Time moved like molasses, each minute stretching into the next, blurring the edges of days and weeks. Yasushi and Jingliu's home often became the gathering spot for their friends. Books and notes sprawled across the tables as conversations grew longer and their bond tighter. They spent countless hours preparing, covering topics from every possible angle. Discussions went late into the night, fueled by coffee and determination. Teachers' hints were dissected, every clue examined for insight.
Yet, the relentless march of time pressed on, indifferent to their needs. The exam period loomed, a looming shadow bringing with it an undercurrent of anxiety. The cold deepened, snow piling up in silent testament to the advancing winter
Now, in the classroom, Yasushi sat among his peers, the third test of the day lying in front of him like an inscrutable riddle. The teacher, a stern figure at the front, monitored the room with a hawk-like gaze. Yasushi glanced sideways, catching snippets of his classmates' struggles. The tension was almost tangible; Furuya sighed deeply, fingers clawing through his hair in frustration. Yasushi wondered if all their late-night study sessions had been enough.
He turned his attention back to the test, eyes scanning the questions with practiced ease. Yasushi, who had been a mediocre student in his previous life before reincarnation, now found himself comfortably within the top fifteen, sometimes even the top ten, in his class.
This transformation wasn't by chance. It was deliberate, calculated. Yasushi worked hard to achieve these results, aiming to secure the freedom he craved. Good grades meant fewer lectures from his parents, less pressure bearing down on him. It allowed him space to breathe, to live his life on his own terms.
During their study sessions, Yasushi often took on the role of tutor, helping his friends understand complex topics while simultaneously revising his own material. It was a delicate balance, but one he managed with a quiet efficiency.
His pen moved fluidly over the paper now, answering questions with confidence. He glanced around subtly, noting that his friends seemed to be handling the test without much difficulty. He expected as much; they had all scored well in previous exams, their preparation evident in their calm demeanor.
Time in the classroom felt like it had stretched and thinned, the seconds drifting past like lazy clouds. Yasushi approached the test methodically, each question a small puzzle to be savored and solved with care. His goal wasn't speed but precision, ensuring no careless errors would mar his grade.
As he completed the last question, he glanced at his watch. Ten minutes remained. He took a moment to observe the room, noticing how many of his classmates had already finished, their pens idle, papers stacked neatly. The rest were hunched over their desks, writing furiously, the air buzzing with the faint scratch of pens.
Leaning back, Yasushi exhaled a long, slow breath through his nose. He decided to use the remaining time to review his work. Page by page, he scrutinized his answers, flipping each sheet, front and back. Satisfied, he nodded slightly, a small gesture of self-assurance.
The soft chime of a timer interrupted the silence, signaling the end of the exam. The teacher's voice followed, calm but weary. "Finish up, staple your exam sheets together, and pass them forward."
Yasushi gathered his papers, feeling the collective release of tension in the room as students complied. The teacher stood at the front, waiting with a patient sigh, ready to collect their efforts.
Eventually, the teacher received all the papers. He adjusted his glasses and added, "Your lunch break is the same length. Use the time wisely. Relax or cram a bit more information into your heads. Be back here for two more exams, and then you're free to go home."
With that, he left the room, signaling the start of lunch for Yasushi's class. A collective sigh of relief rippled through the room. Conversations sprang up everywhere, some students drifting toward the cafeteria.
Furuya waddled over to Yasushi, trailed by Xinyi, Jingliu, and Laura.
"I'm dead. Totally dead. My answers weren't enough. I should have been more detailed. I let my emotions take over. Damn it!" Furuya exclaimed, his shoulders slumping.
"You're fine," Xinyi said, giving him a playful smack on the back. "I watched you. You were writing a lot. Sure, you made some weird hand gestures to yourself, but overall, you seemed to do well."
"W-what's that supposed to mean? How would you know I did well? For all you know, I could have jotted down random answers because I had no clue," Furuya shot back, his voice tinged with frustration, a sigh escaping his lips.
Before Xinyi could respond, Layena and Catherine joined their group, and Reina entered the classroom. Catherine immediately embraced Furuya, pulling him into a private bubble of comfort and whispered reassurances. The tension in Furuya's shoulders eased slightly, leaning into the solace his girlfriend offered.
Laura turned to Reina, her curiosity piqued. "How did it go for you, Reina?"
"The study group helped," Reina replied, her voice steady with newfound confidence. "I think my grades will be higher this time around."
"We should get lunch," she continued, her tone practical. "Otherwise, we'll face the last exams on an empty stomach."
The group murmured in agreement, gathering their things and making their way to the cafeteria, the hum of lunchtime chatter growing louder as they approached.
