"###"
Huh…
I think I hear a voice. It's incomprehensible, though.
Whatever, probably just my imagination…
"###"
Leave me alone…
"###"
"###"
What's that? Can't a girl rest in peace?
"HASEBE-SAN!"
I jump instinctively at the voice, now much louder and clear.
My sleepy eyes adjust to the light.
Looks like I dozed off.
That's my thought as I take in my surroundings.
I'm in a classroom, surrounded by my classmates and a teacher at the podium.
My classmates are staring, barely holding back their laughter.
Ugh, I'm in trouble now.
Ignoring the snickers around me, I focus on the front.
There stands a middle-aged man with a stern face.
It's Mr. Toshigini, our homeroom teacher. He also teaches math.
"Hasebe-san, were you sleeping in my class?"
Toshigini-san asks, his tone bordering on anger.
What do I say?
It's obvious I nodded off, and denying it would only dig me deeper. But admitting it won't help either.
I stand abruptly and bow to Toshigini-san.
"Please forgive me, sensei. I stayed up late studying for the upcoming entrance exams. I'm sorry."
Of course, it's a total lie.
Though, I'm not lying about the exams. It's February. As final-year middle schoolers, we're gearing up for high school entrance exams, and mid-February is when they happen.
Sure, I plan to continue my studies, but I'm no model student who'd sacrifice sweet sleep for late-night cramming.
My excuse seems to work.
Taking Toshigini's silence as a good sign, I slowly raise my head…
But to my shock, I'm face-to-face with him.
Without me noticing, he'd walked right up to my desk.
After staring me down, Toshigini-san finally speaks.
"Do you really think I was born yesterday, Hasebe-san? What idiot would believe *you'd* lose sleep over studying?"
Damn, I forgot I've pulled similar tricks before. What an idiot I am sometimes.
"Ow!"
I yelp softly as Toshigini-san suddenly taps the edge of his textbook on my head.
It wasn't a hard hit, but I rub my head anyway, pretending it hurts.
Shaking his head at my fox-like act, Toshigini-san returns to his podium, and I sit back down, still lightly rubbing my head.
"I know classes end in a month, but that's no excuse to slack off. Our country's job market is getting more competitive. Only by getting into good schools can you secure a future."
Toshigini-san seizes the moment to lecture us, glaring at me the whole time.
Yeah, yeah, I get it, sensei. I may be lazy sometimes, but that doesn't mean I'm worthless. I mean, I've made it this far without repeating a year, right?
Truth is, my real issue is I don't see the point in going all out when minimal effort gets me by. I just think it's dumb.
After that, class resumes, and I do my best to resist the lure of sleep.
Finally, the bell rings, signaling the end of classes.
I'm on my way home now.
"Hey, Haruka, have you picked a high school to apply to?"
A girl with a round face and short brown hair asks me.
Despite seeming like a loner, I do have friends, though I'll admit I'm more comfortable with girls than guys.
Her name's Tachibana Yuna.
She's not just my friend but also my neighbor. We've known each other since kindergarten. We went to different elementary schools but spent all of middle school together.
"Hm, as long as it's a decent high school, I'm good. I let my mom decide."
I reply.
"Still lazy, even when it's about your future, huh."
That wasn't Tachibana.
Right now, there are three of us walking together.
To my right is Tachibana, and to her right is the third member of our group.
Her name's Akabane Ayame. She's a tall, slender girl with long black hair like mine. She wears glasses, giving her a scholarly vibe, though she's not actually that studious.
Unlike Tachibana, she's not a childhood friend. Still, we clicked fast during our second year of middle school.
"I'm not lazy, just not super invested. Big difference."
My reply makes both Tachibana and Akabane laugh.
"That said, it'd be awesome if we all went to the same high school."
Tachibana adds.
Akabane and I nod.
It'd be great to end up at the same school.
"So, which high schools are you guys picking? That way, I can apply there too."
For once, I take the lead and ask.
"I'm aiming for Danto. It's a solid high school, and it's in our prefecture. What do you think?"
Tachibana answers first.
"Hm, sounds good."
I agree without hesitation.
Danto was one of my top choices too. It's in our prefecture, the social vibe's decent, and now my friends want to go there. Danto it is!
"I want to go to Koudo Ikusei."
Akabane drops that bombshell.
"Koudo what?"
I'm completely lost. Never heard of it.
"Oh, Ayame, you're aiming way too high."
Tachibana says, chuckling.
"What's that about?"
I ask, not wanting to be left out.
"Oh right, you wouldn't know, Haruka!"
Tachibana exclaims, finally getting my confusion.
'It took you long enough.'
"It's the most prestigious high school in Japan. The government itself oversees the education. They say graduates have a 100% chance of landing a job or getting into top universities."
Akabane explains.
Her tone and expression show how much she admires this so-called elite school.
"But admission is super selective. Only 160 students are accepted each year."
Tachibana adds.
"Only 160?"
I ask, genuinely shocked.
Tachibana just nods.
"Aya, you *are* aiming too high."
I echo Tachibana's earlier comment to Akabane.
I wouldn't call us terrible students, but with stakes like that, we don't stand a chance.
Given the school's reputation, it probably draws tens of thousands of applicants yearly. And they only pick 160? I'm no math whiz, but I know the odds are less than 1%.
"Come on, friends! Don't give up so fast!"
Akabane urges us.
"I know a senpai who wasn't a brainiac but still passed their entrance exam. Anything's possible. Think of the doors it'd open if we get in."
She adds.
"That's an exception. Nothing says we'd be one too."
Tachibana says.
"I'm with Yuu. Instead of chasing something so out of reach, we should focus on what's realistic, Aya."
I back Tachibana.
Sure, that school sounds impressive, but I can't see myself diving into something so improbable when I already struggle with the normal path.
"Still, Ayame's not entirely wrong."
Tachibana chimes in again.
'Huh?'
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