This is not the date I wanted.

Looking at Tohka's energetic smile, Origami began to think.

Although according to Tohka's situation, failing the exam was basically an inevitable fact, Origami didn't intend to give up.

On the one hand, Tohka hadn't given up yet, so she didn't want to dampen her enthusiasm by saying something that would spoil her mood. On the other hand, if Tohka failed the exam, she wouldn't be able to get Shidou's female photos and spare clothes from Mengyue - ahem, that doesn't count.

On the other hand, Origami was not an excellent student from the beginning. She became the top student in her grade through unremitting efforts and overcoming obstacles that she was not good at. This idea of ​​completely denying the possibilities of others goes against her creed - yes, that's right.

(Hmm? Failed the exam?)

Origami noticed the inconsistency.

Logically speaking, based on Origami's understanding of the Ratatoskr organization, events such as failing exams that may cause mental stress to elves should be avoided as much as possible. In fact, in her memory of the previous world, Yatogami Tohka did pass the midterm exam safely.

In other words, no matter whether Tohka studies hard or not, there is no way she will fail the course.

(Yumezuki...she should know this. But Tohka...)

Origami looked at Tohka, who looked confused. Although she wanted to confirm this, she was too embarrassed to ask too directly at this moment, so she changed to a more tactful way of asking.

"Tohka, let me ask you a question first. Why do you suddenly want to study so seriously?"

Tohka was a little confused when she heard Origami's question, but she nodded and answered.

"Origami, do you still remember Shidou's spiritual power going out of control?"

"Yeah. Of course I remember."

Origami nodded. It hadn't been a month since Shidou's rampage, so Origami certainly couldn't have forgotten it, but she didn't understand how this had anything to do with Tohka's motivation for studying.

"Until now, I have always relied on Shidou, believing that Shidou would definitely help me and that Shidou would be able to solve any problems I encountered. However, it was not until I learned the reason for the spiritual power explosion from Kotori-chan that I realized how much burden Shidou had endured in order to take care of my emotions. So I think I must make some changes."

As she said this, Tohka gave a rare wry smile.

"Actually, I don't know much about studying and exams, and Shidou helped me solve them all. The reason I went to school was that I just wanted to spend more time with Shidou. So I thought that if I could pass the exams with my own efforts, Shidou's burden would be less. And, and..."

Halfway through her words, Tohka's cheeks flushed slightly and her voice suddenly became hesitant.

(My feelings towards Shidou are... I like him very much.)

She didn't fully understand it when she confessed to Mengyue, but now she realizes how embarrassing it is to express such feelings to others.

"...If you understand the meaning of learning, you may be able to understand Shidou's affairs better."

"—?!"

Hearing this, Origami couldn't help but cover her cheeks with her hands.

Tohka didn't know that, although she didn't say it explicitly, for Origami in "honor student mode", this half-hidden, pure and sweet way of confessing her feelings, like a shy girl falling in first love in a girl's comic, would hit her sweet spot.

Unlike Origami in the previous world who used revenge as fuel for her progress, Origami Tobiichi in this world, after studying and training, her only leisure and entertainment is to curl up in the bed in her room and read those naive and romantic girl comics and pure love novels in the little time before going to bed.

(Cute. Even though I know she is my love rival, she is still cute!)

"Tohka! I'll help you pass the test!"

Deeply moved, Origami excitedly shook Tohka's hand.

“Oh, oh…thank you…”

Tohka was a little uncomfortable with Origami's attitude and nodded stiffly.

——It's okay, just hold on with this precious feeling in your heart, your exam will definitely go well, and Shidou will definitely understand your efforts.

Describing the beautiful lines in her mind, Origami smiled and spoke.

“————————————————————————————————————”

When Tohka heard Origami's words, a gleam of surprise flashed in her eyes.

"Are you serious? Origami."

"Yes, that's for sure."

Origami nodded without hesitation.

"I see, I'll try it right away!"

After receiving the definite assurance, Tohka stood up from her seat abruptly, turned around and ran out of the physics preparation room.

Seeing Tohka's actions, Origami tilted her head in confusion.

"Is this... going to the bathroom?"

Muttering quietly, Origami had no choice but to sit alone in the physics preparation room and wait for Tohka to come back.

After a while, the door opened. Origami turned around and saw that the person who came was not Tohka, but Murasame Reion who was waiting in the next room.

"Ms. Lingyin, what are you going to do with those things in your hands?"

Looking at the towels, hot water and sportswear that Lingyin brought, Origami couldn't help but ask.

"…This? Meng Yue…sent me a text message asking me to prepare…said Tohka should be careful not to catch a cold…"

Lingyin stared at the two dark circles under her eyes and answered in a daze.

"Eh?"

"I am back!"

Before Origami could understand what this meant, Tohka, who was soaked in water, walked in right after Reine.

"Tohka...don't move..."

Seeing Tohka starting to shake off the water droplets on her body like a puppy, Reine seemed to be mentally prepared so she was not that surprised. She took out the dry towel she had prepared and wiped Tohka's wet long hair.

Origami's eyes widened in surprise.

