Akio was shaking in his boots, perspiring as he looked at the clock in fear. The end was near, and he couldn't afford to lose a single second. This was a race against time.
He was running with all of his strength, faster than any of his opponents, no—enemies. He turned to look around him. The sight left him frustrated and anxious as some of them stopped running, some lost hope, and some had never been serious to begin with. But for Akio, this fight was much more important. Sweat slid down his forehead. The ticking of the clock brought back his focus. But the flow of time that felt faster with every second only added to the pressure. He was panicking, tapping his feet, but he still hoped as he picked up pace again—
"Time's up! Okay everyone, pens down! I'm going to start collecting the papers now," Ms. Tsukihi announced. Her strict, thundering voice zapped every ear in the class (and probably the whole floor too).
Everyone stopped writing except Akio.
"Put the pen down, Akio. One extra minute won't save your failing grade." Ms. Tsukihi said firmly as she collected the papers from the first bench. Her voice sounded irritated and impatient.
Laughter rippled through the classroom. Akio's mouth curved down. This wasn't the first time anyway.
"Yes, ma'am," Akio replied quietly. He gave up; now wasn't the time to do something. He had ample time and now he only had himself to blame. Still, he felt that only if he had two more minutes, he could finish the essay. The essay had to be 1,000 words and above and he had written three lines by the end.
The teacher continued collecting papers, starting from the first row.
The students sighed in relief. Some stretched their backs while some slumped over the table. A few faces knew what was coming for them and were shaking with fear. But ignoring them, overall everyone was in high spirits as this was the end of the last exam, of the first term, of 2nd year, of Ao Umi High School.
The burning sun, high temperature; boys fawning over the summer outfits of girls and students faking heatstrokes to skip the sport they didn't want to play. Yes, everything screamed of summer.
While Ms. Tsukihi carried on collecting the papers the students went on ranting about the exam. Everyone shared their thoughts on them and then started making plans for the day.
Kiyoshi was sitting on the first bench, looking out of the window. He was the first person to hand in the paper and was stretching his back as some girls formed a circle around his bench.
"How did it go, Kiyoshi?" one girl asked, bending a little.
"You must have aced the exam right, Kiyoshi?"
"Did you find it very easy? You never even looked tense in the exam"
"Yeah, you were looking so handsome and relaxed while writing. I hardly managed to look at my sheet".
"Yes! Yes! You looked so refined and dreamy, staring at the sky after you finished the paper in half the time. Even when today's paper was extra lengthy".
Kiyoshi's mouth lifted a little, his sparkling eyes reflecting light, made contact with every girl as he spoke in a low voice, "Thank you everyone. It wasn't very easy but I believe I gave it my all. I hope it went well since I'm looking forward to spending the summer vacation with you all."
"Oh, really?" One of the girls, looking delighted, tried to catch her prey. "In that case would you like to come to Okinawa with us? My family has a villa near a beach."
"Hey, why would he go with your family, are you an idiot? Kiyoshi, why don't we both go to the newly opened water park together?" Another girl jumped in the conversation. She was infuriated and turning to Kiyoshi with a bright smile, she actively suggested another idea.
"Why would he go with you?"
"Yes, the prince of Ao Umi can't be seen with someone like you."
"I know for sure that you would jump him."
A fight began in the middle of the classroom. Five girls were fighting over the prince of Ao Umi High school, Kiyoshi. He was the most handsome guy in the whole 2nd and 3rd year. He was calm and collected. He helped others often and was a very kind and empathetic person. He was nice to loners too and could chat up with anyone.
With the girls screaming at each other the fight was getting intense. Kiyoshi tried to put an end to it but failed miserably. Giving up, his gaze turned to the back end of the class.
The teacher had collected the paper from Akio, who was now slumped on his desk and lost in his thoughts. Not knowing what fate had in store for him, he rested his head on the bench and closed his eyes falling in the pit of self-loathing.
I am an idiot. If only I had spent half the time studying that I spent playing gam—. Urgh, I could have played the games all of the vacation. Stupid! How stupid can I be? What do I do now?
He was spiralling down the abyss, when he heard a voice calling from above.
"You look tired as if you just ran a marathon, Akio". He raised his head turning to the owner of the voice. It was Ren, standing there with a comforting smile which seemed fake. Ren was the smartest guy in class who had just written a masterpiece of a paper that would get full marks. In all the three terms last year, he got a perfect score in every exam. He was always first in the whole 1st year and had won many Olympiads too.
So why was he trying to talk with Akio? Shouldn't a person like him be with the other smart ones, or being surrounded by girls like Kiyoshi?
"I swear, when I saw you achieving God-speed in the last 15 minutes of the exam it felt like I'm gonna lose the first rank. Since I know how tough it is, I guess you must be tired too." He said snarkily, adjusting his glasses.
"Oh and when you sat focused in the middle of the exam doing nothing, was that some kind of meditation to achieve the mental state for the 'God-speed'." Ren added, clearly looking for a reaction.
