Shinobu walked up the stairs, approaching the floor where her class was
She was clearly tired just from looking at her face. She was stayed up to study the test for today
She was struggling quite a bit since the core of the lesson was taught in Grade 10. The grade she skipped
After a few hours of studying and watching Khan Academy videos she felt prepared. She was still quite anxious about the test though.
She entered the classroom, making Mitsuri turn to the door. Mitsuri waved at her so she waved back
They approached each other and after Shinobu got close, Mitsuri had a concerned look
"Did you stay up last night?" Mitsuri asked, noticing the tiredness showing from Shinobu's face
"Yep. This lesson is actually really difficult" Shinobu said with a chuckle "Yeah it is... You'll probably do fine though" Mitsuri said with a smile
"Hopefully..." Shinobu said awkwardly, looking around.
She sees Giyu sitting at the seat on the corner. A wave of emberrassment and guilt went through her body as she remembered what she did
"Shinobu?" Mitsuri asked, noticing the far-away look Shinobu had. She snapped from her trance and turned back to Mitsuri
"You're so tired you're daydreaming now?" Mitsuri asked and Shinobu shook her head "No it's not that it's something else..." Shinobu said
Mitsuri was curious on what this something was but she knew she wouldn't get a clear answer if she asked anyway
"Alright class is about to start so let's get seated" Mitsuri said grabbing Shinobu's wrist and dragging her onto the seat beside her
~
After the test, everyone had worried looks. The test was so difficult that a room full of the smartest students in the school were made anxious
After they saw that everyone had difficulty with the test too, they all knew they would probably all either fail or have low scores
"How was the test?" Mitsuri asked the distressed Shinobu "Pretty bad" Shinobu said with an awkward chuckle
"Yeah, me too. Don't worry everyone else had a hard time so you're not alone" Mitsuri said with a blast of positivity, assuring Shinobu
Shinobu still didn't shake off the amount of stress in her body though. She's never truly experienced failure before so she's not yet used to it yet
~
At the end of the day, the teacher came by their classroom and handed back their papers
Most people knew they had failed already, but there were still people holding hope. These few were Mitsuri and Shinobu.
"Have you seen your score yet?" Mitsuri asked Shinobu "Not yet, I haven't flipped it yet" Shinobu said
"I want to think I passed but the fact everyone failed makes me think otherwise" Shinobu said with an awkward chuckle at the end
"I mean it's fine either way" Mitsuri said and Shinobu nodded "How about you? Have you seen your score" Mitsuri nodded
"A staggering 18/50!" Mitsuri said, laughing. This made Shinobu more anxious than she already was
"Alright I'll flip it" Shinobu said nervously before turning her paper and seeing her score
"What is it?" Mitsuri asked with a curious tone "20/50" Shinobu said in a plain tone
"Well you didn't pass but that's alright" Mitsuri said but Shinobu was still clearly disturbed by the outcome
~
Giyu exited the campus and put in his earbuds. He looked around and started to walk ok the sidewalk
As the road diverged he looked around once again. He didn't see anyone except for one person going to the left
It was a short, black-haired girl with purple tips. It was clear to him it was Shinobu
He ignored her and went to her usual route to the right but he had a gut feeling something was off with her
He wanted to keep ignoring her and just go home but he couldn't shake the feeling.
He sighed in frustration before turning back and approaching Shinobu
Shinobu did look off to him. The usual prim and proper girl who would walk properly and have great posture was gone
She was slouching and her head was facing the ground. Her hair was also unusually messy. He thought of reasons this may be the case and landed on one answer. The test
"Kocho" Giyu said once he was walking beside her. Shinobu turned to him and she had a gloomy look
"What's wrong?" Giyu asked in a curious tone, rather than a worried tone "Nothing you have to be worried about, Tomioka-san" Shinobu said, trying to force up a smile
"Just say it" Giyu said. Shinobu shrugged before tears started to well up on her eyes
Giyu noticed and gave her a handkerchief. She took it and wiped her eyes
"It's the test" Giyu's suspicion was correct "What about the test?" Giyu asked
"I failed" Giyu had a confused look "Everyone failed. Why would you be upset?" Shinobu shrugged at the question
"I know... It's dumb. I know I shouldn't be feeling this was but... I just feel like a failure" Shinobu explained before leaning her head on his arm
"I don't really know what to say" Shinobu chuckled at his response "I've never felt that way before" Giyu explained further
"Really? I've always felt this feeling, you know?" Giyu shook his head "This feeling of always having to do well, and if you don't you're... not doing good" Shinobu said
"Like a pressure or responsibility to do well?" Giyu asked and Shinobu nodded "I guess so, yeah" Giyu nodded
"Why? Where do you think this came from?" Giyu asked and Shinobu shrugged "I don't know. It's not like my sister's pressure me to do well but still, it's there" Shinobu explained
"But I also feel like because I started overachieving, everyone expects me to achieve and I guess it also comes from there" Shinobu said
"But you said your sisters don't pressure you but everyone expects you to achieve?" Giyu said, confused
"Okay maybe not everyone but a lot of people do. Like friends, teachers, the world" Shinobu explained further
"Don't you think most of this pressure or responsibility is internal though?" Shinobu shrugged
"Maybe... I don't know" Shinobu responds
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to vent to you like that. We're not even friends yet" Shinobu said making Giyu shake his head
"You're fine. It's not like I'm super busy or something" Giyu responded making Shinobu smile
"Thanks, Tomioka-san" Giyu nodded
"Why didn't you talk to anyone about this?" Shinobu looked confused at the question "Like... you could've talked to Mitsuri" Giyu said further
"I don't know. I'm not good with talking about feelings with people I know" Shinobu said and Giyu nodded
"How's your day been, Tomioka-san?" Shinobu asked and Giyu shrugged "I don't know. Normal" He said
"I would ask about yours but I doubt you want to talk about it" Shinobu nodded as they approached her house
"Thanks again, Tomioka-san. You really helped" Shinobu said with a genuine smile. Giyu nodded before Shinobu walked to her house by herself
"Her actual smile is cute" Giyu thought out loud before turning around and walking
YOU ARE READING
Highs and Lows | GiyuShino Modern AU
General FictionShinobu was the best student in her class in her freshman year. Because of that, she was transferred to Grade 11 since the school thought that she was smart enough to handle it. She was actually happy since most of them were her friends anyway. That...
