"I just don't get it." Zelda said, rubbing her brow. "We even took them to the most beautiful waterfall, and they still won't acknowledge their feelings." "Teenage emotions are complicated." Professor Mineru said, looking up from her paper, "They're likely trying to figure it out just as much as you are." "But I'm not trying to figure it out!" Zelda insisted, "It's clear that they're into each other." "If you say so." Professor Mineru said, smiling knowingly. "And they'd be so good for each other too." Zelda continued. "I want to help my friend, and Link has this grandiose plan to matchmake them, but I just feel like it's going to lead nowhere." She shook her head, looking around the room. She and Mineu sat against one of the large, round tables filling the study hall of the Academy. Massive shelves stacked with books stretched into the air, reaching to the cieling hundreds of feet above. Students and teachers were scattered around the room, studying or conversing, while sunlight streamed through the glass roof. "You're worried it won't end well?" Professor Mineru asked, writing a note on her paper. "I don't know. I just feel like... maybe if they haven't done anything yet, it means they shouldn't do anything at all?" She waited while Mineru made another marking on her page. "It's natural that you want to help your friend." the professor finally said. "You don't want her to get hurt, and you want to respect her feelings. Those are signs of true friendship. But as I said earlier, teenage feelings are complicated and multifacited. I doubt Sidon and Yona completely know how they see each other, and even if I'm wrong about that, they're entering a world full of potential for drama and heartache. A descision regarding that world isn't one you take lightly." Zelda nodded slowly. That made sense. Both Sidon and Yona seemed to really enjoy being around each other, and even went out of their way to talk and hang out, but they seemed almost scared sometimes. "So what do I do?" She asked. Professor Mineru chuckled to herself. "Continue this plan Link has concocted. That boy is too smart for his own good, but I believe his heart is in the right place. He cares for his friend just as much as you do, and he wants to see them happy. I trust you not to do anything too dramatic or wild, but it seems like Sidon and Yona need the push." Zelda blinked. "You're okay with us setting them up?" She asked. Mineru laughed. "You forget I was a teenager once too. I know how big these things feel. No matter how it shakes out, they will grow from this, and so as long as you and Mr. Link are reasonable and responsible, you have my support." Zelda sank back into her seat. "Well that's nice to hear." "I would've thought you'd sound happier." "I'm trying to think of how I'm going to keep Link responsible in this." She said. Link was smart and fun, but she doubted he would want to put limits on his great plan. Mineru smiled and pursed her lips. "I have a feeling he's more responsible than you think." She said. "What do you mean?" Zelda asked. Mineru just shrugged. "Call it a hunch." "Well that was pretty intresting." Yunobo said, rubbing the back of his neck. Link nodded. "No kidding." His ribs ached, his pride ached, and muscles he didn't even know existed ached. Quinn had put him through some of the advanced blade technique drills, forcing him to run them until he collapsed. It was hard work, but he didn't regret it. If being a little sore meant he made the team, Link would run the drills every day he could. And even though Quinn pushed him harder than he thought possible, the rito was never unkind or negative. He would press until Link collapsed, then help him up and show him where to improve. The boy was knowledgeable and patient, and Link was grateful he ahd agreed to help him. "We've got a mountain of homework to power through once we get back." Yunobo said, and Link groaned. "You've got to be joking." He said. "We've got that essay from Robbie, the quizz from Urbosa, ten pages of theory to give to Bludo, a debate to write up for Hudson, plus that--" "I get it Yunobo, we don't need to go through the entire list. " "Aren't you suposed to be really good at school?" Yunobo asked, laughing. "It doesn't mean I like homework." Link grumbled. "Maybe Tulin already finished, so we can just copy his answers." "No, He gets too many wrong. It's risky." "So then I just wait for you to finish and then I copy your answers." "Why is copying off of me becoming the theme of our dorm?" Link asked. Yunobo shrugged. "Because you're smart, Goro, and the smart guys always get picked on." "Gee, thanks." "I'm kidding. Mostly. But in all honesty we probably should go knock some of that homework out." Link sighed heavily. "Ok yeah, lets do it." He said.
"Hey guys." Link glanced up to see Impa and Purah standing over their table, backpacks stuffed with books. "Hey cous, hey Purah." Yunobo saluted without looking up, and Link scooted over to make room for them, sliding his notebook across the circular table. "I know we've been here for a couple weeks now," Purah said, sliding into a chair across from him, "But this place still makes me double take every time." Link glanced at the soaring glass dome of the study hall, spilling sunlight onto the massive bookshelves and scattered tables. "Yeah, it's pretty crazy." He agreed. "You guys trying to kill some homework too?" They both nodded. "Hey guys," Tulin said, walking up with a stack of books in his wings, "I found the required books. they're all pretty thick though so I'm not sure how long it'll take to find what we need in them. "How'd you know those were the ones we needed then?" Link asked, peering at the stack. "It was on the list Robbie gave us." Tulin explained, slamming the books on the table. Purah stared at the tower of paper for a second. "We have to read all of that?" She asked. Yunobo glanced up from the paper he was working on. "I'm not reading an entire library for homework." He said. "Relax," Tulin told them, "I bet Link's already got the essay done anyway. We can just ask him for help." Link grinned and went back to his notebook. "Sorry, guys, can't help you there." He said. "Why not?" Purah asked, bouncing slightly in her seat. Tulin snatched the notebook away from him, flapping to the other side of the table when Link tried to grab it back. "Because he hasn't even started the essay." Tulin said, "Or any of the homework for that matter." He tossed the notebook onto the table; diagrams of Battle-Ring drills and notes on stances and techniques were scribbled and drawn over the pages. "You caught me." Link deadpanned, scooping the notebook back into his hands. "You know you're going to have to do it at some point, right?" Yunobo asked, "I mean, I know making the top ten is a pressing matter, but passing school is more important." Link nodded. Yunobo was right. Battle Ring might feel like the biggest part of his life right now, but schoolwork did have top priority. Link sighed as he pulled a stack of blank paper towards him, scribbling his name and the debate topic across the top. He would have to find Zelda so they could start the essay for Professor Robbie; actually, he would have to find Zelda for another thing too. "Hey, where's Sidon and Yona?" He asked. Pura glanced up and grinned. "I think Sidon went for a run right before you guys got back from Battle Ring." Tulin said, twirling his pencil between his fingers. "Yeah and I think Yona's taking a nap right now." "Oh, okay." He said, slightly disappointed, "What about Zelda? We have to start our project for Professor Robbie." "She went to hang out with Mineru a couple hours ago, she still hasn't gotten back." Impa told him. Link raised his eyebrows. "She just hangs out with professors?" He said. Impa chuckled. "Her and Mineru have a cool bond. It's more like she's mentoring than anything." "Oh, that's kinda cool." Link said. "They're normally not out for very long so she'll probably get back soon." Purah said. "Alright I'll just work on something else until then." Link leaned back over his debate paper. "Actually," Tulin said, "Could you do the quiz from Urbosa first? I can't figure out most of those questions, and I'd rather not wait to copy you." "I'm in Battle-Ring, you know," Link warned, pointing his pencil at the rito and feigning frustration as everyone laughed, "You shouldn't make me angry."
