«Please welcome Hakuto Tendo, of the Kurotsuki family. Starting today, he'll be your new classmate.»
Hakuto stands stiffly at the front of the classroom, trying not to squirm under the weight of dozens of icy stares. It feels like everyone's thinking the same thing: Who's this guy? Some random that the prestigious Narkhalis family picked up off the street?
That's his intro to Class 2-B of Tsugumi High School.
The math teacher, Misaki Yuunami—a striking woman in her forties with an athletic figure, hazel eyes, and her hair pulled into a sleek bun—gestures for him to sit.
To his surprise, Hakuto discovered only this morning that Rika is in the same class.
Yuzu attends Class 1-A.
«Alright then. Let's resume the lesson. Who can solve this logarithmic equation?»
Behind her, the blackboard is filled with numbers and symbols that might as well be alien runes to Hakuto. Not the school's fault. More like the result of his old one—a delinquent factory on the edge of Tokyo.
After Shin lost his real job, that was all they could afford.
A moment later, Rika—seated at the first desk in front of the teacher—springs to her feet.
The girls' uniform at Tsugumi is elegant: crisp white shirt under a black, sleeveless jacket with silver trim, black tights ending mid-thigh, and a skirt that stops just above. The boys wear sleek black suits with silver accents in the same style.
«Excellent work, Miss Kurotsuki. Brilliant as always.» The teacher praises her and the rest of the class applauds, calm and composed, as Rika solves the complex equation like it's nothing.
«Your stepsister truly has rare and unique intelligence. It's no coincidence she's the student council president, and also the most admired student in the entire institute. Living with a genius must be cool, right?»
The voice comes from the seat next to Hakuto. He turns—and sees a guy with bright carrot-orange hair grinning at him.
«Yeah… I guess it's cool…»
Hakuto is completely caught off guard. He and Rika hadn't even exchanged a single word the day before—let alone talked about their lives.
Then again, Yuzu had warned him about her older sister's reserved, introverted nature.
«Anyway, I'm Itsu Chihane. Nice to meet ya.»
«Mr. Chihane! Mr. Tendo's been here for two minutes and you're already corrupting him?! One slacker in this class is more than enough!»
«I'm sorry, Professor Yuunami! I'll be quiet as a mouse! Promise!»
Itsu jumps to his feet and bows dramatically. The class sends him a wave of glares.
Especially Rika.
~Yep—definitely not the most popular guy here.~
—DRIIN!
The moment the bell rings, the entire class spills into the wide corridors like a broken dam.
As always, poor Rika doesn't even get a chance to enjoy her snack in peace. Students from all over the school—even upperclassmen—swarm around her like bees to honey. Everyone wants something. Help with studying. Advice. Or just a chance to talk to the famous student council president.
Hakuto and Itsu—official outcasts of Class 2-B—watch the scene unfold from a distance, casually leaning against a wall.
«Your sister's a total VIP. No denying it. There's not a single soul at Tsugumi who doesn't admire her. I mean… she's got this weird charm, right? Like she gives off some kind of magical vibe that makes people obsessed. It's like she's a cat in heat or something!»
«Watch it. That's my sister you're talking about.»
«Whoa, calm down! You already sound like one of those super-protective big bro, huh, Hakotto?» Itsu laughs.
«It's Hakuto…»
«Anyway, I'm just saying—look at the way people act around her. You know how female cats in heat give off pheromones that can be sensed from miles away? That's Rika. She doesn't even try—people just gravitate toward her.»
«What kind of messed-up comparison is that…?»
Despite his cold reply, Hakuto can't shake off the words. The truth is, even he feels that strange pull toward Rika—something he really shouldn't feel for a stepsister. Especially one who barely talks to him.
The crowd around Rika suddenly stirs.
«Trouble incoming…» Itsu mutters.
A tall, hulking guy steps into the clearing in front of Rika. He towers over everyone, muscles straining against his uniform.
