Shiny Tropics Shorts

Island World

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"Ahhhh... We're so c-close. J-Just... One more w-week... Until the holidays..."

Kokoro sighed, resting her head on the cold surface of her unopened textbook. "I'd rather fail at this point. I thought missing the exam day meant we wouldn't have to do it..." She peered up at her companion. "I thought you were doing well in your classes, Mei?"

"I-I am in most, b-but... I've n-never been a-any good at english..." The girl let out a small whimper, tugging her bunny hood over her head. "I don't want to fail..."

"Do you want some help~? I'm sure I could be of some assistance~" Fran piped up, mouth stretching into a sly grin. "I can be very... Motivating~" She cracked her knuckles.

Mei shrieked, shaking her head and quickly rejecting the offer, causing Fran snicker.

Her laughter was cut off by a rolled up exercise book to the head. "Guys. Shut up. If you don't care about passing and would rather mess around then you can just go somewhere else." Saki sighed, unrolling her book. "Idiots... If you fail, you'll have to repeat a year."

"Imagine having to worry about that sort of thing! Luckily for me, I'm a natural born genius~!" Nova stood, stretching out her arms and laughing obnoxiously, completely ignoring her empty exercise book. "The world couldn't dream of a better ruler!"

"But, you failed your last test?" Pixel glanced up, tilting her head. Her lips pulled into a small, teasing smile. "Is my database wrong? I can always ask my mother to correct it..."

"No!" Nova sat quickly, before shooting a glare at the robot. "Using your stupid headmaster mother and all her connections isn't fair!"

"And calling me a furry is factually incorrect." Pixel huffed, smile widening. "Now we're even."

"Guys... Ugh... Saki, do you know how to do this?" Kokoro sighed, ignoring the chaos. "I'm not horrible at algebra, but trigonometry is a bit..."

"If I have to." Saki stood, moving so she could see her book. "... Yes. This is in the textbook. Page 369."

As Kokoro thanked her, Mei quietly called Saki over too. Saki, now the unofficial tutor, just sighs and moves to go assist.

"Awww, Mei. You didn't want my help but are more than happy to accept Saki's~? I'm hurt~!" Fran let out an obnoxious whine, flopping onto the table.

Mei squeaked, flinching. "I-I'm sorry-!"

"Fran." Saki turned, setting an icy glare onto the 3rd year. "She doesn't want your help because you're an asshole."

Fran laughs loudly, causing an exasperated Kokoro to hush her. "Shhh! We're in a public library, there are others trying to concentrate too."

"Why worry about that~? We're the main characters!" Nova announced even louder, standing on her chair. "Bow, you mere background characters!"

"Nova, sit down and stop spouting nonsense." Pixel glanced up from her book, eyebrow raised. "Are you looking to pass, or are you planning on joining the circus?"

Nova squawked. "Are you calling me a clown?! It's on, tin can!" She leapt off the chair, barreling towards Pixel.

Kokoro blocks out the sound of Nova's immediate defeat at the hands of punching metal and instead looks around. The others using the library are either glaring at their table or actively ignoring them. A library staff member is looking around awkwardly, as if considering whether she can kick them out or not.