CHAPTER 25 - A… Special Exam? Part 5
(Pov - Saik.)
"Come on, flank left! I'm alone—they're gonna kill me!"
"I have to deal with the special zombie—I can't help you!"
"I got some ammo."
…Ah…
I know anyone else would say it's nice to have company at home, but… how do I put it? It's annoying.
I prefer solitude. Yuki is adorable and the only person I can consider a friend, which is why it's nice to be with her, but being around more people is really bothersome.
I prefer solitude.
But I can't tell them to leave—I need these guys' trust to pass the special exam.
If only they were adorable… Ah.
Naok is a muscle-brain, but at least he's smarter than Sylphie.
Bell's an idiot too.
At least Ludius is average and less annoying.
"Hey, Saik, I'm hungry. Can I have a slice of cake? I'll eat it in your room."
Sure, Yuki.
"I want cake."
I stopped playing and went to the kitchen.
…Oh… Sylphie in an apron… At least she's adorable.
And it smells delicious. Is she making soup?
Hot soup for a guy with a fever… Is that normal?
I mean… I've never been sick, and my fever goes away in a matter of hours.
I've never even had a single cold, so I wouldn't know.
But at least the soup smells good.
"It smells delicious, Sylphie."
"T-Thanks, Saik."
I opened the fridge and took out the cake I made.
"By the way, Sylphie, did you like the cake?"
"I loved it! It was delicious, Saik!"
She nodded quickly… And her face is a bit red… I think she's embarrassed that I saw her in an apron.
Ah… Many people find shy girls adorable, but I don't… I just don't find that kind of girl cute. Why would I find a girl with self-esteem issues endearing?
She's shy because of her social anxiety and because she's been bullied in the past.
I can't find Sylphie adorable for being shy… I just can't.
"Glad to hear it. I worked hard on it."
"I-It was really delicious… Can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"W-What's your favorite flavor?"
"Hmm… If I had to choose, I'd say strawberry. I like it and hate it… Love and hate… A weird but delicious combination."
"You hate it? Why?"
"…A friend of my mom's owned a bakery, and every week, my mom and I would go for a slice of cake. That woman's daughter, my mom's friend, used to tease me a lot… She was really annoying… The strawberry flavor reminds me of that obnoxious girl."
"Why?"
"The bakery had a really popular strawberry cake, my favorite. And the red color of that girl's hair reminded me of strawberries… I think that's why the strawberry flavor reminds me of her… Fortunately, I stopped seeing her after I graduated from middle school."
Ah…
That girl was so annoying.
She wouldn't let me enjoy my solitude. Always mocking me and hitting me… Well, small, weak hits. I think she knew I'd fight back if she hit me harder. Since her hits were so light I barely felt them, I never defended myself. I ignored her insults, so I didn't care what she said.
"Want a slice of cake, Sylphie?"
"No… Eating too much bread and sweets will make me gain weight…"
Oh… Right, women worry a lot about their weight… Now that I think about it, Sylphie has a very… enviable and hot figure? I don't know how to describe it.
I'm lucky to be a weirdo with an equally weird body.
I'll never gain weight as long as I keep up my exercise routine.
"I see… Well, more for me."
"…Saik… I've seen you eat a ton of sweets, and you even bring two lunches to school… You eat a lot, but your body is… H-How do I put it…? It's… slim."
"Slim…?"
I lifted my shirt and looked at my body.
Hmm… No… I'm kind of slim, but I have a lot of muscle… A strong slim… I'm not that slim… Should I exercise more?
"Am I slim…? Guess I'll have to step up my routine."
…Wow… Sylphie's bright red and trembling.
What's wrong with her?
"N-No, that's not what I meant!" she said, waving her hands in a weird way.
Did seeing my body make her nervous…? That's odd.
"Then what?"
I pulled my shirt back down.
"What did you mean?"
"Y-Your body doesn't look like the body of a guy who eats a lot… H-How do you manage to have that body and still eat so much? Honestly, I'm jealous."
"Hmm… I don't know… Exercise? I don't know… My exercise routine isn't anything special… I guess my body's just weird… Like me."
I grabbed the cake.
"Ah… Right, I forgot to turn off my computer."
