I returned to the Make-Up Work Club right on time and happened to run into a instructor walking out of the classroom. She was dressed in the Tea Party's guard uniform and holding a document pouch containing the exam papers.
She gave me a slight nod and said quietly, "Sensei, Lady Nagisa asked me to inform you that exquisite tea and refreshments will be prepared tonight, and she awaits your honored presence."
"Thank you."
After brushing past her, I entered the classroom and said gently, "Everyone, you worked hard on the exam."
The girls all looked at me again. I paid attention to their expressions. Compared to before, Azusa and Hanako showed little change, but the other two were different.
"Sensei!" Hifumi beamed, all her previous worry gone, and said excitedly, "This exam was almost entirely questions we practiced during tutoring! The content Sensei explained and the problems we studied together were practically unchanged... and the difficulty was at a basic level!"
Hearing her good news, I nodded.
So the Tea Party really was going easy on them. With it being that simple, it would be harder to fail than to pass.
However, my gaze drifted involuntarily to the small figure shrinking further beside Hifumi. "Oh? Is that so?"
Still caught up in her excitement and not noticing anything unusual about the others, the Make-Up Work Club president nodded firmly. "Yes! This time, everyone will definitely pass!"
The certain someone who had boldly declared before the exam that she would show everyone the strength of a Justice Task Force elite silently unfolded the wings above her head, covering her face and revealing only tightly pressed lips.
It looked like she would be attending the training camp after all.
For now, I set Koharu aside and turned to the calm white haired girl. "Azusa, how was it?"
"There is hope of passing, but we cannot relax until the results are out."
I couldn't help but show a hint of approval in my eyes.
With such a serious attitude toward studying, how could she not eventually pass the evaluation exam?
"Hehe∼ And me too∼"
Before I could ask, Hanako raised her hand on her own and said meaningfully, "Thanks to Sensei's tireless guidance, I think I can achieve results worthy of what Sensei taught me∼"
"Oh, that's wonderful."
Knowing that Hanako had failed on purpose before, I nodded professionally.
She simply smiled at my attitude, unconcerned.
I clapped my hands and said seriously, "As Azusa said, until the results are announced, Make-Up Work Club activities will continue as usual. Do you remember the questions from the exam just now?"
Hifumi said awkwardly, "If we look through the book now, we should still remember some of them..."
"It's fine, I'll help too∼"
"Ah, thank you, Hanako-chan."
I continued, "Then I will trouble you two to find the questions from the exam just now and review them together with Koharu and Azusa."
"Okay, understood."
Putting away her excitement, Hifumi obediently opened her book and murmured, "I think it was around..."
Hanako did the same, though she appeared much more casual. I suspected she had memorized the questions completely and was habitually holding back, planning only to fill in gaps.
As for the other two, they took the opportunity to resume studying seriously as well.
Watching the girls getting along harmoniously and making progress together, I couldn't help but feel sincere comfort and anticipation.
Our thrilling training camp life was about to begin.
I remembered a term, the suspension bridge effect.
When girls face the crisis of failing and are placed in a space relatively isolated from the outside world, they would naturally grow attached to someone as outstanding as me, who would be with them day and night. The speed at which affection deepens and trust is built would surely multiply several times compared to normal.
Perhaps conquering all four at once was not impossible... no, it was very possible.
I truly did not know how to thank Nagisa and Mika for giving me such an opportunity.
I would just find a chance to conquer them as well as repayment.
Amid my fantasies of a wonderful future life, time flew by.
Before long, I heard a symbolic knock at the door. Another Tea Party guard stood at the entrance and said politely,
"Sensei, please come with me for a moment."
I followed her into the corridor. She took out a sealed document pouch.
"This is a copy of the first evaluation exam papers for the Make-Up Work Club. Please keep it. If you have any questions regarding the results, you may contact us at any time."
"They have been graded already?" I was quite surprised, once again sensing from their attitude how much the Tea Party valued the Make-Up Work Club. "Thank you."
"It is only my duty."
The guard paused. "There is one more matter. Nagisa-sama asked me to remind you not to forget tonight's meeting."
She had even asked two different people to relay the same message?
It seemed... Nagisa truly missed me very much and was eager to seize the chance to see me.
