It wasn't until the warning bell for the first afternoon class that Watanabe Tetsu and Seino Rin prepared to head back to the main building.
The moment they stepped out of the clubroom, Watanabe Tetsu instinctively muttered, "It's so hot."
The late-May sun seemed determined to evaporate every last drop of moisture from the ground before the upcoming rainy season.
"In this weather, if Yuki hadn't installed air conditioning in the clubroom, sitting too long on these metal stools would make anyone's butt sweat," Watanabe Tetsu said, glancing at Seino Rin, who remained silent, deliberately saying something to irritate the beautiful girl.
"I wonder if Tokyo even has anti-sweat underwear… Seino-san, you're a local, right? You'd know."
On the staircase landing, Seino Rin stopped, turned, and glared at him, a cold smile playing on her lips.
"Done. After the test, I want you to wear a skirt in the clubroom, Watanabe-san. Let's see if you actually sweat."
Three steps below, Watanabe Tetsu gave a provocative smile.
"Seino-san, I'll make you wear a ridiculously scandalous maid outfit in the clubroom."
"I admire your ambition and courage," Seino Rin said, smiling with satisfaction.
Her posture, her expression—infuriating.
Still… looking at her almost flawless figure, except for a flat chest, Watanabe Tetsu imagined her in a maid outfit, her cheeks turning pink with embarrassment.
Before he could fully indulge in that thought, Seino Rin's long, pale hand suddenly grabbed his shirt collar.
"From your gaze and expression, I feel like you've been thinking of me in an extremely lewd way."
"You're too full of yourself," Watanabe Tetsu stepped forward past her. "I was thinking about calculus formulas."
"Lies. And even thinking about math can get you that expression… as expected of you, Watanabe-san."
"Even though I know that's a lie, why say more?"
"I just wanted to tease you."
"Seino-san, you're really honest."
"Thanks, but it's just basic decency. No need to praise me."
Faced with such a Seino Rin, even Watanabe Tetsu—destined for greatness—could only surrender.
Because they had lost some time on the way, Watanabe Tetsu ended up walking into the classroom with the Japanese teacher. The teacher said nothing, even smiling kindly at him.
This was the treatment of a third-place student: besides the Human Observation Club, Watanabe Tetsu was basically the elite of the entire Kamikawa Private Academy.
In a light novel, he'd be the quintessential "popular and successful" protagonist, the undisputed class leader.
This, of course, was only his self-perception, meant to boost confidence, not to be taken seriously.
If he weren't handsome, everyone would just see him as a bookish country boy.
With the pride of someone patrolling his own territory, Watanabe Tetsu walked back to his seat, pulled out his textbook and 0.5mm mechanical pencil, and focused on the lesson.
From this day on, the freshmen's enthusiasm for studying skyrocketed.
According to what Watanabe Tetsu heard from Kunii Osamu, even as the test approached, one particularly talented baseball club member among the nine starters had given up practice to study.
Additionally, during lunch and after school, the band's practice noise had quieted, and several girls had temporarily stopped training.
After all, Watanabe Tetsu was a handsome young man most girls were more than happy to ride bicycles with to the riverbank.
In this atmosphere, the only freshmen still taking it easy were Seino Rin and Yuki Miki.
One continued reading classic literature, the other constantly criticized contemporary youth entertainment. Not a single manga, light novel, or game in the clubroom interested them.
With Watanabe Tetsu providing information about them, male students became both angry and motivated, studying even harder.
As for Watanabe Tetsu, the girls who had feelings for him but were academically weak had mostly given up, leaving only those who were already strong students.
Because he was at the top academically, even eating while reviewing English vocabulary was trivial.
Watanabe Tetsu was diligent but didn't spend excessive time on test prep. For instance, during meals, the notebook in his hand contained notes on Spanish grammar: nineteen tenses, six personal pronouns, and so on.
"Tetsu, what will you do if you get first place?" Saito Keisuke asked.
"Nothing."
"Huh?! Why?! You have the best chance to get first, such a golden opportunity!" Kunii Osamu shouted in disbelief.
"My goal is to be a 'Tokyo handsome guy.' I only do what I should, and right now, that means improving my studies."
Kunii and Saito couldn't comprehend his ambition, muttering things like, "That's Seino Rin…" and "The Yuki family's heiress… only a fool would do nothing."
