[ What are you doing, examinee ]: Shirokuma Literature Club (White Breath)

↑↑I participated in this prompt~
It's a story about how I wrote that I hated December last time, but now this.
It's a short-short story.
Good luck, examinees😊♪

[ What are you doing, examinee ]

　I thought while exhaling a white breath.

"I love this season."

　Once December arrives, there's Christmas and year-end parties.
　There are so many fun things.
　Everyone gathers together, and we can have a lively time under the cold sky.
　I love that kind of season.

　But this year is different.
　I'm an examinee.
　Even my sighs are white.

　I want to have fun... but if I slack off now, I'll definitely regret it.
　I want to do everything I can.

　──I think that, but I need a break sometimes, right?

　So, today I'm having a year-end party with two of my best friends.
　We're planning to head out into the city at night.
　Since the last mock exam of the year is over, a little bit is fine, right?

　After the mock exam for my target university, I headed straight to the meeting place.
　It was right nearby, so I arrived in no time.
　The meeting time is a little later, so the two of them haven't arrived yet.
　　
　To savor the sense of liberation from the mock exam, I suddenly look up at the night sky.
　Unlike the city, which is sparkling with illuminations, a pitch-black darkness was spreading across everything.
　As I let out a big sigh, "Haa..."
　my white breath dissolves into the black.

"Tachibana-san?"

　I'm surprised to be called by my last name so suddenly.
　When I turned toward the voice, there was a boy smiling, saying, "Oh, it really is Tachibana-san."
　The moment I saw his face, I knew who it was.

"Oh,"

　To my foolish-sounding voice, the boy continues to speak.

"Long time no see. Do you remember me?"

　There's no way I wouldn't remember.
　Sato-kun, who was in the same junior high school.
　He had been a classmate since we were in elementary school, and for me, he was someone who was more than just a classmate.

　I nodded slightly, and then

"I remember you, Sato-kun."
"Oh, thank goodness. I was worried about what I'd do if I called out to you and it turned out to be someone else."

Sato-kun exhaled a puff of white breath and beamed at me.
We had gone to different high schools without any progress between us, and that was that, so to meet him in a place like this.
As I stood there, bewildered about how to respond,

"You were there, at the mock exam, right?"

──Huh?
I was even more bewildered by what he said.

"I was sitting diagonally behind you. I noticed someone who looked like Tachibana-san. I was so curious, but I had to focus on the mock exam, so it was really tough."

Sato-kun talked happily.
I couldn't help but laugh, thinking, 'What is that?'
Our white breaths mingled softly in the air.

Ah, I'm talking to Sato-kun, this is so nostalgic~,
I was thinking vaguely, when──ah, I realized.

(If he was at the mock exam for the university I'm aiming for, that means...)

"We're aiming for the same university, huh?"

Sato-kun said.
Looks like it, I muttered to myself.

Then, abruptly,

"Let's exchange them when we get in."
"──Huh? Exchange what?"

As I tilted my head, he continued with an innocent smile.

"Let's exchange LINE contacts. Look, we have to study hard right now, so... that's why, when we get in."

Hehehe, I laughed a little and said,

"What's that? It's not 'if we pass' or something?"

When I said that, he replied with a smile, "Yeah, assuming we pass."
That's so like Sato-kun.

"Yeah, okay, let's exchange them."
"All right!!!"

He pumped his fist and got all excited, saying, "I'm going to study even harder than before!" so I didn't want to lose, and said,

"Oh, let's do our best!"

And, I raised my fist straight up.
Thinking about what an examinee was getting so excited about under the cold sky, I found it funny and started to laugh.
Sato-kun was laughing too.

We were enveloped in our two clouds of white breath.

"See you at the entrance ceremony, then."

Sato-kun waved and walked away.
It felt like such a fleeting moment.
My mind was still blank, and I just aimlessly watched the direction
where Sato-kun had gone.

"Hey, hey, Tachibana~"

Suddenly, someone put their arm around my shoulder from behind.

"Sorry to keep you waiting~, but who was that just now?"

My two best friends said, grinning.

"U-um, well," I said, feeling a bit flustered,
and when I said, "A classmate from middle school,"
"Alright, we're going to get every single detail out of you!"

When the friend who had her arm around my shoulder said that, the other friend laughed happily too.
If that's how they want to play, then I...

"Alright, fine! Tonight, you're going to have to listen to my story until the very end!"

I shouted in a playful tone.
The two of them got excited too.
What are we doing, as examinees?

Even though I'm studying every day and sometimes get hit by dark feelings, it's okay to have some fun, right?

I start walking, shoulder to shoulder with my two best friends.
Every time we talk, our white breaths mingle.

I really do love... this season.

The End

#ShirokumaLiteratureClub
#WhiteBreath

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↓ Please click here for the story I participated in last time

↓ Click here for the collection of stories by Nikori Mikan

↓ Click here if you don't want to go to the drinking party!