As Igni and his friends were eating lunch, <BAM!> Elina slams the table with both hands and stood up.

Elina: Igni! Is there anything thats troubling you?!

Igni: SSomething troubling me?

Igni was caught off guard by the question and couldnt come up with an immediate answer.

He was a little concerned that he wasnt as popular as he wanted to be after winning the [Tournament], but theres no point saying that to Elina.

Elina: Yes! For instance, do you need help with studying?!

Igni: Studying? I mean, yeah, I could use help in all aspects but.

Elina: Perfect. Then if thats the case, starting today, Ill study with you!

Igni: Study? It is one week from the beginning of exams, and all club and even the Student Council activities are temporarily on hold. So everyone will be pretty much busy studying. Igni is a special kind of student though where written examinations do not affect his ability to move up a grade, but he doesnt want to look bad by getting a low score.

A guy who looks bad.doesnt necessarily mean he cant get Popular, but it will be <HARDER> to become Popular. As a human begin, its natural to want to take the path of higher chances of success.

So Igni was ready to begin preparing to study himself but

Elina: In other words, Igni. I will be teaching you, so you can ask me anything. By teaching you, itll help me learn myself!

What Elina is trying to do is called Active Learning. Instead of being taught by someone, Elina knew from experience that she would learn better if she was teaching someone else.

Elina: So how about it, Igni? Would you like to study with me?

Igni: Yeah, its true that youre really smart. Lets study together.

Alicia: She is 2nd in the school after all.

Elina: Ugh.

The comment came from Alicia.

As soon as she said 2nd, Elina immediately froze in place.

Igni: HHey, Alicia. You know it bothers her to hear about it, so maybe you shouldnt mention that in front of her..?

Alicia: Whats wrong with what I said? It was a compliment after all. Igni whispered quickly to Alicia, but Alicia didnt seem concerned at all.

Igni: (Is this why they call her Hurricane Alicia?)

.was the stupid thought crossing Ignis mind.

Alicia: Besides, why are you inviting someone from another class? Dont you have people you can invite in your own class? Elina: Ugh..ththats.theres a reason for that..

Elina regained her movements and took a bread with deep concerns surfacing on her face.

Alicia: What? Are you having a hard time facing them since you became 2nd in the school?

Elina: ........no.. Elina shook her head side to side.

Elina: It's just that.....Igni..is my only friend. And sagged her shoulders after the comment.

Igni and Elina do meet occasionally during the lunch break, but they rarely run into each other within school. They sometimes run into each other when they have a combined lesson with C Class (Igni is D Class), but they rarely talk during that time. And besides that, Igni is usually in a solidified group with Yoori, Alicia, Lilly, and Sara, so intruding into that circle would be difficult for anyone.

The only one that doesnt seem to care is Edward.

Alicia: OOh, I see. I didnt know. Im sorry for asking such a silly question. Please forgive me.

Alicia, who is part of the same Fortune Telling Club as Elina, quietly apologizes. Igni watches them as he remembers how there were many members in that club. During the Student Council Training Camp at the beach, there was an incident where all the Fortune Telling Club members fell unconscious, so Igni remembers seeing at least 20 or more members at that time.

If there are that many members, you may have people you can talk to but not necessarily become friends with or something like that could happen. So asking people if they want to be tutored might come off as arrogant.

Elina: Its okay. Dont worry about me..

Since Alicia was the one who first sent Elina spiraling downwards, she felt a pang of guilt and pity and apologized to Elina again. Elina responded with dead eyes and a half-smile so she seems to be taking it quite hard.

Igni: ThThen please tutor me, Elina.

Igni also felt pity towards her now and asked Elina.

Igni: Im pretty worried about this test.

Popularity Etiquette No. 13 When in need, ask people you can rely on.

Elina: Okay, if thats the case, you can leave it to me!

Elina regained her vigor with Ignis words and stood up tall.

Elina: This time, Ill take the No. 1 seat and Igni, youll take the 2nd. Well both cross the finish line as the Top 2!

Igni: OOOHH!! That sounds great!!

And the idiot (Igni) immediately got on board.

Yoori: Oh, can I join that session too? Theres some questions I wanted to ask. Elina: Of course! No problem!

Elina gladly accepts Yooris request. She puffed out and pounded her chest.

Igni: Do you want to join too, Alicia? Alicia: Ill pass. Itll be faster if I study on my own.

Iris: Ill pass too, Sir Igni. Igni offered the same opportunity to Alicia, but she rejected the offer with a bitter face.

Iris also held her hands together apologetically and said no.

Igni: What about you, Lilly? Lilly: I also prefer studying alone.

Igni couldnt argue with their reasoning. So now, it ended up with just the 3 of them, but Elina looked slightly concerned.

Igni: Do you want more people to join? Elina: YYeah. Im a little worried if I have all subjects down.

Igni: Then, theres one more person who might come but.should I invite him?

Elina: WhWho?! Id like to include him if possible.

Igni: Its Edward. But as soon as he finished speaking, Elina noticeably detested the suggestion.

Elina: .........no, not him. Igni: WhWhy? Elina: I cant borrow help from a Nobles son.besides, I dont think hell want my help either Igni: (I see. So its Noble politics related.)

It was the exact thing Lucas loathed, and the world which Igni escaped from before he knew it.

And as they continued their discussion, the rumored person arrived on scene.

Edward: WA HA HA. How are you guys?

Igni: Hey Edward. Youre looking well.

Edward: Yeah, Im always doing well.

And Edward smiled broadly as he spoke.

Igni: (I wonder what he came here for?)

But as Igni wondered, Edward sat in the seat beside him.

Edward: Its almost Summer Break, right? Do we all want to go somewhere to eat after the exams are done?

Apparently, he wanted to invite them all to dinner.

Igni gladly accepted.

Igni: Yeah, that sounds like fun. Lets definitely do that.

Alicia: That sounds great.

Alicia liked the idea and accepted as well. With that, everyone around gladly took to the idea and accepted, and Edward looked very pleased.

Edward: Do you want to come too, Owlight? And calling her by her family name, Edward invited Elina too. Elina froze at the offer and looked alternatively between Igni and Edward.

Igni: You might be able to make more friends, you know? was Ignis thought.

Elina: Okay, then Ill go!

Edward: Got it. Ill put in the reservation for the restaurant.

With his business complete, Edward went back to his minions.

Igni: (I thought she said she doesnt want to borrow the help from another Noble..?)

But Igni immediately shut the words back into his heart since he was the one that invited her in the first place.