+-+
As their group continued eating and chatting in the cafeteria, a small commotion erupted nearby. Heads turned in unison to see someone had kicked over a trash can, muttering under their breath as they stormed out of the room. The cafeteria buzzed with a mix of surprise and curiosity.
"What was that about?" Furuya asked, his attention momentarily shifting from feeding Catherine a bite of his sandwich.
"Dunno... maybe they're pissed off about the exams?" Xinyi replied, her mouth full of food. Her response seemed more reflexive than thoughtful, a placeholder rather than an actual opinion.
Reina shook her head, her frown deepening as she watched the door swing shut behind the departing student. "I don't think someone would resort to that just because of exams," she said, her voice tinged with skepticism.
Yasushi remained silent, his eyes lingering on the door. He couldn't discern the specifics, but the body language he observed suggested anger, though the cause remained unclear. He glanced at Jingliu, who returned his look with a nod. Unspoken, they both arrived at the same conclusion: the reason behind the outburst was anyone's guess.
The group's conversation drifted back to more mundane topics, but Yasushi's mind kept returning to the scene. There was something about the way the student moved, a mixture of rage and despair that felt all too familiar. It stirred a quiet unease within him, a sense that whatever had prompted the outburst was more than just exam stress. He kept these thoughts to himself, though, choosing instead to focus on the company of his friends and the fleeting respite of their lunchtime break.
+-+
"It's over!" Furuya shouted, his voice ringing through the emptying classroom as he stretched his arms wide.
The day's exams had finally ended, and they were free to go home. While most of their classmates had already bolted, their group lingered, gathering once more in the classroom, savoring the pause before leaving.
"For now. We still have a few days left before the weekend," Laura reminded, giving Furuya a playful smack on the back. "And then we've got to get ready for the Christmas Museum Event."
"I know, but I'd rather deal with that event than more exams. Who even enjoys school?" Furuya retorted, wrapping his arms around Catherine and giving her a squeeze. She giggled, returning the embrace.
Yasushi stayed silent, breaking off from the group to gaze out the classroom window. Below, students filtered out of the school grounds, eager to leave the confines of academia behind. His eyes followed the student from lunchtime, who was now walking with a small group of about ten others.
The earlier scene of anger replayed in his mind, but he couldn't piece together what had driven it. The group seemed casual now, their collective mood a stark contrast to the individual's earlier outburst.
"Is something on your mind?" Jingliu's voice was soft as she gently grabbed his arm, joining him by the window.
Yasushi hesitated, glancing at her before speaking. "It's nothing... well, actually, it's about that rumor. You know, the one about people wanting to cause trouble at the Christmas Museum Event. And then there's that student who made a scene during lunch... Do you think there's a connection?"
His question drew the attention of the rest of the group, who had been lost in their own conversations.
"You think they're connected somehow, Yasushi?" Reina asked, her curiosity piqued as the others gathered by the window.
"I don't have concrete evidence," Yasushi admitted, turning to face them. "But the coincidence is too much to ignore, don't you think?"
The group fell silent, each lost in their thoughts. Yasushi broke the silence, trying to shake off the unease. "Let's leave it for now and concentrate on the exams. But how about we go out and celebrate a bit? I'll get us some snacks and drinks."
"Free food and drinks? I'm all for it, let's go!" Furuya exclaimed, his enthusiasm palpable as he rushed out of the classroom with Catherine in tow.
The rest of the group chuckled at his eagerness, feeling the same excitement even if they weren't as vocal. They left the school, the weight of exams lifting slightly as they headed to a nearby café. The thought of a small break, a moment of normalcy, was a welcome reprieve.
Yasushi walked with them, his mind still partially occupied by the day's events. The laughter and light-hearted banter of his friends gradually pulled him into the present. As they reached the café, the familiar hum of chatter and clinking of cups provided a comforting backdrop. They settled into a corner, the cozy atmosphere a stark contrast to the sterile school environment.
As they continued to eat and chat, the room filled with laughter and the sound of clinking utensils. Yasushi's gaze drifted to the window again, where he saw the same group of students passing by. Snatches of their conversation drifted through the glass. "Yeah, it should be fine, let's get them involved too," one of them said. The words snagged his attention.
He squinted, trying to discern more from their expressions and body language, but the distance made it difficult. His curiosity piqued, he began to form a thought about what he had overheard. However, the lively chatter of his friends quickly pulled him back into the present.
For now, Yasushi tucked the overheard snippet away in the recesses of his mind, choosing to focus on the warmth of his friends' company. The noise of the café enveloped him, a comforting cocoon of normalcy. He leaned into the moment, allowing himself to be swept along by the easy flow of conversation and laughter, the earlier disquiet temporarily forgotten.