As Ogata's father's question hung in the air, the scene instantly fell into an extreme silence, and a tension as thick as water enveloped the group.
"Go back with him?" Ogata's father's already fierce face turned pitch black. He looked at the science-track loli and asked heavily, "My daughter, what do you mean by that?"
"..." Ogata Rizu's eyes were frantic, and she turned her head away, choosing to avoid her father's gaze.
Aaaaaaaaaaah!!!
Witnessing this, Furuhashi Fumino screamed tragically in her heart.
What is this guilty reaction?! That basically confirms it! You could have explained it!
What is going on? You clearly said… you clearly said, "What kind of image do I have in your eyes? Am I really that clueless?" You actually said that! Yet you were exposed in less than three sentences after seeing your father?! How am I supposed to stay rational?!
"Young mentor…" Ogata's father saw his daughter wasn't speaking, so he stopped pressing her and turned to Hayakawa, his face full of menace. "Are you saying that these past few days, my little Rizu…"
Sigh… All is lost…
Hayakawa Haku sighed helplessly in his heart and intended to explain the situation clearly. After all, it seemed impossible to conceal it, and fundamentally, Hayakawa Haku was an upright person; lying and deceiving people was something he couldn't do.
"Uncle Ogata," Hayakawa Haku made up his mind and stood up, saying, "Actually…"
There's no way I'll let you say it!
Furuhashi Fumino saw Hayakawa's reaction and knew this guy was about to light a firecracker on an already kindled bonfire. She immediately stepped forward and clapped a hand over his mouth. "I-I'll explain!"
"Oh, little Fumino." Ogata's father's expression immediately softened when he saw Furuhashi Fumino. Compared to this Teacher Hayakawa, whom he had just met and who might have improper thoughts about his daughter, he naturally trusted Furuhashi Fumino more. She was a rare good child, Rizu's best friend.
"Actually, it's like this, Uncle," Furuhashi Fumino took a breath, trying to speak calmly. "Actually, Hayakawa-kun has been coming to my house every evening to tutor both Rizu and me. That's why Rizu just said she had to go back with Hayakawa. But please don't worry, he leaves after tutoring in the evening. He doesn't stay overnight!"
"Is that so?" Ogata's father immediately believed her. After all, he would never believe that his pure and flawless daughter, Rizu, would be living in a boy's house, unless Rizu's reaction had been so strange.
"Little Fumino, don't mind me interfering, but although young Teacher Hayakawa is called a teacher, he is still a student the same age as you. Is it really appropriate for him to be alone with you two girls at night?" Ogata's father frowned, looking at Furuhashi Fumino. "Does your father know about this?"
The parents knew each other somewhat, and Ogata's father also knew that Furuhashi Fumino's father worked out of town and rarely came home in the evenings.
"That…" Furuhashi Fumino's face changed slightly. There was no way she could say her father "knew," as a simple question from Uncle Ogata to her father would easily expose that lie. She could only lower her head and whisper, "My father… he doesn't know."
Ogata's father's expression grew even more serious. He said, "Well, in that case, even if I'm being intrusive, I still have to talk to your parent about this. After all, my little Rizu is staying at your house temporarily, and I can't help but worry."
With that, Ogata's father reached for his phone. He had always cherished his daughter, and no matter how much he trusted Furuhashi was a good child, he couldn't let Hayakawa Haku study with Ogata Rizu at night without worry. After all, they were young teenagers of the same age; sparks could fly easily.
Furuhashi Fumino saw this and lowered her head, silent, as if giving up. Her hanging blue hair hid her face, making her expression unreadable.
"Father, don't…" Ogata Rizu began to complain.
"Please don't tell my father, Uncle Ogata," Furuhashi Fumino suddenly looked up, her voice trembling. "I deliberately kept this a secret from my father. If you tell him, I'll be in trouble…"
"What do you mean?" Ogata's father put down his hand and looked at Furuhashi Fumino, confused.
"The truth is…" Furuhashi Fumino suddenly reached out and grabbed Hayakawa Haku's hand, covering her chest with her other hand, fighting through her embarrassment, and said with a flushed face, "Hayakawa-kun and I are actually dating!"
Ogata Rizu: "..."
Hayakawa Haku: "???"
Furuhashi Fumino: I want to die, I want to die, I want to die, I want to die…
"Oh…" Ogata's father was stunned for a moment, then scratched his head and let out a hearty laugh. "So that's what it is! Ah, it seems I, an old man, really was being nosey. Don't worry, little Fumino, I won't tell your father. After all, I'm not some old fogey. You young people dating is your own business. I won't be so pedantic, haha."
"I'm glad you understand," Furuhashi Fumino fought the trembling in her body, feigning fear of her father knowing. "After all, I'm a little scared to let my father know about this. You know, he keeps a tight leash on me…"
"I get it, I get it. High school romance, not all parents are as open-minded as me." Ogata's father nodded to himself, saying magnanimously, "I wouldn't interfere with my Rizu at all, but she's so obedient, she wouldn't look for a boyfriend herself."
Furuhashi Fumino: "..."
"Alright, you young people handle your own business." Ogata's father turned to leave. "I'll go make your noodles."
As long as it's not my daughter who's dating, then it's fine. If anything, it's best that young Teacher Hayakawa is dating Fumino. That way, he won't set his sights on my daughter.
Thinking this, Uncle Ogata left, quite satisfied.
Sa-safe.
"Phew…" Furuhashi Fumino watched Ogata's father walk away, letting out a long sigh. Her flat chest heaved dramatically, from an A-cup up to a B-cup.
"Fumino…" Ogata Rizu looked at Furuhashi Fumino, her expression strange and evasive. She whispered, "When… when did you start dating Hayakawa-kun?"
Furuhashi Fumino: "..."
The enemy is so strong, but my teammate is an idiot. How should I respond?
"Ogata, stop asking," Hayakawa Haku quietly pulled his hand away from Furuhashi Fumino. "We're not dating. You almost gave us away just now. She was just lying to stall your father."
"I-is that so!" Ogata Rizu's slightly evasive gaze instantly regained its clarity. She nodded. "I knew it! How could you two be dating without me knowing?"
"Is that the point?!" Even Furuhashi Fumino couldn't help but show a darkening expression. "Rizu, do you know that one sentence from you almost ruined everything for us?"
"I-I'm sorry. I let it slip." Ogata Rizu said sheepishly, her eyes cast down like a sad little deer.
"...It's okay." Furuhashi Fumino instantly softened, hugging the science-track loli to comfort her. "It's fine now, Rizu."
"It's not fine. Something big has happened," Hayakawa Haku suddenly said from the side.
"What do you mean?" Furuhashi Fumino looked at him, displeased by his sudden negativity. "Uncle Ogata believed it, didn't he?"
"It has nothing to do with your uncle," Hayakawa Haku said. "Did you notice the other customers in the shop just now?"
"No, what about them?" Furuhashi Fumino asked as a matter of course. All her attention was on Ogata's father just now; she had no energy to notice the surrounding customers.
"Well… just when you said we were dating," Hayakawa Haku said expressionlessly, "a few students wearing our school uniform came through the door, stood there, listened to your words, and then immediately left."
Furuhashi Fumino: "..."
Like lightning striking from the sky, the literature girl stood motionless, instantly turning to ashes.
"Really?"
"Really."