Remarkable Progress Like a Dark Horse
At that thought, Shizuka Hiratsuka sighed inwardly as she glanced at the single, separate report card. In the name column, two words stood out prominently:
—Izumi Kotomi.
She was thrilled to have such an outstanding student in her class.
But the problem was that Kotomi was far too exceptional. Compared to other brilliant students, Kotomi not only excelled but was like a beacon wrapped in ten loops of RGB lights—utterly impossible to ignore.
Trying not to notice Kotomi? That was like trying to beat a game on "Hell Mode."
The classes at Sobu High School were divided based on overall student performance, though students also had the freedom to choose which class they wanted to join.
For students with excellent grades, Class A and Class B teachers always vied to recruit them, driven by their passion for nurturing talent. This was the dilemma Shizuka now faced. In Class 1-F, she had a student, Kotomi, who far outshone the other bright students—a student so outstanding that Class A teachers would undoubtedly go after her like ravenous wolves eyeing a feast.
Class B and C teachers wouldn't sit idle either. They'd be right behind them, ready to stake their claim as well.
The situation was akin to top-ranking students acing the college entrance exams, with universities scrambling to snatch them up. Sometimes, even school principals would get involved, fighting tooth and nail to secure these top talents—perhaps even throwing chairs or flowerpots in the fray.
Shizuka couldn't deny that she wanted Kotomi to stay in Class 1-F. After all, having such an academic prodigy in her class boosted her own reputation as a teacher.
And there was another reason, though a more embarrassing one.
It was because Kotomi was just so beautiful! Every time Shizuka saw Kotomi sitting in the classroom, she felt elated, like her teaching mood shot through the roof.
Shizuka still couldn't forget the radiant smile Kotomi had flashed at her during the exam.
For the past few days, whenever Shizuka lay down to sleep, images of Kotomi—her every movement, every expression—filled her mind.
There were even moments when Shizuka felt that if she could just overcome her internal "threshold" and reach out, she might actually be able to touch Kotomi—without hesitation, without restraint.
Whenever these impulsive thoughts arose, Shizuka would shake her head vigorously, trying to expel them from her mind, scolding herself for even considering such a thing. She was Kotomi's teacher! This wasn't right!
Ahhh, Shizuka! Are you really so lonely that you're starting to have feelings for your own student? And not just any student, but Kotomi—a female student!
Ever since seeing that smile during the exam, Shizuka had been giving herself mental lectures like this. But, of course, the results were predictable.
Laughable, really—thinking self-reprimand would work when it obviously didn't.
Glancing up, Shizuka saw Kotomi sitting in her seat, her body slightly upright, as if anxiously awaiting her report card, just like the other students.
Even the brightest students get nervous... Shizuka thought to herself as she prepared to distribute the report cards. But just as she was about to begin, she noticed something odd about Kotomi's posture.
That slight forward lean... and the way she was looking at the desk rather than the front of the classroom...
Wait a minute! This brat is secretly using her phone in class again! And she's even using that trick I taught her! How is she so quick to learn things? It's only been a few days since I showed her, and she's already mastered it this well?
Shizuka's mind raced with a mixture of frustration and amusement.
Realizing that ten minutes of the class had already passed, Shizuka cleared her throat softly, deciding it was time to get back on track.
"Everyone, quiet down," she announced.
Teacher, we've already been quiet for so long that the atmosphere feels suffocating. Could we skip the opening remarks and just get to the part where we find out whether we live or die?
Many students shared this thought as they braced themselves for the results.
"The scores from the monthly exams are in. As you know, each homeroom teacher receives them early, and today they will be distributed. Some of you may have already heard rumors from other homeroom teachers about how things went overall. And let me tell you, the situation is grim—so much so that it can be described as 'super high-school level' grim! Some students who performed well during the entrance exams didn't even pass a few subjects this time."
As Shizuka's words landed, a wave of panic visibly spread across the faces of several students.
"The scores are out, so there's no use feeling regret or despair now. Take this as a lesson and use the time before the midterm exams to review, fill in any gaps, and improve."
