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Chapter 117 - Chapter 117: Exam Results

[Third Person Pov] 

Clark and Itsuki failed to notice when the couple who had unknowingly trapped them inside the locker finally finished their business and left the room, satisfied and unaware that anyone else had been there the entire time. The door remained shut, the cramped space still pressing in around them, heavy with lingering warmth and stolen air.

Itsuki had a tight grip on Clark's tie, holding it like a leash as she pulled him down toward her. Their lips met again, not gentle or hesitant, but rushed and uncoordinated, driven more by impulse than intention. Clark's hands rested firmly at her waist, fingers curling reflexively as he steadied her. One hand drifted along her thigh as she leaned back against the cold metal wall of the locker, the contrast doing nothing to cool the heat between them.

There was nothing soft or romantic about the kiss. It wasn't about feelings or promises—it was raw desire, sparked by being trapped together for far too long, bodies pressed close with nowhere to turn and no room to think. The tight space blurred judgment, leaving only instinct behind.

Heavy breathing filled the locker, mingling with short, unsteady gasps. Their lips remained locked in a messy, breathless kiss, movements clumsy and desperate. Both of their eyes were closed, neither daring to look at the other, simply letting their bodies react without stopping to question why.

Riiiiiiing.

The sudden shrill sound of the bell shattered the moment.

Itsuki's eyes snapped open as reality crashed down on her all at once. Her breath hitched, and she froze for a split second before panic took over. She shoved Clark away and scrambled out of the locker, nearly tripping over herself in her haste. The two of them stumbled out into the open, both breathing hard, hearts racing as they tried—and failed—to steady themselves.

Itsuki stood there, horrified, staring blankly ahead as her thoughts short-circuited. Her hands trembled as she clumsily tried to fix her rumpled clothes, fingers refusing to cooperate.

"Not a word to anyone," she said sharply, though her voice cracked under the strain. "Nothing happened. Nothing at all. You and I were never here."

She swallowed hard, still panting, then rushed over to where her shoes were. She slipped them on without bothering to fix them properly, shoved the door open, and bolted down the hall like a madwoman, desperate to put as much distance between herself and the moment as possible.

Clark remained behind, wiping his thumb across his lips as he stared into space. His mind raced, his thoughts spiraling as he tried to process what had just happened—and how it had escalated so quickly.

"Kal-El," Sol's voice echoed in his ear, mellow and tinged with unmistakable awe.

"Not. A. Word," Clark snapped back, already feeling his embarrassment flare.

"Four women in one day," Sol continued, entirely ignoring the warning. "I must say, I'm impressed."

"Terminate yourself, you bastard," Clark growled, running a hand through his hair. "How did this even happen?!"

He adjusted his uniform, straightening his jacket and tugging his tie back into place, muttering to himself. "Since when did I start getting involved with women this for things to end up like this?"

"Shall we see if you can make it five and set a personal record?" Sol asked, clearly enjoying himself.

Clark's facial muscles twitched in irritation. "Sol, you've just lost your speaking privileges. Shut off your response features."

"As you wish…" Sol replied, his voice sounding almost sulky before going completely silent.

Clark exhaled through his nose, letting out a faint, disbelieving laugh as he shook his head. After one last attempt to compose himself, he stepped out of the now-empty classroom, leaving the chaos of the moment behind him—at least for now.

Their last period of the day arrived with the familiar sound of papers being shuffled and passed down the rows. Mock exams were handed back one by one, the atmosphere in the classroom immediately shifting as students anxiously reached for their results. Some leaned forward eagerly, others hesitated before even looking, bracing themselves for disappointment.

The teacher announced that the remainder of the period would be self-study, giving everyone time to review their exams and reflect on their performance. A low murmur filled the room as papers were unfolded and quiet reactions followed—soft sighs, muted groans, and the occasional relieved laugh.

Clark didn't even bother glancing at his exam sheets. He already knew the outcome well before they reached his desk. Instead, he leaned back slightly in his chair, arms crossed, looking utterly bored.

