Chapter 2 – The Genius Who'd Rather Babysit
The morning was already sour before breakfast.
"Yuta," Reina's voice came sharp from the entryway. "You're going to school today."
The words cut through the house like a blade.
Yuta, still halfway through a bowl of rice, froze mid-bite. His lazy smirk twitched. "What, now? It's fine, I'll—"
"No excuses," Reina snapped, grabbing her handbag. "You're not wasting another day here just because you feel like playing house with Aoi."
Shin stood behind her, arms folded, looking far too pleased with her declaration.
"Finally," he muttered. "Drag his useless ass out."
Yuta slouched in his chair. "Tch. Useless, huh? Who do you think keeps your kid from crying every time you run off to work?"
Shin's fist clenched. Reina cut in before another family civil war could erupt.
"You're going," she repeated. "Or else."
Yuta stared at her for a long second, then sighed like he was signing his own death warrant. "Fine. I'll go. Not like it matters anyway."
Reina narrowed her eyes. Shin smirked. Aoi peeked around the corner, holding her stuffed bunny, tilting her head in confusion.
---
The walk to school felt like a funeral march.
Yuta shoved his hands into his pockets, tie hanging loose around his neck, hair as untidy as ever. Every step closer to the school gates only deepened his frown.
When he finally stepped inside, the whispers started immediately.
"Look, it's him—he actually showed up today."
"Didn't think the commander bothered with classes anymore."
"Bet he's still gonna ace every test…"
Yuta ignored them all. He slid into his seat by the window and laid his head on his desk like he was already preparing for a nap.
That's when the familiar voice hit him.
"Well, well. Look who decided to grace us with his presence."
He cracked an eye open.
Hina stood there, silver hair catching the sunlight, blue eyes sharp as ice. She crossed her arms and leaned against his desk like she owned it.
"Skipped half the term, and for what? To babysit your three-year-old niece?" she asked, voice laced with mockery.
Yuta didn't even blink. "Yeah. Better than wasting time here."
Her eyebrow twitched. "Excuse me?"
"I mean, look at me." He sat up slowly, smirk tugging at his lips. "I don't study. I barely show up. And yet…" He tapped the edge of his desk. "First place. Every exam. Every year. No contest."
Hina's glare sharpened. Her knuckles tightened against the wood of his desk.
"You—!" She stopped herself, exhaling sharply. "Do you have any idea how frustrating that is? I study every day, every night, for months, and you—"
"Don't need to," he finished for her, grinning. "Guess it's just in my head. Natural talent, maybe."
Her teeth ground audibly. She turned her face away with a sharp "hmph," but the tips of her ears flushed pink.
---
By lunchtime, Yuta was already plotting escape.
He lounged on the rooftop, bento untouched, eyes scanning the sky with the expression of someone already mentally checked out.
Hina found him there, as she always did. "What are you doing now?"
"Thinking about skipping the rest of the day."
Her arms crossed. "Typical. You're unbelievable."
He smirked. "Want to come?"
Her face snapped toward him. "W-what? Absolutely not!"
"Suit yourself." He shrugged, standing. "But you'll just follow me anyway."
"I will not!" she snapped.
He gave her a flat, deadpan look.
Her cheeks flared. "Tch… fine. But only to make sure you don't do anything stupid."
"Sure, sure," he muttered, already climbing down the stairs.
---
The café wasn't far from school. Yuta ordered an iced coffee, Hina a strawberry parfait, and they sat across from each other in the corner booth.
For a while, neither spoke. Then Hina slammed her spoon down.
"I don't get it."
"Get what?" Yuta asked, swirling the ice in his glass.
"You! You don't study, you don't care, you don't even try, and yet you're always ahead of me. Always first. Always perfect."
He tilted his head. "Perfect? Me?"
"You know what I mean."
Yuta leaned back, gaze turning distant for the first time all day. "It's not like I try to beat you. Stuff just… sticks in my head. Don't know why. Don't know how. But that's all it is."
Hina's eyes softened for a brief second. But then he smirked again, ruining the moment.
"Besides, I'd rather spend my time cooking pancakes with Aoi than memorizing useless formulas."
Her spoon nearly snapped in half.
---
They left the café and wandered into the park. The afternoon sun filtered through the trees, painting the benches in stripes of light. Yuta slouched against one, sipping the last of his coffee, while Hina fidgeted beside him.
It almost felt peaceful.
Until a small voice rang out.
"Uncle Yuta!"
Both froze.
Down the path, Aoi came running full speed, her stuffed bunny bouncing in her arms. Behind her walked Reina, expression unreadable.
Yuta paled. Hina stiffened.
"Oh… crap."
Aoi barreled into Yuta's lap, giggling. "I found you!"
Reina stopped a few steps away, eyes narrowed like a hawk sighting prey.
"Well, well," she said slowly. "Isn't this interesting."
"Reina, I can explain—" Yuta started.
"Explain what?" she cut in, voice low and deadly. "That I told you to go to school, and instead you're out here skipping with some girl?"
Hina jolted upright. "W-wait, it's not like that—!"
Reina's gaze snapped to her. "And you. What's your excuse?"
Hina shrank back, sweat forming at her temples. "I—I was just—"
"Following him?" Reina finished for her.
Hina's silence was answer enough.
Reina's sigh was long and heavy. "Unbelievable. Both of you. Do you have any idea what kind of example this sets for Aoi?"
Aoi, oblivious, just giggled and hugged Yuta tighter. "Uncle's the best!"
Reina's glare could have leveled a mountain. Yuta nearly choked.
"Y-yeah, um. Sorry?" he offered weakly.
"Sorry isn't enough." Reina's voice was sharp as steel. "From now on, you're grounded."
"Grounded? I'm seventeen—"
"And you," she turned to Hina, who visibly flinched, "stay away from him during school hours. I don't care how smart he is. He's a terrible influence."
Hina wanted to argue, but one look at Reina's burning eyes silenced her.
Yuta slumped on the bench, muttering under his breath. "Feels like I just got sentenced to death…"
Reina grabbed Aoi's hand and started walking. "Come on. Dinner won't cook itself."
Aoi turned back, waving cheerfully. "Bye, Hina! Bye, Uncle!"
Yuta waved weakly, already imagining the lecture waiting at home.
Beside him, Hina groaned into her hands. "…Why do I always get dragged into your messes?"
Yuta smirked despite himself. "Guess you just can't resist following me."
Her fist narrowly missed his shoulder.
---
And thus ended another day in the life of Yuta—the genius.
And the chaos was only just beginning.
---