The two weeks leading up to the midterms felt like an eternity and a blink, all at once. Ren, armed with a newfound, desperate resolve, had plunged himself into the alien world of modern academics. His days were a blur of textbooks, online tutorials, and Itami's frantic, yet surprisingly effective, tutoring sessions. Even Li Wei, amidst her student council duties and her own quiet investigations, offered strategic advice on how to best absorb the vast, often contradictory, information.
He sat in the library, a thick history textbook open before him, its pages filled with names and dates that felt utterly disconnected from the living, breathing events he remembered.
The concept of "memorization for examination" was still an irritating absurdity, but a necessary one. He was trying to parse a passage on the "Age of Exploration," his mind scoffing at the simplified narratives.
"So, Columbus 'discovered' America, did he?" Ren muttered under his breath, a faint sneer on his lips. "As if entire civilizations did not already thrive there. The arrogance of this age is truly boundless."
A soft chuckle came from the adjacent table. Ren looked up, startled. A girl, with long, dark hair tied back in a practical ponytail and intelligent, curious eyes, was looking at him. She held a worn copy of a classical literature book.
"You think so too?" she asked, her voice quiet but clear. "It's always bothered me, that phrasing. As if history only begins when the 'explorers' arrive."
Ren blinked. He hadn't expected anyone to overhear him, much less agree. He had grown accustomed to his anachronistic thoughts being met with blank stares or Itami's bewildered amusement. "Indeed," he replied, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. "The victors write the history, it seems, even in this era."
The girl smiled, a genuine, unforced expression. "I'm Sakura. I've seen you and Itami around. And Li Wei, too. You're Ren, right?"
Ren nodded. "That is my current designation."
Sakura's smile widened slightly, a hint of amusement in her eyes. "Current designation? You're a bit... formal. I like it." She gestured to the empty chair opposite him. "Mind if I join you? I'm struggling with the 'causes of the French Revolution' and you seem to have a... unique perspective on history."
Ren hesitated. His instincts screamed caution. He was trying to keep a low profile, to avoid drawing more attention than the "Ren and Li Wei" rumors already had. Yet, her interest seemed genuine, and her comment about history resonated with him. He also needed to understand this world's academic nuances. "Very well."
Sakura slid into the chair, her presence quiet and unassuming. "So, the French Revolution. Our textbook says it was about economic inequality and Enlightenment ideas. But it feels... deeper, somehow. More primal."
Ren leaned forward, a spark igniting within him.
This was a question he could answer, not from a textbook, but from the raw, visceral experience of ruling. "It is about the inherent instability of power when the social contract is broken," he began, his voice taking on a familiar, authoritative tone. "When the common man sees his suffering ignored, and the ruling class grows complacent in its luxury, the seeds of rebellion are sown. Ideas are merely the fuel; the fire is lit by desperation and the thirst for justice, or vengeance."
Sakura listened, utterly captivated, her eyes wide. She didn't interrupt, didn't question the anachronistic phrasing. She simply absorbed his words, her gaze thoughtful. "Wow," she breathed when he finished. "That's... powerful. Our teacher never put it like that." She paused, then looked at him directly. "You know, I've been watching you and Itami for a while. You're... different. In a good way. And you seem to have a really strong bond."
Ren felt a familiar awkwardness. "Itami is... a loyal companion."
"Yeah, he seems like it," Sakura agreed, a soft smile on her face. "And you're always so intense, even when you're just studying. It's cool. I don't have a lot of friends who are really into history, or who think about things so... deeply." She fiddled with a loose thread on her bookbag. "I was wondering, maybe... could we be friends? You, me, and Itami? We could study together, or just hang out. I think it would be fun."
Ren stared at her. Another friendship request. Itami had been an unexpected ally, a necessary guide. Li Wei was a general, a comrade-in-arms. But Sakura... she was a stranger, offering a connection based on shared intellectual curiosity and a desire for simple companionship. His emperor's mind, ever wary, saw only potential complications, distractions from the looming war. He had no time for frivolous attachments.
"My apologies, Sakura," Ren said, his voice stiff, a polite rejection. "My focus at this time must remain on the upcoming examinations. And other... urgent matters." He gestured vaguely at the textbook.
Sakura's smile faltered slightly, a hint of disappointment in her eyes. "Oh. Right. Midterms. Of course." She nodded, a little awkwardly.
"Well, if you change your mind, or if you ever want to talk history, I'm usually here." She gave a small wave and then, sensing his reluctance, quietly gathered her books and moved to another table, leaving Ren alone once more.
Ren watched her go, a faint, unfamiliar pang in his chest. He had done the logical thing, the strategic thing. He had minimized potential distractions.
Yet, the quiet disappointment in Sakura's eyes lingered.
He returned to his textbook, but the words seemed to blur. The "urgent matters" of the war, the looming midterms, the constant threat of Valerius – they were all consuming. But for a brief moment, a simple offer of friendship had cut through the noise, a reminder of the human connections he had once commanded, and now, in this new life, seemed destined to push away.