The summer of an 18 year-old

Good morning. It’s another beautiful day today.

But really, yesterday and today, and probably tomorrow too, it’s always nice weather. It’s so hot every day that I can’t focus on studying for the entrance exams. The summer for exam students is a big mental and physical strain. I wonder how the seniors managed to get through it.

Anyway, I always seem to start with complaints, which has become a standard part of my life.

The Inter-High ended the other day, and we, the Misora High School soccer team, lost in the finals again. We were runners-up in both the prefectural tournament and the Inter-High. They call this being a “silver collector”. But I am not collecting such things!

It’s really an ignoble nickname. Although I wish we could give it up, the opponent that irritates me the most right now is not Momoe Academy, which we keep losing to, but the unknown Kokuryu Minami High School from Fukui Prefecture, which defeated us in the finals.

Moreover, the core of their soccer team is the four-member group called FLAT4… I can’t believe it. It was really the most frustrating high school for me.

By the way, do you remember FLAT4? It’s a quartet in the wizard world, led by Prince Akatsuki-kun, with Tooru-kun, Leon-kun, and Fujio-kun. I understand that the four of them are working hard to uplift the wizard world, but they could do that without starting to play soccer.

Moreover, they studied abroad in England before coming to Japan. Even though they were a member of a junior soccer team in England, they don’t seem to be very fluent in English. Anyway, I’ve heard that even small towns in Europe and South America have local soccer teams deeply rooted in their communities. European leagues are also broadcasted on TV in Japan. Among them, the English Premier League can be considered the pinnacle of professional soccer worldwide.

The characteristic of English soccer is that it requires a lot of physical stamina and is tough. And it often emphasizes teamwork over individual skill, which is completely different from the teams we always play against.

FLAT4 doesn’t just confuse the defense with a flurry of passes, but even their midfielders shoot powerful mid-range shots from distant positions one after another.

Leon-kun is the forward, and of course his shots are powerful and accurate, but while marking Leon-kun, we were scored by Akatsuki-kun, the attacking midfielder, or Tooru-kun, the midfielder. When we tried to counterattack, Fujio-kun, who was the key to their defense, would effortlessly anticipate our passing lanes, making it impossible to score a goal. And the four of them were in perfect sync.

All four of them are tough, and the Misora High School soccer team, which barely won the previous game with penalty kicks, did its best, but we were defeated due to fatigue and defensive weaknesses.

All four of them are powerful wizards, but of course they don’t bring magic into soccer. They didn’t fall down even with a slight contact. They have a strong torso. The junior managers, Chinami-chan and Seto-kun, have calmly analyzed their strengths and weaknesses and realized that there are many things we can learn from them, and I agree.

But we can’t confuse their magic with soccer. Ah, it’s so frustrating! It’s annoying to explain it in detail like this. We definitely won’t forget this loss. It’s time for revenge at the National Stadium!

…I had a reason for indulging in such reminiscences.

I was on the living room sofa, getting lectured by Dad and Mom. Up until a point, I was reflecting properly, and their opinions were accurate, based on their years of experience. I had no room for rebuttal.

However, after a while, I noticed that the conversation started looping or going off on tangents. Before I knew it, they were sharing stories from their past… They’re both getting old, aren’t they? Besides, they were definitely exaggerating their stories. I couldn’t imagine Dad and Mom having a flawless childhood. So, gradually, their conversation passed over my head, and I immersed myself in my own world.

“Doremi, are you listening?”

“Yes. I’m listening, Mom.”

Probably because the content of my reminiscing was regrettable, I didn’t have a smirk on my face, but…

“You seem to be thinking about something else.”

“That’s not true. I’m reflecting.”

As expected, Mom and Dad, who have raised me for many years, understood me well. Even the things I tried to cover up with words, they could tell what I was really thinking.

“We know you’re doing your best with your club activities, part-time job, and studying. But you’ve had more free time since summer vacation started, haven’t you? You’ll have a mediocre summer vacation if you don’t study systematically.”

What Dad says makes sense.

“That’s right. If you wake up early in the morning, it’ll be a little cooler. You’re studying with Hamada-san and the others now, right? I’m worried that you’re dragging their feet.”

Yikes!

Is my inner voice showing on my face and in my attitude? At the very least, Itoko-chan is solving much more advanced problems than me.

“You can study your weak subjects in the morning, and then go to study sessions, part-time jobs, and club activities. You haven’t helped much around the house this year, have you?”

Pop is busy with piano lessons, and I haven’t even prepared dinner on days when I don’t have part-time jobs or club activities. At most, I clean my own room.

“Still, it’s okay if your grades improve compared to before, but…”

“I’m sorry.”

I bowed deeply. There were three iced coffee glasses on the table, the melted ice making them look like barley tea. The area around them was like a puddle. And there was the result sheet of the mock exam.

I wish the letters on the sheet would be blurred in those puddles. And if neither the results nor the evaluations were readable…

Even if I couldn’t read them, it wouldn’t change the outcome, huh? Phew~.

The nationwide mock exam held at the beginning of summer vacation resulted in scores that were more disastrous than expected. The university I aspire to attend is a national or private women’s university within commuting distance by train, with a department of education.

For me, there were some universities that seemed out of reach based on their difficulty level, but once I decided to become a teacher, I felt a strong desire to be an authentic one. Well, there’s no such thing as a fake teacher, but you know what I mean.

However, it’s difficult for me considering my grades. There were some private universities where I might barely make it through recommendation-based admissions. But they only have departments of literature and economics in the humanities, and they don’t have a department of education that is necessary to become an elementary school teacher. If I earned the credits in the teacher training course, I could become a teacher at middle or high schools. But my aspiration is strictly to become an elementary school teacher.

I know my goal is too high. I’ve been thinking that a lot lately. I’m too naive.

My best friends are all aiming to become professionals in their respective fields. Onpu-chan has already entered the professional world. Seeing everyone’s efforts, I also think that if I don’t put in the same amount of effort, I won’t be able to become the teacher I want to be. Of course, I also know that good grades are not an absolute requirement for being a good teacher.

My best friends and even my little sister Pop thought that I would become a teacher. I finally found what I wanted to do. I realized that my best friends had been watching over me without jumping to conclusions until I clearly stated my aspirations. And there is also the existence of Seki-sensei, who is a role model. I want to be a teacher who is reliable and trustworthy like Seki-sensei.

“If you want to become an elementary school teacher, what about Karen Girls’ Academy? That’s where Seki-sensei, who was your homeroom teacher, graduated from.”

“Right. I also think Seki-sensei is a very good teacher. Although the tuition at Karen Girls’ Academy is indeed high, you can save on commuting expenses, and it’s close enough to have part-time jobs.”

Dad and Mom said as if they could read my mind. But,

“…Karen Girls’ Academy also has a high cost of attendance, including tuition fees and other expenses.”

I said, and Mom added with a sigh,

“The academic standards are high too, aren’t they…”

There was a big sigh from the three of us. Even I had considered it at least once. If I had enrolled there since junior high, it might have been easier, but the academic standards were higher than I had imagined, and the shock of learning that university entrance exams from external schools are difficult was indescribable.

And compared to the private university I desired, its cost of attendance is significantly higher. Hazuki-chan and Tamaki have both excelled academically since elementary school, and they are from affluent backgrounds, after all. Speaking of elementary school grades, Pop is actually more outstanding than me.

