My Tsundere Girlfriend with Long Black Hair

At noon, Hasebe sent him a message saying they shouldn't have any contact for the next couple of days, at least until the rumors died down.

She also expressed her apologies to him.

He replied with a simple "it's fine."

And then, he was left all alone.

Although he could have squeezed into Kushida's circle to join them, or perhaps called up Ayanokouji, he ultimately decided against it after some thought.

Sometimes being alone is quite nice; there's no need to worry about other people's feelings, and he can do whatever he wants.

In his past life, he used to dislike being alone, but in this life, he had almost grown accustomed to it.

However, at this moment, he sensed the girls in the class getting restless now that he was on his own, so he quickly walked out of the classroom.

If he hadn't, he would have ended up like Hirata, surrounded by girls.

Yamauchi might have enjoyed such a situation, but he only found it troublesome.

Yet, when he reached the stairwell, he saw a beautiful girl with long, waist-length black hair, a side braid tied with a white ribbon, leaning against the wall.

She had a slender figure, and below her slim waist, her legs—clad in black stockings—were slightly crossed, creating a beautiful curve.

That dignified, untouchable aura gave her cold, jade-like face a touch of nobility.

Horikita Suzune looked at him teasingly: "Got dumped?"

"No, we weren't even dating."

"Then come with me. I have something to tell you." Horikita nodded slightly and turned to walk away.

Bai Ye took a glance, then followed after her.

As he followed Horikita, the surrounding crowd grew thinner and thinner until they reached a deserted area, where Horikita finally turned around and asked in a questioning tone:

"What did you say to my brother?"

"I didn't say anything."

"You didn't say anything, yet he told me to listen to you?" Horikita stepped closer to him, her eyes filled with suspicion.

"Maybe he thinks I'm someone worth trusting."

"What kind of nonsense are you spouting?" Horikita's pretty face flushed slightly, but it was quickly masked by anger. "You even dared to lie to the student council president; you've got a lot of nerve."

"If I didn't have nerve, would I dare to approach you?"

He also took a step forward, stopping just before he was about to touch Horikita, and looked at that cold, beautiful face with a calm expression.

Horikita felt slightly unnatural under his gaze; being scrutinized from such close proximity made her breathing quicken.

So, she turned to the side and said: "What do you want?"

"What do you mean?"

"You convinced my brother because you want to control me, right? What exactly is your goal?"

"Goal?"

He chuckled, then sighed. "Wasn't the goal clear from the very beginning? Are you sure you want me to say it out loud?"

"How would I know if you don't explain it clearly?"

"If I say it, will you agree? Does it make any difference whether I say it or not?"

With things having reached this point, Bai Ye felt there was no need to hide anything anymore. Since Horikita had already met with Horikita Manabu, she would certainly be able to discern his true intentions from her brother's words.

Although she had a somewhat blunt personality, she wasn't stupid. They had interacted enough that it was impossible for her not to have guessed it; if he kept hiding it, he would just look like a clown.

After a long silence, Horikita bit her lip and looked at him with some annoyance: "Don't you just want to date me? Fine, I agree."

"Is that so? Then I refuse."

"..."

At that moment, Bai Ye really wanted to take out a camera and snap a picture of her stunned, humiliated, and blushing face.

Then, he would throw the photo on the ground and arrogantly say to Horikita.

Horikita, look at you now, hahaha.

But thinking about it, that would be too childish and would damage his image, so he said instead:

"What I mean is, I want to wait until you truly like me before we start dating."

"No need, I won't like you."

"Then I'll just take that photo."

"?"

Horikita looked at him in confusion, but she couldn't read anything from that calm, handsome face. She sighed and said:

"Don't misunderstand. I'm not choosing to date you entirely because of you; I just think doing this will make my brother happy, so..."

"Tch, so it was all for another man." He curled his lip.

"Don't put it so vulgarly. What 'other man'? He's my brother... If you keep talking nonsense, I won't date you anymore."

"Don't do that. But Horikita, are you really willing to go this far? Even if he is your brother, you don't have to be so obedient. This doesn't seem like you at all."

"Isn't this what you said?" Horikita shot him an annoyed look. "You were the one who said romance could shift my focus. Maybe if I date you, I'll be able to find the answer?"

"Hmm, it seems your resolve is quite high. What exactly did you say to President Horikita?"

