Rating: K+
Genres: Friendship, Humour, Drama
Characters: Yukimura Seiichi, Sanada Genichirou, Yanagi Renji, Yagyuu Hiroshi, Niou Masaharu, Marui Bunta, Jackal Kuwahara, Kirihara Akaya
Warning(s): None

Summary: Mid-term exams are returned and some are less than satisfactory.

Notes to clear things up: I'm kind of following the high school subject system where I'm at. Stage 1 means a lower level (easier), Stage 2 is harder than Stage 1 (somewhere in the middle) and Stage 3 is the highest level (the most advance stage).
Second Years (E.g. Akaya) is equivalent to Year 11 – so most of the subjects he'll be taking would be Stage 2s.
Third Years would be equivalent to Year 12 – so most of the subjects they'll be taking would be Stage 3s and the occasional Stage 2s (if any).
They do eight subjects in total.
I know this doesn't fit the Japanese schooling system, but I think it would be wiser to use a system I'm familiar with (even then, I'm adapting it) rather than butcher the Japanese schooling system with my lack of knowledge.

Study Till You Drop: Part I

"We have a problem."

The Rikkaidai boys tennis clubroom had been cleared out of all its initial equipment and furniture, save for two large couches and a small rectangular wooden table in the middle. Kirihara sat trembling on one of the pinkish-red couches with his palms on his knees. Yukimura and Yanagi sat opposite him, as they surveyed the sheets spread out on the table.

Mathematics Stage 2 – 62%
Japanese Literature Stage 2 – 70%
Modern History Stage 2 – 77%
Geography Stage 2 – 64%
Chemistry Stage 2 – 73%
Human Biology Stage 2 – 89%
Physics Stage 2 – 47%
English Stage 1 – 32%

"Akaya, when are your retakes?" Yukimura asked, fishing out his Physics and English papers from the mess.

"Monday for English and Tuesday for Physics."

"Five days," Yukimura muttered, running his hand through his hair as he flipped through the papers, cringing at the splash of red ink over the pages. Looking at the younger boy, Rikkai's captain said, "Alright, wait outside. Oh—" he injected as Kirihara stood up on shaky legs, "—tell Sanada to bring Jackal in."

"Yes, Yukimura-buchou."

Kirihara darted out of the door in a flash. Not long after, the bald Brazilian entered, shutting the door with a soft click and took a seat where Kirihara vacated mere minutes ago.

"Any retakes?" Yukimura asked straightforwardly.

"One."

"Japanese Literature Stage 3," Yanagi supplied, "forty-three percent."

"And the retake is on Wednesday," Yukimura mused. "That isn't too bad. Jackal, I thought you faired quite well last year?"

Jackal sheepishly rubbed the back of his head. "Not really, Japanese Literature have always been a sore point for me. I barely scraped through the prerequisites for Stage 3."

"Okay, okay," Yukimura mumbled. A little louder, he said, "Get Marui please."

"I think Sanada's already got him, I'll just let him know that, um, right," Jackal said before leaving the refurbished clubroom.

Marui pushed the door open before it even managed to shut, popping a bubble with an obnoxious pop and jumping onto the couch, sprawling atop it. "Buchou, Yanagi," he greeted. He handed the stack of papers in his hand to the two. "My results."

Yanagi spread them out on the table and the two scrutinized them.

Mathematics Stage 3 – 52%
Japanese Literature Stage 3 – 87%
Economics Stage 3 – 88%
Geography Stage 3 – 54%
Chemistry Stage 3 – 92%
Human Biology Stage 3 – 82%
Physics Stage 3 – 84%
English Stage 3 – 78%

"No retakes," Yukimura said, a small smile on his face.

"Yeah, but I think Takeda-sensei and Yoshira-sensei advised me to pull up my marks for their classes or I'll risk failing. The scaling system and all that—" Marui waved a hand in the air "—you know."

"Mathematics and Geography Stage 3," Yanagi said, "indeed, I see what they mean. The data states that you're under the average for these subjects and the scaling could affect your grade negatively."

"I know! A bunch of bullshit you tell me."

"No matter, we'll focus on those two, we wouldn't want you to risk failure and not be able to participate in the Districts," Yukimura said, dismissing the red head's complaints. "Alright, bring Niou in please."

Marui gathered up his papers from the table and turned to leave when Yukimura glanced down to his lap and spotted Kirihara's pile of exam papers he subconsciously placed there. "Wait, Marui." Holding his arm out, Yukimura said, "Pass them to Akaya for me if you don't mind."

Marui raised his eyebrows, haven't quite mastered the one brow quirk their resident Trickster had, and nodded. Shamelessly, he thumbed through the papers and chuckled as he walked towards the door. "Look at all these angry red lines Bakaya received!"

"Privacy, Marui," Yukimura chided loudly, the words slipping through the closing door.

"It's not as if you didn't look at them!" Marui yelled back from the other side of the door. Yukimura heard a short yelp, probably Marui, and a loud guffaw, Marui and Niou combined, presumably. Marui must have had flashed Kirihara's papers to Niou. Yukimura exchanged glances with Yanagi and shook his head.

"If you don't mind, Niou!" Yukimura shouted. "We don't have all day!"

The doorknob turned and Niou's silvery head popped through the gap. "Alright, alright, sheesh, keep your pants on." His head disappeared from the gap and Yukimura heard him speak to Marui, "Wait a bit—"

"Niou!" Yukimura irritably groaned.

"Seiichi, your right eye's twitching."

Yukimura covered his eyes with a hand and groaned once more. The one sure sign he's annoyed—behold, the majestic twitch in his right eye! "I'm aware, Renji."

