CHAPTER 39 - Second Special Exam. Part 4.
My delicious lunch has its minutes numbered. I'll show no mercy. I'll enjoy devouring its body without pity. Ah, I'm bored, aren't I? I miss Yuki. I've gotten too used to her presence. I like solitude, I'm not complaining, but I'd rather be with Yuki… Ah… Well, I'll enjoy my food as much as I can.
I took a bite of my triple-bread sandwich with sausages instead of ham. Ah, and can't forget the chocolate drink. I think I should stop eating so much at school; soon they'll suspect why I don't gain weight despite eating so much. Well, my only excuse is to say I exercise a lot, though that'll be hard to believe considering my muscle mass doesn't increase.
I'll think of something later; for now, I'll enjoy my food in peace…
"No way, I already told you! You're gross!"
Ah, that's Naima's voice. She almost shouted. Hmm… Part of me wants to look, but I don't want her to think I'm a gossip.
I closed my eyes. I won't look, but I'll listen.
"C-Can't we start as friends?"
Ah, I see, someone confessed to her. I'm not the only one with that plan, huh? Well, Naima is pretty popular; she has lots of friends in other classes (though most of her friends are as rude as she is). She ranks high in popularity. And she's cute. It shouldn't surprise me that a lot of guys are after her… Well, not that many, really. Her personality scares guys off. No one wants a girlfriend as rude and violent as Naima. Ah, and there are also rumors that she avoids men and doesn't talk to any guys. She has no male friends, which lowers her popularity with guys but boosts it with girls. But that's not true; she doesn't talk to boring people. She doesn't care if you're a guy or a girl; she'll only talk to you if you're interesting. How do I know that? Well, because of this.
"You disgust me, get away from me!"
Ah, she punched that guy in the face. Bad move, Naima. I can feel the guy's anger from here.
From the tone of his voice, he's a pervert. I can sense his lust. That's gross and boring to Naima; it was obvious she wouldn't be interested in someone like him.
"Damn bitch!!"
Wow. He tried to hit her, but she caught his fist and kicked him in the crotch so hard he's crying on the floor.
"Tch. I'm going to wash my hands."
…Well… Ah…
I opened my eyes.
"She's perfect."
She can defend herself and doesn't let anyone intimidate her… Wow… I'm really starting to…
"H-Hi, Saik."
Ah… Sylphie. How did she find me? My secret spot isn't so secret anymore… Ah, right, I've eaten here with Sylphie before.
"Hey."
Sylphie is a nice girl, but honestly, I can't see her as a woman. I'm not attracted to her… Or am I scared she'll betray me? If only she weren't so shy.
"How'd it go at the student council? Are you in trouble?"
"No, quite the opposite; I achieved one of my goals. I got the vice president kicked out of his position. Akito is no longer the student council vice president. One step closer to getting him expelled."
"R-Really?! That's awesome! C-C-Congrats, Saik! H-How'd you do it?"
"It was pretty simple, actually."
•
•
I talked with Sylphie throughout the entire lunch period. Well, at least I wasn't too bored while eating, but I prefer eating with Yuki; it's more fun to talk with her.
I don't feel as comfortable talking with humans.
We returned to our classroom, and classes went on without any issues. The only difference is that my classmates found out I got Akito stripped of his vice president position, so I felt a lot of stares during class.
But whatever, I'll do what I always do: ignore it all.
Dismissal time came, and I prepared to escape while Ram was packing her things, but unfortunately, she knew my intentions and spoke to me.
"You're not planning to ditch your responsibilities, are you?"
"No, I was just going to go home and sleep."
"That's ditching your responsibilities."
"No, it's just forgetting about my responsibilities."
I went back to Ram and sighed.
"Fine, let's study. Bell, call Evelyn and Naok. We don't have much time."
Ah, what a drag.
I approached Sylphie and yawned. I'm sleepy. I was planning to sleep for an hour, but oh well, can't avoid being taken advantage of.
"Hey, Sylphie, Naok, Bell, and Evelyn are joining us. Hope that's okay."
"N-No worries, it's fine."
