Diligent Sister Nan

"Here."

"So fast?" After merely voicing that remark, the examiner began reading the test paper.

"All right, you passed your grade-skipping exam."

"That fast?" The first-year teacher beside them was surprised this time. Of course, he was not surprised by how quickly Nan had finished the test, but by how quickly the examiner had reviewed it. After all, many ninja muddled through the academic courses, so their papers were usually a complete mess and took quite a while to decipher.

"Her handwriting is very neat, so there was no trouble recognizing the words. I only needed to glance over a few of her answers to see she had at least seventy points."

The teacher took a look and found that it was indeed true. He was very happy to have such a student in his class; it meant he could get a bonus after only a year.

"Congratulations, Zhou Nan. Welcome to the second year."

"All right, everyone, quiet down. Today, our class has welcomed a new student. Come on, introduce yourself to everyone." The teacher of Second Year Class B looked at the blue-haired girl beside him.

"Hello, everyone. My name is Zhou Nan. Please take care of me."

"Wow, our class finally has a girl!"

"Yeah, and she's really cute too."

"Listen up, all of you. This girl is mine, so just give up!"

"Tch, Oda. Just because you say she's yours means she's yours? Let's compete fairly."

"Tch. With my handsome looks, this girl named Zhou Nan will definitely be mine."

Watching the students arguing below, the teacher felt a little embarrassed. The teachers from the Academic Affairs Office outside the door had not even left yet.

"Um, Nan, the students in this class are a little precocious, so please forgive them." Then he looked at the group below, who were nearly about to fight. "What are you arguing about? All you do all day is chase girls. Why don't you focus on your studies? What are you trying to do? And you, Oda—what do you mean, 'mine'? Why are you standing on top of your desk? Get down!"

This Oda apparently had some family backing. He actually dared to behave like this so openly in class, yet the teacher only scolded him a few times without even saying anything too harsh. Nan came to that conclusion after observing from the podium. It was also a habit she had learned from Zhou Yang: whenever she entered an unfamiliar environment, she had to carefully observe the situation and find what would benefit her most.

Once the classroom had quieted down, the teacher turned to Nan and asked, "All right, Nan. Go choose a seat you like!"

Hearing that, Nan slung her bag over her shoulder and walked down.

"Hey, are you Nan? Sit next to me!"

"No, sit next to me!"

"Sit next to me!"

"What are you all fighting over? Nan will definitely sit next to me!" As he spoke, he extended a hand toward the approaching Nan. "Hello, Nan. My name is Oda, and I'm the nephew of the Land of Rain's daimyo."

Just as Nan had expected, this boy's background was indeed far from simple.

"Tch, Oda, that's too sneaky. You just blurted out your family background."

"What's wrong with stating my background? It's an advantage unique to me, so why shouldn't I use it?" As he spoke, he flashed what he considered a handsome smile and looked at Nan. In his experience, whenever he put on that expression for girls his age, they would shyly shake his hand. This time would naturally be no exception.

But Nan was not an ordinary girl. Besides, the important person in her life had already appeared. So she did not reach out to take his hand. However, because of her kind nature, she did not refuse to sit beside him. She did set one condition, though: unless she initiated a conversation, she did not want him to speak with her.

Although his handshake had been rejected, his target was now seated beside him, which naturally delighted Oda beyond measure. Of course, he readily agreed to all her conditions. He even thought that she had only acted that way to make him take the initiative, because she had just arrived in this class. Compared to him, an established student, she knew far less about both studies and everything else. Therefore, it was absolutely inevitable that she would eventually speak to him first.

The reality was roughly what he had expected, but she had no interest in making small talk with him. Nearly every time she spoke, it was only to ask how a certain problem had been solved or how something was done. Once he proudly explained it, she would consciously turn her face away, as though unwilling to say another word.

However, as the questions gradually became more difficult, problems that even he could not solve began to appear, leaving him rather embarrassed. At such times, the studious Nan would tirelessly ask those who knew the answers. Oda could not help thinking, Could it be that after asking about a problem once, she could solve every problem of the same type afterward? But when she was serious, she was so captivating. Just as expected of the woman I've set my sights on.

As for Nan, although being stared at by the boy beside her made her uncomfortable, she let it slide after considering that he was the daimyo's nephew. Her own status was not low either, but she did not want to trouble her teacher over something like this. At the same time, her determination to skip grades as soon as possible grew even stronger, and she studied even more diligently afterward.

Seeing how hardworking the new student was, the teacher could not help growing more spirited in his lectures. At the same time, he wondered, What family did this child come from? Why was she so well-behaved? Why couldn't the other children be like this?

At last, evening dismissal arrived. Nan, who had been writing furiously, stopped what she was doing. She slowly packed her bag, then walked toward the teacher.

When the teacher saw this new student, he immediately felt that she was an angel sent from above, a reward after he had suffered for so long. He put on what he thought was his best smile, looked at the approaching Nan, and softly asked, "Zhou Nan, is there anything you need your teacher to help you with? Has Oda, the student beside you, been causing you trouble? It's all right. You can choose your seat again. This is a privilege your teacher is giving you!" The teacher naturally knew that Oda had been lurking beside her and peeping at her, so he naturally assumed she had come to ask him to solve that problem. Having finally found his courage for once, he decided to help the angel deal with her trouble.

"Um... it's actually not a problem."

"Hm? Then what did you come to see me for? Is there a problem you don't know how to solve? Come, come, come. I guarantee I'll explain it clearly." As he spoke, he held out his hand.

But Nan shook her head again.

Seeing Nan shake her head, the teacher was utterly puzzled. Then why had she come to see him? Could there be something difficult for her to say, making her unwilling to speak of it?

With that thought, the teacher immediately told Nan not to be afraid of whatever problem she had. If he could not solve it, he could report it to his superiors. If that still did not work, he could report it to the principal. And if even the principal could not handle it, they could ask Lord Hanzo whether he could solve it. The more he spoke, the more excited he became, as if there were no problem that could not be resolved.

"Um... Teacher, I just wanted to ask what the requirements are for skipping grades in our class?"

"Skipping grades? Oh, I understand. You're preparing to skip grades in the future, right? I understand. It's normal for a child who loves studying as much as you to want to skip grades. Oh, right, you just skipped up from the first year, didn't you? It's the same in our grade as it was in the first year: apply, then take an assessment. Once you pass the assessment, you can skip ahead."

"Oh, so that's how it is. Then I want to apply."

"All right, since you've finished asking, then—hm? What did you say? You want to apply? Apply to skip grades?"

"That's right."

"Y-you're sure?"

"Yes."

"You should know that you only get one chance to apply within the same grade. If you fail, you have to complete the entire year! Why don't you think it over a little more?" The teacher still seemed to want to persuade her.

"No, I've made up my mind."

"Sigh, all right. I'll write your application today. There should probably be a result tomorrow."

"Thank you, Teacher."

"It's nothing, it's nothing." Although the teacher wore a smile, his heart was filled with sorrow. It was as though he could already see those dark, sunless days returning.

Ah! Was my angel leaving me after only one day?