Don't Overthink It

This is not something Horikita Suzune would say at all!

"I..." He opened his mouth, then closed it again. He took a deep breath and then exhaled.

The fire that had been burning inside him intensified.

"--I won't allow it."

So, propelled by the heat, he finally managed to say those words.

Her stern gaze was fixed on Horikita Suzune, and combined with her consistently calm expression, the Student Council's natural aura of authority was subtly released.

"I won't accept it! I won't allow it!"

Chapter 299 Don't Overthink It

Why did you bring a man to meet me, your brother?! My sister isn't like this, is she?! You should have shown yourself as still immature, dressed up like the long, jet-black hair you deliberately grew out because I said I liked it, hesitant and afraid that I wouldn't approve, and then, in the time before I left, showed me the growth you had gained during your year on campus. Finally, in my silent farewell, you received my slightly gratified praise, and watched me graduate with a smile.

How could you just grab a guy and tell my brother you're in a relationship?! This isn't the Horikita Suzune I know! I can't accept this!

"Why?" Faced with Horikita Manabu's sudden and intense attitude, Horikita Suzune asked calmly, slightly closing the distance between herself and Asakusa Toru, tilting her head. "Is it because of Tetsu? Because the person I'm in love with, the person I like is Tetsu, so can't you accept it, brother?"

"What if I choose another one--"

"No, that's not allowed either!"

Before Horikita Suzune could finish speaking, Horikita Manabu interrupted her with slightly reddened eyes.

Even though he seemed to be able to do nothing more than say things like "no."

"I will absolutely not approve of it!"

"So, you just don't want to see me in a relationship, brother?" Pushing away the hand that had reached in when she interrupted him, Horikita Suzune nodded gently. "I understand."

"I'm not going to date anymore. I'll just marry Che and have kids after I graduate."

Then, she said something even more outrageous.

Horikita Manabu: "--"

Horikita Manabu's breathing stopped.

... Is Horikita Suzune getting married and having children?

Stop dating, but jump straight to marriage and having children?

This, this, this--

He felt like he was about to vomit blood from anger at his sister.

My sister hasn't honed her skills in any other area this past year, but it seems she's only grown at an incredibly rapid pace in getting angry with him.

"I will not approve, I will not approve, I will not approve..."

Horikita Manabu's eyes were somewhat vacant.

He just stood there stiffly, repeating what seemed to be the only bargaining chip he could offer.

'Approved'.

The recognition my sister once longed for was the only constraint I could impose on her.

Can.

If my sister really becomes that kind of person, I really should insist on marrying Asakusa Toru and having children.

For two years, I had no access to the school.

... Just how far will they go with this?

It's not impossible for the things you hallucinate to become reality.

I.

What do I do?

Horikita Manabu, who had an incredibly clear plan for his life, felt utterly lost for the first time.

But at that moment...

"Pfft..." A silvery laugh rang out from the younger sister in front of her.

She couldn't help but bend over slightly, covering her beautiful face. Gone was her usual solemn and serious demeanor; instead, she burst into laughter with unbridled joy.

"Brother, you look so serious," she said with a smile. "It's been so long since I've seen you like this."

"So you still treat my brother like this, huh?"

She said.

It was this one sentence that brought Horikita Manabu back to his senses.

"... Are you kidding me?" He started to realize what was happening.

I suddenly felt a sense of relief.

Yes, how could Horikita Suzune suddenly Asakusa Toru, or even utter such outrageous remarks?

You should know that Asakusa Toru had heard rumors about the many women around him, even though he was only a third-year student.

With the pride of being her own younger sister, she would never willingly step forward to become 'one of them'.

Honestly, that kind of joke is really awful.

My younger sister has also become much more humorous.

"Hmm..." Tilting her head, Horikita Suzune said, "The marriage thing is definitely a joke."

"Marriage is still too early for me."

Horikita Suzune confirmed it was a joke.

But Horikita Manabu quickly caught on to another point that she had failed to clarify.

