Monday's morning class was always accompanied by the rustling sound of chalk on the blackboard, as the math teacher enthusiastically explained complex calculus formulas on the podium, while the students below nodded off, drowsy and sleepy.
Sunlight streamed through the window onto the open textbooks, and tiny dust motes floated slowly in the light beam.
Okabara Kyogumichi rested his chin, looking at the blackboard, his thoughts drifting elsewhere — ever since he took first place in the grade during the monthly exam, the teachers seemed to have tacitly approved of his "self-study" mode.
He was almost never called upon to answer questions in class, and homework was treated with a blind eye; it felt like anything short of being too excessive would be forgiven.
So this is what it feels like to be first in the grade, not bad at all!
The phone in his desk drawer vibrated softly, the screen lighting up to show a new message. Kyogumichi secretly took out his phone, unlocking the screen under the cover of his textbook.
Yukino Yukinoshita: [The physics error collection I organized last night is on the third floor of the library by the window. Remember to pick it up. Also, there are three formula errors in your electromagnetism notes, which I've marked in red.]
A photo was attached afterwards.
Kyogumichi replied: [Received, thank you, Study God, for your guidance. Can I treat you to milk tea after school?]
Yukino Yukinoshita replied almost instantly: [No need. Also, don't call me Study God, I always feel like you're mocking me. By the way, for the milk tea, choose low sugar, no ice, switch pearls to coconut jelly, and the cover should be Cat Senpai's.]
Kyogumichi looked at the screen and smiled.
A teacher's raised cough came from the podium, and Kyogumichi quickly hid his phone back in the desk drawer, his gaze inadvertently sweeping over the seats in front of him.
The newly adjusted seating chart was just announced last week, and Shiina Mahiru was now sitting directly in front of him, her soft flaxen hair spread across the back of the chair, the ends gently swaying with her breathing.
During morning self-study, she accidentally dropped her eraser, and as she bent to pick it up, her hair brushed against Kyogumichi's desk, carrying a faint citrus scent. At this moment, the girl was diligently taking notes, her pen tip gliding across the notebook, even her grip on the pen showed a serious dedication.
His phone vibrated again, this time with a message from Kitagawa Marin, accompanied by nine burst photos.
Kitagawa Marin: [Kyogumichi, look quickly! The details of my new cosplay outfit! Isn't it super accurate? I can wear it to the comic con next month! [Starry eyes]]
The photos showed a pink lace skirt and exquisite pearl buttons, the last one being a selfie of the girl making a peace sign.
Kyogumichi zoomed in on the photo and looked carefully: [The lace trim on the shoulder is a bit crooked, I suggest using setting spray to fix it. Also, the skirt is too poofy, it will be inconvenient to move around.]
Kitagawa Marin: [Wow! Kyogumichi is amazing! It was definitely the right choice to ask you for advice! Can you come to the club after school to help me modify it? [Please]]
Kyogumichi: [I have to go to the library today, but tomorrow afternoon is fine.]
Kitagawa Marin: [Received! See you tomorrow! [Heart]]
As he put away his phone, Kyogumichi noticed Shiina Mahiru's shoulder move slightly, as if she had sensed the movement behind her.
She didn't turn around, but simply moved her notebook back a bit, revealing the edge of a page filled with highlighted points.
Kyogumichi looked at the knowledge points marked in different colors, recalling how she had quietly shared her organized notes with him before, and couldn't help but feel a warmth in his heart.
As soon as the class bell rang, a message from Yuigahama Yui popped up.
Yuigahama Yui: [Kyogumichi! Do you want to come over to my house? My Mama really wants to see you.]
Kyogumichi: [Maybe in a while, I'm a bit busy lately!]
Yuigahama Yui: [Okay, okay, remember to come when you have time!]
Kyogumichi: [Definitely.]
Yuigahama Yui: [Yukinon said Fujiwara-san invited us to the student council for lunch, are you coming?]
Kyogumichi: [Sure, I'll bring my bento and we can eat together?]
Yuigahama Yui: [Yay! We'll prepare the tea!]
The last class of the morning was self-study, and just as Kyogumichi was about to lie down for a nap, a message from Chitanda Eru popped up, with a photo of an ancient book attached.
Chitanda Eru: [Okabara-san! I found Showa era study notes in the club room, the problem-solving methods on them are so interesting! Do you have time to come and take a look?]
Kyogumichi: [I can go take a look after lunch, but this won't interfere with your lunch break, will it?]
Chitanda Eru: [It won't interfere! I've already organized the notes!]
After replying to the message, Kyogumichi looked up and saw Fujiwara Chika waving at him through the window, and his phone immediately received a new message.
Kyogumichi-kun, the student council tea break has dorayaki, come quickly and eat!
Kyogumichi: [Okay, I'll be right there, I'll skip this class.]
Fujiwara Chika: [OK!]
As he packed his things to go to the student council, Shiina Mahiru softly said, "Do you need your bento heated? I brought a thermal lunchbox."
