Cliche of studying and coffee. Setting in January.

Everyone in Norrisville High gravitated to the library once they came back from the winter holidays. Everyone managed to have fun, playing with their games that came from their presents, going on a short cruise in the Southern Hemisphere, visiting a winter resort, or traveling around the country to visit their relatives for a large family dinner. Unfortunately, when all the students came back from their relaxing—and sometimes stressful—break most of them realized their midterm exams were coming up.

The smart students who prepared for this happened to reserve the reference books in the library and review all their notes prior to the break. They hoarded the books all for themselves in advance as most students are frantically. The frantic students reserve any reference books they can get their hands on, especially under the threat from their parents that their new McFist product will be taken away from them.

Randy is one of those students, trying to study for the life of him. He just got the new McBOX2000 for Christmas, and he is in the process of trying to advance to the blue silver rank as a mage. He tried his hardest to secure a book, anything from the library, but he could not find anything. He can't look at his notes, the writing illegible with all of his doodling around. He cannot watch any videos online because he doesn't even know what to go over. Subjects such as Math or Science he doesn't understand when he clicks on certain videos. The only mentor he has—his pesky kwami—would use a different process that while he understands, knows his teachers will ask how he knew how to do this. Even though he was doing something completely different from the curriculum so late in the game. When he asks Nommi if the solutions of a shaky process he remembered for Math and Science, he didn't tell him if he got it right or not.

'It's completely hopeless! Now I can't play my McBOX2000 and go on zombie exterminating quests from the king!' Randy mentally cries from the thought. He was almost finished with the quest with Howard. 'I had to ditch my bro who is ranking up exp. I don't know if I should be annoyed or angry with him.'

There is just so much time he can dedicate to studying with having to do chores, homework, train, and the surprise akumas or robot fights. He can't even ask Phoenix about how he is doing, getting tips from him since he is in the same boat. 'The guy isn't stressed out at all. I wish I could be like him.'

Randy tries to find a table to sit at, all of them are taken, even the counters with the stools. The computers are the same and he tries to find anyone he recognized. He managed to spot Jacques with Cory studying with the whole table for themselves. Their backpacks are on the seats beside them and some books and notebooks in front. The two are talking and he approach them.

"Hey can I study with you guys?" He asks fidgeting a bit with his Math notebook, hoping he can mooch off of their combined intellect.

"I don't mind," Jacques said as he moves his cup of white chocolate mocha and his messenger bag.

"Yeah another fellow crammer." Cory said, holding his hand up and Randy hits it.

The two stacked some of their things to make room for him. "Any of you guys have Math?" He asks, hoping he can see the other notes.

"I have Geography sorry."

"Yeah, you need to compare notes?" Cory asks.

"Yes!" Randy blurts out before coughing from hearing Jacques snort, "I mean I would love to."

"Bruce. Here let me look…you have a lot of good pictures." The drummer comments and Randy blanches.

"Hahaha. Yeah, can I see like the example equation and the name. I'll get some more problems later to work on. For some reason all of it is smeared."

"Sure, just write in pen, you tend to drag your hand a lot don't you?"

"Yep." Randy says as he copies some example equations along with the proper names beside it.

"God I hate how Mrs. Ingram is making the exam an essay. If only she made it multiple choice and reading a passage," Cory complains and Jacques nods.

"The structure is weird." Jacques states, "It is the hardest thing ever. Equations you don't need to understand."

"That is the opposite for me." Randy says as he continues to scribble down equations.

"You are so lucky." Cory said.

"I could help you with English if you need it," Randy says, hoping someone would take him up on his offer. He feels kind of bad just copying off of them, it's another thing with Howard because at least with him he knows what he is expecting to get into.

"I'm good. Pretty sure I can ace it anyway." Cory said, waving off his help.

"Are you sure Randy? I mean don't you need to study for your exams as well." Jacques says after taking a sip of his coffee.

"Taking a couple of hours to help you study won't kill me. Besides I expect for you to tutor me in Science for a bit."

"Do you have Biology?"

He thinks about it. Usually he calls it Science class with Howard, heck everyone calls it Science. He answers, "Yes."

"Alright then. When do you want to study and what days? I am free on weekends and Monday through Thursday." Jacques says as he brings out his phone and opens the calendar app.

"Same, but I can't do Thursdays." Randy tells the brunet who nods. "Want to study in the public library?"

"Is it the one with the tower?" Randy nods. "Excellent, I at least know how to get there on foot. What time do you want to be there?"

Randy suggests, "Does five thirty sounds okay to you right? It takes a while for me to get home and then walk there. How about an hour of studying? That way we can take care of our homework and chores at home later. Plus, I think you wouldn't like to have your nose in a book for too long."

"Perfect."

The bell rings and the three friends pack up their things. Just as they are about to split up Cory leans over to Randy whispering, "Looks like the two of you set up a date."

The purple haired male roles his eyes, "Of course we did."

Cory punches him in the arm, "I know you guys did. I was there."

Randy gives him a worried look, "You sure you don't want to join us? You can mooch off of our combined English and Science knowledge."

"Nah. I don't want to be a third wheel with you nerds. Studying all the time and maybe getting into Grave Punchers. Anyway see ya." Cory gives him one last punch before giving him a two finger salute to catch up to Jacques.

….

As Randy walks to the library after setting most of his things in his house—along with feeding Nommi—he walks into a coffee shop. He noticed that Jacques was drinking a white chocolate mocha earlier that day, he tends to have a large cup of coffee whenever he sees him now. 'Must have been studying a lot over the break. I think I saw him drinking a lot earlier in the year.' He buys the drink he often sees the French exchange student drink, a token of good will, especially since he is going to be tutoring his sorry butt.

He walks into the library and takes the drink to the tables, after telling the librarian that he isn't going to be anywhere near the computers, and she just watches him. Randy spots Jacques and pulls up a seat beside him. He sees him have a dark green sack pack on the ground and he hands Jacques the drink.

"Here. You look like you need it a lot more than me."

"I can't accept this Randy. It's your coffee." Jacques said as he pushes the drink toward him.

"I bought it because I always see you drinking it. You look like you need the extra caffeine boost, especially if you're going to be dealing with me in Biology."

Jacques smiles and stutters a bit, "Thanks. Thank you for being considerate. I don't mind tutoring you." Jacques holds the drink and takes the paper off of the straw before sipping it. "Now why don't we get started."

Throughout the week the two studied in the library. Randy would always bring Jacques his favorite white chocolate mocha and Jacques would get him a sandwich afterword. The two would talk about anything that doesn't relate to schoolwork outside of the library. Some of the topics range from how their group of friends are doing to some strange situations they find themselves in, or something hilarious that happened to them.