"Marriage was a joke, and dating was definitely a joke with my brother too, right?" His voice trembled slightly.

After realizing what was happening, Horikita Manabu realized it again and noticed it.

It was a joke, but the distance between the two was real, and the physical contact was real.

Even if it's just to joke with myself, this level of contact is far too much of a sacrifice.

Especially the hand that was wrapped around his younger sister's waist.

From the moment he saw it, his first instinct was to raise his hand and knock it away.

"Oh, this isn't it." Horikita Suzune said something that filled Horikita Manabu with despair, "I really like Tetsu."

"No matter how much my brother objects, this is the only point on which I will stand by my opinion."

Horikita Suzune spoke with an air of nonchalance and seemingly unwavering resolve.

Horikita Suzune wasn't actually that resolute in her feelings for Asakusa Toru.

In essence, it's nothing more than something that appears superficial and unreal.

But feelings are feelings. If you insist on discussing whether they're real or not, then there's only one purpose.

Destroy it.

People only become eager to verify an answer when they want a definite answer.

Regardless of the correct answer, what they ultimately want is only the answer in their hearts.

If that's the case, what's the point of discussing this kind of thing?

I think I like him, so I really like him.

As for reasons or not, or whether it fits my persona or not.

Why should I bother maintaining something like that?

In a single thought, the world suddenly seems vast.

Actually, it was completely unnecessary to drag Asakusa Toru around near Horikita Manabu.

What are they trying to achieve?

Can you get your brother's approval? Will he approve of the relationship and wish them well for the future?

Even Horikita Suzune herself didn't know how far this relationship would ultimately go.

Even that confession not long ago was quite abrupt, to be honest.

The emotions that were not yet fully sorted out, the complexities, have shaped the present.

Therefore, she doesn't need her brother's approval, nor will she ever receive it.

But she still brought Asakusa Toru with her.

He even made such a nasty joke in front of Horikita Manabu.

The reason?

Perhaps it's confirmation.

Or perhaps it's simply because she wants to be a little bit meaner.

The Asakusa Toru she admired was just such a wicked person.

If she could do something as outrageous as Asakusa Toru, who made such a big joke during the club recruitment... wouldn't her brother look at her with new respect?

Back then, Asakusa Toru received an invitation from his older brother on their very first meeting, becoming the only first-year student to be recognized by the Student Council and thus be allowed to join the Student Council.

Yes, she knows.

The older brother didn't approve of Asakusa Toru because of the joke itself.

What he saw was his demeanor, ability, and character.

Therefore, everything she did was just a joke.

But it was this joke that allowed her to see how flustered her brother was because of her.

That's... something to be very happy about.

"... I can't control you." Horikita Manabu gritted his teeth and looked away. "I've never been able to control you."

He no longer knew whether he had failed to discipline his younger sister or was simply incapable of doing so.

But for now...

He can't control her.

He couldn't care less about Horikita Suzune, who had followed him to the Advanced Nurturing but ended up in D.

She couldn't care less about Horikita Suzune, who dragged Asakusa Toru over at her graduation ceremony and claimed he was her boyfriend.

"It's okay, brother."

"That's what Horikita Suzune said."

"This is the best choice and the best outcome."

At this moment, Horikita Manabu unexpectedly discovered that he felt a subtle sense of elder-like affection towards his younger sister.

... No, it should be described as the flavor of a riddle teller.

When we were kids, adults were always like this.

They'll say things like, "You'll understand," or "You'll know in the future," but even when the time comes to explain, they'll always say things that they themselves don't understand.

Horikita Manabu knew very well that he was no longer a child.

But from Horikita Suzune now, he still sensed that unique sense of relief?

What should I say?

Horikita Manabu didn't know.

But he seemed to suddenly calm down completely.

"Horikita Suzune." He turned his head again, and for the first time in a long time, in this school, he looked directly at his younger sister whom he had not seen for two years.

A whole year.

A whole year has passed since Horikita Suzune enrolled in school.