"Want to know? I'm not telling you." A flash of mischief crossed Horikita's eyes, and as she watched his somewhat frustrated expression, the corners of her lips curled up slightly.

"Sigh, I really am pitiful. I found a girlfriend who doesn't like me, and I still have to be teased by her."

"Who told you to provoke me? If you don't like it, we can just break up," Horikita said coolly.

"Hmm? Break up?" His eyes lit up.

Would he get a reward if he broke up right now?

[System Prompt: Breaking up now will grant a reward. Additionally, the host will be renamed Jingu Nanaya. Do you agree? Please choose--]

(Is this damn system messing with me?)

[Please use polite language, improve your moral cultivation, and strictly adhere to your promises.]

(...)

"Let's not break up after all. Since I don't have a girlfriend right now, I'll just make do with you," Bai Ye said.

"Why don't you just go die?" Horikita glared at him coldly.

"Sigh."

He thought to himself that since he had already successfully pursued her, he didn't need to be as humble as before.

But why did he feel like such a scumbag for doing this?

Isn't this the same as those guys who pull up their pants and refuse to acknowledge anything?

Thinking this, he reached out his hand, his tone softening slightly:

"Horikita, give me your hand."

"What for?" Horikita didn't move, casting a cold glance at him.

"To hold hands. I'll take you back to the classroom."

"Why do we need to hold hands? I can walk by myself."

"We're practically an old married couple, what are you shy about? Hurry up."

"Who is an old married couple with you? We've been officially dating for less than ten minutes," Horikita said, looking at him as if he were an idiot.

"Then why does it feel like ten long years have passed?"

"...Are you really tired of living?"

Horikita made a move as if she were about to beat him up.

However, he grabbed her hand and pulled her entire body into his arms.

Breathing in that minty fragrance and feeling the lithe body struggling frantically in his embrace, Bai Ye leaned into her ear and whispered softly:

"Horikita, you smell so good."

"Go to hell, let go of me!"

The tips of Horikita's ears turned bright red in an instant, and her struggle became even more intense.

So he hugged her even tighter and spoke to soothe her:

"I won't let go. I'm never letting go for the rest of my life, so give up."

"Do you have no shame? Don't you feel embarrassed saying things like that?"

"Either way, I'm going to get scolded by you whether I have shame or not, so I might as well not have any."

He put on a "giving up" expression and hugged her tighter.

Slowly, Horikita lost her strength, her head resting limply against his chest as she murmured: "Do you really want to... spend your whole life with me?"

"Hmm?"

He was slightly startled, and as he lowered his head, he met Horikita's sharp, earnest gaze. She said:

"Although I don't like you right now, I don't like throwing myself at a second guy. If you are serious, I will try my best to make myself like you in the future. What do you think?"

"I..."

"What, are you scared?" Horikita gave a contemptuous smile. "Since you don't want to take responsibility, let's just follow the process. Once you feel bored, we'll break up."

Meeting Horikita's stubborn gaze, his heart skipped a beat.

To be honest, Horikita's words just now moved him. He could feel just how serious her attitude was.

Actually, he had known it all along. Although she usually acted in a way that was maddening, she almost never said anything she didn't mean.

Her thoughts and feelings were just like her appearance: sharp and beautiful.

Like is like, and hate is hate.

She wouldn't be like Kushida, hiding her hatred in her heart while keeping a mask on her face.

She would only ever be her truest self, whether others accepted it or not.

To save herself the trouble, she simply rejected everyone.

To protect herself, she wore a prickly mask.

Just like a hedgehog.

Although she was prickly, if someone truly reached that fragile heart of hers, they would accept her—no, to be more precise, they would feel pity for her.

It was no wonder Ayanokouji had said she possessed a unique talent.

Her sincerity was her most powerful strength, leaving no place for hypocrisy or darkness to hide.

However, Horikita's wish was destined to remain unfulfilled.

This world was not something she could change; all a person could do was change themselves and adapt to society.

"Alright, Horikita, I accept your proposal."

He looked into Horikita's eyes and said it calmly.

Whatever, how Horikita chose to act was her own business; he just needed to step in and protect her when the time was right. Since they were already dating, he was destined to never let her go.

However, he still had to make Horikita change her bad habits.

Otherwise, there was no telling when she might just end up being the death of herself.