That’s why I chose a different university as my goal, but compared to my current situation, the goal seems too ambitious, and I can’t have any confidence in myself at all.

It’s no use making excuses. I raised my head and looked straight ahead,

“You’re right, Dad, Mom. I thought I could manage somehow. I’ll make a plan and do my best from now on. I’ll definitely improve my grades next time.”

I declared firmly to Dad and Mom. The two of them looked at each other and said,

“You can do it, Doremi. I think everyone is desperate at this time.”

“Your test scores on the regular exams have improved compared to when you were a first-year student. However, Dad thinks that if your mock exam scores are not improving, it means your basics are still weak.”

Their faces became gentle.

Dad and Mom also knew that my schedule has become harder since the Misora High School soccer team became a national-level team and Hana-chan and Momo-chan started the cheerleading society.

From this year, we have added one more manager, aside from my part-time job. I thought I could balance my studying, being a manager, and working part-time. But when I see how hard Hana-chan and Momo-chan are working to promote their society to an official school club next year, I can’t reduce my part-time job just because of the entrance exams. Even though everyone is busier than me, they are still studying hard.

“Perhaps my problem lies in how I manage my time.”

“Indeed.”

“Yes, indeed.”

Dad’s and Mom’s voices matched perfectly. Yeah, that’s right. Phew~. I went back to my room and sighed as I reviewed my mock exam score.

I’m glad I found out the results of the mock exams after my birthday. On my birthday at the end of July, I even got to taste MAHO-do’s August sweets in advance as a special treat. It was a gift from Momo-chan. I also received a congratulatory email from Kotake, and while it’s kind of subtle that my best friends’ gifts were recommended reference books, I firmly embraced the feeling that everyone is supporting me.

The next day, I participated in the study group at Tsukasa-san’s place. Hamada Itoko-chan and Iida Kanae-chan were already there, and I told them about how Mom and Dad scolded me yesterday and my mock exam results.

“It’s normal for everyone to be pushing themselves harder during this time, so you’re not alone!”

Itoko-chan is studying stress-free at Tsukasa-san’s house. Sometimes she helps with the housework there too. So relaxed. Following Itoko-chan, Kanae-chan also encouraged me.

“Many people are retiring from club activities during summer vacation, so everyone is focusing on studying. Ganbatte, Doremi-chan. I’ll do my best too.”

As Itoko-chan and Kanae-chan said, students who belonged to sports clubs are retiring around before summer and starting to focus on entrance exam studying. They were originally trying to balance club activities and regular studies. Maybe their concentration is also high.

“Well, it’s possible that sports club students have good concentration and time management skills.”

Tsukasa-san said casually. It could be true.

Itoko-chan said that during long holidays at home, she helps her younger siblings with their studies while also reviewing her own material. Since she has a lot of siblings who are close in age, it seems like a very efficient system. And the Iida family has the legendary steak at home, which is said to be the source of energy. It must give them a lot of power.

And Tsukasa-san, I think half jokingly, feels that as long as he is responsible for Itoko-chan, he has to get her to pass the exam, so he is very strict about it.

“Doremi-chan, you should come to my place to study more. It seems like your basics aren’t quite solid yet. I’ll teach you tho-rough-ly.”

Tsukasa-san winked at me. He seems to have a whip or something behind him. Tsukasa-san goes to work at the nightclub in the evening, so he says it’s okay to come before that and on days off in the afternoon. He’s a nice person. Merciless though.

When we talked about the Inter-High, Tsukasa-san got interested in FLAT4.

“They’re a quartet of handsome guys, right? They were even featured in a magazine. Doremi-chan, you said you’ve known them since elementary school. You had a good relationship with one of them back then, but I heard you flatly turned him down recently. Even though he’s grown up to be so attractive. It might be the peak of your love life. Honestly, what a waste. If so, introduce me to one of them.”

I was slightly annoyed in the middle of his conversation, but when the topic of handsome guys came up, Tsukasa-san… it’s like he’s suddenly all knowledgeable about it?

“Come on, Tsukasa-san, how do you even know all that?”

When I turned to Itoko-chan and Kanae-chan, they blatantly turned their faces away. I thought they didn’t know that much.

“Doremi-chan is lovey-dovey with the captain of the soccer team, Kotake-kun, right now.”

“Yeah, that’s right. She doesn’t care about past relationships.”

Itoko-chan and Kanae-chan exchanged glances, seemingly forming an alliance. Am I being cornered?

“Well then, did you just switch to Kotake-kun and delete the previous guy? Phew, Doremi-chan, you’re quite a heartless woman.”

Being called a “heartless woman” made Itoko-chan and Kanae-chan’s shoulders shake as they tried to hold back laughter at Tsukasa-san’s dubious words.

“Tsukasa-san, do you have a thing for handsome guys? Maybe I can share it with them next time they drop by my part-time workplace?”

When I asked, Tsukasa-san replied,

“Well, I’m quite open-minded, Doremi-chan. But joking aside, even for someone with a wide range like me, dating active high school students is a bit too much.”

As for Tsukasa-san’s “range”, I’ll have to ask about it another time. Right now, I find FLAT4, who occasionally shows up using magic, a bit annoying.

While there was a time when I was interested in Akatsuki-kun, I completely forgot about FLAT4’s existence. Because the one I like now is Kotake. Even though there has been no progress at all. I intend to go to university, and I’m certain that Kotake will join the J-League. It’s frustrating that despite going to the same school and being involved in the same soccer team, nothing is progressing. If we don’t get closer now, it will only be harder when we’re apart. At least I hope he joins a club in the Kanto region.

Akatsuki-kun and the others, like Hana-chan, came to the human world to explore the future of the wizard world. Still, FLAT4 gives off a light-hearted vibe. Fujio-kun seems to be the one who experiences the most hardships.

Since the conversation drifted towards FLAT4 and things got a bit messy, we decided to take a break.

Since Itoko-chan and Kanae-chan mentioned that they went to an open campus, I took the opportunity during the break to ask them about it.

“When you actually go and visit, you learn a lot of things. Like the size of the university, the atmosphere, the commuting time, and the train fare.”

As expected of Itoko-chan. She’s practical.

“Oh, you know what? I tried the cafeteria food there. Since it’s a university with a home economics department, the menu was extensive, and they even had desserts.”

Kanae-chan has a different perspective. She’s more like me.

“Oh, really? Maybe I should go and check it out too.”

It seems like both of them had fun. In the end, Itoko-chan seems to have mostly decided on a future goal related to interior design, while Kanae-chan aims to become a nutritionist. Perhaps it’s because they have a family background in those fields. Hasebe Takeshi-kun also wants to become a chef. They must admire seeing their family members working in those professions.

“You know, when you visit your prospective schools, it boosts your motivation.”

Itoko-chan told me.

“That’s right. It’s fun to visit the school festival¹, but the open campus events are for prospective students, so you can learn a lot. There’s another one in the latter half of summer vacation, so why don’t you go and check it out too? Would you like to visit the university I attended?”

Tsukasa-san suggested happily. But it’s impossible, really. Unfortunately, even if my T-score² goes up by another 10 points, I still might not be able to get in. Nevertheless, I’d love to go and see.

Come to think of it, I’ve never been to a university festival. Even though I was busy, I shouldn’t have put my future plans on hold.