Studying… Ah, my old enemy, but my new friend. Life is a mystery.
•
•
(Pov- Kaeyko.)
"You shouldn't have done that! You're bleeding!"
"Don't worry."
Got into trouble again. They were mocking Dulce just for being overweight. Tch. Stupid nonsense. But aggressive people will always find something to mock others about.
At least I protected her honor. Dulce has been kind to me; I won't let anyone take advantage of her.
"T-Thank you so much for helping me, Kaeyko."
"It was nothing."
Dulce started wiping the blood from my nose with a tissue.
"You should go to the infirmary."
No need; my body heals fast. Probably because of my good diet and constant exercise. Having a healthy body has its perks.
"I'll be fine, don't worry. Let's go."
"Y-Yes."
Dulce and I left the school. Being accompanied doesn't feel so bad. Well, I feel comfortable because I know Dulce is a good person, but I really prefer not to get involved with anyone. I don't trust people.
"So… You feeling ready for the exam in the Capital?"
"It's not that hard. I doubt the school will leave us without studying for three weeks, so we'll probably get a couple of hours of virtual classes and work only five hours. I don't think the school will make us work eight hours or give us tough or complicated jobs. The island test will assess our ability to make decisions to survive. The camp test will evaluate teamwork. And the Capital test is a mix of both."
"Yeah, I think the same. Luckily, I got the Capital too. I wouldn't survive on the island. And I'm not very sociable; the camp would be tough for me."
Not sociable? She talks to me just fine. That's weird.
Dulce is a smart girl. I hope I can count on her help in the Capital.
And I don't know why they mock her; Dulce is cute… Well, at least she is to me.
•
•
(Pov- Saik.)
Ah… Sylphie, with all due respect, you were an idiot when I met you. It took a lot of effort, but you stopped being an idiot, and now you're… Hmm… I'd say average. You still have a long way to go to be smart. You have talent for drawing; if you pursue graphic design, you won't need to be so smart in math or history. Your intelligence leans more toward the arts.
But these three idiots… Naok, Bell, and Evelyn… These three are true idiots.
"For the fifth time, put down that damn phone and pay attention," Ram said, tired of Evelyn's attitude.
"Tch. You're annoying, idiot."
Evelyn, in particular, is the leader of the idiots. A group of troublesome girls. Well, I don't know if she's the leader; they all act the same, but I'll consider her the leader for being the biggest idiot.
And she doesn't smell of innocence. She seems like the type of girl who doesn't care about her future and just wants to have fun. I wonder if she's a virgin. I mean, she acts like a… Well, I think. I don't know how easy girls act. I shouldn't judge people by their appearance. Maybe she seems like an idiot, but deep down, she's a pure, innocent girl.
Yeah, I doubt it. Tanned skin, her blouse unbuttoned, her bra visible, and considering her breasts are quite large, that's just distracting Bell and Naok. Ludius decided to join us to study, but for some reason, he's not distracted by Evelyn's breasts. Well done, Ludius. Breasts are temporary; studying comes first.
And Sylphie is staring at me. She probably thinks I'm looking at Evelyn's breasts. I've seen naked breasts since I was seven; something like that doesn't faze me.
And Naok and Bell's performance is so low, it's pathetic. Naok is a nice person, I'll admit, but he gets distracted easily and can't even memorize a simple line he just read. Bell's the same, but only because he's distracted by breasts.
How do I get these idiots to study?
"Give me that damn phone."
"Huh? And why would I give it to you?"
"It's a distraction. Hand it over."
"Tch. I don't even know why I agreed to be here. Bye."
She got up from her seat.
We'll lose 50 class points for every student expelled. Gifting positive points is forbidden. I promised Sylphie I'd help her reach Class A, but if this continues, Evelyn will be expelled, and our efforts will be in vain; we'll be at a disadvantage.
We'll be in Class A if our exam results are good, but we could even drop if we fail.
I can guarantee a 100 on my own, but Sylphie would barely hit a 60, and Naok, Bell, and Evelyn are worse than her.
