The Study Sessions Begin

The morning sun peeked through the curtains of the dormitory, casting a warm glow over the room. Isagi stretched lazily, still feeling the excitement from his intense conversation with Rin the previous day. As he got ready for school, his mind was already occupied with Rin's challenge — and what it could mean for his relationship with May.

When he entered the classroom, the atmosphere was buzzing with the usual morning chatter. May waved at him with her usual bright smile, and Isagi felt his heart skip a beat. But before he could join her, Rin approached him with that ever-present cool demeanor.

"Don't forget our deal, Isagi," Rin said, his voice low and sharp.

"I haven't," Isagi replied, meeting his eyes without backing down. "But I'm not going to let you take May so easily."

Rin smirked, clearly enjoying the tension. "We'll see."

Before their conversation could escalate, their homeroom teacher entered the room, calling for silence. "Alright, class, I hope you've settled into your dormitory life well because it's time to get serious. Mid-semester exams are coming up in less than 20 days. I expect everyone to start preparing immediately."

A collective groan filled the room, but Isagi couldn't help but feel a pang of relief. The exams provided him with the perfect excuse to spend more time with May — studying together would be both productive and personal.

After class, Isagi approached May as they walked back to the dormitory. "Hey, May, since exams are coming up… want to study together?"

May blinked in surprise before her face broke into a soft smile. "That sounds like a great idea! We can help each other out."

When they reached their dormitory, they set up their study materials at the small table in the common room. It was peaceful and quiet, perfect for focusing. Or at least it would have been — if May wasn't so easily distracted.

"Ugh, I hate math," May groaned, dropping her pencil. "Why is this so complicated?"

Isagi chuckled. "It's not so bad. Here, let me show you." He leaned closer, guiding her through the problem step by step. May listened attentively, her brow furrowed in concentration.

"You're really good at this, Isagi," she said after a while. "I didn't know you were so patient."

"Well, I had a good teacher back in my old school," Isagi said with a shrug, though the truth was he remembered these study scenes from the anime. He knew May's struggles well — and exactly how to help her.

As the evening wore on, they took a break, sharing snacks and laughter. The atmosphere was light and comfortable, and Isagi found himself relaxing more than he had in a while.

"Thanks for helping me, Isagi," May said softly. "I really appreciate it."

"Anytime," he replied, his heart warm with her gratitude.

But just as they were about to pack up their books, the door burst open and Kaito walked in with Akari in tow. "Hey, you two! Guess what? We've got a study group going on. You should join us!"

Before either of them could protest, they were dragged into the common room where several other pairs were gathered. The study session turned into more of a social gathering, filled with laughter and light teasing. Despite the chaos, Isagi couldn't help but enjoy himself — especially when he saw May laughing so freely.

But in the back of his mind, he knew this peaceful time wouldn't last forever. Rin's challenge still loomed over him, and he would need to stay focused if he wanted to protect the bond he was slowly building with May.

For now, though, he allowed himself this moment of happiness — because tomorrow would surely bring new challenges.