I left the kitchen and started climbing the stairs.
Good excuse to take the cake to my room without looking suspicious.
I entered my room… And Yuki's checking my internet search history.
"S-Saik, this isn't what it looks like."
I walked over to her.
"I'm sorry, I couldn't help my curiosity!"
I sat on the bed and tasted the cake with my finger.
"Delicious… You're not eating, Yuki?"
"Y-You're not gonna do anything to me?"
"Yuki, trust me, if I wanted to do something to you, I would've already. Come on, trust me."
She hesitated for a few seconds and slowly approached me.
How adorable—she looks like a stray puppy inching toward someone who wants to pet it.
She's looking at me with fear but finally decides to trust me and sits next to me.
"Here, take it. I brought you a spoon. I'll be downstairs if you need me."
I patted her head.
"I don't watch porn or anything like that. You'll never find anything weird in my history, so I'm not worried."
I got up from the bed.
"Want something to drink?"
"No, thanks, I'm good," she said, smiling.
…How adorable.
"Alright."
I left the room.
Well… Time to keep pretending I consider people I barely know my friends.
It's kind of sad, but realistic. I can't consider people I just met my friends. That's illogical.
•
•
The food's ready, and we all gathered to eat.
But I have a question. Why did Sylphie sit next to me?
She's too close… Well, I guess she feels less uncomfortable around me.
The table's big—eight people could fit comfortably.
Bell, Naok, and Ludius are sitting together, and they're always… Well, Naok and Bell are always together, talking among themselves, so I don't think they'll bother Sylphie much.
And Sylphie sat next to me… Well, I'd better not read too much into it.
Wait… I think I like sitting next to her. Her perfume smells nice.
"The points from tasks are really low. We get 5 points per kilo of trash we collect and 20 points per hour of studying with a middle or elementary school student. Those are the only tasks we found. I think we're lucky Saik got so many points."
I see… It's really hard to earn a lot of points normally. You get more points from exams and bets.
It's almost like they're forcing students to bet against each other and cause expulsions.
A cruel method… Interesting.
Special exams and tests are the way to earn more points, while the extra tasks on the board are just to keep students from getting expelled at the end of the semester.
"Do you think anyone in our group would try what Saik did?"
"I don't know—it'd be too risky. Not all of us are as brave as Saik."
"…Though what I did can't really be called brave—it was risky and stupid. I'll admit I got a bit mad because the student I got expelled tried to hit me… It was satisfying to see him cry in rage when he lost all his points."
He even begged me not to tell anyone he lost all his points and to give him at least one point.
It was funny seeing him like that.
"For now, we'll focus on the soccer and basketball clubs. You guys are the only ones who can earn points from now on. I doubt anyone will want to bet with me again. Sylphie, I'll help you collect trash on the street and at the beach."
I'll take the chance to swim—it's been a while since I've been to the beach. It's a waste to live so close to the beach and not visit it.
It's just a half-hour bus ride.
"A-At the beach?"
"Yeah. The school has a trash collection center at the beach and in the city center. We could steal trash from the… Ah… Other people probably thought of using the same tactic… Hmm… Maybe… Hmm… Sylphie, would they let you take the trash from the cafeteria?"
"Yeah… I guess so."
"Perfect. We only need 40 points—trust me… Sylphie, I really need you to trust me, okay?"
"…Yes… I trust you."
Good, I just need to wait for the weekend.
"What's your plan, Saik?"
"I'll get Sylphie a protection point, and we'll sell it to a second- or third-year for half price."
"W-What?! You want to expel another student?!"
"Well… Yeah. What's wrong with that?"
"…Saik, you'll make enemies."
"He's right—you're drawing too much attention."
"And we still don't know what kind of special exams there'll be in the future—you might be in danger."
"I think expelling another student would be bad for you."
Hmm… I guess they're right.
What if there's a test where we vote to expel someone from another group?
I need to keep a low profile.
"Yeah… You're right… Sylphie, there'll be an exam before the special exam ends. We have two weeks… If I'm right, the exams will be worth a lot… While Ludius and Naok train, Bell and Sylphie will study with me. We need to make sure you don't fail, and I'll get a perfect score—don't worry, I'll earn more points."
