This week also came to an end. It was Friday and today was the last study session we arranged at Reina's house.

Also, since from next week we'll have back-to-back exams, today was my last chance to plant any seeds for the success of my plan and making Reina fall for me.

Judging by her behaviour, she was somewhat in a dilemma as to whether or not I like her. Looking back at history with Gaisen, she won't make the same mistake as falling in love with me and then getting rejected.

So right now, I'll have to make her feel that I indeed loved her. I'll have to stir whatever feelings she has for me and maybe, if the opportunity is right, I can amplify them.

I was again early today and was sitting quietly in her room. She was sitting next to me scribbling something on the last page of her notebook and her mathematics book open in front of her.

"They're late again." I said in a bored tone while scrolling through my mobile.

"You came a bit early today." She said, which was true. I had something to do that's why I came earlier today.

"Did I?" I asked with a chuckle, knowing the fact that I did.

"Yeah… you did." She sighed while looking at me with a frown.

"I can't believe exams are starting in 2 more days." She said in a but excited voice.

"Well, three if you count today." I replied.

"Yeah… but still… It's good that the first one is English. Language is always easy compared to the other subjects we take." She stretched her arms and the bottom of her top lifted a bit revealing a part of her stomach.

"True." I nodded and asked her, "Are you nervous?"

"No I'm not…" She quickly denied my claim with an awkward smile. But instead of replying, I stared at her for a few moments and she confessed, "Ok I'm… a little bit."

"Bruh… you're good at studies and you're still nervous?" I sighed. I guess everyone gets nervous before exams no matter how good they are at studies.

"It's not that… it's just… you won't get it." She said while fidgeting with the pen between her fingers.

"What? Other's expectations?" I tilted my head and waited for her affirmation.

"Yeah…" She nodded. Well, I knew that feeling very well because my parents also had high expectations from me and I somehow managed to overcome them. But I know the feeling of several eyes looking up at you. The pressure, the intensity of the situation, can't be put into words.

"Don't worry, you'll excel this exam too as usual." I smiled at her.

She looked at me for a few moments and then said, "See… even you have expectations from me…"

"No I don't… to be honest… I don't expect anything from anyone." I shifted my eyes towards her slowly.

"Huh?" She tilted her head in confusion and I could tell that what I said sparked a bit of curiosity inside her.

"Anyways… as for you… don't worry, and chill a bit." I smiled at her as I leaned back against her bed.

"What did you mean by that?" She asked me.

"By what?" I asked her back as I don't think I said something strange that was difficult for her to understand.

"That… you don't expect anything…?" She asked and internally I facepalmed myself. Why does this girl always ask these weird questions?

"That's just something irrelevant so don't mind it." I shrugged it off.

"No… tell me." She was being persistent.

"It's nothing worth telling about, really." I was a dude whose usual tone was a plain and boring one. And she wants me to tell her something interesting about me.

"You're just teasing my curiosity now." She said while continuing to fidget the pen in her hand.

"That wasn't my intention." I said because it was definitely unnecessary of me to say that. I don't know why I said that.

"You never tell me anything about yourself…" She looked away from me with a pout on her face.

"Because there is nothing worth telling about myself." I again repeated myself.

"Well… nevermind then." Looking at the never-ending loop of our replies, she just decided to end the topic.

"Reina what's that?" To change the topic, I was looking around in her room and noticed a small music box made from wood on her study table next to her laptop.

"That's a gift my mum gave me." She looked at me and then followed my gazes to where I was looking.

"A gift from your mother… you must've been delighted when you got it." That was a cute gift from her mother. Looking at its design and the structure, it looked handmade.

"Not really…" She replied in a distasteful tone.

"Why?" I narrowed my eyes on her.

"Because I wanted something else but they bought me this without even asking." Taken aback by my sudden change in tone, she was a bit surprised while saying that.

"Is that so?" I nodded.

"Don't get me wrong… I really appreciate their love with which they gifted me… you know?" She shrugged.

"Yeah… I know that the bond between a parent and their child is a really pure one." I nodded.

"Why are you talking like old geezers?" She was staring at me as if I was spouting wisdom like an old man.

"Nevermind." I just shrugged it off.

"Is everything going fine between Kizhashi-san and you?"

"Ye...yeah… why did you ask all of a sudden?" She shifted her gaze from the book in her hands towards me.

"No reason, I just don't want you to lose Kizhashi-san as your friend." I said casually with a small smile.

"I… uh…" She was about to say something but I interrupted her.

"I know you two are really close."

"You… are acting a bit strange lately?" She commented. I know it's strange for me to be nice instead of being rude.

"Eh?"

"What?"

"Yeah… that's what I should ask you."

"Strange in what sense?" I asked.

"You know… like…" She looked at me and our eyes met. A small blush formed on her cheeks.

"Mhm?" I gestured to her to continue.

"Ugh! Nevermind." She gave up and tucked her face in her books again. There was silence again between us except for the sound of the clock ticking.