"You don't need to trouble yourself, let's go…"
"Okay."
On the way to the student council room, his phone received another message. This time it was from Megumi Katou, with just a simple sentence.
Megumi Katou: [I've borrowed the reference book from the library for you, it's in the usual spot.]
Kyogumichi: [Thanks, let's go, let's go eat!]
One more person joined the group.
...
Pushing open the door to the student council, Kaguya Shinomiya was nowhere to be seen.
Fujiwara Chika was sitting in the president's chair, holding a dorayaki and swinging her legs. When she saw Kyogumichi enter, her eyes immediately lit up: "Kyogumichi-kun is finally here! If you don't come soon, I'll eat all the dorayaki!"
Yukino Yukinoshita sat at a desk by the window and, hearing the movement, looked up and glanced: "You're late."
Her thermos was steaming, and next to it were exquisite Japanese sweets, clearly specially prepared tea snacks.
Yuigahama Yui poked her head out from the pantry, holding three mugs: "Kyogumichi is here! This is the black tea Yukinon brewed, it's super delicious!"
She placed the cups on the table, and her eyes lit up when she saw the bento box in Kyogumichi's hand, "Wow! Did Shiina-san make it? It looks so delicious!"
Kyogumichi opened the bento box and couldn't help but ask, "Where's your lunch?"
"I brought sandwiches!" Yuigahama excitedly opened her bento box, which contained neatly cut ham and egg sandwiches, "Yukinon brought an exquisite bento, Fujiwara-san…"
"I'm definitely full from dorayaki!" Fujiwara Chika held up the snack in her hand, her mouth full of red bean paste. "Bought with student council funds, so it's not public funds for private use, you know~" She winked, the corner of her mouth still stained with red bean paste.
Yukino helplessly handed her a tissue: "Mind your image, Secretary Fujiwara." Her own bento box, when opened, was a delight to behold; exquisite sushi rolls arranged in the shape of flowers, even the dried plums were cut into star patterns.
As soon as Kyogumichi opened his, he was surrounded by Yuigahama: "Wow! There's even sweet and sour pork ribs inside? It looks so delicious!"
"Want to try some?" Kyogumichi picked up a piece and offered it, and the girl immediately opened her mouth happily to take it, her eyes curving into crescent moons.
"Hmph, just high-calorie food." Yukino grumbled, but secretly pushed her sushi towards Kyogumichi, "There's too much tuna sushi, have two."
Fujiwara Chika suddenly leaned over, holding her phone: "By the way, Kyogumichi-kun, Kaguya said she wants to 'win back fair and square' in the next subject competition or something." The top nine in the grade had to participate in the competition, there was no escaping it.
"Shinomiya-senpai is still dwelling on the monthly exam?" Kyogumichi chuckled, picking up a piece of fried chicken and putting it in his mouth.
The crispy outside and tender inside had a faint lemon scent, clearly a flavor Shiina Mahiru had specially adjusted.
"That young lady's competitive spirit is unusually strong, you know." Yukino smiled and shook her head.
Yuigahama suddenly remembered something: "By the way, Kyogumichi, do you need our help with tutoring the Nakano sisters?"
"Not for now, I'll try tutoring them first." Kyogumichi took a sip of miso soup, the warm broth sliding down his throat. "Their foundation is relatively weak, so we need to start from the very basics."
Fujiwara Chika, her mouth full of dorayaki, mumbled indistinctly: "Just say if you need help anytime! I'm really good at livening up the atmosphere!" She suddenly lowered her voice, "I heard Nakano Nino is a great cook? Next time, tell her to bring a bento to share!"
"Secretary Fujiwara!" Yukino helplessly tapped her on the head, "Don't bother others."
Sunlight cast dappled shadows on the floor through the blinds, and outside the window came the clamor of the playground and the rustling of leaves in the wind.
"Have you made a tutoring plan?" Yukino suddenly asked, "If you need it, I can provide past years' exam papers."
"I've already made one, but I might need to refer to your physics notes."
"I can lend them to you, but you must write borrowing notes and not fold the corners."
Fujiwara Chika clapped her hands: "Speaking of studying, let's play a knowledge quiz game! The loser has to perform a show!"
"Don't be silly, Secretary Fujiwara." Yukino said helplessly, but didn't actually stop her.
Lunch quickly ended in a relaxed atmosphere. Yuigahama voluntarily cleared the dishes, Fujiwara Chika leaned back in her chair, patting her round belly, and Yukino Yukinoshita was helping Kyogumichi organize his notes.
When the bell for the end of lunch break rang, Kyogumichi closed his notebook, which was already filled with detailed notes. Yukino looked at his notes, a rare smile appearing on her lips: "It's acceptable, much better than your last electromagnetism notes."
"After all, I have a Study God to guide me." Kyogumichi said with a smile.
"Smart-aleck." Yukino turned her face away, but her earlobes subtly flushed red.