Senior Sister and Exam Materials

"I understand." Toudou Shizuka adjusted his glasses, his gaze behind the lenses calm. "During club activities tomorrow, I'll find a way to subtly ask Vice President Miyazaki about it."

"She's a Second Year, so she should still remember last year's Midterm Exam clearly, and she's fairly easy to talk to. But I can't guarantee success." He left himself some room.

Kanzaki and Ichinose both showed delight on their faces.

Kanzaki solemnly patted Toudou Shizuka on the shoulder. "I'm counting on you, Toudou.

Regardless of the outcome, this thoughtfulness alone deserves our thanks. Be sure to pay attention to your approach. Safety comes first." He emphasized "safety," clearly aware of the sensitivity and potential risks involved. (After all, Other Classes might think of the same method, so it was worth the reminder.)

[Kanzaki Ryuji Favorability +5 (Current: 43/100 - Friendly)]

[Ichinose Honami Favorability +3 (Current: 48/100 - Friendly)]

His favorability had risen again! He was only 7 points away from scanning Kanzaki's A-rank "Efficient Learning Method"! And the B-rank "Team Coordination" had already been unlocked!

Toudou Shizuka suppressed the excitement in his heart and nodded. "I'll be careful."

He closed the system panel, his gaze sweeping over the classmates studying diligently in the Seminar Room before finally settling Outside the Window.

In his eyes, the direction of the Sanda Club now led not only to potentially valuable clues about Exam Questions, but also to more potential skill-scanning targets.

After School the next day, Toudou Shizuka did not head straight to the library's Seminar Room.

He took a detour and headed toward the somewhat secluded Sanda Club Activity Room behind the gymnasium.

The air was filled with a mixture of sweat, leather, and disinfectant. The lower-year students who had just finished Basic Physical Fitness training were helping one another remove their Protective Gear, while Heavy Panting and scattered conversation Echoed through the spacious Dojo.

His gaze quickly swept across the arena.

Club president Kirihara Takeshi—a Third Year built like an iron tower, with a faint old scar along his brow bone—stood in a corner with his arms folded, his hawk-like eyes surveying the movements of the students In the Arena.

Vice President Miyazaki Miyabi, a Second Year, appeared far more capable and efficient.

Her hair was tied in a neat high ponytail, and she wore a faded Dōgi. She was crouched beside a First Year, pointing at the other student's ankle as she softly explained the essentials of shifting one's Center of Gravity while moving.

The lines of her profile were clear, and her expression focused. She did not speak quickly when explaining, but every point was orderly and clear.

Toudou Shizuka Adjusted his breathing, put on a natural expression, and Walked toward Miyazaki Miyabi. As he neared her, he slowed down and waited until she had finished instructing the student before speaking. "Senior Miyazaki."

Miyazaki Miyabi looked up at his voice. When she saw Toudou Shizuka, a bright smile appeared on her face. "Yo, Toudou. You came at Just Right.

How's your basic footwork coming along? Have you worked on linking the Sliding Step with the Side Kick like I taught you before?"

She stood up and brushed the dust from her Dōgi.

"I've been practicing it constantly. The transitions feel smoother now, but I'm still not quite sure about the timing for exerting force."

Toudou Shizuka answered along her line of questioning, displaying an earnest attitude toward learning.

Within the club, this kind of exchange was perfectly normal.

"Press your point of force a little farther forward, tighten your core, and drive the leg with your waist and hips. Don't rely solely on your thigh muscles to push off."

As Miyazaki Miyabi spoke, she neatly demonstrated the movement. It was swift and powerful, cutting through the air with a sharp whoosh.

"Like this. Feel the force whipping out—not pushing out."

[Scan Target: Miyazaki Miyabi]

[Skill List:]

[Sanda (Joint Technique Specialization) (B-rank): Proficient in joint locks and counters, skilled at Close-Quarters Grappling and control. Possesses strong Combat Adaptability.]

[Basic Physical Fitness (C-rank): Strength, endurance, and flexibility have all reached a good standard.]

[Instructional Guidance (C-rank): Able to clearly explain key points of movements, demonstrate to a standard, and adept at spotting and correcting students' mistakes.]

[Danger Sense D-rank: Possesses a faint Intuitive Warning toward potential danger.]

B-rank Sanda! And she specialized in Joint Technique! Toudou Shizuka's heart tightened slightly. This was definitely a practical close-combat ability!

Although he already possessed S-rank Combat Skill, and could relatively quickly master other combat skills, it was still faster to directly activate simulation.

Unfortunately, his favorability was insufficient, and the Simulation Privilege was locked.

Still, [Instructional Guidance C-rank] and [Danger Sense D-rank] could also be learned through simulation. They were worth 6 Simulation Points. He was truly grateful to Senior Miyazaki as well.

"I understand. Thank you for your guidance, Senior Miyazaki."

Toudou Shizuka nodded seriously, committing every detail of Miyazaki Miyabi's movements to heart.

He did not leave immediately. Instead, he lowered his voice slightly, putting on a Just Right expression of a junior seeking advice. "Senior Miyazaki, actually... there's something else I'd like to ask about. It's about studying."

"Studying?" Miyazaki Miyabi raised a brow and looked Toudou Shizuka over in surprise. "Isn't Toudou's academic performance in Class B pretty good? Did you run into a difficult problem?"

"Not for myself."

Toudou Shizuka chose his words carefully, his tone sincere. "Our class... organized a Study Group to help some classmates with weaker foundations prepare for the Midterm Exam.

But we're still a little uncertain about the exam's scope and key topics.

Kanzaki and Class Rep Ichinose in our class thought that if we could refer to past real Exam Questions, or at least learn the general difficulty and direction, our review could be more targeted and efficient."

At the appropriate moment, he brought up the names of Kanzaki and Ichinose to increase his credibility.

Upon hearing that, Miyazaki Miyabi's bright smile faded somewhat. Her eyes became thoughtful, even carrying a hint of amusement.

"Oh? A Study Session organized by Kanzaki and Ichinose from your class? You want to get your hands on some 'Internal Materials'?"

She drew out the last word, her gaze roaming over Toudou Shizuka's face. "You've got some nerve, Toudou. The school keeps a very tight grip on the exam questions."

Toudou Shizuka's heart skipped a beat, but he kept his composure. "You misunderstand, Senior Student.

"We only wanted to 'draw on' some experience. We absolutely have no intention of crossing any lines.

"We just hope to make our review more targeted and avoid wasting time and energy on nonessential areas." He emphasized "efficiency" and "focus."

Miyazaki Miyabi did not answer immediately. Her fingers unconsciously tapped against her Arm Guard, producing a faint tap-tap sound.

The sounds of training in the hall seemed to fade away. Only a few seconds of silence passed, yet they felt exceptionally long.

"Heh." She suddenly gave a Light Laugh, breaking the silence. "Kanzaki and Ichinose... you two certainly know how to find a way.

"Trying to take a 'shortcut'?" Her gaze sharpened.

Toudou Shizuka met her eyes without flinching, his voice as steady as ever. "Senior Student, this isn't a shortcut. It's resource integration.

"The experience of upperclassmen is itself part of this school's valuable wealth.

"We merely hope to stand on the shoulders of those who came before us, take fewer detours, and use more of our time and points where they matter most."

He cleverly replaced the sensitive term with "resource integration" and brought up the crucial matter of "points."