February 23rd, 7:30 am.

Since the special exam annunciation, I couldn't help but look forward to my partner. I was especially excited because I would finally be able to communicate with someone else without having to make the move first.

But, it turned out to be disappointing, to say the least.

Now, I know I read a lot of romance literature but it doesn't hurt to think that a romantic scenario could happen to you pretty soon, right? Most surely when you are paired up with a boy.

The chance is there, therefore, what gives?

Why is my partner so utterly useless in every department?

Those were the thoughts of someone like me, who loves maintaining her appearance, in the morning before going to school.

"Mhm... Mint or cupcake flavor...?"

Something I personally heavily like is toothpaste flavors. Not in the sense where you eat them, but in the sense that when you brush your teeth, you can feel a luscious sensation.

"I'm feeling like choosing cupcake flavor, honestly. Mint sometimes feels too fresh. It's nice to have a change."

Given that I hadn't had this flavor for quite a while, it's been a bit.

I've got a plethora of things to do still. To start off, after brushing my teeth twice, I'll have to apply multiple facial creams. In order to create a pleasant appearance, a facial cream is a must.

Needless to say, since my hair is currently a mess, I need to fix it. My usual look revolves around my noticeable brown twin-tails.

My crystal-like white skin turns out to be very alluring so I naturally take care of it with consistency.

"I'm this pretty yet I'm still single..."

I said those words to the mirror that was in front of me while I kept on brushing my teeth.

Am I far too idealistic to think that romance will naturally come to your life along its years?

Surely, in my past years, I've had plenty of boyfriends.

It was simply a shame for what happened, but it can't be helped.

"Really, what gives? Why? Why is Hyunda so useless when it comes to physical exercise? At this rate, we will fail and for that, it will all be his fault..."

Hajime Hyunda. That's the silver-haired boy who was paired up with me. I'm familiar with the formula for this selection, but it's purely absurd how someone can be this bad at physical exercise.

Obviously, I excel at physical exercise but not to the point where I would put myself in a position to call myself an expert in that area.

Hyunda just sucks at it and, he doesn't try to improve it!

It's been two days ever since and he hasn't shown any sign of desiring a change!

Not only is that bad for me, but for him as well, yet he acts as if he doesn't care!

It's impossible not to care in this scenario because he's doomed if he fails...

"I need to make him be successful in order to make myself be successful!"

As I spat out my saliva mixed with the toothpaste cream to the bottom of the clean sink while saying those words out loud, I had to question some things first...

The real question wasn't if we were going to fail or not, but what could I do to make sure we wouldn't.

Fortunately, I think I just have the right solution in mind. Hyunda, over these last two days, has shown no signs of improvement nor any signs of taking the practical lessons seriously.

He even skips Yuka-sensei's after classes class... This is pure proof that he doesn't care.

Yet, I'll make him care.

"This is going to work. I know it will!"

After all, Hyunda, just like any of the other guys has a very vulnerable weakness and that is, belonging to the male gender.

9:15 am, main classroom, block F.

I could tell that the P.E classes were about to start but what I additionally could tell was that there were multiple eyes on me for a good reason at it too.

That's right. In order to fully capture Hyunda's attention and to drive him into a person who will do what I please, I will resort to my natural beauty as a weapon. It's not as if I haven't done this before, but I had to make sure that he would finally compromise.

Even though it's winter, I am the only girl who is crazy enough to wear her skirt this short. Of course, that wasn't all, I put on my purple lipstick and had a considerable amount of perfume smell on me, which was noticeably amazing.

Plus, as always, I put on a radiant smile for everyone to see me. Tatsu, the one next to me, is looking at me in and out.

He probably thinks that I don't notice his looks but I do.

Do all boys think that we just don't notice?

How stupid.

My current position in comparison to Hyunda's is in the middle line. There are three lines with a total of eight tables on each of the lines, but I was in the middle line while Hyunda was on the left line.

If I were in the left line then my table would be in front of his just by one table.

In other words, from his position, he can see me pretty well.

