The instant Hayakawa Shiro heard the outrageous declaration from the two girls, his first instinct was to refuse them outright.
I don't have time to waste on something so idiotic. If it interferes with my studies, even dying ten thousand times wouldn't be enough to make up for it.
But in that moment, Shiro caught onto a thought.
Wait a second… this situation—
Furuhashi Fumino wanted to study science. Ogata Rizu wanted to study liberal arts. Both had abandoned the fields they excelled in, choosing instead the subjects they were weakest at…
Wasn't this the opportunity of a lifetime?
The perfect chance for me to defeat them.
Shiro felt his chest tighten. He couldn't believe for a second that, after giving up the subjects they dominated, either of them would continue to maintain such high marks. From what the principal had said, they would both need help. Even if they were geniuses in one area, in their weaknesses they were bound to struggle.
Which meant—
"Um… Hayakawa-kun,"
While Shiro was still lost in a storm of scheming thoughts, Furuhashi suddenly spoke up, her voice trembling with unease. "You… you won't abandon us too, will you?"
"…Huh?"
Shiro blinked at her. Furuhashi's eyes shone with pitiful, almost fawn-like desperation.
"Abandon you? What do you mean?"
Shiro tilted his head, puzzled.
"The school already assigned us a few instructors before," Ogata explained in her flat, matter-of-fact tone. "But they all quit within a week or two. During that time, they just kept trying to convince us to go back to our strongest subjects. Every single one of them. Always the same thing."
"Convince you to return to your strengths…"
Shiro repeated the words under his breath—and his heart jolted.
If they really did get convinced, what would happen to me? Would I be stuck as eternal second place?
A strange, shadowy gleam flickered in his eyes.
He had always thought Ichinose Academy's teaching staff was lacking. But this? To not even respect students' wishes? That wasn't just bad—it was inhumane. Such a school might as well close down.
And when he, Hayakawa Shiro, stood on the world stage at an international awards ceremony, this school's name would most certainly not be mentioned.
"Hayakawa-kun…"
Hearing Ogata's explanation, Furuhashi's eyes grew even more desperate, shimmering with tears. "Please don't give up on us. We… we can still be saved, right…?"
"H-how could I?"
Shiro flashed his trademark dazzling smile. "Of course I'll give it my all to teach you both!"
"Eh, really?!"
Furuhashi gasped and stepped closer, her eyes sparkling. "So you mean—you're agreeing to tutor us?!"
Her whole being lit up with hope. Sensitive as she was to emotions, she felt something completely different from Shiro compared to the other tutors—not apathy, not deception, but genuine seriousness.
"Yes. I promise."
Shiro nodded, smiling warmly at his two new "students."
"Th-that's wonderful! Rizu-chan!"
Furuhashi nearly jumped with joy, clutching Ogata's arm. "Hayakawa-kun agreed!"
"…Mm."
For once, Ogata's poker face shifted ever so slightly, her babyish cheeks twitching with a faint hint of relief. "Then… please take care of us from now on, Hayakawa-kun."
"Of course," Shiro said gently. But then his tone changed. "Since you've already chosen your new fields, you'll have to devote all of your time to them. Absolutely no distractions."
"Naturally."
Ogata nodded without hesitation. "I've already decided on liberal arts. Of course I'll give it my all."
"Good. That's exactly how it should be. Studying requires focus."
Shiro narrowed his eyes, clapped his hands together, and chuckled. "And if I ever catch you secretly studying your old subjects… well, that would really trouble me. Heh-heh-heh…"
"Uh…"
Furuhashi felt a sudden chill in her chest.
Something about Hayakawa-kun… felt wrong.
"I've agreed, Principal."
Back in the principal's office, Shiro reported with his usual polite smile. "I'll give my full effort to guide Furuhashi-san and Ogata-san."
"As expected of our academy's model student!"
The bearded principal's eyes grew moist. "I truly appreciate this. Even if those two have chosen subjects outside their strengths, they are still Ichinose Academy's most outstanding students. We absolutely want them to advance successfully. Thank you, Hayakawa-kun. Rest assured, we'll do everything we can to secure you the best possible recommendation to university."
"You flatter me, Principal,"
Shiro replied with his signature smile. "It's simply my duty as a member of this academy."
"To think you'd have such resolve…"
The principal was moved even further, sighing. "Students today are far too independent. If only every student were like you…"
Shiro listened with a polite, attentive expression—while in truth, he wasn't hearing a word.
Instead, in his mind, he envisioned:
Becoming the instructor of his two greatest rivals → driving them mercilessly with a "whip" of discipline → leaving them no time to study their true strengths → constantly monitoring them to ensure they didn't sneak back to their comfort zones → their grades plummeting into ruin →…
Hayakawa the Great rises to the top, reigning supreme over both leaderboards, ascending to emperor.
