There was a restless atmosphere flowing through the classroom.

It was because of the midterm exams coming up in a week.

Even students from sports clubs who normally didn’t look like they studied much were glued to their desks during breaks.

I always make sure to review and prepare so I don’t panic before exams but this is still a time when I get busy for other reasons.

Because everyone from the sports clubs asks me to help them study.

I had pulled desks together with Kijita-kun and Suzuki-kun and was teaching them.

"Hey, hey, Hayama~ how do you solve this?"

Kijita-kun pushes his workbook toward me, almost in tears.

"Okay so here you—"

"...Huh, what does that mean?"

"It’s something we just learned yesterday..."

"Sorry Hayama. I don’t get which formula to apply this to either."

"That would be—"

"...Ah I see. Got it."

Suzuki-kun seemed to understand since he usually studies properly.

People like Suzuki-kun who study diligently are rare and most of the sports club members seem to prefer club activities over studying.

But during this one week it’s test study period so most club activities are on break.

So they have no choice but to study.

Apparently if they fail they won’t be allowed to participate in the summer training camp.

Well even in this situation there are people whose motivation to study doesn’t rise at all...

"I give up, I don’t get it I don’t wanna look at the textbook"

It was Iwabuchi-san slumped in her chair staring up at the ceiling.

She looked so lazy it was like drool might start dripping from her mouth.

I’ve never seen her like this before...

Iwabuchi-san was studying in a group with the girls from the sports club but even when she faced her workbook for a bit she quickly ended up staring at the ceiling again so she wasn’t making any progress.

At times like this I wish I could help teach her but I don’t have the courage to talk to her and even if I got the chance I’d probably be too nervous to teach properly.

"Hey, Hayama-kun"

"W-what?"

Two female sports club members with troubled expressions came over to me.

They were the ones studying with Iwabuchi-san earlier.

"Sorry but could you help Ayami study?"

"I-Iwabuchi-san?"

"Yeah. Look at her, she's like that right? We can’t handle her anymore. From what we can see you seem good at teaching Hayama-kun. You even got Kijita to study seriously."

"Haaah!? I’m always serious, okay!? I’m just seriously bad at studying!"

Kijita-kun gets angry at a weird point.

My heart jumps at this perfect opportunity but...

Can I really do this?

"Eh? Hayama-kun is going to teach me?"

Iwabuchi-san walks over unsteadily.

What is this she’s usually so lively but after just a few minutes of studying she looks completely worn out.

Even though she should have strong core strength she looks like she’d be blown away by the wind.

"Um... if I’m okay for it"

"Of course you are!"

Iwabuchi-san instantly regains her energy, grabs my hand and shakes it enthusiastically.

Just seeing her bright smile makes me glad I didn’t chicken out and refuse.

"Then will you come to our club room after school? I always study there when exams are close."

"So there’ll be other club members too?"

"A few. We gather because if someone’s watching us we won’t slack off. But none of us are really good at studying so we can’t rely on each other much."

"Got it I’ll go"

Honestly it’s less nerve-wracking than teaching one-on-one.

"Thanks. But you only need to help me okay? The others are a bit smarter than me so they can at least avoid failing. I don’t want to burden you."

Iwabuchi-san seemed to be considerate.

"Oh but do you have any family obligations today? Are you okay?"

"I’m fine today."

There’s no special sale today and the only thing is picking up Umi but during exam period Mitsuki takes care of that so there’s no need for me to rush home.

"That’s good then after school... please."

She bows properly so I end up bowing too.

"So yeah sorry Kijita, Suzuki, I’m borrowing Hayama-kun"

Iwabuchi-san wraps her arm around my shoulder like I’m hers.

I wish she wouldn’t suddenly get so close. My heart feels like it’s going to burst...

"Damn it. He’s my personal teacher though."

"...Well it can’t be helped. It’d feel bad if Iwabuchi ended up repeating a year because we held him back."

Suzuki-kun said.

"I won’t go as far as repeating a year."

"Hey, hey, confident aren’t you. Man this takes me back! Back in our first year we were called Kijita of the West and Iwabuchi of the East because of our fierce rivalry!"

Kijita-kun said.

"Yeah yeah! We had that intense chicken race to see who could slack off the most while barely avoiding failing!"

"I’m definitely not losing this time!"

"Hehe you can act tough now while you can! I’ll hit you again with my ultimate slacking and shock you!"

"Don’t underestimate the composure I’ve built this year! Even with exams coming up I’ll stay calm!"

Kijita-kun and Iwabuchi-san burn with their incredibly low-level rivalry.

But it’s also true that I felt a bit envious of the two who clearly shared some kind of mutual understanding.

They’re both athletic types after all. I could never have this kind of fiery spirit no matter what they’re competing over.

"Shouldn’t you at least reflect on your first year and try to raise your scores to the average?"

Suzuki-kun was completely exasperated.

"More importantly, Iwabuchi, since you’re getting help from Hayama, you shouldn’t be thinking about slacking off."

"Sorry, sorry, that just slipped out. Sorry, okay? I’ll actually try."

"Well yeah I’m counting on you."

Iwabuchi-san works hard in practice so if she directs that same passion toward studying she should manage somehow.

"So that’s how it is. Sorry, okay failing boy?"

"I’ll turn you into failing girl instead!"

Watching Iwabuchi-san and Kijita-kun start another low-level argument I can’t help but feel like I’m the even lower-level one for being jealous of them.