The Deceptive Note

In the bustling cafeteria, bathed in warm amber sunlight, anticipation permeated the air as students buzzed with excitement over the Dean's proposed bet. This was no ordinary wager; the dispute would be settled by the victor's exam scores.

Classes progressed as usual, yet there was an underlying curiosity about the outcome. While many initially believed Aden would emerge triumphant, some had discovered Aden's true nature and now rooted for Shroud to claim victory.

Seated together, Shroud and Luna sipped their afternoon tea, their closeness giving rise to assumptions of a romantic relationship. However, those privy to their true connection knew they maintained a respectful distance, despite their apparent intimacy.

"It seems senior has gained quite a bit of popularity," Luna observed, nibbling on a sweet treat. Shroud, raising his cup to his lips, replied, "Do you truly think so?" Their conversation, though harmless, was veiled by the pretence of eating and drinking to evade prying eyes.

"Do not play dumb with me, senior. I know that note you're reading isn't merely a review of past lessons before the exams," Luna's voice took on a subtle edge, concealing a hint of menace.

Shroud held the worn-out note in his hand, flipping through its pages with measured deliberation. As he glanced over its contents, Luna's words lingered, prompting his curiosity. "And why do you think that? If not for reviewing, then what purpose do you believe this note serves?" he inquired, genuinely intrigued by Luna's conviction.

"It's a woman's intuition," Luna confidently asserted, extinguishing Shroud's inquisitive mood in an instant.

"Making baseless assumptions will only lead you astray," Shroud retorted firmly, his tone laced with sternness. Unfazed, Luna persisted, her confidence unyielding. "Senior, if it were a mere guess, I would admit it. But my intuition tells me that this note serves a purpose beyond reviewing."

"Your intuition may one day land you in trouble for haphazard assumptions," Shroud warned, resigned to Luna's unwavering beliefs. Yet, beneath his composed exterior, he marvelled at Luna's seemingly uncanny ability to decipher his intentions.

Internally, Shroud pondered, 'Is she some sort of animal? How did she manage to guess? I thought she would interpret my note reading as normal, considering the bet. But somehow, she saw through it, realizing it wasn't meant solely for reviewing past lessons.' Luna's intuition had taken him by surprise.

To understand the purpose behind Shroud's meticulous review of the note, one must delve into events that transpired weeks earlier, on the day Raphael was expelled. Shroud approached a fellow classmate, requesting to borrow their study notes momentarily to catch up on the latest chapter.

"Sure, but I should warn you, my handwriting is rather illegible," the student cautioned, apprehensive about Shroud's ability to decipher their scribbles. Nevertheless, Shroud accepted the notes.

Leafing through the pages, Shroud read the messy handwriting, determined to comprehend its contents despite the difficulty. After a mere few minutes, he returned the notes, falsely stating, "You were right, I couldn't understand your handwriting." In truth, Shroud had deciphered the messy script but chose not to reveal his feat.

Moving on, Shroud sought out another student, whose handwriting was passable, although their notes were incomplete. Shroud promptly returned their notes as well.

Lastly, Shroud approached Emily, the renowned top-ranking student in their class, and politely requested to borrow her notes. Emily, a rather reserved and timid individual, responded with an awkward nod, she handed over her meticulously crafted records, containing a wealth of knowledge, albeit with a few minor errors sprinkled here and there.

However, Shroud knew that he couldn't simply take Emily's notes. So, just as he had done previously with the other two students, he carefully and swiftly skimmed through the contents of Emily's meticulously prepared study materials. His discerning eyes meticulously inspected each page, absorbing the essence of her clean and concise writing style.

After carefully examining Emily's notes, Shroud approached her once again. Emily, uncertain about Shroud's intentions as he returned her notes, wondered what he was going to do. With a slight hesitation, Shroud presented her notes back and said.

"I believe you'll need your notes as the exams are drawing near, right?" Shroud asked, as he made of gesture of contemplating the impact it would have on Emily's studies. Knowing her shy disposition, Emily awkwardly nodded, and Shroud returned the notes to her.

However, in the end, Emily offered to let Shroud borrow her notes after the exams were over. Shroud, appreciative of her offer, responded by assuring her that he would reach out if he needed any assistance.

Back in his home, Shroud retreated into his memory palace, revisiting the acquired notes. Yet, his intention was not to review the chapters but rather to examine their distinctive styles of writing. Emily's writing demonstrated clarity and conciseness, emphasizing the essential topics related to the questions, while her answers exhibited remarkable creativity.

The second student, of average academic standing, possessed notes with a fair share of mistakes, albeit far fewer compared to the bottom-ranking student's jumbled, almost copy-paste-like compilation from Wikipedia.

Engrossed in his analysis, Shroud proceeded to create his own note, adopting a writing style that would impress even university professors. It was a simple yet ingenious approach: a note capable of transformation. Not in terms of altering the written text, but in adjusting the level of writing proficiency.

Shroud began by imitating the writing style of a top-ranking student, then proceeded to highlight various sections with red and yellow markers. Once finished, he admired the result, pleased with the outcome of his endeavour.

Shroud had a rather unique method of note-taking compared to his peers. Take, for instance, a hypothetical question on the subject of Computing. If someone were to rely solely on the unhighlighted portions of Shroud's notes, the answer would resemble that of a struggling student, lacking depth and precision.

Conversely, incorporating the yellow highlighted sections along with the unhighlighted parts would yield a response akin to an average student's effort. It would demonstrate a modest grasp of the topic but without the finesse and insight of a top performer.

Yet, the true marvel of Shroud's notes came to light when one combined all the elements—the unhighlighted parts, as well as the portions highlighted in both yellow and red.

In this comprehensive amalgamation, the answer would transform into a masterpiece, mirroring the meticulous work of a top-tier student. The intricacies of the Computing topic would be analyzed, explained, and showcased with impressive clarity.

Shroud's note-taking technique provided him with a multifaceted approach to tackling different subjects. By meticulously designing his notes to accommodate various levels of writing, he possessed the ability to tailor his responses to the exam questions accordingly.

This unconventional strategy enabled him to navigate through the challenges of the upcoming exams with careful consideration. He was now capable of responding to any question, whether it tested the knowledge of a struggling student, an average student, or a top-performing student.

"Now I have a grasp on how students of different ranks approach their writing," Shroud mused to himself. His note became a unique tool, enabling him to tailor his answers according to the required level of expertise.

The notes contained topics that had the potential to be covered in the exam questions, but Shroud found himself unsure of the approach he should adopt in responding to each one. Should he follow the path of an average student or aim for the level of a top-performing student in this upcoming examination?

He contemplated taking the safer route, aligning his answers with those of a top student. However, such consistency might raise suspicion, as even the top students exhibited variations in their responses.

"Hmm, perhaps I should consider this approach," Shroud pondered, devising a plan to tackle the upcoming questions, while skillfully blending the styles of different rank students to enhance his chances of success.

With this idea firmly planted in his mind, he resolved to continue his preparations using this newfound strategy. Every aspect was now meticulously set in place; all that remained was to patiently await the commencement of the exams.

To be continued...

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A/N: Hope you enjoy the chapter and feel free to comment. Your thoughts and criticism are valuable in helping me improve and stay motivated to write more.