8 - Overnight cramming and sufficient sleep cannot coexist (Patreon)

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Well, it seems like Tadashi is already in the mood for summer vacation, but before that, there is an event he must not forget.

“...Can I skip school until summer vacation?”
“You obviously can’t.”
“I don’t want to take the teeeeessstt!”

Yes, it is the student's natural enemy, the final exam.
In terms of academic ability, I'm about average for this school, and Hiuri's is a little above that. And Tadashi, who is hanging his head in front of me, is well below average. One of the reasons why Tadashi made plans for summer vacation so quickly was probably because he was trying to escape reality and forget about the test.

There is no problem with the test as long as one studies every day. Because even though it's a final exam, it's based on what we've learned so far, so it's unlikely that we won't be able to solve it at all.
Except for the guy in front of me who neglected his daily studies.

“Why are you hanging your head a week before the test?”
“Of course I would! It's the test, you know! The one who killed my parents!”
“Aren't both of your parents still alive?”

It's not that Tadashi can't study. In fact, if he studies properly, he can get better grades than me.
The reason why Tadashi is complaining so much is because he hates studying.

Apparently, as a result of his parents' repeated archaeological explorations in the past, Tadashi has developed a dislike of learning. However, since he seems to like archaeology, it seems that only his dislike for learning has remained.

“Kazuki, please teach me.”
“I’m not good enough to teach anyone, you know?”
“I’m okay with that. As long as I can enjoy studying.”

Therefore, if Tadashi studies with someone, if he has fun while studying, he too can get above-average grades.
That said, I'm not in a position to teach either. Even though I study every day, my own aptitude is bad, so in terms of understanding, I only get half of it.

Then, the only thing to do about it is to use something that has become the ace up my sleeve since the current school year.

...

“Next is this question.”
“Ok.”

In the dream, instead of the usual white space, Hiuri and I are in a study room.
I have a teacher I can rely on called Sakura Hiuri. Even though this is a dream, my memories carry over properly, so what I study here will be reflected in my academic ability in real life.

My study tools are a notebook, a mechanical pencil, and a workbook that Hiuri made for me.
It would be nice if I could bring a workbook from real life, but as expected, I can’t remember the contents in such detail, so I couldn't realize it here. Even if I try to materialize it, what comes out would be a workbook with only a cover and vague content.

So, I asked Hiuri to create problems for me while I solve them. It pains me to put so much burden on Hiuri, but she seems to be enjoying herself, so I let her spoil me.

“Ok, this one looks good. I'm sure you'll get a good grade in math.”
“Really? That would be great...”

After finishing the math workbook, I can feel relieved for the time being. If Hiuri says so, I can trust her.

“Nn—, Kazuki-kun.”
“Nn?”
“What did you do for the test last year? I wasn't there, right?”

Last year I had no cheat called the dream.
So if I have to say...

“I just single-mindedly did the workbook.”
“It’s not an overnight cramming right?”
“I don’t do that. You know I go to bed early, right?”

I just single-mindedly try to solve the workbooks I bought at school.
My bedtime is early, it hasn’t changed whether it is this year or last year, that’s why I am not suited for all-nighters or overnight cramming. So I spent every waking moment single-mindedly studying. In a sense, this is a muscle-brained strategy in which if every question on the test is a question that I know, I will be able to solve them.

“I’m surprised you can solve them...”
“Actually, I properly got an average. But, the burden is big, and I feel like I could get better scores if I have Hiuri teach me.”

Even so, as expected, I was only able to get an average score. When a slightly special applied problem came out, I couldn't solve it.
It's fine for subjects that don't have applied problems, such as Japanese, but I am inevitably weak in science subjects.

On that point, if I ask Hiuri to teach me, my understanding prowess will increase and I'll be able to solve applied problems... I think.

“Really, I wish I could make a workbook appear.”
“Isn’t there a way to bring something from real life?”
“Hmmm...”

In the dream, Hiuri and I are both the real person ourselves. However, our body is not real. My real body is still sleeping in my room even now.
We can only bring this consciousness of ours to the dream.

“Well, let's just study now. It's only a week away.”
“...That's true. Thank you for your encouragement, Sensei?”
“Geez, don't make fun of me. Now, to the next question.”

...

A week later, the day of the test.
In response to Tadashi's request, I studied with Tadashi three times. Perhaps because of that, Tadashi is a bit more energetic today.

“Haa...”

Only a little bit. Tadashi is sighing, but compared to if he faced the test without doing anything, he is more energetic today.

“Kazuki seems kinda motivated. Are you confident?”
“To be honest, I guess it’s a little bit.”

For the past week, Hiuri has been teaching me every night. Even if we studied in the dream, I was the only one receiving feedback, so I was just being taught one-sidedly, but thanks to that, I think I was able to understand quite a bit.
I studied Japanese and Social Studies the same way as last year, so my scores will probably be about the same, but I should be able to get higher scores than last year in science and mathematics types of subjects.

This too, was thanks to the cheat space called the dream. To think I was able to sleep and study at the same time, this is precisely an environment that would be the envy of any student in the world.

The exam proctor comes into the classroom and the class becomes quiet.
Even Tadashi, who had been slouching, is now sitting upright. I'm getting nervous too.

Question sheets and answer sheets are being handed out. The subject is Japanese. It’s not a subject I studied with Hiuri, but it’s a subject I studied separately every day.

“Begin!”

――――

(T/N: I decided to remove the space in the beginning of the line starting this chapter.)

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