Drip, drip.

Huff... huff...

Wiping the sweat rolling down his forehead with the towel draped around his neck, Harutaki picked up his pace, running toward the front door about fifty meters ahead.

Even though he’d gone to bed later than usual last night, his long-standing routine showed no mercy, dragging him out of bed right on time.

In fact, he’d woken up a full fifteen minutes before his alarm.

He’d tried to fall back asleep, but every time he closed his eyes, those hazy, dreamlike images from the dark came drifting back. The more he tried not to think about them, the more awake he became, until finally, he had no choice but to get up and splash his face with cold water just to clear his head.

"I’m back."

Calling out to Fuyuno, who was sprawled lazily on the sofa mid-yawn, Harutaki dashed straight for the bathroom, his whole body drenched in sweat. He had to freshen up before Ayaka finished toasting the bread and frying the eggs.

On a normal day, he would’ve stopped to ruffle Fuyuno’s hair on the way, like patting a cat that waited faithfully for him by the door or in the living room when he came home.

But after last night... he honestly didn’t know how he was supposed to face Fuyuno or Chiaki now.

If it had been a girlfriend, he might’ve been able to joke about it, ask how it tasted, maybe suggest she try eating more strawberries or oranges next time, see if that helped with the flavor...

But neither Fuyuno nor Chiaki fell under the category of girlfriend. In fact, if someone who didn’t know them saw him with Fuyuno alone, they’d probably call the cops on the spot.

And with how quiet and reserved Chiaki normally was, he still couldn’t wrap his head around how she, of all people, had ended up doing that kind of thing last night, and together with Fuyuno, no less.

A grim thought crossed his mind.

...Was Ayaka the only sane person left in this house?

Gurgle, gurgle.

How did the topic go from how to deal with his two sisters to Tears Behind Bars? That’s way too pessimistic.

He slapped his cheeks lightly, dragging himself out of his daze, and forced his focus onto the breakfast in front of him, nothing fancy, but nutritious and actually pretty tasty.

Gurgle, gurgle.

"Fuyuno! Drink your milk properly, not like you’re gargling it!"

Ayaka’s scolding drew Harutaki’s gaze just in time to see Fuyuno flashing him a mischievous grin, her mouth puffed full of milk. For a second, he genuinely worried the white liquid would spill out any moment.

Gulp.

"Haah... ehehe, I was just remembering what bath time felt like when I was little!"

With a playful lick of her milk-dampened lips, the petite girl tugged the corners of her mouth wide open with both index fingers to show her mouth was now empty.

"Back then, I always hated washing my hair. The moment the shower turned on, that hot water would pour right down on my head, made my heart race like crazy! Even though I could still breathe fine, it always felt like I was drowning or something..."

"What are you babbling about this early in the morning?"

Ayaka sighed, giving her youngest sister a withering look, already bracing herself to shut down whatever prank was coming next.

But she completely missed the sight of Harutaki on the other side of the table, stiff and awkward, looking like someone had just hit him square in the gut with a cruel joke.

Then, glancing toward Chiaki, who was sipping milk from her cup by lapping at it with her tongue like a cat, Ayaka pressed a hand to her forehead.

"Chiaki, if you drink like that, you’ll still be sitting here when it’s time for lunch!"

Honestly... one after another, these sisters were nothing but trouble.

Even after getting used to their occasional bouts of weirdness, Ayaka couldn’t help sighing internally.

But something about Harutaki was... off.

In the past month she’d known him, he would’ve been teasing them right now, cracking some stupid joke.

Her eyes drifted between her brother and her sisters. A strange sense of wrongness pricked at her, though she couldn’t quite say why.

...Was it because of last night, when she went to see him?

The thought made Ayaka’s cheeks heat up. If anything, he seemed the serious one this morning, while she was the one acting indecent.

No... no, that’s not right! This is his fault!

If he hadn’t reacted like that, she never would’ve even thought about that kind of thing!

"Harutaki, you look a little out of it. You went to bed early last night, didn’t you?"

"...Huh?"

Caught off guard, Harutaki looked up. Ayaka, her face calm but her hand slicing subtly across her throat, gave him a pointed look. Understanding immediately, he gave an awkward smile and nodded.

"I... had a nightmare. Got chased by a demon or something, couldn’t sleep after that."

Yep. Not just a demon, two of them, actually. The kind that drains your energy in your sleep.

And Ayaka, you really don’t have to worry about Fuyuno or Chiaki overhearing.

Because your dear sisters were right there under the covers listening the whole time!

He glanced sympathetically at the pink-haired girl with camellia-colored hair down to her waist. Better she never learn that particular truth.

Sometimes, the truth hurt a lot more than any lie could.

…

In the end, it came down to this.

Harutaki stood on the stage of the school gymnasium, center of attention, and the reason the school had called an emergency assembly.

From the stage, he looked over the sea of students below, first-years barely a month into high school, second-years, and third-years soon to graduate.

Somewhere in that crowd... Shirasagi Senpai must be watching him too, right?

He couldn’t help but hope so. Maybe she’d give him that warm, gentle look and pat him on the head. Maybe she’d say, “You did well.”

"To conclude," the principal said, his voice booming through the mic, "the school will henceforth take a firm stance against slander or defamation between students. In severe cases, we will not hesitate to involve law enforcement. I hope each of you will focus your energy on your studies and club activities, you all have bright futures, promising lives, and talents beyond the ordinary, "

Standing beside him was a middle-aged man in a sharp, spotless suit, his polished head shining under the lights, like the polar opposite of Asama Sensei.

"You will grow into people who contribute to society and to our nation. You are students of Nichiya High! Be proud that you belong here, and make this school proud to have raised you!"

The principal turned to Harutaki, silently asking if he wanted to say a few words.

"Thank you, sir."

He bowed deeply, accepting the microphone.

"Ahem..."

He cleared his throat. Of course he was nervous, but come on, it’s just a thousand students or so.

When it came to emotions, he tended to run away because he didn’t want to hurt anyone. But this? This he could handle.

"Good morning, everyone! I’m sure most of you already know who I am by now, right?"

Spreading his arms wide, Harutaki flashed a bright smile.

"I’m the so-called ‘genius cheater’ who jumped a whole grade over the break, also known as

Nichiyai’s number-one scumbag! If any cute girls out there want to experience the bittersweet taste of love, I’m always open for applications!"

"Ugh!"

"Get off the stage, loser!"

"Die, scumbag!"

Tch.

Even though the school had officially cleared him of the cheating allegations, the "scumbag" label was definitely sticking.

Scanning the crowd, he could tell most had read the anonymous forum posts and were laughing at his self-deprecating act, though mixed in were plenty of sneers dripping with real malice.

Jealousy, disgust, mockery... how many of those laughs were actually kind?

Not that it mattered. He didn’t need the approval of people who had nothing to do with him. He wasn’t a ¥10,000 bill with Fukuzawa Yukichi’s face, no one had to like him.

And honestly, “scumbag” was a pretty mild insult these days.

Sure, it implied being flirtatious, emotionally reckless, maybe a bit of a womanizer, but it also carried connotations of being handsome, capable, and socially skilled... the kind of guy girls tended to fall for.

That was what he told himself, anyway, his future excuse for the day he might actually break a girl’s heart.

"But hey, don’t expect me to take responsibility if you fall for me. After all, "

…

We will be giving out 5 bonus chapters after reaching 25 vote on NovelBin!

Feel free to leave a vote or review!!

14/25