Witnessed the Backbiting
"So, what condition correctly identifies when condition p implies q?"
"Hmm… hint!"
"No hints. Answer quickly."
"Then I don't know!"
"Why are you so confident about it?"
The evening of the day Amber asked me to help her study math.
I closed up shop earlier than usual and was teaching her what math knowledge I could recall.
"Ugh… I really can't solve it."
"Just think a little, and it'll come to you. It's not that hard."
The propositions and conditions she was tackling now were on the easier side, if anything.
The truly tough parts—like rational and irrational functions—hadn't even started yet…
"Necessary sufficient necessary sufficient sufficient necessary…"
She wasn't quite right in the head anymore. After building up such a wall against math all this time, the backlash was hitting hard.
Still, if we went over the concepts step by step, there wasn't a problem she couldn't solve. I was only picking the simpler examples for now.
"Don't overthink it—understand one piece at a time. Also, keep in mind there's converse and contrapositive, so when both conditions are negated, necessary and sufficient swap places—"
"Arrrgh!"
I tried to cram in a bit more knowledge, but her brain had hit its limit. Sweat pouring down her face meant she'd reached the end of her rope.
"Take a break and drink some water."
I handed her iced water, and she chugged it down, cooling her head.
"Gulp, gulp… Puha!"
"If it's like this from the start, we've got a long way to go."
We hadn't even covered a third yet, and her head was already exploding. With four days until the retake, we'd have to take it slow.
"Were you the only one in Class A who failed?"
"Oh, right—Ravi failed too. Pretty sure it was 19 points."
An unexpected name popped up. She didn't seem like the type to fail a test.
Reading my puzzled look, Amber quickly added an explanation.
"She… wrote all her answers shifted one box over, apparently."
"A magical girl making such a ridiculous mistake."
Sharp or airheaded? Pick one. At least it showed some human side.
Looked like those two would be taking makeup classes together.
Ravi aside, what about Sophia?
I glanced again at the math workbook I'd borrowed from Sophia earlier.
True to her top-student form, she'd neatly copied the solutions into her notebook, leaving the book pristine overall.
I always solved problems haphazardly and ran out of paper.
Which meant losing my place and starting over from the beginning—daily routine.
At least I could use my past self as a cautionary tale. Only silver lining.
"Ugh… my head hurts…"
"Still, it's a relief. No Silver Unit duties to worry about."
"Yeah… true."
When I told Lapis, she'd sighed and excused us from Silver Unit work.
Hard to talk executives when her own sister flunked.
"Citrin-senior found out I asked her for tutoring and chewed me out more. Said not to bother the other executives."
"…You studied with her?"
For a genius teacher, that score was terrifying.
She was way better at math than me—what did she do to get 28 points…?
"But her explanations were too hard to follow. She blasted through the material so fast I couldn't even ask questions."
"Ah, too dumb to get a genius's explanation, huh."
"Exactly! Though calling me dumb pisses me off a bit!"
Being smart and explaining well were totally different skills.
The latter required breaking things down with relatable examples at the student's level.
Doesn't seem like her type at all.
If anything, solitary genius vibe. No teaching talent, that's for sure.
"Let's nail down propositions and conditionals first. That'll get you half credit at least."
Propositions had some leeway even without basics.
Functions? Might need middle-school basics from scratch, but no need for perfect scores, so take it easy.
In the end, Amber's studying dragged on late into the night.
The next day, around noon during lunch hour.
With no customers for once, while I was making math problems for Amber, it happened.
Jingle—
Four girls who looked somewhat refined entered and sat at a nearby table.
Faces I'd seen in the cafe a few times before.
"Welcome."
I hurriedly prepared water and wet towels, set them down, and took their orders.
Up to here, it was just the usual daily scene—but the problem came right after.
"Haa… summer break's finally here."
"Finals are over, so we can breathe now."
"Finals… I heard Amber from Class A failed this time?"
"I heard too. No wonder, with no interest in studying."
"She just plays around every day, so that's what happens."
At first, it sounded like friendly teasing, but the tone was rough.
Deliberately cutting Amber down.
Is this the backbiting you hear about from girls?
I'd heard somewhere that women's social circles often shun a common enemy.
Never thought my junior would be the target. Stirred up high school PTSD anyway.
Tried to ignore it and just make their coffee—but
"All that networking, but her behavior is just incomprehensible."
"Clinging to Lady Diamond and acting cute, not knowing her place… it's just…"
I sensed something off and tuned into their conversation.
Started with grades, but now expanding—her friendliness, looks, unrelated stuff.
This was women's talk? Brutal atmosphere.
What am I supposed to feel listening to this…
Brewing coffee while my junior gets trashed—didn't mesh.
"Wasting time on useless stuff is why her grades always suck."
"Seriously. Doesn't fit in prestigious Jewelry Academia, and failing on top? Might as well know her place and drop out—"
"…Sorry for the wait."
Before it heated up more, I brought their tray with four coffee cups.
Wanted to flip their table, but that'd be too much.
"Ah, thank you~"
One who'd just badmouthed freely switched to fake cuteness the second I arrived.
"……."
Had Amber done something to earn their grudge? Most of it felt like baseless nitpicking.
Just hate her for no reason?
If so, elementary school logic. Blaming others for what you lack.
The four girls chattered on before leaving, and I sighed, cleaning their cups.
Amber's popular, so haters like that are inevitable.
Groups trashing the popular were everywhere. Embarrassing, but I'd done it inwardly too.
But tormenting innocent Amber on hunches? Couldn't watch.
I told her right when she arrived, but…
"Pfft, I knew about that ages ago. Not the first day."
"You noticed?"
She turned away with a self-deprecating smile, like it was routine.
"Anyway, teach me quick! Time's short!"
"Right. Let's start here—"
A bit persistent, but as I pulled out the workbook, I recalled the incident.
Not worth getting mad over one by one. Backbiting's common in girls' talk.
But spreading groundless rumors about my precious junior? Unforgivable.
Nice job pulling that stunt.
Sorry to the gossips, but I knew what Amber was like.
Bolder than anyone I knew, truly kind to others.
Bit slow, but I could confidently call her my one-and-only friend.
No childish revenge thoughts, but letting it slide felt wrong.
Maybe use her connections here.
After Amber went home, I pulled out my smartphone and called someone.
"Mm, hell—"
"Jade? First time you're calling from there!"
A bold voice drowned out my words before I finished.
"Actually, I've got a small favor. You know Amber flunked, right?"
The gossipy girls seemed annoyed Amber was close to Diamond.
Then I'd gladly poke that sore spot—by drawing them even closer.