“Speaking of which, what about Kaori-chan and Mutsumi-chan?”

I don’t come here often, but since summer vacation started, I haven’t seen Shimakura Kaori-chan and Kudo Mutsumi-chan at Tsukasa-san’s house anymore.

“Kaori-chan has been working at our place all day since the first day of summer vacation.”

Kanae-chan answered.

“She used to work part-time in the evenings and on weekends, but since summer vacation started, she’s been working at the store all day. It’s pretty hard work. The grill is heavy and hot.”

Tsukasa-san put an iced coffee on the table and looked at Kanae-chan.

“Come to think of it, Kanae-chan’s family runs a steakhouse, right? I also want to go there sometime.”

“Please do come. My parents have been saying that they want to treat you to the finest steak as a thank you for helping me with my studies.”

When Kanae-chan said that happily,

“The finest… steak, you say?”

I could tell my eyes were sparkling at least 50% more than usual. However, everyone ignored it.

“Oh, everyone is studying voluntarily anyway. I haven’t done anything special. You don’t have to thank me. But I heard it’s a popular place. It’s in the opposite direction from my workplace in Tokyo, so I haven’t been there much. But the steak in the summer is really good.”

So he’s a carnivore. I could just imagine Tsukasa-san elegantly cutting his steak and sipping wine with his pinky finger raised. Absolutely. Kanae-chan took out the restaurant card from her bag and handed it to Tsukasa-san.

“Thank you. Then, I’ll definitely go during summer vacation.”

Tsukasa-san said and received the card,

“We’re open every day except Monday, so feel free to come anytime. Oh, and Kaori-chan might get recommended to a photography school. She said she wants to travel and take lots of pictures with her part-time job salary at the end of summer vacation. She’s also planning to enter a contest.”

The conversation had shifted to steak, so Kanae-chan corrected it and answered me.

“Oh, really? Kaori-chan has been saying she likes castles lately,” I said.

“Yeah. But she said she wants to take pictures of anything without deciding on a specific genre. She’s working hard buying lenses with her earnings from her part-time job. So I have to study for exams since there is less work for me at the steakhouse. If I fail, Kaori-chan said she’ll take funny face photos of me.”

Oh, I’d like to see that.

“I see. Everyone’s working hard.”

I thought of Kaori-chan, who also works at the steakhouse. I had planned to work at Kanae-chan’s steakhouse part-time when I entered high school.

But then Majorika ordered me to work at MAHO-do, and it ended up not working out. My only reason for working part-time was that I just wanted to eat steak. I liked making displays and creating POP designs for magical goods at the first MAHO-do. Even after it became the Sweets House MAHO-do, I still work part-time to help Momo-chan.

“Mutsumi-chan wants to study sports science at a physical education university, right? But apparently, she’s currently in a state of confusion. She quit the wrestling team in her third year, so it seems like recommended admission is impossible. She’s been going to open campus events and researching university information at school like Doremi-chan.”

Mutsumi-chan’s information was given to me by Itoko-chan. Her aspirations are a bit similar to Ai-chan’s. After quitting wrestling in her third year, Mutsumi-chan joined the cheerleading society, started dating Hasebe-kun, and had a sudden turn of events this year.

I wonder about myself. Hana-chan came to MAHO-do and various things happened again, but unlike Momo-chan, who has a clear goal, I don’t have a specific purpose or objective, and I’m still working my part-time job. Although my skills in making sweets have improved, I don’t really want to become a patissiere. I’m not working because I want something in particular.

“I wonder if having a goal for a part-time job is different.”

When I murmured this, Tsukasa-san spoke in a stern tone,

“Why did you say such negative things, Doremi-chan? It’s okay for high school students to work part-time without a clear goal. It’s about working properly, meeting various people, and learning from them. You’ll realize it wasn’t a waste when you enter society.”

Tsukasa-san, who was about to get up to prepare for work, came back and pointed at me to say this clearly. I see.

“But, it’s counterproductive if a part-time job affects your studies or club activities.”

Uh, that’s true. Tsukasa-san is right.

“You’re doing your best, Doremi-chan.”

“And what you’re lacking are just points.”

Kanae-chan and Itoko-chan said with a smile. There are many things that you can’t achieve despite your efforts, but in my case, I can definitely make it if I just study hard. I’m really blue because the results of my hard work aren’t what I expected. But at this time of year, all my classmates are probably feeling the same way. I don’t have time to be feeling down.

Both of them have better grades than I do, but they probably share the same concerns and anxieties that I feel. Yet they encourage me. I’m the happiest and prettiest girl in the world because I have so many good friends.

Alright, I’ll imagine myself passing and try going to an open campus event too. When I said that I would research it tonight, both of them recommended it. It must have been a really good experience.

At night, I put away my reference books and opened my computer. Even though I have access to information both at school and at home, I can’t help but feel lazy sometimes. While looking at several university websites, I thought about many things.

Dad and Mom pay for my and Pop’s tuition. Even though my grades are not good, they support my dream of becoming a teacher.

Oh, I should save my earnings from my part-time job and use them to buy what I need for university. Tsukasa-san said that high school students don’t need a clear purpose for a part-time job, and that it’s important to work properly, meet various people, and learn from them. But thanks to my job, I finally understand the difficulty of earning money. I have gained a lot from it. In this respect, I’m grateful to Leon for easily allowing me to work part-time as soon as I entered high school.

After closing my computer, I crawled into bed.

I always feel like I’m being taught by my best friends and pals. I wonder if I’ll ever be able to teach children anything. No, wait, negative thoughts are not allowed.

My elementary school days were my origin. I had a lot of fun, went through tough times, and met many friends. Although Seki-sensei is my goal, I was also helped by other teachers. Since each teacher was responsible for different subjects in middle school, I couldn’t develop a close relationship with them like I did in elementary school, but I realized that I shouldn’t rely solely on my teachers.

Yamaki-sensei, aka Leon, my high school homeroom teacher, is such an individualistic teacher that he overturned my previous image of what teachers were like. I wondered if all high school teachers were like that, but Leon was a bit special. But now I think Leon is a very reliable teacher. I feel like he’s a little tough on me though.

Since the day I received a stern lecture, I have been waking up early in the morning and studying my weak subject, classical literature. Dad and Mom have been looking at me like they wonder “how long will this last”, but I need to redeem myself. Besides, it’s a little cooler in the morning.

The soccer team practice is managed by the junior managers, Kashiwagi Chinami-chan and Seto Kosuke-kun, and I only participate in practice matches the day before and the day of the game.

So on weekdays, I go to Tsukasa-san’s place and MAHO-do for part-time jobs. We check the calendar and plan our shifts accordingly because we each have different things to do. Momo-chan is mostly at MAHO-do except during cheerleading society practice.

“Come to think of it, I haven’t seen FLAT4 lately. Have they finally decided to focus on studying for exams and practice?”

I asked Ai-chan as we put away the MAHO-do sign and cleaning tools.

“Nah, you’re too naive, Doremi-chan. Those four simply won’t come here.”

“Huh~?”

I didn’t understand the meaning behind Ai-chan’s words, so I went into the kitchen. Momo-chan was back and making jelly for tomorrow. We sat next to each other to help Hazuki-chan cut a large amount of fruit.

“Hey, Hazuki-chan, did you see FLAT4 this week?”

