Miss Heir wasn't very kind to me.

Chapter 226, Section 1: "The best time to review is ten minutes before the exam starts."

"Not at all!"

Miss Mami slumped onto the table as if giving up, groaning in pain. After a moment, she looked up at the ceiling, which she was gradually getting used to.

"What should we do, Masumi-kun? The situation is really dire!"

At the end of October, two weeks had passed since Amamiya Kozue's last visit to the coffee shop, where she attempted to take Kaizuki back to Wakayama but failed.

Autumn is gradually fading away. We cannot stay in the present moment; we must transform this moment into a memory and step into the next season.

Fortunately, the biggest difference between memories and reality is that memories cannot be changed.

"I see, I understand."

Mami nodded knowingly, stroking her chin thoughtfully.
"So... if I just fall asleep, I can easily pass tomorrow's theory exam?"

"Does not."

Masumi ruthlessly shattered her illusions with a calm tone.

"Huh—why is this happening~"

Asami sighed sadly, gulped down the water in her glass, and ate the restaurant curry with a bland taste.

In mid-October, Masumi decided to participate in a driving school training camp, and Mio, who was clingy to him, and Asami, who loved to join in the fun, also came along and signed up together.

Having a skills certificate is never a bad thing, and there are also discounts available, so Masumi readily agreed.

Originally, Haiyue wanted to come along, but Masumi and Rinne both agreed that she wasn't independent enough yet, so they resolutely refused.

If one day in the future, humans invent fully automatic or voice-controlled cars, then it won't be too late to let Haiyue try them out.

But back then, did driver's licenses even exist?

"...Ms. Mami, don't worry too much, it's just a traffic regulations test."

Even with the exam looming ahead, Kurokawa Mio remained calm and composed, scooping up curry spoonful after spoonful and elegantly putting it into her mouth.

If I'm not mistaken, she must have been the type with an exceptionally good mindset before exams during her school days.

Masumi chimed in, "That's right, all you have to do is memorize what's in the textbook."

"all?"

Mami made an exaggerated expression.

"Hmm... I think that should be enough."

Masumi spoke as if testing Mami's grasp of the content.

"Almost there," Mami murmured to herself.

"...Just asking casually, Masumi-kun."

"Ok?"

She suddenly adopted a serious expression.

"If I only have a mediocre score, will I be able to pass the exam smoothly?"

This repetitive phrase, which sounds like ordering at Starbucks, is actually quite easy to understand.

Simply multiply 100 points by 0.8, then multiply by 0.8 again.

"The passing score for the theory exam is 90 points."

"Yes."

Mami nodded blankly, then was immediately enveloped by a chilling silence.

"..."

Masumi carefully chose her words and said, "Anyway, let's first confirm how well you've memorized it."

"Eh, oh." Mami regained her composure and blinked. "How do I confirm?"

"Just name any traffic rule, anything will do."

It shouldn't be too difficult.

It should be at a level where I can answer immediately.

However, Mami thought for a long time before cautiously speaking with an uncertain tone:
"...No...hitting people?"

To end even this sentence with a question is really going too far.

As if she had thought of something, Mami quickly added:
"On the street!"

"Hit-and-run is prohibited on the road."

Yes, that's the correct answer, but there's no need to emphasize "on the road." You can't bump into people on the sidewalk either, even if it's very spacious.

Masumi has at least confirmed the extent of her knowledge.

"Asami."

"What's wrong, Masumi-kun?"

Whether she herself realized that she was almost beyond saving, Masumi forced a smile:

"Last-minute cramming...can be useful too."

◇

Deja vu (Looks familiar!)
I've just been in this place before.
Higher on the street
And I know it's my time to go.
Calling you and searching for the mystery.
Standing on my feet (I will do it on my own)
It's so hard when I try to be myself.

Oh~~~~~~~~~

With the theme song of "Initial D" playing on her phone, Mami lay on the bed, thoroughly enjoying the exciting car chase scenes in the manga.

"The bathhouse is about to close, Ms. Asami," Kurokawa Mio said, looking at her.

"Okay, got it."

Mami suddenly sat up in bed, grabbed a change of clothes, and went with Kurokawa Mio to the women's bathhouse at the driving school.

This small driving school is not large, and there are very few students on weekdays except for holidays. So, as long as Asami and Mio go a little later, they can have the whole bathhouse to themselves.

In the cramped dressing room with only two people, the sounds of zippers being opened and fabric rustling could be heard.

Asami first took off her top, then her casual trousers, and her gaze suddenly stopped on Mio, who was also taking off her clothes.

"...So slim."

She couldn't help but blurt out her true feelings.

"Ok?"

Mio tilted her head slightly, indicating her confusion.

"Sorry, it's nothing." Asami waved her hand in denial, but then couldn't help asking, "Ms. Mio, how do you manage to maintain your figure?"

