Chapter 35: The Graduation Exam Struggles

With the final year nearing its end, the pressure of exams hit us hard. Mahiru, being a top student, handled it gracefully, but I struggled to keep up.

One evening, she caught me buried under a pile of textbooks, exhaustion evident in my face.

"Amane," she murmured, kneeling beside me. "Let's take a break."

I sighed, rubbing my temples. "I can't afford to fail."

She reached out, taking my hand. "And you won't. But overworking yourself won't help either."

Her concern melted my stress, and I found myself nodding. "Alright. But only if you stay with me."

She smiled. "Always."

And with that, I found the strength to keep going.