Are you really leaving?

Opening his dorm room door, Beihai had barely stepped inside when Kiyotaka Kiyotaka followed him in, even thoughtfully closing the door behind them.

Beihai turned around, ready to shut the door himself, only to find this scene. He had to admit it was a bit startling, and more importantly, he didn't understand.

The movie was over, their little bonding session was done. By all logic, it was dark out now—shouldn't the other guy be heading back to his own room so Beihai could burn the midnight oil studying? So what was he doing here?

They locked eyes for a moment, and Beihai was the first to crack. There was no helping it—having a pair of dead fish eyes staring at you was genuinely unnerving. He decided to speak first. "Uh, it's dark out now. If you want afternoon tea or a late-night snack, you'll have to get it yourself. There's probably no delivery around here."

Beihai phrased it politely, but the intent to kick him out was obvious.

Kiyotaka just shook his head after hearing that, then unzipped his school bag and pulled out several stacks of game discs.

"It's still early, isn't it? Night life's just starting. Want to play together? We can catch up on sleep at our desks tomorrow morning. Once these few days are over, there won't be any more free time."

Beihai said nothing. But his silence wasn't because he had a problem—it was because you had a problem.

Sure, Class D was already beyond saving this month, but this guy hadn't been like this before!

And sure, he could afford to relax a little himself, but the moment he let his guard down, doom awaited. He'd kept his nerves wound tight for so long—if he completely let go now, wouldn't all those years of effort go to waste?

Beihai had to firmly resist temptation. Once you fell into depravity, it was like keeping a diary:

Day one: gaming. Day two: gaming. Day three: movies.

Beihai, oh Beihai, how could you sink so low? Have you forgotten the study plan you set? Examine yourself thrice daily!

And what was the final outcome? I think we all know.

Beihai refused with unwavering resolve, his gaze so firm not even a lever could pry it loose.

"You could go play with someone else—like Yamauchi, Sudo, those guys. Weren't you getting along fine with them before?"

"No. When it comes to friends, you're the only one."

That line sounded a bit strange. If he'd said it to someone else, or if the other person were a girl, it'd definitely boost their affection. But Beihai rejected it.

"But Kiyotaka, I'm actually very busy. If possible, it'd be better to talk another time."

"No need for advanced functions. I know a thing or two about them too."

"Huh?"

In the end, a large display screen was mounted on Beihai's dorm wall, with a game console hooked up.

Beihai sat on his bed, picking up a controller to adjust the settings. Honestly, it wasn't that he couldn't play—he just wanted to keep making progress in his studies. If that was the price, he'd be the best gaming partner around.

"Let me tell you, games are like fine wine sometimes—the older they get, the richer the flavor."

Kiyotaka didn't argue. He was savoring the moment. He couldn't quite name the feeling, but it was something special.

Games really were a unique medium. They let you experience lives you'd never live, fantastical adventures.

They played like that until the dead of night. When they finally stopped, Beihai stretched and yawned, checking the time. He could still push for a few more hours if he had to.

But Kiyotaka was clearly still in high spirits. Whether this was his first time staying up late or not, Beihai had to look out for his own interests. "I really can't go on anymore. If I'm completely out of it all day tomorrow, it'll be torture."

Kiyotaka snapped back to reality too. He stopped, his energy flagging, and subconsciously rubbed his eyes.

"Yeah, you're right. We'll have to leave it here for today."

He picked up his school bag from Beihai's bed, zipped it shut, opened the dorm door, and walked out.

Beihai watched him go, opening his mouth several times but holding back. It was too late to call him back now—it'd be inconvenient.

Just as Kiyotaka reached the doorway, he suddenly turned his head.

"Rest early, my friend."

That one line made Beihai think the guy had finally grown a conscience.

But wasn't he supposed to teach him advanced functions? So he just played and left?

Who was going to make up for the time Beihai had wasted? After all that, he still had to tough it out alone?

The controller slipped from Beihai's right hand and clattered to the floor. He barely noticed. He quickly got up, turned on the light, dug out his homework and textbooks from his bag, and frantically crammed while he still had time.

Kiyotaka walked a few steps down the hallway back to his own dorm. He flipped on the light at the entrance, then collapsed onto his bed, staring blankly at the ceiling light.

He'd left in a hurry earlier because he didn't know what to do next.

But now, he'd indirectly interrupted Beihai's pre-study ritual. Lying on his dorm bed, drowsiness washed over him—not a physical tiredness, but a mental one.

In the past, every time he slept, it was mechanical. There was nothing worth looking forward to. Every night, he wished tomorrow would come later. As long as he didn't sleep, time seemed infinite.

But now, he felt a strange sense of anticipation. Anticipation for the time he'd spend with Beihai. Anticipation for tomorrow to come faster.

He wondered what they'd do tomorrow. What game would they play? What movie would they watch?

He looked forward to what gifts they'd exchange as their friendship deepened, to hearing each other's innermost thoughts.

That night, he just wanted to fall asleep quickly. Because when he closed his eyes, the moment he opened them again, he'd see the thing he was waiting for.

Still just studying.

Beihai miserably wrote out his homework, grinding through practice problems. He didn't sleep a wink all night. That wasn't the worst part, though. The worst part was that first thing in the morning, Kiyotaka was already waiting at his door.

That guy was like a ghost, scaring the hell out of him.

Forcing himself to stay awake, he dragged himself to class. He'd planned to just collapse on his desk and catch up on sleep, but today there was a test.

Even though it was just a casual pop quiz, it was still a test. Every round of exams was a chance for students to measure their own progress.

Beihai was now at the point of tying his hair to a beam and stabbing his thigh with an awl, determined to get through this test properly.

When it finally came time to write the math section, Beihai, after a bout of intense thinking, couldn't hold on any longer. His head slammed onto the desk, and he fell asleep.

In his slumber, Beihai couldn't help but think, That damned Ayanokouji—I can't let him bother me again.

Isn't it just that he has no one, no friends, nothing to do? Wait, after today, I'll definitely find him a companion!

Otherwise, if he keeps messing around like this every day, who can take it? Even I can't take it, and I have a system!