The last day of the first term in the second year of high school, July 20th.
"This morning when I checked the weather, it said the high will be 32°."
"These past few days have been like that, but I felt stuffy as soon as I woke up."
"Is it going to rain?"
"Not necessarily, the chance of rain is 36%."
"Ugh, I hate it; I hope it ends early."
"Yeah, if it ends by noon, we'll have to go home under the sun. I don't want that."
"I'm worried about it raining, but the sun is unbearable too."
Dubian Che listened to the conversation of the two girls in front, the mechanical pencil in his hand scribbling on the grid paper the reflections on learning requested by the principal.
The lead broke, marking a small black smudge on the pristine grid paper.
This scene seemed oddly familiar—as he thought this, Dubian Che pressed the end of the pencil with his thumb.
"Snap, snap," there was sound but no lead appeared.
He turned his head and turned around.
"The final exams are over and attendance is still compulsory. Is work not going well lately?" Dubian Che flipped through Jiutiao Meiji's stationery and took a pencil lead from it.
"Didn't I tell you?" Jiutiao Meiji, wearing a shirt, propped her delicate, pretty face with her left hand while playing with her phone with her right.
"Tell me what?" Dubian Che inserted the lead into the mechanical pencil.
"A few days ago, my mother suddenly said, 'Meiji, enjoy the last two years of high school life,' and then she took away my rights."
"Quite right," Dubian Che said. "High schoolers are supposed to study and enjoy their youth."
"I work, and someone loses; I wonder if they'll despair if I don't work."
Dubian Che turned his head to look to his left, where Kiyono Lin was reading a thin hardcover book.
The air-conditioning was strong, and she had thrown a spring sleeveless cardigan over her shirt.
Because the clothes were thin, specifically because it was a tight sweater, it was possible to see a slight swelling at her chest where the Goda School's emblem was.
"That's good, that's good," Dubian Che was quite relieved.
Kiyono Lin had no particular reaction to Jiutiao Meiji's words, but she lifted her gaze from her book because of Dubian Che's expression.
Her beautiful eyes stared at Dubian Che.
"Hmm?" Dubian Che looked back puzzled.
"What are you finding so satisfying over there?"
"I got first place nationwide, happy."
"Yes, getting first place nationwide doesn't make me happy anymore." Dubian Che pressed the mechanical pencil, lots of lead fell out, then he stuffed them back in, "What should I do now?"
"What should you do?" Jiutiao Meiji said while looking at her phone screen.
"Personal value must be attained both materially and spiritually," Dubian Che flipped open Jiutiao Meiji's math textbook and wrote "material" and "spiritual" in Chinese characters.
"Material is obvious, the key is 'spiritual'."
He casually circled the word "spiritual."
"Material satisfaction doesn't necessarily bring happiness," said Kiyono Lin.
"Of course, so spiritual fulfillment is even more important," Dubian Che nodded.
"So," Jiutiao Meiji glanced at him, "achievement of first place nationwide no longer satisfies you, you plan to find something else?"
"You're truly my Meiji. Now the question is, where to find spiritual satisfaction?" Dubian Che placed a "?" after "spiritual."
"Considering our status as high school students," Jiutiao Meiji took the pencil and wrote on "spiritual" 'participate in national competitions; student council president.'
"Or cultivate hobbies," suggested Kiyono Lin. "Spiritual satisfaction doesn't need too many great feats; the daffodils blooming on the kitchen counter are enough for many."
"Competitions and hobbies," mused Dubian Che.
Before he could come up with specific activities, Xiaoquan Aonai walked in, "Everyone, back to your seats."
As Dubian Che turned around, Jiutiao Meiji signaled with her eyes about her "Math B" and glanced at him saying: Newest update provıded by noⅴelfire.net
"Hmm? Oh." Dubian Che picked up her eraser.
After he turned around, Xiaoquan Aonai began the morning meeting, and only then did Jiutiao Meiji notice:
Only what he had written had been erased; what she wrote 'participate in national competitions; student council president' was still there.
Under the table, she kicked Dubian Che's chair.
Xiaoquan Aonai conveyed the messages from yesterday's meeting.
"Teacher," a girl raised her hand, "I have extra lessons during the summer holidays, can I be excused?"
"Except for the bottom thirty in the final exams who are required to attend school-organized tutorials, everyone else must attend."
"Ah—" a wave of discontent rose below.
Many had signed up for tutorial classes or planned to travel during the summer holidays.
"This is the school's regulation; even the teachers can't do anything about it."
Seeing everyone looking distressed, Xiaoquan Aonai consoled:
"You have all done very well, enjoy the club activities during the summer holidays, let's go watch Koshien for free and support the baseball team."
"Teacher!" Ichiki Kui raised her hand.
"Ichiki, please speak."
"Do members of the Wind Instrument Club, apart from preparing support songs, need to participate in other support activities?"
"Then for us responsible for practicing carrying signs and shouting slogans, will the training be at the playground or in the gym?"
Before Xiaoquan Aonai could speak, the girls cried out, "Playground?! With such harsh sun, no way!"
"Definitely going to get tanned!"
"Damn baseball team! Wasting our tutorial time and making us get sunburnt!"
"Kunimi, I remember you're a baseball team member, right?"
"Can't we skip the support?"
"Everyone!" Xiaoquan Aonai clasped her hands, and the classroom quieted down.