The Day of Parting

"Horikita Manabu, I want to report the current Student Council President."

"As the Student Council President, he frequently skips work and dumps all the work on us."

The Kamuro group, who had just finished their Student Council duties, included Shiina, who, upon seeing Horikita Manabu, jokingly complained about him.

Having worked with Horikita Manabu for almost a year, she also learned that Horikita Manabu was actually cold on the outside but not on the inside, and wouldn't be offended by a junior's jokes.

"Overthrow him, and you will become the Student Council President."

Horikita Manabu adjusted his glasses and responded to Shiina's comment in a joking manner.

After finishing the final Special Exam and confirming his victory, he felt much lighter and relieved of the burden.

Aside from his good-for-nothing younger sister, he has no other problems troubling him.

"I agree." After glancing at Horikita Manabu in surprise, Tachibana Akane immediately raised her hand in agreement.

I agree.

Sitting down next to Shiina, Kamuro slightly curled the corners of his mouth and joined in.

Sakayanagi chuckled and raised his hand, "Since Masumi agrees, I can only apologize to Shiki."

"Looks like I'll be the only one supporting Shiki then."

Ichinose circled around behind Aoyama and wrapped her arms around Aoyama neck across the back of the chair.

A cute face beneath pink bangs, with a slightly mischievous smile.

"It seems we have a traitor among us. I request that a kill order be issued, Masumi- neechan."

As Shiina took Kamuro's arm, her smile widened.

"Don't give me weird nicknames," Kamuro pouted, then her gaze fell on Aoyama and Ichinose. "But as for that Ichinose, my order is to go!"

Shiina and Sakayanagi flanked Ichinose from both sides and began their tickling attack.

Naturally, Ichinose began to cry for help from Aoyama, who was clinging to her.

Faced with Kamuro's covetous gaze, Aoyama could only express his helplessness.

The girls' playful banter continued until the celebration banquet began.

After three rounds of drinks...

Amidst Tachibana Akane's pouting jealousy, Horikita Manabu calls Aoyama out of the private room, saying he wants to talk to him alone.

As the wind blew through the window at the end of the corridor, Aoyama casually remarked, "It's not graduation day yet, senior."

The final day of departure for graduating students can even be extended to the day when first-year students enter the school.

However, Horikita Manabu usually wouldn't do that.

"To be honest, I did consider having Suzune drop out of school," Horikita Manabu began, "But I realized that Suzune probably wouldn't listen to me."

"This makes me unsure whether to be happy or unhappy."

If it were Horikita Suzune, who had just enrolled, Horikita Manabu only needed to say "Come with me" to make Horikita Suzune immediately drop out of school.

But now, that's clearly impossible.

"If you don't know, then you'll be both happy and unhappy, and you can do whatever you want."

"You're much more casual now than before."

"After all, almost a year has passed. Just like your sister, I've grown up too."

"You've grown up a bit too fast." Horikita Manabu adjusted his glasses. "I think you've guessed it too, I was the one who told Suzune to keep that long hair."

He had previously hinted at this fact to Aoyama in his dormitory.

He had always hoped to meet a younger sister with short, neat hair who smiled as adorably as she did when she was little.

He was disappointed again today, with only a few days left until graduation.

Aoyama spoke slowly but firmly, "People change."

The reserved, literary girl learned to make jokes on her own initiative, and the timid girl who was not used to making eye contact with others also learned to openly meet the gazes of others, whether kind or malicious.

A cold and aloof girl who needs to steal to satisfy her loneliness; a sunny girl who wallows in past failures and forces herself to be positive; a girl who is always waiting to be discovered by someone else.

Over the course of a year, all the students, regardless of their individual shortcomings, have grown to some extent.

"You mean, Suzune has also fallen in love with long hair?"

After a moment's thought, understanding Aoyama's meaning, Horikita Manabu spoke again calmly.

"The only thing I'm sure of right now is that I also like long hair."

"I have mixed feelings, but I'll grant your wish, Aoyama."

As I wish, what do I wish for?

Could it be that he's going to entrust his younger sister to me? That's impossible. Like Sakayanagi Narimori, Horikita Manabu probably also wants to stay as far away from his sister as possible.

"Are you thinking about what you wish for? The answer is what you just answered me."

Following his sudden impulse, Horikita Manabu threw a straight punch directly at Aoyama's chest.

Do whatever you want; that's advice from Aoyama.

He now genuinely wanted to beat Aoyama to vent his frustration over his sister being kidnapped.

I wish I could beat them.

During the Special Exam he conducted for Class A and Class B, Horikita Manabu discovered that Kanzaki Ryuji, who was quite capable and even somewhat troublesome to him, was easily defeated by Aoyama, who treated him like a child. Horikita Manabu then realized that he was no match for Aoyama.

"Should I let my senior have a turn?" After reflexively blocking Horikita Manabu's fist, Aoyama scratched his head.

"... I don't want to play anymore now."

Upon spotting his younger sister appearing at the door of the private room and then quickly retreating and disappearing, Horikita Manabu decisively straightened up again.

He straightened his clothes and looked out the window again.

"I left Suzune Twenty Million Personal Points, but I put all 20 million with Kiryuin."