“Well, once, before coming here, I caught a glimpse of them near the train station. But I quickly changed direction.”

Hazuki-chan said as she continued to peel the orange without resting her hands,

“Fufufu…”

The daring duo, Hana-chan and Momo-chan, revealed the inside story with mischievous smiles.

“What is it~~~?”

I looked at them. Well, everyone except Hazuki-chan and me had that knowing smirk on their faces. It was kind of creepy.

“When Hana was working at the store with Ai-chan, Niwa-san came to reserve this month’s sweets. At that moment, FLAT4 dropped by while I was talking to Niwa-san. When Niwa-san realized the four of them and I knew each other, she smiled politely and left, leaving me to deal with them.”

In response, Ai-chan and Hazuki-chan suppressed their laughter and said,

“The quartet was completely ignored by the very pretty Niwa-san, so they bombarded us with questions about her.”

Niwa Hinako-san is an active high school student reader model. Since her name became popular, she exudes an idol aura. She’s naturally knowledgeable about makeup and fashion, and she helped Ai-chan and Hazuki-chan transform before, and they’re all good friends.

“Niwa-san comes to the store a lot lately. Maybe she’s bringing sweets to a photoshoot. Since I got my makeup done by her before, we’ve been exchanging emails occasionally, and she’s become even more beautiful lately.”

I’ve seen her occasionally too, but I had no idea she was coming here that often.

“Um, she seemed to like my sweets, so I’m really happy.”

Momo-chan seems to be fond of Niwa-san too.

“So, what about FLAT4? No way, did they…?”

As I listened, thinking how advantageous it must be to be beautiful, the expressions of the three of them changed gradually.

“Well, I deliberately told them about the magazines featuring Niwa-san. Lately, she’s been ranking high among reader models and gaining fame. And all four of them left immediately,” Ai-chan said.

“I thought they were going to make a move on Niwa-san, so I called her ahead of time.”

Hana-chan smiled impishly again. The expressions of the three of them were full of “plotting faces”.

To summarize the conversation of the three of them, it’s easy for the FLAT4 wizards to appear wherever Niwa-san goes. Niwa-san is also used to being approached by guys. That’s why they gave her information about FLAT4. Since the quartet was the talk of the town, she knew about them to a certain extent.

“So, are you saying that Niwa-san is dating one of the four now?”

When I asked,

“Niwa-san seems likely to get into university through a recommendation. But she said she didn’t have time to make a boyfriend because she was busy with work and studying right now. So I was like, why don’t you just kinda string them along for a bit, then turn them down later? That way you can keep them distracted from bothering us.”

“Yeah, that’s right! So I suggested if she’ll be spending time with them anyway, make sure to do enough damage to throw them off their game in the Winter Kokuritsu qualifiers, and she said OK!”

What should I do? Ai-chan and Momo-chan seemed to be having so much fun.

“Niwa-san is such a nice person, right, Doremi? She said she’ll occasionally email me to share her knowledge!”

Hana-chan looked proud for some reason. I looked at Hazuki-chan. If only Hazuki-chan or Onpu-chan were there at that time…

“I’ll call Niwa-san tonight. Perhaps the four of them felt insulted by being ignored and their pride was damaged. I think Niwa-san will handle it well, but if they’re too clingy, we can ask her to let us know.”

Hazuki-chan said to the three of them with a sigh. I don’t think the three of them have forgotten that their opponents are powerful wizards. But they’re a trio with similar personalities.

Well, I don’t think anything will happen, but I’ll apologize by email later. But if FLAT4, who always said they would come here often, got distracted by something else, even temporarily, and forgot about us, it would be a good thing.

After the Bon Festival in August, I decided to attend open campus events at two universities.

One is a national university and the other is a private university. Both of them have education departments, attracting many exam students who want to become teachers. Both schools are within commuting distance by train from my home. However, the national university is located in the suburbs of Tokyo, more than an hour and a half away from the station in Misora City, and it’s unlikely that I can pass the entrance exam for that university based on my academic ability. The other university is a private women’s university in Setagaya Ward, where I might have a chance of being accepted based on my academic ability if I was lucky.

To be honest, I accompanied Hamada Itoko-chan to the national university just to see what an open campus is like, while my main intention is to visit the private women’s university, where I’m supposed to go alone as a test of courage.

So, next to Itoko-chan, who was attentively receiving explanations from university staff and students who would probably become her seniors, I was observing the campus scenery and the appearance of other exam students attending the open campus, just like us.

The first thing that surprised me was the size of the campus. It was five times larger than Misora High School.

Since it had been relocated from Tokyo a few years ago, the school building was new. It was surrounded by greenery and had an atmosphere that made you feel like you had to study.

Oh, if only my academic ability was higher, I could have taken the entrance exam for this kind of university… I thought to myself. Phew~.

The exam students at the open campus also looked smart, probably because many of them were wearing glasses.

While Itoko-chan was touring the building of her desired department, I went to see the cafeteria like Kanae-chan. Although it was summer vacation and the food service staff were supposed to have a day off, the cafeteria was open for the open campus day.

There was space for about 200 people, and the staff seemed busy preparing lunch.

I looked at the menu… Wow, it’s cheap! Less than half the price of a regular family restaurant. I thought I could afford it, but considering the burden on my parents, maybe once a week. No, knowing Mom, she would probably make me bring a bento box every day, after all.

As I was lost in thought, the tempting smell of food drifted out from the cafeteria and I found myself wandering inside.

“Sorry, we haven’t started yet.”

The staff aunt leaned out from behind the counter and warned me.

“O-Oh, sorry.”

I apologized with a bow and quickly fled.

When I left the building with the cafeteria, Itoko-chan was waiting for me.

“Itoko-chan, the cafeteria here is cheap and the menu is extensive.”

I reported, and Itoko-chan chuckled but soon had a serious expression.

“What’s wrong? Is something bothering you?”

“No, it’s not that. I’m just undecided whether to choose the university I visited at the open campus the other day or this one…”

The university Itoko-chan visited before was a national one in our hometown. What a luxurious problem to have… I almost blurted out, but I swallowed it down.

After that, we were guided to a large classroom and listened to lectures from professors and current university students about how wonderful this university was. I wasn’t interested, so I dozed off half the time.

After parting ways with Itoko-chan, who was planning to attend an open campus at a super famous private university in Tokyo that afternoon, I headed home.

I boarded the train with a sense of unease and confusion. On one hand, I envied Itoko-chan, but on the other hand, I reflected on myself for not having worked hard enough until now, and convinced myself that academic level alone wasn’t the deciding factor. Yeah, there’s no point in worrying about it now. I’ll do my best in my own way.

When I felt a little relieved, I closed my eyes.

That was a mistake. I had studied until late last night, so now I was dead asleep. When I woke up, I was already eight stations away from Misora Station. Oh no…

The next day, I went to an open campus at the private women’s university in Setagaya.

This university has been in the same location for a long time, and it’s adjacent to its affiliated kindergarten, elementary school, middle school, and high school, so the campus felt like a small town. There were even three different playgrounds for elementary, middle, and high school. The school buildings had a historical and aged feel to them, but the interiors were clean and had a distinctly women’s university atmosphere.

The most surprising thing was the auditorium where we were immediately guided upon arrival. It was incredibly spacious, serving as the venue for the orientation session gathering the participating exam students and their guardians during the open campus event. It had a second floor as well, resembling a concert hall.

