| The Love Of Three Hearts | Arc — " Solving Problems the Hard Way " | Chapter 3 — " Morning of Chaos "
That night, Haruya Takumi did not simply sleep.
He collapsed.
He lay flat on the living-room couch like a fallen hero returning from a war he never signed up for—arms spread, eyes half-open, soul floating somewhere above the ceiling. Even breathing looked like it required a loading screen.
Himari peeked over the couch and gasped.
"Oh! He's already asleep!? Wow… he's so lazy."
Hana munched her chips slowly, cheeks red though nothing romantic had happened. She simply existed that way.
Kaede cracked her knuckles, glaring at Haruya's unconscious body.
"Huh? He's sleeping already? I'm gonna punch him awake!"
"NO!" Himari grabbed Kaede's arm. "We have school tomorrow. Don't break our tutor on the first day!"
Kaede's fists lowered. Reluctantly.
One by one, the sisters shuffled off to their rooms, leaving their tutor sprawled like a decorative rug.
…Until Himari tip-toed back quietly, holding a blanket.
She gently placed it over him, her expression softening.
"Don't… get the wrong idea," she mumbled. "I just… have a big heart. You can thank me later."
She stuck her tongue out at his unconscious face and marched away.
---
The Next Morning
Haruya woke up with the energy of a man ready to survive another disaster.
"Alright… big day. Let's prepare for hell."
He straightened his white shirt, adjusted his black pants, and nodded confidently at his reflection.
"Perfect. Maybe they're awake early today."
He stepped out of the bathroom…
The hall was empty.
Silent.
Absolutely dead.
"…Okay," Haruya whispered. "They'll come soon."
Minutes passed.
"Maybe they're freshening up."
Hours passed.
"ARE THEY HUMANS OR SLOTHS!?"
Finally, the bedroom doors creaked open.
The three sisters drifted out like ghosts escaping after a century of sleep—messy hair, half-closed eyes, zero brain cells online.
Kaede rubbed her eyes. "Hey… did you say anything rude?"
Haruya flinched. "NO! I don't want to get punched again!"
Himari stretched lazily.
"You're… very early… Takumi…"
"Early…?" Haruya blinked and slowly turned to the clock.
10:02 AM.
His soul pixelated and crashed.
Hana tugged at Himari's sleeve, cheeks pink as always.
"Um… Himari… I'm already hungry. Can I skip brushing…?"
Haruya's mind ascended to heaven.
"Hana!" Himari scolded. "Brush first! I'll make cookies for you after."
Hana brightened like a Christmas tree and rushed to the bathroom.
---
Later…
Haruya sat on the couch with books stacked neatly. A perfect tutor.
Kaede arrived first, arms crossed.
"What are you teaching today, dummy?"
"Everything," Haruya said seriously. "All subjects."
Hana skipped in, holding a snack pouch.
"Can I eat while listening?"
"No! You need to focus!"
Her eyes filled with tears immediately.
"Th-then… I don't want to study…"
"NO NO NO! YOU CAN EAT! PLEASE DON'T CRY!"
Her tears vanished instantly.
"Thank you," she whispered, cheeks pink.
Haruya exhaled.
"You eat so much… you're going to get f—"
BAM!
Kaede punched him so hard he flipped upside down and stuck to the wall like modern art.
Himari entered with fresh cookies.
"Hana! I made them!"
Hana was already munching silently beside Haruya's upside-down head.
Kaede pointed.
"Oy, share some!"
Haruya, hanging like a bat:
"Am I invisible…?"
Himari tilted her head.
"Why are you stretching like that?"
Haruya screamed inside.
---
Lesson Time
Haruya clapped his hands.
"Okay! Today we're doing math!"
Kaede immediately threw her notebook at his face.
"WHAT IS THIS!? I DON'T UNDERSTAND ANY OF IT!"
"I JUST SAID '10 + 20'!!!"
Himari proudly raised her hand.
"Wait! I know this! The answer is…"
Everyone leaned forward.
Crunch… crunch… crunch…
Hana continued munching cookies.
"HANA! CAN YOU STOP EATING FOR ONE—"
Her eyes teared instantly.
Haruya's will collapsed.
"Fine! Eat! Eat EVERYTHING! I don't care! Himari will use a microphone if she has to!"
Kaede punched him again.
"Too loud."
Himari puffed her chest confidently.
"The answer for 10 + 20 is… 50!"
Kaede nodded.
"You're amazing."
"I know," Himari replied proudly.
Hana whispered shyly, "You're always amazing…"
Meanwhile, Haruya looked like a broken NPC.
He switched subjects.
"Let's do history. Once in a kingdom—"
Hana interrupted.
"I gave Kaede one cookie… but I still have a lot… How do I share them?"
Kaede snatched another cookie.
"I'll take more."
Himari scribbled in her notebook.
"I'll calculate it!"
Finally… progress!
Haruya leaned in with renewed hope.
"Himari… are you finally writing notes about history?"
She proudly handed her notebook to him.
He opened it.
There it was:
Cookies + Cookies = More Cookies
Haruya closed the notebook, stared at the ceiling…
And questioned every life choice that led him to this moment.