My Girlfriend is an Evil Woman - Chapter 75 - Academic Assessment

From then on, Kitahara Hideji would spend about an hour each afternoon in the library reading various books on how to cultivate one’s temperament and improve personal character. Occasionally, he would chat with Fukuzawa Naotaka and share a drink while listening to his stories about interesting occurrences in society.

Fukuzawa Naotaka seemed to have limited formal education, but his knowledge was vast, especially when it came to the shady dealings in society. He could list various tricks and schemes used in the hidden corners of Japanese society, and Kitahara Hideji had learned about numerous deceptive tactics, including over thirty different types of scams and frauds.

People often referred to Fukuzawa Naotaka as someone who had become shrewd with age.

Of course, Fukuzawa Naotaka wasn’t encouraging Kitahara Hideji to become a criminal or a scam artist. He shared these stories as a way to educate the young man about the complexities of the world, to ensure that he wouldn’t fall victim to deception due to his lack of social experience.

After finishing his daily hour of relaxation, Kitahara Hideji would continue working at Junmi-ya. Fukuzawa Naotaka hadn’t mentioned hiring new employees, and Kitahara Hideji hadn’t brought up quitting either. Fuyumi, the young girl with the radish-like hair, surprisingly hadn’t voiced any objections. Kitahara Hideji was fully dedicated to his work, and even meals seemed like a distant memory as he immersed himself in his studies.

The calm days passed one by one, and before he knew it, it was early June. Fukuda Private Academy was about to conduct its first academic assessment of the year, and the weather had become increasingly hot and stifling.

Kitahara Hideji’s ultra-affordable apartment had a barely functional ventilation fan, no windows, and resembled a steaming pot. It was so hot that not only was Hyakujirou constantly panting, but Kitahara Hideji felt like his tongue might dangle out soon.

Every morning, he woke up drenched in sweat, feeling sticky and uncomfortable. He decided to take a refreshing shower right away (censored content). Once he was clean and ready, wearing his school uniform with a neatly tied tie, he slapped his cheeks to invigorate himself. He then grabbed his bag and prepared to head to school – determined to secure a high score. To conserve his energy, he skipped his morning exercise routine and opted to sharpen his mind at school instead.

Since it was an exam day, he was determined to come out on top. Winning would justify the dark circles under his eyes that he had earned through hard work.

However, as soon as he opened the door, the door at the end of the corridor also swung open. Yoko peeked her little head out, and upon seeing him, she became visibly delighted. She hurried over, tilted her little face, and clenched her small fists, saying earnestly, “Onii-san, good luck!”

Kitahara Hideji ruffled her hair and smiled, saying, “Don’t rush dinner tonight. After I’m done with the exam, we’ll celebrate together, okay?”

“Onii-san is so confident?” Ono Yoko expressed her surprise.

“Of course, you’re halfway to failure without confidence!” Kitahara Hideji waved with a smile. “I won’t be working tonight after school. Wait for me when I come back.” With that, he left. He was a person of careful planning, and he had timed his departure according to the train schedule.

Ono Yoko reluctantly watched Kitahara Hideji leave, then she patted her chest and made a wish, “I hope Onii-san does well!” Afterward, she looked down at Hyakujirou, who was panting with his tongue out, and decided to enter Kitahara Hideji’s apartment to see if there was any housework she could help with. She couldn’t find much to do and sighed. “If only Onii-san were a bit messier, I could be more useful.”

Without mentioning Ono Yoko’s struggles in the apartment, Kitahara Hideji, at school, continued to sharpen his mind as he prepared for the upcoming academic assessment. He was determined to perform exceptionally well in this test, as it would determine whether he could join the special advanced class, and there was another assessment before the summer break.

Daifuku Industries was a relatively new conglomerate, having been established for less than a decade. It primarily focused on textiles and shipping, with banking and financial institutions forming the core of its operations. The conglomerate had numerous subsidiaries, including trading companies and department stores. It held a 35% market share in the textile industry in Japan and controlled the retail market in the Kansai region.

Fukuda Private Academy, founded just over seven years ago, could be considered an affiliate of this emerging conglomerate. Despite its youth, it was ambitious and aimed to make a name for itself among the prestigious schools in the Kansai region. They used financial incentives to lure top students from various regions. Consequently, the competition in this year’s academic assessment was fierce.

The assessments for each subject were short, with minimal breaks in between, and the entire exam took a whole day. Lunch was provided, but on average, each subject allowed only about 40 minutes, with no regard for whether you could finish all the questions.

Kitahara Hideji focused his mind to the maximum, swiftly jotting down his answers and concentrating on the task at hand. However, considering his level, he could only manage to complete the test barely, with no time for checking.

Once the morning exams were over, Uchida Yuma immediately gathered their small group for lunch. As he noticed that both Kitahara Hideji and Shima Rei remained silent, he couldn’t help but exclaim with amazement, “It’s just an exam, not such a big deal. Why do you both look like you’re attending a funeral?”

Kitahara Hideji glanced at him but remained silent. What wasn’t important about exams? Was he an epicurean or something?

Shima Rei shot him a sideways glance, slightly annoyed. “Did you do well in the exam?”

Uchida Yuma patted his chest and laughed heartily. “Of course, I’ve secured a spot in the top fifty this time.”

