"You're the private tutor Itsuki wanted to find?" Nakano Nino's eyes widened slightly. "The one with the really good grades?"
Hayakawa silently nodded, then said, "I'll lead you out."
"O-okay." Nino stood up straight upon hearing this and said softly, "I am Nakano Nino, the second eldest sister of the Nakano family."
Hayakawa nodded calmly. "Mhm, nice to meet you, Nino-kun."
Nino didn't mind Hayakawa using her given name. Since there were five Nakano sisters, using the family name would be too confusing, so the quintuplets were long accustomed to being called by their first names.
Nakano Nino followed silently beside Hayakawa, traversing the gloomy forest and the dense bushes underfoot. The numb feeling in her legs still lingered, causing her to walk with a slight limp.
Hayakawa Haku… classmate, right.
Nino secretly glanced at Hayakawa's face. The young man had neat hair, a delicate face, clear eyes, and a fresh, natural aura emanating from within. The moonlight fell like water upon his handsome face, casting deep shadows that gave him a dark, elven quality.
He's so handsome…
Itsuki actually knows such a handsome classmate?
Nino's face felt slightly warm. For the first time, she thought hiring a private tutor might not be a bad idea.
In the dangerous darkness, the handsome young man traversed the deep, eerie forest and rescued me, the one who was separated.
"Don't be afraid, I'll lead you out of here."
So romantic~
Nakano Nino covered her flushed face, her mind filling with all sorts of fantasies.
Good looking, decent height.
Itsuki said he's the top of the grade academically, I think.
And his physique looks well-proportioned and healthy, not like one of those weak boys with no stamina~
Itsuki truly made a great friend.
Nakano Nino smiled with satisfaction, her gaze constantly drifting toward Hayakawa.
If his hair were dyed yellow and his personality a little more rebellious, that would be even better~
"Hayakawa-kun," Nakano Nino suppressed her inner excitement and said to Hayakawa, "Didn't Itsuki invite you to be a private tutor for the five of us? Why did you refuse?"
"Eh?" Hayakawa was surprised. "Didn't Itsuki tell you?"
"I did ask, but Itsuki was too embarrassed to say, so I was a little curious. Since I ran into Hayakawa-kun, I thought I'd just ask you directly." Nino smiled, harboring ulterior motives.
Before, if a random boy were to get involved with the five sisters, she would have been the first to object and would have chased him away one hundred percent. But now things were different.
If Hayakawa Haku became their private tutor, they would study together every day. Wouldn't falling in love be easy for Miss Nino under such circumstances?
However…
One point was crucial.
She wasn't sure if Hayakawa Haku had a girlfriend.
Nakano Nino maintained her smile, her internal guard high.
She absolutely had to find out if he had a girlfriend. If he did, wouldn't all her plans come to an end?
But she couldn't ask directly. Asking a private question like, "Do you have a girlfriend?" immediately would be too much; she would seem frivolous.
So, she had to probe subtly. For example, his reason for refusing the tutoring might be that he has a girlfriend who wouldn't want him teaching at a girl's house. That seemed highly plausible.
After all, if she had a boyfriend, she would absolutely not let him be a private tutor for other girls. The risk factor is too high!
I must figure this out.
Nakano Nino looked up at Hayakawa, awaiting his answer.
"The reason for refusing is mainly that I don't have the time," Hayakawa said calmly. "I am already teaching two people, so I don't have time to teach all five of you. Considering that, I declined."
OK. Not refused because of a girlfriend. The possibility of him being single has increased.
"I see, that's how it is." Nakano Nino's eyes lit up. She quickly steered clear of that topic, glancing at the surrounding bushes and feigning fear. "It's a bit cold. The school really picked a good spot for a Test of Courage. If Itsuki hadn't been with me, I would have been scared to death."
You were with Itsuki, and you were still scared stiff, weren't you? Hayakawa thought silently.
"Hayakawa-kun, a boy, is so impressive," Nakano Nino said with a smile. "He dared to enter this forest alone and isn't scared at all~"
Nino's Plan!
"No," Hayakawa shook his head. "I came with other people."
"Eh…" Nino's heart suddenly sank, and her smile became strained. "Could I ask who you came with? Classmates?"
"The two students I mentioned earlier." Hayakawa said calmly, his eyes fixed on the path ahead.
Nakano Nino sighed in relief.
It's fine as long as they aren't girlfriends. In that case, the probability of him being single is even higher, perhaps even confirmed. After all, for an event like a Test of Courage, a person with a normal girlfriend would definitely bring her along. Someone who didn't bring a girlfriend can generally be confirmed as single.
As for the possibility of those two students being his girlfriends, Nino considered it but internally dismissed it. After all, it was a student-teacher relationship. A private tutor is also a teacher. Dating a student is completely unacceptable.
But it's fine if it's me~ Even if Hayakawa becomes my private tutor later, it doesn't matter, since my feelings are already established. The forbidden territory of a student-teacher romance is quite romantic, after all.
"Hehe~" Nakano Nino let out a cheerful hum.
Today really is a good day. I came out to play in the wilderness with my sisters and classmates. Although I encountered danger and was a little scared, I met the person I like. This is great.
"We're here." Hayakawa said suddenly.
"Huh?" Nino was slightly startled. Before she could turn her head, she heard quick footsteps, and then she was tightly embraced.
"Nino!" Itsuki hugged Nino tightly by the shoulders, tears streaming down her face. Her pale face was full of worry and relief. "I'm sorry! I'm truly sorry for leaving you and running away!"
"Itsuki…" The small resentment Nino had harbored instantly vanished without a trace. She patted Itsuki's head. "It's okay, I'm fine, right? Stop hugging me and crying like a child. There are people watching."
"Ah…" Itsuki immediately realized her lack of composure. She quickly let go of Nino, clumsily wiping her red eyes, then bowed deeply to Hayakawa next to them. She said, "Thank you, Hayakawa-kun. Thank you so much for finding Nino. I really don't know what I would have done otherwise."
"There's no need for that," Hayakawa Haku said. "I didn't do much."
Itsuki straightened up, looking at Hayakawa with teary, moved eyes. "Even so, thank you."