"Shut your mouth Ren. I don't need you to rub salt over my wounds." And Ren got one.
"That's some way of talking to the person who spent so much time just to teach you the first-year basics. I wonder how did you even pass the first year if you never knew those things?" Ren stared at him with raised eyebrows.
"As if you haven't asked me that question dozens of times already." Akio sighed. He was getting tired of this.
He raised his head and began to look around the class. All the students were going around talking to their friends. A few girls were fighting near the first bench, he ignored them. Students who didn't study, blamed teachers for out-of-syllabus questions. There weren't any. One might see a group of 4 students sitting in a corner of the class, looking down. But unsurprisingly no one seemed to notice them. The exams were over. The stress of his result, was surely scaring him but Akio also felt a sense of relief. His mood lifted a little.
"Welp, anyhow it's finally over. A few more days now before we get to our long-awaited summer vacation." Akio was grinning from one ear to another.
"Woah look at that grin, slow down man. We still have more than a week before summer vacation starts."
Akari chopped Akio playfully on the shoulder. A loud sound originated from the point of contact. "And are you sure you don't have to take remedial classes? In the middle of the exam I didn't see your pen move half an inch from its position. I know you JUST SUCK at studies. But I didn't think you belonged to the quitters."
"Damn!" Akio bent a little. "To think that this was one of the playful one—Ahem. I don't Just Suck at studies Akari. I only find it hard to focus. And besides you don't have to worry about me, I am gonna pass the exams just fine." Akio countered, recovering from that blow and correcting his posture. He turned to Akari who was standing there with a wide grin.
Akari was a tomboy, who used to sit beside Akio in the first year. She had short hair which hangs to her chin. She had a really strong sense of self and an even stronger body. Both of these were enough for smooth talkers to keep their distance. She used to be in a dojo until last year and had a black belt in karate. Judo wasn't her main skill but no one dared to challenge her anyway.
"If I remember right, I heard the same thing last year right before Christmas break. And we had one less helping hand for the party preparation." Akari taunted.
"And I can bet, its gonna be different this time". Akio argued with a firm face.
Kiyoshi made his way to the back of the class after the brawl ended. The 1st Vacation war for 2nd year class 3 had ended up with everyone compromising to go to the pool together. None of them were happy with that decision but they had to agree. It was the girls' way of looking out for someone who might try to make a move on Kiyoshi but even he didn't look much happy with that decision.
"Everyone's here huh. Hmm? Where's Mio?" Kiyoshi turned around and spotted Mio talking with some girls by her desk.
"Looking for girls again, Kiyoshi? Weren't the other girls just fighting over going to the pool together with you, you Harem guy." Ren commented with a smirk.
"Well, I AM looking forward to it. Though I wouldn't mind or rather I would like to go separately with each one of them to a Night pool or something" Kiyoshi sighed with a painful smile.
"Uwaah, Kiyoshi. You had the choice to just keep your mouth shut." Akari stared at him exasperately.
"Sounds like, you will have a really good and relaxing time at the pool. I envy you man." Ren nudged him with elbow.
"'Good and Relaxing'? Of course. Not only will I have to look out for them, in case someone tries to pick them up but I also have to keep them in check so they don't drown each other." Kiyoshi turned his gaze to the girls. They saw him and waved their hands. Kiyoshi gave them one of the best smile from his smile collection and waved back. The girls started fighting each other over whom Kiyoshi smiled and waved to.
"Was that one on purpose?"
"What could you be talking about?"
Both of them turned their eyes to the girls and let out a chuckle.
"Hey guys. How did your examss go? And who is going to accompany Akio with the remedial classes?" Mio joined the conversation. "Oh wait, accompany Akio and Kiyoshi too."
"Me?" Kiyoshi interjected. "I may not be the best in studies but lumping the School's Prince together with this guy offends me."
"True. I would rather be grouped with failure students than to be grouped with this failure of a human being, No, failure of a living thing."
"Akio.. you will have to take the remedial classes?" A worried voice came from Hina who was headed to the group.
"Wait, wait, wait. Don't worry, Hina. I'm not going to have any remedial classes. And Mio why are you talking under the pretense, that I'm definitely failing?" Akio demanded with raised eyebrows. This was the third time, when he was expected to fail.
"Oh, is that true? That's good then." Hina let out a slow exhale.
Mio turned to face Akio and Kiyoshi. Ren was standing between them. So he moved next to Akari.
She continued, "Because Kiyoshi totally gave up on writing on the latter half of the exam. And even, you didn't write anything for quite some time in the exam."
"Why were you looking at what others were doing?" Akio interjected.
"Well, because.. I .. was.." Mio stammered.
Akio and Kiyoshi were staring at her.
"Nobody looks at the paper all the time. Even I noticed you both just sitting there doing nothing." Akari stood in front of Mio.
"Really, what were you guys doing? Just spacing out for so much time" Ren brought them back to conversation.
"I just wrote as much as I knew later I was doing some fanservice for my cute fans, trying to bring down the class average."
