Chapter 257 - Final Exams Finished

The clock ticked on the far side of the wall as the students worked on their exam papers. Many faces looked serious as each and every one read their test questions carefully before answering them. Sounds of the pens scratching the surface of the paper echoed as their hands meticulously wrote the correct choices on the blank spaces.

Soon, the clock struck at exactly three in the afternoon, and the teacher who was observing the test clapped her hands together loudly as she called out for everyone to stop.

"Pens up guys. The test is over!"

The announcement was met with a chorus of groans as the students' heads fell on their desks as the teacher collected their test papers. 

"That wasn't so bad, was it?" the teacher teased, causing another chorus of groans from the examinees.

"It's horrible, teacher," they complained, making the teacher laugh.

"I'm sure if you studied well, it'll be peanuts," she said as she collected the rest of the papers and left the room to check them in the faculty.

The final exam for the graduating class only consisted of five major subjects: Science, Math, Japanese, English, and Social Studies. The minor subjects like Health and Physical Fitness, Home Economics, Music, and Art were only given to the lower years.  This was why the graduating classes had exams until the afternoon, while the lower years only had exams in the morning. It was because the lower years would have three days of exams, while the graduating students only had one day.

All the students were given one hour to answer each of the five major subjects.  Today's exam started at nine in the morning with Social Studies, followed by Science, and Japanese before the lunch break at noon. At exactly one in the afternoon, the students returned to their classrooms for the final two subjects which were English and Mathematics.

"Oh Lord, it's over…"

Another round of groans mirrored that one making Suzuki Ara smile. Just as she had predicted, the exams weren't difficult for her as the lessons were still fresh in her head. Last month, before coming back to school, she had to undergo an exam for the one she missed while she was in a coma, and she had also taken the liberty to study further into the curriculum so she wouldn't be lost.

To say that she was more than prepared for the final test was not incorrect. She was, and she had answered each and every question like a breeze except for the last one or two questions from math that she really had to focus on and had taken time answering but answered in the end.

"You look like you're very confident with the results, Suzuki," Yashiro commented and everyone turned to her and started teasing her too.

"Ah, it must be nice to have the inspiration to study well. We want a boyfriend too," the girls giggled, and Ara sputtered.

"Ya! I just studied well, okay?" she said, but the teasing looks on her classmates' faces remained.

"Suzuki, what's your answer to the last two questions of the test?" Miyahara asked.

The student council president was actually second in the overall ranking and had always asked Suzuki Ara of her answers on questions he couldn't answer properly.

"I think I answered an hour and forty minutes," she said with a frown, remembering the question which made her force her brain to work. "I had to do the question three times to get that."

Hearing this, Miyahara looked ecstatic. "Nice! I have the same answer," he said making Ara smile.

"Don't celebrate yet Pres. That answer might be wrong too," she teased.

"No way! You aced the last math exam," he reminded her before turning to go back to his seat to collect his things.

Ara stretched after that. Starting tomorrow, they didn't have regular classes anymore. They could still come to school for extracurricular activities until their graduation and completion of their requirements. So far, Ara didn't have any requirements left undone. She had finished everything as soon as she found out what they were as she hated waiting until the last minute to do them. By doing that, she wouldn't have anything else to do but focus on her manga and wait for graduation.

And have more time with her husband…

Ryuu had sent her a message earlier before the exam started. He wished her good luck, to which she replied a lengthy thanks.

Speaking of which…

"I'm sure he replied," she murmured.

She was not able to read Ryuu's message as the bell had rung and she had to keep everything away. She quickly leaned over to pick up her bag from the floor and fished out her phone.

True enough she had some messages unread. One from Ryuu, the other from her brother again. Of course, she'd read her brother's message first so she had a longer time to spend reading her husband's.

"Little Sis, when you've finished school for the day, don't forget to send me a message okay? You will not go anywhere without security while we haven't settled the issue with that vile girl."

Ara snorted. She found it funny how her brother refused to even mention Okada Koharu's name since that time he discovered the truth. She completely understood her brother's worry on the other hand and totally found him sweet.

"Okay. We've finished for the day actually. But can I hang out with Rin and the others before going home?"

They had security following them anyway. Since they'd all be together Ara thought it wouldn't be too much trouble to have all of them in one place. Aki thought so too apparently.

"It's alright. As long as all of you are together and always let your security know where you are or if you are planning to go somewhere."

Aki included the phone number of the security following them, and Ara obediently saved it on her phone.

Then, she opened Ryuu's message, and the smile on her face fell into a sad line as she read its contents.

"I don't think I can come home this week. I will call you all the time though. I can disturb you now that your exams are done. Take care, wife. Don't go out at night."