It's theoretically impossible to deny my abundant feminine charm yet...

"Are we even real, Hyunda? Hey, I found something on the internet last night. Wanna know what it is?"

"What, Ikkiri...?"

Something worth mentioning about Hyunda is that he never takes his face off the outside scene. What I'm saying is that Hyunda never looks at anything except what's outside.

Never for once does he pay attention to class nor does he form any sort of conversation.

The only remarkable interaction from him would be when he and Basara-sensei had that weird one to one talk for whatever reason.

Nevertheless, aside from that, he doesn't cast a single glance at anyone else.

Or, so I thought, but somehow...

"Solipsism! It's so scary but interesting! So listen up, according to Solipsism, there's a vast chance that we are not even real in the first place! Isn't that amazing?!"

"That's not entirely true though. You've explained it badly... Listen, Solipsism is a concept that incorporates the very theory and possibility of the 'self' being the only person who truly exists. This isn't referring to the metaphysical position but-- Actually, I'm wrong... Both in metaphysics and epistemology, the mind of the 'self' is the only thing that exists... Also, it's not a possibility, it's a certainty. Only you exist, the scenario."

Although they are talking in another line and in a place where I'm technically in front of them, I could hear their conversation.

Occasionally, I would steal glances at Hyunda, who, for some reason, looked at Ikkiri when talking to her.

Usually, I would interpret that as basic manners but something was entirely wrong in this instance.

Ikkiri was all over his face. It was as if she forced herself onto his field of vision by clinging onto his side of the table favorably.

That was troublesome because it would completely erase the possibility of Hyunda paying attention to me and to look at me.

I'm your partner in this exam, right?

You've surely thought of me for a second, haven't you, Hyunda?

Yet you act like you haven't by not looking at me...

"Wow, you do know about it! I knew it. Tell me more about it, then. I don't need to search more of it if you'd be as kind as to tell me the rest."

"It's not something worth knowing in the first place. It's also a really stupid belief. Some even believe that reality isn't even real and that it's all a simulation. Don't bother with it. You're better off believing fairytales."

Why are you not even paying the slightest of attention when I'm looking at you this constantly?

..........

He just keeps on talking back to her.

Why?

Also, why isn't sensei just ending the class and moving us to P.E class where I can actually talk to Hyunda?

"Bold of you to assume that I don't believe in fairytales. Also, isn't everything incorporated by our beliefs in the first place? It's fine to believe in Solipsism since it's a possibility."

"No, it's not... It's not a healthy belief... You... You do realize that whatever isn't confirmed or known surely is called a possibility, correct? If so, then the possibilities are infinite..."

"Then, I'll just have to infinitely believe in all possibilities..."

"That's great, Ikkiri. Really great..."

"Hehe, I know."

Doesn't Ikkiri realize that Hyunda just used sarcasm? How can you be so clueless about Hyunda?

It's also pretty obvious that he doesn't want to talk to you anymore, so why are you on his face even after that?

I don't understand.

What's the whole point of Ikkiri's constant nagging? From what I can observe, she's not demonstrating any romantic affections.

A girl usually begins to talk to another guy this much when she is romantically enveloped with him or when she has minimal feelings for him, but this isn't it.

This is just a simple conversation with no real goal. It's so casual.

If that's the case, then what's your whole deal even?

Why are you acting so out of your way with Hyunda, Ikkiri?

10:00 am.

Only after a great total of 45 minutes, did we get into the athletic field where we usually train.

Yuka-sensei mentioned something like we could use any place that would allow us to train.

Anyone could just simply boycott by using a valid excuse here but I think everyone knows that boycotting isn't exactly an option.

So, in conclusion, only those seeking to strive would take this seriously.

And lastly, I was alone with Hyunda, who was behind me while following me to one of the running platforms.

I should mention that unlike my female companions, I'm wearing a sports skirt and they are wearing sports jeans.

Naturally, I got quite a few looks on me but it can't be helped.

Even though I was freezing in cold, I could not show that.