"Eheheh…"
Shiro couldn't hold back a twisted, triumphant laugh. "Kuhahahahaha!"
"Hayakawa-kun?"
The principal flinched at the sudden outburst, staring at his gleeful expression. Misunderstanding completely, he coughed lightly. "Er… Hayakawa. While our school rules don't forbid relationships between male and female students, we don't exactly encourage them either, so…"
"Principal, whatever are you implying?"
Shiro's face returned to its usual gentle smile, his eyes narrowing. "As high school students, we must always put academics first."
After school, Shiro and the two girls found a quiet corner. Time to get a sense of their true ability.
"Let's start with your results."
He got straight to the point, pulling two test papers from his bag. "I prepared these myself. They're about the same difficulty as our monthly exams. Please answer them. Without knowing your real level, I can't plan lessons properly."
"I understand!"
Furuhashi declared with determination. "I'll give it my all!"
Ogata adjusted her glasses, her eyes flashing with focus. "You'll see my ability."
For a moment, Shiro's breath caught. This is what genius looks like. Could it be… their talent still works even in their weakest subjects?
That would be a disaster!
Half an hour later—
After grading their papers, Shiro sat in silence.
"…Here. Four points."
He handed Ogata's test back without expression. Her face darkened instantly.
"You did a little better. Seven points."
He handed Furuhashi's science test to her.
"W-well, that's… okay, I guess."
Furuhashi's face flushed crimson with shame. She forced a smile. "At least it's higher than Rizu-chan's…"
"I think that's just because science tests have more multiple-choice questions than liberal arts exams."
Shiro mercilessly tore apart her excuse.
"Eeeek!! Fine, I admit it! I'm nothing but a useless scrub with a science brain at water-flea level!!"
Furuhashi crouched down, hugging her head, wailing. Her body metaphorically shrank to insect-size. "Don't look at me! Don't look at this pathetic failure whose brain goes blank the moment she sees an equation!"
"This must be some mistake!"
Ogata puffed out her cheeks in defiance, glaring stubbornly. "Maple leaves don't have emotions! That answer was correct! This is just a concept beyond human comprehension!"
What's beyond comprehension is your brain. Who could imagine someone scoring in the single digits on an exam in their native language?
"To think you could get a single-digit score out of one hundred…"
Shiro shook his head in disbelief. "This is truly—"
Fantastic.
Oh yes!! Yes yes yes!! Saikou!! Kimochi!!
Never before had he been blessed with such a beautiful beginning!
Celebrate me, cheer me on, raise your voices in triumph!!
Today is a glorious day!
"Mhmhmhm…"
Shiro's heart soared. He'd known they wouldn't score well, since they needed a tutor, but he never imagined they'd be this bad.
And it wasn't just ignorance—it was fundamental incompatibility. Their very way of thinking clashed with the subjects. This wasn't something that could be fixed overnight. It would take endless effort.
"…"
Shiro covered his face with his hand, pretending to be too pained to look—while in reality hiding the grin threatening to split his face.
At this level, if they wanted to get into university, they'd have no time to sneak back to their old subjects. Which meant—this was entirely his chance.
He could see it… the future of Hayakawa the Great, ruling supreme at the top of both leaderboards.
Kuhahahaha…
At last he managed to compose himself. He lowered his hand and said gravely, "This is… a bit of a problem."
"Eh? Hayakawa-kun…"
Furuhashi froze, staring at him. "Were you… laughing just now?"
"How could I?"
Shiro put on a solemn expression. "I was simply worrying over your grades. Thinking of how best to help you."
"I see…"
Furuhashi's heart warmed. "You're the first one, Hayakawa-kun. The first person who didn't try to talk us out of it, but actually thought of a plan for us."
"Of course. I promised, didn't I?"
Shiro smiled. "If anything, seeing your results has only given me more motivation."
You two being this dumb makes my life so much easier. Truly, thank you! Hahahaha!
"Hayakawa-kun…"
Furuhashi's eyes shimmered with tears. She wiped them quickly. "Thank you so much. We'll do our best."
"Me too."
Ogata nodded firmly, her baby-faced expression unwavering. "Please guide us seriously."
"Good."
Shiro's eyes narrowed. "Then promise me—no matter what, you won't give up."
"Impossible."
Furuhashi declared without hesitation. "I'll get into astronomy. Absolutely."
"Same here."
Ogata's expression grew solemn. "If I can't get into psychology, I'd rather repeat a year."
Excellent. With you two this stubborn, I can relax.
Shiro's smile widened. Inside, his glee nearly burst out.
Prepare yourselves, geniuses. Endless torment awaits.