Horikita Suzune: Can I Call You by Your Name?

"Because I have other collaborations with Classmate Sakayanagi, there are times when we communicate together."

After thinking it over, Hashiba Hikaru finally decided to reveal some of the truth to her. After all, Kiryuin wasn't a first-year student, and she was currently one of her most important assistants. If she didn't say anything, it might upset her.

"I see."

The silver-haired senior nodded, seemingly accepting the answer.

"Well, let's get down to business first. How did Kiryuin- senpai's intelligence gathering go yesterday?"

Hashiba Hikaru looked at her face. "Any news about Asahina?"

"Yesterday's harvest was quite good. Besides Asahina, I also discovered something else very important."

Kiryuuin Fuuka has always been very proactive. After finishing her conversation with Hashiba Hikaru, she immediately returned to her dormitory to gather intelligence, making progress in different directions.

"Is that so?"

Upon hearing this, Hashiba Hikaru perked up and immediately perked up her ears.

"First, there's Asahina; her attitude remains the same as before."

Kiryuuin Fuuka slowly explained, "Although she's quite close to Miyabi Nagumo, she's not Nagumo's lover, and she won't always stand by his side."

"Her idea for this exam was to maximize the chances of her classmates being expelled; she didn't want anyone to drop out because of this exam."

"Is this what Asahina- senpai was thinking?"

Hashiba Hikaru had communicated with her before. Unlike Miyabi Nagumo, this orange-haired senior had a very "upright" personality and sometimes even made choices that were completely different from Nagumo's.

"She doesn't agree with Miyabi Nagumo's challenge to you, after all, the consequences of failing in this kind of thing would be very serious."

When Kiryuuin Fuuka said "you," she was referring to Hashiba Hikaru and Horikita Manabu; in her heart, she had long regarded the two as allies.

"Yes, no matter what Nagumo's real goal is, if he loses to me, he will have to hand over 20 million Private Points, so he absolutely cannot lose."

"There are many ways to win, and I've already found some clues."

Kiryuuin Fuuka smiled slightly. Besides communicating with Asahina, there was also a girl from Miyabi Nagumo's class in her own group, whose performance had caught the girl's attention.

"Please tell me the details, senior."

Hashiba Hikaru greatly admired Kiryuuin Fuuka's competence and asked questions with great delight.

"Come closer."

To reduce the risk of information leakage, Kiryuuin Fuuka beckoned to Hashiba Hikaru and slowly explained after the boy got very close.

A few minutes later, Hashiba Hikaru's expression became quite interesting.

"Is that really how it is?"

"Just to be on the safe side, I think you should make plans sooner rather than later, after all, that person is your ally."

Kiryuuin Fuuka stared at the face so close to hers. The boy's features were very defined, and his sharp, angular profile was extremely striking. This was the reason why he had been able to hold the number one spot on the handsome men's list for so long.

"Of course, I'll go and have a chat with Horikita-senpai tonight."

Hashiba Hikaru didn't notice Kiryuin's scrutinizing gaze. Instead, she fell into a brief moment of contemplation. The information he had received was crucial. If Miyabi Nagumo succeeded, it would only embolden him further.

Just as the two remained in this close proximity, Kiryuuin Fuuka caught a glimpse of a black-haired girl out of the corner of her eye, and so she spoke.

"Hashiba Yujima, is that person here to see you?"

To help Hashiba Hikaru lock onto the target faster, Kiryuuin Fuuka even pointed in a direction.

"Who?"

The boy was slightly taken aback. When he turned his head, he immediately saw Horikita Suzune's figure on the road not far away. She seemed to be looking in their direction, with a somewhat subtle expression.

"Oh, they must be here to see me."

"As expected of Hashiba, you really have a lot of admirers."

Caught Kiryuuin Fuuka, Hashiba Hikaru had no room to deny it and could only shake her head with a wry smile.

"She is also my business partner."

"Is that so?"

Kiryuuin Fuuka stroked her smooth silver hair, a meaningful smile playing on her lips. "If I remember correctly, she should be Horikita's younger sister, right?"

"Um."

"Wow, that's incredible."

"The Kiryuin's students, their hair disheveled and gray, were playing with their own hands. They were like birds chiseling in the wind, their voices hoarse and unrestrained. They were like parrots, their voices sharp and indistinct. They were like birds chiseling in the wind, their voices sharp and indistinct. They were like parrots...

Hashiba Hikaru stood up, patting off the grass stains on his sweatpants. Now that Horikita Suzune had arrived, he naturally had to hurry over.

"Alright, I'll collect the payment after we get back to school. I won't bother you any longer, Junior Hashiba."

Kiryuuin Fuuka was never one to drag things out. After receiving Hashiba Hikaru's promise, the girl turned and left with unparalleled grace, without even glancing at Horikita Suzune.

Meanwhile, when Hashiba Hikaru walked up to the black-haired girl, she noticed that the girl's expression was somewhat puzzled.

"Classmate Hashiba, wasn't that Kiryuin- senpai who just walked by?"

"Um."

"Where are you...?"

Horikita Suzune recalled the scene she had just witnessed: the boy and the silver-haired upperclassman were standing very close together, one with her head down as if deep in thought, and the other staring intently at his face.

"Kiryuin- senpai is currently my assistant, helping me gather information. We were just exchanging information. Because our voices were low, we needed to get closer to talk."

Hashiba Hikaru explained gently, scrutinizing Horikita Suzune's face, "Does Horikita- san have any further questions?"

"So that's how it is..."

The girl nodded silently, seemingly relieved.

504

Chapter 504 Horikita Suzune: Can I call you by your name?

