Motivated to Accomplish Something
"This is quite uncharacteristic of you," Korra laughed. The seventh year was experiencing senioritis was deriving great joy from the poor fifth year boy at the table.
"Shut up Korra."
"Oh come on! The great Kai Xue! Prankster supreme! He's studying for potions?!"
"Yes, now shut up."
"No! This is too good!" She laughed. "Just wait 'till I tell Mako and Bolin! They'll never believe it- Hey! Where are you going?"
"Anywhere but here," he said bluntly. "I need at least an A on the exam." And he slammed the portrait of the Fat Lady closed.
"Isn't he just a ball of sunshine?" Korra asked, still writing a paper airplane to send down to the Hufflepuff common room.
It turns out, that all of the school who saw Kai in the library started pestering him. Especially, much to his dismay, the two last people he wanted to see.
"I can't believe that you, of all people, are studying!" Skoochy laughed.
"Go away snake."
"But you're becoming like my sister!" said Meelo in a disgusted tone.
"Go back to the dungeons or shut up."
"Come on! This never happens! There has to be a reason that you're studying," said Skoochy.
"Do you know how to make a cure for boils?" Kai asked, directing the question at the two first year Slytherins.
"No," Meelo said. "We don't learn that for another three months!"
"Then go away."
"Why do you want to study so much?"
"I need an Acceptable in potions?"
"Why? Wouldn't you rather try to make Professor Tahno's cauldron explode?"
"Not when I have to take this really, really, and did I mention really, important test."
"What happened to the Kai we know and love?"
"He'll be back after the O.W.L.s."
The two first years groaned in frustration and left him to studying.
Everyone seemed to want to bother him, except for one helpful person.
"So that's how the Bezoar works to counteract poisons." Asami explained, pointing to the textbook about the anti-poison.
"Thanks Asami! You're the only one who's helped me instead of just making fun of me."
"Of course Kai," she said. "But why were you studying so much?"
"I think you'll find out in a couple of days."
So Asami waited. She found out later that Kai not only got an A, but and E (Exceeds Expectations), and that Jinora was saying how she needed a dress for the ball.
"Jinora, why did Kai have to study so much?" Asami asked the fifth year.
"Simple," she laughed. "You see, I told him the only way I would go to the ball with him is if he passed his Potions exam."