BXBX NOVEL Chapter 214
Today, Mia arrived at the cafeteria coming from her dormitory. It was then that she felt the arrival of the summer upon looking at the menu.
“Ah, they have started serving the cold soup.”
At St. Noel’s, only dinner was the same for everyone. For breakfast and lunch, there was a variety of food and menu that the students can choose from. This is to accommodate the variety of students coming from different nations, with their foods and preferences. In fact, the cafeteria was a place that one can learn about world cuisines.
… this is also why it is a headache when changing the menus, as the student council has discovered.
“It has been quite cool this year that I hadn’t noticed. It’s almost summer, isn’t it?” Something stirred at the back of her mind. Mia had a premonition that she had forgotten something. “Summer… hmm… I feel like there was something that I should remember.”
After some more thinking, she arrived at her answer.
“Ah! That’s right. It is almost time for the summer exams. Well, my grades aren’t so great… but as long as I pass…”
Due to Rafina’s policy, St. Noel has a strict system for an academy attended by children of royalty and nobility. Poor test results could affect progress through the grades. Students who failed, simply failed. They were offered no mercy, no matter what their rank or status are. Luckily, the bar for failing is set quite low. So even Mia who wasn’t particularly bad at studying could pass. If she memorized enough at the last minute, she should be able to tide through her exams.
“I can do my best, as long as I have sweets… that’s right. I’ll get through this with the power of sweets.”
She was happily thinking along these lines when she met Rafina.
“Hello Mia. The summer exams are coming soon, aren’t they?”
“Yes, I just realized it now. One moment, they seemed so far away. The next moment, they are already here. Time sure flies fast.”
It was supposed to be such a casual conversation… but…
“Lately many student grades have been slipping. I was thinking of bringing it up at the next student council meeting.”
“My, that’s not good at all.” Mia said without a hint of self-awareness.
“So… I know that you are busy, Mia-san. So, I am sorry for adding more. I am thinking of the student council launching a campaign.”
“A campaign?”
“Yes. We will take the test results of the students with good grades and post them in the hallway to motivate everyone.”
“Ah, I see. That does sound interesting. I hope it goes well.”
In the past life, Mia’s grades were just above the bottom thirds. Therefore, she assumed that she wouldn’t be part of anything with this.
“It is fine for the ordinary students to set their own goals. However, since we are in the position of leadership, we should act as role models.”
Mia wrinkled her nose. She can metaphorically smell a stink coming her way.
“Huh? I’m not sure I follow.”
“Simply put, the grades of the members of the student council are to be made public. We announce them to the student body in an official statement.”
“Eh?” It took several seconds for Mia to close her mouth once again.
“You mean announce them, whether they are good or bad?”
“Yes, of course. I know that Mia-san will be fine. But it’s just that you have been quite busy lately. So I thought you might have not been able to study. I know you will prove be wrong, but I am just giving you a heads up. Oh, and even if your grades will slip a little, as long as you don’t fail; nothing really will happen. So don’t stress so much about it.”
Rafina said with a calming smile. But Mia was anything but calm. This is because, she still had a sense of pride.
Well, even if I get bad grades… Abel is kind… so he might think that I was just not feeling well. But Sion… I’m sure he will laugh at me.
Mia was really only battling with her ego. It’s wasn’t like her bad grades would lead to her execution or to the dungeon. Her mind sought refuge to these words…at least it is better than dying on the guillotine. It was her tried and tested method for dealing with failure and embarrassment.
Well it was a different case if the student council president, who was running the campaign, would get bad grades herself. She can just imagine the shame and embarrassment.
I will be the laughingstock of the whole school! I would die of embarrassment.
Moreover, every year before summer vacation, the student council president has to give a speech. Even if she asks Rafina or someone else to write the manuscript, it was still her that needs to read it. And then she would have to expose her bad grades in front of everyone.
The way that they’ll look at me… Merciful moons… and here I thought that the elections were stressful enough. They’ll kill me with their looks alone.
Just because the situation is better than the guillotine doesn’t mean she could survive the embarrassment. In addition, it will be a disrespect towards Rafina, who gave her the position of the president.
“I know Mia-san will be fine, but…” Her smile scared Mia. It doesn’t even matter whether it’s embarrassing or not embarrassing. It is becoming a matter of whether or not to step on the tail of a wild beast. Mia is standing on the brink of whether or not to step on the sleeping lion, Rafina’s tail!
I really need to tread carefully.
Mia showed Rafina a relaxed smile,
“O-Of course. I’ll be fine.”
She decided to bluff her way out by giving a confident fist, but the action shook a few drops of cold sweat off her back.
“Lovely! I suppose that leaves Sapphias as the only remaining concern.”
After giving a leaving bow to Rafina, Mia scampered out of the dining room like a rabbit.
Author’s note:
This week is a run-up period. It will be about Mia chilling at school. In terms of the story, up until last week was the Academy Story. This week will be the Summer Vacation Story Prologue.