In the library during the lunch break, the three were routinely studying together.
"Hayakawa-kun, how about coming to my family's udon shop for dinner tonight?" Hayakawa Haku was just finishing explaining a problem to Furuhashi when Ogata Rizu turned to him, her expression serious.
"Tonight?" Hayakawa Haku thought for a moment. "That sounds fine."
"That's great." Ogata Rizu's eyes lit up, then she suddenly remembered something and looked at Furuhashi. "Fumino, you should come too."
"O-okay." Furuhashi Fumino's face was instantly covered in black lines. Why do I sound like I was invited as an afterthought?
Time quickly passed to the afternoon. After school, the huge setting sun occupied half the sky, bathing the entire world in a pale yellow color, with faint stars already twinkling on the horizon.
Hayakawa Haku walked leisurely toward the school gate with his hands in his pockets, Furuhashi and Ogata walking a short distance behind him.
"Furuhashi." Hayakawa Haku suddenly called out to Furuhashi after they left the school gate.
"What is it?" Furuhashi Fumino walked over to him curiously.
"Lately, because we've often been seen studying together, there are strange rumors going around school that I'm dating either you or Ogata," Hayakawa Haku sighed. "I'm bothered by this."
"Eh, that…" Furuhashi Fumino's expression changed. She quickly said, "That shouldn't be a problem. They're just rumors that don't mean anything. Anyway, no matter who asks us, we can just explain that it's your school-assigned mentoring duty. Even eating and walking home together is fine. As long as you and I aren't seen coming to school together in the morning, people won't suspect cohabitation, and the dating rumors won't hold up."
"I hope that's all there is to it." Hayakawa Haku nodded noncommittally. "I felt like you understood more about this kind of thing than Ogata, which is why I asked you."
Heh, I feel like you're purposely talking to me alone about this, trying to shake my composure.
I won't let you succeed!
Furuhashi Fumino's gaze was wary. Hayakawa in front of her seemed to grow increasingly cunning and sinister in her eyes.
"Since you said so, there shouldn't be any problems then." Hayakawa Haku exhaled, then called Ogata over.
"What were you two talking about alone just now?" Ogata Rizu's gaze fell on Hayakawa's face, her expression curious.
"Just some school matters." Hayakawa said lightly, which made the science-track loli involuntarily puff up her cheeks, looking slightly sulky.
Furuhashi Fumino, seeing this, quickly changed the subject: "Speaking of which, Rizu-chan, since we're going to your family's shop, you absolutely must not let anything slip in front of your dad, or it'll be a disaster!"
"Sigh… What kind of image do I have in your eyes? Am I really that clueless?" Ogata Rizu gave Furuhashi a disgruntled look. "How could I possibly make such a mistake? I won't let anything slip."
"That's good, that's good." Furuhashi Fumino breathed a sigh of relief.
"After dinner, we can play the game of Ludo I have at my place." Ogata Rizu said with anticipation.
"No, we should go home and study." Hayakawa Haku firmly rejected the idea when he heard it. "We can't waste precious time."
"W-we should balance work and rest, the efficiency will be higher that way." Ogata Rizu stammered a defense, then bravely looked at Hayakawa. "Without a system of rewards and punishments, there's no way to motivate students' enthusiasm."
"A system of rewards and punishments? When did we ever have punishments? How come I don't know about this?" Hayakawa Haku looked at Ogata expressionlessly, his eyes gradually becoming terrifying. "If you two get single-digit scores all the time without punishment, then why should there be rewards for ordinary daily studying? Hmm?"
Ogata Rizu fell silent. Furuhashi Fumino quietly clutched her slightly aching chest; she'd been caught in the crossfire.
"I do feel there should be punishments," Hayakawa Haku's thoughts were stirred by Ogata Rizu's words. "Otherwise, there's no way to motivate you two. A few practice tests or workbooks… or perhaps corporal punishment?"
Upon hearing this, Furuhashi Fumino couldn't help but scold Ogata Rizu: "Rizu-chan! Look what you've done!"
"I was talking nonsense just now! It doesn't count!" Ogata Rizu was also startled, quickly correcting herself in a flurry of panic. "A system of rewards and punishments is too unreasonable! It was the mistake of my life!"
"Hmph…" Hayakawa Haku watched the two girls look like they were facing impending doom, and a faint smile appeared on his face. "Hurry up. The train is about to arrive."
"…Oh." The two girls dejectedly followed behind him, both with expressions of despair.
"I won't actually punish you," Hayakawa Haku shook his head helplessly. "That's inhumane."
"Ah~" Ogata and Furuhashi exchanged a look, simultaneously letting out a sigh of relief, then cautiously asked, "Then… rewards?"
"Pushing your luck?" Hayakawa's eyes dimmed.
"Aaaaaaah! We're sorry!!" A miserable wail echoed down the small, darkening street.
"Speaking of which, Hayakawa-kun's family must be quite wealthy, since they specifically bought a house here just for you to attend school. Why do you still take the train to and from school?" Furuhashi Fumino sat on a chair in the udon shop, curiously looking at Hayakawa. "Couldn't you take a taxi?"
"That…" Hayakawa Haku was silent for a moment. "Everyone else takes the train, so I take the train too."
Furuhashi Fumino's expression was a little strange. That was a very peculiar reason.
"How about the Tempura Udon? And the side dishes of cold appetizers?" Ogata Rizu stood next to him, recommending items from the menu. "You can get a large serving."
"Sure." Hayakawa Haku nodded.
"I'm going to the restroom." Furuhashi Fumino stood up and left her seat. Shortly after she left, a middle-aged man with a bandana, presumably the udon shop owner, walked over.
"My Rizu~" The uncle was so excited to see Ogata that he almost cried, his face showing the love of a doting father. "You've been studying away from home these past few days, and your father couldn't eat from worrying. You finally came home."
"Yes, but I'm just here for dinner. I'll be leaving soon." Ogata Rizu's expression was calm, looking like she was keeping her distance.
"How could you say that…" Ogata's father froze in place, his face immediately filled with distress.
"This is my father," Ogata Rizu introduced him to Hayakawa, then introduced Hayakawa to her father: "And this is my liberal arts mentor, Hayakawa-kun."
"A pleasure to meet you, Uncle," Hayakawa Haku stood up and greeted him politely.
"Oh! So you're the young mentor the school assigned to my daughter! Thank you for taking care of Rizu. Dinner tonight is on me, as a token of my gratitude," Ogata's father thanked him sincerely first, then looked at Hayakawa with a gloomy expression, though feigning a hearty demeanor. "My daughter is cute, isn't she? And smart. She's my pride and joy, but I hope you don't fall for her, young mentor. Seriously."
"I won't," Hayakawa Haku sat back down calmly. "I need to focus on my studies."
"Hah? What kind of attitude is that?" Ogata's father instantly flared up in anger, clenching his fists. "Are you saying my daughter doesn't have the charm to attract you, you brat? Huh?!"
Hayakawa Haku was expressionless: Like her or don't like her, what exactly do you want me to do?
"Father, don't say strange things," Ogata Rizu frowned. "After I eat, I have to go back with Hayakawa-kun to study. Hurry up and make the noodles."
"Huh?" Ogata's father's expression froze. "Go back with him?"
Ogata Rizu: "Ah…"
Hayakawa Haku: "Uh…"
Furuhashi Fumino, not far away: "Aaaaaaaaaaah!!!"