Math had always been Y/N’s mortal enemy. Numbers, formulas, equations they were like an ancient curse designed solely to make her suffer. And today? Today was an absolute nightmare.

Professor Han, in his infinite love for academic torture, had announced a pop exam, sending the entire class into chaos. Now, here Y/N was, in the journalism room, desperately trying to cram. She shuffled through her index cards like a gambler on the verge of losing everything, mumbling formulas as if chanting them would somehow implant them into her brain. Spoiler alert: It wasn’t working.

Her headphones were blasting "Generic Chemistry: The Lo-Fi Edition," because why not? At this point, she needed all the artificial brainpower she could get.

Just as she was about to descend further into mathematical despair, the door swung open, and in walked Shinji Arakawa, the school’s resident math prodigy, human calculator, and certified weirdo. He was supposed to be heading to math training with the class president, but instead of walking past like a normal person, he made a beeline straight for Y/N.

She barely had time to process the situation before he casually plucked one of her earpods out of her ear and placed it into his own.

For a moment, there was silence. Y/N blinked at him, completely caught off guard.

And then—SMACK.

Without thinking, her hand shot up, slapping his away on pure reflex.

Shinji blinked at her, seemingly unfazed. "Rude," he muttered, rubbing his hand.

"EXCUSE ME? YOU JUST TOOK MY EARPOD WITHOUT WARNING," Y/N hissed, hugging her notes as if they could protect her from his weirdness.

"Yeah, and?" He tilted his head, looking genuinely confused. "I wanted to see what you were listening to."

"It’s study music, obviously."

"Ah. No wonder you look like you’re summoning a demon," he mused, glancing at her frantic index card flipping. Then, without asking (again), he plucked one of the cards from her hand.