I decided to ignore the pair work for a couple of minutes because I couldn't get the words written in that email out of my head.

I continued to think about it until, as I looked around, I noticed that all the other students were already sitting with their respective partners. I also noticed that my partner had not yet come over to talk to me.

After looking around the room one more time, I could see a lone APA sitting right in the middle. I then concluded that this was my partner's APA, so holding my desk with both hands, I walked in her direction. Seeing the hologram above the head of the APA projecting the name Kubota Maki, I spoke to her.

—Hi Kubota-san, I have been chosen as your partner to do the work assigned for this class. This is the first time we've done a pair work together, isn't it?

Her APA did not issue any response.

—…

When I persisted for a few seconds without yet receiving a response from her, I wasted no time and attached my desk right in front of hers while keeping my eyes fixed on her APA face.

—I think we should have started the work about ten minutes ago... How will we divide up the questions?

Twisting my smile I asked her, his APA did not answer me.

—What questions are you most comfortable answering?

His APA remained silent.

—How about if I take questions one through eight, plus fifteen and sixteen, and you take the rest of the questions?

As time continued to run against us, their silence was not going to help us get the job done on time.

—K-kubota-san, are you listening...?

[I-It's fine with me...]

—Oh!

At last, she had deigned to answer me.

—Great!

Once we divided up the work, I and Kubota-san blended into the silence of the room.