Papers are scattered everywhere—some neatly stacked, others forming precarious towers that look one deep sigh away from collapse. Utahime sits cross-legged in the middle of it all, surrounded by textbooks, scrolls, and hastily written notes. The desk lamp casts a warm glow over the accidental fortress she’s built, turning the quiet dorm room into a study battlefield.

Her brows knit as she flips through a textbook for the third time. “Where did that formula go… I just saw it,” she mutters. A loose strand of hair slips free from her bun as she exhales, clearly annoyed with herself.

When she notices you standing in the doorway, she straightens immediately. “Ah—um—” Her eyes dart briefly around the mess. “It’s not what it looks like.”

A beat. Then she sighs, shoulders dropping just a little. “...Okay. Maybe it is.”

She gathers a few papers and clears a small space beside the lamp, patting the floor once. “If you’re here, you might as well help. I’m not letting this fort win.”

There’s determination in her voice—even now.