CHAPTER 4: ATLEAST 70%
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Miyo was still blinking in pure confusion.
Just… who was this blue-haired, tall, big-smiling creature?
So loud.
So bright.
So… not Miyo. He stared at Luca like a cat would stare at a particularly energetic dog that is wagging it's tails, clearly asking the cat to play with him.
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Luca, meanwhile, grinned even wider, like that was somehow possible. And immediately plopped down right beside Miyo. Not across. Not one seat away.
Not in the many completely empty seats available in the classroom.
No.
Right. Next. To. Him.
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Miyo instinctively leaned a few inches away, shoulders shrinking slightly.
Because Miyo, by nature, was a kitten.
And kittens did not trust loud, smiling strangers who radiated chaos.
Luca didn't seem to notice. He just beamed at Miyo for a second like he had already decided they were friends, before turning his attention to the front.
Sir Kellum was already sighing. A deep, tired, soul-leaving-the-body kind of sigh.
Then–
THUMP. THUMP. THUMP.
Another Heavy footsteps echoed down the hallway.
A very out-of-breath Sir Rowan appeared at the doorway, one hand on the frame, the other on his chest like he had just run a marathon he did not sign up for.
"Haa… haa… YOU–!" he pointed at Luca, voice trembling with betrayal, "You didn't even let me finish my sentence and just ran up here?! You stu–"
Luca blinked at him. Then immediately bowed his head a little too enthusiastically.
"Ah! I apologise, Sir Rowan!!" Too loud. Way too loud. Sir Kellum immediately covered his ears. He didn't even try to hide it. At this point, self-preservation came first.
Miyo blinked again.
Once.
Twice.
His brain, already running on limited capacity, was now officially buffering.
He slowly turned his head toward Sir Kellum, his soft pink eyes widened and silently asking: Sir.... The heck is happening?!
Kellum exhaled. Long. Flat. Resigned. Then, adjusting his glasses, he finally spoke.
"Miyo. You and this… other student.." he paused briefly, as if reconsidering all his life choices, "..named Luca from Section C… are the only ones who failed this class."
Luca nodded proudly and Miyo blinked. Both were actually surprised another student failed too beside themselves.
"So," Kellum continued, "Mr. Rowan and I went to the principal to request… consideration."
A pause.
"Which was granted. Under one condition."
Miyo's droopy pink eyes widened. His breath hitched softly. "Eh…? Really…?" His voice came out small, fragile. "You… really asked…?" For a second, his entire face lit up – soft, bright, almost glowing. "T-thank you so much…!"
He didn't move.
Didn't jump.
Didn't shout.
But his whole existence screamed gratitude.
Luca, however...
Did not believe in subtlety.
"REALLY!?" he exploded, eyes sparkling like fireworks. "YOU ASKED FOR US!?"
He immediately stood up, already spreading his arms. "THANK YOUUU!! SIR ROWAN! SIR KELLUM!!"
Rowan's survival instincts kicked in instantly.
He shoved Luca away mid-approach.
"DO NOT–!"
Luca didn't mind. He simply adapted. Like water. Or a very persistent octopus. He latched onto Rowan's arm instead, hugging it with full emotional commitment.
"Thank you, Sir Rowan… you're like a father to me…"
"I AM NOT–"
And then, Luca turned.
Another Target acquired:
Sir Kellum.
Kellum just adjusted his glasses. His expression did not change. But his aura did. Cold. Sharp. Final. "Don't even think about it."
Luca froze. Paused. Then smiled.
"Okay!" And just like that, he let go, returned to his seat, and sat beside Miyo again like nothing had happened. Rowan staggered into the classroom, fixing his sleeve like he had just survived an attack. He moved to stand beside Kellum, arms crossed, dignity barely intact.
Kellum tapped the desk once.
"Now," he said flatly, "listen carefully. The condition is not easy."
Miyo blinked and Luca blinked. For once synchronized stupidity. Both curious just what was this one condition for them to be able to give the final exam and pass?
Rowan took over, voice serious.
"You both need to score at least 70% in the upcoming exam. It's in three months."
Silence. "You are being allowed to take that exam. But if you fail to reach 70%..."
He paused. "You won't be able to give final exam. And your current marks will stand."
Which meant:
Fail.
Repeat.
