I’ve never taken an exam comfortably without a care in the world.
Or rather, I don’t really understand the concept of taking an exam comfortably at all. Honestly, once the exam is over, I don’t even remember what was on it.
While others might gather together to figure out the answers, I really didn’t feel like doing that at all.
By chance, Kagami, who was taking the exam with me, did ask, “Shall we eat something delicious?”
“……I just want to go home and rest.”
As I said that, Kagami nodded with a somewhat worried expression. Even the usually energetic Koko and Yuka, who took the exam with me, had the same concerned look on their faces.
I stumbled straight home, and as soon as I spread out my blanket on the floor, I fell asleep.
And then, the very next day…
“…….”
Kagami, sitting across from me at the table, was staring at me with a slightly strange expression.
Considering I usually eat breakfast simply, it made sense, right?
“……Did you not feel well yesterday?”
“Uh?”
I blinked at Kagami while stuffing my mouth with food and said, “Ah, that. I was just tired.”
Sometimes, thinking can be more exhausting than physical labor.
Plus, the thought of going to the same university as Yuka and Koko made me way more nervous than usual. I must have poured out all the knowledge I was trying to hold in to avoid overflowing.
Of course, this wasn’t the end of it. To get into the school we aimed for, I still had to pass through various gates.
But still, I had crossed the biggest threshold. At least I had one less worry, and after a good night’s sleep, there was no reason for me to feel unwell today.
“I had a good sleep, so I’m fine today.”
Kagami and Koko exchanged glances and tilted their heads.
You can really see they’re like mother and daughter, they look so similar.
*
The third-year, third semester was much tougher in various ways than the first year, but it passed quickly.
Just like how I was fine the day after taking center exams, my mood and condition improved significantly every time I handled another level after that, making me feel like I was flying higher than usual.
“You look happier than when you defeated the foreigner.”
“That’s because if you don’t defeat the foreigner, life is over anyway, but when the exam ends, life isn’t over. If you think about all the studying you have to do afterward, it’s no different from falling into hell.”
“Just because you’re going to university doesn’t mean you won’t have to study anymore.”
Yuka’s comment was valid.
I studied harder in university than I did in high school. In fact, securing a job is more important than going to university, isn’t it?
And I had a specific job in mind I wanted.
But, in this case, the story does change a bit.
I hadn’t included continuing the Kurosawa family business in my future options just yet, but it could be considered a ‘backup plan’ option.
With a mom who owns an apartment, what worries would I have? I could study what I want at a reasonable pace and Kagami would understand.
“Are you thinking something’s wrong?”
Yuka said, looking at me suspiciously, making me chuckle a bit.
“Still, we can set our own schedule at university. We’ll probably have a lot more time than we do now in third year.”
The first year might be a little busy, but I could worry a bit less about studying. The vacation’s long, and I don’t have to think about going to school on Saturdays.
Of course, the ‘lectures’ in university are different from the ‘classes’ in high school, so each lecture needs to be viewed independently, meaning the importance of classes taken in the first year will not fall behind that of those taken in the fourth year, but originally, first-year students tend to be a bit lax.
Isn’t this the age where you can drink alcohol for the first time and smoke openly? No matter where you go, you won’t legally get into trouble for partying all night, and no one will say anything if you go to a hotel with a girlfriend.
First-year students, having thrown off the stress of being exam-takers, naturally loosen up a bit, so being a little more relaxed around that time shouldn’t be a big problem.
Moreover, if you study hard in the first and second years, you might reduce the number of lectures in the third and fourth years, allowing for more rest days.
Assignments will still come steadily, and there will be studying for exams, but just ‘having time’ is bound to become overwhelmingly sufficient.
And again, I clearly didn’t need to worry too much about employment just yet.
“Is that so…”
Upon hearing my words, Yuka tilted her head as if she still couldn’t grasp it.
“Yuka.”
“Yeah?”
“What do you want to do after you graduate from university?”
“Hmm.”
Although she decided on her major, she still hadn’t completely chosen her career path.
In fact, in most cases except for those intending to inherit a family business or aiming for a career in the arts or sports, most students find it hard to have a clear idea such as ‘this is my path!’
Many don’t even know much about what they’ll study in the major they’ll enter.
Aren’t there still students going to university just to delay being thrown into society by about four years?
It’s always the hardest thing to define your own path.
“Do you have something you want to do?”
I thought for a moment and said.
“For now, something related to my major.”
“A light novel author?”
“Uh… Well, I might try writing.”
To be honest, I felt like I half-heartedly chose my major.
I hadn’t read enough books to be called a bibliophile since coming to this world.
But still, had I not been in the literature club for three years?
In my second year, I had participated quite actively.
So, I had developed a bit of an interest in books.
I even told Kagami about possibly using one of the leftover rooms in the apartment as a study.
If I filled it up with light novels and comics… well, being a light novel author doesn’t sound too bad. I’d like to try being a comic story writer if I ever get the chance.
Anyway, since I had entered this storybook world, I thought I wanted to live while writing novels.
“That’s true. Since we’re in the same major, I might be doing something similar.”
Writing, huh.
Come to think of it, writing a sequel to the Kuro report wouldn’t be a bad idea. I hadn’t lost anything I’d written down about that, and even if I tried to, Kagami would go berserk and stop me, so it’s probably somewhere in the house.
What if I took that hurriedly written piece and turned it into a long novel?
Japan probably has a ton of such similar novels… but isn’t the first piece usually considered a draft? Anyway, writing something will naturally improve my writing, right?
“I could do research too. Like classical literature.”
“…To be honest, that doesn’t really attract me.”
“Me neither.”
“Uuh?”
Koko, who had been listening to us, tilted her head.
Seeing that, I laughed and said, “If I were to be greedy, I’d want to open a tea shop in a nice quiet place.”
“That means you’d write whenever you had free time?”
“Exactly.”
Of course, I knew that was just a fantasy. A café is a relaxing space for patrons, but it’s an incredibly busy place for those providing it.
Still, it wouldn’t be a problem to have a dream like that.
Or, I could also travel around diligently with Kagami and Koko and write a travelogue.
I thought I might be able to write something like a travel guide to Korea that would be trending in about twenty years, but unfortunately, I barely traveled to other regions when I lived in Korea, so it might be a bit of a stretch.
But since I can speak Korean, I might be at a slight advantage.
Lost in such daydreams, Yuka suddenly asked again.
“But are we really people who received acceptance notices?”
“Of course, that’s why we can lounge around like this.”
Coincidentally, Koko had been relaxed from the start. She’s always relaxed unless it’s something life-threatening. You could say she’s a girl who doesn’t know how to sense danger.
So she’s also a bit of a comforting little sister.
“I thought once we knew we got accepted, we’d be a lot more excited.”
“We were super excited on that day!”
After all, we were jumping around together, hugging Koko and shouting like we were crazy. Honestly, it’s a bit embarrassing to think back on.
I cried too. Not a flood of tears, but I shed a few here and there.
However, even after receiving the acceptance notice, there was still a bit of time left until graduation.
Ultimately, we were just wasting time in school, waiting for that graduation ceremony.
Well, isn’t that fine?
Getting some warm spring sunlight while chatting with friends about trivial things.
It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a while now.
Living leisurely, like a cat.
Suddenly reminded of some cat deity, I couldn’t help but chuckle softly.
Yeah, I’ll live like that.
I’ll live lazily like Kuro at home. Happy and relaxed enough to make others say something about it.
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