𝑭𝒂𝒄𝒂𝒅𝒆 | 𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘪 𝘬.

𝟗

The following week arrived with a crispness in the air, signaling the start of autumn. The once-green leaves had begun their gradual transformation, now tinged with shades of gold, orange, and deep red, fluttering down the sidewalks as you walked to school. The rhythmic crunch underfoot was a reminder that time, much like the seasons, was moving forward.

But instead of focusing on the scenic beauty of the day, your thoughts were filled with the swirl of recent events. The weekend had been a rollercoaster—school events, deepening bonds with Nanami, and Gojo’s continuous teasing. Now, as Monday approached, you knew there was something you had to share with your parents.

The math exam. The B- that had seemed like a dream only weeks ago.

You hadn’t brought it up yet, wanting to savor the moment, to bask in the quiet triumph of not failing. But today, you knew you had to tell them. Your mom had been pestering you for weeks, after all, about getting a better grade.

As you approached the door to your house, the familiar sight of your mother’s car parked in the driveway gave you a surge of both comfort and nervousness. What would she say? Would she finally let up with the constant nagging about improving your math?

Taking a deep breath, you stepped inside.

The smell of dinner wafted through the air, a warm aroma of roasted chicken and vegetables. Your mother was in the kitchen, as usual, apron tied around her waist, humming softly as she prepared the meal. Your father sat at the dining table, reading through the evening newspaper.

“Hey, sweetheart,” your mom greeted you as you walked in. “How was school?”

You placed your bag down and nervously fiddled with your fingers. “It was fine,” you replied, but the real conversation was just beginning.

Your father glanced up from his paper, catching the slightly anxious look on your face. “You look like you’ve got something on your mind,” he said with a raised eyebrow.

You swallowed, then decided it was now or never. “Actually... I wanted to tell you both something.”

Your mother turned off the stove, her full attention on you now. “What is it, honey?”

“Well... I got my math exam back. You know, the one I had been studying so hard for?” you began, watching their expressions carefully. “I passed. I got a B-.”

For a split second, there was silence, and then your mother’s face lit up with a mixture of relief and pride. “A B-? That’s wonderful, sweetheart! I’m so proud of you!”

Your father gave a nod of approval as well. “I knew you could do it. I’m proud too.”

You felt warmth spread through your chest at their reactions. It wasn’t an A, but it was a major improvement. And for once, you didn’t feel like the pressure of constantly having to do better was weighing down on you.

“Thank you,” you said with a soft smile. “I’ve been getting some extra help... from Nanami.”

Your mother’s eyebrows shot up. “Nanami? The boy you’ve been spending time with lately?”

You could feel a slight blush forming. “Yeah,” you nodded, realizing this was the first time you were really addressing your ‘relationship’ in front of them. “He’s been tutoring me for math. He’s really good at it.”

“Well, I’ve noticed,” your mother said with a knowing smile. “He’s over here quite a bit, isn’t he? You two seem to be spending a lot of time together.” She chuckled softly. “It’s nice to see you getting along with someone like that. Maybe he’ll come over for dinner sometime.”