In the lush forest, Horikita Suzune was held in Hashiba Hikaru's arms, her head resting on his chest, her expression one of longing.

"How have you been adjusting to the classes these past few days? Has anything particularly troublesome happened?"

Hashiba Hikaru asked with a smile.

"That's good. I've roughly figured out a few activities that might be on the exam. Once I've compiled everything, I'll discuss it with my group members tomorrow."

Horikita Suzune pressed her face against Hashiba Hikaru. She has made many changes. In order to successfully advance to Class A, the girl now takes the initiative to lead the students in the class. Her academic performance and athletic ability are excellent, so she has gained the trust of the girls.

"That's great! It will not only increase Horikita's prestige, but also help everyone get more points."

Hashiba Hikaru, "How many Private Points have you accumulated?"

"Hmm, it's almost four million."

Because she had previously organized several rounds of point-collecting plans with Hashiba Hikaru, even though Class D didn't give out many points each month, the girl herself was very frugal and basically didn't spend many points on living expenses, so she was able to save up a lot of points.

"Yes, thank you for your hard work Horikita."

Hashiba Hikaru knew what the other person was thinking. As an independent person with no friends, the girl was fighting loneliness and solitude alone, constantly moving forward to achieve her goals, which was also what he admired about her.

"These are the necessary costs to be paid in order to achieve our goals."

Horikita Suzune wrapped her arms around Hashiba Hikaru's waist. After walking alone for so long, this was the first time she had a relationship she had never had before.

Even if this relationship cannot be made public, it is already precious enough for the girl.

"By the way, speaking of goals, would you like to come with me to meet Horikita-senpai tonight?"

Hashiba Hikaru asked, looking down.

"Elder brother?"

Horikita Suzune was somewhat surprised. She felt that she had not yet achieved anything to be proud of and had not yet reached the standards recognized by Horikita Manabu.

"Yes, Senior Kiryuin just sent me some very important information, so I need to talk to him tonight."

Hashiba Hikaru put her arm around the girl's slender waist and said softly, "You can take this opportunity to talk to him and tell him about Horikita's progress."

"But I haven't..."

"It's alright. Compared to what you're worried about, involving you in my plan will make Horikita-senpai look at you in a new light."

Hashiba Hikaru explained slowly.

"Alright then, I'll do as you say."

The black-haired girl thought about it for a moment and finally agreed to the other party's idea.

Horikita Manabu has always been her goal to catch up with, but as she spends more and more time with Hashiba Hikaru, the boy's image becomes more and more important in the girl's heart. She has gained more courage and is not afraid even when her brother laughs at her.

"Okay, then around 7 PM. After dinner, I'll take Horikita-senpai to the place where we met before. Horikita- kun, please wait for me there."

"Can."

Hearing what the other person said, Horikita Suzune suddenly frowned and asked with some concern.

"Now that we have this kind of relationship, doesn't Classmate Hashiba want to change the way you address her?"

"Um?"

"I remember Kushida called you Hikaru-kun directly, right? And you called her by her name too."

Horikita Suzune recalled what she had witnessed before; it was all the same kind of relationship, and the girl felt that everyone must be treated equally.

"Oh, I understand."

Hashiba Hikaru immediately understood what the other person meant. After thinking for a moment, he suggested, "Then I'll call you Suzune. Suzune can also just call me by my name."

"Um."

The black-haired girl's pretty face flushed slightly. Calling him by his name didn't make the usually aloof girl feel shy; what truly made her shy was that she was about to call him by his name, which was a first for her.

"Suzune."

Hashiba Hikaru called out gently.

"I am here."

Horikita Suzune took a deep breath, her lips trembling slightly, "Hikaru... Hikaru?"

"Yes, I'm here too."

Hashiba Hikaru tightened her arms around the girl, bringing her body even closer.

"Um..."

Facing the boy's warmer breath and strong heartbeat, Horikita Suzune felt her own heart begin to race. This was beyond the girl's control, and she found the feeling quite comfortable.

After a long period of tenderness, the two finally parted ways before lunch.

Since the agreed meeting time was in the evening, and it would be enough to explain the whole story, Hashiba Hikaru was now going to see his girlfriend.

This is the true value of a time management master.

"Guang, eat this, it's delicious!"

Inside the bustling restaurant, Ichinose Honami sat next to Hashiba Hikaru, enthusiastically serving her boyfriend food with a bright smile on her face.

"Okay, Honami, eat more too. How did you rest yesterday?"

Hashiba Hikaru smiled and responded to his girlfriend. After learning from Kushida Kikyo that Sakayanagi had challenged Ichinose Honami, the boy knew that the other girl had been under a lot of pressure these past few days.

"I had a good rest yesterday; I didn't wake up until eight o'clock."

The pink-haired girl pressed her shoulder against Hashiba Hikaru's. As someone who shared a bed with her, she knew that Hikari had always made a habit of getting up early for morning exercise. "Hikari must be doing her morning exercise today too, right?"

"Yes, I got up around 6:10, I'm used to it now."

Hashiba Hikaru smiled. Besides building a strong physique, regular exercise also enhances various bodily functions. For someone who wants to build a harem, daily training is crucial.

"Hikaru is really amazing; he managed to exercise even while taking an exam."

Ichinose Honami smiled, her eyes crinkling with pride at how outstanding her man was.

"More importantly, Honami needs to take better care of his health. After all, this Forest School is quite troublesome, and some of the activities might be very strenuous for you."

Hashiba Hikaru said gently, "Honami doesn't need to be stubborn. After all, you have so many classmates around you, and everyone will support you."