Two children came in through the kitchen and hid under the wooden counter. The first was a boy about 13 years old with light blue hair, his locks falling down his face. The other was a girl about 11 years old with light red hair.
The 13-year-old opened a box on the counter pulling out a sharp metal object.
"Melissa, stay down!"
"Don't leave me."
"I'm not leaving you alone, Melissa. Stay down, Okay! And don't come out!
The boy's heart thundered inside his chest, he tightened his grip on the handle of the object out of anxiety. He took a deep breath before stiffening his traces, without further hesitation he placed his hand on the door handle to open it.
.
.
I opened my eyes again to try to pay attention to the class. The memory of what I had dreamed about this morning was still quite fresh in my mind. I probably won't forget it for some time.
I almost had a panic attack. I never thought that a dream... No, it wasn't a dream; it was a memory of the Original Nakatomi. I was sure of that.
If it wasn't a memory, why did it make me feel that way? When I woke up, a wave of emotions hit me abruptly. To the point where I vomited dinner in the bathroom and almost panicked.
My mind wasn't prepared to feel all those raw emotions so suddenly. This was the third memory I had since I came to this world. I didn't know how it would affect me in the long run, but now it explained why I was more insightful and astute than before.
My consciousness was trying to adapt to the real Nakatomi's consciousness.
Why weren't his memories with me when I arrived? The only thing I can think of is that my brain couldn't handle an overload of memories. My consciousness, along with my memories, was swapped with Nakatomi's consciousness along with his memories.
But if that's the case, then what happened to Nakatomi's memories and consciousness? Are they hidden deep within my subconscious? I can say for sure that his memories are locked somewhere in my brain and are gradually being stored in my hippocampus.
Which is a part of the brain that plays a vital role in learning regulation, memory encoding, memory consolidation, and spatial navigation.
My brows and mouth unconsciously furrowed the more I thought about it.
What kind of life did Nakatomi lead? From what the dream seemed, it wasn't pleasant. It seemed to take a very dark turn with the knife in his hand. I didn't even want to think about what would happen once Nakatomi opened that door.
Moreover, could this mean a clue to getting home? I wasn't sure, but since arriving in this world, I couldn't find any clue or anything that gave me hope of returning home to my family.
I shook my head, dismissing these thoughts. It would be better to think about it later. If I kept thinking about it during class, it might lower my class points a bit. I could even worry my friends if they saw me distracted.
I looked around the class; everything seemed normal for everyone, and as far as they were concerned, the only thing they should worry about was the upcoming final exam. After that, we would all enjoy extravagant summer vacations on a paradise island. Or at least, that's what most of the students in Class D believed.
However, it was far from being a real vacation. My current concern, aside from the strange memories I was having, was the exams about to happen in a few days.
Zodiac sign exam wasn't too worried since I already knew how the VIPs were assigned in each group. All I had to do was find the surnames of the students in the corresponding group and sort them alphabetically. Then the VIP would be the order of the zodiac signs.
For example: The Dragon is number 5, so the person with the VIP would be number 5 when the surnames of the students in the group are sorted alphabetically.
So the order of the twelve zodiac animals would be as follows: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and lastly, the Pig.
Right now, I was wondering whether to change the results of the uninhabited island exam. I could let the class get the canon points, or I could interfere and get many more points than the canon thanks to my knowledge, but I leaned towards the former. I've held on to the canon enough; it's time to let go.
Otherwise, it would only affect me in the long run. With that thought, I headed toward the school building.
After another normal day ended, the students began to leave the classroom when there was no need to stay.
Kushida and I were about to head to the Pallet Café, but before we could go any further, a voice called us, or rather, called me specifically.
"Nakatomi. Wait a moment."
"Hmm?" I turned around to see who had called me. To my surprise, it was none other than Chabashira-sensei, who seemed to be holding a folder in her hands. What does she want now? And more importantly, what does she want with me?
I couldn't help but notice that in recent days, Chabashira-sensei had been watching me more than other students. As if she had found another treasure trove... It was creepy.
"I need you to come with me. It's an urgent matter," Chabashira-sensei said.
"Sensei... Why do you want to talk to Nakatomi-kun? Did he do something wrong?" Kushida looked at Chabashira before looking at me. When she looked at me, I shrugged, indicating I didn't know what it was about.
Although I think I have an idea of what Chabashira-sensei wants.
"I'll tell you when we go to a private place to talk. Besides, Kushida doesn't need to come with us because this is a private matter for Nakatomi," Chabashira replied.
