With the exam looming, the study group's final serious session had arrived. Amid the familiar scene, Erika suddenly spoke up.
"Let's bet on who'll rank at the top and bottom in theory!"
"Gambling? Not exactly admirable," Tatsuya said, unimpressed.
"Oh, come on! It's just for, like, tea money," Erika countered.
"But isn't Tatsuya a lock for the top spot?" Leo pointed out.
"Yeah, and you're a lock for last, so what's the point of betting?" Erika teased.
"What'd you say?!" Leo snapped.
"I mean, there's no way you're cracking the top twenty, right?" Erika said smugly.
She wasn't wrong. Among the study group, Leo was the only one unlikely to make the school's posted top-twenty list. Eimi was a bit of a wildcard, but compared to Leo, her chances were solid.
"Then the bet's off," Miyuki said coolly. "Erika, maybe propose something worth betting on next time?"
"What's that, Miyuki? You saying you can't beat Tatsuya-kun?" Erika shot back.
"Obviously not. Onii-sama was my tutor last year, after all."
Even without Tatsuya's help, Miyuki's magical talent would've guaranteed her a passing grade, but Tatsuya had insisted on tutoring her to ensure she excelled in theory too.
"Ugh, only Tatsuya-kun gets to teach Miyuki. Makes sense," Erika groaned.
"Says you, who's been leaning on Tatsuya nonstop lately," Leo retorted.
"So have you! Besides, if Miyuki and Honoka can't figure something out, no way I can," Erika said.
"Erika-chan, that's not exactly something to brag about…" Mizuki mumbled.
"But you've been asking Onii-sama a lot too, Mizuki," Miyuki pointed out.
"Everyone here's been relying on Tatsuya-san," Honoka added.
"I owe you one, Tatsuya-san," Shizuku said.
"Seriously, I'd be in trouble without you," Eimi admitted.
As the group showered Tatsuya with praise, he didn't bother hiding his exasperation.
"You can save the thanks for after the exam. Acting like it's over before it starts? Really?"
"Tatsuya-kun, don't ruin our break!" Erika whined.
"Break? It's barely been two hours," Tatsuya replied.
"Onii-sama, unlike you, Erika can't focus for two hours straight. Neither can Honoka or the rest of us," Miyuki said with a teasing smile.
For Tatsuya, who was used to intense focus, two hours was nothing. Realizing his standards were a bit off, he relented.
"Fine. I'll grab some drinks. What does everyone want?"
When Tatsuya offered to treat, Erika and Leo jumped at the chance, but the others looked sheepish.
"Don't worry about it. Consider it my apology for cutting your break short," Tatsuya said.
His words eased their guilt, and they started listing their requests, convincing themselves it was fine.
"Leo, mind helping me carry stuff?" Tatsuya asked.
"Me? …Fine, better than being the only guy here with all these girls," Leo grumbled.
"Alright, Tatsuya-kun, Leo, you're on!" Erika said, waving them off.
Once the two were out of sight, Erika pivoted to girl talk.
"So, between those two, who'd you pick?"
"You mean Onii-sama and Leo-kun?" Miyuki asked.
"Yup. I'm Team Tatsuya-kun," Erika declared.
"M-me too! Tatsuya-san's my pick!" Honoka blurted.
"Same," Shizuku added.
Mizuki and Eimi nodded, joining the conversation.
"Miyuki, what about you? Wait, dumb question," Erika said with a grin.
"Of course. Leo-kun's a friend, but Onii-sama's my family—blood-related," Miyuki said firmly.
"But, like, if Tatsuya-kun wasn't your brother, who'd you pick?" Erika pressed.
"I don't like hypotheticals. Sorry," Miyuki replied, her smile radiating a chilling pressure.
Erika froze, her swordswoman's instincts screaming danger. Sensing she'd crossed a line, she scrambled to change the subject.
"Anyway, nobody picked Leo, huh? Kinda obvious, though," Erika said.
"I thought you'd pick Leo-kun, Erika-chan," Mizuki said.
"Me?! Why would I pick that guy?!" Erika protested.
"You two seem like a perfect match," Shizuku said, deadpan.
"Even you, Shizuku?!" Erika yelped.
Just moments ago, Erika was teasing Miyuki, but now the tables had turned. Shizuku's tone was playful, but Mizuki seemed half-serious, making Erika squirm.
"Why am I a match for that barbarian?!" Erika demanded.
"You and Leo-kun always seem to get along, though," Miyuki said.
"Yeah, you guys say the same things at the same time," Honoka added.
"Stop it, you two! No more jokes!" Erika pleaded.
"So, what's the deal with you two?" Eimi prodded.
"Eimi, quit piling on!" Erika groaned.
As the group teased Erika, Tatsuya and Leo returned.
"What's all the noise? Sounds like a party," Leo said.
"It's your fault I'm getting teased!" Erika snapped. "What're you gonna do about it?!"
"What?! I didn't do anything!" Leo protested.
"Shut up!"
"Hey, that's not cool…" Leo muttered, stumbling back under Erika's hit, his hands full of drinks.
The drinks flew into the air, but Tatsuya's inhuman reflexes caught every one.
"Erika, dragging Leo into your embarrassment isn't fair," Tatsuya said, sliding her requested drink into her hands before passing out the rest.
Erika's cheeks flushed, realizing Tatsuya had seen through her.
"You knew what we were talking about, huh, Tatsuya-kun?" Erika said.
"When you're that loud, it's hard not to hear," Tatsuya replied.
"Tatsuya, you saved the drinks but not me?" Leo complained.
"If you can't handle that, it says more about your skills. Train harder before you blame others," Tatsuya said.
"Exactly! Getting knocked over by a light hit? You're kinda frail, aren't you?" Erika added, seizing the chance to regain her footing.
Erika's jab sparked their usual bickering, and Leo took the bait instantly.
"Tatsuya-san, shouldn't we stop Erika-chan and Leo-kun?" Honoka asked.
"That's just how they are. What do you think, Miyuki and the others?" Tatsuya replied.
"I say let them be," Miyuki said.
"Same. That's normal for them," Shizuku agreed.
"I think so too. It's just how they are," Eimi added.
"I can't really say. I don't know them that well," Mizuki said.
While Erika and Leo kept at it, Mizuki watched them nervously, the only one unsettled.
And so, the stage was set for the fateful exam…