"Who ate your cat?" Niou entered with a smirk. Kicking his legs up, the silver head laid across the couch, legs crossed at the ankles on one end and head resting on the arm rest on the other. His papers were tossed onto the table during the process.

Mathematics Stage 3 – 96%
Japanese Literature Stage 3 – 75%
Mathematics Specialist Stage 3 – 88%
Geography Stage 3 – 71%
Chemistry Stage 3 – 56%
Human Biology Stage 3 – 81%
Physics Stage 3 – 93%
English Stage 3 – 65%

"Chem's the only area to watch out for. Well done, Niou," Yukimura said.

"I'm in the clear."

"The scaling for Chemistry is negative," Yanagi explained. "Previous statistics shown a pattern in Chemistry's scaling of negative eight percent for Rikkai students. It's best to avoid that when the time comes. We don't want it to interfere with the Nationals."

Niou rolled his eyes and stuck his hand out. "Right, are we done? Marui and I have plans to laugh the brat to death."

Yukimura handed him his papers and said, "That's the worst murder technique I've ever come across." A pause. "Don't traumatize Akaya too much, Niou. His retakes are in a few days and it is crucial he passes them."

A shark-like grin emerged on the Trickster's face as he stood. "An inspiration will hit me along the way. Your presence throws my Satanic mind down the drain, being so holy and all." At the look on Yukimura's face, he added, "Don't worry. We won't do anything too bad."

He was out of the door before Yukimura could instruct him to call Yagyuu.

"I still don't know how I deal with his shit, Renji."

"It's been six years."

"Exactly my point." Yukimura pulled out his mobile and sent Sanada a text.

The door pushed open to reveal a spectacled brunette. "Yukimura-kun, Yanagi-kun, you requested for me?"

"Yes, we were just inquiring about your exam results? The rest have already informed us their grades."

"My apologies," Yagyuu said, sitting down primly on the open couch, straight-backed and hands on his lap. "I don't have possession of a few papers at the moment, they're still undergoing some last minute changes."

"Japanese Literature, Economics, and Politics and Law Stage 3," Yanagi inputted.

"Yes, that's right," Yagyuu said, not the least surprised at their data master's knowledge.

"That's alright." Yukimura shrugged. "I'm only interested in any retakes or potential retakes."

Yagyuu kept silent as he thought, eyes blinking behind reflective lenses. "No retakes. But Human Bio is pretty shaky, my marks are fluctuating and that might be something of concern."

"We'll see what we can do. Thank you, Yagyuu."

"My pleasure, Yukimura-kun. Yanagi-kun." Yagyuu nodded and smoothly left the clubroom.

Sighing, Yukimura leant back and crossed his ankles. Kirihara—their Second Year Ace—held the position of Most Likely To Be Banned From Club Activities for the third consecutive time, not including his third year alone in middle school. Rikkaidai held its academic prestige as high as its reputation at sport tournaments, any club member—especially regulars—who failed a single course would be restricted from participating in practice, let alone tournaments.

Minutes ticked by until Yukimura finally snapped out of his daze and said, "Renji, gather the team."

.~.

Surveying the faces before him—Kirihara slightly pale and still trembling—Yukimura folded his arms across his chest and announced his findings. Kirihara, Jackal, Marui, Niou, and Yagyuu required some sort of tutoring; Kirihara and Jackal the most due to their upcoming retakes. He, Yanagi, and Sanada managed to keep their grades up and unaffected by the meddlesome scaling; something Yukimura breathed easily for.

"Right. How shall we do this?"

A/N: The following are the exam results for Yukimura, Yanagi, Sanada, Jackal, and Yagyuu. I like to use this as somewhat of a guide to how I characterize them. By what subjects they take, and how they score in them—like a way of seeing where they'd go and do in the future. Kind of my way to plan for another fic I'm writing (lols).
But, just some little character introspective stuff for you readers?

Yukimura:
Mathematics Stage 3 – 85%
Health Studies Stage 3 – 94%
Human Biology Stage 3 – 97%
Chemistry Stage 3 – 81%
Physics Stage 3 – 74%
Japanese Literature Stage 3 – 79%
Music Stage 3 – 90%
English Stage 3 – 70%

Yanagi:
Mathematics Stage 3 – 99%
Mathematics Specialist Stage 3 – 92%
Japanese Literature Stage 3 – 68%
Economics Stage 3 – 86%
Politics and Law Stage 3 – 77%
Chemistry Stage 3 – 93%
Physics Stage 3 – 91%
English Stage 3 – 82%

Sanada:
Mathematics Stage 3 – 72%
Japanese Literature Stage 3 – 89%
Modern History Stage 3 – 84%
Outdoor Education Stage 3 – 98%
Chemistry Stage 3 – 73%
Physics Stage 3 – 75%
Geography Stage 3 – 62%
English Stage 3 – 66%

Jackal:
Mathematics Stage 3 – 70%
Japanese Literature Stage 3 – 43%
English Stage 3 – 67%
Portuguese (Background) Stage 3 – 91%
Home Economics Stage 3 – 86%
Physics Stage 3 – 77%
Chemistry Stage 3 – 74%
Economics Stage 3 – 88%

Yagyuu:
Mathematics Stage 3 – 82%
Japanese Literature Stage 3 – 81%
Economics Stage 3 – 86%
Politics and Law Stage 3 – 95%
Human Biology Stage 3 – 57%
Chemistry Stage 3 – 71%
Physics Stage 3 – 64%
English Stage 3 – 79%

Up next in Study Till You Drop: Part II - Sessions are set up, groups are made, and it's time to get cracking and studying.

(This may or may not actually be the next chapter.)