I could use a legendary ghost, but no, I won't cheat. I'm trying to reach Class A without using them. I'm getting smarter. I use the legendary ghosts to maintain my position as the top of the class, but in the future, I won't need them. I promised my mom I'd be the best, and that's what I'll be.
I'll be the best, and I won't cheat.
Ah, I need to do something drastic. I'll sacrifice my free time.
"Beach, a five-star hotel, and fancy food."
Evelyn stopped and turned to look at me.
"What are you talking about, weirdo?"
"If all of us pass the exam with over 60 points, I'll take you on vacation to the city of Solerk92."
"V-Vacation?" Sylphie said.
That city is one of the country's top tourist destinations. It's rich in history, and its traditions and customs attract a lot of foreigners and locals. Beaches, the country's largest aquarium, an amusement park, museums, blah, blah, blah.
I've been there before, with my parents and alone. That's where legendary ghost number 58 lived. I remember I destroyed part of the beach, and people thought it was caused by a meteorite.
Ah, that ghost broke my face, but I came out victorious in the end.
"Tch. You're trying to bribe me with that?"
"Do you know the 'Alvanem Rosa' hotel?"
"W-What…? H-Heh. It's impossible for you to get a reservation there. They only accept millionaires and celebrities."
That hotel is very, very expensive. Why? All its services are five-star quality. Fancy food, a tour guide included, and other things rich and elegant people like.
So many famous movies have been filmed there that it's become a tourist destination in the city.
"I can get the reservation. I'll pay for everything."
"You're lying."
"Let me make a call."
I took out my phone and searched for a number… Hmm… Here it is.
I hope he remembers me.
"S-Saik?"
I put it on speaker.
I doubt this idiot will let slip anything problematic while we're on the phone. We can talk without issues. He'll play along.
"Hey. Yeah, it's Saik, Dr. Norsai's son."
My last name. I'm Saik Norsai. Norsai, though short, I like my last name, but I prefer Saik.
"Y-Yes. It's been years since I last heard from you! And I'm so sorry about your parents' deaths."
"Don't worry, thanks. Can you say your full name? My classmates don't believe I know you."
"Oh, sure. My name is Nergio Alvanem Rosa. Nice to meet you."
Everyone's shocked faces are funny. It's always good to have connections.
"I need two rooms at your hotel. We're going next Friday and leaving Sunday night. We're having a short vacation and need a hotel. There's four guys and three girls."
"Oh, of course! No problem. And don't worry about the price; it's free."
"Seriously?"
"Your mom helped me in the past; now I'll help her son."
Nice lie.
"Thanks. Send me the reservation to my number."
"Give me a couple of minutes."
"Thanks. Take care. We'll see each other soon."
"Yeah, I'll be waiting."
I hung up.
"Alright. I got the reservations, and for free. Of course, if you don't believe me, they'll send the reservations soon. We can confirm them on the hotel's website."
"S-Saik, who are you really?" Ludius said.
"G-Getting reservations so easily and without paying… Are you some kind of millionaire?!" Evelyn said, with shady intentions behind her words.
"No, my mom was an important doctor; she had influential friends. I'm just taking advantage of their kindness. I'm poor; my parents were the rich ones, not me."
"B-But… I-Is it okay if we all go?" Sylphie said.
"Don't worry, Sylphie. We'll all go… Well, everyone who passes the exam with over 60 points. Anyone who fails won't just be expelled; they also won't get to enjoy a short but relaxing and fun vacation. So, Evelyn, you leaving or staying to study?"
Evelyn hesitated for a few seconds but finally agreed to stay and put her phone away.
"Alright, let's study."
•
•
(Pov- Nergio.)
Ahhhhh!! The master's coming!! I mustn't disappoint him!
I-I have to meet his expectations. I won't let him down! Master, you'll be proud of my results!
"I don't care if Prince Kai wants those rooms; they're already reserved for my guests! I'm not changing my mind!"
I hung up. My master is the most important person in the world to me; I don't care if some shitty prince wants those rooms!
Master, how much have you changed?
•
•
(Pov- Ram.)
Everyone packed their things and left, except Sylphie and Saik, who are still here.
