Hakuto, Enjou, and Rika are immediately called to the principal's office… and that's when Hakuto finds out that the principal is none other than his math teacher, Misaki Yuunami. Definitely not a stroke of luck.
After the necessary explanations were given, Enjou gets away with just a simple scolding. After all, the Kanzuro family isn't just one of the richest in all of Japan—they're also the main sponsors of Tsugumi Institute. Miss Misaki Yuunami has orders from her superiors to be especially lenient with Enjou—or so the principal herself explains to Hakuto and Rika after the Kanzuro heir leaves the office.
Even Rika and Hakuto come out of it almost unscathed—their only punishment is staying after class to clean the hallway where the scuffle happened. It's a nearly symbolic punishment, considering that, according to the school's rules, the consequences for fighting are usually much more severe. But Principal Yuunami didn't feel like enforcing harsher measures, since they had only defended themselves against a boy with a well-known reputation as a troublemaker.
«Be careful. Try to stay away from boys like that as much as possible. They only bring trouble. Now, go back to class.»
That was the principal's warning before letting them go too. Hakuto wouldn't swear to it, but he had the odd feeling that Miss Misaki Yuunami gave him a strange look just before he stepped out the door… a look he'd describe as melancholic, or maybe even nostalgic.
~I must have some serious issue with people's eyes...~
♡♡♡
«Besides being good at sports, you're also skilled in martial arts. That's definitely unusual for someone coming from a low-tier school in the shady suburbs of Tokyo,» Rika remarks without dropping her usual cold tone, while sweeping the floor with a broom and dustpan.
«You don't need to be born rich to be good at sports,» Hakuto replies, doing the same.
It's getting late, and the thought of Yuzu being home alone bothers them both—though for different reasons. Hakuto worries that some ill-intentioned person might break in while she's alone, while Rika simply fears she might cause some disaster.
«By the way…» Hakuto's voice turns serious. «There's something I'd like to talk to you about. It concerns Yuzu.»
«What is it...?»
«I have reason to believe she has a serious drinking problem...»
Rika shoots him a baffled look. «Yuzu, an alcoholic...? Are you stupid?»
Hakuto looks just as confused.
~How can a genius like Rika not notice something so obvious? I've only been living with them for a few days and I spotted it right away—a wine bottle that empties that fast definitely doesn't go unnoticed!~
When Hakuto tells her the reason behind his suspicion, Rika's gaze freezes for a second—then she bursts into a laugh that, to Hakuto, sounds almost forced.
«Oh, right… that's the bottle she uses to store cherry juice—she's obsessed with it! According to her, juice has to be kept in glass to preserve its freshness and flavor, and she can't stand drinking it from plastic bottles or cartons. That's why she took one of the bottles we used for the aperitif in the jacuzzi and poured the juice into it. From the color, it might look like red wine, but if that were the case, Yuzu would reek of alcohol, don't you think?»
«I guess so...»
Even if the explanation doesn't completely convince Hakuto, it's true that Yuzu doesn't give off the typical pungent smell of wine. Case closed? Maybe.
When Rika leans slightly forward to pick up a piece of paper from the floor, her uniform skirt lifts a bit—but without showing anything too risqué. Just the upper part of her thighs and a small portion of her butt, which is so big it inevitably sticks out with even the slightest movement. That little glimpse of skin is more than enough to catch Hakuto's eye again, prompting a quick sideways glance.
«Hakuto…» Rika whispers.
«W-What is it…?»
Hakuto stiffens up, quickly turning his eyes away from Rika's backside.
~How did she notice…?~
Rika turns toward him.
Hakuto starts sweating cold—he was expecting anger or irritation—but instead, there's a shy, faint smile on her face, one clearly filled with gratitude.
«Thanks for stepping in to defend me. It's nice to know I can count on my brother.»
«N-No problem, Rika...» Hakuto replies, his cheeks suddenly burning red, charmed by that sweet and unexpected smile of hers.
«And anyway, you still haven't apologized for the other night...» Rika mutters.
~The other night...? Oh, right...~
«I knocked—it was you who didn't close the door properly...!»
«Don't talk nonsense! I'm sure I closed it tight! Do you take me for an idiot?!»
«I swear on my life the door was just ajar!» Hakuto insists.
«Mmh...» Rika takes on a thoughtful expression. «You say it was ajar, but I'm sure I shut it properly...»
Rika and Hakuto exchange a resigned glance.
«...Yuzu!»