5. Potential Comedy

Shiro puffed her chest slightly, as if unwilling to lose her dignity—
especially against someone she had been underestimating.

Her very own rival.

“You know what? You just gave me an idea.”

Oh no…

I may not believe in anything religious, but good grief, God—what could that possibly be?

“We could turn this equation into a complete research paper, don’t you think?”

"And don't worry, it would be really easy to do. So?"

Damn. I really didn’t see that one coming.

…Okay, never mind. I was clearly joking.
I literally saw it from miles away.

But the delivery—the damn delivery—still got me.

She said it so casually, as if it were something easy to do.

Though she said it really was anyway so I could let it slide.

Actually, no. 

What pissed me off the most was the deadline. 

Damn six months.

Again. Six whole months, and you’re already trying to finish it now?

What kind of insanity is that? How ridiculous.

I couldn't help but merely shake my head.

“Instead of that, let’s just focus on the Nakamura exam.”

I quickly changed the topic, making sure nothing about a research paper could come up again.

I pulled out the materials along with my notes.

There was no way I could have entertained such a silly idea.

Her reaction? Obvious.

She frowned, like a stray cat that had lost its way home.

“I’ve already studied, and now I’m bored. Why don’t we talk about quantum physics again?”

You’ve got to be kidding me.

No. Impossible. There could be no way I was going back to that.

“You want to, right?”

“It’ll be fun. Probably.”

I only wanted to prove she wasn’t that good—so why had the advantage suddenly shifted back to her? My reaction clearly showed disinterest, yet she—

“Come on~ Akira~ Let’s talk!”

She grabbed my sleeve and started dragging me around like a damn trolley.

“You’re not escaping this.”

“You do want to, right?”

“Or are you scared?”

No, all I could see was a desperate needy cat begging for attention.

“Oi—stop—!”

My foot caught on the edge of the bench.

And before I could react—

I stumbled forward.

Thud.

My hand slammed against the bench beside her.

Too close.

Way too close.

Our faces were inches apart.

…

Her voice disappeared, replaced by awkward silence.

Even her usual smug expression froze.

I could feel her breath.

“…Akira?”

I didn’t answer.

Because for a second—

I mean, just for a second—

Okay, I forgot what I was even supposed to say.

And then—

“—What the hell are you doing, idiot?!”

She shoved me away.

I hit the ground hard, sprawled out like a fallen tree.

“…Ow.”

“Wait—no!”

She immediately reached out, helping me up.

“I-I didn’t mean it! Sorry!”

“…Relax. It’s nothing.”

I muttered, brushing off my sleeve then picked up my glasses.

“You hit like a child, so it doesn’t matter.”

“…Excuse me?”

She froze, her expression twitching.

Then it snapped right back, still holding onto my sleeve.

“…You were leaning in.”

“I tripped.”

“That didn’t look like a trip at all.”

“It was, in fact, a trip.”

Her eyes narrowed.

“Yet you punched me.”

“Because you were being a total weirdo!”

“What? I almost died!”

“…Exactly!”

What’s with that logic?

I stared at her.

She looked away first, but then—

“Wait… were you just staring at my chest?”

“…You pervert!”

…Is she just having a bad day or something?

…No, wait.
Is she on her period?

I immediately frowned. And no, that sounded really stupid 

Even if it was in my head.

No, that can’t be it.

Did I just walk into something I don’t understand?