6 Chapter 6.4: Epilogue: Contrasting Decisions (3)

"......Fuu."

Horikita sighed and slowly looked up at the ceiling of the classroom.

"You look like you've done everything you can."

"I've never considered studying to be a pain, but I studied more than ever before for this exam."

"What score would you give yourself on the math exam?"

"100 points...... at least that's what I want to say. Since there was one particularly unclear question, at the very least I can say that I scored 98 points. There were some questions with a reasonably high degree of difficulty mixed in."

She instantly asserted her self-graded score without any hesitation.

"It's also possible that you made a mistake or omitted an answer. Is there a chance of getting anything lower?"

"None. I'm absolutely confident that I've overcome this exam, at the very least. I think that I managed to get nearly perfect scores in the other three subjects as well."

"That's great..."

"I challenged Kushida-san to this bet on the assumption that she would manage a score of 100 points. I was thorough in my approach in order to not make even the slightest of mistakes. As a result, however, it's just shameful since I might have failed to score the final two points."

Humans make mistakes. It's also possible that she scored below a 98.

This is because the problems that Kaneda created weren't easy ones.

I don't know if even someone like Keisei would manage to score above a 90.

Regardless, It's not possible to say for sure right now.

If she did, in fact, take a perfect score, she would undoubtedly get the top grade in the class.

Despite tutoring many of her classmates, Horikita managed to overcome everything with her own willpower and spirit.

"Suzune, I have something I'd like to report. Do you want to head back together?"

Finished with the exam, Sudō came over with his bag in hand, a little low-spirited.

"Something you want to report? I'm sorry, but could you please say it here?"

"Today's exams... I don't think I reached 40 points in every subject. I'd like to apologize for that. My bad."

It seems that he planned to apologize to Horikita on their way home, but he ended up apologizing here.

"It's not a bad thing. The difficulty of the exam changes every time. Considering what was on today's tests, you've done a good job."

This exam was more difficult than usual, so getting lower scores is inevitable.

"I have some plans, so you can head back with your friends."

"Are you staying too, Ayanokōji? Going home together or something?"

He gave the two of us a look, skeptical about whether or not we were going to do something.

"It has nothing to do with him. I have an appointment with Kushida-san. Is that also a problem?"

"With Kushida? No problem."

Sudō withdrew immediately after he realized that she intended on meeting with another girl.

"I'll head home and study then."

"Yes, but considering tomorrow, please go to bed early."

"I know. Kanji, Haruki, let's go back together."

Sudō offered to head home with them with a calm attitude, nothing like his usual harsh appearance.

You can naturally avoid the risk of failing if you learn to study. And because we can respond to each test separately without panic, a clear mind is born as well.

"By the way, what's your arrangement with Kushida?"

"It's not that important. Both of us should have put forward the effort to keep track of our scores, so I intend to confirm things with her."

There's some free time until the results of the test are announced.

If their self-evaluated scores make it clear enough, the winner of the bet could be decided without the need to wait for the official results.

However, I've already been convinced.

Horikita Suzune has won.

There isn't any need to ask about the results. The outcome is clear just from looking at Kushida's shaken appearance.

Kushida stood up and unsteadily walked out of the classroom.

"I wonder what's wrong with her......"

"She's probably realized that she scored lower than she expected to, right?"

"I hope so. However, he's also pretty whimsical, after all."

"Are you wondering about what's going on with Ryūen?"

"In the event where he gives her the answers, there's a possibility that she'll score perfectly on the exam. In which case, my only options would be to lose or to draw. You and I would also have to voluntarily drop out."

"In that case, do you intend to prostrate yourself to Kushida and beg for forgiveness?"

"Is that sarcasm?"

"What?"

"Nothing."

Horikita ran to catch up with Kushida, and I decided to follow in her footsteps as well.

"Kushida-san."

As Horikita stepped into corridor she called out to Kushida, who slowly stopped walking.

"What, Horikita-san?"

Her face was tired and weary.

"Is right now a good time? There's something I'd like to confirm. There will be people coming and going here, so can we change places?"

"It depends on what you want to talk about, but this location may be an issue."

"Before you make your decision, do note that Ayanokōji-kun will be coming along as well. Since he's been dragged into all of this, you don't mind, right?"

Kushida didn't say anything, but she also didn't refuse.

She checked the time on her cell phone and nodded.

She should have arranged to meet 'somebody' after this.

There were still a lot of students in the school. To be on the safe side, we moved to the special building.

"The thing you want to confirm with me is, of course, our bet on the final exam, right?"

"Yes. Even though the results won't be released until later on, we should have been keeping track of our scores."

"Yeah...... I did."

In this bet, Horikita gambled her future at the school, whereas Kushida gambled a substantial amount of her dignity.

Whatever the form, it is impossible for her to not have kept track of how many points she will get.

"I'm confident that I got at least 98 points. How about you?"

Although it's small, there was anxiety and doubt in Horikita as well.

If Ryūen lends a hand to Kushida, it will have a significant impact on our fate.

Kushida wasn't surprised to hear Horikita's results. No, it's as if she already knew.

"The outcome is clear even if we don't wait for the results."

She muttered, a slight amount of self-mockery in her voice.

"I couldn't have scored better than 80. No, probably not even 80. So... it's your victory, Horikita-san."

"Is that so......"

Since Kushida's score was lower than she expected, Horikita felt a little puzzled.

"I thought you would place higher if you focused on your studies."

"This is just the kind of person I am."

She answered disparagingly, and then sighed.

"Officially, this lasts until after the results are released...... I wonder if it will become my win?"

Since the school announces the results of the exam, there's no room for mistakes.

"That shouldn't be necessary. You won this bet. Are you satisfied, Horikita-san?"

Kushida also understood that even if Horikita made a mistake in her scoring, there wouldn't be an error of nearly 20 points.

"Can I believe it then? That you'll cooperate with me in the future?"

"I'll fulfill my promise. No matter how much I disagree with it. Do you want it in writing?"

"No need. Let's start by trusting each other."

As Horikita spoke, she held out her hand.

She wanted to come to an agreement with a handshake.

Kushida was completely motionless. She stared at Horikita's hand with colorless eyes.

"I hate you, Horikita-san."

"I know. But I think I can work hard to change that."

Horikita received her emotions head-on.

"It seems that I'm beginning to hate you more and more."

Kushida walked past Horikita without so much as an attempt at taking her hand.

Horikita's outstretched hand grasped at the air in vain.

"I won't interfere, but I will never cooperate with you. Don't forget this."

"......Is that so? It's a shame, but it can't be helped. Those are the conditions, after all."

"Don't forget, Horikita-san. The only condition is to refrain from getting in your way."

While her gaze was weak, the dark color of her eyes still latched onto me.

"That's-"

Kushida left without another word, as if she was saying that she didn't want to face Horikita for even one more second.

Out of the frying pan and into the fire. Horikita was no longer her target, but does that mean it's now my turn?

It seems like an argument for argument's sake, but my safety was definitely not included as a term of the bet.

"I should have weighed the stakes of the bet a bit more carefully."

That said, it's likely that nothing will change with this.

I had come to a single conclusion. Kushida won't keep her promise forever.

Because this isn't something that she can easily come to terms with. In order to protect her own existence, Horikita and I are absolutely in the way. For Kushida, we're just foreign substances.

As long as we're still around, Kushida won't be able to embrace a secure future.

The most that I can expect is for this temporary rest to last a second longer.