On his way to the principal's office, Hayakawa Shiro ran into some familiar faces.
"Good morning, Hayakawa-kun. The principal just called you over the PA, didn't he?"
A group of girls walked by together. The moment they spotted Shiro's tall, handsome figure, they greeted him cheerfully before grinning playfully.
"So? What's the principal calling you in for?"
"I don't know," Shiro replied with a pleasant smile. "Probably something to do with academics."
"No way, really? Hayakawa-kun, your grades are already amazing," one girl laughed, her eyes fixed on him without blinking, her gaze far too blatant.
"Not at all." Shiro's lips curved into a flawlessly gentle smile. "I still have to keep working harder."
In truth, he hadn't managed to surpass those two geniuses in the last monthly exams. Clearly, ten hours of study a day wasn't cutting it. Time to push up to twelve.
"Wow, Hayakawa-kun, you're so humble. You're already so good, and yet you keep working harder?"
"See you later, Hayakawa! Let's go sing karaoke sometime during the holidays!"
The girls reluctantly waved goodbye and drifted off, their voices carrying down the hallway, still buzzing with chatter about him.
Shiro kept his signature smile plastered on his face until they were far enough away. Then his expression dropped.
"Idiots."
He spat the word out one syllable at a time.
Hayakawa Shiro was a fake. Day after day he wore the mask of kindness and gentleness for everyone else's sake. And it was exhausting.
Without looking back, he strode forward again toward the principal's office.
Honestly—what was with high schoolers these days? Boy or girl, their heads were full of nothing but dating and romance. Couldn't they think about something else for once? Something useful, even a little?
The meaning of life lay in defeating others, over and over again. That sweet sense of superiority that came from crushing someone beneath your heel—
It was simply exquisite.
The thought made Shiro's face flush faintly, a strange heat rising in his cheeks.
The principal's office was already in sight.
He knocked lightly. "Excuse me."
"…"
Shiro froze in silence as his eyes landed on the two girls standing inside. His body went taut, his skin prickling as if preparing for battle.
Hell awaited him the moment he opened that door.
Furuhashi Fumino? Ogata Rizu?
Why were they here?
To walk into a room and immediately be confronted with his two greatest rivals in the entire academy—nothing could be more unpleasant.
"Ah, Hayakawa-kun, you're here."
The middle-aged principal, sporting a thick beard, sat smiling warmly in his chair. "Please, have a seat. I have something I'd like to discuss with you."
"…Yes, Principal."
Shiro carefully avoided looking at the girls and instead sat down opposite the principal.
"I've reviewed your academic record since you entered Ichinose Academy," the principal said, holding a folder in his hands. "Your results are excellent. In both the sciences and the humanities, you consistently rank near the top. Aside from Furuhashi-san and Ogata-san, you're the best in your entire year."
Shiro's lips pulled into a faint smile, though the veins on his forehead twitched.
Was this guy trying to provoke him?
"If we count your total scores across both fields, you are without doubt the number one student of the first-years," the principal continued with sincere admiration. "And on top of that, your athletic ability and character are exemplary. Truly, you're a model student of Ichinose Academy. We're fortunate to have someone like you here."
"You flatter me, sir," Shiro answered humbly.
Now that was more like it. Yes. I am the best.
"Now then, there's something I'd like to ask of you."
The principal leaned forward, his tone taking on a weightier seriousness.
"Please, go on," Shiro said politely, though inwardly, of course, he wasn't about to accept anything right away.
"These two—you know them already, of course," the principal gestured toward the girls. "No introductions necessary, I imagine."
"I'm aware."
Shiro cast a quick, level glance at them. "Furuhashi-san and Ogata-san. Both outstanding students of Ichinose Academy—and my greatest motivation to improve."
That's right. Motivation. Every time I see their test scores, I can't help but bury myself in more problem sets.
"Indeed. However, both of them are facing some difficulties in their studies," the principal explained earnestly. "We need an exceptional student to help guide them. Looking across the entire year, without question, you are the most suitable choice."
"…Guide them?"
Shiro's calm mask shifted slightly, his voice betraying the faintest tremor. "With all due respect, Principal, is there truly anyone in this school capable of teaching those two?"
"Well… that's something you'll need to work out among yourselves." The principal looked a bit awkward, then quickly changed tack. "But rest assured, Hayakawa-kun—if you can help them improve, Ichinose Academy will do everything it can to secure you a recommendation slot for a top university."
A recommendation? Please. As if I'd need that.
Shiro scoffed silently in his heart. The university I want—I'll earn my place myself. I don't need anyone to hand it to me.
Still, he couldn't outright refuse. That wouldn't fit his carefully cultivated persona as the benevolent good guy.
He'd just humor them for now and then find a decent excuse to back out. No way was he going to spend every day staring at those two faces. That would shatter his very soul.
"…Understood."
Suppressing a sigh, Shiro turned toward the two girls who had been sitting stiffly, backs ramrod straight. Flashing a pleasant smile, he said:
"Well then, shall we talk, ladies?"
Under the oppressive shadow cast by Hayakawa the Dark Emperor, both girls trembled slightly as they nodded.
A nearby conference room.
Shiro sat at the head of the table, while the two girls sat nervously side by side to his left, their eyes fixed warily on him.
"The principal asked me to teach you," Shiro said with a bright, easy smile. "But honestly, I don't see what I could possibly teach you. Hahaha—ha!"
Even as he laughed, his sunny expression brimming with charm, his eyes betrayed something else—something sharp, cold, and menacing.
Furuhashi Fumino, ever sensitive to the emotions of others, noticed immediately.
Terrifying.
She shrank back in her chair, her slender body pressing against the backrest as though seeking protection.
But wait—hadn't her classmates said Hayakawa-kun from Class 2 was gentle? That he was super popular? Where was the gentleness? His eyes looked like he was about to eat someone alive!
I can't deal with pushy guys like this…
Fumino wanted to cry. Her body curled smaller and smaller, her head ducking as she dared not utter a word.
"Hayakawa-kun."
Compared to the sensitive literature girl, Ogata Rizu was far more straightforward—and oblivious. She spoke plainly:
"I want you to teach me the liberal arts."
"Oh? The liberal arts, huh?"
Shiro nodded gravely, though in truth he hadn't been listening.
Whoa. Big.
Ogata was barely 143 centimeters tall, yet her chest was undeniably… well, enormous. Viewed from above, her proportions looked even more exaggerated.
Whoa, whoa—those are some impressive—huh? Wait.
"Did you say… you want to study the liberal arts?"
"Yes."
Rizu's answer was firm.
Shiro turned his gaze toward Fumino. "So then, that must mean… you want to study the sciences?"
"Y-yes…" Fumino stammered, nodding timidly.
Shiro: "…"
For a long moment he sat in silence. Then he lifted his head, drew in a deep breath—
And grinned.
It was time to pop the champagne.