"For those of you who feel confident about your performance, you might not be disappointed with your results, but I urge you not to become complacent. The difficulty of this month's exam was a warning. The midterms could be even harder, or they might be easier. Nothing is certain until the test papers are in your hands."
These words immediately deflated the spirits of a few students who had been feeling a bit smug about their performance. If the midterm exam was going to be even tougher than this already grueling monthly test...
Well, no one would be surprised if the teacher in charge of writing the test questions suddenly brandished a knife and declared, "I no longer wish to be human!"
Maybe there's still time to learn Hamon and unlock a Stand to go beat up the person writing these exams?
"This time, most of the results were less than ideal, but there were a few students who managed to shine, despite the difficulty. There's even one who has made such significant progress that many of the teachers are astonished. I hope you'll all take this opportunity to reflect on your own performance and learn from these students."
Shizuka's words sparked murmurs among the students.
"Seriously? Someone managed to score well on these questions?"
"Must be someone with connections—like those kids who are close to the school board and can get the answers in advance."
"That's a pretty far-fetched theory. I mean, this was just a monthly exam, not the finals or entrance exams. Who's going to waste a favor like that on a monthly test?"
"So, who's this genius from another class?"
"It's gotta be one of those monsters from Class 1-A. No one in our class is that good."
"Man, it must be nice. I heard that once you get into Class A, you can get away with playing games, chatting in class, and even dating in front of the teachers without a care. Plus, each student in Class A gets a monthly allowance of 100,000 yen! That's the kind of privilege I'm jealous of..."
"Alright, calm down. Even if you barely make it into Class A, do you really think you can keep up? After every test, Class A re-evaluates and replaces students. The competition is so brutal that if you slack off even a little, the geniuses there will leave you in the dust, and you'll get kicked out."
"Hey, earning 100,000 yen for a couple of months wouldn't be bad!"
Kotomi nodded in agreement with this sentiment.
After all, who wouldn't want free money?
Normally, if Kotomi saw a 500-yen coin dropped on the ground while walking, she'd swiftly slide in, stepping on it with such grace. She would subtly smooth down her skirt, making it look as if she were simply adjusting it, while discreetly picking up the coin, seamlessly pocketing it as if nothing had happened.
As the murmuring discussions among the students grew louder, Shizuka didn't intend to intervene much, but since it was class time, if the head teacher saw this, she'd definitely get an earful at the next staff meeting.
It was just like how students didn't enjoy sitting through two-hour-long speeches by the principal during school assemblies. Even though the assembly was held in a hall, and the students could sit, nobody really wanted to listen to hours of speeches.
Well, maybe it wasn't all nonsense, but at this age, how many students could really take it to heart? The teachers were already relieved if the students didn't fall asleep during the assembly.
After letting the students chat for a few minutes, Shizuka slightly raised her hand, signaling for silence.
The classroom immediately fell into complete silence.
This alone showed that Shizuka commanded quite a level of authority as a homeroom teacher. While other first-year homeroom teachers might have to remind their students several times to quiet down, she merely had to lift her hand, and the silence was instantaneous.
Once the room quieted down, Shizuka picked up the stack of report cards and tapped them lightly on the desk to straighten them out. With all the students' expectant gazes fixed on her, she began to speak:
"We'll start handing out the report cards now. I'll call out your names, and when I do, come up to the front to collect yours."
"Ogiwara Tomomi."
"Funato Risa."
"Amon Taro."
"Toyama Kamiki."
…
"Yukino Yukinoshita."
"Megumi Kato."
"Mashiro Shiina."
After reading off the names, Shizuka had nearly handed out all the report cards.
At that moment, Kotomi, who had been lost in her phone, finally looked up. She realized she hadn't heard Yui's name being called yet.
"Wait, didn't Yui get her report card yet?" Kotomi mumbled to herself quietly.
Her voice was soft, but only those sitting close to her, like Megumi Kato and Yui Yuigahama, heard it.
"There's still your report card too, Kotomi," Megumi Kato teased with a knowing smile. "Lately, it seems your attention has been focused on Yui."