"I-I feel bad for not doing more."
"Ah… Same here, but what can we do? I'm not smart enough to teach middle or elementary school kids to study—I don't have the patience. And collecting trash gives us too few points… Saik, are you sure it's okay if we don't do more? I feel like I'm taking advantage."
"Don't worry, Bell, I don't mind. Sylphie's a friend, so I'm helping her. I don't know you, but you can pay me back later."
"How?"
"With your body."
Hearing that made him go pale.
"Kya! I didn't know you were into that, Saik!"
"…I meant you can help me when I need it. I don't want your body in a sexual way. I'm not into guys… Or girls, either… Honestly, I've never been interested in anyone… Hmm… I should change my mindset."
I recently learned that wanting a girlfriend is normal for guys my age.
If I want to be normal, I need to try to be interested in a girl… Or a guy… Either would be fine with me.
"You've never been interested in sex, Saik?" Ludius said.
"Nope."
"So you're a virgin?"
"Like everyone here. Raise your hand if you're not a virgin!" Naok said.
No one raised their hand.
I'd rather avoid weird questions. I'm not a virgin because I used my virginity to capture 31.
It was an interesting experience, but I didn't care much about it. I was too focused on satisfying her and draining her energy to… enjoy it? I got tired too, but not as much as she did.
"The only girlfriend I've had dumped me because she fell for another guy. I didn't even get to kiss her!"
Oh… Bell's already had a girlfriend… Should I ask him what it feels like?
"At least you've had one. I've been rejected three times!" Naok said.
"I've never been in love, so I don't know anything about that stuff," Ludius said.
"A-And I… I-I… No… I-I've never been in love."
Why do I have a feeling she's lying?
Must be my imagination.
"…"
Why's everyone staring at me?
Do I have something on my face?
"Why are you looking at me?"
"Your turn—you have to tell us about a romantic experience you've had," Bell said.
Hmm… The closest thing I've had to romance was with Number 31, because I had sex with her. Sex is something you do with the person you love… Or so I understand.
She loves me, but I don't love her.
I don't love her, but it's the closest I've come to romance.
But I can't tell them that.
"Hmm… Well… No… I don't have any experience with that stuff. I've never fallen in love with anyone, and no one's ever fallen for me. I'm the typical friendless guy who'll die alone."
I recently decided to kill myself after high school, so I don't need friends or a girlfriend… Though I want to experience a normal school life before I die.
"Huh? Isn't Sylphie your girlfriend?" Ludius said.
"We barely know each other."
"T-That's true!"
"Oh… I see."
I kept eating the soup—I don't want it to get cold.
"Is the soup good, Saik?"
Ah, Yuki. Does she want soup?
I have to admit, it's delicious.
"If it's delicious, you should tell Sylphie she cooks really well and that she'd make a great wife."
Huh? Why?
I don't get it… Well, Yuki's a girl—she must know something I don't.
Maybe women like hearing that phrase… Though it's the first time I've heard it.
"It's delicious. Sylphie, you cook really well—you'd make a great wife."
Everyone stared at me, and Sylphie turned completely red.
Ah… Does that phrase have a double meaning? I don't think Yuki would play that kind of prank on me.
"T-Thanks, Saik!"
"Fufu. Flirting in front of us, Saik?"
"You jerk. At least wait until we leave."
"Forgive the kid—he's still young."
…Flirting?
"Ah… I think I was misunderstood… My mom taught me to say that phrase to single girls who cook really well. It's the first time I've used it on a girl. Is it a way of flirting? Sorry for making you uncomfortable, Sylphie—I didn't know."
"N-No worries, Saik! I-I'm not uncomfortable."
Yuki started laughing… Ah… I think I'll punish her.
•
•
It's 7 p.m., and everyone left.
The guys and Yuki forced me to walk Sylphie home.
Fortunately, her house is 20 minutes from mine.
I guess walking her home is a good idea—there are a lot of crazy, dangerous people in the world… And I say that from experience.
I'm one of those dangerous types myself.
"…"
Sylphie's looking at the ground while walking… Why?
"Is something wrong, Sylphie?"
