I Want to Fall in Love After Getting Reincarnated as the Heroine on the Verge of a Bad Ending, but My OP Older Brother Won’t Leave Me Alone!? - Chapter 138
Translated by: ShinigamiTori
Chapter 138 ? Rank Exam (Winter of the First Year) 3
“…. Ah, um, well. I don’t think it’s bad!”
The moment Willy’s hesitant, considerate voice reached my ears, I immediately understood that it hadn’t gone well.
My heart pounds loudly and rapidly, like a hammering drum.
When I opened my eyes and looked down at my chest, the familiar green brooch was still shining there.
“….”
But maybe this was the inevitable result. While my magic power had increased, my skills were still at the minimum level.
Even for the written exam, I’ve only been in this world for half a year, so my foundation isn’t perfect, and most of what I learn is just superficial knowledge I’ve desperately crammed in for the test.
Maybe things had just been going too well up until now.
“Rene….”
Therese, with her golden brooch gleaming on her chest, called my name worriedly, bringing me back to reality.
I felt like I should say something, but my throat tightened, and no words came out.
“Hey, there’s always next time! Let’s aim for C-rank in the spring!”
“Yes. You were so close.”
“??Thanks. Yeah, you’re right! Ah, it’s so frustrating.”
I hastily put my right hand on my head and smiled as usual, “Hehe,” and they both looked relieved.
I didn’t want to worry my precious friends or make them feel concerned, so I pretended not to notice the throbbing pain in my chest or the burning in my eyes.
“…. It’s not ideal to talk about this too much, but you were really just one or two positions away from the next rank. Your performance was definitely at an average C-rank level.”
A teacher who happened to pass by me said, “Do your best next time too.” And it turned out that last time, on the contrary, I had just barely managed to slip into the D-rank category.
The teacher, who used to be strict with me when I was a failing student, had recently become more considerate.
“Everyone put in a lot of effort for this exam, didn’t they?”
“Yes. We all did.”
Since this academy ranks students comparatively, the number of people in each rank is fixed. No matter how much a person’s performance improves, if there are others above them, their rank will not change.
It’s not just me; everyone is working hard to make it through at this academy.
“Ah, Rene-chan! Good job, uh….”
Reinhardt, who had arrived at some point, looked at my brooch and looked as if he was about to burst into tears.
Reinhardt had always wholeheartedly supported and encouraged me.
Having started together from F-rank, he probably thought of my struggle as his own.
“Reinhardt, you made it to B-rank! That’s amazing!”
“… Mmhm. Thank you.”
On the other hand, he has smoothly risen to B-rank, and I feel genuinely happy as if it were my own achievement. Of course, he had natural talent, but Reinhardt had continuously worked hard.
“That’s really amazing! Congratulations!”
“Rene-chan… let’s do our best together next time too. I’ll improve enough to be able to teach you!”
“Thank you, Reinhardt. That means a lot to me.”
It seems he’s still concerned about me being at D-rank, and I feel a pang of guilt.
“I’ll work hard enough to jump straight to B-rank next time!”
So, I smile at them, telling them I’m not worried at all and everything will be fine.
While we were laughing and chatting with everyone as usual, the door opened once more.
“What’s all the commotion?”
Yoshida and the prince are there. Actually, we had planned to have a post-exam celebration with the usual group afterward.
Both Yoshida and Prince Theodore have maintained their high ranks, as expected.
The two of them also cast a glance at my brooch. The prince’s eyebrows furrowed slightly, while Yoshida remained expressionless.
“Where are we going after this? I’m starving!”
“Let’s go eat something Rene likes.”
“Yeah, I’ve picked out a lot of places with foods I think you’ll like, Rene-chan, so leave it to me!”
“Whoa, that’s terrifying. You’re amazing!”
“….”
“Thanks! Let’s go somewhere we won’t get in trouble for being noisy.”
“That’s true. Rene’s brother will be coming too, right?”
“Yes, Julius, Arnold-san, and Mylene-sama!”
Seeing everyone in their usual cheerful mood was comforting. I decided to change my mood and fully enjoy the rest of the day.
??But then, I suddenly wondered if I was genuinely smiling well enough.
“Ah! M-My eyes…!”
Out of nowhere, Yoshida seized my face with his hands, covering my eyes. He then proceeded to walk away with me in tow.
“Hey, what’s going on, Yoshida?”
“I just remembered something I need to do. This gathering is postponed.”
“Eh!?”
With that, he left the classroom and walked down the hallway. Through the gaps between his fingers, I saw that he was carrying only my bag.
“Y-Yoshida? What’s wrong all of a sudden?”
“….”
Eventually, we reached my family carriage parked in front of the school gate, and I was pushed inside.
Startled by the sudden turn of events, I quickly sat up and faced Yoshida, who was now standing in front of the carriage.
“I-I was really surprised, what’s going on?”
“You did well. There’s always next time.”
“… Huh?”
Yoshida looked at me with a deadly serious expression. I could only stare back, having forgotten to even try to smile.
“Your efforts won’t go to waste. The results will come sooner or later.”
“…. Yoshida.”
I finally realized that he was trying to encourage me. Yoshida’s straightforward words spread warmth through my chest.
“See you later. Get some rest.”
Handing me my bag, Yoshida turned and walked back toward the school, waving one hand.
I clench my palms tightly as I stare at his shrinking back.
??Yoshida must have noticed. My forced cheerfulness and the slight strain in my smile.
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