"But..." Kushida tried to protest, but I cut her off by shaking my head.
"Don't worry, Kushida. You can go without me. Don't keep your friends waiting, and tell them something came up for me," I said.
Kushida looked hesitant before nodding. But I could see a bit of annoyance in her eyes at Chabashira-sensei's interruption of the day we were about to have.
Once Kushida left, I asked, "So where are we going?"
"The rooftop," was all Chabashira-sensei said before she began to guide me.
At that moment, it was around five-thirty in the afternoon. When we arrived at the rooftop, Chabashira-sensei walked toward the edge to look at the illuminated streets around the building. From her uniform's pocket, she took out a box of cigarettes, lit one, and started smoking.
Wasn't that rude? She was supposed to talk to me, but instead, she made me wait while she smoked, seemingly unconcerned about anything in the world.
"So... What did you want to talk to me about, sensei? It's about the class, right?"
"I'll tell you once our guest arrives," Chabashira-sensei turned to look me in my scarlet eyes.
"Guest? That means someone else is about to come to the rooftop. The only person I can think of that Chabashira-sensei might call a guest to our supposed private conversation is either Horikita or Ayanokōji. But most likely, it was the former.
"Tch..." I clicked my tongue in annoyance. I could leave if I wanted to. After all, this wasn't a formal meeting, and I was sure I hadn't done anything wrong. Sure, I blackmailed Kushida and was about to blackmail Class C with Horikita's help. But in neither case was there any evidence to accuse me.
I thought at first she was going to try to blackmail me into helping her with her obsession with reaching Class A. But I couldn't see any option where she could do that. Sure, she could use the expulsion bluff, but since I already knew that trick, I had no reason to feel intimidated or scared by her.
But if it's not to blackmail me, then the only thing I can think of is that she wants to "expose" my abilities to Horikita, making her interested in me, hence, Horikita would try to force me to cooperate with her to reach Class A.
Unfortunately for Chabashira-sensei, Horikita was already interested in me (Not in a romantic sense), my mind clarified. From the moment I told her my plan to blackmail Class C, she knew my abilities or part of them. So I wasn't worried about her finding out. Sooner or later, she would figure it out.
"Hey, sensei. Before our guest arrives on the rooftop to talk about my private matter," I said, emphasizing the last words while making a gesture of air quotes, "Since we have some time, how about we talk about some doubts I have right now?"
Chabashira shrugged indifferently. "I don't mind. As long as I'm allowed to answer it."
"Well then. At the beginning of May, when you gave us a list of topics we had to study, which mysteriously, the day we pointed out that you gave us the wrong topics, you said the school had changed the topics and 'forgot to tell us.' You did it intentionally, didn't you?"
Chabashira-sensei arched an eyebrow. "As you say, I forgot to tell you at that time. But wasn't that problem solved by someone in your class the next day? I don't see why to complain about it."
"Even though our class was able to avoid the consequences at that time. I wonder what would have happened if no one in our class found out that the midterm exam topics had been changed then," I said, narrowing my eyes. "Several of our classmates would probably have been expelled from school for not being good enough academically, or am I wrong?"
"That's a good hypothetical scenario you've formulated, but what about it?"
"Whether you 'forgot' to tell us was intentional or not, it doesn't matter now. But I wondered what would have happened if some of our classmates didn't get the necessary points to pass the exam. What if Sudō had failed the test by one point, then what would happen?"
"That's obvious. He would be expelled from school for not passing the exam. It's a fact you can't change. But I don't
see that worry as necessary, do I? Class D has worked hard enough for everyone to pass."
"It's true that Class D has worked hard in recent months. But that's beside the point of my hypothetical scenario. What I want to know is if there's a way to avoid expulsion."
"I see where you're going. Yes, there is, to avoid a student's expulsion, you must pay 20 million points," Chabashira replied before taking a puff of her cigarette.
"But that's in the case of being able to avoid expulsion, isn't it?" I gave her a cunning smile.
"What do you mean?"
"What I mean is that there's another way to avoid the expulsion of that student for not meeting the necessary points to pass the exam, isn't there?" My cunning smile grew.
Chabashira-sensei smiled. "Are you saying there might be another way? Can you clarify how you can prove it if what you're saying is true?" She gave me a challenging look as if daring me to spill the beans.
"You said it yourself on the first day of school. There's nothing that can't be done with points at this school. The midterm exam is one of the other things at school. So it leads me to assume I can buy points for a specific subject test."