Goodbye future.
Miyo froze.
Luca froze.
Their shared braincell, somewhere in the void, finally woke up… just in time to suffer.
And for the first time since sitting down –
Luca slowly turned his head toward Miyo.
Miyo slowly turned his head toward Luca.
They stared at each other.
Two idiots.
One impossible condition.
Three months.
Kellum closed his eyes briefly.
"... haa.. I am tired."
For a moment… Silence. Not the peaceful kind. The kind where two brains try to process something and both fail.
Miyo and Luca turned their head back at their teachers. Miyo blinked again, slower this time, like his system was buffering reality. "...S-seventy…?" he repeated softly, voice small and unsure, like he had just been told to climb the moon.
Luca, however–
"SEVENTY!?" His voice exploded so loudly the windows probably considered filing a complaint. Kellum immediately pinched the bridge of his nose. Rowan flinched like he'd been personally attacked.
"Yes," Kellum said flatly. "Seven-zero. Not one-seven. Not two-seven. Seventy."
Luca turned to Miyo with wide, sparkling eyes. "That's… that's like… almost a hundred, right?"
Miyo looked at him. Then looked at the desk. Then looked back at him.
"…It sounds like it…" he whispered, deeply concerned.
Rowan made a strangled noise. "No-NO, it's not 'almost a hundred'. It's seventy! Which is high for you two, but you two need to work hard okay? We had a really long argue with the principal, for him to even consider you two getting to get the upcoming exam."
Kellum adjusted his glasses, voice calm but deadly. "To put it simply. You two need to become… average."
A pause. Then, slowly...
Luca leaned back in his chair.
"…That sounds hard."
Miyo nodded. "…Very hard."
Kellum sighs and nods too. Rowan looked at the ceiling. They both silently questioned their career choices. Now how the fuck will they make this two idiots pass so they can have a good future?
The Beginning of Disaster.
Kellum clapped once. "Sit properly. We will begin now." Luca immediately sat straight like a soldier who had no idea what war he signed up for. "Yes, sir!"
Miyo also sat properly. Hands folded and back straight. Eyes… already slightly unfocused.
Kellum placed a book on the table. "Let's start simple. Luca, read this paragraph."
Luca beamed. "Easy!" He grabbed the book with confidence. Looked at it. Paused.
His smile froze slightly. "…Sir," he said slowly, "why are there so many words?"
Rowan slapped a hand over his face. Clearly embarrassed.
Kellum stared at him. "…It's a paragraph."
Luca nodded seriously. "Yeah… but like… I have to read this all together?"
Miyo leaned slightly closer, peeking at the page with soft curiosity. "oh…It looks… crowded…"
Kellum took a deep breath.
"Read." Luca cleared his throat dramatically.
"Umm... Oxai..? Oxaization... Is.. is.. not good for.. moizure food.. because umm... It..."
Kellum and Rowan together: "STOP."
Miyo blinked slowly. "…That sounded right…" Kellum turned to him. "Miyo."
"Yes…" miyo answered softly.
"Was that correct?"
Miyo thought. Long and hard. "…He said it with confidence…"
Rowan choked. Kellum removed his glasses. That was never a good sign.
Mutual Destruction.
"Fine," Kellum said calmly. "New method."
Rowan looked at him nervously. "…What method?"
Kellum pointed. "You two. Study together, each learn different subjects and teach each other what you learned."
Rowan froze. "…That's your plan!?"
Kellum put his glasses back on.
"Yes."
Miyo and Luca turned to each other again.
Silence.
Then–
Luca grinned brightly. "Okay! I'll teach you!"
Miyo blinked. "…Okay…"
Kellum leaned against the desk, arms crossed.
Rowan whispered, "This is going to end badly… They both will fail–! It's... what are you thinking, Sir kellum?"
Kellum replied calmly, "I know it sounds bad. But This is a great study technique for two idiots. Let's try to trust the process for atleast 3 weeks, if it doesnt do anything good for them, we will change the technique."
Rowan sighs, nodding slowly as he trusted kellum. After all Kellum had been a teacher longer than him. He turns his head back at the two young idiots, already dividing subjects between themselves.
Was this plan gonna work? What was even Sir kellum thinking, suggesting this technique? God help this two kids pass their exams...!