I thought it was more impressive than the university yesterday.

By the way, it’s only a five-minute walk from the nearest station, so it’s much better than yesterday’s university. That university required taking a bus from the nearest station, so the commuting time seems to be half. Yeah, even though the academic ranking is different, it scores high in convenience.

During the orientation session, I didn’t sleep at all unlike yesterday. Yesterday’s experience came in handy.

Afterward, I explored the campus while looking at the brochure I received. First, the cafeteria. It was very clean. The white tables and stylish red chairs made it look like a cafe. The campus was smaller than yesterday’s university and had less greenery, but there were flower beds here and there, and many benches were installed.

When I wanted to take a break on a bench because I was a little tired, I noticed a large, long monument-like thing. The monument had a long list of women’s names engraved on it. At first, I thought they were the names of graduates, but the number of names was too small for a university with a history of over 90 years since its founding. Moreover, there were strangely old-fashioned names mixed in.

What on earth is this? As I stood in front of the monument, a voice came from behind.

“Are you interested in that monument?”

When I turned around, there was a woman who looked like a current female university student, estimated to be 21 years old.

“Uh, yes…”

As I was nervous, the woman explained about the monument.

“May I ask if you’re aware that our school has been providing integrated education from kindergarten?”

May I ask? That sounds very polite to me.

“Uh, yeah…”

I knew that much from my research beforehand.

“The names of graduates who died after graduation and were enrolled in the school for more than 10 years are engraved here.”

“Oh, I see. Your aftercare is really good.”

Suddenly, the woman chuckled and said,

“Your aftercare is good. You’re an interesting exam student.”

“And you’re a student here too, right?”

“Yes. Today, I’m serving as a guide for the open campus event.”

She seemed like a genuinely nice older sister figure. Upon closer inspection, she was quite beautiful. She wore a floral dress and low-heeled pumps. She had a subtle touch of makeup, and a delightful fragrance wafted around her. Despite being two or three years older than me, she gave off an air of “The Adult” or rather “The Female University Student”.

After we sat down on a bench, “The Female University Student” told me all kinds of things.

Like me, “The Female University Student” was aiming to become an elementary school teacher and talked about how difficult it was to get credits in the teaching course.

“Senpai, is it really that hard to get credits?”

“Fufu, senpai…”

“The Female University Student” chuckled.

Hmmmm, her laugh had a certain elegance that was typical of a female university student.

“T-That’s right. I haven’t even taken the exam yet.”

“No, it’s okay. Sorry, I laughed. But don’t worry too much. If you attend classes properly, you can get credits even if your test scores are a bit low.”

“That’s great! I really want to become an elementary school teacher, so that’s a relief.”

“Fufu, I think your cheerful personality would make your students happy.”

“Thank you! I’ll work hard and definitely pass the entrance exam for this Setagaya Women’s University!”

I got carried away and made a muscle pose, and “The Female University Student” smiled at me.

Afterwards, “The Female University Student” told me that the cafeteria serves freshly baked muffins every day at 10 AM and 1 PM.

I quickly took out my cell phone from my bag and checked the time, it was 12:57 PM.

“Let’s go eat muffins!”

When I stood up, “The Female University Student” looked apologetic.

“I don’t think they’ve baked any today.”

“I-I see… sorry, I’m jumping the gun. But, I’ll definitely pass the exam, so will you eat muffins with me then?”

“Of course. I’m praying for you to pass.”

“Thank you.”

I bowed deeply and asked for her name when we shook hands.

Yoshino Haruka-san, aka “The Female University Student”, escorted me to the school gate and even waved goodbye. I waved my hand vigorously too and headed to the nearest station with a light step. Yoshino Haruka-san, she was such a kind person like spring.

And then, the Monday of the following week.

The last summer vacation for high school students is almost over. Since early in the morning, Momo-chan had been working with Dodo and the others to prepare sweets and said that when they were done, she would meet up with Hana-chan, who was taking part in cheerleading society practice. Hazuki-chan arrived a little later than me. Ai-chan should also arrive soon. Onpu-chan was scheduled to arrive in the afternoon.

“Doremi-chan, did you go to the open campus? I haven’t really been to other universities… Was it fun?” Hazuki-chan asked.

“Yeah. Well, you see…”

Just as I was about to speak, Majorika looked at me with a look that said, “What are you talking about during busy hours before opening?”

“Today is the day when everyone is together, so tell me all about it later, Doremi-chan.”

I gave Hazuki-chan the okay sign. Hazuki-chan decided to help Momo-chan with making sweets, and I decided to display the beautifully wrapped baked goods and cakes that Dodo and the others had prepared in the store.

We had a lot of days off in August for our own reasons, so we must have been causing inconvenience to MAHO-do’s customers. Hana-chan and Dodo and the others clean up in the morning. When I’m working in the store, I have to work properly too.

I arranged the sweets in the showcase and prepared the cash register. Ai-chan also arrived and was helping Momo-chan perfect the sweets. When I went outside to put up the sign, “Eugene” was preparing in the same way. When I waved to Ruri-san, who was watering the flower bed nearby, she noticed and waved back with a smile.

Even though it’s a nearby store, I haven’t been there much. I would go there often if they weren’t a competitor. Hmm, even though they sell the same sweets, “Eugene” is too expensive and luxurious for a high school student like me. I wonder if Momo-chan is still learning from chocolatier Ran-san. As I was thinking about that and returned to the store,

“Well, I’m off. I’ll be back in the afternoon, Doremi-chan.”

Momo-chan patted my shoulder and went to the cheerleading practice location. It’s okay because she seems to be having fun doing it, but it’s tough. Even Momo-chan, who is powerful and positive, must be working hard from this spring. I hope she doesn’t get sick.

As evening approached, everyone gathered at MAHO-do. The sweets that had filled the showcase in the morning began to gradually dwindle. As dusk approached, we decided to close the store and prepare for tomorrow.

The members of FLAT4 didn’t really show up. Well, they seemed to have come to MAHO-do, but it seemed like they were just “passing by”. By the way, I’ve never seen them.

“I haven’t seen them at all either. I was worried about what to do if they came to the filming location.”

Onpu-chan seemed to have forgotten about them too. When I told her about our conversation with Niwa-san, she said,

“Niwa-san will be fine. The four of them will all be defeated miserably. Fufufu.”

Onpu-chan also smiled wickedly. Somehow, the four of them have become pitiful.

Then Hazuki-chan also began to laugh and shake her shoulders, remembering something amusing.

“What? What? Did Hazuki-chan get the latest information from Niwa-san?”

When I asked her, Hazuki-chan nodded while laughing.

“Eh~~ What? What? Tell me, Hazuki!”

Not only Hana-chan, but everyone gathered around Hazuki-chan and forgot about the preparations.

After Hazuki-chan finished laughing, she showed us a long email she received from Niwa-san.

To summarize, here’s what happened.

The members of FLAT4 started showing up at the filming location every three days, and Niwa-san seemed to have become increasingly annoyed. At that time, she heard from someone at the magazine company that they were looking for a reader model to play the role of Niwa-san’s partner in the next job.

