It's the first day of junior year.
　I don't think anything will change just because it's junior year, except for the start of dorm life.
　Well, we're going to have a placement test next year, so I'm sure more people will start working hard for it.
　I'm not going to do anything just because of the test, so this year will be the same as always.

I'm off.

Yes, have a great day.
　After crying so hard yesterday, Belle is all right now.
　It's so sweet to see her go off with a smile.

Thank you. I'll do my best.
　I still want to watch, but I have to be patient ...... and go to school .
　Unable to give up, I closed the door as slowly as I could, waving my hand at the bell.

'Heh~'

Hmm?
　I turned to see a grinning Frank standing there .

'There are always pretty girls around Leo, aren't there?
　No, it's not!
　There's about four women I'm friends with: ...... Sherry, Leena, Belle and Elsie.

'Doesn't Frank have his own maid?　She's pretty, anyway, right?
　She's a maid of the same duke family as me, so she must be pretty .

''No, no, my maid is ......

'Little boy!　You're forgetting something!
　Frank was about to say something when a woman came running out of Frank's room.

'Huh?　Oh, yeah.

'You always say that!　You don't want to leave the house until you're sure!　Oh, you're a friend of the little guy's?　Please continue to be good to the little boy. Bye.
　The woman, probably Frank's maid, went off on a bang.
　What a pretty maid.

He's always been like that. You've been looking after her since I was a little girl, she's even louder than your mother.
　Okay. It's kind of like taking over for his mom.
　Maybe that's why it's so annoying to him.

Yeah. But it's fun.

Because it's not just fun, it's exhausting!

Haha, yeah, that sounds interesting. Maybe I'll get to see you two interact next time.
　I'd like to see Frank being pissed off at the maid~ .
　I'm sure from the way he was acting earlier, Frank isn't upset with the woman who just came in.

'Because she's not funny!　Besides, I'll never show it!
　I'll be sure to have a look at it next time.

　Then he arrived at the classroom, teasing Frank.
"Oh, Master!　Good morning!
　I walked into the classroom as usual and the first thing Hermann said was, "Good morning.

'Yeah, good morning.'
　I don't think Leena and Sherry are here yet.
　I look around the classroom to make sure they're not here.

　I don't spend a lot of time in the classroom because of all the people watching me, but I try to remember to say hello in the morning.

　Then, as I'm chatting away the time until the first period starts with Frank and Hermann, the teacher comes rushing in.
'I'm sorry!　I just found out that I had a test today. It doesn't matter what your grade is, just think of it as practice for a placement test.
　The teacher said just that and walked out.

A test on the first day?　And an unannounced test is just too much.

Well, well, we're all on the same page.
　I learned about it today.

Yeah, but can you at least go to ...... and get yourself prepared?

Let's take it easy since it won't make the grade anyway.
　Good score or no score, it doesn't make any difference.

." "Yes, but ......

We're gonna have a great day!

Yeah.
　Huh?　Normally, "Oh! You should hear a cheerful voice saying: .......

'Hellman?'

A test?　A test?　What do I do?
　Herman was holding his head and muttering a spell.

'Hey, hey, you okay?　You won't get a grade today, will you?



'What?　Really?　Yes~!
　Hermann's spirits lifted when he heard about something that wasn't related to his grades.
　Come on, you're changing your mind too quickly.

You never learn, do you?

Because if I had the time to study ......, I'd be stronger. ......
　You're really trying to be a brainiac, aren't you?

But you need to work hard or you'll be separated from Leo in class.

...... Huh?　Is that so?
　Hermann scowled at Frank's words.

'Think about it?　You know Leo has good grades, right?

'I always get a hundred after the test with a smile on my face.
　Huh?　Was I really that annoying?
　Did I ever look like I could afford ......?

So what's your score?

''Oh, oh ...... I'm going to study to death today . I think I'll just go home and study today.
　Herman seems to have realized his situation.
　He walked out of the classroom with a blank look on his face.

"Wait!　Even if you can't do it, you should at least take the test today and know what kind of questions you're going to get.
　I rushed to catch him and convince him to take the test.

