The exam hall was unusually quiet, the scratching of pens echoing like rainfall. Reina sat in her usual spot—far corner, back row. She answered each question with calm precision, the tip of her pen gliding effortlessly. For her, exams weren't a battle. They were a formality.
Still, her gaze flickered now and then. Two desks away, Hana's brow furrowed deeply, lips pressed in determination. Across from her, Kaito leaned forward, hunched, but his hand moved steadily across the paper.
Reina almost smiled. Almost.
They're actually trying.
She had worried after last week's chaotic study session. But seeing them now, heads bent, pens racing, gave her a small warmth in her chest.
Of course, it didn't last.
"Eh?!" Hana's muffled squeak cut through the silence. Kaito stiffened beside her, eyes widening at the next page of the exam.
Reina blinked, tilting her head. Subtly, she activated her contact lens, zooming in on Hana's paper. The question that stumped them appeared clear in her view: an advanced problem, more difficult than anything ANIER had generated in their practice.
No wonder they panicked.
She sighed softly. Idiots they may be, but they were diligent idiots. That deserved something.
With a flick of her thought command, her halo detached, floating silently from above her head. It drifted toward Hana, who gasped when a faint glow appeared at the corner of her vision.
[Hint: Compare with the energy conversion principle from Chapter 3. Substitute the given values accordingly.]
The message rang directly into Hana's mind, her eyes widening. She scribbled furiously, relief washing over her. The halo floated over to Kaito next.
[Hint: Factorize before substitution. Don't overcomplicate.]
Kaito's eyes widened. His lips curved into a smug grin as he gave a subtle thumbs-up under the desk. Hana, noticing, did the same.
Reina pinched the bridge of her nose. "…Idiots." She returned her focus to her own paper, finishing without a second thought.
A week later, the results were posted. Students crowded around the notice board, chatter filling the hallway.
"Perfect again, as always…" someone whispered, eyes wide as Reina's name sat at the top.
Reina ignored the stares. It was normal. She had long grown numb to it.
What mattered were the others.
"Ha! I passed!" Hana's voice rang out, triumphant. She spun dramatically, holding her paper like a victory flag. "I'm not doomed this time!"
Kaito leaned lazily against the wall, his grin wide. "Almost an A. Not bad for me, huh?"
Reina raised an eyebrow. "Almost. Don't get cocky."
But her lips curved faintly, almost a smile.
Nearby, she noticed Himari standing quietly, her gaze fixed on the board. She had done well, as expected. But what caught Reina's attention was the small, content smile on Himari's face.
"Good job," Reina said softly as she approached.
Himari blinked, startled. Then she smiled warmly, bowing her head. "Thank you, Reina. Really… thank you."
Reina turned away quickly. Compliments made her feel oddly exposed. "…Come on. Let's go."
That afternoon, Reina surprised everyone by leading them toward the station.
"Where are we going?" Hana asked, skipping to keep up."You'll see," Reina replied.
A taxi pulled up, and Reina opened the door. She slid inside first, the others following in confusion. When the ride ended, Reina fumbled with her card awkwardly, not sure how to pay.
Before she could even panic, ANIER's calm voice echoed in her mind.[Transaction completed. Payment sent directly. Driver compensated.]
The taxi driver blinked at his console, startled. "…What just—? Oh. Uh. Thank you!"
Reina nodded curtly, stepping out. Hana and Kaito exchanged wide-eyed looks."Did the taxi just… pay itself?" Hana whispered."Reina, you're like some sci-fi character come to life," Kaito muttered.
Reina ignored them.
The destination? A café. But not just any café. It was the café everyone had been talking about recently—elegant, high-ceilinged, with crystal lights and waiters in pressed uniforms.
"Whoa…" Hana breathed, her jaw practically hitting the floor."This place looks expensive…" Ayumi said, eyes wide."It is," Reina replied bluntly.
She led them inside with her usual calm, ordering grape tea for herself. The others were told to pick whatever they wanted.
Big mistake.
"I'll take this one!" Hana declared, stabbing her finger at the most expensive parfait on the menu."Same here!" Kaito grinned, following suit.
Ayumi and Himari, more sensible, chose lighter options—Ayumi a chocolate latte, Himari a delicate slice of strawberry cake with green tea.
"What's wrong with you two?!" Hana exclaimed, glaring at them. "Why didn't you pick the expensive ones?!""Yeah!" Kaito added dramatically. "This is our once-in-a-lifetime chance!"
Ayumi rolled her eyes. "You're acting like bandits at a feast."Himari only chuckled softly, hiding her smile behind her hand.
Before the bickering escalated, Reina's halo floated down and bonked Hana lightly on the head, then Kaito. Both yelped in unison.
"Order what you want, not what looks pricey," Reina said flatly.
When the drinks and desserts arrived, the atmosphere shifted. Hana's parfait towered like a mountain of cream and fruit, Kaito's just as outrageous. Ayumi sipped her latte with quiet delight, Himari ate gracefully, and Reina…
Reina lifted her grape tea with slow precision, the glow of her halo illuminating her face faintly. The steam curled upward as she sipped. Her posture was so elegant, so refined, that even Ayumi had to blink.
"…Reina, you look like a noblewoman right now," Ayumi whispered."More like a goddess," Hana muttered through a mouthful of cream.
Reina set her cup down, expression calm as always. "Stop exaggerating."
But the faint pink at her ears betrayed her.
After their treats, no one wanted to go home immediately. The city spread out before them, lively and bright.
"Let's wander a bit!" Hana suggested, tugging at Ayumi's sleeve."Fine," Ayumi agreed. "But don't get us lost."
They strolled past boutiques, bookstores, and street vendors. Hana dragged them into a shop full of plush toys, squealing at every cute animal. Kaito almost got scolded for juggling stress balls in the aisle.
At a bookstore, Himari lingered at the literature section, her fingers tracing the spines gently. Reina stood beside her, quietly observing."Find something you like?" she asked.Himari nodded, eyes soft. "Yes. But… maybe next time."
Reina tilted her head but didn't press.
Meanwhile, Hana and Kaito had somehow found a capsule toy machine outside. Both were hunched over it like gamblers at a slot machine."One more coin!" Hana shouted."You said that five coins ago!" Kaito retorted.
Reina walked past them without comment. Her halo, however, floated down and tapped both of them lightly, as if to say, idiots.
The group laughed more than they studied that day. By the time evening shadows stretched long across the city, they were tired but happy.
Back at her lab, Reina finally sat down, the hum of machines greeting her like old friends.
"ANIER. Budget report."
[Displaying.]
Numbers flickered into view. The total balance stared back at her: ¥5,710,920.
Exactly the same as before.
"…It hasn't budged?" Reina muttered.
[Correct. Interest and investment growth have been counterbalanced by expenditure tracking. Net balance remains stable.]
Reina tilted her head, lips pressed. Stable? That didn't make sense.
Before she could puzzle it out further, Hana leaned over her shoulder suddenly. "Whoa! Reina, is that your money?!"
Kaito appeared on her other side. "Wait, wait, is that… millions of yen?!"
Ayumi blinked, jaw dropping. Even Himari gasped softly, her hands covering her mouth.
Reina's eyes widened. "…Ah."
She had completely forgotten they were with her.
The lab went silent. Four pairs of eyes locked on her screen, disbelief written on their faces.
"…Oops," Reina said flatly.