I’ve entered Zuiran’s middle school section.75Please respect copyright.PENANASoZR5co6do
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.75Please respect copyright.PENANAfV8OvCixsy
Now that we’ve entered middle school, 30% of our cohort is now new students who entered after taking an exam, the Externals.75Please respect copyright.PENANARFYaxEiKM1
And this new group of students managed to get into our school after rigorous examinations, so they’re all really smart.75Please respect copyright.PENANAJIqBcjB2nA
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.75Please respect copyright.PENANA0WGlsO98eV
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.75Please respect copyright.PENANAvTf0CxLYQw
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.75Please respect copyright.PENANA2so3E8a2aP
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.75Please respect copyright.PENANArL02VTABhM
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.75Please respect copyright.PENANA2oNOFOvGvD
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.75Please respect copyright.PENANAnRei8vYzDq
In other words, they’re buying academic ranks with money in order to preserve the school’s honour, right?75Please respect copyright.PENANAesn2W7yVuP
Kimidol’s protagonist also entered Zuiran as a scholarship student.75Please respect copyright.PENANALjsczcs2Wd
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.75Please respect copyright.PENANAUI59tWxalz
And well, yeah. Normally a school wouldn’t do things on such a crazy scale.75Please respect copyright.PENANAfk9U7XEubT
I know how she felt because I experienced the same thing when I entered as a primary school student.75Please respect copyright.PENANApBYdblJiPK
‘What the hell is this!? This isn’t how I remembered primary schools!’ I thought with my mouth agape.75Please respect copyright.PENANAsTCygtScig
But she’ll definitely get used to it, so three years from now, I hope the protagonist will give it her all.75Please respect copyright.PENANAxnh6XH6yEV
The biggest difference between the primary section, and the middle-high sections is the existence of the Student Council.75Please respect copyright.PENANAato5Fnuy6K
The Student Council is a meritocratic organisation formed from good students.75Please respect copyright.PENANAFG0FRWslXW
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.75Please respect copyright.PENANA7b4XS4lEE5
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.75Please respect copyright.PENANAb8DMtn67QU
Although the traditionalist Pivoine and the meritocratic Student Council don’t butt heads on the surface, friction between them goes back a long time.75Please respect copyright.PENANAfo9dLLoRag
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.75Please respect copyright.PENANA2Sn6TT5O8l
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.75Please respect copyright.PENANAT1DitZYDpp
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.75Please respect copyright.PENANA3LRaRNGKoH
There was even a grand piano by the window.75Please respect copyright.PENANAQpdLeWU85Z
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.75Please respect copyright.PENANA6AkznoHChn
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.75Please respect copyright.PENANAfD1omf6IPN
He tried to hide it, but the corners of his mouth would curve up. He’s pretty easy to understand.75Please respect copyright.PENANAvsFS6RAMId
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~75Please respect copyright.PENANArbJH1GiMfv
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.75Please respect copyright.PENANAgxvhb5rDTg
Today’s was sachertorte, a type of chocolate cake with apricot jam.75Please respect copyright.PENANApSwpVakkUa
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.75Please respect copyright.PENANAtmPY5lLPh6
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.75Please respect copyright.PENANAuXxUrgE4HY
And even in the cafeteria there are exclusive seats for the Pivoine. They’re seated by the window in this well lit area.75Please respect copyright.PENANAsa4TSSxd3F
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.75Please respect copyright.PENANAs9WoFYnrrC
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.75Please respect copyright.PENANABYB8byPaY5
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.75Please respect copyright.PENANAuBAlsOmgom
Oniisama suggested that I enter the cooking club, but the activity days overlap with my lessons.75Please respect copyright.PENANAEF11Ysucwz
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.75Please respect copyright.PENANAfFy2Rul1fB
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.75Please respect copyright.PENANAaPR0eajuBC
Especially maths. Maths is suffering to me.75Please respect copyright.PENANAQsrklz8m4d
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.75Please respect copyright.PENANASY2MNpvNMm
Did I really learn this in my last life? I did, right? I mean, it’s part of the compulsory curriculum.75Please respect copyright.PENANA0KKZpeAlF7
Since I felt a huge crisis impending, I had Karin-sensei drill it into me.75Please respect copyright.PENANAM0eI0cyHJz
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…75Please respect copyright.PENANAm17b2xOxBJ
But I just keep having these faint hopes.75Please respect copyright.PENANA0eo9vvL72S
There’s no such thing as miracles though.75Please respect copyright.PENANA77scewAKnd
I guess I’ll just keep trying my best from scratch…