All of this just to capture the attention of someone who seemed detached from reality itself.

"Hey, Hyunda, let's do a run!"

"Why? You'll just win. You're faster too."

Not off to a good start, it seems.

But that's fine. You'll soon realize that whatever defenses you have, that they will be ultimately useless.

"Don't think like that! That's a negative way of thinking."

"And what's wrong with it? Being negative most of the time brings the realistic side of the situation to face immediately. Negativity is a good thing."

Why is Hyunda not looking at me when I'm talking to him...?

I understand that we are still a bit far away from the platform since it stays a bit far away from the usual one, but what gives?

"Why don't you look at people when they are talking to you?"

"It's pointless to look at people when talking to them. What matters are the words that come out from your mouth. If looking is so important then will my eyes making contact with your eyes bring out more information? No, they won't. The mouth is what matters because the mouth tells what my thoughts are, not my eyes."

Yet you look at Ikkiri...

Or do you think that I didn't notice it...?

Also, why is he so blunt about things? Doesn't he know how to show courtesy to someone who is talking to you in a sweet manner? Especially when it's someone like me who far excels at looks.

It's by chance that I'm giving you permission to have a chance to talk to me but you, instead, use your own individuality in the most intoxicatingly excruciating way ever, Hyunda...

"The eyes tell a lot, you know?"

"They don't. All they tell is the color, nothing more. Well, enough of this nonsense, what are you going to make me do today...?"

"It's not nonsense..."

Also, how strange. Hyunda, this time around, asked me what I was going to make him do.

While it is excessive to claim that I am making him do all these physical exercises, he is showing signs of cooperation, for once.

"Hey, what happened?"

"Nothing happened, Arkalee... You will make me do the physical exercises regardless of whether I say no, right?"

That's the first time he called me by my real name.

Previously, he only had treated me as 'You', but this time, he called me my real name.

Suddenly, I stopped caring for the chilly weather that was corrupting the fragility of my legs' sensibility.

"Yeah, because we must pass the exam. So, I'll put you into shape now that we are here! Come on, give me ten laps in 5 minutes around the course!"

"You can't be serious... 10 laps...? I'm going to die."

"That's not true, Hyunda! You got this. Go for it, good luck!"

"As if luck's going to do anything..."

Since we were already in this huge running oval platform, all Hyunda had to do was run 10 laps all over the 100-meter course.

In other words, a full kilometer. In 5 minutes. This is pretty basic.

I'm sure that Hyunda can do this if he applies himself enough.

5 minutes later.

He's on his 4th lap still...

How slow can you be?! This is a child's play!

Well, he now finished his fifth lap and passed right through me.

His breathing was completely out of the place...

What is he doing?!

"Hyunda, stop!"

"Ahhh.... T-Thank you lord..."

I'm somewhat angry at him, but it's not entirely due to his failed result but because he is doesn't look like he is trying.

Hyunda, so far, has not truly exhausted himself, from my point of view. From the looks of it, he's just running at his desired pace...

Therefore, I had to put my right hand on his slender yet rigid shoulder in order for him to stop running.

"Why aren't you taking this seriously, Hyunda!? Do you want to fail?"

"What are you talking about...? Can't you see I'm taking this seriously? I'm about to die here you know..."

"Don't play dumb. You're not trying! I hate when people don't take me seriously!"

It's infuriating when someone who is paired up with you has the absolute audacity to take this training that I personally came up with minimal effort!

But...

It's foolish to vent my anger to him because right now, what I need to do is something entirely different.

"But... What must I do for you to take this seriously?"

"I told you a million times already, Arkalee. I'm taking this seriously. You're just not believing me because you're convinced or under the impression that somehow I have greater potential when it comes to physical exercise."

"That's not true. I saw you when you were running with Daniel. In that run, you ran at a fast pace. You can't fool me..."

What does he take me for?

There's nothing that I don't notice.

"Also... Please look at me! It's embarrassing to say something to a person who's not even looking at you!"

After all this time, Hyunda has not looked in my direction at all. He seems more interested in the flying birds.

