Lily POV:
It was Monday, exactly one week until finals started. Most of the day was spent studying individually, and I assumed the rest of the week would go the same way.
While finals should have been at the front of my mind, that wasn't what bothered me right now.
Math class had just started, and today was the day we would get our math tests back—the ones we wrote during the week of sports day. Usually, teachers try to give our tests back at least a week later, but because the last two weeks had been so busy, it was pushed to today.
...Or maybe my teacher was just lazy. Who knows?
The teacher began calling out students' names to pick up their tests. My heart pounded as I waited in my seat, my knees bouncing nonstop.
Usually, I'd dread getting my marks back. I used to think, what kind of student actually looks forward to seeing their grade?
But now, for the first time in my life, I thought I actually did well on a test—and a math test, of all things. So, as nerdy as it sounds, I was actually kind of excited.
That feeling of excitement continued to swell up within me as the teacher slowly approached my name.
Finally, the teacher called, "Lily, please come get your test."
I quickly stood up and walked towards the teacher's desk. I tried channelling my inner Older Brother's composure, but my steps still felt wobbly.
The teacher handed me my test and flipped it upwards with a proud smile. "You did well, Lily, you should be proud of yourself."
My breath caught in my throat.
W-what did she just say…?
It was the first time in a very long time that a teacher had praised me. I almost couldn't believe it at first.
As my mind struggled to comprehend the situation, I gently grabbed the test from the teacher and frantically scanned it until I saw two large red numbers written in the top-right corner.
95%.
I gasped and took a step back, rereading the grade over and over again. No matter how many times I looked, the numbers never changed.
95%. Almost a perfect score.
I… I did it!
I looked up at the teacher with a bright smile. I wanted to share this moment with someone—anyone, really.
She gave me a small, understanding nod. "I can tell you worked hard for this, Lily. Keep up the good work."
"Yes, ma'am!"
I gave her a quick bow before returning to my seat. The teacher continued calling out to students who hadn't gotten theirs back, but everything except the test in front of me blurred into a distant haze.
I tightly gripped the hem of my skirt.
I, I need to show my family this. I want my Older Brother to be proud of me! And most of all…
My nails dug into the palms of my hands, the world outside of the test score blurring further.
I want to show my parents that I can be just like him!
Suddenly, someone tapped me on the shoulder, snapping me out of my thoughts.
I flinched and snapped my head to the side.
"AYAH!"
Yuka, who had been leaning close to my face, jerked back in surprise with a frightened yelp.
She stumbled back, clutching her chest and breathing in deep, shaky breaths.
"W-what the hell was that for?!"
I brought a hand to my face and sighed. She was making a big deal for no reason—again.
"What are you talking about?" I asked flatly. "If you get scared that easily, then you shouldn't try to sneak up on people."
Yuka frowned dramatically, puffing her cheeks. "Whatttttt? But that's so boringgggahhhhh. Do you just want me to wave like a normal person? Where's the fun in that?!"
"That's the point," I said with a straight face. "There isn't supposed to be any. You're just trying to get my attention, not ask me out."
She crossed her arms and looked away as if I'd deeply wounded her. "But that's no fun! That'd just make me like everyone else!"
"Maybe being like everyone else wouldn't be so bad—for you."
"Don't say that! You know that's not true!"
Yuka grabbed my shoulders and shook me, begging, "Take that back!" over and over.
Of course, I never took it back. But throughout the whole exchange, I fought back the urge to grin.
I loved Yuka just the way she was—though I'd never tell her that.
Suddenly, I was hit with an epiphany.
Maybe… this is how my Brother feels when he's dealing with me…
It was a funny thought, but I shook it off just as quickly as it came. That was a different case. I was his little sister; he should have been showering me with affection all the time!
After a few moments, Yuka stopped shaking me and dropped back into her seat, which was to my right.
"So, what did you get on the test?" she asked in between gasps of breath.
Without saying anything, I slid my test paper over to her desk with a smug grin. She let out an annoyed groan as she grabbed the paper and skimmed through the whole thing until her eyes locked onto one spot. A gasp slipped from her mouth.
I had my hands placed confidently against my hips as I awaited her praise.
As if on cue, Yuka jumped from her seat and wrapped me in her arms, nuzzling herself against my face. "Oh my god, Lily! This is the best mark I've ever seen you get! How much did you study to get this?!"
I nodded along, basking in her praise.
Keep them coming! I could hear this all day!
"Well, you know how it is," I said, not bothering to hide my pride. "It's hard being the sister of a genius. I guess it just runs in the family."
Yuka pulled herself back, a slightly disappointed expression etching itself onto her face.
"Don't say that! This was all your hard work! Your Brother doesn't have anything to do with it!"
I was flattered that she thought that, but I wasn't trying to be humble or anything. It was simply the truth.
"No, I'm being serious," I said genuinely. "My Brother taught me most of the things that were on the test. I wouldn't have scored this high without him."
Yuka sighed, her gaze lingering on me for a little longer than usual. For a second, her gaze looked almost... sharp. And yet, for some reason, I found comfort in that.
Then—her usual colourful smile returned.
"Well, if you say so!" she said, laughing obnoxiously.
Yuka dropped back to her seat with a small sigh. "Anyway, how about we start studying for finals? I don't know about you, but I'm really scared!"
I shrugged. "Sure, I don't mind."
"Yay!"
Yuka dragged her desk across the floor, connecting it to mine. We dug through our bags, grabbing our textbooks, notebooks, and pencil cases.
The sight of it all spread across my desk made me want to die over how much work I had to do, but that was student life—I guess.
"Well, let's get this started," I said with a voice full of dejection.
"Yup! Let's go!" Yuka chirped.
We studied for the rest of the day until it was time to go home. Or at least, I tried to. But every few minutes, whether I was reading or writing something down, Yuka's face from earlier flashed behind my eyelids.
She was always so immature, but for that one moment, she seemed almost... different.
My grip tightened around my pencil.
Just why did she look at me like–
*snap*
Suddenly, my pencil seemed to sink deeper into the notebook. I glanced down and saw a broken piece of lead rolling across the paper.
Huh, that's strange.
Usually, whenever lead broke—at least for me—it shattered. But this one, for the first time in my life, the lead stayed attached. If not for it no longer being part of the pencil, I'd never have guessed it had broken at all.