Harvest

The office door closed behind Chabashira Sae, the sound of her high heels fading away.

Kina stared at the empty doorway, her expression unreadable, her voice cool and clear:

"Ridiculous."

She turned to look out the window. "I waited so long, just to hear her say a few pointless words?"

Hoshino Kanade tilted his head to look at her, noticing the slight tension at the corner of her lips, a subtle emotion he couldn't quite place. "It was indeed a waste of time,"

He chimed in, "But, not entirely without reward." He spoke with a hidden meaning.

Kina's eyelashes fluttered slightly. Her fingers curled silently, and a faint blush quickly spread across her ear tips before vanishing.

Hoshino Kanade was well aware of Chabashira's arrogance; he didn't mind this slight delay.

But this prolonged lecture had unexpectedly provided them with private time, seemingly accelerating the dissolution of the barrier between them.

In the past, when they walked together, Kina always maintained a distance; a brief touch of fingertips was the limit.

Now, not long after leaving the office, in the quiet corridor of the teaching building, the corridor lights stretched their shadows long.

Without any warning, Kina's hand reached out, naturally linking with Hoshino Kanade's arm.

As her fingertips brushed his sleeve, her ear roots felt a slight warmth, but she quickly suppressed it, drawing even closer.

She tilted her head slightly, her gaze focused intently on the intertwined shadows on the ground.

The moment Kina linked arms with him, Hoshino Kanade instinctively relaxed his arm, creating a more comfortable posture.

He could clearly feel the cool, soft weight in his arm bend.

Her movements carried a hint of forced composure, but her averted gaze betrayed a trace of shyness.

They walked along the Cherry Blossom Path in comfortable silence, a newfound understanding between them.

Kina tried hard to maintain her indifferent expression, attempting to dispel the lingering memory of the kiss in the pantry from her mind.

Hoshino Kanade felt her snuggle against his arm bend, the sunset casting a glow on his shoulder, the wind carrying the Grass Scent as it brushed past, his ear tips growing warm.

Just then—

"Wait." A clear, cold voice suddenly rang out.

Horikita Suzune stood at the corner of the corridor, ramrod straight, her sharp gaze locked onto them, pausing for a moment on their linked arms.

Hoshino Kanade looked at her in surprise. "Why are you still here?"

Horikita Suzune's thoughts were interrupted by the question.

She instantly recalled the hints within Chabashira Sae's words.

It could even be called explicit; these two were both talented individuals who chose to hide their abilities.

If she wanted to ascend to Class A, having their help would undoubtedly make things much easier.

Although there had been a slight unpleasantness between them and the two at the start of the semester, for the sake of Class A, none of that mattered.

She pressed her lips together, her gaze stubborn: even if assigned to Class D, she would rely on her own strength to lead it to Class A.

She re-examined Hoshino Kanade (and Ayanokoji Kina beside him). Chabashira's words confirmed their uniqueness.

If the goal was Class A, they were undoubtedly key assets.

After a brief silence, Horikita Suzune's gaze refocused, sharpening as she looked at Hoshino Kanade.

"I need to talk to you two." Horikita Suzune's voice was clear and sharp.

"You should understand what Chabashira-sensei meant." She took a step forward.

"Class D's ascent to Class A is our sole objective. Your talents shouldn't be wasted on looking out only for yourselves."

The air hung heavy for a moment.

Her gaze was sharp and resolute.

Hoshino Kanade felt Kina's arm tighten slightly in his.

He glanced at her; her face was calm, but a flicker of subtle impatience crossed her eyes.

Hoshino Kanade turned his gaze back, his gentle demeanor fading, leaving only polite distance.

"Borrowing our strength?" he asked, his tone even. "Horikita, you've misunderstood." He looked directly at her.

"Ascending to Class A is your goal, that's fine. But it holds no meaning for us."

Horikita Suzune frowned slightly.

At this moment, Kina moved.

She didn't release his arm; instead, she pressed closer to Hoshino Kanade.

For the first time, her gaze truly met Horikita's.

"Not interested." Her voice was cool and decisive.

Hoshino Kanade felt the pressure from her arm and nodded slightly. "Chabashira-sensei's intentions, your determination, are all irrelevant to us."

He swept his gaze over Horikita. "We have our own pace to follow." With that, he gave her no further opportunity to speak.

The two walked side-by-side, turning in unison and leaving along the Cherry Blossom Path.

Horikita Suzune stood in place, her posture perfectly straight.

She watched their backs as they left without a backward glance, unable to be inserted into anyone else's space. For the first time, a complex scrutiny flickered in her sharp eyes.

Horikita Suzune was not affected by the rejection.

She sat alone by the classroom window, her finger tracing over the notebook filled with Class D's plans.

"Class D's promotion to Class A was always my responsibility alone," she thought.

Chabashira's hint only made her believe more strongly in the value of independence.

Relying on others would only cause trouble.