I had assumed I was the only one feeling anxious about the upcoming Special Exam, but it turned out everyone was on edge.
Some students didn't seem to care at all—they simply put their heads down and took a nap, acting like it was just another day.
Others looked tense, their worry showing in how they fidgeted or whispered nervously to each other.
Then there were the students who stayed calm and even tried to boost the spirits of those around them, offering words of encouragement to those who looked like they needed it.
All of this was going on as we waited for the teacher to arrive for our usual class, with some students talking quietly, others lost in thought, and a few just staring at the clock, counting down the minutes until class began.
When the teacher finally walked in, she had an unusually worried look on her face, her expression tense and a bit pale, making the room fall silent as everyone noticed the change in her usual calm demeanor.
I could only guess what she was about to say, wondering if it would be something that confirmed everyone's growing concerns about the upcoming special exam.
"Good morning, students, as you know, this school is a prestigious place meant to push your capabilities further," the teacher began, her voice steady but with a hint of seriousness, "and so the members of the school faculty have decided to hold a Special Exam in the upcoming week." At that moment, everyone's fears became reality, the students who were already nervous looked even more uneasy, fidgeting in their seats or glancing at one another with wide eyes.
A few students kept their usual expressions, but most of the class felt the weight of this announcement settle heavily on them, the sense of pressure filling the room.
Although the teacher had confirmed the exam, we received no information on what the Special Exam would actually involve, leaving everyone wondering and growing more tense with each passing second.
"I haven't been given any information about what the Special Exam will involve," the teacher admitted, a hint of concern in her voice as she looked at the class, "Honestly, in all my years teaching Class D, not one class has ever managed to advance to a higher level.
If there was ever a chance to change that history, now is the time to do it. For those who succeed, the rewards are significant—First place will earn 150 points, Second place 100 points, Third place 50 points, and last place, unfortunately, will earn 0 points."
The way she spoke made the stakes feel even more real, as if this was more than just another test. The class grew quieter, everyone now fully focused on the words she had spoken, feeling the weight of the challenge that lay ahead.
The rest of the day, I found myself deep in thought, reflecting on how I could prepare, what I should expect, and which strategies might work best, yet my options felt frustratingly limited, especially since we hadn't been given any details about what the Special Exam would actually involve.
I considered different approaches, wondering if I should focus on physical training, mental preparation, or even teamwork, but without knowing the exact format of the exam, it felt like I was trying to solve a puzzle without all the pieces.
But I had to let go of these thoughts for now, trying to come up with ideas without any real information felt pointless, so I decided to focus on something else.
After class ended, I made my way to the shopping center, planning to buy a small shelf, i needed a proper place to put my books, right now, they were just piled up without any organization. Having a shelf would let me display them neatly, I felt like a loser spending time worrying about books instead of anything more exciting, Still, I figured it would help keep my space organized and maybe even motivate me to study a bit more.
As I was walking toward the shopping center, my mind was preoccupied with the events of the day. My eyes wandered, and that's when I noticed Yuji standing off to the side, staring down at his phone. He seemed completely unaware of the girls nearby, who were clearly trying to catch his attention.
As a guy, it frustrated me to see him acting so uninterested, and I couldn't help but feel a bit of anger bubbling inside me. I was so caught up in what I was seeing that I didn't even notice where I was walking.
Before I knew it, I bumped into someone. Bump! "Oh god, I'm really sorry! Are you okay? I wasn't looking where I was going," I said quickly, offering my hand to help steady the person I had accidentally knocked into.
She looked up at me with a small smile, rubbing her shoulder lightly. "It's okay, don't worry about it. I wasn't paying attention either," she replied, sounding more calm than I expected. "Your Sylvia in my class, was the shopping center good?" "And you're Ivory! I bought some fluffy clothes today.
My old ones were getting worn out, so I thought I'd check out what the shopping center had. When I touched the soft, fluffy clothes, I don't know what happened, but I felt like I was completely drawn in.
It was almost like I was under a spell or something! Before I knew it, I had almost bought the whole set," she said with a laugh, clearly amused by her own excitement.
Sylvia was even more playful and charming than I had imagined. Her energy was contagious, and she had a way of making everything sound fun and interesting. Her smile was warm and friendly, making her seem even cuter than before.
I couldn't help but notice how her personality shone through—she was easy to talk to, and she had this natural, bubbly charm about her that made her stand out.
I also remembered what she had mentioned earlier, how she wanted to become an investigator for a crime unit.
That ambition seemed to fit perfectly with the way she carried herself—sharp, curious, and full of energy, It made me respect her even more, knowing that she had such clear goals and determination for her future.
"You're here to buy shelves, aren't you?"
"Wait, what? How did you know?"
"Well, earlier in your introduction, you mentioned that you liked reading books, and i only guess that you came here for something related to it, I noticed you're someone who notices everything around you, but you keep it to yourself, you care about others, but you don't always show it. You're calm, not easily shaken, and you like to keep things under control, People probably find you easy to talk to, and you don't mind helping out when needed. You're thoughtful, always wondering what's going on in other people's minds, and you're the kind of person who likes to understand things before making a move."
"That's insane, it's like you're reading my entire character, how are you doing that?"
"To be completely honest, it's all guesswork. My reasoning skills aren't as great as people think."
"Guesswork? That was amazing! How do you do it?"
"It's all about profiling, noticing the little details, reading body language, and making simple guesses. Alright, I'll leave you to buy your shelves and mini fridge. See you!"
"Wait, what? She's kind of like a psychic or something. What just happened?"