"Controlling body shape?"

“That’s right, that’s right.” Mami nodded vigorously.

"She has a slender waist, a firm hip, and long legs. Her figure is as beautiful as a dolphin's. It's truly enviable."

Surrounded by her endless stream of praise, yet unable to discern any joy on her face, Kurokawa Mio sighed melancholy.

"That's not true. On the contrary, I envy Ms. Mami."

Mio stared openly at Mami's full chest.

"...If I were at that level, Masumi's gaze would definitely linger on me for much longer."

She inadvertently revealed her true feelings.

"..."

After a moment of silence, the two of them sighed in unison.

Humans are always envious of each other, that is, of what they cannot have.

◇

Although the bathhouse connected to the dormitory is called a "bathhouse," it is actually quite small.

After washing themselves, the two girls leaned against the edge of the bathtub and soaked in the water, their shoulders submerged. They took a deep breath, and white steam swirled around the clear hot water.

Meanwhile, Masumi leisurely walked out of the men's bathhouse, dried her wet hair with a hairdryer, and returned to her room to lie on the bed and read comics.

I don't know why there are so many Initial D comics in the driving school, which students can borrow at will.

Watching this kind of thing, it's inevitable that some trainees will get carried away and produce substandard results, right?
Mount Akina is a fictional place name, based on Mount Haruna in Gunma Prefecture, which is Rinne's hometown.

If I get my driver's license, can I take a road trip to Rinne's hometown?
--Can't.

It's far too arrogant for a novice driver like myself.

If a heiress with two years of driving experience accompanies you, that's a different story.

After putting the comic back on the bookshelf, at 10 p.m., Masumi left the double room in the training camp and went to the rest area as agreed.

The lights were on, but the place was empty; there were hardly any people around.

"Masumi, we're here."

Hearing a familiar voice, Kurokawa Mio stood up from her chair and waved to him.

She was wearing different clothes than she had for dinner, her blonde hair was slightly damp, and she smelled of a post-bath fragrance when you got closer.

"Masumi-kun is here."

Asami, who was holding a Switch game console, looked up when she heard the sound, shifted her hips to the back of the chair, and said, "Sit down."

"Oh."

Masumi sat down in the chair without any hesitation.

On his right was Mami, and on his left was Mio. He was squeezed in the middle, which made him feel a little cramped, and the latter kept leaning her body towards him.

Asami grips the handles on both sides, while a crowned character drives a race car and throws a bomb at the car next to her.

Masumi felt deceived: "Didn't we say we'd cram for exams together? What kind of game is that...?"

"Mario Kart".

Masumi was exasperated: "I wasn't asking about the game's name." "Of course I know that."

Asami turned off the game, and the black screen reflected her smug expression.

"Simulated driving training is also part of the pre-exam cramming."

So that's how it is. Throwing bombs at the cars next to you is also part of cramming before the exam?
“But this won’t help with the theory exam, will it?” Masumi pointed out incisively, “Besides, the practical exam is already over.”

"Guuuuu!"

Mami was speechless. Masumi sighed and gave her a probing look.

"The textbooks are quite thick, is there enough time?"

"There's still time! ...We should."

Mami answered dejectedly, her voice lacking confidence.

"Mio and Asami are in the same room, right? Didn't you help keep an eye on her?" Masumi said helplessly.

“I did encourage her to study more.”

Kurokawa Mio said nonchalantly:
"But whenever she has free time, Ms. Mami throws it all into comics and racing games."

"I think so too."

"Well, it's a driving school after all, memorizing things just doesn't fit the atmosphere."

Mami scratched her ear sheepishly.

A driving school consists of two parts: driving instruction and education.

But there's no point in saying all this now, so Masumi moved on to the next topic: "Then let's begin now, cramming before the exam."

"Ah, um, let's begin."

Mami mustered her energy.

It had been a long time since I'd had a study session after graduating high school; the last one was six or seven years ago, let alone being with two pretty girls like this.

Well, before, it was either with a group of classmates or with just the two of us, like my senior, Ru Gu.

—30 minutes after the pre-exam intensive study session begins.

"no!"

It was Mami who was still groaning as she lay on the table.

"How am I supposed to memorize all these traffic rules?! Besides, I've never seen Takumi Fujiwara follow them."

“It’s because you’ve always had trouble memorizing things,” Masumi sighed. “I really don’t know how you passed the ‘driving license’ part.”

"Don't even mention Masumi-kun, I've forgotten myself." Mami rested her chin on the table, puffing out her cheeks and muttering.

"Ah~ Could it be that someone fired a miniature anesthetic needle at me during the exam?"

Her eyes sparkled.

"Then you can look forward to seeing Hawaiian elementary school students taking exams tomorrow."

After saying that, Masumi stood up without any hesitation, her swift movements leaving Mami stunned.