"That's the money I left for Suzune to graduate from Class A, but you can use it if you need it in an emergency."

Horikita Manabu served as a referee for both Class A and Class B last time, so he naturally knows that Aoyama is currently being targeted by the new Chairman.

The Twenty Million Personal Points raised under the guise of what Kiryuin needed, which went largely unnoticed, were enough to be used as a last resort.

"I usually don't need it, but thank you for your concern anyway," Aoyama said sincerely.

Since entering the school, Horikita Manabu has taken care of him like an older brother.

Although it started because of her younger sister and her dissatisfaction with Nagumo, she is now helping without any ulterior motives.

"That would be best, but if possible, I'd like Suzune to get into University of Tokyo on her own merit."

Students who get in through their own merit are ultimately different from those who get in through connections.

"Does she mean I should relay her message?"

"... No, I'll do it myself."

Pretending to turn around casually, Horikita Manabu noticed his younger sister secretly watching him.

"You don't need to come see me off on graduation day; I have a feeling you'll say something that will make me angry."

"Don't be so heartless, senior." Aoyama smiled helplessly.

"That's how heartless we are."

You can leave your lovely little sister to me now, brother-in-law, you can go with peace of mind.

Given Aoyama's personality, it seemed unlikely that he would say something like that, Horikita Manabu showed no mercy.

Chapter 306 The Day of Parting

First day of spring break.

The school gate, which should have been deserted, was instead crowded with more students than during school hours.

The cool sea breeze carried suppressed sobs and laughter.

Although it was the first day after graduating from the third year, most of the third-year students chose to leave the prison of Kouiku today because they hadn't left the school for three years.

"Look how popular your brother is, you should learn this Suzune too." Aoyama's gaze fell on Horikita Manabu, who was surrounded by students.

Although there were many third-grade students gathered at the school gate, there were also quite a few first- and second-grade students, all surrounding their friends and seniors who were about to part ways.

In terms of the number of students surrounding him, Horikita Manabu is overwhelmingly larger.

While most of the other third-year students had finished saying goodbye, Horikita Manabu was still busy saying goodbye to his juniors and classmates.

"Um."

Her gaze was fixed on Horikita Manabu, and without refuting him, Horikita Manabu Horikita Suzune looked at him.

She bumped shoulders, exchanged fist bumps, and hugged her friends. His expression was still somewhat aloof, but you could see a smile in it. She saw a different side of her brother.

She also realized that the image of her aloof older brother in her heart never existed in the first place.

Didn't I tell you not to come?

As the students around him left one by one, Horikita Manabu revealed a look of disdain, directed at Aoyama, one of the Student Council members who had surrounded him.

Well, since we're already here...

With a smile, Aoyama made way for Shiina and the others, and went to say his final goodbyes to Horikita Manabu.

See you in two years, senior.

"... Okay, see you in two years."

When it was Aoyama's turn to speak again, Horikita Manabu expected him to say something witty, but instead he heard only extremely bland words.

He responded calmly after a slight surprise.

In the very end, it was his own younger sister who appeared before him.

Her long, black hair, like the finest black silk, was lifted by a sudden, stronger breeze, swaying in the wind and adding to her beauty.

Her exquisitely beautiful face was now filled with reluctance.

"As that bastard Aoyama said, we'll meet again in two years," Horikita Manabu said, his tone softening.

"I want to know why my brother chose to distance himself from me, even though he doesn't dislike me."

Horikita Suzune grabbed Horikita Manabu's sleeve, as if she wouldn't let him leave until she told him.

After today, she will never see her brother again for two years; this is her last chance.

"Do you mean I won't let go until I tell you?"

"Yes, I must hear it from my brother's own mouth." Horikita Suzune faced Horikita Manabu's cold gaze, her body trembling slightly, but she did not look away.

"I know my brother might be thinking, but even if I told him, he wouldn't understand."

"But if I say nothing, I will only be immersed in endless suspicion."

Horikita Suzune had no idea what was right or wrong in Horikita Manabu's eyes.

Even with Aoyama's analysis, she could only get a rough idea and couldn't be certain.

"I'm sorry, it was definitely my fault."

After a moment of silence, Horikita Manabu spoke again.

"The reason I distanced myself from you is because I felt you had immense potential, far greater than mine. I couldn't forgive you for seeing my pursuit as the ultimate goal."

"You can treat people with more kindness than I do; this is your strength, a strength I've always wanted to learn but haven't been able to achieve."

"But you gave up this talent."

Compared to Horikita Suzune, who is becoming more and more like him now, Horikita Manabu prefers her when she was a child.

When Horikita Suzune was a child and hadn't yet chased after him, he saw her as a kind and gentle child, just like Ichinose is now.

Because he couldn't be gentle with others, he suffered a lot and was misunderstood countless times.

Fortunately, his three years of school life were not wasted, and he had friends who understood and supported each other.

"Actually, I know very well that you, Suzune, prefer short hair. Saying you like long hair was just a lie I made up on the spot." Horikita Manabu's gaze fell on her well-maintained long hair.

Upon seeing his younger sister at the entrance ceremony, he immediately realized that Horikita Suzune was still chasing after him.