You've Really Gotten Yourself Into a Mess With Me

As they neared the classroom, Horikita, feeling the pressure of the eager gazes around them, finally shook off his hand.

He smiled, saying nothing.

However, as the two walked into the classroom one after the other, everyone in the class turned their eyes toward them, their expressions varied—some filled with envy, others with a sense of relief.

He was confused, but Kushida answered him with a beaming smile:

"Jingu-kun, hurry and check the class group chat. You and Horikita actually... hehe..."

He opened his phone and saw the photo of him and Horikita kissing that morning circulating in the group.

Although the distance was a bit far and the image was somewhat blurry, their appearances were too striking for anyone with a keen eye not to recognize them immediately.

He didn't bother reading the messy chatter below; everyone was discussing the matter.

The classroom was unusually quiet, and Kushida asked the question on everyone's mind:

"Are you two really dating?"

"That's right." He nodded indifferently.

"Wow--!"

"Ooh~"

"Boring..."

"Go explode, you normies!"

Everyone displayed different reactions, and Bai Ye could even feel the slightly resentful gazes of several girls directed at him.

Sato was among them.

Kushida, however, remained unchanged, still smiling sweetly:

"Congratulations, Jingu-kun, on becoming the first official couple in our class."

If the relationship between him, Horikita, and Hasebe had only been speculation before, then now, with the photo exposed and his public admission, the matter was set in stone.

Watching Kushida, who still had the heart to tease him about it, Bai Ye glared at her silently before returning to his seat.

As for Horikita, facing the varied gazes around her, she didn't even glance at them, ignoring everyone entirely.

After that, Hasebe walked into the classroom, acting as if nothing had happened, answering everyone's questions one by one in a normal fashion.

By the time noon arrived, Bai Ye was just thinking about having lunch with Horikita when Hirata Yousuke walked over and said gently:

"Jingu-kun, Chabashira-sensei wants to see you."

"Let's go, then." Bai Ye frowned slightly and gave Horikita, who was in the distance, a look that said 'wait for me,' but she just snorted and looked away.

He gave a bitter smile, and Hirata patted his shoulder gently at that moment:

"Do you want me to go explain things to Horikita-san?"

"No need, why would you bother with her?"

"Then let's go." Hirata led the way out of the classroom.

Arriving at the faculty office, Hirata bowed at the door and then parted ways with him, leaving him to walk up to Chabashira Sae alone.

Looking at the beautiful teacher leaning back in her chair with a lazy air, he asked plainly:

"What did you want to see me for, Chabashira-sensei?"

"You're here... it's nothing much, really. Horikita-kaicho wants to nominate you for the Student Council, so he asked me to get your opinion."

"May I ask why me? There should be many people more outstanding than me, like Hirata-kun or Kushida-san."

"How would I know?" Chabashira glanced at him. "I guess it's to keep you by his side and keep you in check?"

"I'm just an ordinary student. Why would he need to keep me in check? Sensei, can I interpret this as confinement?"

His tone was quite cold.

He suspected that the timing—not calling him sooner or later, but right now—meant that Horikita Manabu must have seen the photo of his sister kissing a boy in public and called him over in a fit of rage.

Joining the Student Council was just an excuse; he just wanted to give him a hard time.

If he really joined the Student Council, he'd be stuck doing all the dirty work, like fetching tea and water, and he'd be worked to death.

"By the way, Horikita-kaicho also said he wouldn't hold it against you for lying to him last time. If you refuse to join the Student Council, you must break up with Horikita Suzune immediately." Chabashira looked at him with a playful glint in her eyes.

"...I understand."

He finally nodded.

He had indeed been in the wrong for lying to Horikita Manabu last time, so he had no grounds for rebuttal this time.

He could only swallow his pride and accept it.

"Go there as soon as school ends this afternoon; he's waiting for you in the Student Council office."

Chabashira gave her final instruction and shooed him away.

He returned to the classroom and saw Horikita Suzune waiting for him in the hallway.

She asked in a cold tone: "What did Chabashira-sensei want with you?"

"It's... Student Council President Horikita Manabu who wants me to join the student council."

"Oh, I didn't expect my brother to have such high expectations of you." From Horikita's tone, it wasn't hard for him to detect a hint of admiration.

"What do you mean?"

"I heard that every single student who applied to join the student council this year was rejected, yet he personally singled you out. It's easy to see that he truly appreciates your capabilities."

"I suspect that isn't the reason."

"Hm?"

He gently took hold of Horikita's hand and smiled.

"He's angry that I snatched away his beloved younger sister, so he wants to use his position to suppress me."

"..."

Horikita's face flushed a strange shade of red as she shook off his hand.

"Stop saying such boring things. He wouldn't do that. He is a fair and impartial person; how could he, because of me..."

As she spoke, Horikita's expression grew dejected. "I hope you don't let him down, or I won't forgive you."

"Hey, don't tell me you're sad because Horikita Manabu didn't choose you for the student council?"

"How could I be... don't talk nonsense! If you say that again, I won't make you any more bento boxes!"

Watching Horikita's suddenly agitated expression, Bai Ye knew he had guessed correctly.

He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her waist.

"Don't be sad. You still have me; I'll take care of you from now on."

"Who asked you to take care of me?"

"If not me, then who?"

"I'll just find some man better than you, it's not like I'm not cute enough."

A smile tugged at the corner of Bai Ye's mouth. "Who was it that said last time they would never throw themselves into the arms of another man in this lifetime?"

"Well, then I'll just stay single. I don't need a man anyway."

"That won't do. It would be a terrible waste for someone as cute as you to grow old all alone."

"That would still be better than falling into the hands of someone like you."

"That's even better. Since your brother doesn't want you anyway, we're a perfect match. We might as well just make do with each other."

"..."

Horikita suddenly sighed, leaned her head on his shoulder, and said softly:

"Will you really never leave me?"

"...I won't."

"How can you guarantee that?"

"If I ever do, you can do whatever you want with me."

"...I'll believe you just this once."

"Mm." His eyelids twitched slightly; he felt as if something unpleasant was about to happen.

Could the "yandere blade" that Sato mentioned actually have something to do with Horikita?

How could that be possible?

He shook his head, dismissing the absurd thought.

"Let's find a place to have lunch first."

Feeling the gazes around them growing increasingly piercing, he took Horikita's hand and hurried away.

This time, Horikita didn't resist in the slightest, letting him lead the way.