Everyone stared at Kiyoshi for a second. They looked at him with narrow eyes but gave him a thumbs up regardless. 'A job well done'.
Now all eyes were on Akio.
"What about you, Akio?" Ren pressed.
"About the same. I wrote as much as I knew then I was just trying to figure out something to write for quite some time. But then suddenly many dots over the exam paper were starting to connect, it was like a divine revelation. I remembered so many things to write—"
"And then you achieved God-speed." Ren chuckled.
"God-speed?"
Akari, Mio and Kiyoshi parroted. Laughter burst out in the back of the class.
"What's with that 'God-speed' thing?" Akio snapped. He was embarrassed and flustered. They were laughing regardless.
"I think it's fine, as long as we all can enjoy the summer vacation together." Hina beamed with a vibrant smile.
Akio's face turned a lighter shade of red.
"Thank you, Hina". He was having a hard time looking her in the eye. The other 4 took the cue.
Ren and Kiyoshi put their arms around Akio and made some distance with the group.
"Did you hear that, Akio? Hina is 'definitely' looking forward to spending the summer vacation with YOU." Ren threw a bone to the dog.
The shade of red, turned a little deep on Akio's face. The dog picked up the bone.
"Yes Akio. I'm telling you from my experience, you definitely have the chance. I can see it. Those are the eyes of a girl in love." Kiyoshi said in a low and confident voice.
Akio was getting flustered and embarrassed.
Meanwhile, Mio was teasing Hina. "The vacation hasn't even started yet and you are already on attack mode, Hina."
"What do you mean?" Hina was getting embarrassed.
"N.O.T.H.I.N.G." Mio kept grinning.
"Hey, Mio. Don't tease her too much. This bud hasn't bloomed yet." Akari started patting Hina's head.
"Are you two making fun of me?" Hina asked with a pout. She looked like a little hamster, which was only fueling the 2 girls emotions.
"No, we aren't." Both of them said in unison. Mio found it hard to control her grin.
Hina was a childhood friend of Akari. They both joined the high school together but were sent to different classes. Now that they were in the same class again, Akari brought her along to the group and she was accepted quickly.
Now that the exam was over, students were packing their belongings. The class was full of smiles and laughter. The hot and humid air was making the room a little uncomfortable and so everyone began to leave. Some made plans for Karaoke, while some of them were discussing cafes & restaurants to go. There was one group that was quite quiet. They took their bags and left on their way without a sound and naturally no one noticed them. Again.
Akio and the group left the class. They walked down the corridors chatting, whispering and making fun of each other. The corridors were full of students like that. Some were running towards their clubs for the first meet in 2 weeks, while some were catching up to their friends.
As everyone got to the ground floor, they changed their shoes and walked towards the gate
"Akari, Hina. Wanna go get some coffee in some cool place?" Mio suggested.
"Yes, that would be nice." Hina responded first.
"Sure. Hey, are you guys coming?" Akari asked the boys.
"Sure."
"Why not."
"Yeah, Let's go."
"Wait, Kiyoshi are you sure about this? Don't you want to join your harem?" Ren raised an eyebrow.
"No, not today. It takes quite some energy to handle them all. Not to mention they make a commotion everywhere they go. Also, I think I should pull away for today. Letting them miss my presence, you know."
"You are a terrible person Kiyoshi." Hina looked at him with an uneasy face.
"Don't misunderstand me, Hina. If I were to go, they all would be fighting again and again. And since exams just ended today, I want them all to take it easy too. Besides..." Kiyoshi stopped as everyone kept walking and looked at them from behind, his heart was filled with emotions, "Today, I just want to spend time with you guys."
Everyone paused and turned to face Kiyoshi.
They all looked at him and a comforting smile spread over everyone's face.
Even though they were always teasing and insulting each other, they all were still very good friends. They had been together for more than a year now. A little difference in opinion aside, all of them appreciated the presence of each other, including Kiyoshi of course. This exchange filled the hearts of everyone with warmth. Kiyoshi's eyes filled with sparkles. His cheeks started turning a little red. He gave them his 3rd best smile of his collection and started walking towards his frien—
"Just look at that act"
"You can drop the character now"
"This gives me creeps"
"Don't take this guy seriously okay, Hina?"
"Of course"
The words went and stabbed Kiyoshi in his toes. The temperature suddenly felt cold to him. Everyone looked at him with narrowed eyes and flat expression. The chilling wind of the hot summer afternoon froze Kiyoshi's heart and cracks began to form in it. He stared at the ground for a second before he looked up again.
"That's why... That's why, I like it here, you guys deserve me." He wore his best and the only genuine smile in his collection and ran towards his friends. Now everyone was smiling and enjoying: this day, this -hot as hell- summer afternoon, This moment, genuinely.
The last exam of first-term was over and summer vacation was just around the corner. It was the last summer of their high school that they all could enjoy to the fullest. What kind of adventures, happenings and problems awaited them would be seen with time.
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