I Won't Be a Loser

In the past, when reading stories about private tutors, Haruto never quite understood how simple academic tutoring could escalate into something much more complicated. Were those authors just overthinking things?

But after a brief tutoring session with Setsuna, he realized those scenarios weren't entirely far-fetched.

As they sat together, with Setsuna closely guiding him through his coursework, Haruto found that his mind wasn't focused on the problems on paper. Instead, he was acutely aware of the faint, lingering fragrance that drifted toward him, the occasional brush of her body against his, and even the smallest of movements—each one subtly stirring his thoughts.

Struggling to suppress those distractions, Haruto forced himself to complete his homework. But as soon as he finished, he instinctively pulled Setsuna into an embrace…

At that moment, he finally understood why private tutor stories were so popular.

Evening at the Kiyoura Residence

Later that evening, Haruto and Setsuna arrived at the Kiyoura household. Mai Kiyoura, who had spent nearly the entire day resting at home, finally got out of bed in the afternoon. When she emerged from her room, she looked more refreshed than usual, her face carrying an unusual rosy glow as she greeted Haruto.

"Are you two making dinner here tonight?"

She was slightly surprised when Setsuna informed her that she and Haruto would be preparing dinner together—not at his apartment, but here at her home.

"The kitchen here is better equipped," Setsuna replied calmly, glancing at Mai's face for a brief moment before explaining.

Mai quickly understood. Haruto had only recently moved into his apartment, so even if he had kitchenware, it wouldn't be as well-stocked as her household, which had been lived in for over a decade. If they were planning to cook something special, it made sense to use a more fully equipped kitchen.

Since she wouldn't have to cook herself, Mai was more than happy to sit back and relax. She watched as Haruto carried a bag of groceries, her gaze lingering on him for a moment before she casually turned away and walked toward the living room sofa.

"Alright, I'll leave dinner to you two. I could use a little break," she said.

Without responding, Setsuna tugged lightly at Haruto's sleeve, leading him to the kitchen to begin preparing the meal.

Meanwhile, Mai sat down on the sofa, picked up the remote, and turned on the television.

As she watched a game show where contestants had to complete proverbs, she found herself glancing toward the kitchen every so often.

'Fill in the missing part of the proverb: "If there's a hole..."'Someone on the show answered, '...there might be a crab inside.' (Cringing in embarrassment.)

'"Good medicine..."''if it...sticks in your mouth—cough!' (Correct answer: "tastes bitter.")

Despite the lighthearted nature of the program, Mai found it difficult to concentrate. Her attention kept drifting to the kitchen, where the young boy and girl were working together in harmony. She pressed her lips together and eventually turned her gaze back to the TV, though her mind continued to wander.

Flashes of last night's memories surfaced in her thoughts. Slowly, she hugged her knees to her chest, resting her face against them as her mind drifted further away.

Setsuna has an amazing talent for cooking.

At first, she had seemed somewhat inexperienced in the kitchen. But within just a week, Haruto noticed how quickly she had improved. She could anticipate his instructions before he even spoke, preparing and handling ingredients with remarkable efficiency.

The entire cooking process felt effortless and enjoyable, and by the time they finished preparing dinner, he found himself wishing it had lasted a little longer.

As he turned to look at Setsuna, who stood beside him with a gentle smile, he momentarily lost himself in thought.

"What's wrong, Haruto?" she asked.

"No-Nothing," he replied with a soft smile, meeting her clear gaze.

When Setsuna carried the dishes to the dining table, Haruto exhaled quietly, suppressing the small, inexplicable sigh that escaped him before he followed with the remaining dishes.

During dinner, Mai turned off the TV and joined them at the table. She quietly picked up her chopsticks, and after a polite "Itadakimasu," she took a bite of their cooking.

"If Haruto were a girl, I bet he'd be even more popular," she remarked.

"…?"

Haruto had no idea how to respond.

"What a shame. None of the girls in your class probably know you can cook, huh? If they did, you'd be even more sought after. Good thing Setsuna acted fast," Mai added, a teasing glint in her eyes.

At the comment, Setsuna glanced up at her mother with a slightly awkward expression before quickly lowering her head again, continuing her meal in silence.

"Well, actually, the guys in my class already know," Haruto said. "And I'm not the only one. There are other boys in class who can cook and handle household chores pretty well."

"Really? There are other guys like that?"

"Yeah. One of them lives alone because his parents work overseas, and his older sister is studying abroad. Since his mother wasn't very good at housework, he learned to do everything himself from a young age."

"I see," Mai nodded, her gaze briefly flickering toward Setsuna. Their situation wasn't too different—she, too, had often come home late due to work, leaving Setsuna to prepare dinner for herself.

"There's also Takasu Ryuuji, who lives nearby," Haruto continued. "We're about the same age, and he's really skilled at household chores. He takes care of all the cooking and cleaning at home. He's a great guy."

