Having meticulously constructed her argument, Yukinoshita turned to Masao. Her gaze was cool and analytical.
"My logic is sound, wouldn't you agree, Masao-kun?"
Confronted with her reasoning, Masao could only nod, like a bobblehead. Resistance was futile.
"You're right," he conceded, his voice a little strained. "I spoke too soon. I should always have sufficient evidence before drawing a conclusion."
He decided to surrender. If he kept arguing, he dreaded what Yukinoshita might do next. Sometimes a strategic retreat was the only sane option.
"Now that you recognize your error, please be more careful in the future," Yukinoshita said. A soft, almost imperceptible sigh of relief escaped her lips.
'I successfully persuaded him through logical, well-reasoned argumentation,' she thought, a flicker of pride warming her chest. 'My methods are truly effective.'
Perhaps it was this small victory that prompted an unusual act of leniency.
"Very well. You may have an extra ten minutes of rest."
As they sat in the quiet of the Service Club room, a comfortable silence settled between them before she spoke again.
"Masao-kun, the midterm exams are approaching. How is your preparation coming along?"
"Midterms?" he blinked, the question pulling him from his thoughts.
The school year had begun in April. He had first arrived in this world during the Golden Week holiday in early May, and now it was already mid-May.
Nearly half a month had slipped away unnoticed. At Soubu University, the midterm tests were a landmark event at the end of May.
The blank look on Masao's face told Yukinoshita everything she needed to know.
"Soubu University maintains rigorous academic standards," she explained, her tone turning serious. "Failure on an exam necessitates a retake. Failure on the retake results in a ban from all club activities, followed by mandatory remedial lessons after school, on weekends, and even during summer vacation. Accumulate too many failures, and the possibility of repeating the year becomes very real."
"Wait, it's that strict?" Masao was shocked.
His previous world's university had been far more lenient, focusing only on comprehensive finals. The concept of being held back was entirely foreign.
"Of course it is," Yukinoshita sighed, a hint of exasperation coloring her voice. "If I may be so bold, Masao-kun, what was your ranking on the entrance examinations?"
"W-well... you see..." Masao's eyes darted away, seeking refuge in the corner of the room. His voice dropped to a mumble. "I believe it was 191st..."
"191st..." Yukinoshita paused, mentally scanning the student roster. "If my memory serves me correctly, I believe there are precisely 191 students in our year."
"That... sounds about right."
In that moment, the chasm between the top of the class and the very bottom was felt within the confines of the small clubroom.
After a heavy silence, Yukinoshita pressed on, her voice now clinical, like a doctor diagnosing an illness.
"Describe your current study habits, Masao-kun. How much time do you dedicate to studying at home each day?"
"My study habits?" He pondered this, cataloging his daily routine. "The first and second periods are a write-off—I'm too tired from the morning run to keep my eyes open. Third and fourth are manageable, though my stomach starts growling by then. The afternoons... Well, the sunlight is so warm and inviting, it's practically designed for a nap. When I get home, I manage about thirty minutes of homework before checking my phone, gaming a bit, and then going to sleep."
Hearing the summary of his academic life, Yukinoshita abandoned any lingering hope for his natural aptitude.
"We are putting the weight-loss regimen on hold, effective immediately," she declared. "Your sole objective now is to elevate your scores to a passing level. If you are condemned to summer remediation, you will have no time for training whatsoever"
"Alright," Masao agreed, seeing the logic.
Truthfully, he wasn't particularly concerned about his grades, but the threat of losing his free time was a powerful motivator.
Seeing his agreement, Yukinoshita laid out her new plan.
"Improving your academic standing is a prerequisite for continuing your physical training without interruption. Therefore, it falls under the purview of your original request. Henceforth, our morning run will be reduced to thirty minutes. This will allow you to remain awake during your morning classes. Our after-school sessions are now cancelled and will be replaced with tutoring. I will design a customized study plan to target your weakest areas. The goal is a passing grade."
Her expectations were perfectly clear.
He didn't need to excel; he just needed to avoid failure. The exams were largely based on foundational knowledge, and securing those basic points was an achievable goal.
"Okay, sounds good. I'm in your hands, Yukinoshita," Masao said.
Internally, he felt a surge of confidence.
With his intellect and a lifetime of test-taking experience from his previous world, how difficult could a simple midterm be?
—
For the first time in weeks, Masao arrived home early and was still full with energy.
As for Yukinoshita's advice to study? He figured there was no harm in a little break first. The evening was young.
He retrieved a volume of a famous manga and sank into the sofa, soon chuckling at the antics of the characters.
The front door swung open sometime later.
"I'm home!" announced a familiar, proud voice.
Masao watched as Jahy marched straight to the refrigerator and retrieved a juice box.
"So, how was your first day of school?" he asked, sitting up.
Jahy strutted over, her expression one of satisfaction.
"It was acceptable," she proclaimed. "The entire class has already submitted to my majesty. I have even identified a few promising individuals to serve as my underlings."
Jahy's confidence and outgoing nature made her a natural leader among the more impressionable children.
A small demonstration of her self-proclaimed prowess had been enough to secure a circle of followers.
Watching her as she recounted her triumphs, Masao smiled.
"Looks like you're settling into the human world just fine."
"Indeed! I am fully integrated into this human soc—" she began, but her boastful tone faltered. The triumphant gleam in her eyes flickered and died. "No... This is wrong. How have I acclimated so easily? My purpose is to rebuild the Demon Realm!"
A week of comfortable living, warm meals, and modern conveniences had almost eroded her grand ambition.
"This human world is terrifying!" she cried, shaking a small fist. "It lulls you into a false sense of security! It dulls your resolve with its comforts! I cannot allow myself to be corrupted any further. Starting immediately, I must seek out the Mana Stones and restore the Demon Realm so I may finally leave this place behind!"
Masao watched Jahy's renewed determination with a familiar sense of déjà vu.
"You say that almost every day. And every time, your resolve melts away faster than ice cream on a hot day."
Jahy bristled, her cheeks puffing out in indignation.
"How dare you mock me! This time, I am in earnest! Tomorrow... I shall depart at dawn to begin my search!"
Noting the unusually stubborn set of her jaw, Masao decided to test her conviction.
"What about school? Are you planning on playing hooky?"
"P-playing hooky...?" Jahy's fierce posture deflated slightly. She wrestled with the dilemma for a moment before huffing. "...A true ruler understands the value of strategic planning. Very well. I shall commence my quest this weekend."
And so, the great Jahy's grand ambitions were once again postponed, thwarted by the unyielding demands of the elementary school timetable.
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