So Niwa-san talked to FLAT4 about it, and all four of them raised their hands. However, since Niwa-san only needed one partner, the four of them started a fierce battle that exposed their competitive spirit. They decided to settle it by playing a car racing game at the game center. Just like kids! thought Niwa-san, but the four of them were deadly serious. As a result, Fujio-kun, who is always calm no matter what, won and got the role of Niwa-san’s partner. However, his role was not her boyfriend, but her little sister.

Hazuki-chan laughed again and said,

“Here’s a photo from that time! Ta~~da!”

Then she showed us a magazine snapshot of Niwa-san and Fujio-kun dressed as a girl.

He was posing awkwardly next to Niwa-san, and it was just the best!

All of us laughed hysterically for about five minutes. Needless to say, our stomachs hurt. Niwa-san, good job!

Fujio-kun, who is the head of Kokuryu Minami High School soccer team, must have suffered serious damage.

After getting excited about Niwa-san’s email and snapshot, Ai-chan asked,

“Doremi-chan, did you go to the open campus?”

Maybe Hazuki-chan had told her about it, so she asked me.

“What was it like, Doremi?”

Hana-chan immediately joined in, so the topic of FLAT4 was dropped.

Since I really liked Setagaya Women’s University, where I went last week, I talked proudly about the large auditorium, and Hazuki-chan took the bait.

“I went to a classical concert in that auditorium once. It’s a wonderful hall that can accommodate 2,000 people. The acoustics are really good, and I thought I’d like to play there if I ever become a professional violinist.”

Then, we talked about Yoshino Haruka-san, aka “The Female University Student”, and muffins. Finally, I said,

“I want to be a university girl like her. She was really wonderful. I couldn’t believe she was only two or three years older than me.”

When I said that, everyone chuckled.

“What? What’s wrong?”

“Doremi-chan, how many times have you said that line?”

When Ai-chan said that, everyone except Hana-chan agreed, saying, “Yes, yes.”

“I think you said the same thing when you saw a middle school girl in a sailor uniform in elementary school.”

“When you were in middle school, I heard you were worried if the high school blazer would suit you because it looked so mature.”

Onpu-chan and Hazuki-chan said, and everyone nodded.

“I was in America from middle school, but in high school, all the students looked so mature. They wore makeup and had pierced ears.”

In American TV shows and movies, high school students do indeed appear more adult-like to me as a Japanese person, beyond the level of just looking mature.

“But you know, ever since I was in middle school, I’ve always been seen as an elementary school student, and it was really tough. I thought that even as a high school student, I would still be treated like a child because I’m of Asian descent.”

Momo-chan is actually a very average size in Japan, though.

“Don’t worry, Momoko. When you’re over 20, Americans will envy you more than you envy them. They say Japanese people have beautiful skin.”

Hana-chan quickly reassured her and then looked at me.

“But Doremi not studying is something that Hana predicted. You’re so consistent, Doremi.”

Hana-chan, she never lets up on me.

“When you become a university student, won’t you say the same thing when you see office ladies?”

Everyone nodded in agreement with Ai-chan’s opinion. I think that’s highly likely, Ai-chan. I’ll definitely make sure not to say it in front of everyone. I forcefully tried to get the conversation back on track.

“An-y-way, I got to see the atmosphere and facilities of the university, and I got to hear from seniors and professors. Going to the open campus was a good idea.”

“So, Doremi-chan, do you think you’ll be able to get into that university?”

Onpu-chan hit the nail on the head. I was taken aback.

“W-Well… for now, my T-score isn’t high enough. I’m thinking of taking the entrance exam at a different university. But my career counselor said it was a good university… I was originally planning to visit just for reference, but the more I heard, the more I wanted to go…”

Even though Ai-chan could have made a snarky comment, no one said anything. I can’t help but feel exasperated.

For me right now, it feels so far out of reach, like an impossible dream.

Private universities do have higher tuition fees, but Dad and Mom said that women’s universities are more reassuring. Even so, I decided to become an elementary school teacher, but there are fewer universities than I thought, and they’re all high level.

Of course, just graduating from university doesn’t mean you can immediately become a teacher. There is an assessment to be done, and there are fewer people being hired, so not all students who graduate from the department of education can become teachers. Maybe it’s because of the declining birth rate. I have a little sister, but all my friends are only children.

As I was feeling a little down, Momo-chan finally burst out laughing.

“Doremi-chan, you’re so easy to understand.”

Onpu-chan too,

“Doremi-chan’s summer isn’t over yet. You just need to raise your T-score by about 10 points before the National Center Test, right? Don’t you think the higher the mountain, the more rewarding it is to reach the top?”

She said it nonchalantly. It’s not like we’re climbing a mountain. Although, I’ve never climbed one before.

“But if passing the exams becomes the end goal, I feel like I’ll become an empty shell from April onwards. I wonder if I’ll be able to keep up with the university lectures.”

“It’s okay, Doremi. Don’t worry about that until after you pass.”

Oh right, Hana-chan is right.

Then Hazuki-chan shared some gossip she heard from Tamaki. Girl talk never runs out of topics.

“Speaking of which, Tamaki-san’s boyfriend, Tachibana-san, studied hard in his third year of high school and passed the entrance exam for a national university. But I heard when he was a first-year university student, he complained to Tamaki-san that he couldn’t keep up with the classes if he didn’t study like he did when he was an exam student.”

Come to think of it, she did say something like that last year.

“But thanks to the tough entrance exam study, he gained perseverance and caught up.”

No, even if Tachibana-senpai didn’t study for the exams, I think he had a lot of perseverance. But that’s amazing.

It’s not a stress reliever, but Tamaki said that Tachibana-senpai was really lively when he worked part-time at a farm in Tohoku during summer vacation. She’s dissatisfied that Tachibana-senpai goes to take care of cows and horses every long break, leaving her behind.

“Knowing Tamaki, isn’t she the one who’s barging into the farm?”

When I asked,

“But this year, she’s also participating in cheerleading practice,” Momo-chan replied.

“Tamaki-chan said she wasn’t worried about entrance exam study since there’s an escalator system in her school, but are Hana and her friends stealing her chance for a date? Should we secretly take her there with magic?”

It seemed like Hana-chan was interested in Tachibana Kyouhei-senpai, whom she had never seen before. Then Hazuki-chan told her,

“The farm where Tachibana-san is working now is also a university farm. The university facilities are also there. So Tamaki-san wants to go too, but she can’t.”

“Well then, Tamaki is relieving her stress through cheerleading too, right?”

Ai-chan said, and Hazuki-chan chuckled and agreed, saying, “That must be it.”

If Tachibana-senpai becomes a veterinarian, it means he’ll have to attend school for six years, and there’s a possibility he might go to the campus in Tohoku. Then it would be a long-distance relationship.

More than that, Tamaki and Tachibana-senpai are like oil and water, but they’ve been together for quite a while. Especially this year, they don’t have many opportunities to meet, but it’s amazing that they’re still together. Tamaki is a quite patient person. On top of that, she has ambitions to take over her father’s company and make it even bigger than it is now. Tamaki is considering a lot of things.

Although my conversation came to a halt, the chatter didn’t stop. Since everyone was gathered together after a long time, various topics came up.

“Oh, by the way, Shinshuu-kun came yesterday.”

Ai-chan said as if she had just remembered. And Momo-chan, who was facing the oven, said,

“Oh yeah, he reserved this month’s sweets. He’s going to eat them with Taniyama-kun tonight.”