Chabashira-sensei gave me a look of amazement before bursting into laughter. "Hahaha. That's a very interesting conclusion. So I was right. You're different from the other students. I never imagined you could draw such a terrifying conclusion."
"Even though you didn't confirm my answer, your reaction just confirmed that I was right. So, how much would it cost to buy a point for the test? 50,000 private points? 100,000 private points? What if it's two points, would the price be double that amount or the same? Please answer."
Chabashira-sensei froze, trying to hide her look, but she couldn't avoid the shock on her face at my accurate and terrifying guess.
Chabashira-sensei's expression was priceless. Unable to contain myself, I burst into laughter. God! I wish I had captured her beautiful face in an image. Fortunately for me, her face will be stored in my memory forever.
"Hahaha. I'm sorry," I said as I clutched my stomach, trying to stop laughing, "It wasn't my *haha* intention to laugh at such a serious moment like this. But I couldn't help it. Anyway, your exaggerated reaction confirmed my guess, or at least I'm close to getting it right." My expression turned serious suddenly, and my calculating eyes met hers as I tilted my head to evaluate her. "What's the price for a point for a midterm exam? I hope you'll answer, otherwise, I'll ask another teacher, and if they answer, I can accuse you of your indifference towards our class."
"You're quite impressive, Nakatomi, a bit scary, to be honest. But I'm not allowed to tell you anything. Whether you believe it or not, it's not my problem," Chabashira-sensei said.
"Hmm. Let's see with another question then, how many points would it take for me to be 10 minutes late to the first class tomorrow?" My smile returned. I had her like a cat has a mouse trapped, and she couldn't do anything to avoid it, or she would face consequences.
"I see... so that's how it is? Well, for you to be 10 minutes late, let's see... the school will allow it for 15,000 private points."
The school, Huh. Not her, the school. So the rumor that the school has a manual for every situation is true. She couldn't tell me the private points needed for a midterm exam. Is it because she can't say the price? Due to certain requirements? How many events or situations are registered in the manual anyway?
"Hmm, 15,000 points, Eh. Let's see with another one, how many private points are needed for me to be 5 minutes late to the first class tomorrow?"
Chabashira-sensei narrowed her eyes in amazement. "What are you trying to do? What's the point of all this questioning?"
"Please answer," I said, ignoring her questions.
"Tch... let's see... 7,500 points for you to be 5 minutes late."
"For 15 minutes late?" I gave her a sly smile.
Chabashira-sensei sighed resignedly. "22,500 private points."
"I see. I think I understand the cost of points now. You have a manual, don't you? Where you have a record of every situation. But you didn't answer about the cost of points for the midterm exams. So there must be certain requirements, right?"
"You... What?" Chabashira tried to say something, but I ignored her as I delved into my thoughts.
If there wasn't a manual, Chabashira-sensei would have given random prices and wouldn't have been so impressed. But as all this was written in the manual, she was obligated to comply with the printed prices. 7,500 for 5 minutes, 15,000 for 10 minutes, 22,500 points for 15. If we follow the sequence she gave, then for 20 minutes, it would be 30,000 private points.
This could mean that for two midterm exam points, it would be 200,000 points. Still, if I buy something from the manual when I try to buy it again, will the cost be higher? There's only one way to find out.
"Alright, then I'll buy the 5 minutes late for the first class tomorrow," I said as I took my student card out of my pocket, snapping Chabashira out of her shock.
"So you'll buy it? May I ask why? As far as I'm concerned, you've never been late to any class." Chabashira-sensei asked a very accurate question. She probably already had a suspicion about what I was trying to do right now.
But I didn't plan to tell her my true motives. It's better to let her be surprised when I ask again.
"Eh. I want to have time to have breakfast calmly and not worry about the class entry time," I said as I shrugged.
Chabashira-sensei didn't believe me but decided not to ask further. Instead, she took my student card. "Alright. I'll return it to you once the points have been deducted from your account."
"Oh, one more thing. The reason you called me and also called the guest was to make this person aware of my abilities, wasn't it? And what you're holding in your hands inside the folder are my grades, right?" I smiled with amusement when she raised an eyebrow. "I don't think it's necessary now. I did it for you. That's why I started the conversation so she would be aware of my observation and deduction skills," then I looked at the half-open door of the rooftop.
"Isn't that right, Horikita?"
The best way to confirm my abilities to another person is... By demonstrating them.
I looked towards the half-open door on the rooftop. When Horikita was discovered listening to our conversation, she had no choice but to come out. Horikita looked me directly in the eyes, giving me a hesitant look.
