December.
Winter was closing in, and final exams were just around the corner.
The atmosphere in the classroom should have been tense.
However— the girls were restless for an entirely different reason.
Mikiko:
(...Forget finals. Christmas is what matters! I'm definitely dragging Takuma out somewhere!)
Urara:
(A Christmas illumination date! ♡ I'm going to win this!)
Shiori:
(I've gotta get ahead of everyone here!)
Karen:
(Forget exams! The real battle is romance!)
Shion:
(Observation subject: behavior during Christmas. Highest priority.)
Not a single one of them was properly focused on the exams.
The test papers were handed out.
Takuma picked up his pencil.
Scratch, scratch...
With a perfectly serious expression, he worked his way through the questions and moved on to the next page without hesitation.
(...This is pretty easy.)
Meanwhile—
Mikiko:
(Crap! I can't concentrate!)
(What should I get him for Christmas...? ♡)
Shiori:
(I need an excuse to ask Kunimi out!)
Karen:
(Math II? Who cares?! Kunimi's more important!)
Shion:
(My observation notes are more important than the answer sheet...)
The result—
"Phew. Answered everything."
Their teacher glanced over.
"Already finished, Kunimi? Impressive as always."
The girls stared down at their papers.
"............"
There was an alarming amount of blank space.
A few days later, the results came back.
Takuma: Nearly perfect scores.
The girls: Barely above failing.
Mikiko stared at her paper.
"...This is bad."
Urara immediately brightened.
"But Christmas is coming! ♡"
Shiori nodded.
"Exactly. The real battle hasn't even started yet."
Karen slammed a fist into her palm.
"Who needs good grades? I'll make up the points in romance!"
Shion adjusted her glasses.
"...Compensate for lost points at Christmas. Observation continues."
"...You guys nearly failed every subject."
He paused.
"Should you really be worrying about Christmas right now?"
"............"
The girls fell silent.
Then—
"SHUT UP!!!"
Hina watched from nearby.
"...He managed to turn every girl's brain into Christmas mode during final exams."
Momiji shook her head.
"The King of Obliviousness among Kings of Obliviousness. He crushes the exams while completely ignoring every romance flag."
"But the girls' motivation switch isn't labeled 'studying.'"
"Nope."
Momiji sighed.
"It's labeled 'romantic event.'"
Hina glanced toward the girls.
"...The next one is probably going to be an even bigger disaster."
"...Definitely."
Mr. Oblivious himself.
Takuma Kunimi breezed through his final exams with near-perfect scores— while the girls' romantic schemes continued spiraling wildly out of control.
All for one reason.
The coming battle—
Christmas.