NOZOMI: "Tomorrow is finally the big day!"

AKI: "Yup! I'm kind of nervous, but I think I can do it because of your help."

NOZOMI: "Yeah. Let me give you one last, special incantation for working so hard."

AKI: "I will admit that your tutoring methods were questionable, my chest hurts but I feel like I can take on the math exam. Everything else, too!"

NOZOMI: "Here, give me your hand."

Hm? She's holding my hand and saying something.

NOZOMI: "All nine of us will lend you our strength!"

AKI: "Thanks, I wish you all the best of luck, too. If everything goes as planned, my girls will meet you on the main stage."

NOZOMI: "Don't worry, I know how motivated my girls can be. Since Eli-chi upped the ante, they can't get enough of studying!"

AKI: "I'm glad to hear that. Thanks again."

NOZOMI: "And please. Feel free to stop by any time you need tutoring."

AKI: "...I'll consider it."

Remind me to never underestimate the power of the Washi-Washi ever again....

-------------------------------------------

*FIRST DAY OF EXAMS*

I'm so nervous. This really is do or die, and I'd hate to be the one to cost the girls their chance to perform on the main stage.

I'm not even performing on it! And yet the fate of the School Idol Festival still rests in my hands.

No... Not just mine, but everyone's hands!

I can feel that everyone, all 28 of us are united today to score 60 or more.

With everyone unified, we can accomplish anything!

...

KASUMI: "It's finally over. I worked my brain so hard, I feel like I might pass out. It's over for me..."

RINA: "My brain's fried..."

AYUMU: "We've only just gotten through our first day of exams. We've got more exams coming up tomorrow, so we can't relax quite yet."

KASUMI: "Can't do it... Brain, empty..."

KARIN: "I've overworked my brain this much, and it's still not over? Just end me now."

KANATA: "I think I did better on these exams than I usually do. I worked really hard, so I'm gonna get some shut-eye now. Zzz..."

KARIN: "I'm sleepy, too."

AKI: "So, you think the study sessions worked?"

SETSUNA: "Absolutely!"

SHIZUKU: "I felt much more confident about my exams because of them."

AI: "Yeah, I totally understand! Teaching others is a great way to review as well."

KARIN: "I wish we could just aim for an average of 60 instead of everyone needing to score 60 or more."

KASUMI: "I like the sound of that! That way, if someone scores 100, I can get away with 20!"

AKI: "If I can't get away with 20 in math then neither can you!"

KASUMI: "Wah!"

AKI: "So anyway, let's all aim for 60 or higher, girls!"

RINA: "That hurdle is way too high."

KARIN: "I'd feel better if this were about our electives. I'd barely break a sweat trying to score a 60 in styling."

AYUMU: "There are styling exams in your life design course? That sure is different from the general curriculum."

KASUMI: "Styling?! Wow! What other kinds of exams do you have?"

KARIN: "We have to answer questions about fashion and draw up design sketches, that kind of thing.
There are also exams about the history of fashion, and even hair and makeup."

KASUMI: "It sounds so fancy and fun!"

KARIN: "I guess it is, but... It's still rather difficult, you know."

AKI: "Maybe you could even use those skills to design costumes for the club?"

KARIN: "Great idea, it'll be how everyone looks in my revealing outfit style."

AKI: "...Okay, that's not a good idea after all. Hey, you're part of the life design course as well, aren't you, Kanata?"

AYUMU: "Does that mean you come up with your own designs, too?"

KANATA: "Oh, I sure do. But mine are all food-based."

KASUMI: "Food-based?"

KANATA: "Yup! I chose food design, so I have nutritional science exams and that kind of stuff."

AYUMU: "Oh, of course! I guess that makes sense since you're so good at cooking."

KANATA: "I wanna be sure I can make tasty boxed lunches for Haruka."

EMMA: "You have shared some of your cooking with us when you've made too much before too. Your fried chicken was so buono!"

AKI: "Yeah, there's nothing like it! The broccoli sauce she makes is so refreshing, too!"

SETSUNA: "Oh my, I want to try some myself!"

KANATA: "I could always swing by Emma's dorm and give you both some."

AKI: "You're all in your element when it comes to your speciality subjects."

Huh? Wait, I'm starting to sound like Mifune...

KANATA: "I sure am, but I'm still pretty bad at science and math."

RINA: "I can handle science and math, but Japanese is rough."

AKI: "Haha..... Uh, if I remember correctly, Shizuku and Emma are in the international exchange course, right?"

SHIZUKU: "Well, yes, but aside from choosing another language to study on top of Japanese, our course isn't really different from the general curriculum."

AKI: "What other language do you study."

SHIZUKU: "English! The language of Shakespeare."

AKI: "Cool, my father being American made sure that I learned that from an early age. I'm probably a little rusty but I could teach you some things. What about you, Emma?"

EMMA: "I'm fine with foreign languages, it's Japanese that I find hard. I can speak it, but reading it is a whole other story. Hiragana, katakana AND kanji? My brain's going to pop!"

AKI: "What about Romanji?"

EMMA: "That's not official, is it?"

AKI: "Oh? I guess not."

SETSUNA: "I understand why Emma chose the international exchange course, but what about you, Shizuku?"

SHIZUKU: "I want to be an actress on an international scale, so I wanted to study about different countries."

AKI: "I'm guessing America is top of your target list."

SHIZUKU: "You bet! With Hollywood on the West Coast and Broadway on the East! Not just America, but the whole world is a stage. The Sydney Opera House, The National Theater, Covent Garden and Shakespeare's Globe in London, film festivals in Europe, Bollywood in India, The comedies and tragedies of Ancient Greece. Not to forget the traditions our own country provides with Kabuki, Noh and Bunraku. The possibilities are endless!"

KARIN: *Chuckle* "If anyone can do it, it's you, Shizuku."

AKI: "I agree with that! So anyway, let's give it our best shot in tomorrow's exams!"

KANATA: "All right! I'm gonna take a little nap to get ready for tomorrow..."

AI: "No naps allowed, Kana!"

KANATA: "Huh?"

AI: "You need to cram as much as you can for tomorrow! You hear me?!"

KANATA: "Whaaat?!"

KASUMI: "Th-This isn't like you at all, Ai!"

AI: "Now's not the time to get lazy. Now get out your notes and books!"

KARIN: "C-Can't we take a little break first? I mean, we're all pretty exhausted after those tests..."

AI: "Nope and nope! Time is of the essence! Shizuku! Physics is your worst subject, right? I'll teach you."

SHIZUKU: "Don't you think you're being a bit too iron-fisted, Ai?"

RINA: "She's a demon... We have a demob amongst us... Rina-chan Board says 'Tremble!'"

AI: "If being a demon is what it takes to keep us school idols, then so be it! Now pick up your pens and get studying!"

KASUMI: *Whine* "I don't have enough room in my brain for all this..."

AI: "Okay! I guess I'll have to MAKE some room for it!"

KASUMI: *Wail* "Have mercy!"

Yikes, I thought we're the one's that are supposed to change Shioriko, not the other way around!

First Eli, Dia and now Ai?

Just great... Maybe Nozomi's tutoring wasn't brutal after all?

Who am I kidding? MY CHEST STILL HURTS!