Turning point?

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    I have some concerns about the overnight training, but first let me congratulate Shimotsuki for avoiding red marks.?

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    “Nakayama-kun, look! I got a 32 on my math test. …… I’m so happy I’m going to cry. My mom and dad were so happy, and they praised me so much! Yesterday, they made my favorite hamburger steak. I was so happy. …… This is all thanks to you, Nakayama-kun. Thank you!”?

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    After school, Shimotsuki came to my house and smiled with tears in her eyes.?

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    It seems that she was very happy to have avoided a red mark.?

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    She was so happy that she grabbed my hand and started shaking it around. It may have been a handshake, but …… please don’t do skinship unexpectedly. I’m so nervous, it’s bad for my heart.?

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    “You’re a great friend, Nakayama-kun. …… Thank you so much for helping me with my brain, which is not absorbing like a torn up sponge. I’m sorry I don’t remember things well, okay?”?

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    “No …. It’s just that Shimotsuki worked so hard, and your efforts properly showed in the results. Congratulations.”?

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    My help was really minimal.?

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    It seems that Shimotsuki is a proper “can do anything” girl. You can say that it is natural that the efforts are reflected in the results, since she is the main heroine.?

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    I’m a little jealous of that, because I’m a mob character whose efforts don’t lead to results.?

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    …… There was a time when I studied hard to catch up with my smart childhood friend Yuzuki, even if only a little. At that time, I thought I was the protagonist, and if I studied hard, I was sure I could catch up.?

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    But the results were not so good. In hindsight, I can’t blame myself for that since I was a mob character. It is because the value of the character remains the same no matter how you do it that the character is cast as a mob.?

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    “I’m so glad that I’m finally free from my studies. That’s very good, but …… we have to have an overnight program this time, don’t we? Ugh, I don’t want to stay in a place other than my home and Nakayama’s home…….”?

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    Shimotsuki, who is an indoor person, seems to be dreading the existence of the overnight program.?

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    For her, it would be one disaster after another.?

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    “Ugh, ……, this is going to remind me of something bad. I’ve always been in the same group with him. When I was in junior high school, I had a fever because I hated the school trip so much. If it weren’t for Nakayama-kun, I’m sure I would catch a cold this time too.”?

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    I wonder if colds can be manipulated at will.?

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    Well, no. I think she meant that she would take a normal day off.?

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    It seems that she and Ryuzaki have always been connected through their rotten relationship.?

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    But this time, she’s not going to take a day off.?

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    The reason is.?

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    “If Nakayama-kun were present, I might be able to enjoy the overnight learning program a little more. …… But it doesn’t mean that we will definitely be in the same group. …… Oh, I’m still worried. I think I’m going to be very bored without you.”?

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    Because I’m there.?

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    It’s still strange that Shimotsuki trusts me so much.?

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    But if she was relying on me, I wanted to help her as much as I could.?

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    “I’ll try my best to be in the group with you.”?

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    Maybe Ryuzaki will try to bring Shimotsuki into the group. And since I’m a hindrance to him, he probably won’t let me join the group.?

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    If that happens, we’ll be separated.?

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    I hoped, along with Shimotsuki, that we could be in the same group …….?

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    But our fears were unfounded.?

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    The next day, during the class period, we had to decide on the groups for the overnight learning program.?

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    At that moment, to my surprise, Ryuzaki approached me.?

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    “Hey, Nakayama. You haven’t decided on a group, have you? If so, why don’t you join my group?”?

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    –I was taken by surprise.?

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    I hadn’t expected him to invite me.?

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    Maybe this was a turning point in the story.?

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    Is it possible that the most important part of the story, the beginning, middle and end, is about to begin??

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    If so, it was …… very scary.