"...I've said it! Just add an auxiliary line here to apply trigonometry... No, start over!"

I don’t even know how long the cram session lasted. By the time I snapped out of it, school was nearly clearing out.

Yao Star-Yan stared at the mock test paper covered in red marks. Even she, usually so composed, sighed and slumped back in her chair, exhausted.

"Forget it. Let’s start from the basics."

"...Okay."

I had nothing to say. Yao Star-Yan was teaching me so earnestly; complaining now would make me a real jerk.

At least in studies, I should obey her. Though it felt troublesome, she meant well.

Sigh. If she keeps being this nice, I’ll be in trouble. What if I can’t bring myself to "kill off" Yao Star-Yan in my novel? All that effort wasted.

Anyway, she should focus more on her own stuff than mine.

"...Uh, Yao—no, Xingyan."

"You’re the one who stutters ‘Yao’!"

...

Must she nitpick this detail? Or was she annoyed I didn’t call her Xingyan earlier?

"Stuck on something?" she asked.

"No. I’m just curious—don’t you need to review too? You’ve been helping me nonstop."

"Helping you counts as my review too. And no going home today until we finish this section!" Yao Star-Yan said matter-of-factly.

Something felt off. Sure, my relationship with her had improved, but not enough for her to push this hard for my grades.

Could my skipping remedial classes benefit her somehow?

"Hey! Are you listening?"

"Ah, sorry!"

Whatever. This helps me now. At this point, I might actually fail without her.

As finals drew nearer, pressure weighed heavier. Even regular classes felt like dancing near death’s door.

With Yao Star-Yan’s help, my knowledge was skyrocketing—but my expected score remained a mystery.

Classroom tension was thick. Every time the teacher called on me, I’d nervously swallow. Fail to answer, and the consequence would be—

"Hohoho! You don’t know? I’ve explained this problem countless times!"

The teacher stood at the blackboard, grinning sinisterly. His eyes weren’t those of an educator—they were demonic.

A demon who’d found its prey.

"Remedial classes are so unfair! Sacrificing my holiday to teach you brats—do you know how awful that makes me feel?"

Demon!

Even smiling, his true nature showed.

"So to cheer myself up, I’ve brainstormed fun ways to make remedial classes exciting. I’m super pumped now!"

No wonder weird rumors spread: students standing on heads reciting vocab, frog-jumping floors while memorizing classics, even special forces drills.

But if the first two were true, physical training wouldn’t be an issue.

"...Xingyan, I’ve tried my best. If I don’t hit 80 points..."

"Not yet!"

"Huh?"

Did she think that devilish review wasn’t enough?

"We still have tonight’s final session."

Wait—tonight?

"Willow Ran decided a study session at your place today. Her grades are top-tier; with her help, you’ll be fine."

That Willow Ran again, deciding things behind my back! Last night I typed some novel chapters, fell asleep without closing the file. If Yao Star-Yan finds it...

"W-wait! Xingyan, what are you saying?"

"A study session! Didn’t Willow Ran tell you?"

"Not at all!"

"No matter. Better late than never!"

Yao Star-Yan waved toward the library entrance. Willow Ran ran over.

"Let’s go!"

"Go my ass! I never heard about this!"

Just seeing Willow Ran made me furious.

"It’s fine. Xingyan hasn’t visited your place anyway."

"That’s irrelevant!"

If my parents came home today, they might’ve shut my computer. If not, I’d be exposed!

"T-today’s no good! Can’t go to my place... Ah, right—it’s a total mess!"

"I’ll clean! We can’t study in chaos."

You’ll clean, Willow Ran? When pigs fly.

I wanted to refuse, but pushing back might erase all the goodwill I’d built with Yao Star-Yan.

"Alright, I get it."

Worst case, I’ll dash in and unplug the computer. I barely typed anything anyway.

Seeing me surrender, Willow Ran grinned and flashed a victory sign.

Come to think of it, she’d offered tutoring before—I refused. Guess she’s held a grudge.

Walking along, I eyed the bag Yao Star-Yan carried. Didn’t look like school stuff.

But I soon got my answer.

"Gale Splendor, later help me return Sister Mengmeng’s clothes."

Right—the clothes swap had been on hold since last time.

After so long, Yao Star-Yan still felt embarrassed. Maybe she’s worse at socializing than I thought.

"Sure. I haven’t visited Sister Mengmeng’s bookstore in ages."

"Then let’s take a slight detour," I told Willow Ran. But she seemed distracted, glancing back repeatedly.

"What’s wrong, Willow Ran?"

I followed her gaze. Just passersby—nothing notable.

Willow Ran noticed too, slightly frowning. "N-nothing... Are we detouring?"

"Yeah. Returning clothes to a sister."