Rin’s eyes flickered with longing. “I can’t. If I drop even two points on the next National Mock Exam, my juku (cram school) teacher will call home.”

Sora was scrolling through TikTok on her battered smartphone, decorated with stickers of her favorite Snow Man member. “That’s brutal. But hey, the new Shogun Season anime episode drops at midnight. You can watch it as a reward.”

“That’s survival ,” Sora insisted. “My senpai (senior) did it. She got into Waseda.”