Yamauchi Shinshuu-kun is the heir to the Yamauchi Temple, located in Misora City, and Taniyama Shouta-kun is aiming to become a professional shogi player. Both of them have been friends with us since elementary school.

According to Hana-chan, who was serving him, there will be the final round of the 3-dan league in early September, and Taniyama-kun seems to be able to get promoted to the 4-dan league this term.

“Why? Why is it such a big deal to move from the 3-dan to the 4-dan?”

Hana-chan’s head was filled with question marks. Like me, she doesn’t understand how the shogi world works. I think I’ve heard about it before, but I didn’t understand each and every one of the technical terms used.

At that moment, the doorbell rang in the lobby.

“As they say, speak of the devil.”

Ai-chan said, and Yamauchi Shinshuu-kun appeared in the lobby.

Shinshuu-kun is a regular customer of MAHO-do and comes every month to buy Momo-chan’s new sweets.

Since everyone went to greet him, Shinshuu-kun looked surprised. Furthermore, he also greeted Onpu-chan, whom he hadn’t seen in a long time.

“Well, well, it’s been a long time, Segawa-san. You seem to be doing well.”

His greeting was like that of a priest, so we almost burst out laughing.

“You seem to be doing well too, Yamauchi-kun. I heard you’re bringing sweets to Taniyama-kun’s place,” Onpu-chan said.

“Yes, I learned he was going back home by email.”

While Momo-chan prepared the reserved sweets, we learned from Shinshuu-kun about Taniyama-kun’s current situation and the workings of the shogi world.

The shogi world is similar to Hazuki-chan’s violin; it’s much more advantageous to start from a young age. You can attend shogi classes in town, learn from your family, and study through books. Recently, it seems you can even practice online. You participate in various tournaments, accumulate achievements, and finally, if you’re lucky, you become a trainee, like a potential future professional in the making.

“It seems that you have to decide whether to aim to become a professional or keep it as a hobby by the time you’re in middle school. Moreover, if you don’t improve your ranking even after many years, sometimes, you can run out of time and miss the opportunity to become a professional.”

Shinshuu-kun’s expression turned serious as he continued.

“Having a master is also necessary, and depending on where you live, you may have to move. It seems tough to balance school and shogi while being away from your family.”

“Speaking of which, Taniyama-kun took an exam for a school in Tokyo to study under his master from middle school.”

I said, and Shinshuu-kun nodded.

“Taniyama-kun may have been plain in elementary school, but he’s a very hardworking person when it comes to shogi. He became a trainee from middle school and joined the Shogi Promotion Association at the same time as entering high school. I think he’s making pretty good progress. Since it’s a world where a lot of people drop out in the middle, it would be amazing if he could become a professional shogi player in his teens.”

I only know about three famous players who have titles now. When I looked at Ai-chan, she just shrugged silently. Although I think I understand now from Shinshuu-kun’s explanation, I’m not confident that I’ll remember it after a year.

“So, what’s the difference between 3-dan and 4-dan in the end?”

Hana-chan interrupted impatiently.

According to Shinshuu-kun’s explanation, the Shogi Promotion Association starts with Rokkyu (6th rank), then Gokyu (5th rank), Yonkyu (4th rank)… Ikkyu (1st rank), Shodan (1-dan), Nidan (2-dan)… and so on. Once you join the training group and improve your results, you’ll be promoted in the Shogi Promotion Association. Hmm, it’s complicated. To move up, you have to increase your number of wins in official matches. The age varies as you advance through the ranks; sometimes you might be playing against older or younger opponents.

Once you reach 3-dan, the 3-dan league begins. Only the top two players out of about twenty matches in the six-month period can be promoted to 4-dan. The bottom two players are demoted.

“It’s kind of like the J-League for soccer.”

I said, and Shinshuu-kun nodded.

“He said he’s extremely tired on Mondays after matches on weekends.”

Onpu-chan, who was also interested as a professional, asked Shinshuu-kun,

“I heard the last match of the 3-dan league is in early September, but Taniyama-kun hasn’t been promoted to 4-dan yet. Is it a close fight?”

“Yes, it’s a fierce battle. If he wins the final match, he’ll be promoted to 4-dan, but if he loses, he’ll have to continue fighting in the 3-dan league for another six months. He’s been working hard in such a tough world since middle school. That’s why I thought I’d relax him by having him eat MAHO-do’s sweets when he comes back to Misora City.”

It’s been six years since he’s been aiming to become a professional shogi player. I hope his efforts will pay off.

Momo-chan handed Shinshuu-kun a beautifully wrapped box of sweets and asked,

“It’s a harsh world. Can he relax with my sweets?”

“Don’t worry, Momo-chan. They’re filled with your feelings. And sugar is good for the brain.”

Hazuki-chan encouraged her. Yes, Momo-chan’s sweets are sure to be effective.

“So, from 4-dan, you’re a professional. Does that mean you have the same status as grandfather-aged people, even though you’re the same age?”

Ai-chan asked, and Shinshuu-kun replied,

“Yes. But from 4-dan, you’ll receive a salary from the Japan Shogi Association, and you’ll also receive match fees.”

“I see. To put it in terms of an employment situation, 4-dan is like a new employee.”

I said, and Shinshuu-kun nodded with a serious expression.

“However, only four people can be promoted to a professional each year, and the number of rivals increases significantly. If you keep losing, you’ll stay 4-dan forever. It’s really tough. Do you understand, Makihatayama-san?”

Hana-chan, who looked like she couldn’t understand the system like me, nodded her head as she seemed to have understood that Taniyama-kun had worked step by step and was now on the verge of becoming a professional shogi player.

“Yeah, Hana wants to go cheer on the final match day too. What day is it again?”

Hana-chan said, and Shinshuu-kun shook his head.

“It would be better not to do that. On the day of the match, it’s a very important day that lasts a long time for nearly 40 3-dan players. It’s not a place for those of us who aren’t involved to go out of curiosity.”

Hana-chan felt dejected upon hearing Shinshuu-kun’s words.

“Even if Taniyama-kun is happy, it might be a nuisance to other players.”

Onpu-chan added, it’s like people dropping by just to play when she’s filming a movie.

“Right, right. Let’s ask Shinshuu-kun the day of the match, and let’s cheer him on together here.”

Ai-chan suggested, and Momo-chan came up with an idea.

“We can bring sweets as a gift for Taniyama-kun on the day itself. Maybe that would make him happy?”

“Yeah, that’s a good idea, Momoko! Hana and her friends will cheer for him while eating sweets together!”

The feelings that Momo-chan put into the sweets will surely be conveyed to Taniyama-kun. We decided to cheer for him in our hearts that day as well.

After Shinshuu-kun left, we closed the store and continued talking while eating unsold sweets. Seriously, everyone loved to talk so much.

“It seems like Shinshuu-kun has other things to focus on rather than supporting Taniyama-kun, doesn’t it? Isn’t he an exam student? Did he decide to inherit the temple after all?”

Onpu-chan asked me.

“Shinshuu-kun decided to attend a Buddhist university to inherit his family’s temple. His grades are good, so he might be able to get in through recommendation.”

“In Shinshuu-kun’s case, he will go to the temple for training after graduating from university. I’ve seen it on TV before, but it seems very strict. There are even dropouts.”

Onpu-chan said in a scary tone.