Watanabe Tetsu wasn't foolish; he had simply developed the habit of quietly working until success, without broadcasting it.
By Friday, he submitted the 5,000-character reflection he didn't know what to write. Koizumi Aona no longer intervened regarding the test.
Whether the school wanted to capitalize on this morale boost for the upcoming three-school exam or simply trusted the abilities of Seino Rin, Yuki Miki, and Watanabe Tetsu, no one knew.
After school, he continued to the activity room, staying until the sunset bathed the room in golden light.
Before leaving, he asked Seino Rin, "Do you have any reference books for learning Spanish?"
Seino Rin, still reading After the Spring Equinox, thought for a moment before answering, "I'd recommend Anri Biuudesu' Spanish Grammar and Vocabulary."
"Thanks."
"You're welcome."
Learning from an enemy without worrying about pride—that's the confidence of a future destined for greatness. With this mindset, Watanabe Tetsu asked Seino Rin any question he didn't understand.
And Seino Rin, truly a woman of intellect 8, had yet to be stumped. She completely surpassed the level of "genius" or "scholar."
Watanabe Tetsu glanced at Yuki Miki, who was bored and nearly falling asleep.
This woman also had intellect 8. He couldn't underestimate her. She probably had been monitoring him and his parents through her agents. Any action against the Yuki family required absolute certainty.
"Hey, Watanabe, I'm bored," Yuki Miki said, perhaps sensing his gaze as she stretched luxuriously on the sofa.
"I can't think of anything entertaining you haven't already tried, Yuki-sama," Watanabe Tetsu said helplessly.
Yuki Miki was silent for a moment, then suddenly laughed as if she'd thought of something fun. "Tomorrow, let's go on a date. I haven't tried it yet, and it might be interesting."
"A date?!"
"Tomorrow at 10 a.m., I'll pick you up at your place."
Watanabe Tetsu's expression froze.
Yuki Miki laughed heartily. "Look at that nervous little face of yours. I didn't expect you'd actually do the morning exercises. Silly."
Watanabe Tetsu tried to change the subject. "I study on my days off. I won't have time for you."
"Aren't we a couple? Dates are necessary, right?" Yuki Miki rolled over, lying on the sofa.
Watanabe Tetsu could see her fair skin and collarbone through her shirt. But everything about this woman irritated him.
"Didn't we already break up in the gymnasium?" he said.
Thinking of Tamamo Komi, he recalled she was a "professional woman" who could be bribed—so far, the system hadn't prompted any sign-off.
"Break up? I never said that," Yuki Miki said, smiling.
"Whether or not, I have to study. You heard me—lately I'm busy learning Spanish," Watanabe Tetsu said impatiently.
Yuki Miki's expression turned cold. "You think I'm asking your opinion?"
"…Fine." Watanabe Tetsu took a deep breath, resisting the urge to kick her in the face.
"Oh, by the way," Yuki Miki said with a devilish grin, "if our date isn't fun, I'll make you fight Shizuru again. This time, on the ring, no weapons allowed. See, Watanabe? I love you so much, I even restricted Shizuru's strongest firearms for you."
"A date, huh? Fine, I'll go." Seino Rin, reading nearby, suddenly spoke.
Yuki Miki looked as if she were joking. "This is a couple's matter. You want to be a third wheel?"
"Couple?" Seino Rin gave a faint smile. "My current research topic is making Watanabe-san fall for me. For me, this is just a good chance to show jealousy."
How obsessive can you be… Watanabe Tetsu had nothing to say.
Seino Rin's romantic theories seemed endless. How many movies and books had she studied?
"Fall for you?" Yuki Miki chuckled. "Impossible. Watanabe likes me the most, right?"
Lying on the sofa, Yuki Miki gently tapped her long socks against the soft cushions, utterly girl-like.
"…If Seino Rin weren't here, I could say anything," Watanabe Tetsu thought, remaining silent.
Seino Rin chuckled. "Seems it's not as you said, Watanabe-san. You still love me more."
"I don't love either of you," Watanabe Tetsu said honestly to the two beautiful girls who could attract any man.
Seino Rin casually flicked her hair across her chest. Yuki Miki's cold gaze lingered on him.
Then, suddenly, she smiled brightly. "I'm looking forward to our date tomorrow."
"I really just want to study," Watanabe Tetsu protested.
But no one was listening.