Shima Rei was both surprised and skeptical, wondering where his childhood friend had suddenly gained this mysterious self-confidence. Shima Rei had consistently outperformed Uchida Yuma in academics, and he found this particular test challenging. As he pondered his performance, he was filled with inner turmoil.

He had put in effort and genuinely desired a good score.

Kitahara Hideji was also somewhat surprised. He remembered Uchida Yuma often dozing off or engrossed in baseball manga during class. How did he suddenly become so sure of himself? Was he one of those rumored night owls who only studied at night and transformed into academic wizards?

Had he underestimated him before? Was he not what he seemed, or was it the other way around?

Uchida Yuma glanced at the reactions of the two and, satisfied with their surprise, said, “Enough about this. Let’s discuss what we’ll do after the exams during the school festival.”

Shima Rei, still somewhat dazed from Uchida Yuma’s earlier statement, hadn’t yet come to terms with whether he would make it into the top fifty. He casually replied, “During the cultural festival, I’ll be participating in the club’s performance. Our class will help with the preparations.”

“What about you?” Uchida Yuma turned to Kitahara Hideji. His ambitious mindset was evident as he was already thinking about post-exam plans.

Kitahara Hideji felt a headache coming on. Why was this guy so forward-thinking, considering what to do after the exams even before they were over?

He replied with a sense of resignation, “I don’t know. I’ll do whatever others ask me to do at the time.” He had never participated in a cultural festival and had little knowledge of what it entailed. However, he was willing to join group activities and follow instructions.

Uchida Yuma nodded slightly, then contemplated for a moment while rubbing his chin. “It looks like I’ll have to make the decisions. How about we set up a café? Maybe with maid costumes? Or cat ears? No, that’s a bit cliché. Let’s come up with something unique that other classes wouldn’t think of… Hey, when the time comes, you guys better vote to support my idea!”

Uchida Yuma began brainstorming and wouldn’t stop talking, creating quite a ruckus. Kitahara Hideji occasionally offered a few words in response, but in the end, it was Shima Rei who engaged in a debate with him. Kitahara Hideji had undergone some character development during this period of self-improvement and had become much calmer. Shima Rei, on the other hand, couldn’t stand it anymore, thinking that Uchida Yuma’s ideas would definitely lead to trouble when presented at the class meeting.

After a noisy meal, Uchida Yuma suggested going for a walk on the school campus to digest their food, but Kitahara Hideji and Shima Rei promptly vetoed the idea and dragged him back to the classroom to rest. They knew Uchida Yuma’s true intention – he wasn’t interested in walking but rather wanted to observe the girls eating their packed lunches in the courtyard. They spared him from that ordeal.

In the afternoon, they continued with the exams, and there wasn’t much to discuss. Kitahara Hideji maintained his full mental focus. When the exams finally ended, it was already past the usual dismissal time. He sat still with his eyes closed for a while and slowly let a subtle smile creep onto his lips.

That’s great! No matter how he thought about it, he hadn’t made any mistakes in the exams. As long as his essay didn’t have any major issues, he was confident he would secure a top position.

Though the results hadn’t been released yet, he felt a sense of satisfaction. He cheerfully packed his bag and headed back home. On his way, he stopped by a convenience store near his apartment and picked up a large can of dog food for Hyakujirou. He thought it was essential to celebrate, and improving Hyakujirou’s diet seemed like a good idea. It was a way of celebrating his impending success.

He returned to the apartment with a high spirit. Ono Yoko had already changed into casual clothes and was eagerly waiting for him. Her elementary school was nearby, so she had arrived home earlier than Kitahara Hideji. As soon as she saw him, she nervously asked, “How did you do, Onii-san?”

Since Kitahara Hideji attached great importance to this exam, Yoko also regarded it as a significant event. She clenched her little fists tightly, her expression somewhat serious. She was afraid of hearing any bad news.

She didn’t care whether he ranked first or not; what concerned her was whether Kitahara Hideji could secure a scholarship. She had heard from him that high school students ranked at the top could receive financial rewards, and this piece of information had left her jaw hanging.

To her, this money was like freebies, and she was really afraid that Kitahara Hideji might somehow lose out on it.

“No problem!” Kitahara Hideji said with a smile, handing the can of dog food to Ono Yoko. He continued, “Put it in Hyakujirou’s bowl. We’re going out to eat today, and we won’t be taking it with us.”

He was planning to indulge a little today, take Yoko out for a nice meal, and since many places didn’t allow dogs, they had to leave Hyakujirou behind to guard the apartment.

Obediently, Yoko led Hyakujirou to the bathroom, and Kitahara Hideji began changing his clothes. Yoko asked with excitement from inside the bathroom, “Onii-san, where do you want to eat?”

“I’m fine with anything. You choose, Yoko!” Kitahara Hideji put on a loose-fitting sweatshirt. He was a clean person but didn’t pay much attention to fashion or dressing up. He casually suggested, “Pick something you like to eat. I just received my salary, so we can treat ourselves to a good meal tonight.”

Yoko’s eyes lit up, and she hesitated for a moment before making a somewhat shy proposal, “Um, it’s still early. How about we go grocery shopping and then cook at home, Onii-san?”

There was something she had wanted to eat for a long time, but she had never had the opportunity. Over time, with Kitahara Hideji being so kind to her, she had gained the confidence to make such requests.