Ichinose Academy's lunch break was quite long, giving students ample time to rest. Hayakawa Haku had always appreciated this extended break, allowing him to recuperate after a tiring morning of study.
But now... What is going on?
Hayakawa Haku and Furuhashi Fumino sat facing each other in the small pavilion by Ichinose's campus lake.
Furuhashi Fumino's face was slightly flushed, her eyes darting away. Hayakawa Haku was expressionless.
"Hayakawa-kun..." Furuhashi Fumino looked at Hayakawa with a complicated expression. "What was going on just now? Why were you and Tanaka-kun... that?"
"That" what? Can you be clearer? It's misleading.
Hayakawa Haku's face darkened. "I was nearby when he confessed to you at noon."
"Eh? You heard it?!" Furuhashi Fumino's face instantly went crimson. She was afraid to look at Hayakawa Haku.
"Yes, and then I ran into him just now, and he told his friend that he was going to confess to you again," Hayakawa Haku frowned, displeased. "How can that be allowed? The monthly exam is in two weeks. That will interfere with your exam preparation, so I went to discuss it with him. A disagreement arose, and then you showed up."
Disagreement? It was a brawl! Both of them were on the ground.
"..." Furuhashi Fumino quietly lowered her head. After hearing Hayakawa Haku's explanation, a fact gradually became clear in her mind: Hayakawa-kun...
He must have fallen in love with me!
Running off to fight someone because he was afraid a confession would affect her grades? That excuse is too ridiculous! It's 100% jealousy!
Furuhashi Fumino's mind was a confused mess. She was completely at a loss, like a low-intelligence NPC suffering from a blindness effect, capable only of simple actions.
She had felt that Hayakawa-kun was acting strange a lot lately. In their conversations, he often inexplicably misinterpreted her words as something shameful or immodest. Now it was clear that his mind was completely filled with love and sex, leading him to these wild thoughts!
Wha-wha-wha-what... What do I do? Hayakawa-kun actually likes me?
Furuhashi Fumino bit her rosy lip, her pearly teeth trembling slightly. Her entire face was a mask of forced composure.
Calm down... Furuhashi, I can't be sure yet. If it's a misunderstanding, it'll be super embarrassing.
She had to confirm it.
"Then, Hayakawa-kun," Furuhashi Fumino gathered her courage and looked at Hayakawa, asking seriously, "What did you mean by what you said to Tanaka-kun just now?"
"Uh..." Hayakawa Haku looked confused. "Which line are you talking about?"
"The one about..." Furuhashi Fumino's face was blood-red, and steam slowly rose from her head. She covered her face and whispered, "The one about me belonging to you..."
"Ah, that line." Hayakawa Haku scratched his head, a little embarrassed. "Well, the goal was to drive that Tanaka guy away, to make him stop bothering you, so I said something embarrassing."
"Oh, so that's what it was..." Furuhashi Fumino's held breath immediately eased, but a hollow feeling settled in her heart, a complex mix like a spilled spice cabinet.
That's good. Now I can focus on studying. She thought.
"But I was serious." Hayakawa Haku suddenly said.
"Serious?!" Furuhashi Fumino's voice shot up three decibels. She instinctively clutched her chest, which was heaving violently.
"Yes, I won't give up." Hayakawa Haku looked directly at Furuhashi Fumino. The shadow of the supreme humanities queen was reflected in his sharp eyes, which burned with a fighting spirit like fire.
Yes, serious.
Student and Arch-Rival!
Whether it's teaching you science or defeating you in humanities, I am serious about both. Declaring war in front of others might be a little embarrassing, but Hayakawa Haku didn't care.
It doesn't matter how many times I've been defeated and crushed. What matters is what kind of even more despicable and shameless trick you come up with next time to achieve victory.
Come on! No matter what dark and malicious means I use, let's have a 'fair and square' match!
This was Hayakawa Haku's declaration of war to Furuhashi Fumino, a battle he would never give up on no matter how many times he failed.
I am General Hayakawa Haku of Lingling! Furuhashi, you young punk, dare you come out of your city and fight me?
Hayakawa Haku stared intently at Furuhashi, the fighting intent in his eyes burning fiercely, almost spilling out of his sockets.
Furuhashi Fumino: "..."
Do-dominant!!
What is wrong with this man?! His words are completely a confession! And he's saying such an incredibly direct thing right to my face!!
"Mgh..." Furuhashi Fumino's head was steaming like boiling water. She dared not say another word. She was terrible at handling this kind of aggressive attitude; it reminded her of her father.
"Is there anything else?" Hayakawa Haku was slightly disappointed that she didn't respond, but he still asked.
"No, no, that's completely enough!" Furuhashi Fumino shook her head like a rattle, waving her hands repeatedly.
It's impossible to be more direct than what you just said. I completely understand your love now.
"Then I'm going back to class. You go back and listen carefully too." Hayakawa Haku was about to leave, but he thought of something and added, "You don't need to worry about that Tanaka guy. He shouldn't bother you again until the exam."
Furuhashi Fumino, behind Hayakawa, whispered softly, "What if he comes again?"
"If he comes to bother you again, I'm going to have a headache." Hayakawa Haku paused, his brow furrowed, and he muttered darkly, "If he dares to interfere with me, I will eliminate him."
Furuhashi Fumino vaguely heard this sentence, and her body trembled. Her inner world collapsed.
Sure enough, Hayakawa-kun is too much! I can't accept this!
The Sudden Co-Habitation
What do I do? Hayakawa-kun actually has romantic feelings for me...
In the library, Furuhashi Fumino clutched her head in distress, looking utterly conflicted and overwhelmed.
But we're teacher and student... teacher and student...
Furuhashi Fumino slumped onto the desk, covering her face, on the verge of tears.
If I reject him outright...
Inner Theatre:
"To reject my fiery love, despite being a brainless water louse..."
"How arrogant you are~"
NO!!!
Hayakawa-kun is so serious about me. It would be too heartless to reject him directly. I'd be utterly cold-hearted!
But if I agree to date him...
Furuhashi Fumino hung her head, blushing deeply, and internally said, No, I can't.
Such an irresponsible relationship would be disrespectful to both herself and Hayakawa-kun. She couldn't do that.
"Furuhashi..." Hayakawa suddenly called out to Furuhashi Fumino from the adjacent seat.
"Hi! I'm here!" Furuhashi Fumino jumped and instinctively answered. However, when she turned around, she found Hayakawa Haku and Ogata Rizu both looking at her. Her confidence immediately deflated, and she stammered with hunched shoulders, "Is something wrong..."
"Well... it's a bit hard to explain right now," Hayakawa Haku looked Furuhashi Fumino up and down, then pondered for a moment. He then said one sentence with a serious expression.
"But could I ask you and Ogata to come live at my house for the next few days?"