Ever since I made the deal with Hayami, he started teaching me how to study and helping me with things I didn’t understand.
We exchanged contact info, and he teaches me over the phone at night.
Because of that, the time I spend at the library has gotten shorter.
Hayami hasn’t told me specifically how we are going to cheat.
I just asked him to wait until after the final exams since they are in the middle of the month, and Hayami agreed.
As the tests got closer, Hayami became stricter to make sure I didn’t fail any subjects on the final exams.
At first, he taught me in a kind way, but halfway through, he started saying things like, “If you fail a subject, my plan is going down the drain.”
It’s such a big change that it makes me wonder if he’s really the same Hayami from back then.
We don’t talk at school. They say our relationship is going to be kept secret.
Well, since he is teaching me how to study, I have no complaints, and Hayami has been living his life the same as usual. On the outside, anyway.
I heard a little from Hayami, though—it seems his parents’ divorce is already finalized. He also said something about his younger sister transferring schools.
He said his sister goes to a different school so her girlfriend won’t find out, but is that really true?
Wait, doesn’t Hayami’s girlfriend get along with Hayami’s family? Aren’t they childhood friends?
I haven’t been able to ask Hayami about that yet.
Anyway, for now, I have to do my best not to fail any subjects on the final exams.
When I told Hayami that over the phone, he asked, “Are you really going to be okay for the test?”
He’s such a sarcastic guy. But as we talked on the phone, somehow, I started feeling more relaxed than before.
I guess this is what having a friend feels like.
Then the final exams ended, and avoiding a failing grade on the finals—which was my goal—was achieved. The results are coming back today.
✶
Today is finally the day of our fateful test results.
Even if I try to struggle now, the results won’t change.
In my heart, I was praying.
(I did what I could, and I felt better about this test than any before. So please… no failing grades.)
“Toyama.”
The teacher called my name.
“Yes.”
I went to get my test results.
“Toyama, you worked quite hard this time.”
Before I even saw the results, a smile spread across my face at the teacher’s words.
Then, looking at the answer sheet, I screamed inside so I wouldn’t make a sound out loud.
(Yes!! I avoided a failing grade!)
Even though I didn’t realize it myself, I apparently had a huge smile on my face.
When I went back to my seat and sat down, Hayami, who was sitting next to me, was smirking.
I glared at Hayami.
(What. Do you have a problem?)
Just as I thought that, a message arrived on my smartphone.
When I checked it under the desk…
『You’re showing it too much on your face. Everyone is looking at you and surprised.』
Huh? No way, right!? Hayami, talking nonsense.
Thinking that, I raised my head, and from all around me came looks of surprise…
I got embarrassed and hid my face.
(Damn it, that Hayami…)
But I ended up doing that for every single subject…
✶
The night of the day all the final exam results were returned. I was talking with Hayami on the phone.
“Anyway, congratulations on avoiding a failing grade.”
Hayami says that, but I haven’t told Hayami my results yet.
“Hey, how do you even know I didn’t fail!?”
When I said that to Hayami, he replied with a slightly mocking tone.
“Well, because you were grinning in every single subject! I think not just me, but everyone could tell, right?”
Hearing that, I got embarrassed all at once and said to Hayami in an angry tone.
“No way that’s true!? In the first place, you were grinning and looking at me…”
“No, you were grinning the moment you got it.”
“No way…”
“No, way.”
“Ugh…”
“Your smile was pretty funny, you know?”
“Hayami, if you’re going to say that, say it was cute!?”
“What, you wanted me to say that!?”
“No way!”
Whenever I talk to this guy, my pace gets thrown off. But strangely, it’s not bad.
I’ve started to feel like I’m getting closer to Hayami.
I used to think I didn’t need friends, but I feel like having at least one is okay.
Towa Hayami—I think I get along well with this guy.
While I was thinking about things like that and talking, Hayami suddenly brought up that topic.
“Toyama. Now that the final exams are over, I want to start with my request, is that okay?”
Hayami’s request… that is, to cheat with me so he can break up with his girlfriend.
Hearing that, my mood instantly plummeted.
“That’s right… Okay. You’ve been listening to my requests, after all…”
Honestly, I’m still not feeling up for it. At first, I thought it was a joke, and I couldn’t believe the nerve of breaking up with someone even if it hurts them.
But now it’s different. Hayami must not really want to do that either, and above all, when I think about how much pain Hayami is in, I…
Eh… could it be that I… No way, no way! That’s impossible!
“What’s wrong, Toyama? Why did you suddenly go quiet? That’s not like you.”
“Shut up! I was just thinking about something.”
I immediately denied to myself what I had been thinking.
“You, thinking? That’s even less like you.”
“Hayami! Stop saying unnecessary things every time!”
I tried my best to suppress my feelings. If I don’t, it feels like I’m going to realize something.
“Well, whatever. Anyway, about the cheating thing…”
“Yeah…”
“How about we get spotted entering a love hotel together somewhere in August?”
A… a love hotel!? Isn’t this guy trying to seriously cheat!?
No way… Hayami and me… No, no, Hayami! It’s too early for stuff like that!
“Hayami!? Suddenly a love hotel… I’m not mentally prepared yet…”
When I said that, Hayami…
“Are you misunderstanding something? There’s no way we’re actually going into a love hotel.”
“Eh? Is that so…”
Hearing that, Hayami spoke to me with a voice full of exasperation.
“Toyama… I said I wanted you to be my cheating partner, but I don’t actually want to cheat.”
What is that how it is? I mean, I knew that!
“I know that!”
“Do you really know? Whatever. How about we aim for when Yumi goes out with her friends, and make it look like we got spotted?”
“Even if you ask me how…”
“If Yumi and her friends spot us, it will definitely look like I cheated.
If you also pretend you were lied to and tricked by me, you’ll be the victim and your future school life won’t be disrupted that much.”
“No, I don’t particularly.”
“To make sure your school life isn’t disrupted, you have to act like you were tricked by me, right!?”
Why is this guy trying to be the bad guy all by himself?
Since I’m already helping, I’m a bad guy too, so he doesn’t need to worry about that.
“I understand. I’ll do as Hayami says.”
“Thanks. That helps… Anyway, sorry to be brief, but let’s wrap it up for today…”
Right as Hayami was about to hang up the phone, I made a suggestion to him.
“Hey, Hayami.”
“What, is there still something else?”
“Um… since it’s supposed to be cheating, after all. We have to give off a somewhat intimate vibe, don’t we?”
“Well… that would make it look more believable.”
“That’s why… um, from now on, how about we stop calling each other by our last names…”
“Huh? We can just do that when the time comes, right?”
“No… I just think I won’t be able to do that all of a sudden…”
What am I saying!? I am…
“So, at least when it’s just the two of us talking… would it be so bad to call each other by our first names?”
Hayami fell silent. Is he really that against it?
“Alright. Sure.”
“Eh? Really!?”
“I mean, it’s not a problem, right? Good friends call each other by their first names anyway, don’t they?”
“…Haha, yeah, that’s right. If we’re friends, it’s fine.”
“Yeah. If that’s all, I’m going to hang up, okay?”
“…Ah, yeah, my bad, taking so long…”
“Well then, see you at school tomorrow, Iori.”
“??? Oh, yeah, see you. Towa…”
With that, we ended the call.
Even though my feelings are so complicated, my face is looking very happy…
This is bad… What has gotten into me?
And just like that, the fateful day approached in the blink of an eye.