After two hours of diligent study, Aurora glanced up from her watch, her serene expression breaking into a small, almost satisfied smile. “Alright, time’s up,” she announced, closing her notebook with a decisive snap. “Let’s see where everyone stands.”

The group shuffled their notes and pencils, tension in the air as Aurora and Luck gathered the test sheets, their responsibility as unofficial tutors feeling weightier than before. They began marking each test carefully, checking answers one by one. Luck’s face remained unreadable as he noted the answers, though internally, he couldn’t ignore the disappointment as he tallied up missed questions and half-understood concepts.

Some had managed a few of the basics; others had guessed their way through, hoping they’d hit something right. The overall scores weren’t ideal. This wasn’t going to be easy, and if Miria’s expectations were as strict as the rumours suggested, we’d need a serious turnaround to get everyone up to standard.

Then, as I double-checked Ivy’s paper against Finn’s, I noticed something. At first, it seemed random—where Ivy struggled, Finn seemed to answer perfectly, and vice versa. I glanced back and forth between their tests, letting a small sense of surprise break through my usual indifference.

“This is actually impressive,” I said, glancing up at Ivy and Finn. They looked back, surprised, and I felt everyone else’s attention turn toward me.

“What do you mean?” Aurora asked, her voice calm but curious.

I held up their papers. “Ivy, Finn—you each got the questions right that the other missed. Where one of you stumbled, the other nailed it. You’re basically complementing each other’s gaps.”

Ivy blinked, processing my words. “Wait, really?” She looked from me to Finn, surprise shifting into an intrigued smile. Finn, leaning over to see her test, raised an eyebrow, giving a small chuckle.

“Guess we make a decent team, then,” he said, giving Ivy a sideways grin.

Aurora nodded thoughtfully, already planning. “Luck’s right. You two studying together could really help balance things out. If you combine your efforts, you can work through each other’s weak spots.”

I gave a slight nod, watching them take in the idea. “It makes sense, especially with the time crunch we’re under. Pairing up and focusing on individual strengths could make this whole process smoother.”

Ivy turned to Finn, flashing a smile. “Looks like you’re my study partner now, Finn.”

He shrugged, pretending to be nonchalant. “Could be worse. Just don’t hand me the math problems.”

A faint amusement flickered in me as I watched them. They seemed to be finding some motivation, a spark that had been missing earlier. Even in the middle of school’s pressure, a little teamwork might just be what kept everyone afloat.

Turning to the rest of the group, I kept my voice steady. “We can make this work if everyone pitches in. We’re not going to get there solo—pairing up, covering each other’s blind spots, is our best shot.”

Aurora picked up on the mood shift, her calm encouragement boosting the others. “Exactly. Tomorrow, we’ll keep rotating partners until everyone’s confident. This is about understanding, not just getting through the workload.”

A sense of determination started to build in the room, shifting the atmosphere from uncertainty to something like resolve. Everyone nodded, an unspoken agreement settling over the group. The frustration from earlier was still there, but this at least gave us a direction.

As we packed up, I let myself observe them one more time. This group, at first, had felt like just another task forced on me by Miria. But watching them work together, seeing small glimmers of potential, I felt... invested. If Miria’s standards were high, then it was on me to meet them, but maybe it didn’t have to feel like a burden.

For now, it was enough to know I wasn’t just here because of her expectations. At least today, I could see a purpose beyond obligation.

As we stepped outside the cafe, the cool evening air hit us, refreshing after the hours spent huddled over notebooks and half-filled test sheets. The streetlights were just beginning to flicker on, casting a soft glow on the sidewalk, and I noticed the group hadn’t split off yet. Instead, everyone lingered, exchanging glances as if waiting for someone to speak up.

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It was Finn who broke the silence, adjusting his backpack as he looked at the rest of us. “So, uh… today wasn’t bad. I mean, it wasn’t a total grind like I thought it’d be,” he admitted with a small smirk. “Actually felt like we were getting somewhere for once.”

Ivy grinned. “Yeah, I agree! I usually hate studying alone—it’s just boring. But working with you guys made it kind of… fun.”

Elior nodded, a slight smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “I think it helps that we’re all focused on the same goal. I could get used to this.”

