"Unfortunately, that is not possible. As you know, Rika and I are a part of four fractions if you include this one. The most we can do is attend your events," Luke immediately declined.

"Which ones?" The person taking the lead wasn't getting the clue.

"The fraction my family was originally in charge of, the neutral fraction, and the Impalia fraction as their successors," Luke briefly glared at Charles for bringing him more work.

"Isn't those the three most powerful fractions?" One person whispered.

"It is, but how were we supposed to know they were already part of the fractions who gave the most work?" Another person mumbled.

"But unfortunately, we're a little shorthanded this year. Can you at least help us out with the biggest events?" the leader turned to me.

I stayed silent as there was no way I could help them out with my grades. Luke made sure I was working on reviewing the class materials while he did the fraction work. If I didn't spend the weekends catching up, I would fail all my courses which would take back our early admission to the high school section. But it was social week, maybe I could help a little from my small experience of helping the neutral fraction?

"Mayb- ."

"Rika," Luke warned me, cutting me off.

"You already have other things to work on. Who do you think will do the work in your place?" Luke had already somewhat seen through the leader's plans.

"I apologize, but we really can't help," I mumbled under Luke's pressuring stare.

"My grades aren't umm the best," I glared at Charles.

If his fraction knew how bad my grades were, there would be no way they would be entrusting their work to me in the first place. I guessed Charles didn't tell them about my barely passing grades yet. He looked away, pretending not to know anything while stepping away from the leader.

Everyone looked at me, wondering how bad my grades were for me to admit it. Usually, people only believed me when I pulled out my report card. Seeing I was engaged to Luke, everyone thought I would get the same amazing grades as him. I sighed as I brought out my pitiful grades which made the jaws drop of everyone who didn't know.

"Is this even possible?" Ethan's eyes widened.

"Don't look too surprised," I elbowed Charles in revenge.

I guessed even Charles didn't know to what extent I was almost failing all the courses. Usually he would see the end results where everything was somewhat balanced out after Luke received perfect scores. If it wasn't for Luke, I would be getting minus points every time like when I switched partners in the beginning of middle school.

"How are you going to do the work as the Impalia fraction successor?" Charles appeared worried for Luke.

"Claire and Yulian are going to do all the work until they graduate," I explained how they gave up on me.

"It's no wonder how the Impalia fraction made the decision," a person muttered.

"Can they even help after social week?" another person murmured.

"This is why we apologize in advance how we won't be able to participate often even after social week," Luke gained everyone's pity.

At this rate, everyone knew how we were too busy studying to even consider going to fraction meetings. Oili who had blended in the crowd, stared at my grades as if he had realized why I had never contacted him after he graduated from elementary school with Ethan. My knowledge from studying the SATs day and night could only last so long.

My grades dropped like a L shape starting from the beginning of middle school. This was when the level of difficulty suddenly shot up as I completely graduated from any signs of high school material from my former life. The screen disappeared into thin air when I decided everyone had already gotten the point.

"We don't usually require partners to attend most times," the leader looked at Luke.

Which meant it was fine as long as he came for the both of us. It was obvious everyone had abandoned any kinds of hope they had for me. They switched their target to Luke who was more reliable like the neutral fraction.

Luke brightly smiled, "For now, is attending the events starting from Tuesday enough?"

"Although it is unfortunate you are shorthanded, but my other fractions are extremely shorthanded as well," Luke watched the time on the clock.

"We can offer you some help if you help with ours," the leader offered.

"I am Haruka de Mizuki," he introduced himself.

"Only one event?" Luke started negotiating.

"Yes, one event," Haruka answered.

Luke shook his hand as he invited Haruka to our room. It was likely he didn't know how much work Luke had since we weren't a fraction leader. After hearing how the Impalia fraction did all the work without us, he smiled like he got a great deal.

When Haruka came into the room to add some more documents to the table, he was stunned. It was likely Luke was going to hand over some documents already known to everyone in school from the neutral fraction. No one was excused from doing work, including Sienna who brought some work with her to the café these days.

"I finished half of the work and noticed some order mistakes," Luke showed him the work he did while walking to our room.