I wanted to talk to Saik alone, but I doubt Sylphie wants to leave the guy she likes.
It's obvious she looks at him with love in her eyes. Well, I can't blame her. She's a loner who fell for the first person she considered a friend. She's a pretty easy girl.
"Saik, you did a great job today. You got the trio of idiots to study."
"When people are offered a reward for achieving a goal, the juicier the reward, the more effort they'll put in to get it. I just gave them an incentive."
Yeah, even I, who's sure I'll pass the exam with over 90, doubled my usual study effort. Why? Because I want to go on vacation. That hotel isn't just a tourist destination; it's a place few people in the world can afford. And we got free reservations. What kind of idiot wouldn't seize this opportunity?
Saik initially refused to help, and when he agreed, I thought he'd do it half-heartedly out of obligation, but not only is he offering a reward for their efforts, he's actually helping them study. His teaching method is simply incredible. Even an idiot like Evelyn understood him. Saik would make a great teacher.
"I wasn't wrong about you, Saik. You're cold, but you'll be a great ally. I hope I can count on you in the future."
"I'd rather you didn't. It's a hassle."
"Fufu. Like it or not, I'll count on you. Bye."
Saik, a guy who surpasses me in everything. A tough challenge. I don't know if I'll catch up to you, but I won't give up.
•
•
(Pov- Sylphie.)
A-Amazing. Saik got reservations at such an expensive and fancy hotel just to get us to study and put in effort.
W-Wait… Now that I realize, if I pass the exam, I'll go on vacation with Saik and the others… V-Vacation with friends… This is the first time this has happened to me.
My life really changed when I met Saik… Wait… We're going to the beach… S-Saik will see me in a swimsuit!
A-And I think I've gained a little weight. I need to exercise when I get home!
"Hey, Sylphie, I'm staying here a bit longer; you can go without me."
Oh… I really wanted to walk with Saik, but I need to make dinner.
"S-Sure. See you tomorrow, Saik."
"See you, Sylphie."
I packed my things and got up.
Saik's going to keep studying… Saik seems perfect, a prodigy, but he works hard to achieve what he wants. A guy who fights for his goals… I really like that side of him.
… I really like Saik, huh? I'm not embarrassed to admit it anymore.
•
•
(Pov- Saik.)
"Hey, Number 31, you know what to do."
Number 31 appeared in front of me and sat on the desk.
"Fufu. And my payment?"
"What do you want? A kiss?"
She put her right foot on my face.
"I want you to lick my foot."
I licked her foot, and she turned completely red.
"Uwaaaah! Y-You actually did it?! You didn't even hesitate!"
"I'm in a hurry."
"Fufu. You're not shy at all, darling. I love it!"
She disappeared. Good, I'll stay a bit longer to avoid suspicion.
But I won't study this book; I've already memorized it. I need another one.
I got up from my desk… Hmm… No… I've read these… Ah, it's her.
The blind girl is trying to reach a book. She memorized the locations of the books, huh? Impressive.
"Here."
I grabbed the book for her, and she took it with her hands.
"Thank you so much."
Ah, it's the novel Dark Summer. A book that tells the story of Joe, a young boy who has to survive with his little sister. They travel across the country searching for their father. A dark story. The mother cheated on the father, sleeping with men for money and pleasure. Her greed reached the point where she sold her own daughter to an older man. The man was about to steal the little girl's innocence, but Joe arrived and killed him with a rock. It's one of the few books that made me feel empathy for its characters.
"Excellent taste, though the ending is pretty sad."
I tried to walk away, but she grabbed my arm.
"Wait. Have you read it?"
"Yeah. Why?"
"It's the first time I've met someone who's read it. Can we sit and talk about the book? I don't know anyone else who reads books, and I'd love to discuss this one with someone."
Sharing and discussing books is something some people enjoy. I don't sense any ulterior motives in her words; she just wants to talk about the book with someone.
"Have you read it? I don't want to spoil it."
"Yeah, more than three times."
"Then let's sit."
•
•
(Pov- Yuki.)
Ahhhhh! I'm starving! Saik, you're taking too long to get home!
