CH 42

“So, where do you want to go?

I asked Momoi as soon as we parted ways with Aoyama-san and Kageyama-san (whose names I just learned), Momoi’s classmates.

Today is Momoi’s birthday, so I’m going to let her do whatever she wants.

Incidentally, I haven’t wished Momoi a happy birthday yet.

Well, there’s a little reason for that too― But, you’ll find out about that later.

“Ermm… an amusement park!”

Momoi replied to my question with a smile.

I turned my face away from Momoi as quickly as I could.

…This is bad… Today must have been her most adorable day, ―at least as far as I could tell.

I’m not sure how this person is able to make such a cute expression…

When I turned away, Momoi peeked at my face as if she was amused.

“…What is it?”

I stared at Momoi to check her out so that she would not know what I was thinking.

“Hmm, nothing really~”

Momoi stopped looking into my face, but she seemed to be enjoying herself.

I’m glad that Momoi is having fun― However, I have mixed feelings about it because I feel that she is enjoying making fun of me.

Or rather… Well, it’s already obvious, but the stares from the people around me are still amazing…

I don’t even want to hear what they’re saying anymore…

“That reminds me, we have tests coming up soon, Umi-kun, will you be okay?”

As we were heading to the amusement park, Momoi asked me.

Tests huh…

Tests are the most hated event by students.

After that is the sports festival, right?

Well, I guess that’s a matter of personal opinion.

…Of course, they’re both depressing for me.

I can get an average score on all the tests except for math, but it’s definitely not because I don’t study for the tests.

It’s not unthinkable that I might even get a red.

…If that’s the case, why do I have to study for the test?

I’m supposed to hate them, but…

I’ve already decided what I’m going to do.

There’s no point in studying for me right now.

As for sports festivals, it’s not that I don’t like sports.

It’s just that it can be a pain in the *ss to have to cut corners while trying not to stand out.

…Why cut corners, you ask?

Imagine, if a loner otaku character were to put up a good show at the festival, he or she would stand out from the crowd.

Normally, you might not even care what an overshadowed person does.

But, that’s not absolute.

Because there is a gap― something that easily enters people’s consciousness.

In people’s consciousness, there is a common perception that dark-skinned otaku hate exercise and are not good at it.

If there’s someone who isn’t like that, people will naturally turn their attention to that person.

In other words, that sucks for me, because I hate being the center of attention.

“If you’re worried, I can teach you how to study, okay?”

Momoi said, looking up at me, as if she had caught on to my silence.

…What could it be?

I’ve been thinking that studying for a test with Momoi might be a good idea for me.

But―

“Well, it sounds good but I refuse.”

I replied.

However, it’s not because I don’t like studying or anything like that.

…That’s a lie… That’s part of it, but it’s not the main reason.

The reason I refused her offer is because I don’t want Momoi to spend her study time on me.

Ever since Momoi entered the school, she’s the top of her class, and has never fallen out of that spot.

Besides, she’s also a regular at the top of the national mock exams, which means she’s probably studying a lot.

However, what about Momoi these days?

All I can remember is that after student council duty was over and she went home, she mainly sat next to me reading novels and manga, or playing eroge with me.

In other words, Momoi never seemed to be studying.

If Momoi continues to study for the test with me, she will probably fall out of the top of the grade even if she doesn’t do too badly.

It was selfish of me, but I wanted her to avoid that.

So I told Momoi about it.

“Regardless of me, Momoi should just concentrate on your own test. If you fall from the top position, that alone will cause a minor uproar at the school.”

That’s how big of an impact Momoi has on the school.

In addition, if Momoi’s statement that she has a boyfriend is added, it’s obvious that bad rumors will start to circulate about Momoi losing her grades because of her addiction to men.

Momoi’s plan to keep the boys in check might end up strangling her.

…Well, I was surprised when Momoi suddenly squeezed my hand again, but I could immediately understand Momoi’s thoughts from that remark.

If she always acted in a calculating manner like this, it would be easier to read her thoughts…

I’m worried about that because I’m usually bothered by Momoi’s actions and comments.

“I’m doing just fine, okay? I always review my work after I get back to my room, and my study time hasn’t changed much ever since I started living with Umi-kun and the others.”

Momoi said something that exceeded my expectations.

…You’re lying, right?

Returning from my room is usually around 23:00 (sometimes I stay longer), so if you also take sleep into account, the time you have left is at most two hours…?

So the fact that her study time is the same as before means that Momoi has one of the highest academic scores in the country with only that much time on her hands…?

“Eh, is that true?”

I was a little unconvinced, so I asked her back.

“Yes, that’s true, you know?”

Momoi replied to my words, tilting her head.

It doesn’t feel like she’s lying.

I can’t believe it…

This means that Momoi is a smart person.

But if that’s the case, I’m still not convinced.

No, if the old Momoi had said that, I probably would have been able to accept it easily.

In fact, I’ve heard that people who grow up without losing their visual memory from an early age can easily reach the top of the national examinations with light preparation and no review.

So if you are smart and don’t spend a lot of time studying, it makes sense that you would be at the top of the national examinations.

However, I’m not convinced that’s the case with this girlish Momoi.

After all, it’s Momoi who’s constantly saying things that make me think, “This person’s an idiot.”

Then I want to ask her why she keeps saying things that I don’t understand.

…Or could it actually be that?

Does it mean that the thoughts of a genius like Momoi are incomprehensible to an ordinary person like me?

There’s a fine line between a fool and a genius…

It means that the point of view of a genius is so far from common sense that ordinary people cannot understand it, and therefore it is considered to be a stupid statement that does not know common sense.

In other words, that’s my situation right now.

But it still doesn’t add up, does it?

I don’t think that’s what Momoi was saying until now.

“Hey, hey, let’s not talk about the test anymore. Let’s just go to the amusement park!”

However, when I saw Momoi laughing happily, I didn’t pursue the matter anymore.

So―

“Even though you’re the one who started talking about the test?”

I chuckled and finished the conversation.

Besides, once the test is over, it’s summer vacation.

I couldn’t wait for it.

This summer, Momoi, Sakura-chan, and also Saijo would be there.

I’m sure it will be a fun summer.

…Ah, speaking of summer vacation, are we going to go back to my dad’s hometown for the annual visit…?

This year, Momoi and the others will be there, which is why I feel even more the need to go back to my dad’s province.

It seems to me that my father and his family had already said hello to each other before they got married, without my knowledge, but I still need to visit them during the summer vacation.

However, that person is going to meet Momoi and others…

The girl who is my least favorite cousin…

…I’ve got a lot of money coming in this year, and it would be nice to go on a trip somewhere by myself…

I turned my eyes away from the not-so-distant future and escaped reality―.