SWNOVELXO Chapter 10: First Examination
Ten minutes after the first examination ended, a middle-aged examiner appeared in front of the aspiring idol managers gathered in the classroom.
“The names of the candidates who passed the first examination have been posted in the corridor and only the top 30 will proceed to the second examination.”
After hearing the examiner’s instructions, I nervously went to the corridor to check the results. Nervously, I searched for my name ‘Makoto Sugiura’ and I couldn’t help but make a triumphant pose when I found it. However, I quickly cleared my throat and pretended to not be too excited. I couldn’t lose my cool there.
As I was trying to be cool, the girl beside me with long black hair broke down in tears when she saw the results.
“I did it! I passed the first examination!”
Seeing her like that, I instinctively handed her my handkerchief. “Well, we still have some more exams to pass. Please calm down.”
“I-I’m sorry! This is the first time I’ve passed the first examination in the two years that I’ve sat for it!”
She turned out to be older than I had thought. But if she was willing to wait for two years just to become an idol manager then it meant she was very determined.
Not long after, she finally calmed down and blushed with embarrassment. “I-I’m sorry for losing control… As you said, there are still more exams to come, Let’s both do our best!”
After saying that, she headed to the classroom for the next examination with full enthusiasm.
As I observed that there were various unique individuals among the idol managers, I realized something…
“My handkerchief, please return it!”
“Oh! I’m so sorry! I absentmindedly put it in my own pocket!”
With her being a little absent-minded, we headed to the waiting area for the second examination.
◇◇◇
“Congratulations everyone for passing the first examination. We’ll have a 10-minute break now, feel free to relax.”
A tough-looking man wearing sunglasses announced the instructions in the classroom for the second examination. Staring at him, I wondered if the examiners that would be appearing from then on would also have unique personalities.
“Oh, by the way, we’ll also distribute the papers with the rankings from the first examination, so take yours when your name is called.” He said before he started to call out names and give out the papers.
I looked at the paper I received.
[Makoto Sugiura]
29th/30th place
It was a very close call… I can’t deny that my preparation was lacking. I thought I had covered it up well, but they saw through it.
Still, passing is passing and there were others who ranked lower than me.
As I was thinking that way, the woman who had broken down in tears earlier was now staring at her paper with a look of despair. The paper I accidentally saw showed ‘Yukihana Suzu, 30th/30th place’.
Yukihana-san… was the last…
“Alright, I’ve distributed them to everyone. You have 7 minutes left for the break, feel free to do whatever you want in this classroom.” The examiner said before leaving.
The tense atmosphere in the classroom, which was somewhat caused by his stern appearance, relaxed, then, a short, blond, beautiful boy approached my seat. He reached out his hand as if asking for a handshake.
“I saw you helping out the idols earlier and you still passed, that’s amazing! I actually wanted to lend a hand too, but I prioritized myself… You did an incredible job using the limited time for the sake of the idols!” The blond boy said, breathing heavily with excitement.
His sudden approach caught me off guard, but he quickly apologized.
“Ah, sorry for approaching you so suddenly. My name is Aoi Tsukuyomi. I saw you in the classroom and got excited, so I ended up talking to you!”
I understood and shook hands with him. His hand felt surprisingly delicate and soft.
“Haha, I just can’t ignore idols in trouble, that’s all.”
“For that idol, you’re like a hero. Don’t worry, I’m sure she passed! You were really cool!”
Being admired with such sparkling eyes didn’t feel bad at all! Feeling a bit proud inside, I heard a big sigh from the seat behind me.
“What nonsense. That idol is absolutely no good. It’s even cruel to lend a hand to someone like her.”
A man with pomaded hair interrupted our conversation from the seat behind. He had a well-groomed chin beard and a two-block hairstyle.
“She’s dyslexic, you know? She can’t read scripts, can’t write and she won’t make any money as an idol.”
Hearing him badmouth her, I got angry and impulsively retorted like a child, “What do you know?!”
“That is how things are!” He said and proudly showed me his paper.
[Arashiyama Hiro]
3rd/30th place
I was shocked by that ranking.
“W-What, 3rd place?!”
“Being an idol is a business. In the first examination, I presented how to make profits. I proposed the graduation or restructuring of three out of the five idols, and this result is the outcome. What you’re doing is wrong. Those defective products won’t sell.”
“She… you called her a ‘defective product’?!”
I was about to react angrily, but Tsukuyomi quickly intervened as a mediator.
“Each person has their own vision as an idol manager. Arashiyama might want to produce idols to make money, but you still have to be careful with your words.” Tsukuyomi said as he stared at Arashiyama, calming the situation with composure.
Arashiyama seemed displeased and clicked his tongue.
“Do whatever you want! Look at you two acting all buddy-buddy. The idols you will produce will be nothing to be afraid of. They definitely won’t even compare to those I will manage.”
Arashiyama stood up and left the classroom after saying that. Even though the atmosphere in the room relaxed a bit after he left, I couldn’t shake off the unsettling feeling his words had left behind.
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