“After hearing a story Papa once covered, I know a bit about it too. They have to wake up while it’s still pitch black in the morning and do training and cleaning. I heard that even vegetable growing and cooking are considered part of their training. Of course, they also have to chant sutras and meditate during the day and night. It’s all part of their routine.”

Hazuki-chan explained after hearing Onpu-chan’s story.

“The seniors are also strict, and there are many events and responsibilities, so sleep time is also significantly reduced. It’s training all day long.”

“Oh, I see.”

I couldn’t help but be impressed. Both of them have chosen such demanding paths. Moreover, I was surprised by how much Hazuki-chan and Onpu-chan knew about various things. It’s often said that actresses like to read a lot during their idle time. Even though it has nothing to do with the violin, Hazuki-chan is so knowledgeable. I wonder if she has a good memory. She seems to have heard a lot about her father’s stories. As for me, even when I listen to Dad’s work-related stories, they don’t really stick in my head.

“I’ve been solely focused on track and field until now. I might be able to get into university through recommendation, so I should read and accumulate knowledge in between training sessions.”

Ai-chan seemed to be thinking like me.

Perhaps due to the serious conversation or because they were focused on their work, Majorika and Lala listened to our conversation in silence with attentive eyes.

As we finished preparing for tomorrow and started cleaning up, Onpu-chan suddenly said,

“Hazuki-chan, I have a favor to ask.”

She approached Hazuki-chan and took her hand.

“What is it? What happened all of a sudden, Onpu-chan?”

Onpu-chan’s expression became serious.

“I’ve been cast in next year’s Taiga drama.”

“Whaaaat! That’s amazing, Onpu-chan!”

I shouted, and Majorika turned her gaze toward me.

“When you say next year’s Taiga drama, it’s the one about a warlord in the Warring States period, right? Oh, wait, the filming has already started, hasn’t it?”

Ai-chan knew more about this than I expected.

According to Onpu-chan, the main cast was announced about a year ago, and filming has already begun. Onpu-chan’s role will appear halfway through the story, as a warlord in the Battle of Osaka. The actors who appear from the middle of the story will be announced one by one, so Onpu-chan said to keep it a secret for now. But more importantly,

“A warlord? Onpu is playing a warlord? Not a princess?”

Hana-chan made a face with a “?” expression. I was thinking the same thing.

“Your previous role was a princess, right? You were a bit tomboyish. Before that, you played a female professional shogi player, so maybe it’s that kind of flow?”

Those women in period dramas, dressed in splendid kimonos, often have knowledge comparable to that of princesses or noble ladies. When I asked,

“My role this time is a warlord who dies in battle at the age of twenty during the Battle of Osaka in the summer. It’s not a big role, but when I looked it up, he was a truly great warlord, so I feel like I can’t ruin his image.”

Onpu-chan’s expression became resolute. A warlord role, huh? Surprisingly, it might be cool.

“People like us, born in peaceful times, have different perspectives even among the same generation.”

Hazuki-chan said, and Onpu-chan nodded.

“In the end, he loses in the battle and dies, but I thought his death was magnificent.”

Wow, Onpu-chan really did her research.

“I’ve learned horseback riding too. But I’ve never experienced riding a horse as a warlord wearing armor. Especially since I’m a woman playing a male role. I’m aiming to portray a brave and daring warlord, but I lack confidence. I don’t want to hear people say I’m not suited for it just because I’m a woman. So Hazuki-chan, if your father knows anyone who provides guidance for actors in period dramas at a horseback riding club, I’d love to be introduced.”

“There are battle scenes and everything, huh?”

Onpu-chan spoke rapidly, and Ai-chan, overwhelmed by her enthusiasm, said in an impressed voice.

“I don’t know yet. But even if there were, I don’t want a substitute to take my place.”

She declared firmly.

“I’ve heard that the armor, even if it’s not real, is heavy. I also want to increase my stamina by training more at the gym. I also want advice from experienced horseback riders. Is that too much to ask, Hazuki-chan?”

Hazuki-chan smiled and said,

“Papa is off today and at home. Onpu-chan, why don’t you stay over tonight? Maybe you can contact the manager and have him pick you up tomorrow morning. I’ll also contact Papa. He’ll surely teach you a lot.”

Without hesitation, Hazuki-chan took out her phone and contacted her father. Onpu-chan started calling the manager. Everything went smoothly, and the two of them held hands and laughed happily. Yes, good for you, Onpu-chan.

“That was speedy.”

“I wonder if it’s because of the perfect harmony between them?”

“Onpu and Hazuki have more action power than I thought.”

Momo-chan, Ai-chan, and Hana-chan looked at them with surprised faces. I was also surprised.

While tidying up and changing clothes, we talked about other classmates. We talked about Hamada Itoko-chan, Iida Kanae-chan, Kudo Mutsumi-chan, Shimakura Kaori-chan, and so on.

Onpu-chan suddenly brought up horseback riding. Maybe she heard about Taniyama-kun or Shinshuu-kun, I thought. Onpu-chan, who hates to lose and is determined, would have been planning to train in horseback riding sooner or later, but perhaps her passion as an actress was ignited.

If Hazuki-chan’s father is a director of period drama movies, then I think he knows people in the industry. If it were the usual Onpu-chan, she wouldn’t have used the connections of her best friend’s father. But she thought it was the best way to become a real Warring States warlord. And that thought was conveyed to Hazuki-chan too.

As time ran short, we agreed to share more information from the rest of our classmates tomorrow and onward. Some were struggling with their future paths, while others had already made firm decisions and were working towards them, and some still hadn’t decided yet.

There are people like me who express their thoughts on their faces and voices, and there are people who don’t show anything on their faces at all. I guess it’s a period of time when everyone is struggling in their own way. Almost all the students in our high school go on to pursue higher education, whether it’s university, junior college, vocational school, nursing school, and so on. While it’s unlikely everyone will get exactly what they wished for, each person has to make their own choice and decision.

As Tsukasa-san said before, getting into university is not the end goal. In my case, the goal feels so incredibly far away and distant.

After changing clothes, we left MAHO-do. Onpu-chan and Hazuki-chan were walking together, talking about movies.

“They seem to have become motivated all of a sudden.”

I said when I saw the two of them.

“That’s right. We’re influenced just by watching them.”

Ai-chan clenched her fist.

“Um, I have to work hard for the Sweet Contest too.”

“Momo-chan too? I thought the contest was in December?”

When I asked, she replied,

“It’s more than a month earlier this year. The deadline for the preliminaries is also earlier. The theme for this year is roll cakes.”

Momo-chan’s roll cake, huh? I’m looking forward to it. Oh, but I’m not the one who’s going to eat it. But last year, she secretly submitted an entry. She didn’t make it to the top three, but she did win an award for her elaborate, adult-looking whole cake.

“I’m going to win this year and go to pastry school in Paris!”

“Yeah, do your best!” Ai-chan said.

“Yes, I’m rooting for you,” I said.

We each went our separate ways, and I headed home.

My family had finished their meal, but they were waiting for me in the living room. I couldn’t wait to tell them about what had happened today. But, Onpu-chan’s appearance in the Taiga drama was still a secret.

Unlike when I was in elementary school, there are fewer and fewer things in common with my classmates and best friends, but seeing everyone work hard encourages me. They’re all cheering me on to work harder.

Really, I have to work harder, too.