“Speaking of which, we have our midterm exams starting next week. How’s your studying going, big brother? You’ll be forbidden from seeing Josette if you lose to Cedric, won’t you?” Rachel said to Kent, changing the subject.
“I haven’t been able to gather any information about why my previous test scores were so odd. I’m sorry, everyone who was helping me,” Kent apologized in front of everyone. His scores on the end-of-term exam for the first semester had, for some inexplicable reason, become zero. He was sure his self-assessment was close to perfect, but despite his own investigations, he lacked reliable connections and couldn’t find the cause of his zero score.
“Oh, about that? We’ve found the cause,” Josette replied casually.
“Huh?” Kent was surprised by Josette’s swift answer.
“Actually, we found out that our homeroom teacher was bribed and illegally changed Kent’s end-of-term exam scores. We dealt with it by making the information public and having them fired.”
“So that’s why the homeroom teacher suddenly changed today.”
“That’s right. However, unfortunately, while we have our suspicions, we couldn’t gather enough evidence to identify the person who ordered it,” Josette said.
“I see. But Josette, thank you for looking into it.”
“Unfortunately, it wasn’t us… from the Duke’s family who figured that out. Of course, we conducted an investigation, and we suspected the homeroom teacher was suspicious, but the evidence was cleverly hidden, so we couldn’t investigate as we wanted.”
“So, a group with superior information-gathering abilities to the Duke’s family found out?”
“I can’t go into details, but you can think of it that way,” Josette replied.
Kent thanked them for conducting various investigations unbeknownst to him. However, Josette did not answer about the existence of a mysterious intelligence agency that could uncover things the Duke’s family couldn’t.
“Kent, this time, with a powerful helper joining us and keen eyes watching, no cheating will occur. So please show us your abilities to your heart’s content.”
“That’s right, big brother. Since so much has been done for you, you need to study hard so it’s not like you couldn’t win with your own strength,” Caro added.
“Thank you, both of you,” Kent said, grateful for Caro and Rachel’s encouragement.
“Teacher Tia would never be involved in cheating, so you can rest assured. Teacher Tia trusts you too, and she knows a lot of your weaknesses, so you’ll be fine,” Rachel said with an expression that suggested she was thinking of something not quite good.
“It’s almost lunchtime. Everyone’s finished eating, shall we head back to the classroom?” After that, they spent an enjoyable lunch break chatting about various things. When the time came, Kent brought it up, and they decided to return to their respective classrooms.
“Kent, let’s do our best in the afternoon classes too,” Josette said.
“Yeah. But I get sleepy when my stomach is full.”
“Kent’s seat is in the very front, so if you act like that, the teacher will caution you,” Josette added.
After parting ways with Caro and Rachel, Kent and Josette walked towards their classroom.
“Oh? Are Kent and Josette heading to the classroom now?” Teacher Arnet and Teacher Tia appeared from the opposite direction.
“Yes, Teacher Tia and Teacher Arnet. Thank you for your hard work.”
“Teacher Tia, I… Teacher Arnet, good day.” Kent and Josette replied as Tia spoke to them.
“It’s good to see you both looking healthy. What’s wrong, Josette? Your face is red?” Tia asked.
“N-no, it’s nothing. Even though I know I shouldn’t laugh… hearing you say that…” Seeing Teacher Arnet’s concerned look as she peered at her, Josette trembled, trying to hold something back.
“This is bad. This must be some kind of illness. Kent, quickly take Josette to the infirmary,” Teacher Arnet urged.
“Are you alright, Josette?” Kent also asked, concerned, as Teacher Arnet urged her to go to the infirmary.
“I-I’m fine. I’m sorry. I’ll go on ahead,” Josette said, and then quickly left the scene.
“Josette, you shouldn’t run in the hallways.”
“I know! Hehehe, I can’t hold it in if I don’t leave here immediately.” Teacher Arnet called out to Josette as she ran off.
“What’s wrong with Josette?” Tia wondered.
“It’s okay. I think it’ll pass soon. Well then, Kent, class is about to start, so you should head to your classroom.”
“Kent, please do your best in the afternoon classes too. We’ll stop by for homeroom after class, so I’ll see you later,” Teacher Tia said.
“Yes, excuse me.” With that, Kent followed after Josette.
“Kent doesn’t seem to realize who Teacher Arnet really is.”
“Even though it’s a mission, it’s a little sad not to be recognized,” Tia said. Tia and Arnet watched Kent’s retreating figure and then headed towards the class they would be teaching.
“Kent, you’re back alone today, which is unusual. Josette came back earlier, weren’t you with her?” Patty asked as Kent returned to his seat.
“No, we were together until just before. But when we met Teacher Tia and Teacher Arnet on the way, she suddenly started running away.”
“It was quite amusing this morning too, and she’s like that now,” Patty said, pointing in a direction where Josette was trembling, hunched over her desk.
“Josette looks strange… Should I go check on her?” Kent asked.
“She’s just trying to hold back laughter, so I think she’ll be fine,” Patty replied.
“Is that so?” Kent was worried, but when the bell for class rang, Josette sat up and began preparing the materials for the next lesson with an expression as if nothing had happened. Seeing her, Kent felt relieved and began preparing his own study materials.
“Alright. Let’s begin our afternoon homeroom.” After the afternoon classes ended, Teacher Tia and Teacher Arnet entered the classroom, replacing the teacher who had been lecturing until just before.
“Um, there’s nothing in particular to report today. Since the exams start next week, please study well to prepare. Also, if there’s anything you don’t understand, don’t leave it as is. Please come to us teachers while you have time. Well then, please be careful on your way home. Goodbye.”
“Goodbye, teachers!” the students responded. Everyone stood up and headed out of the classroom towards their respective destinations. Tia and Arnet watched the students leave from the lectern.
“Everyone’s gone.”
“Yeah, the first day is finally over.”
“I’m sorry for taking up your valuable time for my sake.”
“It’s fine, don’t worry about it,” Tia said apologetically to Arnet after ensuring all the students had left the classroom.
“Oops, my tone returned. Our real work begins after school,” Arnet noted.
“That’s right. We have to do our best to clear Kent’s name,” Tia added. Arnet and Tia renewed their resolve.
