After finishing dinner, the three returned to Hayakawa's house as usual. Furuhashi Fumino was silent the entire way back, her face pale, looking utterly distraught.
"Furuhashi, don't worry about it," Hayakawa Haku tried to comfort her when he saw her state. "Didn't you say before that as long as we have a clear conscience, it doesn't matter?"
"What I said before was that unsubstantiated rumors don't matter," Furuhashi Fumino turned to look at Hayakawa, her voice hollow. "But now it's not an unsubstantiated rumor! I admitted it myself, and others overheard it! They might have even taken photos or videos…"
After saying that, she turned her head away, her expression growing even gloomier.
Hayakawa Haku: "..."
"And the most troublesome thing now isn't the dating rumor, but that I don't know how to handle it. If I admit it, the rumor is confirmed. If I deny it, it might reach Rizu's father's ears, and he might become suspicious…" Furuhashi Fumino grabbed her head in frustration. "I can already see the future! I see myself being constantly pestered by the girls in my class, and I can neither admit nor deny it! The only thing I can do is not respond, but doesn't not responding mean I'm tacitly admitting it?!!"
"Uh…" Hayakawa Haku could only offer comfort. "Just deny it. Didn't Ogata's father know that your father keeps a strict eye on you? So it's normal for you to hide a relationship, right?"
"I hope so…" Furuhashi Fumino said dejectedly. "If Kirisu-sensei finds out, I'll definitely be called in for a talk. It's terrifying…"
"Is she that scary?" Hayakawa Haku said helplessly.
"You have no idea how scary that teacher is," Furuhashi Fumino immediately looked around anxiously, as if Kirisu Mafuyu was secretly watching her nearby. "That cold demeanor, those terrifying eyes… I get nightmares just thinking about it."
"I don't get it…" Hayakawa Haku shook his head. His impression of Kirisu-sensei was only that her eyes were fierce, she was very beautiful, and her demands were excessive. There was nothing else. Maybe it was because they hadn't interacted much.
"Why am I always the one who gets hurt…" Furuhashi Fumino buried her head on the desk, looking desperate, muttering pitifully, "It's all Rizu-chan's fault for talking too much."
"Sigh, you're right." Hayakawa Haku sighed, agreeing with her.
"And you, Hayakawa…"
"Hmm?" Hayakawa Haku was a little annoyed. "What does this have to do with me? I didn't let anything slip."
"It's all your fault!" Furuhashi Fumino instantly glared, staring directly at Hayakawa Haku, playing the victim out of frustration and anger. "It's all your fault. You are the source of all evil—global warming, animal extinction, the Three-Body invasion of Earth, the stagnation of human technological civilization—it's all your fault!"
She ground her teeth, looking like she was ready to pounce and bite him at any moment.
Hayakawa Haku: "...If you put it that way, then whatever."
"Waaah…" Furuhashi Fumino slumped back onto the desk, whimpering. Her face was pressed against the table, and she whispered in shame and frustration, "I can't study anymore. I'm not in the mood…"
This won't do. Our study progress will fall behind.
Hayakawa Haku frowned at Furuhashi Fumino's reaction.
I need to think of something.
Solution 1:
Hayakawa: "I like you. Let's really date!!"
Furuhashi: "Suki suki I feel much better"
Solution 2:
Hayakawa: "It's all my fault. Blame only me!"
Furuhashi: "I forgive you~"
Solution 3:
Hayakawa: "Then let's pretend to date~"
Furuhashi: "Problem solved~"
...
None of them feel right. Especially the first one, it would make me feel bad.
Hayakawa Haku stopped his thoughts with an expressionless face. It seemed his brain wasn't as useful as he thought.
"Then just rest for a while." Hayakawa Haku chose to compromise, lowering his head to write problems. "I'll put together a set of predicted questions for you. You can just look at them later."
"Oh…" Furuhashi Fumino responded weakly, burying her head on the desk without another word.
A long silence fell over the room. The only sounds were the ticking of the clock, the calm breathing of the two students, and the scratch of Hayakawa Haku's pen.
"Mmm…" Furuhashi Fumino secretly raised her head to look at what Hayakawa Haku was writing.
A dense mass of math problems. This is what I have to memorize next, huh? It's practically hell.
Furuhashi Fumino poked out her pink tongue in distaste, then carefully shifted her gaze to Hayakawa Haku's face under the lamplight. The young man was focused on the notebook, his calm face a picture of diligence, but upon closer inspection, a faint weariness could be seen in his eyes.
Hayakawa-kun is working so hard, preparing review materials for Rizu and me.
Furuhashi Fumino thought, her gaze gradually unable to move away.
"Hayakawa-kun and I… are actually dating."
That sentence suddenly flashed in her mind, causing the girl to frantically look away, her cheeks burning hot.
To tell such a ridiculous lie to an elder, I'm truly degraded… This must be what they call "bad company corrupts good manners." Interacting with Hayakawa-kun, who has an evil and lustful mind, has made me become bad too.
Furuhashi Fumino thought with a blush: But even so, even if I have to lie to an elder, I still want to protect him and Rizu-chan.
After all, if Ogata-papa, the daughter-obsessed father, found out his daughter was living in a boy's house, he'd probably pull a kitchen knife out of the back. Hayakawa-kun would definitely be done for.
So, I saved your life! You have to remember this kindness and repay me double later, Hayakawa-kun~
Furuhashi Fumino rested her head on the desk, tilting it, her blue eyes staring unblinkingly at Hayakawa's profile, a faint smile on her face.
The night passed without a word.
The next day, Ichinose Academy announced a mandatory three-day off-campus study camp before the monthly exams. Refusal was not an option.
When Hayakawa Haku heard the news, he scoffed. What a ridiculous camp! Not only is it right before the monthly exams, but it's also given the title of "study"! Is there a more obvious cover-up than this? Where can't they study? Why force a whole bunch of students to a camp outside of school to "study"? They're just giving the students a holiday, damn it!!
I object! I object! Hayakawa Haku waved a banner and publicly opposed this mandatory activity that gave students time to rest and play. He strongly suggested the school cancel all after-school clubs, break times, and the annual spring and autumn excursions, replacing them with a weekly, no-holds-barred exam.
Of course, no one paid attention to his objection. The students were already in a frenzy of excitement, with people everywhere happily discussing the camp, including the rumor-plagued Furuhashi girl.
"Hey, hey, Fumino… you're going to the camp too, right?" several girls surrounded Furuhashi, teasing and nudging her. "To be with your boyfriend~"
"Ahaha…" Furuhashi Fumino replied with difficulty. "We'll see about that."
"Aw, why? You two are deeply in love, you know"
"Exactly! You should be attached to each other every day."
We are attached to each other every day, and at night, too.
Furuhashi Fumino sighed internally, then was immediately swallowed by the surrounding gossiping schoolgirls.
Hayakawa-kun, you must remember my kindness for the rest of your life!!!