"Wait a minute! Masumi-kun!"

Mami gripped the hem of his shirt tightly, desperately trying to keep him, while putting on a pitiful expression: "Are you perhaps planning to give up on me?"

"The important thing is that you don't give up on yourself," Masumi said earnestly. "All I can do is stay by your side and encourage you."

"Hey! What I really meant when I said I was giving up was that I wanted Masumi-kun to encourage me."

"Why don't you just say so?"

Masumi thought for a moment and said, "Actually, Kobe has a very developed train and bus system, so there is no need to take a driving test. You don't have to force yourself to take the test."

“Masumi-kun should have told me this before I paid the tuition.”

"Didn't I say that?"

"Huh? Did I say that?"

Asami blinked, then immediately changed the subject:

"Then let me ask you, Masumi-kun, what's your reason for wanting to get a driver's license?"

Masumi said frankly, "Rinne always drives to buy goods by herself, which is really hard for her. I want to help her out as much as I can."

Upon hearing this, Mami and Mio froze instantly, then displayed expressions of obvious jealousy.

Masumi sighed, "I'm the young owner of this coffee shop, after all. It's a bit too much to dump everything on her alone."

"Well, that's just Masumi-kun's personality."

Asami relaxed her cheeks and shrugged nonchalantly.

Kurokawa Mio muttered softly, "I don't dislike Masumi for that reason."

"—So let's get back to the main topic."

Mami clasped her hands together loudly, bowed her head, and said, "Please teach me, Masumi-sensei!"

"And Ms. Mio, please share your memorization tips with me too!"

"Even if you say so..."

"Please! Even I have reasons why I have to get a driver's license."

Asami kept her hands clasped together and spoke earnestly with her eyes closed.

His tone was as resolute as that of a ninja upholding the Way of the Ninja.

"What reason?" Masumi asked curiously.

"It's a long story."

"Then let's make a long story short."

"Let's go for a drive."

"—Wait a minute! Masumi-kun, and Mio-san, don't rush off yet!"

Asami quickly added, "I wanted to go for a drive with everyone at the coffee shop."

Seeing that Masumi had stopped, she pressed on, saying, "Neither Rinne nor Umi rarely have the opportunity to go out and play, do they? Especially after hearing Umi's story, it was really heartbreaking."

"So I also want to take them to see more beautiful scenery."

"Where to go?"

"For example... Hokkaido, and so on."

Just hearing the geographical term made Mami's eyes light up as if she could see local delicacies like crabs and sea urchins.

Masumi felt she should pull her back to reality before she got too caught up in it, so she coughed a few times and reminded her:
"...Kobe is 1300 kilometers away from Hokkaido."

It takes more than ten hours on the highway, unless Takumi Fujiwara is driving.

Because there is no guarantee of safe arrival.

"Then Aomori!" Asami changed her destination faster than navigation software.

"Speaking of which, Aomori's sea urchins are also very famous. I've only ever eaten them at Sushiro, and you can also go skiing there."

It seems her determination wasn't very firm.

“Aomori is also 900 kilometers away, and it’s still a while before it snows.” Masumi shook her head.

"However, I understand how you feel, and I will lend you a hand."

"...So it still doesn't work after all—"

Asami looked up at the sky in despair and sighed. Suddenly, as if she realized something, she turned her head toward Masumi.

"Wait? What did Masumi-kun mean just now?"

“Three people are sharing a driving school dormitory; you can’t be the only one who fails, can you?” Masumi sighed and rubbed her forehead in exasperation.

"However, my experience isn't very useful; I mainly rely on rote memorization."

"Masumi-kun! Really!?"

Ignoring his last sentence, Mami's face lit up with ecstatic joy, and she opened her arms without hesitation to hug Masumi.

"Well."

The soft touch transformed into an impact, numbing Masumi.

"I knew it, Masumi-kun, that good-natured guy, would never stand by and watch someone die."

"...'Too nice' isn't a term you should use when asking for favors, is it?" Masumi said, speechless.

With her hands tightly wrapped around Masumi's back, Asami looked like a child hugging a doll.

"Hey! Ms. Asami!"

When the person she liked was hugged by another girl right in front of her, Kurokawa Mio's expression instantly turned cold.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Ms. Mio, I almost forgot."

Mami paused for a moment, then opened her arms wider to include her as well.

"Ok?"

Kurokawa Mio was stunned for a moment.

But after feeling Masumi's body temperature next to her, she hesitated for a moment, then stopped resisting and enjoyed the warmth against her skin.

The study session for passing the driver's license theory test will continue after a break.
-
The results of the second day's exams are as follows:

No. 6, Miyazawa Masumi: Passed.

No. 8 Kurokawa Mio: Passed.

Number 9, Mami: Unqualified.

"...How could this happen (╥﹏╥)"

(End of this chapter)