"Clang--Clang--"
"Clang---Clang---Clang---"
After a couple of bangs without response, it wasn't until the fifth or sixth that Hoshimi, still groggy, sat up.
"Study hard." Hiratsuka Shizuka, with a frown, pinched Hoshimi's shoulder.
"Yikes~~"
The pain in his shoulder made Hoshimi gasp, instantly waking him up.
He looked up at Hiratsuka Shizuka and, giving a thumbs up with a hint of sarcasm, complimented, "Hiratsuka-sensei, you have quite a strong grip. Have you considered entering an arm wrestling competition for men?"
"..." Hiratsuka Shizuka's forehead showed a faint vein.
She gave Hoshimi's shoulder a firm pat and, with a smile that didn't reach her eyes, asked, "Hoshimi-kun, you're doing well. How about next week's midterm exams? Are you confident?"
With a pained grimace, Hoshimi nodded seriously and said, "I'm confident... in being last."
"Heh~" Hiratsuka Shizuka pinched Hoshimi's shoulder with a forced smile. "Hoshimi-kun, study hard. If you really end up last, I'll consider having an arm wrestling match with you."
"..." Hoshimi maintained an awkward but polite smile. "Hiratsuka-sensei, I'll do my best."
"Now that's more like it." Satisfied, Hiratsuka Shizuka left with her hands behind her back.
"Ding-ling-ling~~~"
Just as Hiratsuka Shizuka left the classroom, the school bell rang.
The chaotic reading voices in the classroom quickly diminished, replaced by a different kind of noise.
Hoshimi looked over at Yukino, who was organizing her notes. "Yukino, why didn't you wake me when Hiratsuka-sensei came in?"
Yukino, not looking away, replied, "Would it have made a difference if I did? Would you have woken up?"
Hoshimi thought for a moment and nodded thoughtfully. "It seems unlikely..."
Once she finished organizing her notes, Yukino closed them, turned to Hoshimi, and asked calmly, "What are you planning to do about next week's midterm exams? Aim for being last?"
"Um... When exactly are the exams next week? What subjects are they for?"
Yukino sighed, exasperated. "Hoshimi, what exactly are you doing at school? Why don't you even know the subjects for the exams?"
Hoshimi blinked. I'm here to make friends...
"Hoshimi, listen carefully." Yukino straightened up and said seriously, "The midterm exams will cover five subjects: Japanese, English, Social Studies, Math, and Science. The exams will last three days, probably from Tuesday to Thursday next week, as it has been in previous years."
"Your English and Japanese should be fine."
No, Yukino, you misunderstood. My Japanese is actually my biggest problem.
"As for the other three subjects..." Yukino thought for a moment, then said helplessly, "You're on your own."
"Yukino, don't be so heartless. Help me out, please."
"I can tutor you, but will you study seriously?" Yukino asked with a serious tone.
"Probably?" Hoshimi responded uncertainly.
In reality, he was hoping Yukino would help him cheat.
With dreams involved, cheating could be remarkably easy.
But given Yukino's upright character, cheating was probably out of the question.
"Hoshimi, I'll tutor you in the evening. Make sure you've read through all the textbooks. Oh, and..." Yukino pulled out a few notebooks from her bag and placed them on Hoshimi's desk.
"Read through these notes. I'll use them to help tutor you."
"Alright..." Hoshimi reluctantly picked up the notebooks and quickly skimmed through them.
It seemed Yukino was really preparing to give him a thorough review in the dream realm, even bringing out the notes for him to record in the dream library.
Before long, Hoshimi had finished flipping through all the notebooks.
"Done?" Yukino asked.
"Yeah..." Hoshimi handed the notebooks back to Yukino.
Yukino took the notebooks and stared blankly at Hoshimi.
She suddenly realized that Hoshimi might be recording her notes in the dream, which meant he could potentially cheat during the exams.
It seemed she had inadvertently become an accomplice in Hoshimi's cheating...
Thinking about it, Yukino's expression darkened slightly.
"Sigh~" Noticing Yukino's thoughts, Hoshimi sighed and said, "Yukino, for Science, Math, and Japanese, notes won't help much. Either you know it or you don't."
Yukino: "..."
That's true, she thought. After considering it, she said, "In the evening, I'll focus on tutoring you in Math and Science. Study hard, and at least avoid being last."
"Alright..." Hoshimi replied nonchalantly.
After all, he was a top student in his previous life. Although he had forgotten much of the knowledge over the years, the foundation was still there.
With a bit of serious review, it was unlikely he would end up last.
He had only mentioned being last to tease Hiratsuka Shizuka. He didn't expect the earnest Yukino to take it seriously and prepare to drill him thoroughly.
Yukino is really adorable~
"Ding-ling-ling~~"
The class bell rang, and students went to their respective places.
Hoshimi chose a relatively thick textbook as a pillow and began a new round of sleep.
"Sigh~" Seeing Hoshimi asleep, Yukino could only sigh in resignation.
She hoped Hoshimi was going to study in his dreams rather than just sleeping...
With such talent and opportunities, it would be a shame to waste them.
She should encourage Hoshimi more in the future...
"Yesterday we discussed parabolas..."
The old math teacher wasted no time and started the lesson with varied intonation.
As the exam approached, most students, unlike usual, were more focused and attentive in class, except for one person.
Halfway through the class, Hiratsuka Shizuka suddenly appeared at the back door of the classroom.
Seeing the students attentively listening to the lesson made her feel satisfied, but spotting the deeply asleep Hoshimi quickly dampened her good mood.
The teacher was inside giving the lesson, so she couldn't disturb them and had to leave with a resigned sigh.
Back in the office, Hiratsuka Shizuka pondered whether she should call Hoshimi in for a one-on-one talk.
As a teacher, seeing Hoshimi so self-destructive made her uneasy, and her educator's heart urged her to wake up this lazy student.
However, thinking about Hoshimi's background, her motivation to educate him faded a bit. Given his family's wealth, he could inherit billions or even trillions without studying...
All roads lead to Rome, but some people are born in Rome.
How could she teach him?
After much consideration, Hiratsuka Shizuka was still determined to call Hoshimi in for a one-on-one talk, focusing not on his future but on his attitude towards people and things.
Resolved, she glanced at the time and planned to wait at the back door of Class J until the end of class to bring Hoshimi to the office for his lecture.
Just as she stood up, the phone rang.
She pulled out her phone and felt a headache coming on.
The caller was "Mrs. Arisugawa (Hoshimi's guardian)"
Just as she was about to educate the child, his guardian called. What a coincidence.
Hiratsuka Shizuka answered the phone and politely said, "Hello, is this Mrs. Arisugawa?"
"Yes, it is. May I ask how Hoshimi is doing at school recently, Hiratsuka-sensei?"
A clear and elegant female voice came from the phone, and just hearing it seemed to evoke an image of Mrs. Arisugawa's grace and sophistication.
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