The moment I stepped into Class D, I felt it.

The weight of their stares.

It wasn't subtle. It wasn't a passing glance.

No, this was different.

Eyes lingered. Conversations hushed.

It was as if I had suddenly transformed into some extinct species, rediscovered in the wild after centuries of assumed disappearance. The kind of thing scholars would gawk at in disbelief, notebooks trembling in their hands as they struggled to process the absurdity of my existence.

A few NPCs—I m-mean! A few girls whispered behind their hands, their gazes flickering toward me with something between curiosity and amusement. Some of the boys, on the other hand, looked almost… wary? As if they had just witnessed something so incomprehensible that their perception of reality itself had been slightly altered.

I fought the urge to sigh.

I already knew what this was about.

That damn video.

Just as I braced myself for another round of silent judgment, a sudden tug on my wrist caught me off guard.

"Horikita-san, come with me for a second!"

Mii-chan.

Before I could even question it, she had already pulled me toward the hallway, her grip surprisingly firm.

The second we were out of the classroom, she spun around to face me, her brows furrowed in clear distress.

"Horikita-san… that video," she started, her voice barely above a whisper, as if speaking any louder would somehow make it worse. "The one with you and Ibuki-san… I mean, was that real?"

I maintained a neutral expression, though internally, I was already calculating the best way to handle this conversation.

After a brief pause, I exhaled lightly and shifted my gaze to the side.

"...Do you... remember when I asked for advice on how to impress someone?"

Mii-chan blinked. Once. Twice.

Then, realization struck.

Her mouth parted slightly, eyes widening as the pieces clicked into place.

I could feel the gears turning in her head.

"You…" she breathed, her voice trailing off as her jaw practically dropped.

I felt heat creep up my neck.

Embarrassment wasn't an emotion I usually entertained, but at this moment, standing here under Mii-chan's unrelenting gaze, I felt exposed.

"…C-Close your mouth," I said, averting my gaze. "You're making this more dramatic than it needs to be."

But she didn't listen.

Instead, she just kept staring at me in open-mouthed shock, her expression frozen in time as if her brain had completely short-circuited.

Mii-chan finally managed to close her mouth—only to open it again a second later.

"I can't believe this…" she muttered, shaking her head as if trying to reset her brain. Then, with an almost disbelieving laugh, she threw her hands up slightly. "Horikita-san… you're even crazier than I am!"

I felt my face heat up instantly.

"W-Wha—" I sputtered, my composure cracking as I stiffened in place. "T-That's not—"

Words tumbled out before I could stop them.

"C-Couldn't you say the same for yourself? I mean—w-wouldn't you do the same for Hirata-kun? I-I mean—! If you really care about something, isn't it obvious you'd do anything to get it? T-That's just… natural! R-Right?"

The moment the words left my mouth, I regretted them.

I sounded ridiculous.

Desperate.

Flustered.

Mii-chan, on the other hand, just stared at me with wide, sparkling eyes.

Then—

"Horikita-san… you're way too cute," she gushed.

I recoiled immediately. "S-Stop saying weird things!"

But it was too late.

Mii-chan, of course, didn't let me go that easily.

For the next minute or so, she relentlessly hovered, throwing in little comments like "I can't believe you did that just to impress him~!" while I tried my best to maintain some level of composure.

I failed. Miserably.

But thankfully, the impending start of class forced Mii-chan to retreat back inside, leaving me to take a much-needed breath.

At least, that's what I thought.

Because the moment I stepped back into the classroom—

The stares resumed.

Again.

It was the kind of look people gave when they witnessed something they couldn't unsee but were too afraid to bring up directly.

Only one person remained oblivious to the whole situation.

Koenji.

Who was—unsurprisingly—preoccupied with admiring himself in the handheld mirror he carried at all times, his fingers gliding through his perfectly styled hair with the care of an artist sculpting a masterpiece.

I hesitated.

Something about this atmosphere made my skin crawl.

[Hoh? What a curious situation, indeed.]

I sighed.

Not now.

[Oh, but I must intervene. After all, the reason for this unsettling attention is clear as day. It's your high charisma, of course.]

I internally scoffed.

[Yes, yes. The crowd's reaction is similar to that of a captivating protagonist in a visual novel. You know, like when the heroine gains a massive charisma boost and suddenly everyone starts treating her like a living legend.]

I visibly twitched.

[Ridiculous...? I'd bet that if you told them today was a school holiday, they'd blindly follow your words without question.]

I frowned.

…No way.

[Hmm? Shall we test it, then? Go on. Just say the word, and watch them flee from class like headless chickens.]

Absolutely not.

[Ahhh, such a lack of faith! My dearest partner, how could you do this to me—?!]

I felt the dramatic sting in his voice as if he had just been mortally wounded.

Never trusting you again! You stupid System!

[Gkkkh—!]

Whatever this was, I refused to entertain it.

Just as I was about to resign myself to endure this situation, a familiar voice cut through the tension.