"Tohka, why are you soaking wet? What happened?"

"Hmm? What are you talking about, Tobiichi Origami?" Hearing Origami's words, Tohka couldn't help but show a puzzled expression and said, "Didn't you tell me that as long as I do three somersaults and four twists in the air, and then open my arms and shout "There's something wrong with my brain, please save me, God-sama" and jump into the school swimming pool, I will definitely become smarter'?"

"When did I ever say that?"

"Of course. When I confirmed it with you, weren't you very sure that I would guarantee that there would be no problem?"

“Hey…wait…”

Origami couldn't help feeling a little confused. After thinking for a moment with his head down, beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

Although I have no recollection of having said this, similar situations have happened before, and what I wanted to say was very different from what I actually said.

In that case, it was basically the "other self" in the body that was secretly causing trouble after indirectly receiving information related to "Shidao".

(Could it be that...after hearing what Tohka said, I became jealous...so I said such things to hinder her...)

"Well, take advantage of this good opportunity to become smarter and work hard to study!"

"Before that... Tohka... put on this sportswear first..."

Seeing how Tohka interpreted her words as kindness without hesitation, Origami's heart was suddenly filled with the emotion called "guilt".

Now, she is no different from the female villain in the comics who stirs up trouble and interferes with the protagonist's love relationship.

“——I’m so sorry!!!”

After leaving these words, Origami ran out without saying a word.

Now, she has one thing she must accomplish.

Jumping down the stairs and running across the playground, Origami rushed straight to the blocked outdoor swimming pool and jumped high with her feet.

She did three somersaults and four turns. Perhaps because she was an elf, even without the enhancement of her random domain, Origami was still able to complete these difficult moves in mid-air with ease.

Only by jumping into the hole he dug himself could Origami eliminate the guilt in his heart.

Origami raised her arms high, took a deep breath, and shouted.

"There's something wrong with my brain, please save me, God!!!"

Then, with a splash of water, Origami fell into the cold swimming pool.

PS: After finishing this chapter, what should I say - do I have any misunderstandings about Origami Tobiichi's character (thinking).

Mengyue Exam (VII)

==============================

tick-tock-

At one side of the physics preparation room, Reine was hanging the clothes of Origami Tobiichi and Tohka Yatogami on a makeshift hanger made from a broken network cable. Water droplets seeped out from the corners of their casual clothes, falling drop by drop into the basin.

"..."

At this time, Origami, who had changed into sportswear, sat on the chair without saying a word, lowering his head and deeply reflecting on the stupid thing he had just done.

"Um...are you okay? Origami?"

Seeing Origami like this, Tohka asked with some concern.

"Yes... I'm fine." Origami shook her head with a wry smile and said with a guilty look on her face, "Um... Tohka, I'm so sorry that you got wet because of me."

"Oh, never mind. I'm in good health, and this little incident is nothing."

Tohka patted her chest and answered confidently.

"But to be honest, I'm impressed by you, Origami."

"Eh?"

Origami looked puzzled when she heard Tohka's words.

"Because I heard from Shidou that you are already the top student in your grade and the smartest person in this school. But you still use spells to try to make yourself even smarter. This is really amazing."

After she spoke her mind candidly, Tohka looked at Origami with a hint of admiration in her eyes.

“——!? This is nothing——”

Looking at Tohka who believed it, Origami looked away guiltily and answered dryly.

She could never bring herself to tell the jealous self about the nonsense she had said in order to make things difficult for Tohka.

(Ah, what a bad person I am.)

Origami couldn't help but think with some self-loathing.

"Okay, let's take this opportunity to do our best!"

Meanwhile, Tohka, who thought she had become smarter, had rolled up her sleeves and was eager to learn.

But Origami knew that at the current rate of progress, Tohka Yatogami would never be able to pass the test.

"..."

After silently making a decision in her heart, Origami stood up from her chair.

"Hmm? What's wrong Origami?"

"Oh, I need to go to the bathroom. I'll be back in a minute."

After answering Tohka with a wry smile, Origami picked up her backpack and walked in front of Murasame Reine.

"...? Is there something wrong... Origami..."

With a pair of thick dark circles under her eyes, Ling Yin asked slowly.

"Mr. Murasame, can you lend me your tablet for a while?"

"……Can."

Although she didn't understand the necessary connection between going to the toilet and a tablet computer, Ling Yin tactfully didn't ask any further questions and readily lent the computer to Origami.

"Thank you, teacher."

After politely thanking him, Origami walked out of the physics preparation room and hurried to the bathroom. After making sure that no one else was around, she locked the door.

"Ha--huh--ha--good--"

After taking several deep breaths, Origami finally prepared herself mentally.

In fact, although she didn't tell Tohka, Tobiichi Origami had already thought of a way that might help Tohka pass the exam. However, this method was a bit too despicable and embarrassing for Tobiichi Origami, an excellent student, so she never proposed it.

However, in order to obtain Shizhi-chan's cross-dressing photos and underwear... No, no! In order to help Tohka, she finally made up her mind.

"..."

Origami wordlessly opened her backpack and took out a men's gymnastics suit.