"So, now put away your books and try to answer the question as good as you can," Yankumi started to hand out the exam papers and she stopped when she faced an empty seat.
"His sister said he caught a cold," Kura informed her.
"Is that so," Yankumi frowned and looked really worried, "I hope he'll feel better soon."
Yamato looked for Nao and was not surprised about the guilty expression on her face.
"It's really a pity that he'll miss the exam. Now he'll have to work really hard to get a good grade," someone said.
"That sucks!"
"It's so unfair."
"Can't you do the exam some other day, Yankumi?"
"Yeah, just do it."
"I'm sorry guys. I appreciate your concern for your friend, but I'm afraid there is nothing I can do at the moment," Yankumi seemed to be as depressed as her class.
"If that's the case then I won't take the exam!" Kengo exclaimed and put down his pencil.
"Yeah, me neither!"
"I'm with you."
"Yeah let's boycott this stupid thing!"
"Guys, cut it out! I know how you're feeling right now, but even if all of you fail the exam nothing will be solved. Please, I beg you. Take the test and afterwards I'll talk to the vice principle. I'm sure there will be a way for Kazama to make up the exam."
That made the boys calm down and the quietly did as they were told. Nao was not able to concentrate on her paper. She thought that everything was her fault. If she had not been so reckless the day before, Ren would not have missed the math exam.
"Hey Nao-chan, Yankumi told me to bring this over to Ren, but I'm busy this afternoon. So would you do me a favour and give it to him?" Yamato questioned, "It's just some homework and a copy of our exam."
"S-sure," she was a little taken aback, "But I don't know where he lives."
"I'll tell you, so don't worry."
She nodded her head and was still confused. It was the first time Yamato actually asked her for something and he even called her by her first name. She blushed a little.
"What's wrong?" He looked at her in concern.
"Nothing. I'm just happy that you called me by my name," she gave him a bright smile and a sign of embarrassment was seen on her classmates face. She could tell that he did not only say this for his sake, but also for hers. He knew that she felt guilty and thought that this easy task would make her feel better. Well, it worked. For once she felt that she could do something useful for her friend.
"Thank you, Ogata-kun."
"For what?" He asked her questionably. So he would not admit it.
"Oh, nothing," she winked and left the classroom in a hurry.
"Hey Nao-chan, where are you going?" Ichi called after her. In confusion he looked at Yamato and was surprised that their leader had a small blush on his face.
"Yamato, could it be that you..."
"Of course not," Yamato grumbled, "I'm just a little worried. That's all. Don't look at me with those suspicious eyes, got it?"
Somehow Nao recognized Ren's house, but she could not remember if she had been there before. Well, it would not be that surprising if she had coincidentally been here before because his house was in her neighborhood.
"Strange that I never met him", she thought and took a deep breath before she rang the doorbell. At first it looked like no one was home, so she tried again. No reaction. Nao was just about to go back when she suddenly heard footsteps. She was a little shocked as Ren opened the door himself. Not because he did it himself, but rather the bad shape he was in.
