The Prize-Winning Test

The day after the tense dinner at the restaurant, I woke up with my head full of worries.

The conversations.

The stares.

The weather is strange.

Everything kept repeating in my mind.

I got up as usual and left the room towards the dining room. I greeted Akane and Himari .

— Good morning, Riku-sama — said Akane .

"Good morning," I said.

Akane immediately started cleaning the furniture in the house, leaving the living room. Himari and I were left alone at the table.

"So... how was dinner last night?" she said, resting her chin on her hand.

I told them everything.

From the moment we arrived at the restaurant until the heavy atmosphere at the end.

Himari listened in silence, shaking her head occasionally.

"You should be careful with Sakura ," she said finally.

"No problem," I replied.

Sakura over to my house this weekend ," I said with a smile on my face.

"I'm going to tell her and my parents that I broke up with Kurokawa ... and that the woman I truly love isn't her... it's Sakura ," I continued.

Himari smiled.

"I think that's a great idea," she said.

"I think so too," I said.

I said goodbye to the two Yukinos and headed to the university.

At Meisei , I met Haruto and Kenta as usual.

"Good morning," said Haruto .

"Ready for another day of academic suffering?" Kenta laughed.

Each one went to their own room.

When I entered mine, I noticed the different atmosphere.

Professor Kurimatsu Touya stood there, looking serious, with some leaves in his hand.

"Today we will have a test. A special test," he announced .

A murmur echoed through the room.

"Students who achieve top marks will participate tomorrow in an academic trip to the beach on the Izu Peninsula in Shimoda , " he continued.

The weather changed instantly.

Beach.

Practical assessment.

Group trip.

I knew.

I couldn't afford to make a mistake.

The silence in the room was heavy.

Only the sound of the pens touching the paper broke the air.

"The test begins now. Good luck to everyone," he said to all of us.

I took a deep breath.

Meisei University wasn't kidding when it announced something "special."

That test wasn't just difficult, it was strategic.

I looked at the first page.

Essay questions.

Critical analysis.

Creative production.

— Communication and Arts… — I murmured.

That was exactly my field.

Even so, for the first time in a long time, my mind wasn't completely there.

( Kanzaki …) — for some reason I kept thinking about her.

I shook my head.

"Focus, Riku ," I murmured.

I started writing.

Ideas flowed, but each pause brought unwanted thoughts.

One of the questions said:

Describe how an individual's public image can diverge from their true identity, and how this affects their relationships.

My hand froze for a second.

(Is this a joke…?) — I thought.

I swallowed hard.

I wrote.

Not about me.

Not about Mio.

Not about Sakura .

Or at least… that's what I tried to do.

"Ten minutes to go," I murmured.

My heart raced.

I reviewed everything one last time.

When the professor collected the tests, I felt a strange weight lift from my shoulders.

During the break, it was me, Haruto , and Kenta .

"That was a tough test," Kenta murmured .

"Nothing to pull," Haruto laughed.

I can already picture the beach… and the girls in bikinis. — Haruto said with a smile on his face.

"It hasn't even passed yet," I replied.

— Oh, it'll pass — Kenta shrugged.

"Those who don't pass are those who gave up," he said . Kenta is confident.

I looked around.

Some students seemed confident.

Others, completely exhausted.

I saw Mio putting the pencil case in her bag.

She didn't look at me.

(She never looks.) — I thought.

Sakura walked past me.

"Good luck on the test," he said with a polite smile.

" For you too," I said, smiling at her.

She tilted her head slightly and continued walking.

(She seems… too calm.) — me I thought .

At the end of the day, the notification appeared in the university's system.

Results available.

My phone vibrated.

I opened it.

Approved — Highest Grade

My stomach turned to ice.

I looked up.

I saw Mio's name.

Approved — Highest Grade

Then, the one with Sakura .

Approved — Highest Grade

Haruto and Kenta were celebrating near the stairs.

- WE ACHIEVED!

— BEACH, MAN!

But I couldn't smile.

Because, at that moment, I understood one thing:

(This trip isn't a prize.) — I thought.

It's a test.

And I was about to go to the beach… with Mio and Sakura .

My chest tightened.

(This isn't going to end well.) — I thought worriedly.

When I got home that night, the living room lights were on.

My mother and father were sitting on the sofa, talking quietly. Akane and Himari were organizing some things near the dining room.

"I've arrived," I announced.

Ayane was the first to look at me.

Riku , you came back tense today .

"I had an important test," I replied.

— Actually… that’s what I wanted to talk about. — I continued.

Shin crossed his arms.

"Did something happen?" my father asked.

"The university administered a special exam; whoever got the highest score would participate in an academic trip tomorrow... to the beach on the Izu Peninsula in Shimoda ," I explained .

Ayane raised an eyebrow.

"The beach? In the middle of the school term?" my mother asked .

"It's just one day. From nine to six," I added quickly.

— And did you pass? — he asked. Shin .

I agreed.

— Top marks. — I replied.

Ayane smiled.

— Congratulations. — he said Ayane .

"That's great, Riku-sama ," Akane said excitedly.

"The beach, huh... sounds fun," Himari commented with a mischievous smile.

"It's just an academic outing," I replied, trying to sound calm.

(Or at least… that’s what it should be.) — I thought.

"Be careful," my father said.

"Even in an informal setting, you're still being observed," he explained.

"I know," I said.

After a few more comments, I went up to my room.

I changed my clothes, lay down on the bed, and stared at the ceiling.

(The beach… Mio will be there. Sakura too.) — I thought worriedly.

I closed my eyes.

"Tomorrow is going to be a long day..." I murmured.

The next morning, I woke up before my alarm clock rang.

The sun had barely risen.

I got up silently and started packing for the trip.

Towel.

Lightweight clothing.

Sunscreen.

An extra cutting.

I put everything in the bag.

(It's just one day…) — I thought.

After breakfast, I said my goodbyes quickly and headed to the university.

When I arrived at the gate of Meisei University , there were already several students gathered.

Some were chatting animatedly.

Others seemed sleepy.

I counted quickly.

There were 24 students.

Sakura was there too.

She was chatting calmly with some girls, as if nothing was out of place.

(She always seems so… in control.) — I thought.

A few minutes later, I heard the sound everyone was waiting for.

A bus parked in front of the gate.

"Attention, approved students! Let's board!" announced a teacher.

The doors opened.

We lined up.

The interior of the bus was simple, but comfortable. Each row had three seats.

— Here! — he called Haruto .

Haruto , Kenta, and I sat together in the same row.

"Wow... the beach! Now that's a real university!" Kenta stretched.

"As long as no one gets sick on the bus," Haruto laughed.

I rested my head on the seat.

The engine started.

The bus started to move.

Meisei campus receded into the distance.

(If I do everything right… if I act normally… maybe I can enjoy this trip.) — I thought worriedly.

I closed my eyes for a moment.

"Everything will be alright," I murmured.

But, deep down…

I knew.

Nothing in my life had been simple until now.

And that trip to the beach…

It would not be an exception.