Chapter 138: Are we studying for the final exam at home?

The second semester was filled with events. I’d thought I was getting used to it, but Takamari Academy’s schedule was relentless. And this was without club activities. If I’d joined a club, the extracurricular activities would have made my life even more chaotic. With the ball right after finals, there was no time to relax.

I sighed, staring at the calendar, and Mizuki, sitting diagonally behind me, mumbled listlessly,

“Ugh… Finals already. Time flies… It feels like midterms were just yesterday…”

“It’s only two weeks away, Mizuki. Time to study hard.”

Mizuki slumped over her desk at Aya’s gentle reminder. I wasn’t in a much better position. This aristocratic academy had a non-stop schedule of events and exams, with the curriculum covering university-level material.

‘This schedule… is brutal…’

I looked at the blackboard. The teacher continued his explanation, pointing at a complex equation.

“The correlation between x and y can be found using differentiation, but since this isn’t a simple single-variable function, but a multi-variable function, we need to use partial differentiation. Therefore, for this equation…”

The longer he spoke, the more confused I became. The high school curriculum should be similar in Japan and Korea, but thanks to a few sentences in the novel, we were now learning university-level math in our first year.
I stared blankly at my notebook, then put down my pen.

‘I can’t keep up…!’

The bell rang, signaling the end of class, a welcome relief. I wanted to cry. If it weren’t for my past-life memories, I probably would have broken down in tears from the sheer frustration.

“Rina~! It’s okay! I don’t understand it either!”

Mizuki’s attempt at comfort, though well-intentioned, only made me feel worse. Mizuki was the second-ranked student in our grade. If it weren’t for Aya’s perfect scores, Mizuki, with her diligence, could easily match her. If even Mizuki was struggling…

Lately, Aya had been unusually quiet, often staring blankly out the window. Worried, I gently touched her arm.

“Aya? What are you thinking about?”
“Huh? Ah… nothing. Just… lost in thought.”

Aya smiled faintly and looked at me, but then quickly turned back to the window.

****

Aya pretended to look out the window, but her gaze was fixed on Rina’s reflection in the glass. She sighed inwardly.

‘I shouldn’t be like this…’

She’d managed to hide it during the midterms, barely. The students at this school were obsessed with grades, using them to deduce relationships and emotional states. A drop in someone’s score was like a gossip headline – ‘Who are they dating? Who are they pining for?’

So she’d studied hard and gotten a perfect score on the midterms, the first in 22 years, which had put the teachers on edge.

But… she didn’t think she could pull it off again for the finals. Ever since that weekend at the dance studio, her feelings for Rina had intensified. The memory of their close embrace, their breaths mingling, their bodies touching, played on repeat in her mind.

Since then, every moment, every sensation, every thought seemed to revolve around Rina.

‘Why… am I like this?’

She couldn’t focus in class. Even the slightest touch from Rina, a light brush of her fingertips against Aya’s arm, was enough to send her heart racing.

Rina’s laughter, her soft breathing beside her, even the unconscious way she tucked her hair behind her ear… Rina’s mere presence was a constant source of stimulation, almost overwhelming.

‘Is this… possessiveness? No, it’s more like… obsession…’

Ever since Rina missed the cultural festival, Aya had found it increasingly difficult to suppress her feelings. She tried to control herself, to be patient for Rina’s sake, but it only intensified her longing.

She tried to focus in class, but Rina’s fingertips, the curve of her shoulder in Aya’s peripheral vision… they were more captivating than any equation or formula. Every time Rina turned her head, Aya’s gaze followed, a small spark of desire igniting within her.

‘I can’t… take it anymore.’

If this continued, she might actually pull Rina into a hug right there in the classroom, regardless of who was watching, regardless of Rina’s embarrassment.

Aya glanced at Rina again. Class was taking a short break, and Rina was sighing, absentmindedly organizing her notes. The sight of Rina’s lips moving slightly made Aya’s throat tighten.

She wanted to claim those lips, sweet and tempting…

‘No… Calm down, Yukikawa Aya.’

She tried to reason with herself, but it was no use. Her mind was filled with Rina.
Aya clung to the memory of their restrained intimacy at the dance studio, fighting the urge to pull Rina into her arms.

‘Rina, do you even know… how much you torment me…?’

Aya took a deep breath and forced herself to look away, trying to regain her composure.

If this continued, she wouldn’t be able to hold back much longer.

And then…

‘Rina, no matter how embarrassed you are,
no matter how surprised you are,
I won’t be able to hold back any longer…’

Aya sighed deeply.

****

Mizuki, the first to finish packing her bag, approached us.

“So, where should we study this weekend~? Last time was at my place… How about Rina’s?”
“Eh? My place…?!”

Suddenly…? I was taken aback. My apartment was small and ordinary compared to the homes of my classmates, especially Mizuki and Aya, who came from prominent families.

Aya had been to my apartment once, during the rainy season, when I was sick with a bad cold… But it wasn’t exactly suitable for a study session.

“My place… isn’t as big or comfortable as yours… so…”

I stammered, flustered, and Mizuki waved her hand dismissively.

“Aw, come on, Rina-tan~! What’s wrong with your place~? Aya-ring’s already been there, right? What do you think, Aya-ring?”
“It was fine.”

Aya’s words made my heart sink.

“But… Aya, you know my room is small…”

“Wasn’t it big enough for the three of us? It seemed fine to me…”

Aya, you’re not helping!
I looked at Mizuki nervously, and she grinned mischievously.

“Heehee~ Then it’s settled! This time, we’re having it at Rina-tan’s place!”

“Ugh… Okay…” I mumbled reluctantly, and Mizuki smiled, satisfied.

“Great! Study session at Rina-tan’s place this weekend! I’ll bring delicious snacks~”

“Snacks? Then I’ll… buy drinks.”

But my mind was racing. A study session at my place…? My apartment wasn’t as spacious as Mizuki’s or Aya’s. My room would be cramped with the three of us. Even my cousin would sit on my bed when she visited.

‘Wait… Is my room even presentable?’

I mentally checked the state of my room. My desk was probably cluttered with books, and textbooks were probably scattered on the floor…

“What’s wrong, Rina-tan? Your face is red~” Mizuki approached, a knowing smile on her face.

“Nothing… I just… need to clean my room…”
“Huh? Is your room a mess?”
“It’s not a mess! It’s just… a little cluttered!”

I puffed out my cheeks, and Aya chuckled.

“It’s okay, Rina. I’ll help you clean.”

“No, no! I’ll clean it myself!” I said quickly, waving my hands, and they both laughed.

I slung my bag over my shoulder, trying to hide my embarrassment.