"No…" Facing her sister's teasing, Nakano Yotsuba quickly lowered her head and stammered, "I just happened to pass by and saw Hayakawa-kun, so I came over to say hello."
"I see, so that's it, just an ordinary greeting from the stairs," Ichika nodded seriously. "Just occasionally, then…"
"Mmm…" A faint pink blush spread across Yotsuba's fair cheeks. She covered her face and whispered, "Stop it…"
Hayakawa Haku, off to the side: "..."
What are these two talking about? I don't understand at all.
"Are you two coming in or not?" Hayakawa said expressionlessly.
"I'm coming, I'm coming." Nakano Ichika quickly pulled Yotsuba through Hayakawa's door. "Excuse us!"
A blunder, a major blunder by this Emperor.
Hayakawa Haku looked at the two identical girls in the room and quietly poured boiling water into the teapot. The exotic scent of the tea immediately filled the space below the ceiling.
"There's actually tea…" Nakano Ichika looked at the teapot on the table with a strange expression and exchanged glances with Yotsuba.
It's just a few days of camp. He actually brought a teapot and tea leaves. That feels very odd.
"Hokkaido Silver Flower Tea, please enjoy." Hayakawa Haku poured a cup for each of them in the disposable paper cups provided by the inn, then introduced it, "It can calm the mind and relieve insomnia. Feel free to sit anywhere."
"O-okay." Nakano Ichika and Yotsuba found seats, looking at Hayakawa Haku as if they wanted to say something but held back.
Hayakawa Haku, adhering to the principle of "if the enemy doesn't move, I don't move," remained silent, silently sipping his tea.
"Hayakawa-kun," Ichika finally broke the silence, asking curiously after a long hesitation, "I heard you're dating Furuhashi Fumino-kun, the most popular student in our school. Is that true?"
"Ichika…" Yotsuba immediately looked at her, ready to object.
"Why does everyone have to ask about this?" Hayakawa Haku said expressionlessly. "I already answered Yotsuba. It's a misunderstanding, just a normal student-teacher relationship for tutoring."
Saying this, Hayakawa Haku shook his head helplessly.
These high school students today are unbelievable. They're all focused on gossip and romance. Shouldn't students be focusing 120% of their attention entirely on studying? Honestly.
"Oh~ A misunderstanding!" Nakano Ichika's eyes lit up. She gave Yotsuba a triumphant, excited look. "That's wonderful news."
Yotsuba quickly lowered her head, a blush spreading from her face to her neck.
"So you're not dating Furuhashi-kun. Then what about your feelings? Don't you like her?" Nakano Ichika pressed on excitedly. "I've met Furuhashi-kun. Not only is she super pretty, but her personality is gentle, and her aura is amazing. She seems like the best girlfriend ever."
Hayakawa Haku: "..."
Sorry, I haven't felt any of those things you mentioned. All I feel is the inability to teach her, frustration, and a strong enmity toward a rival.
"No." Hayakawa Haku said calmly, "For a high school student, studying is the center of everything. Getting involved in romance will definitely affect your grades. People who recklessly waste their youth in high school, having fun and doing whatever they want, will probably find that this is the highest point their life will ever reach."
"Uh…" Nakano Ichika was silent for a moment, then turned to Yotsuba. "Now I understand why Itsuki was so eager to have Hayakawa-kun as her tutor."
"I agree…" Nakano Yotsuba nodded silently, quietly echoing, "Hayakawa-kun sounds exactly like Itsuki when he says things like that."
"That's just my personal opinion," Hayakawa Haku put down his teacup and said flatly. "I don't have any bad feelings toward other people dating."
(This is a lie. In reality, he's an arsonist who wants to go up and collect a 'fifty thousand yen' tax from any couple he sees.)
"That's too boring, though. High school is a time of youth you only get once in your life. It's a little tragic if you only study," Nakano Ichika said with a look of longing, her voice dreamy. "If you don't enjoy your youth a little, with things like romance, Hayakawa-kun, you'll definitely regret it when you look back later."
"Uh…" Hayakawa Haku wanted to deny it sharply, but seeing Ichika's intoxicated expression of fantasy, he didn't feel like arguing and simply said, "If my grades go smoothly in the future, maybe I'll relax and get into a relationship."
After I defeat those two rivals… I'll think about it then.
"Exactly, exactly, that's the spirit," Nakano Ichika nodded excitedly, then followed up with, "Then tell me, what kind of girl do you like?!"
Yotsuba, sitting next to her, immediately sat up straight, her ears perked up like a rabbit's when she heard the question.
Hayakawa Haku: "A girl who scores better than me."
"That condition is too harsh!" Ichika gasped, unable to accept it. "Aren't you first overall in the combined scores, Hayakawa-kun? Where are you going to find a girl with better grades than you! That's an impossibly unreasonable demand to start with!"
There are, though. Ogata Rizu and Furuhashi Fumino. Technically, they both have better scores than me.
But…
The condition for me to date is after I defeat the two of them. Once I defeat them, there will be no girl at Ichinose Academy with better grades than me. Which means a girl who meets my dating requirement won't exist.
Heh heh heh~ Aside from Furuhashi and Ogata, there couldn't possibly be anyone with better grades than me in this school.
No one is worthy of Great Emperor Hayakawa.
Hayakawa Haku's expression didn't change at all, but his heart had already soared to the clouds.
"Change it up! Don't you have any other requirements? Something more normal," Ichika quickly said, noticing Yotsuba's slightly crestfallen expression. "Like looks, body type, or someone with a great personality, full of energy, or good at sports!"
Hayakawa Haku said expressionlessly: "Someone who can teach me."
"Stop talking about studying!!"
"Bye-bye, Hayakawa-kun."
Ichika and Yotsuba left the room, and Hayakawa went back to sitting down.
Hayakawa Haku had a hard time connecting with them, so after chatting for a bit, he politely sent the two girls off. After all, Ichika kept bringing up topics about romance and girls, and Hayakawa Haku had zero interest in those subjects.
"While it's still early," Hayakawa sat up and pulled out his textbook. "I should make a study plan for the two of them for these two days."
"First things first, let's have them complete ten practice tests." Hayakawa Haku mumbled to himself. "And then have them memorize all of this, and this."
The exam was fast approaching. Hayakawa felt a sense of urgency, so the plan he made was a little Spartan.
"This should do it!" Hayakawa Haku held the thick stack of problems and nodded with satisfaction.
"Time to go find Furuhashi and Ogata." Hayakawa put all the books into a bag and prepared to leave to find the two girls.