Aurora, calm as ever, added, “I’d say this went well. We covered more together than any of us would alone.” She looked around, pausing thoughtfully. “Why don’t we keep doing this, even after the exams?”

There was a round of murmured agreements, and Ivy clasped her hands together, her enthusiasm infectious. “Yes! I mean, let’s make this our thing. We can meet up here, keep studying, or, you know, just hang out if we don’t have work to do.”

Finn raised an eyebrow. “Hang out? As in... a social gathering?” he teased, his tone mock-serious. “That’s bold of you, Ivy.”

She rolled her eyes, but her smile didn’t fade. “Yes, Finn. Sometimes we can just talk. Who knows—maybe you’ll even survive the experience.”

I stayed quiet, watching as they all threw in their ideas and jokes, feeling the energy build in a way that was rare for a group of students exhausted from a study session. Elior caught my gaze, tilting his head slightly.

“What about you, Luck?” he asked. “You in?”

I looked back at them, weighing the question. I could already imagine Miria’s approval if she knew I was willingly sticking with the group she’d pushed me into. But something about this felt different now; it wasn’t just her assignment.

“Yeah,” I said, keeping my tone steady. “I’ll stick around.”

Aurora gave a small, satisfied nod. “Good. We’ll be stronger if we keep this up. Not just for tests—whatever comes next, too.”

Finn stretched, chuckling. “Alright, then. Guess it’s settled. AMSB’s newest study group is here to stay.”

Ivy beamed, practically bouncing on her feet. “Perfect! This is going to be great. So… same time, same place tomorrow?”

There was a chorus of nods, and as we started to head our separate ways, I felt an unexpected sense of anticipation. We weren’t just some temporary study partners anymore; we’d decided to be a group. Even as I walked alone back to the dorms, I found myself wondering what it’d be like to actually stick with them for a while.

For the first time, I felt like I was looking forward to what came next.

As I walked back to the dorms, the cool evening air did little to ease the weight of the day. The study session had been productive but also full of tension, and I found myself replaying parts of the group dynamics in my head. Lost in thought, I barely noticed Miria standing near the entrance of the dormitory until I was nearly upon her. She was leaning casually against the wall, her arms crossed, but her eyes sharp as ever.

As we walked toward the dorms, the streetlights casting long shadows, I couldn't shake the feeling that Miria was on the edge of snapping. She walked beside me, her expression a mask of frustration, though she seemed to be trying to keep it under control.

“How did your session go?” I asked, knowing it was a loaded question.

She scoffed. “Terribly. I had to deal with a bunch of people who can’t even grasp basic quadratic equations. It’s infuriating when they make the simplest mistakes, and they don’t even seem to care about improving.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Sounds like you made them feel pretty stupid.”

Her eyes narrowed. “It’s not my fault they’re incapable of understanding simple things. I made it clear, but they still don’t get it. Maybe they should spend less time complaining and more time studying. Actually, I've come to the conclusion that its a waste of my time to teach these bunch of fools.”

I glanced at her, slightly amused. “You know, you’re a terrible tutor.”

Miria shot me a sharp look, her lips curling into a thin, tense smile. “Excuse me?”

My mouth was slightly switching, knowing I was poking the bear a little too much. “You make people feel dumb instead of encouraging them. You’re not exactly nurturing the best learning environment.”

Her gaze turned icy. “They can’t even handle the basics, and you expect me to coddle them? Maybe if they were more competent, I wouldn’t have to be so direct with them.”

I shrugged nonchalantly. “Still, a little patience wouldn’t hurt.”

Without missing a beat, Miria stopped walking, pulled something from her bag, and waved it in front of me. It was a pair of scissors. "If you talk like that again, I will cut it off,” she said in a voice as cold as ice, her expression unwavering.

I froze, blinking at her in surprise. “You’re serious?”

She tucked the scissors away, her face hardening. "Dead serious. Don’t test me."

I couldn't help but cough. “Fine, fine, I get it. I’ll watch what I say.”

She gave a satisfied nod, her expression softening just slightly. "Good. Now, let’s get back before the others start making noise about how late we are."

As we continued walking, I couldn’t help but think—Miria really took herself seriously, didn’t she? But even so, her dedication to the task was something I couldn’t fault, even if her method left much to be desired.