I went to school next day as usual. 

Our mid-term exams were to start from the next week, so you could see everyone in the class putting their minds into studying. 

This was also a topic I had yet to discuss with Shirley since the tests would take a lot more time out of IO.

The tests were going to last 3 weeks. And if you equal that to IO time, that makes it about 2.5 months. Though its not like I won't be able to play at all but the time spent would be hardly worth it.

I would have to break this to Shirley sometime and I was thinking of doing it today as it would give us some time to plan and prepare. 

Well we'll see whatever happens but for now, lets get back to study.

"....and this is called Interference of Light leading to maximas and minimas of different intensities at........." (Physics teacher)

I listened to our teacher explain the wave nature of light and made notes in my register.

.

.

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Time passed similarly and soon came lunch break. As usual, Pauli came over with her lunch. 

We had already gotten past just sitting together while eating and now would also share our lunches. Pauli always commented that my mother was a great cook(not that I disagree) and mostly just ate from my lunch. In fact, sometimes the lunch was made by myself to see the fruits of my practice(I was taking cooking lessons from mom since that trouble in IO), so I was happy to be complimented. Today's lunch was made by mother though. Its rare to get enough time in the morning to prepare your own lunch, and with my late night study sessions, it becomes even harder.

Anyways, since my 'official' girlfriend was here, I thought of initiating some conversation. Not of the romantic type, mind you.

"How are studies going Pauli?" (Me)

"Well. You?" (Pauli)

I had already gotten used to Pauli's short answers.

"Its going okay, I suppose. Though I'm having some problems in chemistry, mainly the reasoning parts." (Me)

I told her I was having trouble with chemistry. I never could wrap my head around chemistry. It was all too vague for me. There were laws but there always had to exist exceptions.

"Need any help?" (Pauli)

She looked up from her food and asked me that.

"Oh that's fine. I'm sure you have your own study to do." (Me)

"Its fine by me." (Pauli)

I think she meant that she's okay with teaching me.

"Are you sure?" (Me)

I really didn't want to take up her time. We already spent too much time in IO so even she must not be getting alot of study time. Also, her sleeping habits are on the good side(early to bed, early to rise), so that also makes a difference. 

Pauli seemingly nodded to my question. 

"Can we get the study material in IO? It would be advantageous since it would give us more time." (Pauli)

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

"Hmm...." (Me)

What she suggested was a brilliant idea. I considered it for a momemt.

To enter IO, you just had to plug in the headgear and put it on. It was hard to tell how you could manage to take external stuff with you. As far as I could tell, you would have to remember everything to be able to bring the information in the Virtual World. But if you could do that, there woundn't a need to study it, would there?

The only solution I could see was to ask for Trichia's help. But could I do that without revealing her to Pauli? 

"I don't think so." (Me)

I would ask Trichia about it once anyway but in the end I don't think we should do it. If we do it once, we'll be doing it again. This would take our time out of reality even more. Its better to keep Real Life and Virtual Life separate.

Pauli seemed to be thinking of a way too but couldn't come up with anything either. 

"Then..." (Pauli)

"Its alright. I'll manage on my own." (Me)

"How about a study session at my house?" (Pauli)

I interrupted her to decline but she made her offer anyway. 

(A study session at Pauli's house? Maybe... )

I was considering it again. 

"I think we can do that, if you're okay with it?" (Me)

Pauli nodded again and ate another bite of food.

"I'll go home first and tell Shirley that we won't be coming and then come to your house. How does that sound?" (Me)

"We can just do that at my house." (Pauli)

Well she had a headgear too so she could've also done it. But I needed to log in myself to talk to Trichia.

"I'll be needing a change of clothes so I'll be going home once anyway. So its not a problem." (Me)

"Right." (Pauli)

She agreed and took another bite of food from my lunchbox. 

"It should take me about half an hour to get to your home after. Should I just come in through your window?" (Me)

"Why would you come in through the window?" (Pauli)

This time Pauli was looking at me with a weird look.

"Well.." (Me)

I don't know why I suggested it either now. I just... said it, as if it seemed obvious. I think it may be due to what happened last time when I was at Pauli's. 

"Only Sol would be there." (Pauli)

Sol is Pauli's younger sister.

I don't know why she even mentioned that actually. Did she think I didn't want to meet her parents? I really can never tell what she's thinking.

In fact, I knew her parents wouldn't be home as they're both working.

"I..I'll come in through the front." (Me)

I was a bit embarrassed but Pauli ignored it and packed up her lunch now that it was finished and started returning to her desk.

I ate what was left of mine and packed up too.