"That," Furuhashi Fumino's face flushed slightly, and she couldn't look directly into Hayakawa's eyes. She turned her head and whispered, "I suddenly feel like having omelet rice…"
"Oh, is that so." Hayakawa Haku glanced at Ogata Rizu. "I don't mind. How about you?"
"Omelet rice?" Ogata Rizu nodded. "That's fine."
"Then we'll order that." Seeing that both girls had no objections, Hayakawa Haku ordered three servings of omelet rice + delicious magic.
"Hayakawa-kun, do you usually order takeout when you eat at home?" Furuhashi Fumino asked curiously.
"Occasionally. I usually cook a little most of the time," Hayakawa Haku said. "It depends on my mood."
"Hayakawa-kun can cook, wow." Ogata Rizu stared at Hayakawa with wide eyes. "Not many guys can cook nowadays."
"It's just edible level," Hayakawa Haku shook his head. "If you live alone for a long time, you naturally learn to cook a little. After all, you get tired of constantly ordering takeout."
I see! Furuhashi Fumino realized. No wonder I've never been able to learn how to cook! It's because I don't live alone! So, it's not my problem; it's the world's problem!
"What do you two think?" While Furuhashi Fumino was justifying herself, Hayakawa suddenly looked at the two girls and asked, "About being in my house."
Furuhashi and Ogata were momentarily stunned, and then their expressions became somewhat strange.
"It's… quite nice," Furuhashi Fumino had a subtle blush on her face and whispered, "The house is big, and the atmosphere is good. It's a very comfortable place to stay."
What kind of question is that? Asking a girl what she thinks of his home? Asking about the experience of staying at his house sounds like he's inviting a girl to join his family!
"I… I think so too." Ogata Rizu also avoided eye contact. Although the emotionally oblivious science loli couldn't describe her feelings as accurately as Furuhashi, she also felt embarrassed and uncomfortable by the question.
"What are you talking about?" Hayakawa Haku was puzzled and said expressionlessly, "I was asking what you think of the study efficiency in my house. Has the unfamiliar environment affected your efficiency or anything?"
"Ah, so that's what you meant," Furuhashi Fumino's heart jumped, and she let out a relieved breath. After thinking about it, she said, "I think it's pretty good, about the same as studying in the library, or even better."
"I think so too," Ogata Rizu nodded. "The library is quiet, but there are still other people, and the open space means people walking around and occasional sounds can break concentration. If you want to study seriously, home is where the efficiency is highest."
"That's good," Hayakawa Haku breathed a sigh of relief. "If that's the case, then passing the monthly exam is within reach."
"Hayakawa-kun, is the school's requirement really that strict?" Furuhashi Fumino couldn't help but say, "You've only taught us for less than half a month, and they're demanding that Rizu and I pass the monthly exam. That's too much."
"I think so too!" Ogata Rizu pouted her rosy cheeks in righteous indignation for Hayakawa. "I cannot understand this by one picometer!"
"Sigh…" Hayakawa Haku sighed upon hearing this. "You know Kirisu Mafuyu, right? She's the one who told me. She required me to make sure both of you reach the passing score, or my tutor status would be revoked. She didn't look like she was joking at all when she said it."
"It was actually Kirisu-sensei?!" Hearing that name, both girls shuddered simultaneously, their faces becoming tense, both displaying signs of post-traumatic stress disorder.
"What's wrong? You two seem very afraid of her." Hayakawa Haku looked at the two girls in confusion. "Isn't that teacher very popular at school?"
"Well… she is popular," Furuhashi Fumino stammered, her face pale. "But she's still very, very scary."
"Hayakawa-kun, you probably don't know this, but the previous tutor assigned to Fumino and me was that teacher," While Furuhashi Fumino spoke vaguely, Ogata spoke up as if she couldn't hold it in, saying excitedly, "You can't imagine the horrible things she did to Fumino and me!"
"Uh…" Hayakawa Haku asked, "Is she stricter than the requirements I put on you two?"
"She was certainly strict, but it was a different kind of feeling!" Ogata Rizu trembled slightly and hugged her shoulders. "Her terrifying gaze, and her cold words that could cause psychological trauma, I used to have nightmares during that period. I truly… don't want her to tutor me again, not by one picometer."
That's a very harsh assessment… for a teacher.
"Let's not talk about Kirisu-sensei anymore," Furuhashi Fumino, also looking psychologically traumatized, forced a smile. "We're already very satisfied to have Hayakawa-kun teaching us now."
"Oh…" Hayakawa Haku was slightly surprised. "I didn't realize you were so fond of me."
"Does that even need to be said?" Furuhashi Fumino gave Hayakawa Haku a smile that felt like the revival of all things. "Because we can see your dedication, Hayakawa-kun."
"Yes, you wrote so many notebooks for us. It must have taken you a long time," Ogata Rizu nodded like a jade rabbit pounding medicine. "Thanks to you, we can see hope for our grades to rise. We can now aim for the passing score."
"Dedication?" Hayakawa Haku thought for a moment, then shook his head. "Good intentions alone are useless. The most important thing is the result. If I can't achieve the grades that satisfy you, what good are all the good intentions? Conversely, if the grades pass the line, then it doesn't matter if I put in effort or not."
Furuhashi Fumino's expression was unusual. "…Hayakawa-kun is a result-oriented person."
"I'm not quite at that level. I just don't want good intentions and effort to become my excuse," Hayakawa Haku said. "Many people put in only their normal level of effort, or even just a little effort, and then fantasize about achieving the results they desire. Even if the final outcome is disappointing, they can comfort themselves by saying, 'Ah, I tried hard' or 'I tried, but my talent isn't enough,' and then they naturally give up. I really dislike people like that."
"I don't want to be a failure who uses 'good intentions' as self-comfort. I won't let 'dedication' become an excuse for failure. I want to win."
Hayakawa Haku leaned on the sofa and said calmly, "So, I will do my best until the last moment before the result arrives, because I know that without the result of victory, the process has no meaning."
Hayakawa Haku spoke this long passage in a measured tone. The two girls fell silent, seemingly trying to understand what was contained within his words.