What the hell?

This doesn't make any sense.

Any boy would hastily feast their eyes on my overwhelming looks and beautiful face yet this guy...

He's not even replying!

"Hyunda, are you listening to me? Did you hear what I just said?"

"I heard you loud and clear."

"Good. So, you do remember when I asked you what you wanted in order to take this seriously? Let me further emphasize on that... I can.... G-Give..."

Purposely speaking slowly, I started to show visible embarrassment in my speech.

To make sure that Hyunda would pay attention to my words, I put myself in front of him just so our eyes would make contact.

His white eyes looked at me without looking elsewhere.

Normally, my appearance is so empowered with irresistible traits that it's virtually impossible for any boy to stare at me for so long yet Hyunda looked at me as if he was piercing through me...

Speaking of which, why is his jawline so--

"Aren't you going to finish your sentence? What is it, Arkalee? We are here alone. If it's something embarrassing to the outside public now's the chance. After all, you made sure to completely isolate us from everyone else..."

Again, he called me by my name...

O-Oh no, I got lost in my train of thought!

Um, what was I going to say again...

Why am I the one who's starting to feel physically intimidated now that we are physically closer...?

"Forget it... Erm!"

I had to turn around to avoid looking at him in the eye for now.

Something went wrong, it seems.

Thus, regaining my firm posture should be my first objective here.

Deep breaths, deep breaths...

That's right, deep breaths always help.

Cool down...

"10 push-ups on the floor! Right now! After that, 10 squats! All under a minute!"

"What..."

"No complaining, do it!"

Although I wasn't looking at him, I heard the sound of his palms connecting to the cold and stiff ground.

The hard ground that was only a few meters from me, in there stood Hyunda, who I looked at now.

Certainly, he was showing struggle with his push-ups but his form isn't bad.

His back trapezium is contracting fairly well, the only problem is the slowness in his arms.

Once I regained focus on my task, my cool came back.

"Gah... I can't do it anymore."

"Only 6!?"

Unbeliavable! How can someone be this weak?!

Aren't you ashamed to look this bad in front of a girl?!

To stay on the floor that is so cold for so long as well?!

"It is what it is."

Now that Hyunda is tired, I should take this chance to...

"Are you seeing someone right now, Hyunda?"

"It depends. Do I count? I hang out with myself quite a lot."

...What?

What kind of answer is that!? How can you ruin the mood with such a crappy joke?!

Why is everything going wrong today when it comes to this guy?!

Is my appearance not having any effect on him!?

"I-I see. Well, what do you think of me today? How do I look?"

"You look ready to be banged. Almost mini-skirt in this winter? You're making whores look bad."

I stepped on his face.

"Sorry, I won't say that again."

"I'm serious. Give me a serious answer or I'll step you elsewhere."

While most people would consider what Hyunda just said as a joke, I don't.

It's not even funny to joke about those types of things.

In response to my words, Hyunda got up immediately perhaps because he didn't want to test where I would step on him next.

Nevertheless, I purposely stepped on him for a reason, just so he could have a sacred view.

"You're fine, I guess? Your twintails are nice. What's there more to say?"

What?

Is that it?!

Are you serious? What about the fact that I smell this good? What about my skirt that I'm wearing while catching this horrendous cold just to capture your attention? What about my lipstick which I only use on occasions? And my crystal clear skin?

Do you have any idea how much effort I went through just to make this worth it? I'm even being kind to someone like you, whose only kind words were 'You're fine, I guess? and 'Your twintails are nice.'! Yet that's not even kind enough!

Christ, I even put on black makeup when I knew that it would ruin itself when doing physical exercise! Earrings of gold too! Don't get me started on my hand gestures which symbolize my innocence!

But no, all you can say is that I'm fine and that my twintails are nice?!

What is wrong with you!!!

"Wow, what's with the expressio-"

"Shut up right now. Not a single word. Go do some laps while you're at it."

I can't make my anger obvious so I gave a task to Hyunda, who, fortunately, followed the lead.

