With only a week left until the monthly exam, the tension across the Sobu University campus grew palpable.
The library was packed from early morning until late at night. Students could be seen everywhere in the corridors, holding books and reciting material, or even silently memorizing vocabulary cards while queuing at the cafeteria.
Okabara Kyogumichi, however, maintained his own rhythm. He appeared unfailingly at his usual window-side spot in the library every day, though the stack of study materials before him was noticeably thicker.
Since making the promise with Yukino Yukinoshita to compete for the top grade, his study intensity had noticeably increased. He was no longer satisfied with just mastering basic knowledge points but began to delve into various extended problem types and advanced解题技巧 (problem-solving techniques).
His math practice books were filled with meticulous red annotations. Next to each difficult problem, a clear mind map connected knowledge points into a comprehensive network.
"The solution to this differential equation can be aided by understanding the law of conservation of energy in physics," Kyogumichi murmured, writing and drawing on a scratchpad, seamlessly integrating knowledge from different subjects.
This ability to make cross-disciplinary connections made his study efficiency remarkable; often, formulas and theorems that others needed to memorize by rote, he could remember firmly through logical deduction.
Facing his most troublesome subject, World History, Kyogumichi created his own memory method. He arranged historical events along a timeline, marking corresponding cultural, scientific, technological, and artistic achievements next to each major node, and even adding simple illustrations.
The dry dates and numbers transformed into vivid stories under his pen; seeing 1789 would make him think of the shape of the Bastille's key, and mentioning the Renaissance would bring to mind the lines of Leonardo da Vinci's manuscripts.
"Okabara-san, do you really remember history this way?" Chitanda Eru asked, passing by with Classics Club materials, her curious eyes looking at his history notes.
Besides text, the notebook was filled with various simple sketches, looking more like a storyboard than study material.
"This way, it sticks better," Kyogumichi said, smiling as he showed her a page. "The brain remembers images more deeply than text, and by combining knowledge points with visuals, you can also understand the contextual connections between events."
He pointed to an illustration of a steam engine next to a spinning machine. "Look at this section on the Industrial Revolution; by remembering the concept behind these machines, you can associate them with the chain reactions brought about by the revolution in productivity."
Chitanda Eru's eyes lit up, and she couldn't help but take out her own notebook to record the idea. "This method is amazing! I have to try it too! Okabara-san is truly incredible, no wonder he's confident enough to aim for the top of the grade."
Mentioning the promise with Yukinoshita, Kyogumichi's gaze became serious. "I just don't want to lose." He closed his history notebook and took out English reading comprehension exercises. "Yukinoshita-san is so excellent; to perform well, I must put in more effort."
During lunch break, Shiina Mahiru would still deliver his bento on time. Today's bento box contained cute owl-shaped rice balls, alongside star-shaped carrots and cherry tomatoes.
"Does today's bento look like an owl?" Shiina Mahiru asked softly, a faint smile on her face.
Kyogumichi looked at the exquisite bento, feeling a warmth in his heart. "It's very cute, thank you for making these specially."
"Seeing you study so hard, I wanted you to relax a bit while eating."
When the after-school bell rang, Kyogumichi had already completed his study plan for the day. He packed his bag and noticed many students still engrossed in their studies in the library; some had even brought dinner, preparing to study through the night.
In comparison, his study pace seemed much more relaxed, thanks to his reasonable planning and efficient methods.
As he left the library, the sun was slowly setting, casting a golden afterglow that illuminated the campus. Kyogumichi looked up at the school building; the student council office window was still lit, and he could vaguely see figures moving inside.
He knew that Yukino Yukinoshita must also be studying hard; this thought further strengthened his resolve. He quickened his pace towards home—he still needed to review today's mistakes and prepare for tomorrow's study plan.
---
At the same time, the student council office presented a different scene.
Yu Ishigami was sitting cross-legged on a chair, holding a Switch, completely absorbed in playing a newly released role-playing game. The character on the screen was in a fierce battle with a powerful boss, his fingers rapidly tapping the buttons as he muttered to himself: "Heal quickly! Not enough damage! Where's the healer?"
Miko Iino walked in with a stack of documents, and upon seeing this, she immediately frowned. "Ishigami-san! Why are you still playing games? The exams are next week! You should at least flip through your textbooks!"
Ishigami didn't look up. "Don't worry, I have it under control. This kind of exam can be handled with one night of cramming before the test; right now, the most important thing is to defeat this boss, otherwise, I won't keep up with the game's timeline tomorrow."
He stared intently at the screen, his fingers deftly operating the controls. "I'm about to clear it, don't bother me!"
Iino sighed helplessly and picked up the mock test paper Ishigami had tossed aside. It was largely blank, and the few answers present were wildly incorrect, especially the math and physics sections, which were almost completely wrong.
She shook her head and placed the test paper in front of Ishigami. "Look for yourself, this is your score from the last mock exam. If you keep this up, your results will be concerning."
Ishigami glanced at the test paper and said carelessly, "This is just a mock exam, it doesn't represent my true ability. Once I get serious, scoring averagely isn't a problem."
He controlled his character to unleash a powerful skill, successfully defeating the boss, and excitedly clapped his hands. "Yes! Finally cleared it!"
Just then, Chika Fujiwara hummed a tune as she walked into the office, holding a stack of newly graded English test papers. Seeing Ishigami's excited look, she curiously walked over.
"Ishigami-kun, what are you celebrating? Did you finally pass a practice test?"
Ishigami's smile instantly froze, and he hastily hid the game console behind his back. "N-nothing… I'm, uh, researching cognitive reflexes for problem-solving!"
Fujiwara, sharp-eyed, spotted the test paper on the table. She picked it up, and a knowing smile appeared on her face. "Oh, so Ishigami-kun is researching a study method of 'how to keep large areas blank on a test paper'? How uniquely inefficient."
She pointed to the bright red score on the test paper. "Is 32 points a new record? That's 5 points lower than last time. It seems your 'research method' is very effective, isn't it?"
Ishigami's face flushed. "I-I did that on purpose! I was gathering data on wrong answers! I'll definitely do well on the actual exam!"
"Is that so?" Fujiwara Chika blinked, deliberately drawing out her words. "That's truly something to look forward to. However, I heard this monthly exam is very difficult, especially the last major math problem; even Shinomiya-senpai found it challenging. Are you sure you can handle it with one night of cramming?"
Ishigami's eyes flickered, but he stubbornly insisted: "Of course! I'm a master of complex systems; any difficult problem is a piece of cake for me. I'll show you all something then!"
Fujiwara Chika covered her mouth and chuckled. "Then we'll be waiting to see. But if you fail, you'll have to accept a punishment—like being responsible for a month of the student council's cleaning duties, how about that?"
Ishigami hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth and agreed: "Fine! It's a deal! Don't you regret it then!" He spoke confidently, but his heart secretly began to pound, and he involuntarily glanced at the damning test paper on the table.
The afterglow of the setting sun shone through the window into the office, casting a long shadow that seemed to emphasize Ishigami' feigned composure. Fujiwara Chika looked at his forced confidence and couldn't help but shake her head with a smile.
Outside the office, the sounds of other students discussing their studies contrasted sharply with the faint echo of game music from Ishigami's Switch, forming a peculiar campus scene before the exam.
And the day of the monthly exam was drawing closer and closer.