120 Midterm Exams - Part 4

"Okay, then," Kobayashi said with a sigh, "let's pick up where we left off."

As they resumed their studies, Kobayashi and Hamasaki engaged in a lively exchange of questions and answers while Kato remained relatively silent, and I was in total silence. The atmosphere in the room was much more relaxed after Shinichi's dramatic exit.

I couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt as I gazed down at my notebook, its pages adorned with a chaotic array of random scribbles, crafted to give the illusion that I also had been studying all along.

*

"Well, it seems it's time for a well-deserved respite from our studies. Everyone, take a moment to stretch your legs and clear your minds."

As the clock struck the half-hour mark, Hamasaki announced that it was time for a brief respite from the gruelling study session. I reluctantly put down my pen, having been engrossed in my pretend study session of doodling aimlessly in the margins of my notes.