Honkai Impact 3: Noah's Ark

15:《Eve》

+++

.

.

《Sunday, 6:30 PM Present Day》

Two months passed in the blink of an eye, much to Noah's disbelief. He had once held the naïve belief that the happy days with everyone would last forever, but before he knew it, the Final Exams were just the week after, Monday.

"Noah?"

"Hmm?"

"Ever wonder why, even if we live in Japan, everyone's using English?"

The boy flipped the page he was reading. "I think it's because most people in Saint Freya are foreigners. Most of Soukai uses Japanese."

Kiana raised her head from her low study table and blinked. "Huh."

Noah handed the girl her answered reviewer. "You have a mistake at number 25, but other than that, all the answers are correct," he said.

The girl nodded, then began again on said item, beads of sweat trickling past her studying headband. A few minutes passed, and she gave Noah her answer sheet with the correct solution. The boy smiled and gave her a thumbs up.

"Finally~!" Kiana stretched and lay on the floor, sweater riding up slightly. The boy averted his eyes and looked at the three dozen sets of reviewers that the girl had done over the past three hours. Kiana has improved, the boy admitted. Before, her answers were all over the place. Now, there are occasionally two or three mistakes at maximum. The room was now also organized without his intervention.

"You got better," the boy said.

She sat back up and huffed. "Don't underestimate me. I have an I.Q. of 180!"

His eyes widened. He believed her. "Why did your grades lack before then?"

"I-I got lazy..." she admitted, scratching her head. A breath. "What's next?"

He shook his head. "A break."

"Alriiight!" The girl pushed herself to her feet and stretched out her legs. "Man, you're lucky you're exempted from the written tests."

The boy smiled. "I still have the S-rank test," he replied, a-matter-of-factly.

True to his word, the boy was taking up the S-rank test upon the request of Theresa. He had already filed the forms and credentials via email. Now, all that is left is to actually take the test, which can be in a form of a combat trial, an assignment, or an internship period. It was the reason why he wasn't taking the end of the year combat trial—everything will now hinge on his performance in the S-Test. If Noah was honest, then he'd say that he was a little afraid. The problem was that if the girls knew was nervous then they would get nervous, too.

He'd grown enough in that time to know that much at least.

"We're taking our own promotional tests too, you know. And, oh, I'm sure you'll pass it with flying colors, just like everything else!" she assured him. He shook his head.

"There are more people who are better than me."

Dr. Heide and even Major Himeko for the sciences. Fu Hua has a limitless amount of experience with martial arts. Kiana was a better shot than him, Mei had a more precise sword, and Bronya was a better strategist overall. All Noah really had was studying and inhuman strength.

Kiana walked over and smacked his head. "Don't put yourself down. You're great! In fact, you better pass; I can't be the best Valkyrie ever if I can't beat you at your best!"