I feel like a mom going after her naughty kid.
The school's about to close, and he's still here. How do I know? Because his candies are still in his locker.
He's probably in the library with Sylphie.
I got to the library. Hmm… No… No… Found him!
Oh, he's talking to a girl. A blind girl.
Well, well… They seem to be having a good time… Why do I feel weird…? I don't know.
I approached them.
"The author wanted a realistic ending, but it was so depressing that I just refused to believe that was the end."
"Yeah, I agree. It was realistic, but such a harsh ending wasn't necessary. Even with a happy ending, the book would still be just as entertaining."
"Yes, yes, I say the same."
"What makes this book great is how the protagonist gradually matures and always comes up with strategies to solve problems and keep his little sister safe. And let's not forget that sweet sibling bond they had. Not like the incestuous books that are popular these days."
"Yeah, yeah. That's what I loved about it. Though it's a bit unrealistic to think a mere kid could evade criminals and even kill them, the characters and the emotions they convey are very realistic."
They're talking about a book, huh? I hope they don't take too long; I'm starving.
I sat on the table and yawned. I hope they don't take much longer.
Though… I still don't know why I feel so weird just seeing Saik talking so much with that girl… Why do I feel weird? I don't know.
•
•
(Pov- Saik.)
I yawned and scratched my arm. Ah, it's already dark. I stayed too long. I'm super sleepy. I spent a lot of time talking with Okaina, the blind girl from Class A. She's pretty nice. Her personality is calm. It's relaxing to talk with someone like that.
"What do you want for dinner tonight, Yuki?"
"I want a hot dog!"
"Me too. One with triple sausage. Bacon. Lots of avocado. Ah, and tons of mustard and ketchup."
"My mouth's watering! Let's go eat!"
"I don't think we have bread. Let's buy some."
We got to the store where Iris works. She's probably already home… Ah… Well… There's a weird wooden doll on the counter… But… This is strange.
"Here's the bread, Saik!"
Yeah… Alright.
I took the bread and placed it on the counter.
I paid and left the store. That doll was physical; I couldn't take it, but I wanted to. That doll wasn't normal.
How do I know? Because it's following me.
I stopped and turned around. The doll is on a trash can.
"What are you looking at, Saik?"
"Nothing, I was wondering if I forgot to buy something… Hmm… I don't think so."
I kept walking. I don't want to scare Yuki.
We got home.
"Yuki, go wrap the sausages in bacon."
"Leave it to me!"
I went upstairs and entered the bathroom… Alright…
"We can talk now."
The lightbulb went out, and when it came back on, the wooden doll appeared on the sink.
"You're the famous Saik, owner of the legendary ghosts. If the stories I've heard about you are true, I must admit it's an honor to meet you."
"Who are you?"
"I don't have a name; everyone calls me 'the wooden doll.' You can call me that or whatever you're comfortable with."
"So, wooden doll, what do you want from me?"
"You're the famous Saik, the only human who not only managed to collect the legendary ghosts before turning nine but also defeated legendary ghost number 100. The emotionless human. You not only let all those ghost hunters die, you didn't care about their deaths. A human without feelings."
"I told them I wouldn't protect them; they died because they were stupid."
"I just wanted to meet you. We'll see each other again soon. This isn't goodbye; it's see you later."
The lightbulb went out again, and when it came back on, the doll was gone… That's two mysterious people who know my identity now. A man and a wooden doll. What exactly is the Goddess of Ghosts planning? Can't she wait until I kill myself after I graduate?
Ah… I hate my life.
•
•
After dinner, I couldn't fight the sleepiness anymore and collapsed onto my comfy bed. Ah… Tomorrow's another day. I really hope my class reaches Class A. I mean, we currently have 200 class points. From what I researched, we're in first place, but that could change with the exam results. I hope my efforts aren't in vain. I even sacrificed my free time for them. I hope it's worth it.
"Tomorrow's another day."
•
•
(Pov- Kaeyko.)
Oh… Eating dinner alone is so nice. The dinners I had with my family were awkward. My little sister and mom wouldn't stop bothering me, trying to talk to me. Their voices were annoying.
