How We Met Again

Chapter 41: She Breaks

A/N: Was going to post this sooner, but then I officially became a doctor of philosophy and also got covid, and that kinda got in the way.

I'd say enjoy, but... well, you'll see.

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Chapter 41:
She Breaks

"Uesugi Fuutarou."

Surreal. Everything felt surreal.

There was a numbness spreading within me; an unfeeling that began at my fingertips, diffusing inwards towards my core. Like ice, cold and hard, it coated my palms and ate away at my skin. As I rose from my seat, it felt once again as though I were watching myself from the outside.

Footstep upon footstep.

"Well done, Uesugi-kun."

The teacher was talking to me.

"Still top of the grade, after all."

I took the proffered slip of paper without a word, nodding quietly and returning to my seat. The whispers of my classmates fell on deaf ears, as though speaking a foreign language. Sinking down to my desk, I glanced at the results, and then leaned back and closed my eyes.

Then, I pinched the bridge of my nose, and swore under my breath.

Class went on. Class let out. Yet, I remained at my desk, my eyes glued down to the slip of paper in front of me that was filled with accursed ink and fell news. I could hear the sound of my classmates rising, of my classmates leaving.

Footstep upon footstep.

"Uesugi-kun? How did it go?"

Itsuki.

"You first," I muttered, not looking up.

"Um... about the same," she murmured, holding out her own paper. "I improved a little bit from where I was at the end of the finals. Though, I don't know... it feels just as bad."

"Is that so?" I asked, taking her slip and eyeing it. "Well, at least you didn't regress."

___________________________________________________________________

Name: Nakano Itsuki

Japanese: 44. Math: 36. Science: 70. Social Studies: 28. English: 40.

TOTAL: 218

___________________________________________________________________

"I suppose so," she murmured. "I was... hoping for a lot more, though. It feels like I've still let Takeda-kun down."

"I wasn't aware you were so conscious of his expectations," I said drily.

"It's n-not like that!" Itsuki said, suddenly reddening. "I just meant that he put a lot of work into helping me, and I feel like I'm not improving enough in response!"

"I get it, Itsuki. It's ok," I said, doing my absolute best to avoid any hint of a teasing tone.

"Geez," she groaned -- clearly my efforts had been in vain. "Show me yours then!"

"Ah--"

Itsuki picked it up off the table... and then looked up at me.

"...Should I show this to Yotsuba?" she said softly.

"Please don't," I said, shaking my head. "This is my fault, not hers."

"If you're sure, Uesugi-kun. That said... it's been over a week. She's turning this into too much of a thing. I think she might need something to snap her out of it."