'Yes, of course!　Quintessential Master!
　There's a lot of tension going on here: .......

'What was the first hour of the day?'

It's math.

A quickie-education test. I'll do my best.

You're lucky you got the time to spare. Totally.
　Well, even if you're given a grade school level test now, right?

One hour later

How did it go?
　When the test was over, I went straight to Frank and Hermann to see how well I did.

"I think I did pretty good. Leo is ...... No, we can afford it anyway, so let's not do it.

'I had plenty of time!　You're not gonna ask, "What about Herman? How was Herman?

'Master ...... please stay close to me next year even if we're in a different class?'
　Herman asked in a broken voice as if he was about to die.
　Where was your energy before it started?

'You're not ready!　I'll just study for the next year and I'll be fine!

But .......

Okay!　We'll have a study group every day from now on. You're not busy in your dorm anyway. We'll meet at Frank's place.
　Yeah, that should solve all our problems.

What?　Do it in Leo's room.

That's good. It's a big place, right?

No, it's just Leo's room.
　Oh, well, you don't need to worry about all that stuff.

Well, wherever it is, I'll teach you what I know, and you'll be good for a year.
　It's only grade school content, so it's not too difficult to understand.

''Master~!　I'm going to serve my master for the rest of my life.
　Herman was crying and clinging to me.

　It's still heavy: .......
　Let's distract him with something else.

'Oh, isn't the next test going to be swordsmanship, so isn't that Hellman's show?

'Oh, yes!　If I get a two hundred on the sword test, I might be able to make it!
　Two hundred points is ...... a perfect score of one hundred in all subjects, right?

　＊＊＊＊＊＊

Then we'll begin the swordplay test. It is simple. Have your instructors here deal with you and grade you. Then we'll go through them in turn.
　Oh, so the real thing is a real battle.

Well, I'll go.
　Hermann, whose scores are in trouble if he doesn't make up for it with his swordsmanship, has announced himself as the top batter.

Oh, you're in high spirits. Oh, I'm feeling fine.


　A man of about thirty with a beard, probably a teacher from another grade, was Hermann's partner .

"Yes, sir. I'll give it my best shot, if you give me a good score.

Haha, that's a matter of opinion.
　Before the doctor could finish, Hermann's sword struck him in the gut.

Oh, I'm sorry!　They told me not to hold back.

What!　It's no big deal!　Now, come on!
　He stood up and took a stance.
　Hey, you're a swordsmanship teacher.
　You have to learn how to get hit too.

Okay, I'm going!
　And with that declaration, Herman started again.

'Yes!　Guha!
　Yeah, it was instantaneous.
　Well, the idea of skipping out on Hermann doesn't exist.
　Yeah, well, there's no way.

Sir, what was that?
　Herman walks up to the teacher, listening to the scores.

'Hiya, I got a hundred. ......
　Stop him already!
　Doctor, he's terribly scared of Hermann.

What?　Two hundred points "Excuse me!　I'll do the next one!
　It's too much trouble for him to continue, so I interrupt him.

"Oh, Master!　I'm sorry for keeping you waiting. I'll be leaving now.
　Yeah, he's giving up.

　Okay, I'll go for it in moderation.
'Just give me a second: ...... for a little while.'

Oh, yes.
　Well, I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

　And then we'll wait a bit.
All right, come on. Come on in!
　Finally, the doctor is feeling better.

Yes, sir.
　I have to go easy on him: .......
　I don't want to end up like Hermann, so I'll attack at a speed that the teacher will just barely be able to avoid.

Oh, that's a good one. Go ahead and try to attack me.

I understand.
　Yeah, that's about right.
　If we keep doing this, will we end up with no problems?

　All right, let's keep going like this until the doctor gives the signal to stop.

　Five minutes later
Tired?
　Tired?　Are they checking to see how strong they are?
　Well, let's be honest.

No, I'm not tired.

Yeah, right. ...... ku!
　What's that ...... teacher's face seems to be getting sterner and sorer. .......

'About time, Guha!'
　Oh, I did it: .......
　But I think it was the teacher's fault for losing focus in the middle of the fight.
　Yeah, that's right. It's probably not my fault.