The Student Council President Had to Thank Us!

"How much do you want?"

"Ten million. That shouldn't be much for you."

"Impossible!"

Horikita Manabu flatly refused. He wasn't an idiot; there was no way he'd agree to such an outrageous demand.

"Don't be so quick to say no."

Makoto said with a smile,

"If I help you deal with Miyabi Nagumo, then the threat posed by his attacks on you in any joint exams that might happen in the future will be much smaller. In that sense, I'll have helped you secure Class A's position!"

Maybe by then, he'd be too busy to worry about competing across year levels. It was more important to hold on to Class A's position.

Whether he could hold on to it was another matter.

"It's absolutely worth the price!"

Makoto coaxed.

"Then what do you want in exchange for deleting the video?"

Horikita Manabu sensed something was off. If that was really the deal, it might not be so bad.

Being free from Miyabi Nagumo's harassment was worth that much.

But then that raised another question—

How much was the video worth?

"Well..." Makoto smiled slightly and stated the condition he'd prepared in advance. "You have to open up to your sister, of course."

Horikita Manabu: "?"

Horikita Suzune, who had just struggled to her feet, was dumbfounded too.

First, someone unexpected had suddenly appeared. Then her brother and this person had acted like they already knew each other, discussing matters related to the second-years.

After that, they'd suddenly started talking about ten million Personal Points. That was the equivalent of ten million Sakura Coins!

She'd never seen that much money in her life!

What she found hardest to accept was that the other person's final condition was for her brother to open up to her.

She had no idea anyone cared about her that much.

In the faint light of the streetlamp, Horikita Suzune finally recognized him as Miyano, whom she'd seen from a distance that morning.

At last, his face, name, and voice all matched.

Was this the strength of Class B?

For the first time, Horikita Suzune doubted her own abilities.

Could she really... make it to Class A?

"Don't... Brother, don't agree to it. I won't pursue this matter."

Horikita Suzune wanted to help her brother.

"Have you still not faced reality?"

Makoto sighed, looking a little helpless. Whenever Horikita Suzune's brother was involved, she seemed to lose her wits.

"Your brother is the leader of Third-Year Class A, and the Student Council President of this school. Do you think you can just make all of this go away by saying you won't pursue it?"

People with a special aura drew more attention than ordinary people.

"...Suzune, I was wrong."

Horikita Manabu took a deep breath, as though he'd made up his mind about something.

"All this time, I've regretted turning you into the person you are now."

Horikita Suzune opened her mouth at his words, but for some reason, she couldn't make a sound.

As if silenced, she waited quietly for her brother to continue.

"I always wanted you to stop chasing after me, so I chose this school. Looking back, that was a mistake. I should have spent more time with you."

Just as the living could never take the place of the dead in someone's heart, it was only through spending time with someone that people noticed their flaws.

That was what Horikita Manabu wanted to express.

"You don't need to chase anyone's shadow, and you don't need to belittle yourself. Just follow what you truly want."

"You only have to be yourself, Suzune."

Makoto listened with great interest from the side. Now that was more like it!

They weren't children anymore. If they had something to say, they should just say it openly! Why act so cryptic?

Cryptic people should get out of school!

"Brother..."

Horikita Suzune was deeply moved. She started to move in for a hug, but then remembered that her clothes had gotten dirty and disheveled when she was thrown to the ground.

She stopped. Horikita Manabu saw her hesitation.

This time, he had to be the one to take the initiative. With that thought, Horikita Manabu stepped forward and gently embraced his sister.

He felt the body in his arms tremble slightly, then quickly relax.

"Brother... Is that how you've felt all this time?"

"Did I disappoint you?"

"No. You've always been the person I love most, Brother!"

Without disturbing the siblings' private moment, Makoto watched them hug from the side and recorded the lovely scene on his phone.

He really wanted to post it on his social media.

"All right, that's enough."

Horikita Manabu pulled away from his sister.

"I've deleted the video. In its place, I've got the photo of you hugging your sister just now. Want me to send it to you?"

Makoto smiled.

"...Sure."

Horikita Manabu's voice was very quiet, as if he were a little embarrassed.

But Horikita Suzune and Makoto both heard him.

The Student Council President, who always kept a stern expression in public, could act like this too. Seeing him, both of them couldn't help smiling.

"I've transferred the ten million Personal Points to your account."

Those words pulled Horikita Suzune out of the sweet memory of the hug.

Right, because of her, her brother had lost ten million Personal Points. It was all her fault...

Wait a second?

That didn't seem to be what had happened...

Makoto would call it art.

There were two bargaining chips—

Miyabi Nagumo and the "domestic abuse" video.

And two demands—

Ten million Personal Points and for him to open up to his sister.

Use Miyabi Nagumo to get ten million Personal Points, and use the "domestic abuse" video to get him to open up to his sister.

It looked like a perfect deal.

But if they'd traded the other way—

Using the "domestic abuse" video to get ten million Personal Points...

He'd feel like a despicable villain.

And what was up with using Miyabi Nagumo to get him to open up to his sister?!

What did those two things have to do with each other?

But now he'd become a great guy who'd helped the siblings reconcile!

He had to thank us!

"Thank you?"

Horikita Suzune wasn't sure if she should be the one saying it, but she said it anyway.

"No need to thank me. It's what I should do. I've never been able to stand by and watch things like this."

Makoto smiled slightly. He took a closer look. Even with her long black hair a little disheveled and looking worse for wear, she had her own charm~

Wait a minute!

Enough, enough.

He hurriedly chased the dangerous thought that had just surfaced from his mind.

A person shouldn't—not at least...

"I'll head back now."

Before the girl could say anything else, Makoto hurriedly left.

Once everything was over, staying behind would've been awkward. If he didn't leave, was he supposed to wait for someone to invite him to dinner?

Oh, right. The hot milk he'd bought earlier was still with Ayanokoji.

Makoto bought another bottle.