Chapter 15: Challenging Me to a Match Again?

“If you’re stuck on anything, just ask Phantom. She knows everything.”

With Phantom’s help, Yuriko successfully caught up with the curriculum, recording every important point mentioned in class.

“Whew, it’s finally over — “

After math class ended, Yuriko gave a massive stretch and then slumped into her seat.

Her brain, which had not been used in a long time, had gone into overload today.

After listening to an entire period, she did not want to see anything related to mathematics ever again.

“Good job. Ruri, your notes are so thorough. Did you really understand everything?”

Carmilla had spotted the notes on Yuriko’s desk.

They contained every key point, proving that Yuriko understood the material well enough to know what was important.

Her notes even included mind maps, which was something even Carmilla couldn’t manage.

“I tried my best to listen, but there are still many parts I don’t understand.”

Yuriko sat back up and asked Carmilla several simple questions.

Although Phantom had already answered these questions for her, it would be too suspicious if she understood everything perfectly on her first day.

She had to put on a bit of a performance.

“I see. Still, being able to follow along this much makes you very impressive, Ruri.”

Carmilla answered those few questions for Yuriko.

Her explanations were even more meticulous than Phantom’s; she even repeated the more difficult parts, using more common and detailed ways to explain them.

“So that’s how it is. I totally get it now! You explain things so clearly, Carmilla. You’d definitely make a great teacher.”

“You think so? I just wanted to make sure you learned this, Ruri.”

“Really! With you teaching, even an idiot could learn!”

“You’re going to make me blush if you keep praising me like that — “

Carmilla was quite thin-skinned.

A single compliment from Yuriko sent a flush of crimson across her cheeks, but the sheer joy on her face proved she actually quite enjoyed the praise.

While Yuriko was complimenting Carmilla, Nomily, who was sitting in the front row, glanced back.

Seeing that Yuriko had no intention of leaving the classroom yet, she clutched her textbook and marched over to Yuriko’s desk with long strides.

“I want to challenge you to a match!” she shouted.

“Huh?”

Yuriko looked back at Nomily, her eyes wide with confusion.

‘Again?’

“Student Kipling, didn’t we just have a match last period?”

“Last period was a test of physical fitness. This time, I’m here to challenge you to arithmetic!”

Yuriko noticed that she was holding a textbook, paper, and a pen. It seemed she had come prepared.

However, most of the class had already left. Beating Nomily at math wouldn’t do much to boost her popularity.

Furthermore, after a full day of classes, Yuriko was mentally exhausted. She had no desire to accept this challenge.

“Student Kipling, school is already over. How about we do this another day?”

“Besides, look, I just enrolled. There’s still so much I haven’t learned. I’m definitely no match for you in arithmetic, so let’s just forget about it.”

Hearing Yuriko’s excuse, Nomily actually hesitated. Yuriko had only just started, while she had been studying at the Academy for 4 years.

Doing this did feel a bit unfair, almost like she was bullying the new girl.

“Well, then…”

Just as Nomily was about to give in and find Yuriko another day, Yuri, who was sitting behind Yuriko, spoke up.

“But I just heard you say you understood everything, Yuriko. And your notes are so good; maybe you understand the material even better than we do — “

Yuriko’s body stiffened. She turned to look at Yuri. Class had been over for 10 minutes; why was she still here?

“Student Yuri, you haven’t left yet?”

“Hee-hee, because I had a premonition that you’d be in trouble, Yuriko, so I stayed behind specifically to help you. No need to thank me — “

‘Who would thank you!’

Yuriko desperately wanted to grab Yuri’s head and knead her cheeks like dough.

How much trouble had Yuri caused her in just this one day?

Upon hearing this, the doubt in Nomily’s eyes instantly vanished, replaced by firm determination.

“Were you lying to me?”

“No, no, I just feel like I’m still far behind the rest of the class, so…”

“Hmph! Are you looking down on me? Do you think I’m useless just because I lost to you before?”

“No, no, no! I definitely don’t think that!”

Yuriko denied it immediately.

She didn’t dare let herself be labeled as someone who discriminated against her classmates.

“If that’s the case, then hurry up and compete with me! Otherwise, you’re definitely looking down on me!”

‘Why does refusing a match mean I’m looking down on you? Just how obsessed are you with this?’

“Sigh, alright then.”

Yuriko had no choice but to agree, hoping to finish the match quickly so she could go home.

“However, since this is a match, I have a request I hope Student Kipling can grant.”

“What request?”

“If I win the upcoming match, I hope Student Kipling will address me by my name properly.”

“And if I win, I’ll call you the Pink-haired Cow.”

‘C—Cow?!’

Yuriko looked down at herself. Sure, they were a bit large, but calling her a cow was an exaggeration.

Was Nomily really that fixated on chest size?

Before Yuriko could object, Carmilla, who was beside her, couldn’t help but speak up.

“Student Kipling, that is far too disrespectful to Ruri.”

“Hmm?”

Nomily looked at Carmilla.

Her gaze unconsciously drifted downward before shifting back to Yuriko.

“Curse the big-chest faction, forming an alliance! Fine, fine. Regardless of whether I win or lose, I’ll call you by your name. Is that good enough?”

Hearing that she wouldn’t be called a cow, Yuriko breathed a sigh of relief.

She was already quite dissatisfied with how well she had developed; if someone actually started calling her a cow, she would truly have a breakdown.

“That’s wonderful. How would you like to conduct the match, Student Kipling?”

Nomily looked up at Carmilla and said, “Then let Carmilla set the problems! Whoever finishes faster with the highest accuracy wins!”

“You want me to set the problems? But I just learned this myself. I’m afraid I’m not qualified.”

Carmilla had only just learned the material; she wasn’t at the level where she could design problems for others yet.

Nomily’s gaze then shifted to Yuri. Yuri immediately waved her hands.

“My math isn’t as good as Carmilla’s. It’ll be even worse if you ask me.”

“Ugh.”

Nomily agonized for a moment before walking back to her seat.

She whispered a few words into Olesia’s ear and then dragged Olesia back over.

She actually went and got Olesia?

Olesia, who was being pulled along, had a look of helplessness on her face.

She said to Yuriko, “I’m sorry. I have to trouble you to put up with Nomily’s nonsense.”

“Elder Sister, I am not talking nonsense! I’m just testing to see if she’s qualified to study in the same classroom as you!”

“Yes, yes, I know you’re doing this for my sake — “

Olesia said, gently patting Nomily’s head.