Aozaki Aoko Case File - [21]

After a short break, Aoko returned to the classroom to continue her exams. For subjects like mathematics, given the current difficulty level at Misaki High School, she could practically write the correct answers with her eyes closed. She finished the entire exam in about a third of the allotted time; most of her time was spent on the simple act of writing down the answers.

Chemistry, however, was one of the few areas where she needed to spend some time memorizing and studying, as it was a subject Aoko hadn’t been particularly good at in her previous life. But thanks to her enhanced intellectual abilities, even high school-level chemistry was far from difficult.

Some might wonder: isn’t alchemy a part of the magical world? So why did Aoko need to study chemistry separately? The reason was that real alchemy followed a logic entirely different from chemistry, grounded in what was called occult theory. Aoko had once been curious about how alchemists could create gold through their practices.

No matter how strange the mystical rules governing Earth’s surface might be, once you left Earth and entered the cosmic scale, those rules became meaningless. Aoko eventually concluded that Earth’s alchemists were likely using some kind of transmutation magic, swapping certain metals with gold located elsewhere on the planet to achieve the so-called turning lead into gold effect.

In Aoko’s view, this didn’t yet qualify as magic, since these magi were essentially using shortcuts—a thought she held with a bit of arrogance.

After finishing her exam early, Aoko headed to the school cafeteria alone to enjoy her lunch. Although the food there was mediocre at best, she ate with a great appetite. She ordered a bowl of beef udon and sat in a corner, eating while pondering over a new spell she had developed during her morning meditation.

The Sapphire Ward, similar to the Evocation spell Emerald Burst, consumed an expensive gemstone when cast. Aoko wondered if she could use synthetic gems instead; otherwise, casting the spell would be a bit too extravagant.

While confident in her ability to make money, Aoko wanted to avoid the kind of financial strain someone like Rin Tohsaka might experience. It was always wise to have affordable and effective spellcasting materials.

As she finished her meal, other students began trickling into the cafeteria. Just as she was about to leave, a boy sat down directly across from her.

Aoko looked up and nearly laughed aloud. Wasn’t this Tobimaru Tsukiji? His usually neat, slicked-back hair was slightly disheveled, and he had dark circles under his eyes. The vice president of the student council now looked at Aoko with a pitiful expression.

“President, you’re not going to run away after the exams today, are you?”

Tsukiji asked.

“What do you mean, run away?”

Aoko replied, slightly annoyed.

“It’s called delegation! Capable people should take on more responsibility. And since you, Vice President Tsukiji, are so good at handling student council affairs, it’s only natural for you to carry more of the burden.”

“Then doesn’t that mean you should stay and help with the student council work even more?”

Tsukiji snapped back, clearly frustrated.

“Do you have any idea what I’ve been going through? Trying to prepare for exams while also handling student council duties? I’m not a top-ranking genius who scores perfectly on every test!”

“Aha! President Aoko, Vice President Tsukiji!” a cheerful voice called out from a distance. Aoko looked up to see Kumari, the student council treasurer.

She jogged over with her tray of food, first glancing at the tired Tsukiji, then giving Aoko a subtle look before sitting down beside the vice president.

Aoko was well aware that Kumari had been harboring a crush on the handsome Tsukiji for years. Tsukiji, on the other hand, had once been among the first group of students in the school to consider confessing his feelings to Aoko. But before he could make a move, he witnessed Aoko coldly and ruthlessly reject every boy and girl who dared to give her love letters. As a result, he backed off, abandoning his feelings before they could even begin.

The more time Tsukiji spent working with Aoko on student council matters, the more he understood her true nature. She was someone so different from him, someone who didn’t even seem to belong to the same world. Though Aoko was always polite, beneath her perfect facade lay unmistakable arrogance and indifference toward others.

It wasn’t a superiority based on wealth or status. Rather, it was as though Aoko regarded other people with arrogance on a biological level.

Tsukiji sometimes questioned his judgment. After all, weren’t they both human? Weren’t Aoko Aozaki and Tobimaru Tsukiji just ordinary people? But perhaps it was all a misunderstanding—since Aoko herself didn’t seem to notice anything unusual about her attitude toward others.

To Aoko, Tsukiji might be no different from any other student or even the flowers and grass by the roadside. This realization eventually helped him calm down and let go of his feelings.

While Tsukiji had moved on, Kumari had not. Her unrequited love for him had begun in middle school and reignited when she found out that Tsukiji had given up on Aoko. She promptly applied for the treasurer position and, after passing Aoko’s rigorous selection process, joined the student council.

In Kumari’s mind, Tsukiji’s hard work as vice president was an attempt to impress their frequently absent president! She was convinced he still harbored feelings for Aoko, so she made sure to keep a close eye on him.

However, Kumari also understood that Aoko’s interest in Tsukiji was practically non-existent. As a result, she bore no ill will toward Aoko. After all, who wouldn’t admire someone as beautiful as her?

Whenever Kumari saw Tsukiji and Aoko together, she would immediately rush over.

“You two go ahead and eat,” Aoko said, winking at Kumari.

“I’ve got something else to take care of, so I won’t be joining you.”

With that, Aoko stood up, tray in hand, and left the table.

“Hey, wait!”

Tsukiji called after her, “Don’t disappear after school today, President! There’s still a ton of student council work to do!”

Aoko didn’t turn around; she simply waved her hand and left the cafeteria.

I’m leaving this precious alone time for you two, young lovers. Good luck, she thought with a grin.