Upon hearing Kotomi's comment and Megumi's slightly pointed reminder, Yui's face immediately flushed red. She quickly lowered her voice and said, "Maybe the teacher forgot my and Kotomi's report cards. I should go ask Shizuka-sensei about it."
Watching Yui's shy expression, Megumi Kato, recalling the time she saw Yui hugging Kotomi on the rooftop, felt her gaze deepen. Her hand, resting on the desk, slowly clenched as if gripping an invisible handle.
"Something this important, I doubt Shizuka-sensei would forget," Kotomi replied, unconvinced. She suspected there was more to it.
Just as Kotomi was about to raise her hand to ask, Shizuka continued from the podium:
"There are two students in this class whose performance in the recent exams was particularly outstanding. One of them has always been an average student but made a remarkable leap this time, like a dark horse that suddenly broke through the pack. The progress shown in these results has pleasantly surprised many of the subject teachers. I hope this student will continue to work hard and strive for even greater success in future exams, perhaps even aiming for admission to their ideal university."
After delivering this introduction, Shizuka smiled and looked toward the row of seats by the window. "Yui Yuigahama, please come up and get your report card."
"Eh?"
Yui Yuigahama sat frozen in her seat, momentarily thinking she must have misheard. She was the dark horse in this exam?
"Go on! Go get your report card," Kotomi nudged Yui's shoulder with a smile. "Looks like I won't be eating your cakes for nothing after all. I'll even prepare a little gift to celebrate. Congrats, Yui~ Your hard work has paid off."
The worry Kotomi had been holding in for days immediately vanished. A heavy weight that had been sitting on her chest finally lifted.
"I actually...improved?!"
Yui's eyes filled with tears, almost breaking into sobs. Kotomi had been concerned about her, but Yui had been just as worried herself.
Since the end of the exams, she had been on edge, both wanting to know her results and yet dreading them, afraid that once she saw her report card, it would show no improvement despite her hard work.
But now, her efforts—along with Kotomi's patient tutoring—had finally paid off. She had improved, and now she could face her mother with pride.
Sniffling, Yui walked to the front and received her report card from Shizuka.
570 points.
For students in the top classes like Class A, this would be considered an average score. But for Yui, a student from Class F who had barely scraped through the high school entrance exam, it was a monumental leap.
How close had she been to failing to get into Sobu High School? If she had scored just three fewer points, she wouldn't even have made it through the doors of the school.
Yet now, she had achieved a 230-point improvement in less than a month since the start of school. This level of progress left even the most experienced teachers in awe.
Even Ms. Yagawa, who rarely praised any student other than Kotomi, had made an exception when she saw Yui's results: "A promising student indeed. If she can add another 200 points in the midterm, she might even qualify for Class B."
Shizuka smiled warmly at Yui and praised her, "Keep working hard, and aim for even better progress next time."
Clap clap clap
As soon as Yui received her report card, Kotomi was the first to applaud, a sharp and clear sound that quickly spread throughout the room. The other students followed her lead, clapping to celebrate Yui's achievement.
After Yui returned to her seat, she turned to Kotomi and said, "Thank you, Kotomi. I...I don't even know how to thank you enough."
"It's nothing. Take your time to think of something," Kotomi teased with a playful smile. "The classroom's a bit too crowded right now. When I visit your place, you can thank me properly."
"Congratulations," Yukino Yukinoshita added quietly. Though her congratulations were brief, it wasn't hard to sense the genuine warmth in her tone.
"Alright, calm down now," Megumi Kato handed Yui a tissue, laughing softly. "You're going to start crying any moment. Save it for when your college entrance exam results come in; then you can cry your heart out while hugging Kotomi."
"Yui, are you crying because you're happy?" Mashiro Shiina asked innocently.
Yui's face flushed even redder as she quickly accepted the tissue from Megumi, wiping away the tears that were threatening to spill over. Crying in front of the whole class would be too embarrassing…
While they were all congratulating Yui, Shizuka picked up the last remaining report card on the desk—Kotomi's.
"And now, for the final report card," Shizuka cleared her throat, raising her voice slightly for emphasis. "It's not only the last for our class, but quite possibly the most extraordinary report card in all of Sobu High School!"
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