At noon, Hasebe messaged him, saying they should avoid each other for the next couple of days and wait for the rumors to die down.
She also apologized to him.
He replied that it was fine.
Then he was alone again.
He could have joined Kushida and her friends, or called Ayanokouji over, but after thinking it over, he decided against it.
Sometimes, being alone was pretty nice. He didn't have to worry about anyone else's feelings and could do whatever he wanted.
In his previous life, he'd disliked being alone. In this one, though, he was almost used to it.
Just then, the girls in class seemed ready to pounce on him, so he hurried out of the classroom.
Otherwise, he'd end up surrounded by girls like Hirata.
Yamauchi probably loved that kind of thing, but he just found it troublesome.
But when he reached the stairwell, he spotted a beautiful girl leaning against the wall. Her long black hair fell to her waist, with a braid tied into a side bun and a white ribbon adorning the top.
She had a slender figure, and her shapely legs in black stockings were crossed slightly in front of her, forming a graceful curve beneath her narrow waist.
Her air of frosty dignity made her beautiful, porcelain-like face seem all the more noble.
Horikita Suzune eyed him with a teasing look. "Did you get dumped?"
"No. We weren't dating."
"Then come with me. I have something to discuss with you." Horikita gave a slight nod and turned to leave.
Bai Ye glanced at her, then followed.
As he walked after Horikita, the crowd around them thinned until they reached an empty spot. Only then did she turn around and demand:
"What did you say to my brother?"
"Nothing much."
"If you didn't say anything, why did he tell me to listen to you?" Horikita took a few steps closer, her gaze strange.
"Maybe he thinks I'm trustworthy."
"What the hell are you talking about?" A faint flush crossed Horikita's pretty face, but anger quickly covered it. "You even dared to trick the Student Council president. You've got some nerve."
"If I didn't, would I dare get involved with you?"
He stepped closer, stopping just before he touched Horikita. His expression was calm as he looked at her cool, beautiful face.
Horikita's expression turned slightly uneasy under his gaze. Being scrutinized from so close made her feel her breathing quicken.
She turned aside and asked, "What do you want?"
"What do you mean?"
"You persuaded my brother because you wanted to control me, didn't you? What are you really after?"
"My goal?"
He chuckled, then sighed. "Wasn't it obvious from the start? Are you sure you want me to say it?"
"How am I supposed to know if you don't spell it out?"
"If I tell you, will you agree? What difference does it make whether I say it or not?"
Things had gone this far, and Bai Ye saw no reason to keep hiding his intentions. Horikita had already met with her brother, so she could surely tell what he really meant from what Horikita Manabu had said.
She could be blunt, but she wasn't stupid. They'd spent enough time together that she couldn't possibly have failed to guess. If he kept pretending, he'd just make a fool of himself.
After a long silence, Horikita bit her lip and glared at him, looking annoyed. "You just want to date me, don't you? Fine. I agree."
"Really? Then I refuse."
"..."
At that moment, Bai Ye really wanted to take a picture of her stunned, humiliated, flushed face.
Then he'd throw the photo on the ground and say arrogantly:
"Horikita, look at you now. Hahaha!"
But that seemed too childish and would ruin his image, so instead he said:
"I mean, I want to wait until you genuinely like me before we start dating."
"No need. I'm never going to like you."
"Then I'll take the picture after all."
"?"
Horikita stared at him in confusion, but there was nothing to read from his calm, handsome face. She sighed and said:
"Don't get the wrong idea. I'm not agreeing to date you just because of you. I only think this might make my brother happy, so..."
"Tch. Turns out you're doing it for another man." He pouted.
"Don't make it sound so sleazy. What do you mean, another man? He's my brother... If you keep talking nonsense, I won't date you."
"Come on. But, Horikita, are you really willing to do this? He's your brother, but you don't have to obey him so much. This doesn't seem like you."
"Wasn't that your idea?" Horikita shot him an exasperated look. "You said romance could help shift my focus. Maybe if I date you, I'll find the answers I'm looking for."
"Hmm. Looks like you're pretty determined. What exactly did you say to Student Council President Horikita?"
