Once the exam period is over, the results are announced, of course.
I found my name on the top performers posted on the hallway and I can’t help but stroke my chest in relief.
Mikiri was frowning next to me.
「I lost」
「By a narrow margin」
I ranked third in my class and Mikiri ranked fourth.
the scores were in the margin of error, and we should honestly congratulate ourselves on our efforts.
I think we should appreciate the fruits of our abstinence.
Mikiri’s still pouting.
「Last time, I was ahead you know.
You’re like a thorn on my side」
「I won the test even before.
Just admit that we’re rivals」
「No way.
It’s embarrassing.
You’re just reading too much manga」
Mikiri charges, slamming my shoulder.
That tickles.
「Anyway, let’s have a toast for that」
「It’s a bitter cup for me.
Should we have beer?」
「You never had alcohol.
Let’s just grab some juice instead」
We stepped away from the chaos and commotion and bought juice from a vending machine in the remote corner of the school building.
I picked a lemon sparkling juice.
Mikiri picked apple soda.
We can’t drink beer, but we do love carbonated drinks.
I gently pulled the pull-tab open and I peeked into Mikiri’s hands.
「Mikiri always picks apple」
「I like it, yes.
Do you have a prefered juice, Mamoru?」
「I like those with sour profile.
I like grapefruit, but they don’t have it here」
「Sour, huh?
I like pickled dried ume, but I prefer fruits with sweetness」
We’re having a lighthearted conversation and popped the cans in a toast.
Yeah, this is good.
Victory tastes special.
Mikiri swings one of her leg, glancing sideways occasionally.
「I know it’s late to ask, but do you like studying, Mamoru?」
「I do」
「That’s rare.
Not many like studying.
I’m not even sure if I like it or not.
It’s just an obligation」
I laughed.
Well, studying is the obligation of students.
「Why do you like studying?」
「Because it’s satisfying」
I answered immediately.
Mikiri tilts her head as it wasn’t the answer she was expecting.
「You like studying because it’s satisfying? That’s a weird answer」
「It’s not that weird.
I’ve always been good at studying and my parents and teachers praise me when I get high scores.
I also get a lot of “Dude, that’s cool” from my classmates.
That’s why I naturally developed a fondness for studying」
I took a long gulp of juice and sighed.
「You know, there could be a parent who talks to a child who hates to study but loves gaming by saying, “why not consider studying like a game?”
You see, their logic falls apart and the parents won’t understand why the kid likes games and hates studying」
「Hmm?」
Mikiri gave a vague response, urging me to continue.
I resumed.
「The answer is simple, it’s because the kid was good at games.
And they’re bad at studying.
That’s why they like games and hate studying
It’s that easy」
「So you love what you’re good at .
True, the passion makes you excellent, well, that’s common sense」
I agree.
「If a child is bad at games, they won’t like it.
Likewise, the are no kid who would love studying if they struggle at it」
「Then, how do you make someone who hates studying to like it?」
I stroke my chin to think.
「I honestly don’t think there’s a need to force to like things you hate.
People are born with their aptitudes.
It’s better to nurture your strengths than focus on their weakness」
「Well yeah」
Mikiri drinks the apple juice.
Since both lemons and apples have their good points, we should just play to our strengths.
I’m not sure I agree with this trend of glorifying vegetables that have been genetically modified to be unnaturally sweet.
Mikiri took a deep breath and asked me
「Mamoru, do you have a career plan?」
「Probably higher education.
I’m good at studying so I want to make use of that」
「I’m considering the same.
I mean, my parents tell me to go to college」
「They give you more options if you do」
It would be checkmate if the future job I want to do only hires those with bachelor’s degree.
It’s a common story according to the store manager at my part-time job.
If you hate studying or really want to get out into the world and make a living as soon as possible, then you don’t have a good reason to go to university.
Of course, I have my deepest gratitude to my parents who allow me to pursue my studies.
That makes me consider what’s ahead.
I honestly believe that if you pursue a field that suits your talents, you’re not making any mistakes.
I think university is a place to determine your aptitude.
I just said it on a whim.
「Maybe we should go to the same uni」
「Then we’ll do ecchi all the time and your grades will definitely drop」
「That’s likely.
Although, it hasn’t happened yet」
I laughed.
「In that sense, we’re a really good match」
「Eeh.
I can’t accept that」
Mikiri makes a bitter face.
I laughed.
We finished drinking and walked off.
「Hey, do you have anything you’re bad at, Mamoru?」
I pondered at Mikiri’s question and answered confidently.
「I think I’m bad at sex.
It feels so good that it makes me stupid」
「You sound like you’re saying you’re afraid of Manju」
「But it’s pussy」
「Huh?」
Mikiri looks confused, I answered triumphantly.
「You know, turns out that people in the old days do call your vagina omanju」
「Why do you have to flex your knowledge there?」
Mikiri rolled her eyes and slapped me on the head.
This post is automatically published by Translation Assistant and Translation Assistant Publisher.