Test
Chapter 48. [The Test, Second Half]
"Iroha... Iroha!"
"Yes!?"
I jump up when I hear my name called.
What's that? Is this my room?
"I'm glad! Are you all right? You were having a nightmare. Do you remember what happened? Oh, right. You went down during the exam."
After the exam, the examiner noticed something was wrong and called my mom.
She took me straight to the hospital. I was examined and took some medicine.
The morning sun was shining through the window.
I had slept well until now.
My body was feeling better as if yesterday's illness was a lie.
My mom the other hand, had dark circles under her eyes. I had worried her a lot.
"What do you think, Iroha? If you're not feeling well, you can skip today's exam..."
"No, I'll take the exam."
"Yes, mom did want you to take the exam. But it was because I thought it would be good for your future. If you try to do too much now and get physically injured, it will be for nothing. So, if you take the test for mom's sake, you should not."
"No, no, no. I'm okay now. Besides, I have my reasons for taking the exam."
"Is that so? I understand. Then mom will take care of the preparations, and you can sleep in until the last minute."
"Thanks."
I lay back on the bed and closed my eyes.
I wasn't worried. I mean, well, the third day of the exam.
* * *
The third day of the exam - English.
<<I'm just checking, but you're not a returnee, are you, Iroha?>>
<<No, I'm not.>>
<<Is there anyone in your family who speaks English?>>
<<No.>>
<<I can't believe it. That's incredible. I thought you were a native English-speaking girl. I thought that I should tell them that the test is not for returnees.>>
<<Thank you for the compliment. I often chat with friends from all over the world as a hobby, so I think that had a big influence on me.>>
<<In this day and age, is it still a game?>>
<<Yes, that's right. I often play games online.>>
<<I always get angry at my child for playing games in moderation, but maybe I should change my mind.>>
<<Haha, I think studying is important too. But whether it's playing games or studying, if you continue to enjoy it, I think it can become a skill.>>
<<I see. You're a very clever girl. I think she can handle writing and listen in the morning. I hope a girl like you will be accepted and enrolled in our school.>>
<<I hope so too.>>
<<That concludes today's exam. Thank you very much.>>
<<I too. Thank you very much. Excuse me.>>
We shook hands and left the room.
I closed the door and let out a sigh of relief.
The response was not bad, I thought.
I have a fair amount of experience in interviewing. High school, college, part-time job, employment, job change.
In this kind of thing, if the interviewer likes you, you win.
The conversation was going well.
I'm worried about my motive for applying for the job was a complete fabrication.
Thus, all the tests were over.
* * *
Two days later, on the day of the announcement of the results.
I'm standing in front of a big board with my mom.
A cloth covers the board, so I couldn't see what it said.
14:59... 58 seconds, 59 seconds.
The instructor looks up from his watch and looks over at us.
There are several other pairs of parents and children gathered in front of the board.
Someone must have forgotten to turn off the alarm.
"The results are in!"
They peek at the cloth.
There was a line of numbers. My test number was, let's see, ......
"What?"
Suddenly, my mom hugged me.
Hey, I'm in pain, I'm in pain! I can't see!
When I tried to loosen her arms with a tap, a drop of rain fell.
"Iroha! Irohaaaaah! You did it! ............ You did it~, that's great~~~! You passed! They have your number! Iroha! ............... Iroha!"
"........... Mooouu!"
I chuckled at the voice that was no longer in the form of a sentence.
I guess my mom was more serious and worried than I was.
"I told you it's going to be okay."
A little embarrassed, I hugged her back and patted her.
She begins to cry even harder.
"I'm so proud of you!!"
"Hey, you're embarrassing me! You don't have to praise me so loudly!"
Through the gap in her arm, I could see the board. There is my number on the board.
And next to it were the words [Special Student].
I thought to myself, well, that's just what I expected.
I'm a bit nervous only when I got sick in the middle of the course.
I was a little nervous.
How in the world did I get into a difficult junior high school?
And with minimal study.
What was the "Ultra C" that made it possible?
I will try to explain it.
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