Tokyo: Oreimo

She tried to make her voice sound less shaky.

"I've been studying for so long, it would be strange if I didn't pass the exam."

Takashiro Isamu burst into laughter, his eyes welling up with tears.

He picked up the teacup, found it was empty, and put it down, unsure how to express his joy.

“Okay, okay,” he said. “When Ling Nai gets into Waseda University, Dad will treat you to sushi in Ginza.”

Ling Nai felt a little guilty. "Well, let's talk about it after I pass the exam."

Mihoko brought out the last dish from the kitchen, and seeing her husband's excited expression, the corners of her mouth curved into a smile.

“I told you not to worry.” She placed the dishes on the table and sat down opposite Ling Nai. “When have these two children ever given us any trouble?”

"Yes, yes, yes." Takashiro Isao picked up the refilled teacup and raised it to Ryosuke. "Ryosuke, thank you for your hard work these past few days."

Ryosuke shook his head. "I only tutored her academically. The results are up to her."

Ling Nai listened from the side, burying her head in her rice, her ears turning red all the way to the tips.

.....

After dinner, Ryosuke went upstairs to his room.

He had just sat down at his desk when the door was pushed open.

Ling Nai stood at the door, arms crossed, her expression one of standard accusation.

"What nonsense were you spouting at the dinner table just now?"

"Nonsense?" Ryosuke leaned back in his chair. "I'm serious."

"The more you say that, the more pressure I feel. What if I don't get in? You won't be able to take back what you said to Dad and Auntie."

Ryosuke's lips curled up as he looked at her sulking face.

"Didn't you say getting into Waseda University was a piece of cake?"

"You rascal!"

Ling gritted her teeth.

Is saying those things to him the same as making boastful promises to your parents?

"Do you know how embarrassing it will be in front of the whole family if you don't pass the exam?!"

Ryosuke chuckled and stopped teasing her.

In fact, he knew Ling Nai's current strength better than anyone else.

The test questions he gave out in the past two months were never ordinary mock tests.

Each set is a version he reverse-engineered from Waseda's entrance exam questions over the past ten years, then increased the difficulty by analyzing the question-setting logic. The number and depth of the traps are significantly higher than the actual exam.

Ling Nai's accuracy rate has recently stabilized at over 90%.

In other words, she was able to achieve a near-perfect score in an environment that was even more challenging than the actual exam.

But he wouldn't tell her this fact.

It wasn't for any other reason than that he knew Ling Nai was someone who would immediately relax once she knew she had the upper hand.

When it comes to exams, the truly fatal flaw is never a lack of ability, but rather carelessness on the day.

“Fine,” Ryosuke said. “If you feel embarrassed, just blame it on me.”

"What kind of talk is that? It's like I'm useless." Ling Nai glared at him, but her expression clearly relaxed.

She turned to leave, but stopped at the door.

"Hey."

"Ok?"

"Do you really think I'm okay?"

Ryosuke looked at her. She didn't turn around when she asked the question; her hand was already on the door frame, but her tense back betrayed her.

"So lacking in confidence? That's so unlike you."

“…”

Ling Nai was silent for a few seconds, "Because it really is difficult. I don't have a brain as smart as yours, and what if I don't pass the exam..."

Losing face is a minor matter; the real problem is not being able to go to school with this guy anymore.

"Don't worry, I have confidence in you, because Ling Nai, you are actually very smart."

"If you're worried, then keep pushing yourself. I'm waiting for you to join the manga club."

Ryosuke walked up to her, ruffled the girl's hair, and messed it up.

But this time Ling Nai did not resist; she simply lowered her head.

"What...you're just good at saying nice things."

Her voice was so soft it was almost inaudible.

"Heh, I mean it from the bottom of my heart."

"Hmph." Ling Nai pouted and twisted Ryosuke's hand away.

"I'm going back to my room."

After saying that, she walked out quickly, paused at her door, and muttered something to Ryosuke.

"I will definitely pass the exam..."

Ryosuke looked at the door that had been hastily closed, chuckled, and reopened the notebook on the table.

.....

Early May, the day of the Waseda University entrance exam.

Takashiro Isamu took a day off and drove his family to the gate of Waseda University.

Ling Nai stood beside the car, looking up at the gate of Waseda University.

In May, most of the cherry blossoms in Waseda have already faded, replaced by a profusion of new green leaves.

The sidewalk in front of the school was crowded with test takers and their parents. Some girls were encouraging each other with their friends, while some boys were leaning against the wall alone, flipping through their notes.

She gripped the transparent pencil case tightly in her hand.

"Are you nervous?" Ryosuke's voice came from the side.

Ling Nai turned her head. Ryosuke was wearing casual clothes today and was standing half a step behind her.

"A little."

She surprisingly didn't deny it.

Ryosuke looked at her, then suddenly reached out and gently pressed the top of her head.

"Just perform normally, there's no need to go above and beyond."

Ling Nai was stunned for a moment, then slapped his hand away.

"Don't touch my head at a time like this! You've messed up my hair!"

Ryosuke withdrew his hand and chuckled.

Takashiro Isamu leaned out of the car window and shouted to the two of them, "Ryou! Good luck! Dad's waiting for you here!"

"Okay, okay!" Ling Nai waved to him and turned to walk towards the school gate.

She walked a few steps, then stopped again.

"Hey." She turned to look at Ryosuke, "I'll definitely do well on the exam this time!"

Before Ryosuke could respond, she had already turned around and strode into the crowd of people in the examination hall.

This guy.

He chuckled and shook his head.

Why set a goal for yourself at such an important moment?

.....

The examination room is located on the third floor of the Waseda main teaching building.

She took the university's general entrance exam, aiming for the same faculty as Ryosuke: the Faculty of Cultural Design. In addition to the three common exam subjects, there were also geography and history subjects.

When Ling Nai found her seat, there were still fifteen minutes before the first exam was to begin.

She placed the transparent pencil case on the corner of the table and adjusted her posture.

Outside the window, it was a sunny May day, and the sunlight slanted in, casting a bright spot on the exam paper.

From elementary school to junior high, her grades were always mediocre, neither good nor bad, just enough.

I only reached the score required to get into Chiba First High School after Ryosuke's tutoring.

But now she wants to apply to Waseda University.

Ryosuke passed the exam easily last year, while she herself spent an extra year.

Ling Nai took a deep breath.

If I don't pass the exam, many things will be different.

Joining a comics club to make games means you're out of luck.

Her plan to move out was also off the table. She had secretly looked up available apartments near the school and saved a comparison table of prices and commute times on her phone. Of course, she hadn't told Ryosuke about this yet.

There's also gauze.

That female giant was already far ahead. Same university, same club, playing games together—these were the best opportunities she could think of to turn the tables.

The ringing of the bell interrupted her thoughts.

The first performance was in Mandarin.

The proctor opened the sealed exam paper bag, and the rustling sound of the paper rubbing together was particularly clear in the quiet classroom.

Ling Nai took the test paper from the student in front of her; her fingers were slightly cold.