CICN 72

Chapter 72

Monday morning. A new sheet had been posted on the dormitory bulletin board.

It was the timetable announcing the start of midterm exams.

The exam period would last for two weeks.

During this exam period, all regular classes were suspended, and each class had a single test.

As the students looked at the paper listing the exam schedules and locations for each subject, they all began to jot down their own schedules in their notebooks.

“What should I do… I really didn’t study at all…”

Among the younger students, some even teared up while checking their exam schedules.

However, their friends couldn’t bring themselves to comfort them.

The atmosphere at the academy had changed drastically with the start of exams.

Even though many students came from noble families, and some had their weaknesses, they all possessed the minimum qualities necessary to be admitted to the academy.

They might not excel in every subject, but everyone had at least one area of strength that they could proudly showcase.

Outside the academy, they were considered geniuses because their talents were extraordinary compared to their peers.

But once inside the academy, they all realized just how arrogant they had been.

Here, everyone had talent.

As a result, those who had been praised as geniuses outside were merely ordinary students here.

“I’m not special.”

This realization was a huge shock for the students.

Up until now, they had managed to cope somehow.

But with exams starting and the grades soon to be revealed, fear began to creep in—what if their ranking was low?

The academy did not expel students for poor grades.

Instead, the bottom 20% were judged to need extra study and would later attend supplementary classes.

The students feared having to attend those classes.

It was proof that their grades were at the bottom.

“Other students will definitely laugh at me for being stupid.”

So everyone became desperate.

Evi also felt the shift in atmosphere.

Above all, Ruska—the one who had been the most careless in class among the four—was starting to take things seriously.

He was the type who always draped his jacket over his shoulders and unbuttoned a few shirt buttons to move freely and play with friends.

During lessons, he often played pranks, and Professor Malres had scolded him several times, tugging on his ear: “Can’t you focus?!”

But now, none of that careless demeanor was visible.

Ruska, dressed neatly in his uniform, sat with perfect posture, concentrating fully on solving problems.

Evi couldn’t take her eyes off this serious side of Ruska she had never seen before.

After working on a math problem for a while, he wrote down his answer and handed it to Evi.

“Evi, can you check this?”

“Yes… hmm…”

Evi examined the notebook he handed her from the top.

“This one’s correct. But this solution here is off. You needed to include a square here…”

Evi carefully explained the mistakes.

Ruska didn’t miss a word, jotting down notes and reviewing all his errors from the start.

“So if I solve it like this, it’ll be correct?”

Listening intently to Evi’s explanation, Ruska smiled and presented his new solution.

“Yes! That’s correct!”

Evi clapped softly, and Ruska replied with a laugh.

“It’s easy to understand when you teach me, Evi.”

“But Professor Malres teaches well too, right?”

Evi tilted her head, puzzled, and Ruska gave a wry smile.

“That’s when I’m with you or Arsel… normal people sometimes can’t keep up with his frenzy.”

“Ruska, you study well too.”

He always pretended to cry, claiming he was the worst at studying among the four.

But Evi didn’t believe him.

When Ruska explained, he understood quickly.

He could solve problems he couldn’t solve just a moment ago in an instant.

Though, of course, he would later go back to fooling around, which was the problem.

Professor Malres would often mutter, “That kid’s smart, but strangely, he just won’t push himself further…”

Each time, Ruska would briefly glance at Arsel with a complex expression.

“No matter how well I do, I can’t match Arsel.”

His answer was somehow weaker than usual.

“You know when you look at Arsel, right? He’s good at everything, isn’t he?”

“Yes…”

As Ruska said, Arsel truly excelled at all subjects to a terrifying degree.

At first, Professor Malres had been reluctant to teach other students, but after teaching Arsel, he would look at him with a glint in his eye, saying, “Don’t you want to focus solely on math?”

“I can’t match him no matter how hard I try. It’s hard to be better than Arsel at anything.”

Evi pondered for a moment and then replied:

“But Ruska, you’re taller.”

“That’s…”

“And faster at running.”

“Maybe it’s just because I’m a bit taller, like you said.”

“You’re better at ball games too.”

“That’s because I didn’t study and played with friends instead.”

“You sing well too.”

Evi continued recalling all his strengths.

Ruska claimed he had no qualities superior to Arsel, but Evi didn’t see it that way.

Ruska was genuinely a good person.

That’s why he was always surrounded by people.

Even if the professors shook their heads at his pranks, no one truly disliked him.

Whenever Ruska appeared or spoke, people would smile and greet him warmly.

“I’ve never seen anyone as liked by everyone as Ruska.”

Evi was genuinely envious.

Everyone liked him, and Ruska liked everyone.

Being near him always felt comforting.

“So I want to be like Ruska when I grow up.”

“…”

At Evi’s words, Ruska lowered his gaze for a moment.

The nape of his neck turned red.

He looked down at the floor in embarrassment, then lifted his head to meet Evi’s eyes.

In a quiet voice, he said:

“…Thank you.”

He kept looking into her eyes for a while, then raised his hand and tousled her hair.

Then, in his usual playful tone, he spoke again:

“But how long are you going to keep calling me Ruska? Irene always calls you by name.”

“Um, that’s…”

“Try it now. Say Ruska.”

Ruska rested his chin on his hand, looking eagerly at Evi.

Hesitating, Evi glanced around.

Just walking together drew plenty of glares, and calling him by name might draw even more.

But if she continued calling him “Ruska-nim” (honorific), it seemed like it might upset him.

Considering both the stares and Ruska’s anticipation, Evi finally decided.

“Ru…ska?”

Ruska’s eyes softened as he looked at her.

“Good. One more time.”

“Ru…ska.”

“It’s still a bit awkward. Say it again.”

“…Ruska.”

At first, it was hard for Evi to drop the honorific, but after repeating a few times, it felt natural.

After making her say his name dozens of times, Ruska finally said she could stop.

“So where’s Irene today? She wouldn’t just leave you alone.”

“Irene… wants to study alone today.”

Since exams started, Irene had been unusually keen to be alone.

With the classroom empty, when invited to study together, she had refused politely, preferring to study alone in her room.

Seeing Irene not cling to her made Evi feel a little uneasy and disappointed.

“Hmm.”

Ruska nodded as if understanding.

“So that’s why you looked so gloomy when you came earlier.”

While Evi was lost in thought about Irene, Ruska seized the opportunity, holding her cheeks gently with both hands.

He pulled slightly, but not painfully.

“See? You’d cry.”

“I-Au-uh-yo.” (I’m not crying.)

Evi shot him a sharp glare, and Ruska chuckled.

“Gotta satisfy my selfish desires while Irene’s away.”

Then he extended his hand.

“Today, I’ll feed you a bit. Let’s go eat!”