I’ve entered Zuiran’s middle school section.80Please respect copyright.PENANAlyMlksCtDE
The blazer jacket has changed from navy to white, and is quite a cute design. The wine coloured striped ribbon just accentuates that cuteness, and even though it’s only been a month since I’ve entered, just changing the uniform makes me look like quite the oneesan. How mysterious.80Please respect copyright.PENANAAQtKWsV2oC
Now that we’ve entered middle school, 30% of our cohort is now new students who entered after taking an exam, the Externals.80Please respect copyright.PENANAkLOJItEcKB
And this new group of students managed to get into our school after rigorous examinations, so they’re all really smart.80Please respect copyright.PENANAx1NoM6FUd8
In general, Zuiran students just ride the figurative escalator up from primary school, excluding special circumstances. Because of that, people sometimes talk about how the Internal Students are less bright than the Externals.80Please respect copyright.PENANAzrlcFR2jDo
Once we enter high school, there are going to be even smarter kids coming in. In fact, by the time we’re in high school, with the exception of a small group of students, it’s the kids who have been here since primary that people take to be the dumbest.80Please respect copyright.PENANAYiZazXPpJC
But then usually the Internals themselves don’t really mind, so I guess that’s fine. They’re at least not dumber than your normal kid after all.80Please respect copyright.PENANAAsTrSE9sZW
From the staff’s perspective though, it wouldn’t be good for the traditional and prestigious Zuiran to be seen as a den of idiots. That’s why they gather smart kids from outside to make up for it.80Please respect copyright.PENANAjfR103Y4le
Thanks to Zuiran’s brand power, as well as their splendid facilities and teaching content, we’ve got strong popularity, so it’s not a problem gathering gifted students at all.80Please respect copyright.PENANAmkojmyKCqk
Particularly exceptional students are even taken as scholarship students, so they’re exempted from school fees. And amongst them, those that perform above a certain level in the national mock exams are even given scholarship money that doesn’t need to be returned.80Please respect copyright.PENANAvcbN2Z2t4N
In other words, they’re buying academic ranks with money in order to preserve the school’s honour, right?80Please respect copyright.PENANA3i9tPpMFsq
Kimidol’s protagonist also entered Zuiran as a scholarship student.80Please respect copyright.PENANASPmI03K6UP
She entered Zuiran because she didn’t want to pay school fees. What’s more, if she tried hard, she could even make money from the scholarship system there, which is why she wanted in. But when she entered, their sense of money value was just too different from hers, and she suffered quite a culture shock.80Please respect copyright.PENANAFOGYWp7FXy
And well, yeah. Normally a school wouldn’t do things on such a crazy scale.80Please respect copyright.PENANAX9LvdQJ4Th
I know how she felt because I experienced the same thing when I entered as a primary school student.80Please respect copyright.PENANA4OYVGvibYf
‘What the hell is this!? This isn’t how I remembered primary schools!’ I thought with my mouth agape.80Please respect copyright.PENANALBLR3h1l9D
But she’ll definitely get used to it, so three years from now, I hope the protagonist will give it her all.80Please respect copyright.PENANAWuvv2oup2o
The biggest difference between the primary section, and the middle-high sections is the existence of the Student Council.80Please respect copyright.PENANAg9YzuOrvZY
The Student Council is a meritocratic organisation formed from good students.80Please respect copyright.PENANAFybyzPfTbW
In comparison, the Pivoine stresses lineage, pedigree, and assets more than individual power, and only people who can fulfil these and have been purebred Zuiran students since primary are allowed in.80Please respect copyright.PENANAYmKC8a4zb9
The Pivoine think of themselves as the true embodiment of Zuiran, and because of that the Student Council are an arrogant and loathesome group of outsiders. On the other hand, the Pivoine’s power doesn’t come from their members as individuals, so the Student Council thinks of them as a harmful group that only knows how to abuse their power.80Please respect copyright.PENANAgzrE7g8jnP
Although the traditionalist Pivoine and the meritocratic Student Council don’t butt heads on the surface, friction between them goes back a long time.80Please respect copyright.PENANAZvHAqltNRg
I don’t know what kind of person the incumbent Student Council President is, but I hope they don’t kick up a fuss while I’m here.80Please respect copyright.PENANAyCXZhIg0ia
The middle and high school students belong to the same Pivoine. The Petite Pivoine in primary is in the end just an extra, and the middle-high section Pivoine is the real thing.80Please respect copyright.PENANAzZqmp55y5w
When I opened the door to the salon, I was met with furniture known for its beautiful curves, as well as flower arrangements of moth orchids and other spring flowers.80Please respect copyright.PENANAdZvfW7Pp2v
There was even a grand piano by the window.80Please respect copyright.PENANAqOE1iPyJpr
I became particularly fond of this one-person sofa by the wall, with this cute art noveau style lamp next to it, so I ended up sitting here most of the time I went to the salon.80Please respect copyright.PENANA0kSE8T2ocj
How nice. This lamp is so cute. I want one for my room too.