Why do I feel like pulling out my divine hair strands right now?! I've never ever been this embarrassed in my whole life!

Calm down, calm down...

"Deep breaths... One... Two and three...! Uuuuu."

I kept on doing the repeated breathing exercises to calm down. It's something that I've done ever since little only when I'm truly stressed, but right now, I'm not only stressed but confused.

What can I possibly do in my power to gain Hyunda's attention?

My experience tells me that it is impossible for a man to not fall in love with my womanly charms but Hyunda's whole existence is repelling a whole new answer.

Think.

Think.

Think!

............

Isn't it just an act? Now that I think about it, a lot of men just put up a strong front in order for women to think that they are untangibly emotionless yet that's not true at all.

It doesn't matter who you are, if you are capable of harnessing feelings of attraction, then you will surely fall in love too.

Appearance isn't irrelevant, it is, in fact, far more relevant than what people think.

"Hyunda... Your individuality is grand, but it won't stop the impossible."

Luckily, Hyunda is far away while running at a disastrous pace.

But I had made my decision.

As soon as he passes here, I will allure him with my words.

And eventually...

"Stop, Hyunda! I need to say something!"

"Ahhh... What is it?"

Not looking at me, are we?

My, oh my, you still haven't learned your lesson, have you?

"Why can't you look at me? Are you embarrassed?"

In the middle of this plain platform only used for running, only two people stood in it.

Noticeably, me and this silver-haired boy who refused to look at me in the eye.

By closing the distance between us, I made absolutely sure that our eyes would make contact.

However, closing just the distance wasn't enough. I couldn't let any blank spaces left between us.

This is for the sake of motivating him and to do that, I'm willingly going through lengths of sheer shame.

It can't be helped, alright?

"W-Why are you...?"

"Oh? You're finally showing embarrassment!"

"Of course I am, your cleavage is touching my chest, how am I not supposed to feel embarrassment?"

"I thought you were gay for a second. Just admit it, you can't resist my looks..."

"No, they are resistible. What's not resistible is your cleavage. I don't want to show embarrassment, but you are triggering my human instincts."

So it wasn't meaningless after all. It's going perfectly.

If I can keep Hyunda like this then it should be easy to manipulate him into trying harder. This way, he will produce a better result in the exam.

Once you are seduced, there is no going back. You can't simply retake the experience.

That's not how attraction works. Especially, physical one.

"I-I see! So you do recognize them! Then, you will try hard, o-okay?"

"...What? That's entirely unreasonable. My attraction isn't according to my will at all... It's a physical reaction, not a chemical one. Also, I've mentioned how I can't perform more just because you want me to. Also, why are you so red...?"

"I-I'm not red! You're red!"

"Yeah, well, at least I admit it. Also, can you back off? Aren't you embarrassed right now? I've got no idea what your aim is but this is a bit excessive..."

My mind is going blank for no reason.

Ever since I made contact with them, I thought for sure that I would be in complete control yet he's showing the ability to control himself even in such a situation!

How is this possible!?

I must retreat for now...

"H-Hm... It appears that you are experienced in this! It's not possible to not feel attracted to me, you can't lie! Admit it, that I'm beautiful!"

"I can't, Arkalee. I don't want you to get the wrong impression of the truth."

"Why are you so rude!? Are you implying that I'm not beautiful?! You must be blind then!"

"Would a blind person be able to follow you all the way here willingly while not knowing the way? Maybe if the person was guided by a hand, but that wasn't the case-"

"Enough with your jokes! Take this seriously! I can't take your sarcastic behavior! It's obvious that you are feigning ignorance! What must I do to change that!? I just want to pass the exam but you are not cooperating!"

In the middle of this, he has stopped looking at me once again.

Hyunda's behavior is truly beyond my understanding. I'm totally convinced that he is simply not taking this seriously but I have no clue why and that makes me angry!

What's the deal with him!?

"You ran the fastest from all the girls, you were destined to be paired up with a slowpoke like me. I realize that you were unlucky but, oh well."

