academic rivals to lovers is actually the most entertaining shit in the world. youre competing for top of the class but also for each others attention. youre giving presentations in class and silently hoping they slip up just a little, forget part of what theyre meant to say, just so you can get a higher grade than them. theyre constantly on your mind & taking up brain space and you rationalize that away, call it hatred. you answer a question correctly in class a split second before they get the chance to and youre glad because you beat them to it but also because you know theyre looking at you