Just as Hanayama was about to pay for his books, a calm voice stopped him from behind.
“…Wait.”
He turned around.
Standing there was Suzune Horikita, her expression unusually conflicted.
She looked as though she wanted to ignore him…
Yet couldn’t quite bring herself to do so.
“I acknowledge that you accurately assessed your own academic level.”
“But…”
“The way you chose your study materials was terrible.”
Hanayama looked down at her with his usual expressionless face.
“What do you mean?”
Without answering immediately, Horikita walked straight toward him.
Standing only about 156 centimeters tall, she had to tilt her head back to meet the gaze of the giant towering over her.
Completely unfazed by the difference in size, she reached out and took the elementary English workbook from Hanayama’s hand.
Flipping through several pages, she stopped at one and held it open in front of him.
A large cartoon dog occupied nearly half the page.
Beneath it was a single sentence.
This is a dog.
Horikita looked at him.
“Are you seriously planning to waste your points and time on books like this?”
“Even if your academic foundation is weak, your brain hasn’t regressed to that of an elementary school student.”
Hanayama looked at the page.
Then nodded.
“…That makes sense.”
He accepted her reasoning without the slightest hesitation.
Whenever someone possessed greater knowledge in a particular field, listening to their advice was simply common sense.
“Come with me.”
“I’ll show you something more appropriate.”
Horikita turned and walked deeper into the reference section.
Hanayama quietly followed behind her.
Stopping in front of another bookshelf, Horikita confidently selected several books.
“If you’re going to start over, choose these.”
She handed them to him.
Complete Junior High School Review
Three-Day Junior High English Review
“They skip the childish illustrations.”
“They focus only on the essential material.”
“You’ll rebuild your foundation much faster with these.”
Compared to the colorful workbooks from earlier, these books looked plain and practical.
Designed for students who needed an efficient review rather than encouragement.
“…You’re right.”
“Thank you.”
Hanayama accepted them with a respectful nod.
He carefully returned the elementary workbook to the shelf before taking the new books to the cashier.
A few minutes later, he returned carrying a shopping bag.
Horikita gave a small nod.
“Then I’ll be going.”
“…Wait.”
Hanayama’s deep voice stopped her.
Horikita sighed.
“What is it?”
“I’ve already spent enough time helping you.”
Hanayama answered without hesitation.
“You shared your knowledge with me.”
“I should thank you.”
“I’ll treat you to dessert.”
Horikita immediately shook her head.
“I refuse.”
“And I have no interest in socializing for the sake of appearances.”
Most students would have accepted her refusal.
Hanayama didn’t.
“Your reasons aren’t important.”
“I’m simply following my own principles.”
Horikita pinched the bridge of her nose.
(…He’s impossible.)
She quickly realized continuing to argue would only waste more time.
“…Fine.”
“But not for long.”
The two left the bookstore together.
A few minutes later, they entered one of Keyaki Mall’s cafés.
Café & Sweets Palette
The café was filled with students enjoying their free afternoon.
Girls chatted over cake.
Couples shared parfaits.
Laughter echoed throughout the room.
Then…
Hanayama stepped inside.
Thud.
Thud.
The lively atmosphere instantly quieted.
Countless eyes turned toward the enormous scarred young man.
Hanayama seemed completely oblivious.
He calmly chose a four-person booth near the back.
Horikita sat across from him with perfect posture.
A waitress soon arrived.
Horikita barely glanced at the menu.
“One black coffee.”
300 points.
Simple.
Practical.
Nothing unnecessary.
Hanayama, meanwhile, studied the dessert menu for a few seconds before pointing at one photograph.
“I’ll have the Extra-Large Crown Melon Sorbet Parfait.”
2,400 points.
Nearly three times the size—and price—of an ordinary parfait.
The waitress froze for a second before writing down the order.
A few minutes later, the contrast between the two became almost surreal.
On one side…
Horikita quietly sipped a small cup of black coffee.
Elegant.
Composed.
Dignified.
Across from her…
Hanayama was happily eating a towering mountain of bright green melon sorbet and ice cream.
The oversized parfait glass looked almost comically small in his enormous hands.
“…You actually like sweets?”
Horikita asked, unable to hide her surprise.
“I don’t dislike them.”
Hanayama calmly scooped another enormous spoonful into his mouth.
After a brief silence, Horikita set down her coffee.
“May I ask you something?”
“What is it?”
“This afternoon…”
“You correctly concluded that the school’s evaluation system is probably tied to academic performance.”
“You also admitted your grades are poor.”
“If that’s true…”
“Then you’re the student most likely to lose your monthly points.”
She looked directly into his eyes.
“The others are wasting points because they’re convinced they’ll receive another hundred thousand next month.”
“But you’re different.”
“You already suspect that’s not guaranteed.”
“So why buy such an expensive dessert?”
Hanayama quietly set down his spoon.
For just a moment…
The atmosphere changed.
The pressure surrounding him became noticeably heavier.
It wasn’t the pressure of a delinquent.
It was the presence of someone accustomed to leading an organization.
Even Horikita instinctively felt it.
Still…
She refused to look away.
After several silent seconds, Hanayama finally spoke.
“Horikita.”
“…Yes?”
“Money exists to be spent.”
His voice was steady.
“If you’re so afraid of tomorrow that you refuse to enjoy today…”
“Then you’re already living like a defeated man.”
He leaned back in his chair.
“Skipping something you genuinely want because you’re afraid you might be hungry next month…”
“That isn’t how I live.”
“If I run out of money…”
“I’ll find a solution.”
“If my grades are poor…”
“I’ll study.”
“I know where my weaknesses are.”
“So I’ll deal with them.”
“There isn’t any reason to change the way I live because of fear.”
There wasn’t the slightest hesitation in his words.
A strong person wasn’t someone without weaknesses.
A strong person was someone who acknowledged those weaknesses without allowing them to dictate his life.
Horikita quietly watched him.
“…You’re a very difficult person to understand.”
There was a trace of helplessness in her voice.
And…
Though she would never admit it aloud…
A little more respect than before.
“…Maybe.”
Hanayama smiled faintly as he finished the last spoonful of melon sorbet.
Then he looked at her.
“You wanted to keep me from finishing at the bottom academically.”
“If I improve…”
“Perhaps I’ll avoid the worst outcome.”
Horikita immediately turned her head away.
“Don’t misunderstand.”
“I only said I’d help if I happened to have time.”
“I never agreed to become your personal tutor.”
Her long black hair swayed gently as she spoke.
Even so…
She had begun to realize something.
Kaoru Hanayama wasn’t simply an intimidating delinquent.
Beneath his frightening appearance was a man with unwavering principles, clear self-awareness, and surprising humility.
Talking to him…
Was far more meaningful than she had expected.
At 2:30 p.m., the empty coffee cup and the spotless parfait glass remained on the table.
The two quietly stood.
Bathed in the gentle spring sunlight streaming through the café windows, they left together before naturally parting ways outside Keyaki Mall.