But now I live alone. No one will bother me.
"I'm full."
I'm satisfied.
I washed the dirty dishes and lay on my bed. I've become completely solitary… Well, to be honest, I'm too solitary, but it can't be helped. I have no friends, and I hate my family. Oh… Will my situation ever change? I don't know.
Huh? Someone's knocking on the door.
I got up from bed and opened the door. S-Shit, I almost had a heart attack. I'm slowly getting used to Sylvie's presence, but she still looks terrifying.
"G-G-Good evening, Kaeyko."
She's trembling a lot. She's super nervous. She's a loner too, but unlike me, I'm a loner because I want to be, and she's a loner because she doesn't dare to socialize. People judge her for her scary appearance. Judging without knowing the person… Ah, I hate that. I think that's why I can talk to her without issues. I feel identified with Sylvie.
"Good evening, Sylvie. What can I do for you?"
"W-W-Well… Uh… I-I have a n-n-new v-v-video game. W-Would you like to p-p-play a bit?"
I see. Trying to socialize, huh?
"Sure. It's still early."
She smiled at me. She probably thought I'd reject her. I don't judge people without knowing them, Sylvie, and I know you're a good person.
•
•
"I won!"
"Y-Y-You're r-really g-g-good, Kaeyko."
"Thanks."
We've been playing for over three hours. I'll admit I'm a bit sleepy, but playing with someone else is more fun than I imagined. Sylvie is a fun person, and it's nice to talk with her. You really can't judge someone by their appearance.
…Huh? I feel a slight chill running through my body… I feel weird.
Oh, it's probably just my imagination.
•
•
"Fufu. Kaeyko, you'll be my new toy."
The little girl who tormented Sylvie was burning a photo of Kaeyko while laughing like any generic villain.
"Don't disappoint me."
•
•
(Pov- Saik.)
Tuesday, a new school day began. Exams start next week; we have this week to prepare. Evelyn, Naok, and Bell are the only ones at risk of expulsion. Sylphie, who was originally the worst in the class, surpassed them thanks to me and Noel, who helped me teach her. She'll be safe.
"I'm thirsty, Saik."
"Me too. Let's buy something to drink."
Yuki decided to come to school with me today. She said she doesn't want to stop coming to school with me. She'll go with Sumi one day and with me the next. I like the idea; I feel comfortable with Yuki. She knows more about common sense than I do. Her advice on how to talk to others will help me today.
We got to the store, and I bought two bottles of lemon water.
I placed them on the counter and yawned.
"Good morning, Saik."
"Good morning, Iris. Ah, I'm so sleepy… How about you?"
"Good, thanks for asking. Sylphie told me you invited her on vacation. Thank you so much, Saik."
"Though I'll admit I did that to get everyone to study. Of course, you're invited too. It's just for a weekend. We can't miss classes."
"Oh, I'd love to go, but I have work. Thanks for the invitation, though. Sylphie's been super nervous and studied all night. She really wants to go on that trip."
"I doubt Sylphie will have any issues with the exam. Her results have improved a lot. All Sylphie needed was a calm, problem-free environment. She's a smart girl, and she's proving it."
"Yeah… Sylphie told me what you did for her. You protected her from the girls who were hitting her… Fufu. I'm not surprised she's in love with you."
"Though I don't want her to be; I just want to be her friend."
"Huh? Just her friend?"
"Sylphie's a good friend, but I can't see her any other way. I've never fallen in love, and I doubt I will in the future. I can't fall in love… I shouldn't… Well, I gotta go. See you tomorrow."
"Hey… Saik, if Sylphie wants to go out with you, would you reject her?"
"Yeah. My parents told me I should only date someone I like, and I've never liked anyone… And I can't waste time on stuff like that… But life's a mystery. Maybe I'll end up liking Sylphie; maybe I'll like another girl. Ah, I don't know… Well, it's too soon to think about that."
"Yeah, you're still young; you'll find love someday. And if you like Sylphie, I'll support you."
"Yeah, young…"
And I'll die young.