"Want to know? Too bad. I'm not telling you." A mischievous glint flashed in Horikita's eyes. Seeing his frustrated expression, she let the corners of her mouth curl up.
"Ah, how pitiful I am. I've got a girlfriend who doesn't like me, and she even teases me."
"You brought this on yourself. If you don't like it, then break up with me," Horikita said coolly.
"Hm? Break up?"
His eyes lit up.
Would he get a reward if he broke up with her now?
[System notification: Breaking up now will grant a reward. The host will also be renamed Jingu Nanaya. Do you agree? Please choose--
(This damn system is messing with me, isn't it?)
[Please use civilized language and improve your moral character. Keep your promises.]
*(...)*
"Better not. I don't have a girlfriend right now, so I'll make do with you," Bai Ye said.
"Why don't you just die?" Horikita glared at him coldly.
" Sigh."
Now that he'd won her over, he figured he didn't have to act so pathetic around her anymore.
But why did he feel like such a jerk doing this?
Wasn't he just like those guys who put their pants back on and pretended nothing happened?
As he thought about it, he held out his hand, his voice softening a little.
"Horikita, give me your hand."
"What for?" Horikita didn't move, only glancing at him coldly.
"To hold hands. I'll walk you back to the classroom."
"Why do we have to hold hands? I can walk by myself."
"We're practically an old married couple. What are you shy about? Come on."
"Who's an old married couple with you? We've been officially dating for less than ten minutes." Horikita looked at him as if he were an idiot.
"Then why does it feel like ten years have passed?"
"...Are you trying to get yourself killed?"
Horikita moved as if to come punch him.
But he grabbed her hand and pulled her into his arms.
Breathing in her minty scent and feeling her alluring body struggle in his embrace, Bai Ye leaned close to her ear and murmured:
"Horikita, you smell so nice."
"Go to hell! Let go of me!"
Horikita's ears turned bright red in an instant, and she struggled even harder.
So he held her tighter and tried to reassure her.
"I won't let go. Not for the rest of my life. Give up."
"Have you no shame? Aren't you embarrassed saying things like that?"
"You're going to scold me either way, so I might as well have no shame."
He put on a shameless, carefree expression and hugged her tighter.
Gradually, Horikita ran out of strength. Her head rested limply against his chest, and she murmured, "Do you really want to be with me... for the rest of your life?"
"Hm?"
He was slightly taken aback. When he lowered his head, he met Horikita's resolute, earnest gaze.
"Although I don't like you right now, I don't want to throw myself into the arms of a second guy. If you're serious, I'll do my best to make myself fall for you. What do you think?"
"I..."
"What, are you scared?" Horikita gave a scornful smile. "If you don't want to take responsibility, we can just go through the motions. When you get tired of me, we'll break up."
Meeting Horikita's stubborn gaze, he felt his heart stir.
To be honest, her words had moved him. He could tell how serious she was.
Actually, he'd known that all along. She could be infuriating, but she almost never said anything she didn't mean.
Her thoughts and feelings were just like her appearance: resolute and beautiful.
If she liked someone, she liked them. If she hated someone, she hated them.
Unlike Kushida, she didn't hide her dislike in her heart and wear a mask on her face.
She could only be herself, whether other people accepted her or not.
To avoid trouble, she simply rejected everyone.
To protect herself, she wore a prickly mask.
Like a hedgehog.
Though she was prickly, if someone truly reached her vulnerable heart, they would accept her—or, more accurately, cherish her.
No wonder Ayanokouji had once said she had a unique talent.
Her sincerity was her greatest strength. It exposed all the hypocrisy and darkness around her.
Still, Horikita's wish was destined to go unfulfilled.
This world wasn't something she could change. All people could do was change themselves and adapt to society.
"All right, Horikita. I accept your proposal."
He looked Horikita in the eye and answered frankly.
Whatever. Horikita could do as she pleased. He only had to step in and protect her when the time was right. Now that they were dating, he couldn't possibly let her go.
But he still had to get Horikita to change some of her bad habits.
Otherwise, one day she'd do something stupid and get herself killed.
Before you continue