"Don't 'Oh well' me! It's your fault and you are taking responsibility for it! Take this seriously right now, or else...!"

This time, though, Hyunda looked at me with his fierce white eyes.

I have no clue whether or not my face is still red but I had to transmit my serious seriousness onto him right now.

Failing the exam isn't an option.

Also, I won't fail just because Hyunda's incompetent. If Hyunda was truly incompetent then I wouldn't care and just would've accepted the fact that I was unlucky, but that's not the case.

He's hiding something! I know it!

Therefore, I will act on my intuition!

"I'm getting tired of having to repeat myself so here goes this for the last time. I can't possibly produce whatever results you have in mind because you view myself far too high. These are my limits. You have to accept that. And, it doesn't matter what you say, I'm not taking responsibility."

How irresponsible can you be?!

It's so unfair!!!! Agh!

You leave me no choice, then...

"I will accuse you of raping me if you don't show any signs of cooperation!"

"Don't say such bullshit. You can't be serious right now."

"We are here all alone, there were witnesses who saw us leaving the main field just to be alone. Plus, your fingerprints are on my shirt which is coincidentally the place I forced you to touch. My b-boobs! That's right, you don't have any choice!"

I didn't want to resort to this, but I can use this whole event to my advantage.

Now, hopefully--

"What a flawed claim. But, it's a supposedly reasonable one. However, that's only under the scenario that you manage to deliver that information with pieces of evidence to a higher force. I can simply tear your shirt to shreds and that will immediately delete any sort of anecdotical evidence you have."

"Sure, but who says I need anecdotical evidence, anyway? Hyunda, I can also use the fact that I'm wearing a skirt today to my side of the argument here. Think about it, isn't it just foolish to claim that you didn't rape me when I look this daring? Come on, why don't you admit it?"

To taunt him even further, I played with me skirt by swaying it from left to right but he wasn't showing any visible frustration at all.

"You're so bad at this. Go ahead. Accuse me of 'raping you'. Just know this, you will have to go through so much effort just to make a solid claim at me without any anecdotical evidence. You want my cooperation, right? Fine. I'll be minimally serious about this then. Just because I don't have the time to deal with you and also there's the fact that I want to pass this exam too."

"Ha, I knew it-"

"Also, I would never rape you. Hell, you're not even worth doing it. Don't make up such false claims while they are false in all senses."

H-How does he dare to embarrass me to this extent!

"Whatever... You said you'll take this minimally serious, right? What does that mean even?"

"I'll do the minimal tasks that imply me taking this minimally serious. Therefore, Arkalee, I will do the tasks that are in the exam for me to do, but only those that are needed for the minimal positive score. I will not go above that. Plus, I will not train anymore."

"No, Hyunda! You will train. You have to show me that you are minimally capable of doing the tasks!"

"Arkalee, don't boss me around too much. I'm a nice person by nature but I do have my emotional triggers as well. If you push my buttons, you might just come out ripped."

You're not even a nice person...

You're just a horrible person who can't appreciate the obvious cute aspects of my appearance.

Even my personality is entirely desirable.

"I don't care... You've hurt my feelings when I was entirely nice to you. I won't forgive that."

"So you're hurt because you can't control your own emotions? That's just sad."

"Hey! Change that temper, or I will really accuse you!! Don't doubt me!"

"Alright, Arkalee. I'll try to keep up with your messy emotions. Just don't cry too hard, please. I'm not good with emotional people, that's why I may not show compassion that often. Be glad that I'm going out of my way to explain such simplicity."

Subsequently, after saying those words, Hyunda formed an explosive dash and took off with a formidable speed while applying a remarkable stride.

Dust was also, consequentially, scattered all over the place.

For the very first time in my life, this was, by far, the only boy to ever show this much resistance and rejection towards my whole being. I can't help but feel offended every time he speaks.

Personally, currently, I hate him. Every fiber of my being screams whenever I look at him.

This was also, my first real talk with Hyunda and how we started off from the wrong foot.