I was prepared for the worst, but the numbers staring back at me were surprisingly high. Naturally, the "Results" section had taken a hit because of the 9th-place finish, but even that wasn't a total failure. On a scale of 100, my total score sat around a 70. I had been braced for something in the 30s or 40s.
"Is something unclear?"
"N-no, not exactly unclear. I'm just... surprised the evaluation is this high, to be honest."
I half-wondered if they'd handed me the wrong person's file. Ms. Hayakawa offered a small, knowing smile.
"Allow me to explain the reasoning behind the marks."
"I'd appreciate that, but... are you sure you have the time?"
There are hundreds of trainers at Trecen. I felt guilty taking up her schedule, but she just smiled again.
"It's quite alright. We only take this much time with the rookies. From the second year onward, everyone is used to the process, and we wrap things up in ten minutes."
That made sense. I settled in and listened as she moved to the section regarding Urara's growth.
"As for Haru Urara-san, her physical development since entering the Academy has been remarkable. We were surprised when you insisted on focusing solely on her, but we consider the current trajectory to be an excellent result."
"I... well, I'm glad to hear that. But she did place ninth in her debut. How was that factored in?"
I asked tentatively. Based on results alone, I expected a '1' out of '5'. They had given me a '3'.
"While her ranking was certainly not ideal, it was clear to any observer that she would have taken first place if not for the accident on the track. We have adjusted your evaluation to reflect that reality."
"Thank you... Wait, you actually watched the race?"
I felt the tension in my face begin to melt into a grin, but I suppressed it. The Chairman snapped her folding fan open with a sharp clack.
"OF COURSE! These are the debuts of the students of Trecen Academy! Even when I cannot attend in person, I make it a point to witness every race on screen!"
"Haru Urara-san's performance left us with high expectations for her next outing," Ms. Hayakawa added. "It's clear your daily instruction is taking root. We are very much looking forward to what comes next."
The two of them smiled at me. I realized then that they weren't just looking at the scoreboard; they were evaluating the process.
"Thank you. I'll keep giving it my all, right alongside Urara."
"We expect nothing less."
"AGREEMENT! We have high hopes for the both of you!—HOWEVER."
The Chairman's expression suddenly shifted, turning deadly serious. A wave of sheer pressure, completely at odds with her diminutive stature, washed over the room.
"We are not the only ones who have taken notice of Haru Urara's potential. Bear that in mind as you move forward!"
"Y-yes, ma'am!" I barked, straightening my posture as she returned to her usual boisterous self.
"Phew... Talk about nerve-wracking."
The moment I sank into my chair in the communal trainers' lounge, I let out a massive sigh of relief. The evaluation had gone better than I could have dreamed. While the bonus itself would be a bit lean—since Urara hadn't brought in any prize money—the vote of confidence from the top brass was worth its weight in gold.
"Hard at work, I see. How did the interview go?"
I looked up to see Kiryuin, whose desk was next to mine. she had stood up and walked over with a smile—though I couldn't help but feel she was standing just a little closer than necessary.
Ever since she'd helped with Urara's training, we'd become fairly close. That said, Kiryuin still seemed to struggle with social boundaries; I'd rarely seen her talking to any of the other rookie trainers with this much ease.
"It went alright, all things considered. How about you?"
Kiryuin's expression clouded with a bit of uncertainty.
"I believe I received a good evaluation... but since I don't know what the standard is for everyone else, I'm not quite sure..."
"Well, you could always ask the others—actually, never mind. Do you want to see mine?"
I cut myself off and pulled the envelope out. Kiryuin's eyes lit up. She reached inside her vest and pulled out an identical envelope.
"I would love to! I've always wanted to do this since I was a student!"
"O-oh? Is that so?"
I'd always pictured this as a "Hey, show me your test scores!" moment between middle school boys. Did girls not do that?
Regardless, I took her envelope. Usually, performance reviews are things you keep private, and I'd half-expected her to laugh and say, "Oh, I couldn't possibly!" But with her looking at me with those sparkling eyes, I couldn't exactly back out now.
I opened her file, and my soul nearly left my body.