President, Your Younger Sister...

As the morning sun spilled onto the branches, casting dappled light and shadows, Jingu Byakuya saw a boy in the distance running slowly toward him against the glow of the dawn.

The man's gaze was sharp, sweat raining down as his arms swung in a rhythmic, balanced motion, maintaining a steady pace of tension and release.

His firm footsteps showed no sign of hesitation, and it was not hard to see that he was running with ease.

This person was Horikita Manabu, the older brother of Horikita Suzune.

He stepped slightly aside to clear the path, yet Horikita Manabu stopped right in front of him.

"You are Jingu Byakuya, aren't you?"

"?"

"Don't be nervous. The Chairman asked me to keep an eye on you... though I don't know the reason myself."

Hearing his words, Jingu Byakuya pondered for a moment before nodding. "So, what does the Student Council President want with me?"

Horikita Manabu did not answer, instead offering an invitation: "Care to run a lap with me?"

"No thanks, I don't like running."

"What do you like, then?" Horikita Manabu took off his glasses and wiped them gently with a handkerchief.

"I like watching other people run."

"..."

Horikita Manabu nearly dropped his glasses. After calmly putting them back on, he scrutinized him carefully. "You really are different from the others."

"It seems the President has been paying some attention to me. May I ask how the Chairman introduced me to you?"

"He told me to keep an eye on you and make sure you don't cause trouble."

"..."

"I saw you eating with a girl from your class in the cafeteria the other day... what is your relationship?" Horikita Manabu's eyes narrowed.

"...My wife."

"Are you joking?" Horikita Manabu frowned deeply and stepped a few paces closer to him.

A powerful aura pressed down on him, causing his breathing to hitch for a brief moment.

But the next instant, he regained his composure.

After all, he had seen countless big shots since he was a child; handling a situation like this was child's play.

Seeing that he was not significantly affected, a hint of appreciation flickered in Horikita Manabu's eyes.

"You shouldn't be an ordinary person, should you?" Horikita Manabu asked.

"There are probably very few people in this school whose situation is more complicated than mine."

He said honestly.

After all, there was nothing to hide; anyone could look up his background if they wanted to.

Moreover, based on his deductions over the years, someone powerful must be protecting him. Otherwise, given the influence of those people, even with the old man's protection, he would have died several times over—how could he still be attending school in peace?

Horikita Manabu looked at him with deep, dark eyes. "Although I don't know what kind of complicated background you have, let's put that aside for now. Tell me, what is your opinion of this school?"

"If I may be blunt, I have no opinion."

"None at all?" Horikita Manabu's eyes showed a trace of disappointment.

The two walked side by side.

"I do have a few thoughts, if the President is willing to listen?"

"Let's hear them." Horikita Manabu's interest was slightly piqued.

"The girls at this school are quite pretty. Just in our class alone, there are several top-tier beauties."

"And then?"

"Especially... your sister. I like her very much."

"..."

Jingu Byakuya turned his head slightly to see the handsome face of Horikita Manabu twitch, but the tsundere President still said coldly, "You don't need to try to provoke me; it's useless."

Was it really useless? He wanted to test that.

He said with a slight smile, "Your sister even let me carry her in my arms like a princess last night. She was very well-behaved when I held her... hehe."

"..."

"And another thing, her hands are so nice to touch. They feel cool and smooth..."

"Enough. Are you provoking me?" Horikita Manabu gave him a gloomy look.

"I wouldn't dare."

He curled his lips.

He thought to himself, he got angry after just two sentences. If he really were to "devour" his sister completely, wouldn't this tsundere President who loves to act cool try to hack him to death?

Thinking about it, he felt a little scared.

Fortunately, as expected of the greatest student council president in the school's history, he quickly composed himself and made a rational judgment:

"According to you, are you two dating?"

"Something like that."

He didn't dare say no; if he claimed they weren't even friends after everything that had happened, Horikita Manabu might actually chase him down with a blade.

"I never imagined she would date anyone..."

"Jealous?"

"No. Since it is her own choice, I have no right to interfere."

As expected, this is the reality of having a younger sister; there's no such thing as the constant clinginess seen in anime—it's already a blessing if they aren't fighting.

Thinking of this, Bai Ye became more serious: "What is your opinion of her? Are you just going to leave her be?"

Horikita Manabu glanced at him with some surprise: "Even if I did intervene, what could I do? She is actually very stubborn. I told her not to follow me, yet she came anyway."

"She simply cannot understand your way of thinking. If you were willing to talk to her seriously, she would definitely understand you."

"Say what?"

"Just tell her that you have high expectations for her, and tell her to stop chasing your shadow."

"Even if I said that, would she understand? One must forge their own path. Only when she truly understands this for herself can she complete a thorough transformation."

Hearing this, Bai Ye sighed: "Indeed. In truth, you hold high expectations for her, yet she herself... lacks those pursuits. The one truly forcing her is actually you, Mr. President."

"If you were standing in my shoes, what would you do?"

"I would let her do as she pleases, of course. I couldn't bear to see my own sister suffer; living happily is what matters most."

"You really are a good brother. Do you intend to support her for the rest of your life?" Horikita Manabu frowned.

"It's hard to say. Perhaps one day she will find her own pursuit. I still prefer a future that blossoms according to one's own heart."

Horikita Manabu said nothing more, as their philosophies differed, and neither could convince the other.

However, he did say: "I am glad to have had this conversation with you. From now on... I leave her to you. I do not have the time to look after her."

"Aren't you afraid I might ruin her?"

"If it truly comes to that, I will settle the score with you then."

After saying this, Horikita Manabu jogged away.

He stopped in his tracks, watching Horikita Manabu's retreating figure, and murmured softly: "I truly hope you won't hate me when that time comes, Horikita-senpai..."

Thinking about the fact that he was destined to break up with Horikita Suzune gave him a headache.

But it didn't matter. Although the process might be painful, the ending would be beautiful. As long as he kept completing his tasks, he had the confidence to realize that kind of future.

Furthermore, through his conversation with Horikita Manabu just now, he had obtained 'custody' of Horikita Suzune. In the future, if he encountered anything he couldn't handle, he could use Horikita Manabu as leverage.

This was a trump card.