I'm not surprised; I suppose she must be astonished by what I've explained to our teacher. I don't know at what point Horikita started listening, but it didn't matter. From her expression, I knew she had heard enough to be forced to change her opinion about me.
"I see. So, you knew as well, huh? I am indeed surprised," Chabashira-sensei said sincerely in her serious tone, but I could see the sweat trickling down her neck.
Apparently, she knew I was an exceptional student, far beyond the average level. Yet, she still underestimated me. The confidence she had at the beginning of our meeting had vanished, but she was still holding strong.
I had to give her credit; her obsession with reaching Class A is quite high. That gives her enough determination to the point of manipulating Horikita and blackmailing Ayanokōji. She has enough arrogance to think her profession as a teacher will protect her from the students.
"You... Nakatomi-kun, how smart are you? Why do you hide that fact from everyone?" Horikita frowned. She already had an idea of my observational skills and my quick thinking to solve problems as they arose.
"I don't know how smart I am. But I've never tried to hide my abilities. If others don't notice my skills, it's not my problem. Unlike you, I don't brag about my intelligence because it's foolish," I replied.
I wasn't lying. I don't try to hide my abilities; I just try to avoid the attention they might bring. If I wanted to hide my skills, I wouldn't have spoken to Yōsuke in the first place and never would have left any clues.
My classmates don't notice my abilities because they refuse to believe it. They can see the evidence with their own eyes, making them suspect something is wrong. But until they see firsthand what I can do, people prefer to remain ignorant.
I mean, Matsushita discovered me due to the evidence I left behind at times. She was able to conclude my abilities. There might be other people who suspect me, but I don't care much about what people know.
Horikita glared at me, "Are you saying that showing your abilities is foolish?" She rolled her eyes, giving me a look of uncertainty. "Although you say you don't hide them, your academic results show otherwise. I don't understand why you should hide the fact that you're good at something."
I scoffed while looking at her mockingly, "You don't understand? I'm not surprised, given your arrogant attitude toward others. The reason my academic scores aren't as good as yours isn't because I'm hiding my abilities. It's to buy myself time."
"Buying time?" Horikita asked, confused.
I sighed. Tch, how troublesome.
"You know the reason Chabashira-sensei called us here, right?"
"I heard your argument. Sensei wanted to show me your abilities; that's what you said, isn't it? But you don't have any decisive evidence for it, so it's an unstable theory," Horikita replied.
"Oh~ Do you deny it? Wasn't that the reason she also called Ayanokōji?" I turned to Chabashira-sensei, who was watching our debate with amusement.
"The reason he was called is confidential," Chabashira-sensei tried to deny it. But unfortunately for her, Horikita showed a look of surprise and understanding.
"Is that true, sensei? It wasn't just Ayanokōji-kun, but now Nakatomi-kun too?" Horikita asked.
"It's true. I told you about them because they are the class meant to reach Class A," Chabashira-sensei admitted.
Horikita shuddered, then frowned. "Wait... How did you know why sensei called Ayanokōji? I don't think he told you about it. I also don't see you two talking except on a few occasions," she said, confused.
"Well, first, you've noticed that sensei shows indifference to our class, right?" I waited for Horikita to nod. "It's not her fault. Getting a group of misfit students for several years would make any teacher lose hope of their class being promoted, right? But... this year was completely different," I smiled slyly.
My gaze turned back to Sensei again. "You wouldn't notice it at first glance, but if you pay attention, you can see the slight hope that emerged in her. This year, Class D, despite having incompetent students, also has students who excel in various aspects. For example, Kushida, Karuizawa, and Yōsuke, help with class cohesion. Yukimura and Mii-chan are academically good. Sudō has better athletic skills. And finally, students who aren't ordinary like Koenji and Ayanokoji."
"What are you trying to say?" Horikita looked at me confused. Did she not understand my point?
"I'm saying that sensei is acting indifferent when in reality, it's the opposite. On the first day of class, when she told us the school rules, she seemed disappointed. But when I started asking questions, excitement was the first thing that came to her face, followed by hope. She thought that after my disguised questions, it would help the class so our points wouldn't be reduced."
"Did you realize the school system at the beginning of the year?" Horikita asked, surprised. "If so, then why didn't you help before? We could have avoided the sanction in our class," she frowned at me.
"Hmm. Maybe, but I didn't want to attract attention. Besides, I had a reason for it," I shook my head as I refocused. "Anyway, back to the point. Sensei thought I would help our class, but after a certain amount of time, she stopped giving me subtle looks, not as subtle as she thought. At that point, I knew she was interested in me and another particular student."
