Neries’s training continued in the days that followed.
She focused on the fundamentals, building upon them layer by layer until she had mastered each one. It was a grueling cycle of the absolute basics, yet within that repetition, she steadily grew stronger.
With that strength came confidence, and with confidence came a newfound sense of mental stability. Neries pressed forward step by step, her face brightening so much it was hard to believe she had recently been a shut-in.
Her greatest stroke of luck had been her friendship with Verda and Peewee. Then again, perhaps it was her own gentle nature that had inspired such loyalty in them. Regardless, Neries had grown enough to leave the threat of school expulsion far behind. Her promise to Misery, her roommate and newest friend, served as another vital pillar of support.
Then came the day of the written exam. After enduring some rather over-the-top cheering from her friends, Neries headed off to the testing hall.
Because the exam was designed primarily to screen for expulsion, the questions weren't particularly difficult. For someone as bright and well-prepared as Neries, it was nothing to worry about. Her nerves, once her greatest weakness, remained steady thanks to her friends' encouragement. She finished without a single blunder. Later, during a self-scoring session with Yugo and the others in her room, her results far exceeded the passing line.
Her friends’ reactions were once again borderline excessive, drawing a wry smile from her. Even so, having people who celebrated her success as if it were their own filled her with genuine warmth.
Buoyed by her success, Neries turned her focus toward the final hurdle: the combat-format practical exam. Though flashes of trauma still haunted her during training, she remained determined to give it her all. She wouldn't let anxiety overwhelm her; she would simply demonstrate everything she had achieved alongside her friends. Finally, the day of the test arrived.
"Neries, do your best! We're all rooting for you!"
"Just do what we practiced and you'll be fine. Go show them what you’re made of!"
"Right... thank you both, truly...!"
On the day of the practical exam, Neries responded to Peewee and Verda’s encouragement with a resolute smile. She realized that the fact she could face this day at all was thanks to the two of them never giving up on her. Feeling a deep surge of gratitude toward the friends who had stayed by her side, Neries spoke up.
"If I pass the exam... would you two form a party with me again?"
"Of course! We’ll start over from square one. Together!"
"So you'd better pass! We'll be right here waiting for you!"
"I will!"
Peewee was already getting teary-eyed while Verda remained uncharacteristically calm. Noting the reversal of their usual roles, Neries smiled, touched by this new side of her friends. Surely, there were still many things she had yet to discover about them, just as she likely had sides she had never shown them despite their long history as a party.
She would pass this exam—for their future together, for the bond they shared, and for the chance to truly understand one another. Just as Neries reaffirmed her resolve, the door opened and Yugo poked his head inside.
"Neries, are you ready?"
"Yes! I'm ready!"
She answered Yugo with a spirited shout, then took a long, steadying breath. Just give it everything, she told herself. Do what you can and face it head-on. With one final look at Peewee and Verda, she made her departure.
"Alright... I’m off!!"