A high-rise apartment in Tokyo's Minato Ward.
On the thirtieth floor, the atmosphere was tense and barely under control.
Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling French windows, casting a warm glow on the boy's face. His features were exquisitely handsome—so flawless that one look was enough to leave a lasting impression. His skin was pale and unblemished, like porcelain. He held a pen in one hand, a meticulously written teaching plan in the other.
He looked like perfection itself—anyone seeing him for the first time would think so.
At that moment, this beautiful boy stood silently, eyes cast downward.
Below, scattered books and notebooks lay strewn across the floor. If he hadn't grabbed the test papers in time, things might have turned out even worse.
"Sakurai-kun, Nino didn't mean it,"Nakano Yotsuba spoke up hesitantly, trying to smooth things over on her sister's behalf.
"I… I don't know how to explain," she stammered.Nino had stormed off, tossing her schoolbag aside and locking herself in her room. Even Yotsuba had no idea how to handle the situation.
Sakurai Saki said nothing. Wordlessly, he pulled out his phone and opened LINE. He sent a message to Shirogane Miyuki, informing him of his decision to withdraw from the tutoring job.
"It's just textbooks. No big deal,"he said to Yotsuba with a light shrug.
His voice was calm, distant.
"I mean, I'm the kind of scumbag who supposedly has five girlfriends a week. Of course she'd be wary. Honestly, Yotsuba, you should probably stay away from me too."
With that, he walked back to the sofa, picked up the test papers, and added,
"It's getting late. I won't trouble you anymore."
A bunch of self-centered girls. Seriously, how annoying.
Tch. I must be crazy to have agreed to tutor them.
Having gathered his things, Sakurai stood.
"You're just going to leave like that?"
The voice came from Nakano Itsuki, who had been quietly watching the entire scene unfold. The noise had made it impossible to focus on her studies.
"Sorry. I'm done. I don't have the energy to babysit a bunch of spoiled brats,"Sakurai said, a faint smile curling his lips.
"I'll officially quit tomorrow. I thought I could handle this, but clearly, I was being naïve."
"School just started. I'm sure your father can find a more competent and patient tutor—not someone like me."
He had made detailed plans, even created custom test papers. Was it really okay to give up so easily?
Itsuki wondered that but said nothing. He had made his choice, and she had no right to stop him.
"Saki-kun… you promised to play games with me last week,"Miku mumbled with a pout.
"Sorry,"was all Sakurai said before turning and walking to the door.
He closed it behind him with a heavy slam, his retreating figure quickly swallowed by silence.
Outside, he retrieved his schoolbag from the courtyard and picked up the scattered books, brushing off the dust. Then, Sakurai Saki rode his bicycle home.
On the way, he passed a convenience store he often visited and went inside to grab a few things.
He rarely cooked dinner during the week. While his cooking skills weren't bad, time was a luxury he couldn't always afford. Only on weekends would he bother buying ingredients and preparing a proper meal.
He bought some snacks and a few cans of coffee, then paid at the register.
Back at his apartment, he used the facial recognition scanner to enter the building.
The studio he rented was compact—about 50 square meters, with a living area, bedroom, and small dining space. Just enough for one person. It never felt cramped, though he figured if he got a girlfriend in the future, he might consider moving.
But for now, this was enough. Sakurai Saki was a realist. He didn't chase after more than he needed.
He changed shoes in the entryway and glanced around. Everything was exactly as he had left it that morning.
He had once considered getting a dog—though truthfully, he preferred cats. In the end, he gave up the idea. Pets were expensive and required effort. At school, teasing Fujiwara Chika—who was as adorable and energetic as a puppy—was enough to satisfy that small craving for companionship. He didn't feel deprived.
"Tch… An hour making those test papers. What a waste."
He tossed his schoolbag on the chair, hung his uniform on the standing rack, and pulled out the stack of papers—then dropped them into the trash.
For someone who usually limited himself to two hours of study a day, spending a full hour crafting personalized test materials was no small feat. And the five-person study plan? That had taken several days of careful thought.
All of it—completely wasted.
Even circus clowns weren't this pathetic.
He had approached them with a composed attitude, offered help sincerely. But in return?
One called him a pervert on sight.One dismissed him entirely, loyal only to her sister's assumptions.One cared only for obscure history trivia.One was a cheerful airhead.And the last barely spoke a word to him.
They hadn't given him a chance.
If they didn't want to learn, then he wouldn't force them.
Chasing after them with a thick skin would only debase himself, wouldn't it?
If he had a younger sister at home or parents in poor health, maybe Sakurai Saki would have swallowed his pride and humbly stuck with the job, wagging his tail and begging.
"Please, if I don't keep this job, I'll starve to death!"
What a joke.
His phone chimed.
"Beep-boop~!"
Sakurai glanced at the screen. A reply from Shirogane Miyuki.
Earlier, he had messaged Miyuki about quitting and ended it with a question, asking for his thoughts.
Shirogane Miyuki:Sakurai, if you want to resign, go ahead. I have no right to interfere. You don't owe me an explanation.
That said, what I'm about to say is more of a personal request than advice—so feel free to ignore it.
If possible, I hope you'll try once more to help them. The five sisters aren't bad people. I've looked into their junior high records—while they're not top-tier, they did make it into Shuchiin Academy. They're not hopeless.
It's the ones on the edge, the ones halfway into the abyss, who need someone to pull them back. And you, of all people, should understand that.
I believe in you. Give them another chance.
Sakurai stared at the message, brow furrowed.
Of course he'd say something like that, he thought. He's always been a painfully earnest goodie-two-shoes… almost stupidly so.
Sighing, Sakurai began typing.
Sakurai Saki:What if I don't want to? Honestly, this has little to do with you. I'll inform the principal myself.
His phone buzzed almost instantly.
Shirogane Miyuki:If you really don't want to, then I'll take full responsibility. I was the one who dragged you into this, after all.
"Wait… You're saying you'll do it?"Sakurai scratched his head, face darkening.
Shirogane was already studying ten hours a day. Now he was going to tutor those five nightmares on top of that?
He's going to die.
Sakurai glanced at the test papers he had thrown in the trash.
"Maybe… I should just give up," he muttered.
But his fingers moved on their own, tapping into the LINE chat window again.
Sakurai Saki:You really are a saint. A walking charity organization.
"Beep-boop~"
Shirogane Miyuki:Thanks for the compliment!
I wasn't complimenting you, Sakurai thought dryly, tossing his phone aside.
He lay back on the sofa and closed his eyes.
Memories surfaced—himself, just one year ago.
Back then, he was utterly listless.No interests. No goals.Invisible in class, no club activities.No desire to make money.Just drifting through life like a soulless zombie.
Until a persistent, annoying boy kept talking to him.
Day after day. Week after week.
Even after being ignored a hundred times, he didn't stop.
That boy was Shirogane Miyuki.
"Since you said so… I'll try again."
Sakurai opened his eyes.
After all—A superpower user doesn't give up so easily.
But the question was—where to start?
Itsuki? She had stayed quiet during the chaos and kept reading. She seemed serious and didn't immediately reject him.
Miku? She knew him, but their relationship was lukewarm at best.
Yotsuba? The classic "too nice to say no" type. Friendly to everyone. She might help, but could she be relied on?
"This… might be harder than I thought."
...p@treon Rene_ chan