"Can I have everyone's attention for a moment?"

Hirata!

His calm yet commanding tone immediately pulled everyone's focus toward him. The classroom, which had been filled with hushed whispers and not-so-subtle glances, quieted down as all eyes turned to the ever-reliable class representative.

He stood with his usual composed expression, but there was an undeniable firmness in his voice.

"I understand that many of you might have mixed feelings about what happened," he began, his gaze sweeping across the room. "But I'd like to ask you all to give Horikita-san some space. I know that she's been the center of attention lately, but I'd like to remind everyone that she hasn't been in school for the past few days due to several reasons."

I stiffened slightly.

He wasn't going to—

"I know some of you might assume she's been out partying or having fun, but that's simply not the case," he continued, his voice gentle yet firm. "Horikita-san actually collapsed recently, and Chabashira-sensei personally asked me to inform you all."

…Hirata.

Even though I hadn't asked for it, he still went out of his way to ease the pressure on me.

[Truly, an ally of justice.]

The room fell into a thoughtful silence. A few students exchanged glances, their expressions shifting from curiosity to guilt. Then, one by one, they started to lower their heads apologetically.

"I-It was kinda shocking, you know? But, uh, sorry for staring."

"S-Sorry, Horikita-sama…"

…Horikita-sama!?

I barely had time to process the sheer absurdity of it before the girl—clearly flustered—bowed her head so fast I thought she might give herself whiplash.

"We weren't trying to be rude, really! We were just, um… c-curious! We're very sorry again!"

"Yeah," another student chimed in, shifting awkwardly in his seat. "Didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. We just… didn't expect that."

"Y-Yeah! Please forgive our sins!" another boy—Hondou...?—suddenly declared, clapping his hands together in a full-blown dogeza pose on the floor. "We have committed the grave mistake of gazing upon the divine too long! Please, have mercy on our souls!"

What.

"Horikita-sama, we have erred greatly in our ways!" someone else cried.

"Please, punish us as you see fit!"

…What.

A few students nodded solemnly as if they were part of some bizarre cult, and I could swear I saw one girl tear up as if she had just been personally blessed by my presence.

Was this really happening?

[See? If you tell them to skip class, they just might listen.]

One after another, the murmured apologies came.

I didn't know how to feel about it.

It wasn't as if I was particularly hurt by their attention, but the fact that Hirata had intervened so smoothly… I exhaled quietly.

Before I could even consider responding, another voice—her voice—spoke up.

"Oh my god, seriously, what's wrong with you guys?"

Karuizawa.

I turned my head just in time to see her standing up, arms crossed, and an unimpressed look on her face.

"You're all acting, like, so weird about this," she scoffed, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "What, do you think it's normal to stare at people like they're some kinda zoo animal? That's, like, really creepy, you know?"

A few students flinched at her words.

"She's right," Shinohara commented with disgust.

"Besides," Karuizawa continued, rolling her eyes, "since when is it your business what Horikita-san does, huh? Last time I checked, we all have our own lives and studies to worry about. Unless you guys have nothing better to do?"

That definitely made a few people shift uncomfortably in their seats.

I stared at her, feeling something unfamiliar settle in my chest.

I wasn't used to people standing up for me.

Much less two of the most influential people in class doing it without hesitation.

"…I appreciate it," I murmured under my breath, knowing they probably wouldn't hear me.

But at the very least, the classroom had shifted from suffocating stares to something far more manageable… if insanely exaggerated.

Just as the tension in the room was beginning to settle, the door suddenly slid open.

Chabashira-sensei entered, her expression as professional as ever.

"Enough," she said, her voice carrying an air of authority that instantly silenced the murmurs. "Take your seats. Class is starting."

A collective shuffle followed as students hurried to sit down.

Her gaze then shifted—unwavering and sharp—toward Hondou, who was still kneeling on the floor in his exaggerated pose.

"…Hondou," she said flatly. "You have five seconds to stand up before I expel you."

He practically jumped to his feet.

"H-Hai! Right away, sensei!" he yelped, scrambling into his chair like his life depended on it.

A few quiet snickers echoed through the room, but no one dared to comment further.

Satisfied, Chabashira-sensei nodded once.

"Good. Now, let's begin in a minute."

I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding as I made my way toward my seat.

He was already there, waiting.

The moment my eyes met his, my thoughts… quieted.

The lingering discomfort, the unwanted attention, the chaotic mess of emotions—it all faded into something much simpler.

He greeted me with a small nod.

I felt warmth bloom in my chest.

…Could I, like, hug him or something?

Wait, no. That would be weird.

Right?

Would it?

Maybe just a little—no, no, I should just sit down. Act normal. Be cool.

I slid into my chair, sneaking another glance at him.

He was looking at me.

I felt my heartbeat quicken.

Should I say something? Should I smile? Should I—

"Morning," he said simply.

…Ah.

That was enough.

A small smile found its way to my lips.