Perhaps, like Ako, Nagisa had also accumulated a great deal of stress from being busy with matters related to the Eden Treaty.
"I understand. I will be there on time."
After giving my reply, I returned to the classroom with the document pouch and called Hifumi over to announce the results together.
Upon hearing that the results were in, Hifumi looked a little nervous, but she still put on a bright smile and, shouldering her responsibility as president, explained to the members,
"E-everyone worked hard...! Um, it seems that as long as you score above 60 out of 100, you pass! Even if it is not a high score, as long as you cross that line, it is fine. Then, let us begin announcing the results! Sensei, I will leave it to you!"
I nodded and opened the pouch. Under the tense gazes of everyone except Hanako, I announced the scores one by one.
"Hifumi, 70 points. Pass."
Not a particularly high score, but she had indeed passed smoothly. I thought perhaps assisting me and the others had slightly delayed her own studying.
"Th-Thank you very much!" Hifumi let out a sigh of relief. "It feels like a very ordinary score, but that is such a relief! Then, next..."
I turned to the next page, the corner of my eye twitching slightly. "Hanako... 69 points. Pass."
On the surface, it looked like an unremarkable score like Hifumi's.
But combined with Hanako's true ability and her earlier words...
"Hehe∼" The pink haired girl smiled mischievously. "All thanks to Sensei's careful guidance∼"
This girl. There was something behind those words.
What did she mean by results worthy of what I taught her?
I would love to teach her. Could she hurry up and awaken her authority so I would have the chance to?
And what was with Koharu? Why was her face red? Why had her pupils shrunk into slits?
Koharu shouted, "W-What are you two talking about! Pervert! Death penalty!"
"My, my∼ what are you saying, Koharu chan?" Hanako feigned surprise. "I do not understand at all."
"Ugh..."
Under the puzzled gazes of Hifumi and Azusa, Koharu let out a small cry and fell silent.
I felt an inexplicable sense of grievance, as though my reputation had suffered serious damage without my knowing.
This would not do. One day, I had to make Hanako, the culprit who deliberately controlled her score, do something that matched her implied meaning.
And Koharu too, for letting her imagination run wild and slandering my majestic image in her heart.
"That's great!" Hifumi smiled even more brightly. "That means half of us passed! Sensei, please continue!"
It felt like she might be celebrating a little too early.
Turning to the next paper, after seeing the score, I could not help but sound somewhat regretful.
"Azusa, 37 points. Fail."
Azusa's efforts were obvious to everyone. But unfortunately, her foundation was too weak. No matter how hard she worked in this short period, perhaps this was as far as she could improve.
I did not think it was her fault. Compared to her previous scores, Azusa had already made tremendous progress. Since she had done her best, she deserved praise.
However... I found myself thinking.
Did Azusa perhaps have a slight misunderstanding of her own abilities?
Hifumi's smile froze instantly. "...What!?"
Upon hearing her score, Azusa clicked her tongue. "Tch, just a thin sheet away."
"...W-Wait a moment!" Hifumi retorted in panic. "That is not just a thin sheet away, right!? There is still a huge gap!?"
From the specific scores of the previous three, I had already roughly guessed the pattern.
But when I actually saw the score on the last paper, I still could not help wanting to rub my forehead and sigh.
"Koharu, 15 points. Fail."
The self proclaimed elite let out a small sound, her face turning red again.
"Koharu-chan!?"
Hifumi nearly broke her voice in shock. Trembling, she said, "D-Did you not say you were hiding your strength!? This was a first year paper, right!? C-Could it be you used a second year one... no, with that score, was it a third year paper!?"
Clearly, the heavy blow had thrown her into confusion.
Yet even at this moment, Koharu's mouth remained stubborn. "No, um... i-it was still pretty hard..."
"It was extremely easy! It was like a quiz!?"
Koharu stammered, shrinking her neck, not daring to speak further.
I, meanwhile, reflected. This child always lets her imagination run wild. Could it be that my handsome self appearing before her every day had distracted her so much that she only scored this much...?
At that moment, Hifumi worked hard to steady herself and forced out a smile. "Ugh... so that means only Hanako chan and I passed... In that case, we will have to take the second exam..."
Even though it was a bit improper while others were feeling down, I silently added in my heart.
And my thrilling training camp with the beautiful girls...
At last, it was about to begin.