That look—half menace, half contempt—sets off every alarm in Hakuto's brain.
«What do you want from me, Enjou Kanzuro?!» Rika says. Her voice is firm. Unshaken. She stares him down without a trace of fear.
«Enjou Kanzuro…?» Hakuto echoes, confused.
«Third-year. Heir to Kanzuro Industries—the biggest pharma company in Japan. Or it was, until your stepmom's Seiryu Biotech crushed it. Now his family's been dethroned,» Itsu whispers.
He sounds uneasy. «Seriously, you live with one of Japan's richest women and didn't know this?»
Hakuto clenches his fists. «So… he's not here to offer her a soda from the vending machine, huh?»
«Not exactly.»
Enjou speaks. «Have you thought about what I said last time, Rika Kurotsuki?»
«There's nothing to think about. I already gave you my answer—and it hasn't changed. I'm not marrying you.»
~That guy actually proposed to Rika...? Isn't it a little early to be thinking about that kind of stuff? Then again, based on what Itsu told me, it's obvious there are economic motives behind it—like some pharma dynasty alliance…~
H-How dare you reject me?! I've got a line of sluts dying to get into the Kanzuro family—you think you're better than them?!»
Rika shrugs. «Even more reason for you to leave me alone. You've got options—go bother someone else.»
Enjou lunges, reaching for her shoulder, but Rika meets him mid-run with a flying kick to the stomach. The impact makes him spit blood.
And in that single airborne moment—just as her kick lands—Hakuto catches something.
A red glint flashes in her eyes.
Still, he catches a flicker of surprise in Itsu's face.
Was it because of Rika's insane martial arts? Or the quick flash of red?
Neither of them says anything.
~She's also a martial arts expert? Is there anything Rika can't do? Anyway, she's handling it… but fighting in the hallway won't help her record…~
Driven mad by rejection and humiliation, Enjou charges again—this time aiming a punch straight at Rika's face.
But before she can even react, Hakuto steps in.
In one smooth motion, he grabs Enjou's wrist. Using his momentum, he flips him over and slams him to the ground. Then pins him down with a knee to the back.
♡♡♡
After school, Hakuto, Rika, and Yuzu come home to find a note on the big glass table in the living room:
[We've left for our honeymoon and we'll be away for a few days.Be good and don't slack off with your studies.If you need anything, don't hesitate to call.Smack! 💋]
They all stare at the note in silence.
«Guess the honeymoon is on Mom's credit card…» Rika mutters, clearly annoyed.
Yuzu, on the other hand, starts bouncing around the room. «We've got the whole house to ourselves for days?! This is gonna be the best week of my life!»
Then she eyes Hakuto. «So… how good are you at cooking?»
«Why would that matter?» Hakuto asks.
«Seriously?! You don't expect me and Rika to do all the cooking, do you?!»
«Last I checked, I'm the guy and you two are the girls. Obviously, housework's your job.»
«For once, I agree with Yuzu!» Rika snaps. «There's no way we're your maids these days. We're splitting chores. And since you're not touching my underwear or stepping into my room—the kitchen's all yours.»
Her tone is cold. Final. Dead serious.
Hakuto slumps. «But I… I only know how to make instant yakisoba…»
Rika shakes her head in disappointment. «I'd never marry a guy who can't cook. Even if he were the last man on Earth.»
«Big sis, are you saying the way to your frozen heart is with a hot bowl of ramen?» Yuzu smirks and elbows Hakuto. «You heard her! Time to learn, if you ever wanna get into Rika's panties!»
«I-I NEVER SAID THAT!!!» Rika explodes, red as a tomato. «It was a general comment!!»
Yuzu's already off in her own world. «Come on, Hakuto! I'll teach you how to make restaurant-level ramen! Leave it to your adorable little sister! Wait here—I've got the perfect outfit!»
She bolts down the hall, full speed.
Rika sighs. «I've got studying to do. Call me when dinner's ready.»