak between his laughing.
"We have got a large margin here, definitely!" Ren snickered.
"Yes. It is large." Akari chuckled.
"The 'School Prince' has the lowest marks in the group," Mio snorted.
"It's okay, Kiyoshi. Someone had to come last." Hina tried to be nice but failed.
"Why are you guys laug—"
Akio put his paper on the table.
"Seriously?" Kiyoshi chuckled in surprise and defeat.
In contrast with the atmosphere of the class, Akio and the others were laughing loudly.
Everyone in the class was staring at them. Some eyes looked annoyed, while many were filled with anger. Akio and the others took their bags and left the room.
"Enough, guys! You have laughed enough!" A loud voice came from the hallway.
The last paper review was done today. And in 2 days, the Closing Ceremony would be held, followed by the long awaited Summer Vacation. The anticipation of the students was rising, and each day felt longer and longer. Some were chirpy and danced around, while some were defeated by fate, and opened their books again. But whether it was two days or eight, everyone looked forward to the Summer Vacation.
Final Maths scores of the Main Cast (with Ranking) :
1. Ren - 100 marks
2. Hina - 98 marks
3. Mio - 76 marks
4. Akari - 68 marks
5. Akio - 62 marks
6. Kiyoshi - 61 marks
❈❈❈