Tokyo Exorcism Diary

Shimizu Yuu was undeniably panicked. It wasn’t just her frequent daydreaming in class that often got her caught red-handed by the teachers. No, this time, it was the thought of her exam results that filled her with a sense of impending doom.

While the test was announced without much warning, rumours about it have been circulating since last week. The more diligent students had naturally started their preparations early. But Shimizu Yuu, a self-proclaimed underachiever for years, was neither skilled at nor fond of studying. At best, she had a knack for last-minute cramming, but even that effort had been derailed lately as her mind was entirely consumed by what she deemed a “real supernatural event.”

The morning passed miserably. Even her usual pastime of zoning out during class was tinged with anxiety.

By the afternoon, the results were finally posted in the hallway. With the resignation of a condemned soul, Shimizu Yuu braced herself, thinking, Might as well face the music, and joined the throng of students crowding around the score sheet.

Unlike many public schools in Japan, which don’t typically rank students or publish individual scores, Segawa Private High School—a fiercely competitive institution—had no qualms about ranking students to fuel academic rivalry.

Shimizu Yuu’s gaze skimmed the list from top to bottom.

Sasaki Ayane – 848 points
Shiraishi Ryuto  – 821 points
 Sato Toru – 819 points

…

Shimizu Yuu – 376 points

Her jaw tightened at the sight of her rank and score. She had known this test would end poorly, but this… this was a disaster.

Segawa Private High School’s first-year cohort spanned ten classes, from A to J, totaling precisely 300 students. For now, there were no transfer students, so the rankings were comprehensive. Technically, only 299 names appeared on the list because a popular idol with special circumstances hadn’t taken the test.

Thus, Shimizu Yuu’s ranking in this exam was neither too high nor too low—she landed squarely at the tenth-to-last position in the entire grade…

The thought of the parent-teacher meeting scheduled for tomorrow made Shimizu Yuu’s head throb. She even began to seriously consider crashing at her best friend Suzuki Sawami’s house for a few days to avoid the fallout.

As she contemplated this, something occurred to her—she hadn’t spotted a certain name on the list.

Her brow furrowed as she scanned upward from the bottom, and soon enough, there it was: 256.  Hoshino Gen- 401 points.

Ha! He’s just as bad as me!

A strange sense of satisfaction washed over her, even though it changed nothing about her predicament. Her lips unconsciously curled into a grin. It wasn’t schadenfreude; she simply found it amusing that the arrogant Hoshino Gen wasn’t as invincible as he seemed.

Turning to glance through the classroom window, her gaze landed on the boy sitting by the opposite window. With his chin resting on one hand, he gazed serenely at the brilliant blue sky outside, utterly detached from the bustling world around him. It was as though an invisible barrier separated him from everyone else.

Shimizu Yuu’s smile gradually faded as she stared, lost in thought. She couldn’t help but wonder what was going through his mind.

Perhaps her gaze was too blatant because Hoshino Gen suddenly turned his head. His eyes met hers with a directness that pierced through the noise and crowd between them. Then, his lips curled into a smirk—playful, yet with a hint of mischief.

Thump!

Shimizu Yuu felt her heart skip a beat, and her face flushed hotly. But then she remembered his shameless antics and exploitative ways, and her irritation flared. Her brows knitted, and she shot him a glare.

Unfortunately, her flushed cheeks and bright, watery eyes betrayed her, making her attempt at intimidation look far more endearing than threatening. A few students nearby noticed and couldn’t help but sneak curious glances.

…

The second period that afternoon was PE, and the teacher showed no mercy, kicking things off with a 1000-meter run.

Segawa’s sports field was spacious and well-maintained, complete with a 400-meter standard track. The boys ran first, followed by the girls.

Shimizu Yuu sat with Suzuki Sawami and a few other girls on the grassy field inside the track, chatting idly as they waited their turn. Normally lively, Shimizu Yuu seemed unusually quiet today, standing out against the noisy backdrop of laughter and chatter.

It didn’t take long for Suzuki Sawami to notice. With a sly grin, she leaned closer to Shimizu Yuu, teasingly whispering, “Still worried about tomorrow’s parent-teacher meeting? Don’t worry—I’ll beg Aunt Shimizu to spare your life if it comes to that~.”

Shimizu Yuu rolled her eyes, hugging her knees as she glanced at the boys running laps. Some stragglers had fallen behind, dragging along at a snail’s pace, while others surged ahead, becoming the center of attention. One particularly striking figure maintained a steady pace in the middle of the pack— Hoshino Gen.

Tch. What a show-off.

Shimizu Yuu pursed her lips. Others might not see through him, but she did. That guy might be a shameless jerk, but he was a capable one. Even though she’d never seen his stamina in action, she was certain he could easily outpace the peacock-like leader at the front if he wanted to.

Beside her, Suzuki Sawami pouted when her friend didn’t respond, then mischievously pinched Shimizu Yuu’s soft, fair cheeks. “Yuu-chan! You’ve been acting weird lately!”

Startled, Shimizu Yuu swatted Suzuki Sawami’s hands away, forcing a calm tone. “Where.”

“Everywhere!” Having grown up with Shimizu Yuu, she knew all too well that this girl would feign composure whenever she had a guilty conscience. But that unconsciously pouty expression of hers? It was the biggest giveaway!

Her gaze turned calculating, scanning Shimizu Yuu from head to toe, making her squirm uncomfortably.

Suddenly, Suzuki Sawami gasped in mock horror. “Oh no! Don’t tell me… you’re in love!”

Now it was Shimizu Yuu’s turn to be utterly baffled. She blinked, her face full of confusion. “How is that even possible?”

But the more Shimizu Yuu denied it, the more convinced Suzuki Sawami became. With a look of feigned pity, she declared, “Oh, it’s so obvious. Otherwise, tell me—why haven’t you been hanging around me as much these past few days? And speaking of which, I’ve caught you staring at that Hoshino guy during class more than once lately. Don’t tell me you’ve fallen for him?”

If Yuu had been drinking water, she would’ve spat it all over Suzuki Sawami by now. Her face turned bright red—not out of affection, but sheer embarrassment at discussing such a topic in public. And her best friend claim that she liked Hoshino Gen? That was utter nonsense!

She wanted to punch the idiot instead! This kind of baseless accusation was something she simply couldn’t tolerate.

Fuming, she retorted, “What are you talking about! There’s no way I like that jerk… that guy!”