Since the salon was shared by both middle and high school students, Yurie-sama was naturally there too. Emperor seemed incredibly happy, since it was the first time in years they had been enjoying school together.80Please respect copyright.PENANARhtTbBo9RE
He tried to hide it, but the corners of his mouth would curve up. He’s pretty easy to understand.80Please respect copyright.PENANA2posDnZe9L
Lately he hasn’t been acting like a stalker either, and perhaps as a result of Yurie-sama’s teachings, apparently he can think about others too now. I guess he matured as a human, huh~80Please respect copyright.PENANAwHtJbORKwq
As long as he’s with his beloved Yurie-sama, Emperor is always in a good mood, so I’ll probably be able to relax for another two years. Thank goodness.
“Reika-san, have you gotten used to the middle school section?”
Aira-sama came over to talk to me with some sweets in hand.80Please respect copyright.PENANAlZLbbG27uP
Today’s was sachertorte, a type of chocolate cake with apricot jam.80Please respect copyright.PENANAagdYq4Gqp1
Seeing the lustrous chocolate made me gulp.
“Yes. Being able to go to the school cafeteria instead of being given a school lunch was quite a fresh experience.”
Once you enter middle school here, you can choose whether to go to the cafeteria or to bring lunch from home. The cafeteria seems like your normal fancy restaurant. Pretty much everything on the menu is over 2000 Yen. Quite expensive for your average student. It’s delicious though.80Please respect copyright.PENANAzQOoWtn5xz
I’ve actually got this secret goal of conquering every item on the menu, so for now I’m one of the kids that goes to the cafeteria.80Please respect copyright.PENANATzN9zdDb4O
And even in the cafeteria there are exclusive seats for the Pivoine. They’re seated by the window in this well lit area.80Please respect copyright.PENANA1JlG1cMAJa
Speaking of which, in Kimidol there was this one scene, wasn’t there. The protagonist had no idea that it was Pivoine exclusive, and tried to sit down there, displeasing them.80Please respect copyright.PENANAdKg7Fdj99Y
Yeah. Try your best, protagonist. Although, the one who was the most angry and shouted “A commoner would dare!? Know your place!” was actually Kisshouin Reika though.
“Are things going well with the External Students?”
“Well, there is still a wall between us, you could say.”
“Well, I suppose there would be.”
There are roughly ten External kids in each class. Unlike the scholarship students that will enter in the high school section, the Externals in middle school are still kids from families who can pay Zuiran’s expensive school fees. Because of that, there isn’t too much of a difference in their sense for spending money.80Please respect copyright.PENANAEY9y2K2sEZ
That’s why I think we’ll all settle down after a while. Probably.
I’m still thinking about whether or not to enter a club. There isn’t anything I really want to do after all.80Please respect copyright.PENANA5PIYNqPyAi
Oniisama suggested that I enter the cooking club, but the activity days overlap with my lessons.80Please respect copyright.PENANABbG5zE3qM1
I also have my cram school and lessons with Karin-sensei as well. The first test since middle school is coming up soon, so I’m pretty busy at the moment.80Please respect copyright.PENANAlLKaS97ybJ
Lately I’ve sort of been getting a lot of “as expected of Reika-sama” so I’m secretly struggling really hard not to let my true colours show.80Please respect copyright.PENANAyf23luyvK9
Especially maths. Maths is suffering to me.80Please respect copyright.PENANAGO0jUZnHYm
I remembered the word ‘factorisation’ but I’d completely forgotten what it entails. I just barely remembered that it has something to do with x and y. What the hell is going on with my memory.80Please respect copyright.PENANAwF8xOIpxrV
Did I really learn this in my last life? I did, right? I mean, it’s part of the compulsory curriculum.80Please respect copyright.PENANACoDRDLzfEr
Since I felt a huge crisis impending, I had Karin-sensei drill it into me.80Please respect copyright.PENANAVRF9BNln7O
I’d already decided to stop expecting anything academic from the past me. I should have already known as much after my experience in the primary school section…80Please respect copyright.PENANAB3FahIGgzL
But I just keep having these faint hopes.80Please respect copyright.PENANATgEAcoXCfP
There’s no such thing as miracles though.80Please respect copyright.PENANAsriLvBsQPB
I guess I’ll just keep trying my best from scratch…