"Don't beat around the bush, Nakatomi. Horikita is getting restless, you know?" Chabashira-sensei joked.
"Tch. What I'm trying to say is that despite seeming indifferent to our class's situation, it's quite the opposite. That's why you went so far as to make Horikita interested in Ayanokōji. And when you saw my exam results along with my answers, you planned to make Horikita interested in me as a countermeasure, didn't you?" sensei's expression darkened, but her smile remained. Then I turned to Horikita. "Aren't you curious, Horikita? The reason or motive she has for doing this? If sensei were indifferent about it, then there wouldn't be a need for this, right? Correct me if I'm wrong, sensei."
Horikita shifted her gaze between sensei and me. She was thinking deeply, processing the information.
Chabashira-sensei sighed, "You really are different, Nakatomi. Alright, you win. You're right in what you're saying; you don't even have much information to work with, but you still managed to deduce everything," she knew I hadn't finished entirely. "So, Nakatomi, what's the point? What's your reason for this whole 'I've exposed you' fiasco?"
A reason, Huh. Even if I already knew everything, I did this 'I've exposed you' because it would help me in the long run. Besides, I could gain something from Horikita and maybe get her to stop being such a pain. But those were secondary reasons.
"I just want to ask you a simple question, sensei. Now, Horikita, based on everything you've heard, what do you think my question is?" I turned to Horikita, asking her to test her, wanting to see how accurate she could be.
"I'm not sure... However, if my guess is correct, the question should be: Do you want us to surpass Class A? Right?" Horikita turned to me, seeking confirmation.
No! Not that! Where did you sit, Horikita? Although her question was a good guess, it wasn't what I was trying to ask. It was obvious that just by listening to my argument, you could conclude that Chabashira-sensei wants us to surpass Class A.
"That's a bit off the mark, Horikita," I paused to look at Chabashira-sensei again before continuing. "The question is: How obsessed are you with Class A?"
"Obsessed?" Horikita was a bit confused.
"That's right. Otherwise, she wouldn't put so much effort into speaking to us directly. A teacher must be impartial with the students, regardless of the class they're in. But I can tell from the look in Sensei's eyes that she won't be satisfied until our class becomes Class A. That's why I ask this question," I then glared at Chabashira-sensei. "How high is your obsession? How far would you go to achieve your goal?"
People with obsessions can be dangerous, not just to themselves but also to those around them. It also depends on how obsessed one can be with something, to the point of committing atrocities.
For example, we can consider Yuno Gasai from the anime Mirai Nikki. Her obsession with the protagonist leads her to kill any woman who tries to take him away or anyone who puts him in danger. But, you have to admit, if it weren't for her, the protagonist would have died. The protagonist owes everything to her.
"Do you think you've figured everything out, Nakatomi?" Chabashira-sensei asked with a smile.
Well, yes. Because I already knew that beforehand, but I'm not going to tell you that. Still, I guess it works for me. To increase their impression of me, on them.
"I don't know, but I'm not so arrogant to say that I don't make mistakes," I shrugged nonchalantly. "So, Sensei, correct me if I'm wrong in my conjecture."
"What do you think, Horikita? Do you believe everything Nakatomi has said so far?" Chabashira-sensei turned her attention to Horikita.
"Honestly, I'm not sure. Nakatomi's arguments lack evidence to back them up, so everything he's saying is based on theories and hypotheses. Therefore, his argument lacks veracity. But you are acting suspiciously, Sensei," Horikita responded.
"Oh, please. You don't have to try so hard to act skeptical, Horikita. It's okay to be impressed. After all, he's entirely correct. I want Class A. I want you to become Class A," Chabashira-sensei admitted.
"Do you understand now, Horikita? In case you didn't know, there are different rewards for teachers depending on which class they lead. But... she doesn't care about that, no. Her reason isn't something so trivial. Her obsession comes from something more personal," I said.
"You've just been guessing and things like that from the beginning, Nakatomi-kun, you're simply speculating—" Horikita was interrupted by Chabashira-sensei.
"Horikita, his speculations were all accurate. This is no exception. I have my personal and very good reason for wanting to reach Class A, but that's not for you to know. Just remember that I'll be on your side, as long as you aim for Class A," Chabashira-sensei shrugged.
"Well, I have no problem aiming for Class A. I've even managed to make some allies, Sensei. But if you want my absolute cooperation on this matter, then I will have to set a condition," I said.