"Takasu…? I think I've heard that name before…" Mai frowned slightly, looking at Haruto.

"Yeah, his mom, Yasuko-san, is a single mother. She raised him all on her own, even cutting ties with her own parents for his sake. She's an amazing woman."

Mai hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but wasn't sure how. Haruto could guess what was on her mind. Given Yasuko's job, it was natural that people would have misconceptions. Mai's reaction didn't surprise him.

Still, as Ryuuji's friend, he felt the need to speak up on his behalf.

"Raising a child alone and making sure they grow up well—that's no small feat. I think Yasuko-san is an incredible woman. And of course, so are you, Mai-san," Haruto added with a small smile.

Mai's mood, which had subtly soured, lightened slightly at the compliment. She glanced at her daughter again.

"Haruto, you're really thoughtful, aren't you?"

Haruto didn't respond—he only smiled lightly and continued eating.

After dinner, Haruto and Setsuna handled the cleanup, while Mai helped with a few small tasks, like wiping down the table.

Even after the meal, none of them immediately dispersed. Haruto didn't rush back to his apartment—after all, there was nothing pressing waiting for him there. He figured he might as well spend a little more time at the Kiyoura house.

They turned the TV back on, sitting together on the sofa. Mai sat on one end, while Setsuna nestled close to Haruto on the other.

Mai's gaze occasionally flickered toward them, watching how closely they sat together. Seeing the subtle, affectionate gestures between the two, she felt an inexplicable tightness in her chest. Pressing her lips together, she shifted her focus back to the TV, hoping it would distract her.

Haruto also watched the program, but he couldn't ignore the way Setsuna gradually leaned into him—until she was practically sitting on his lap.

Glancing at Mai, whose gaze avoided them, Haruto turned his attention to the girl in his arms. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he held her close, resting his face against her soft hair as he breathed in her gentle scent.

Mai, catching a glimpse of this, felt like she had just swallowed an entire lemon—sour and suffocating.

When it was time for Haruto to leave, Setsuna instinctively wanted to follow him home.

But before she could move, Mai spoke up.

"I'll walk Haruto out," she said. "There's something I'd like to talk to him about."

Setsuna paused.

"…"

Setsuna glanced at Mai, paused for a moment, then nodded slightly and headed toward the bathroom—she was going to take a shower.

As for Mai, she watched her daughter's figure gradually disappear before slowly shifting her gaze to the man in front of her, Haruto. With a subtle glance, she gestured for him to follow, and together, they walked toward the door, leaving the room.

"What is it?"

As Mai approached, Haruto instinctively took a slight step back, maintaining the distance between them.

"What are you afraid of?"

"Nothing. It's nothing."

His body was still weak from the tutoring session with Setsuna that afternoon. He dared not stand too close to Mai, fearing that if he returned to his apartment and fell asleep, he might not be able to get out of bed tomorrow.

Noticing his reaction, Mai felt slightly dissatisfied but let out a soft sigh and kept the distance between them.

"This afternoon, I remembered something. Aren't you planning to get published?"

"Yes, I am."

"When I used to work, I had contact with an editor at a publishing house. I happened to keep her contact information. Since you're planning to publish, you might want to reach out to her."

She reached into her pocket and pulled out a business card, handing it to Haruto. The card had a slight curve to it. Haruto glanced at Kiyoura Mai before extending his left hand to take it. As his fingers brushed against the card, he felt a lingering warmth.

Lowering his gaze, he examined the business card. A cherry blossom emblem was printed on it, alongside the name Kaiou Publishing and the editor's name, Kazaka Mari.

"She has a good reputation in the industry. If you need anything, you can try contacting her. Just tell her I sent you."

"Mai-san are you actually very powerful?"

Haruto looked at Mai in surprise. He had never asked about her work before and had no idea she even had connections in the publishing world.

In response to his surprise, Mai simply smiled, gently tapping the corner of her lips with a slender finger.

"Give me a kiss, and I'll tell you."

"…"

Haruto glanced at Mai beside him and chuckled softly before slipping the business card into his pocket.

"I'll give it a try. Well then, goodnight, Mai."

Standing by the roadside at the bottom of the stairs, Haruto bid her goodnight before turning to cross the street. Mai, however, watched his retreating figure with a trace of disappointment. She bit her lip lightly, then glanced back at the apartment, remembering that Setsuna was still in the shower…

After a brief hesitation, she quietly gathered her thoughts and slowly made her way up the stairs. It was best to head home and rest early.

When Haruto reached the door of his apartment, he happened to look up at the same time Mai arrived at her own doorstep. Their eyes met for a fleeting moment. Haruto gave her a small wave in farewell before stepping inside. Mai lingered for a moment, reluctant, before finally pushing open her own door and disappearing inside.