Lala leaned over from her seat, peeking at him with curiosity. "So… how did you do?" she asked, her tone cautious but hopeful.

Clark rolled his eyes and gave her a flat look. "What do you think?" he replied before tilting his head toward her. "What about you?"

With a proud grin, Lala spread her exam papers out in front of him. The numbers ranged from the low fifties to the sixties. She beamed as if she had just won a trophy, clearly pleased with herself. Compared to her past grades—and considering she was still struggling to fully grasp Japanese—it was a noticeable improvement.

"Congrats," Clark said simply, giving her a nod of approval.

Lala puffed out her chest slightly at the praise before turning to the girl seated quietly beside her. "And you, Komi?" she asked with genuine curiosity.

Komi calmly placed her papers on the desk, fanning them out dramatically like a stack of money. She held her head high, eyes shining, as all five sheets revealed scores comfortably within the nineties. The gesture alone said more than words ever could.

Meanwhile, Itsuki sat completely still, staring off into space. She hadn't even turned her exams over. Her grades were the last thing on her mind—her thoughts were tangled elsewhere, replaying moments she desperately wanted to forget.

Lala suddenly popped up from her seat, waving one of her papers excitedly as she bounced over to compare answers with a few female classmates she had quickly befriended. Their animated chatter blended into the classroom's steady hum.

Not long after, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed down the hallway. Several students looked up just as the classroom door slid open with a loud bang.

"Clark!!!"

Nino, Ichika, and Miku burst into the room, each holding their mock exams high. All three were grinning from ear to ear, their excitement practically radiating off them.

"Oh no…" Clark groaned, slouching lower in his seat as if hoping to disappear.

The sisters didn't care in the slightest. They rushed over and surrounded his desk, leaning in far too close and shoving their papers toward his face.

"Look! I've never gotten a score this high before!" Nino exclaimed, her voice brimming with excitement.

"Feast your eyes on our hard work!" Ichika added proudly. "I can't believe these are actually real!"

"Y-Yosh! What do you think?" Miku asked, her eyes sparkling as she fidgeted slightly. "Did we do good?"

"Back, you heathens—back, I say!" Clark hissed, clearly uncomfortable with how close they were. "You're invading my personal space!"

The trio only giggled, continuing to crowd around him, clearly eager for his approval. Their pride was obvious, and more than anything, they wanted him to acknowledge their effort.

Komi watched the scene quietly from her seat, tilting her head slightly as she observed the dynamic between Clark and the three girls. Her curiosity mirrored that of the other students, many of whom had begun whispering among themselves.

"Why is he always surrounded by hot girls?"

"Now girls from other classes are all over him too? That's not fair!"

"The worst part is that he doesn't even look happy about it!"

"Lucky bastard…"

With a sigh, Clark snatched the exam papers from their hands. "Give it here."

He spread them neatly across his desk, scanning through them carefully. Nino's paper was on top—scores like 25, 27, 22, 32, and 57. History was clearly her weakest subject, while English stood out as her strongest.

Next was Ichika's, with scores of 24, 30, 25, 32, and 55. Her Japanese had dragged her average down, but her Math score was solid.

Finally, there was Miku's paper. Her grades ranged from 20 to 58, with Math being her lowest and History her highest.

Clark stared at the papers for a moment, then looked up at their hopeful expressions and sighed. "The fact that you're proud of this is… concerning."

All three immediately deflated, their shoulders slumping as their heads dropped in shame.

"But," Clark continued after a brief pause, closing his eyes, "compared to before… this is definitely an improvement. Good work, you three."

He handed the exams back.

Instantly, they lit up like Christmas trees. All three leaned toward him to hug him with bright smiles and grateful voices. "Thank you, Clark!"

"Do you not understand the concept of personal space?!" Clark snapped, pushing them back. "Get away! Shoo! You annoying pests! Heathens!"

The sisters only laughed harder, clearly delighted—completely unfazed by his protests.

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