In an hour and a half, Ami Mizuno could cover at least three chapters of her advanced mathematics textbook, taking color coded notes in perfectly straight lines. She might even have time left for flashcards. But in the last hour and a half…
Wasted, her brain whispered to her, all that potential, wasted.
Don't you have anything better to do?
She had never realized what an itch she got for studying. Or maybe she had never pulled her nose out of a book long enough to realize it. But every time the screen flashed or the arcade bell chimed, the fact that her homework was already done wasn't enough. Her mind screamed out to be productive, to do something useful.
"Ami!" another music cue sounded as a pair of arms grabbed her from behind, pulling her into a hug, "You did it, you beat the high score!"
"I did?" she straightened out, pushing her glasses back up.
Sure enough, her score blinked on the screen, a pixelated Sailor V cheering next to it. The game whirred, but no prize came out. It had been emptied long ago by the five of them.
"I don't know how you do it," the blonde squealed, her buns almost unravelling from her bouncing, "you're so-
Smart, that voice in her head filled in, all we're good for is studying.
"-cool! You're the coolest friend!"
Ami almost fell off her chair, but that could have been from the second, even stronger hug.
"Usagi, leave the poor girl alone already," with a shake of her head, another girl was standing over them, "you may be the long time champion, but today's the day the scoreboards are all going to say Rei for once."
She held her hand out, pulling Ami up, taking her place at the game. Already, Usagi was cheering, making Rei look away to scold her every few seconds.
"Hey, you look like you could use a break," the brunette behind her gestured with a warm smile, patting the empty seat next to her, "I already got you a soda, so take a load off, okay?"
Ami smiled, the panic that had been bubbling up inside her fading away.
There would be so much time to study, review, and panic. But on days like this, there was something much more important to her.