At least it's only paper...less pain, more embarrassment. He's not exactly looking composed himself, a slight tinge of red coloring his cheeks after having been smacked in the face like that. But the mention of finals is - while slightly distressing because finals - also a topic he can grab onto in hopes of moving past the awkwardness of their meeting so far. Plus...

"You're studying at a festival?" That seems pretty strange to him, but then again, he doesn't exactly have the highest grades in his class.