I Won't Be a Loser

The moment Setsuna stepped into the bathroom, Mai watched the door close. The soft glow of warm light seeped from within, and Mai found herself walking back to her own room in the quiet of the apartment.

A deep sense of confusion filled her. She wanted to march straight up to Haruto and ask him why things had progressed so quickly. They had only been officially dating for two days, yet they were already advancing to such an intimate stage.

However, confronting him directly felt inappropriate. Back in her room, she closed the door, picked up her phone, and stared at Haruto's contact info. Her thumb hovered over the screen for a long time, but she couldn't figure out how to frame her question.

She sighed helplessly, looking at the name "Miyamizu Haruto" on her phone, then set the device aside and lay down on her bed, closing her eyes.

As Setsuna's mother, she had watched her daughter grow up since she was little. How could she not understand her daughter's personality? Setsuna was clearly smitten with Haruto. Was it really her place to intervene?

In truth, it was her own inappropriate feelings toward the boy that had led her to act out in various unnecessary ways recently.

Although her actions hadn't caused her daughter any harm, continuing down this path would only result in hurting Setsuna in the future, especially when she knew there could never be a future between her and Haruto.

"For now, I should stop doing unnecessary things. Just watching over my daughter like this... isn't so bad."

If she poured all her love into Setsuna and let her and Haruto continue their relationship, perhaps that wouldn't be such a bad thing. From a mother's perspective, at least for now, Haruto seemed like someone dependable enough to entrust her daughter's happiness to.

Unaware of Mai's inner thoughts, Setsuna soaked in the warmth of the bathtub. Submerging her face into the steaming water, she felt the heat envelop her as her mind raced with plans for her upcoming "graduation" with Haruto. 

"The day after tomorrow, I will be with Haruto."

Meanwhile, Haruto sat quietly in his room. Fresh out of his own bath and dressed in his pajamas, he gazed at the calendar on his desk. Tomorrow was the day he would head to Toyosaki for the school entrance ceremony.

"It's really just a formality," he thought. "Though having to meet Eriri again is... a bit awkward. But it should be fine. She doesn't know me, after all. And besides..."

He opened a notebook on his desk, its pages filled with his personal goals. Considering his future plans, Haruto realized he needed to make up for what he'd forgotten over the years and improve his academic performance. His goal was to bring his deviation score up to at least 60.

Back in high school, he remembered his deviation score being around 53 or 55 at best. Now, if he were to attempt the same material, he doubted he'd even hit 40.

For admission into the elite S-ranked liberal arts programs at Waseda University, the Cultural Conception program required a deviation score of 69.3, while the Composite Culture program needed 65.

Even the A-ranked Rikkyo University's liberal arts programs required a deviation score of 68 for Intercultural Exchange and 60.3 for Cultural Communication.

Haruto wasn't too worried about liberal arts subjects. Writing had always been his forte, and he retained a strong grasp of literature and history. But mathematics and science, which he rarely used in daily life, had faded from his memory. To catch up, he would need to dedicate a significant amount of time and effort—probably two to three months of hard work with proper guidance.

"I'll need to make a study schedule. Even if it's just a little each day, as long as I stick to it, I should be able to hit a deviation score of 60 before graduation."

Haruto's thoughts were entirely consumed by academics and qualifications. In this country, one's education and alma mater held great importance, even in politics, where Tokyo University and Waseda University were considered breeding grounds for future politicians.

While Mai and Setsuna were both thinking about him, Haruto's mind was solely focused on how to improve his deviation score.

Surrounded by the study guides he'd purchased, Haruto carefully drafted his study plan late into the night before turning off the lights and drifting into sleep.

Early the next morning, Haruto woke up before his alarm could ring. Glancing at the time on his desk, he breathed a sigh of relief, got out of bed, and headed to the bathroom.

After a quick wash, he examined himself in the mirror, ensuring everything looked fine. Returning to the living room, he took his black school uniform—freshly cleaned and pressed—from the coat rack.

Even as he buttoned up the stiff jacket, he couldn't help but lament the uninspiring design.

"These uniforms are really plain. The girls' uniforms... well, they're not much better either."

He recalled his three years of high school. The school uniforms never left much of an impression, though some girls managed to make them look good simply by being beautiful. Eriri, for instance, was undeniably stunning, and the uniform only seemed to enhance her radiance.

But since meeting Sawamura Sayuri and becoming her boyfriend, Haruto had only ever seen her as a daughter. His gaze toward her was filled with paternal affection rather than romantic interest.

During that time, thanks to Sayuri, Haruto and Eriri had grown close, their bond more sibling-like than anything else. On holidays, Eriri would even stay at his apartment.

That was until the day he confessed his relationship with Sayuri to her.

"I'm thinking about the past again. It's all in the past now."

Rubbing his face to dispel the lingering memories, Haruto grabbed his bag, wallet, and phone, making sure he hadn't forgotten anything, before heading out toward the school.

As he stepped outside, he coincidentally ran into Setsuna and her friend, Sekai Saionji, who were also on their way to school.

"Good morning, Setsuna, Saionji."

"Just call me Sekai," Sekai replied with a smile. "So, Miyamizu-kun, today's your first day, right? Are you excited?"

Sekai had been walking to school with Setsuna as usual, but she was surprised to run into Haruto. Curious, she asked about his feelings regarding the new chapter in his life.

"Just a little," Haruto admitted.

He then turned to Setsuna, gently patting her head. Feeling the softness of her hair beneath his palm, he looked into her eyes and smiled warmly.

"Have a great day at school, okay?"

"Mm," she nodded.

"You really seem like a doting father, Miyamizu-kun," Sekai teased. Watching Haruto gently pat Setsuna's head with that affectionate smile, it didn't feel like a couple's interaction. Instead, it reminded her of a loving father comforting his daughter.

.....

Meanwhile, at the Sawamura residence, Sayuri stood by the doorway, watching Eriri put on her shoes.

"Eriri, it's your first day of school. Want me to walk you there?" she asked, her tone cheerful.

As expected, Eriri declined.

"No need. I can handle it myself—I'm not a kid anymore. By the way, there's a parent-teacher meeting tomorrow, so don't forget to attend."

"You're right," Sayuri said, smiling fondly. "My Eriri is already a capable high schooler, huh? You're even at the age for romance. If you meet a boy you like at school, remember to act fast, or someone else might snatch him away!"

Eriri sighed at her mother's playful teasing.

"I'm heading out."

"Have a good day~!" Sayuri waved her off with a bright smile.

When the door closed, however, her expression turned more serious. She placed a hand on her chest, her heart racing for reasons she couldn't understand.

"Why is my heart beating so fast lately? Could it be... No, no, no! I'm still young!"

Muttering to herself, Sayuri briefly entertained the thought that she might be entering menopause. But she quickly dismissed the idea.

"Absolutely not!"

~~~~~