Legends Academy: Emergence Syndrome

9) Not giving Up

Three days of my sessional exams, and the first was already horrible.

Even if I may have studied everything, staying up for two consecutive nights has shown it's toll on my body. I wasn't able to focus at all, just staring at answer sheet for most of the time.

After the test was over, I peeked in classroom next door, looking for Natalia. Due to white hood, she was easy to find.

Alucard: "Hey, do you remember?"

Natalia: "Remember what?"

Alucard: "..N-never mind."

Natalia: "Well, I'll be in the campus library."

Alucard: "Cool."

With that, she walked off. I hoped she would turn around and admit she was joking, but no such luck.

Alucard: "So your theory was right after all."

By forgetting her, she had proved it. The only person who remembers Miya is now me.

Alucard: "What a thrilling devlopment!"

I said, trying to convert my fears into motivation.
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April 29th, Second day of my examination. Again, my test went horrible. But I was way past caring about it.

I was just sleepy. So sleepy. My eyelids felt heavy. They refused to stay open. The light of the sun was brutal. No matter how hard I pinched myself, it didn't seem to wake me up. Not even stabbing myself with pen was useful anymore.

I am at my edge of falling apart. My pulse feels erratic and far too strong. And my face looks like that of goth man. Good thing I had cleared my work schedule for sessionals, I was in no condition to do job after all.

Miya: "You seem tired"

She said, as we walked our way home.

She was still coming to college, even though only I could see her. "I've got nothing better to do." she'd said. But I knew she was scared. Too scared to sit at home alone all day. Part of her must have been hoping, if she kept coming to college, things might naturally go back to normal.

Alucard: "I'm always like this during tests. Pulling all-nighters."

Miya: "That's what you get for not studying regularly."

Alucard: "You sound like a teacher."

Miya: "Well, if you absolutely insist..."

Alucard: "Hm?"

Miya: "I could help you study."

Alucard: "If we were in a room together, I'll only think of sex, so I'll pass."

She gave me a shocked look. She clearly never expected me to refuse.

Miya: "R-really? I'll guess never mind then...See you tomorrow."

And so we parted our way at the station.

Good relief. I still haven't told her about the sleep thing. This is something I've decided to do on my own. I don't want to needlessly worry her.

At home, I sat in the living room, reading a physics books about quantum theory I borrowed from Natalia (on the day when we had returned from Alsior). I was hoping it would give me some clue to resolve this. But my sleep lacked brain was just not able to process it. Still I kept reading, forcing my eyes to follow words on the page.

I looked across the table and realized Ruby was saying something. My eyes registered this, but I forgot to respond.

Alucard: "....."