Elsewhere, in a luxurious Tokyo home, Fujiwara Chika stretched her arms high above her head, her back popping pleasantly after hours hunched over her textbooks.
A glance at the clock surprised her.
"Eleven already? I didn't realize I'd been studying for over two hours."
This brief foray into review had reinforced a simple truth: the more she learned, the more she became aware of the vast ocean of what she didn't know.
Human potential, she mused, was decidedly finite. To achieve a stellar grade in such a short time would require nothing short of transcending humanity itself! And so, after this grand philosophical realization, Fujiwara Chika decided...
To just keep studying.
To be fair, her goal was simply a respectable score—something that wouldn't bring shame to the Fujiwara name.
While she had a reputation for being a bit of an airhead who loved games and chaos, she wasn't a slacker.
Combined with her prodigious natural talents—fluency in five languages and a prize-winning piano virtuosity—a focused study review was all she needed to secure a more than adequate result.
"Time for a little break," she declared to the silent room.
She retrieved her phone, her thumb hovering over the screen. A mischievous grin spread across her face.
"I wonder what Masao-kun is doing right now. Is my beloved kouhai studying properly? As his senpai, it's my duty to perform a surprise check-in!"
[Chika]: Hey, Masao-kouhai! What are you up to? ^_^
A reply arrived a moment later.
[Masao]: Just running some tests on a craft project I made.
Chika straightened up, her interest piqued. This was not the answer she expected from someone who should be cramming for exams.
[Chika]: A craft project? At this hour? Shouldn't you be buried in textbooks? Aren't you the least bit worried about your grades?
[Masao]: Not even a little. My days of academic peril are over. Passing is now a guaranteed certainty.
[Chika]: Passing?! That's your grand ambition? Just to pass?
[Masao]: What's wrong with that? Passing means no stressful retakes, no boring remedial lessons, and absolutely no chance of being held back. The passing grade is a beautiful, noble goal worthy of celebration!
[Chika]: How enviable. I'm held to a slightly higher standard. I need A's in most subjects, with maybe one or two B's as a consolation prize.
[Masao]: That sounds intense. But it just proves how amazing you are. You can totally do it, Fujiwara-senpai! I believe in you!
[Chika]: Ooh! That's the spirit! Your encouragement fuels me, Masao-kouhai! Let's burn the midnight oil together! A joint, all-night study session!
[Masao]: I'll, uh, leave the oil-burning to you, Senpai. A growing boy needs his sleep. Staying up late is terrible for your skin, you know.
[Chika]: Hmph! So tone-deaf, Masao-kun! The correct, points-scoring answer was: "Yes, Senpai! Let's strive for greatness together!"
[Masao]: Ah, my mistake! Then I shall join you, Fujiwara-senpai! Together, we shall conquer the academic rankings and seize the top spot!
[Chika]: Nuh-uh! Too late! The offer has expired! If you want to earn points with me, you'll have to do it the old-fashioned way: with your exam results!
[Masao]: Then it's time to reveal my hidden power! Behold, as I clinch the top score in the year and instantly max out my points in the prestigious "Fujiwara-senpai Approval" system!
[Chika]: Pfft! Putting aside the astronomical odds of you actually accomplishing that, even if you did, it would only be worth… one point.
[Masao]: A single point? Let me ask, what's the full score? Is the scale just zero to one?
[Chika]: Of course not! The full score is one hundred points! No, wait—one thousand points!
[Masao]: Wow. Earning points with you is a brutal undertaking.
[Chika]: Naturally. I have very high standards… But anyway, you mentioned a craft project. What is this masterpiece? Show me!
[Masao]: Since you're so desperate to see it, I suppose I can show you a glimpse.
In front of her phone, Chika pouted.
"Hmph. So condescending. If this 'masterpiece' of his is a piece of junk, I'm going to mock him for a week."
She tapped the image Masao sent.
"Wah!"
A dark, menacing gun barrel stared back at her from the screen, pointed directly at her face. Chika yelped and nearly fumbled her phone.
A second later, her brain processed the image—it was a meticulously crafted paper pistol. She let out a long, relieved sigh.
The initial shock was quickly replaced by a wave of indignation.
[Chika]: YOU JERK! You're picking on me again! >_<
[Masao]: Huh? What did I do? This is my proudest creation! I poured my blood, sweat, and tears into it!
[Chika]: Your 'proudest creation'? You went through all that effort just to take a shot at me? Literally?
She had assumed his threat from yesterday was just a joke. She never imagined he'd actually follow through.
A small, secret part of her was oddly touched that he'd put so much thought into something involving her, but she was not pleased with the form it took.
On his end, Masao suddenly remembered his previous joke. In his eagerness to share his accomplishment, he'd completely forgotten the context.
[Masao]: Wait, no! It's a coincidence, I swear! I made this for a contest with my little sister! It's not what you think!
[Chika]: Your little sister? A contest?
[Masao]: Yeah! She was building a weapon, and it looked like fun, so I decided to make my own.
Chika read his message, her suspicion easing, but a new curiosity taking its place.
[Chika]: You have a little sister? I didn't know that!
[Masao]: Yep, one and only.
The confirmation made her genuinely curious.
The fact that Masao would play along with his sister's imaginary weapon contest suggested a doting, playful side she hadn't seen before.
She wondered what this sister looked like. Her mind, unhelpfully, conjured an image of a smaller, female version of Masao himself, complete with his stubborn expression. She shook her head to dispel the bizarre image.
[Chika]: Masao-kouhai, can I see a picture of your sister? I'm curious! Pleaseee
Even if the mental image was strange, she needed to see the real thing to satisfy her curiosity.
[Masao]: Okay, hold on.
This required negotiation.
After promising his prized paper pistol to a very pleased Jahy, Masao secured permission for one photo. It was a necessary sacrifice; Japanese law required phone cameras to make an audible sound, preventing silent shots.
If Jahy were alone, he might have tried to sneak one or concoct a convincing lie. But with Yukinoshita there as a witness, openly taking a photo was the only option.
He had no desire to be branded a lolicon in her cool, discerning eyes.
A new image arrived on Chika's phone. She opened it.
The picture showed a strikingly cute girl with dark skin, her face lit up with a brilliant, joyful smile as she triumphantly brandished the paper pistol.
"So this is Masao-kun's sister... She's adorable!"
[Chika]: She's so cute, Masao-kun! What's her name?
[Masao]: Jahy
[Chika]: Jahy-chan! You absolutely have to bring her to Tokyo to play with me someday! Promise!
[Masao]: I'll see what I can do. If the opportunity comes up, I will.
Just then, a voice called out from Masao's side.
"Masao-kun, we're going to be late. Hurry up!"
"Okay, coming!" he called back.
[Masao]: Sorry, Fujiwara-senpai, I've got to run. Talk to you later!
[Chika]: Okay! Bye! ^_^
Setting her phone down, Chika smiled, her heart feeling a little lighter.
Ending the chat, Masao hurried out the door, leaving the quiet of the house behind.
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