Chapter 28: Competing for Eikou (Scheming)
[May 22.]
[Your Britain class has a new temporary homeroom teacher, a teacher renowned for strictness and sternness.]
[The Queen of the Land of Shadows —— Scathach.]
[During class you can feel her extremely sharp gaze, making you break into a cold sweat, forcing you to sit properly and study seriously.]
[But yesterday because of Aesc's matter, you asked for a day off, which made it even harder for you to catch up with the pace of study. The whole day you studied bitterly yet achieved little, your academic ability hardly improved, and you even suffered a miserable failure in Scathach's quick test.]
[In the afternoon, you were called by Scathach into the teachers' office…]
In the teachers' office.
Eikou sat obediently, waiting for Scathach's strict punishment.
"Mochizuki Eikou."
The tall, voluptuous female teacher, in a dignified OL outfit, glanced over his grade report.
"If only talking about the records, your results are indeed not bad. In the last speed race, your team won. Recently you even saved Yu Ji of the China class in the Holy Grail War. Your relationship with your classmates is also quite harmonious."
"…Uhm, thank you for the praise?"
"I haven't finished talking yet!" Scathach frowned and shouted, "Then what about your recent performance? A severe drop in grades can still be understood, since you participated in the Holy Grail War. But aside from that? Frequently spending nights outside, constantly skipping classes. Yesterday during the Home Economics test you disappeared again? Do you really intend to study seriously?"
"I'm very sorry."
"Finn recommended you as class representative, yet the very next day you asked for leave. Do you deserve his trust?" The Queen of the Land of Shadows sternly questioned.
"These things, I have nothing to explain." He said.
"Admitting everything, so you still intend to do as you please, right?"
"That's not it, I just don't want to make any excuses, because no matter what I say it's useless, and a true man should use real actions to prove himself!"
Eikou spoke with a serious expression.
On Scathach's indifferent yet beautiful face, a faint elusive smile appeared, she said: "That was said very well, if you truly want to repent, I can give you another chance. But let me make it clear first, just one good sentence cannot convince me, nor can it suddenly make your grade sheet look brilliant, in the end it still depends on your own effort."
"I understand." Eikou solemnly nodded.
No matter what, he must at least pass the average of the school year, otherwise he cannot participate in Baobhan Sith's invitation.
"But considering your attitude isn't bad, this afternoon after class there will be a study group organized by both the Britain and France class, at that time you must participate."
A study group, huh?
Eikou slightly nodded, pondering.
Just like being sleepy and then given a pillow, he was just thinking he should join more after-school study sessions to catch up with the pace.
[Under Scathach-sensei's suggestion, you are arranged to join the class's study group in the afternoon.]
[This study group is jointly organized by the Britain and France classes, gathering both the most hopeless students in the two classes – those who are poor at studying, disobedient, and lazy in class – as well as the excellent students with outstanding grades.]
[You skim through the list of this study group, among the girls are Jeanne Alter, Marie Antoinette, Barghest, Melusine, Baobhan Sith, along with Yu Ji – who came especially to thank you…]
[A study group combination like this always feels like it will lead to a bloody chaotic battle…]
[However, after class that day you still had another matter, that was to join the group of male students in retaking the Home Economics subject test.]
[Time gradually passed until after school…]
[You together with the male students joined the retake test, planning to head to the study group after passing.]
[Meanwhile, the female students had one after another arrived at the study group's location, which was none other than Chaldea's library.]
...
That afternoon, at Chaldea's library.
"I heard that today Eikou will also come to join the study group."
The two beautiful girls of the France class, Jeanne Alter in her JK uniform, and Marie – the Queen of France, both carrying bags slung over one shoulder, walked together on the way to the study group.
One was a girl with short white hair, sharp eyes, and a graceful figure – the Dragon Witch,
The other was the Princess of Austria, with a sweet and innocent appearance, beautiful features, and every gesture exuding noble elegance.
"But I heard that yesterday he failed the Home Economics subject, had to retake the test, so he'll arrive a bit late."
Marie, carrying her bag with both hands, walked obediently along the road,
"Jeanne Alter, don't you feel a little lonely?"
"Oh..."
Hearing this, Jeanne Alter's lips only lifted slightly in a cold sneer, showing an indifferent attitude of not caring much.
"But what does this have to do with me?" Jeanne Alter said coldly.
Yet in her heart, she couldn't help but grumble, thinking what the hell is that idiot Eikou doing, clearly in the Home Economics test he made a flawless perfect piece of chocolate, and still managed to fail, idiot?
Forget it, when the study group starts, she'll ask clearly.
If she could be assigned to sit at the same spot, that would be great, studying together with Eikou or whatever, just the thought sounded fun.
Also convenient for him to see the results of her diligent studying during this time.
"...I see, so Jeanne Alter, you're not very interested in him either."
Hearing the outwardly cold reply, Marie only smiled softly,
as if Jeanne Alter's attitude just happened to match what she hoped for inside.
"That's great then, so later at the study group, please be sure to act as the supportive wingman of my romance!"
Marie said brightly, her hands shyly clasping together,
"Because later I want to sit with Eikou, and take the chance to start dating him tonight."
"???"
No way, even she is joining the battle! And moreover with such an overly blunt declaration of attack!
After all this time, Jeanne Alter almost forgot that this French queen also had feelings for Eikou.
For what reason exactly, could it really be just because of that ridiculous haunted house video?
"...I don't mind, whatever you want to do, just do it."
Jeanne Alter heard herself speak those words.
"..."
It's over, it's over, her terribly clumsy tsundere pride had actually blurted out something like this, even at the very moment the other declared an attack, she herself actively retreated – this already counted as a losing statement of utterly disgraceful level!
Once such words were spoken, the opponent immediately gained absolute justification and initiative, while she herself fell completely into the passive position, unable to counterattack anymore, otherwise she would be labeled as a "green tea girl"!
(Note: Green tea is Chinese slang for the type of girl who pretends to be innocent, pure, and gentle on the outside but is actually manipulative inside. These "green tea" characters are often the ones who interfere in other people's relationships, i.e., "the third party," "the intruder," or "bad manipulative girl.")
Jeanne Alter instantly realized the severity of the problem, her delicate face immediately turned pale.
No, that's not right...
She slightly widened her eyes, looking incredulously at Queen Marie.
Could it be that this French queen had already seen through her own feelings, taking advantage of her tsundere nature that refused to admit, and in just one move ended this rivalry?
This French queen is too strong, managing in an instant to push her into such an awkward position!
The class study group hadn't even started yet, and she had already been forced to retreat early?