I am the Great Emperor, I am the Great Emperor! Why must I help others with this kind of manual labor…
Hayakawa Haku's heart was desolate, his face utterly blank.
Yet, he couldn't refuse. This gloomy, insignificant girl was a sister to Yotsuba, Ichika, and Itsuki. If he didn't help now and merely stood by…
Fantasy:
"What did you say? Hayakawa-kun, the gentle, handsome, and nicest student—the strongest academic at Ichinose Academy—watched a girl struggle and didn't help?"
"I don't know what to say. I feel completely disillusioned…"
Hayakawa Haku: "..."
Absolutely not.
"Where are we moving them to?" Hayakawa showed a harmless smile. "I'll help you."
"…Thank you, Hayakawa-kun." Miku immediately felt much lighter with someone helping her with one end. She nodded gently and thanked him.
"It's nothing. I consider myself a friend to Yotsuba and the others." Hayakawa Haku exchanged a pleasantry and led Miku toward the Class C base.
The two didn't speak the entire way. Miku didn't know what to say to the unfamiliar Hayakawa, and Hayakawa couldn't be bothered to start a conversation. So, they continued the silent journey back and forth, moving the wood.
"Oh, Hayakawa-kun, and Miku?" A voice came closer, and closer as they moved the third log. "What are you two doing?"
Hayakawa looked over and saw a girl standing not far away, a straw in her mouth, smiling as she looked their way before walking over.
Who is this?
Hayakawa Haku carefully observed the girl. It was only by her unfixed hair and unique short cut that he recognized the person in front of him as Ichika.
"Ichika. We're helping Mr. Yamamoto from Class C move some things." Hayakawa Haku explained. "I came over to help."
"Ichika…" Miku said quietly when she saw Ichika. "What are you doing here?"
"I finished my task, so I was wandering around for a bit," Ichika said, then couldn't help but scold Miku. "Honestly, Miku, why didn't you call me if you needed help? Even if I couldn't do it, Yotsuba has a lot of stamina and could have helped you."
"No," Nakano Miku shook her head. "You should handle your own affairs."
Ichika sighed. "Eh~ Such a troublesome personality."
"Mmph." Miku puffed out her cheeks, a little upset.
"Are we going or not?" Hayakawa Haku felt a bit speechless and urged them on.
"Ah, I'll help." Nakano Ichika naturally took the end of the log Miku was holding, then smiled at Hayakawa. "Sorry, Hayakawa-kun, I can't completely take over for you, but you're a strong boy, so it should be fine, right?"
"..." Hayakawa Haku said expressionlessly, "Whatever. Hurry up and finish. I need to get back."
There are two people waiting for this Emperor's teaching over there.
"You're so cold. Try to be a little kinder." Ichika pouted, saying this in a slightly annoyed tone.
Hayakawa Haku ignored her and walked forward silently, but after a few steps, he suddenly realized something was wrong.
Cold? Me? I was called cold.
This is wrong. Isn't my setting at school supposed to be the kind, "gentle central air conditioner"—helpful, super popular, constantly receiving love letters, and getting mountains of chocolate on White Day? Why has my behavior and speech now reverted to my true self?
Where is my facade? Where did my facade go?
Hayakawa Haku was shocked inside. He thought about it carefully and realized that ever since he became a tutor, the large amount of time he had to spend facing those two "archenemies" and their utterly baffling intelligence during his lessons had slowly eroded his carefully cultivated "gentle mask." It was now completely gone.
After all, when you explain a single problem seven or eight times and the other person still can't grasp it, and they're your hated natural enemy, even the strongest facade will fail.
"..." Hayakawa Haku suddenly understood. His eyes gradually lost their highlight, turning into two emotionless black holes.
Truly powerful enemies. To subtly destroy a skill I spent years developing. I underestimated those two. They truly deserve to be the rivals who have defeated me multiple times.
Boom! A flame suddenly ignited in Hayakawa Haku's heart. His already ceaseless fighting spirit surged even higher.
"I feel a strange surge of determination." Ichika turned to look at Hayakawa, feeling a sense of bewilderment. She then said to Miku, "Miku, go rest. I'll help move the rest."
"…Is that okay?" Miku asked hesitantly. "I can rest on my own."
"You already moved most of them, haven't you? Leave the last two to me," Ichika said with a smile. "It's our class's job anyway."
"Then… okay. Thank you, Ichika." Miku nodded lightly, then paused and said to Hayakawa, "Thank you too, Hayakawa-kun."
Hayakawa said calmly, "It was nothing."
Miku left, and Hayakawa watched her retreating figure, frowning slightly. After she was gone, he turned back and looked at Ichika's face.
The five sisters really look identical. If they change their hairstyles, an ordinary person wouldn't be able to tell them apart at all.
"What is it, Hayakawa-kun?" Ichika's face reddened under Hayakawa's gaze. She couldn't help but say, "Why are you looking at us with such a strange expression?"
"Nothing," Hayakawa said. "Just noticed your faces are exactly the same, so I couldn't help but observe closely."
"Don't talk about people's faces like they're research subjects!" Nakano Ichika said, displeased. "And we're quintuplets. It's normal for us to look alike!"
"Oh, I see." Hayakawa nodded indifferently, thinking about how amazing genes were.
"There are two more logs, right? How long does one trip take?" Ichika asked when Hayakawa fell silent.
"Less than ten minutes." Hayakawa Haku replied.
"So, twenty minutes. That's quite a long time." Nakano Ichika's eyes lit up. She smiled and said, "Perfect for having a chat with Hayakawa-kun."
Hayakawa Haku responded expressionlessly: "…Why do you want to chat with me?"
"Does that need to be said? Because Hayakawa-kun is the first boy I got to know well since transferring to Ichinose Academy, and Itsuki really likes you too. Our five sisters' grades are a bit disappointing, and our father is determined to improve them. You might become our private tutor any day now," Ichika winked playfully at Hayakawa. "I'm building a good relationship with the future teacher in advance, so I don't get bullied later."
Hayakawa Haku: "..."
Fine, whatever.
"Your grades are disappointing?" Hayakawa Haku asked casually. "How disappointing are they?"
"About a hundred points." Ichika smiled. "Across all five subjects."
"Oh, that's not bad," Hayakawa Haku's brow furrowed. "The foundation seems quite solid."
"Hayakawa-kun…" Ichika looked at Hayakawa with a strange expression. "Are you serious?"
Information that can be shared now:
In a total of seven monthly and major exams over two semesters, Hayakawa's win rate against Ogata Rizu and Furuhashi Fumino is zero.