"As the student council president, the type I detest most is people like you—lazy, clueless, and downright unruly."
Louisa spat out her words, cutting right into the air. But before she could finish, Hikari interrupted her with a cold, indifferent tone.
"Hey, President," he began, crossing his arms, "you sure wield your authority well. But why exactly do you think you can boss around?"
Louisa tossed her sleek, golden hair back, folded her arms, and lifted her chin defiantly. "As student council president of Seika Private Girls Academy, I'm responsible for every student here. That includes enforcing rules."
Hikari chuckled, a sly smile forming on his lips. "Why don't you repeat that last part?"
Louisa looked taken aback for a second, but quickly recovered her smug deanor. "My last part? I said, 'Every student at Seika Private is under my jurisdiction.' What's wrong? Got a problem with that? It's my responsibility and my right as president."
Hikari shook his head, still smiling. "No, no, don't get wrong. I couldn't care less about your authority or your rights."
He leaned in slightly, voice laced with sarcasm. "I just wanted to remind you—I'm not from Seika Priavte Girls' Academy. So why are you yelling like I owe you sothing?"
"Or are you saying that your council president title's so powerful it reaches over to the top students at a neighboring school?"
Finally, Louisa noticed Hikari's uniform, which was distinctly not from her school. She froze, her mouth opening and closing as she struggled to find words.
"Wha… You… I…"
She stared at Hikari, her erald-green eyes wide with a mixture of confusion and frustration. Her face flushed a deep red, but no words managed to escape her parted lips.
———
[Principal's Office]
Hikari looked over at Principal Rikka, addressing her with mock courtesy. "So, Principal Rikka, I'm officially a special appointnt at your academy, right?"
"Even though I'm just a humble, part-ti counselor focused on guiding students with their ntal stress, that doesn't an I should be getting shouted at by a student my first day on the job, right? Isn't there supposed to be so basic respect?"
Despite leaving Louisa stamring and red-faced, Hikari wasn't done yet. He kept going, pressing his point to Principal.Rikka.
Seeing Louisa's indignant shiver, lips trembling with unsaid words, Principal Rikka let out a sigh and cast an exasperated glance at Hikari before turning to Louisa. "Louisa, I think it's best if you leave now."
Though still seething, Louisa had no choice. With one final, furious glare at Hikari, she stord out of the office. Her intense green gaze seed to say, "Just wait—you'll pay for this."
She made sure to slam the door as hard as she could on her way out, her frustration spilling over in the loud bang.
To Hikari, though, it was nothing more than a tantrum. A reminder of why Louisa always seed to have it out for him floated through his mind—her father's betrayal had soured her on all n. Without a father figure, she'd grown up reckless and arrogant.
As her teacher, Hikari mused, it was practically his duty to set her straight and teach her so discipline. In fact, he wouldn't mind seeing the day she swallowed her pride and called him "Daddy".
Turning back to Principal Rikka, Hikari's eyes glinted with amusent as he spoke, "So, I passed today's trial with flying colors, right? I'm all set to start."
Principal Rikka nodded, assessing him. "Yes, full marks. You're cleared to begin. But given your situation, when would you like to officially start?"
"How about right now? You're the boss. I take my work seriously—you can count on ."
Though the base salary was a generous half-million, he'd earn an additional fifty grand in bonuses for each session helping the academy's girls manage their emotional stress. And right now, Hikari could use the extra cash.
Satisfied, Principal Rikka nodded, then furrowed her brows thoughtfully. "One more thing—I'm curious. Why this line of work? A mutual friend referred you, and you don't seem to be in need of money."
Her goal was to secure a long-term employee. She wasn't looking to hire another person if Hikari left after a few sessions. This position required commitnt, and besides, the work could be... demanding.
Hikari detected the unspoken concern and gave her a reassuring smile. "You don't have to worry, Principal. I don't quit halfway."
"My endurance—physically and ntally—is way better than you might think. This job doesn't faze at all. Besides, I have my reasons—mainly, I want to earn for myself."
He paused, thinking of his situation with Miss Mira, his guardian. "I want to make a living on my own terms, not just rely on soone else's support forever. I want to stand tall in front of the woman I care about, to hold her close and protect her."
He didn't say it outright, but he was determined to free himself from Miss Mira's wings soday and be the one to support her.
To Principal Rikka, however, his words had a slightly different aning. She misinterpreted him, thinking he was trying to escape from being a kept man under a wealthy older woman to be with soone he truly loved.
She nodded, a knowing smile playing on her lips. With Hikari's looks and physique, it was no wonder he had caught the eye of a benefactor.
Honestly, if not for their professional relationship, she'd be tempted to keep him around herself.
Well, since they'd be working closely together, she'd have plenty of chances to evaluate his skills in her office. That test they'd done earlier had left quite an impression on her—Hikari's performance had been unforgettable, leaving her wanting more.
Suppressing the blush rising in her cheeks, she asked, "Is there a particular need for the extra cash? If you're facing financial trouble, I can advance your pay."
Hikari considered her offer, then said, "Not a huge issue. A friend of mine ran into trouble paying her rent recently, so I lent her so money. But I might have another expense soon. I managed to crack a wall in that old Harmony Apartnts building. Whoever owns it should've built it stronger."
Principal Rikka raised an eyebrow, surprised. "Harmony Apartnts? The one on Shady Lane? That's one of my properties."
Hikari blinked, surprised. "Wait, you own that place?"
With a smile, she opened a drawer, pulling out a stack of docunts. "Yes, as it happens. Consider it a lucky coincidence. I'll let this slide as an employee perk. I'll also cover your friend's rent as part of your benefits."
Hikari shook his head. "Work is work, Principal. I'd rather keep things separate."
Outside of what he earned, he wasn't the type to accept handouts. But Principal Rikka, reading the situation, was insistent.
She wanted to build a rapport with Hikari—not just as a supervisor, but as a professional contact with genuine respect between them.
In truth, the test she'd given him earlier had left her deeply impressed. His tenacity, skill, and, admittedly, his charm all left her with an unshakable mory.
If Hikari was willing, she would keep him coming back to the office for routine check-ins. After all, the more he was around, the better she could monitor his progress.
And so, the arrangent was set. Principal Rikka covered his friend's rent for the year and the repair expenses for Harmony Apartnts.
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