"N-No, why?"
"Well… How do I put it…? You look sad."
"I-I'm not sad, don't worry."
"Then why are you looking at the ground?"
"I… I-I… S-Sorry… I-I'm not used to seeing you in those clothes… T-They look really good on you."
I feel comfortable in tight clothes. It makes me feel like all the exercise I've done was worth it. It makes me feel confident and stronger.
But I guess it has a different effect on girls… That's weird.
"Ah… Do I make you nervous? Sorry, I'll walk farther away."
"N-No, that's not what I meant! I-I don't mind walking with you… I-It's just… S-Sorry, I don't know how to explain it."
"I see…"
I offered her a lollipop.
"Never look at the ground—always look ahead."
I grabbed her hand and pulled her toward me.
"S-Saik?!"
"You were about to crash into that light pole."
"Huh? Ah… T-That's true… T-Thanks."
I let go of her and patted her head.
"Looking at the ground won't let you see the dangers in front of you. Always look ahead."
"Y-Yes…"
I kept walking… That phrase… Simple words can have different meanings for different people.
They hit in different ways.
I hope the meaning Sylphie finds is the one I want her to find.
Sylphie started walking beside me, looking ahead… Her cheeks look red… How adorable.
…Normal guys my age want to have a girlfriend… And I think I have a chance with Sylphie.
If I asked her out right now, I think she'd say yes… But…
"…Sylphie."
"Y-Yes?"
"…No… Nothing, I just wanted to know if you're feeling okay."
"Y-Yes, I'm fine. Thanks for asking."
She started smiling while looking at the ground… A cute smile… She got nervous again.
…She gets nervous so easily… She's too shy.
I wanted to ask her out, but Sylphie's too shy… I don't want a girlfriend who's that shy.
I've never been interested in having a girlfriend, but if I want to experience a normal school life, I need to have one… Or at least try.
If I'm going to experience romance, I want to experience it with a girl who genuinely interests me.
The girls who interest me are those with strong personalities. Girls who won't betray me… Girls I can trust.
Sylphie's trustworthy, but she's too shy. I want a girlfriend who's strong, who doesn't get intimidated… And Sylphie's not that kind of girl.
I could never be interested in someone like Sylphie.
•
•
Alright, we're at her house.
I did what they asked—now I can leave.
"Thanks for walking me home, Saik."
"No problem. Thanks for helping with my fever. See you tomorrow."
"Y-Yes. See you tomorrow, Saik."
She went inside, and I started walking.
I'm still hungry… I think I'll buy a pizza and eat it at home.
Two pizzas—one whole one for me, and another for me too, but I'll eat that one in front of Yuki as punishment.
As I turned a corner, I almost bumped into a woman.
Ah… It's Sylphie's mom.
"Hey, Iris."
"H-Hi, Saik."
Ah… The same personality. It's like seeing an older Sylphie.
"W-What are you doing around here?"
"Your daughter visited me with some classmates, and they forced me to walk her home."
"Yeah, I heard something about that… Are you feeling better?"
"Yeah. My fever's gone."
"…Sylphie told me that thanks to your help, she now understands school topics that used to be hard for her… Thank you so much for helping my daughter."
"You're welcome… Though I think it's normal. According to my research, helping your friends study is normal."
"Research?"
"Yeah, I had to research what friends do. I've never had friends, so I didn't know what they do."
"I see… Have you really never had friends? I thought you were popular."
"Popular? Nah, I'm the loner in my class… Why'd you think that?"
"W-Well… Your body… And you have a nice face… I think you have what it takes to be popular."
"Ah… Because of my appearance… Well, I guess not… You think I'm nice-looking? Why? My hair covers my eyes."
"…Well…"
She lifted my hair with her hands and smiled.
"If anyone looks closely, they'd see you have beautiful eyes."
"Oh… I see… Well, I've never cared about appearances, so I didn't know… I'm going to grab some dinner—want to join me? I'd invite Sylphie too, but she already ate at my place."
"Well… I shouldn't, but… Sure, let's go."
I need to gain her trust more and boost her self-esteem. Ah… It's like helping an older Sylphie.
Two people with the same self-esteem issues… What a hassle.