"Oh, and what would that be, Nakatomi?" Chabashira-sensei smiled satisfactorily.
"In exchange for my cooperation, I expect you not to bother a certain student to the point of blackmailing him to gain his cooperation. Trust me, it's better not to mess with him. Otherwise..." My eyes narrowed maliciously as I released a bit of killing intent, "It could be your greatest regret. Chabashira-san."
Chabashira-sensei and Horikita felt a chill run down their spines.
Chabashira-sensei sighed, "Fine. But I expect you to provide results so the class can surpass Class A."
Good, then my primary objective for this was achieved. I'll still have to keep an eye on Chabashira-sensei to ensure she doesn't do anything against Ayanokōji.
I gave her a thumbs-up and smiled. A 180-degree change, but oh well. It doesn't matter. "Sure. It won't be easy, it will certainly take time, so I'll ask for patience. But reaching Class A isn't impossible. Especially with the advantage we'll soon gain."
"Earlier you told me you didn't believe our class could reach Class A. But now you're saying we can reach Class A," Horikita narrowed her eyes. "It's as if you're saying you can lead our class to the top. But I can't."
"What you're saying is correct. I don't believe you have the necessary skills to lead our class to the top. Your academic skills are above almost all our classmates, and I can also say you have good athletic abilities because I noticed during your time in the pool. But that's not enough to reach Class A," I responded.
"Who do you think you are? I can acknowledge that you're intelligent, but that doesn't mean you're a superior student. I believe I can do better than you in academics, except maybe in math or anything related to numbers. But in other subjects, I have absolute confidence in beating you," Horikita said indignantly.
"Oh really?" Chabashira-sensei looked at me with a curious smile, probably unaware of the extent of my abilities. I was already intelligent when I was brought into this world. But now I can say with certainty that I'm much better than before thanks to the other guy inside me.
I casually shrugged my shoulders. "Well. I don't have to prove anything to you, Horikita. I gave you a demonstration of the math competition we had. You've even seen my observation and deduction skills. You'd be a fool to think math is my only strength. I only chose it to seem good at something. When you're surrounded by many girls, they tend to ask many questions," I said.
"Are you so confident in your abilities?" Horikita asked, frowning with sweat running down her forehead. Probably wondering if I'm as good in other subjects as I am in math.
I shrugged, not responding to her. "Well, thanks for the chat, Sensei. I can certainly say it was a productive talk." Then I turned to Horikita. "If you want me to answer your question, it would be better if we leave. There's nothing else to do here," I said softly before walking down the stairs.
Horikita followed after bowing slightly to Chabashira-sensei, who saw us off with a smile before returning to smoking in the open air.
Unable to bear the silence, Horikita grew impatient as we reached the third floor. "So, are you confident in your abilities? How good are you?"
"Hmm, let's see... Horikita, do you know if ϒ is rational? Do you know the answer to π+? e? How about the Birch and Swinnerton-Dyer conjecture, or perhaps the Riemann Hypothesis?" I asked.
"What the hell?... I... I can guess those are mathematical concepts, but I don't... I don't know them. Why are you suddenly asking that?" Horikita became even more confused.
"Those are some of the mathematical problems that remain unsolved to this day. I've reached such a high level in mathematics that, to this day, there isn't a single exercise I can't solve, except for those unresolved problems. If I can be that good in mathematics, how good do you think I am in other subjects?"
Damn, now I want to know what past life Nakatomi had to be able to learn at that level in mathematics. I was an expert in problem-solving, but with my brain's recent adaptation, it's as if I've evolved to the next level.
That's why, when I had the opportunity, I began researching much more about mathematics. I even stayed up all night to understand the world's most complicated mathematical problems. I did it so that it would be of great help in the future.
You never know how learning more about mathematics might help you in the future. For example, the special exams coming up will use mathematics. Moreover, a better understanding means a better explanation for the people I'm teaching.
"That's just... ridiculous... Do you really think I would believe that...?" Horikita gasped.
"Of course not. You're free to believe whatever you want. You have no obligation to believe me," I said, stopping when we reached the door. "I hope you don't forget the favor you owe me, Horikita. We're soon going to face Ryūen, so I hope you're ready and don't disappoint me." I glanced over my shoulder at Horikita, who remained silent.
"I guess this is where we part ways," I said.
With that, I left Horikita, who started heading to the dorms to get to her room and think about what she had learned that day. I, on the other hand, went to the convenience store because I wanted to buy an ice cream.
These days, it's been unbearably hot.