"Morning," I replied.

And just like that, I felt at ease.

ㅤ

ㅤ

As the bell rang, signaling the end of this class, Chabashira-sensei wasted no time in dismissing us.

"That's all for today," she announced, stacking some papers onto her desk. "Don't slack off. And Hondou—if I catch you asleep on the floor again, I will report you."

He audibly gulped.

"Yes, sensei…!"

With that, students began filing out of the room, chatting amongst themselves.

Not long after, I found myself in the cafeteria—sitting across from Ayanokouji, who was idly stirring his drink with a straw.

This was it.

Now was my chance.

I took a deep breath, steeling myself.

"U-Um! Ayanokouji…"

He looked up, meeting my gaze.

"…D-Do you… wanna go somewhere today…?"

His straw stopped moving.

I felt my face heat up.

"I-I mean—" The words came out in a rushed, nervous tumble. "M-Maybe I could finally show you the arcade! A-And we could play something together! Or—or we could go to a café! O-Or maybe we could go to Keyaki Mall again! If you want! O-Or, um, we could go somewhere you want to go instead! Like, uh, for ice cream…?"

I trailed off, feeling like I had just thrown every possible option at him like some desperate.

…God, I sounded ridiculous.

He stared at me for a moment.

"…Don't you think you won't have time for that?"

I blinked.

"Huh?"

Time?

What was he—

My brain immediately switched gears, analyzing his words.

He said I wouldn't have time. That implies he knows something I don't.

Had something happened? Was there an event today I had forgotten?

No, that wasn't possible—I kept track of my game schedule meticulously.

Which meant—

Was there something that was going to take up my time?

Something unexpected?

I frowned, my thoughts racing.

"…What do you mean?"

Ayanokouji took a sip of his drink before speaking in his usual calm, matter-of-fact tone.

"You probably didn't hear, but while you were gone, Chabashira-sensei announced that midterms are coming up soon. We should start preparing."

I blinked.

…Midterms?

I replayed his words in my head as if trying to process them in a completely foreign language.

Midterms.

Studying.

My brain stopped for a second.

Wait—

I hadn't studied.

At all.

Actually, now that I thought about it…

I hadn't even opened a textbook.

Not once.

…In fact, did I even own a textbook?

I stared at Ayanokouji, completely dumbfounded.

Midterms…? Studying…?

In the game, midterms weren't even a thing worth worrying about.

Who would ever play a game just to take tests? No one! That's why you could just skip them!

But this wasn't a game.

Which meant—

I had actually been skipping them.

Like, for real.

My stomach dropped.

"…Ah."

"Horikita?" Ayanokouji tilted his head slightly. "What's wrong?"

I felt the weight of realization crash down on me like a collapsing Jenga tower.

[Ahhh, what a tragic fate indeed.]

I flinched as System suddenly spoke.

[Our dear protagonist, so quick-witted, so sharp-minded… and yet, in this crucial moment, she faces her greatest adversary.]

I clenched my fists.

[The one foe she can never escape.]

S-Shut up!

[The Unforgiving Wrath of Academics.]

I slammed my hands on the table.

Ayanokouji blinked. "…Are you okay?"

[No, she is not okay, dear listener! After all, our protagonist has just realized—gasp!—she has been speedrunning her way through the school year without touching a single book!]

I groaned, burying my face in my hands.

[Behold, a student so powerful, she has defied the very concept of studying! And now? She must pay the price. A cruel, cruel fate, indeed.]

I could feel the smugness radiating from its voice.

[Ahhh, what will she do now? Will she rise to the challenge? Or will she, perhaps, attempt the greatest bluff of her life and pray that multiple-choice questions save her soul?]

I grit my teeth. I will find a way to delete you.

[Hah! If only you could, my dear! But alas, you are stuck with me—just as you are now stuck with the reality of MIDTERMS.]

I clutched my head, horror washing over me in waves.

This… this was bad.

No, this was worse than bad.

[Ahhh, the realization sets in at last!]

Shut up!

I took a deep breath, trying to think. Normally, I studied for hours a day. Normally, I had a strict schedule. Normally, I wouldn't even dream of falling behind on anything.

[Yet here we are, standing atop the ruins of your once-proud academic empire!]

…I hadn't studied.

Not even a little.

Not even by accident.

Unacceptable.

A disgrace.

I can't believe this. A whole month? Not even opening a single textbook?

I allowed this!?

"I-It's not my fault!" I hissed under my breath, gripping the table like it had personally wronged me. "This stupid game world completely threw me off! It made me complacent! It tricked me into thinking I could just skip everything like an event!"

All my plans! The strategy, the preparation!

I felt my heart physically break.

And worst of all, this ruins my time with Ayanokouji!

…

…

…!

"NOOOOOOOO!"

A few heads turned in the cafeteria.

Ayanokouji sighed. "…So, I'm guessing that means you forgot about midterms."

I slammed my head against the table.

This was the worst day of my life.