Companions

After waiting nearly another hour...

Horikita returned to the classroom carrying a two-tiered lunch box and a thermos.

"Suzune-chan~ Why were you gone so long? I'm starving to death."

The moment the voice rang out, Horikita's face visibly darkened, but she quickly recovered.

"Because I made tonkatsu, I ate my fill at the dormitory before coming."

Horikita's expression was proud.

She knew that tonkatsu tasted best when it was just out of the fryer.

Suzuki Tsubame's reaction didn't disappoint her either.

"Kuso! Don't you know the best time to eat tonkatsu is within half an hour of it coming out of the pan?"

His voice was loud enough to startle Sakura, who was four meters away.

"I know." Horikita nodded.

"Then why did you—! Kuso!"

Seeing Suzuki Tsubame's exaggerated act, Horikita suppressed her emotions and asked softly, "So, are you eating or not?"

In truth, Horikita Suzune had loved to laugh as a child. It was only because she thought her brother was outstanding and wanted to emulate him that she had become the stern, unsmiling person she was now.

"I'll eat!"

The lunch box had two layers. The first held curry rice and three pieces of tamagoyaki; the second was the tonkatsu.

The thermos still contained miso soup.

Hakikita, you bastard! Suzuki Tsubame looked at Horikita with gratitude.

"Don't misunderstand. I just hope that a month from now, you'll accept your loss and obey me properly."

Horikita held Crime and Punishment and read silently. Though her expression hadn't changed much, it was clear she wasn't as cold as yesterday.

Worth noting was that this morning, before classes officially started, Horikita had dragged Suzuki Tsubame to find Chabashira Sae and signed a contract.

The contract stated: If Horikita Suzune could enter Class A by next month, Suzuki Tsubame would unconditionally work for her, and vice versa. The penalty for breaking it was expulsion.

Under Chabashira Sae's complicated gaze, Horikita Suzune signed first.

"Don't worry, Suzune. Next month, I'll take good care of you," Suzuki Tsubame said with certainty, though Horikita Suzune interpreted it differently.

"Mm," she nodded lightly, pleased at having recruited a powerful ally.

The curry rice had a rich, authentic flavor. The tamagoyaki was wrapped with various vegetables, tender and sweet.

The tonkatsu especially—because it was stored in a separate small box, it hadn't lost much of its texture. The crust was crispy, the meat tender and juicy, and paired with the curry sauce, it was absolutely delicious.

"Suzune," Suzuki Tsubame said with a serious face.

"Hm?" Seeing his earnest expression, Horikita temporarily closed her book and turned to face him.

"Have you ever thought about marriage?"

At these words, Horikita's face flushed hot.

She was embarrassed, right?

The compass would tell you the answer.

After that little incident, Suzuki Tsubame successfully finished his lunch.

Horikita had made a lot. If it had been Suzuki Tsubame from two days ago, he definitely wouldn't have been able to finish it. But now that his physique had strengthened, even his appetite had increased.

Just as Suzuki Tsubame was wondering whether he should wash the lunch box and return it, or simply hand it back to Horikita—

"Give me the lunch box. What do you want for dinner?"

[Ding! Solitary Maiden, completion: 20%. Reward: Ball Sports Mastery, including but not limited to: basketball, soccer, table tennis, badminton...]

"Huh?"

"Didn't you say it? I cook, you pay for the ingredients." Horikita looked at him strangely.

When she had gone back, she'd thought it over carefully. Suzuki Tsubame was very capable. Even with the contract binding him, there might be times when he didn't put his full effort into things.

As the saying goes: To capture a person's heart, first capture their stomach. So she decided she had to make him unable to leave her.

Suzuki Tsubame obediently handed the empty lunch box back to Horikita.

He also transferred points to her. After tonight, he wouldn't have to worry about the odd-number problem anymore.

Hmm... The quest's progress was probably because Horikita had understood the meaning of partnership?

No! The quest was only 20% complete. Maybe it was just that... she had recognized her own weakness and needed someone to help her gather information.

In any case, the road ahead was long!

The afternoon classes were still easy, right up until the last period—Chabashira Sae's lesson.

Suzuki Tsubame had never experienced such a relaxed class atmosphere in his life.

Right now, he was full of energy with nowhere to spend it.

"Suzune, don't you think Chabashira-sensei looks like you in the future?" Suzuki Tsubame whispered.

He reached out and lightly poked Horikita, but she ignored him.

Suzuki Tsubame poked Ayanokoji next. "Ayanokoji, don't you think so?"

"Mm, they really are quite alike." The robotic voice came through as Ayanokoji merely nodded without turning around.

"Ayanokoji, do you think Horikita could grow up to be as... ow! What're you doing!" Suzuki Tsubame jumped up.

The whole class's gaze snapped over, but Horikita had already withdrawn the hand holding the compass.

"Suzuki Tsubame, don't get carried away." Chabashira Sae didn't pause her chalk writing on the blackboard, nor did she intend to punish him.

When Horikita Suzune had dragged Suzuki Tsubame to her this morning to sign the contract, Chabashira Sae knew she'd struck gold.

Anyway, according to her original plan, she was just aiming to make Class D earn the lowest points and screw them over.

Now that she had this trump card, she was even more inclined to slack off. Since she didn't know what preparations to make anyway, she'd just let him play.

"First time Chabashira-sensei's scolded someone. That guy's way too full of himself." Black Room Masterpiece, Yamauchi Grandmaster, couldn't help gloating right away.

The others didn't chime in. The boys saw no need.

The girls, on the other hand, were swayed by looks. Suzuki Tsubame's handsomeness was the complete opposite of Hirata Yosuke's.

One was brimming with passion, the other gloomy and brooding. While the former's personality was more popular, Suzuki Tsubame's looks edged ahead.

Of course, he still fell a bit short compared to the readers.

Yamauchi Haruki, you already have a death wish!

Looks like Ike won't be receiving Yamauchi's return gift.

Suzuki Tsubame decided to help Yamauchi find a better place to develop. Staying at Advanced Nurturing was a waste of his talent.

...Mm... school ended at three in the afternoon. That was something Suzuki Tsubame never dared to dream of before.

"Today at five in the afternoon, a club orientation will be held at the First Gymnasium. Students interested in clubs, please gather at the First Gymnasium. I repeat..."

A cute female voice came through the electronic speaker above the blackboard.

[Ding! Limited-time mission activated: Crazy God of Gamblers. Back in the day, Chen Daozai used... Please have the host earn 3.7 million personal points. Time limit: 11:59:59]

Twelve hours, 3.7 million? Seriously? System.

Suzuki Tsubame did the math carefully. It seemed not entirely impossible.

"Suzune, are you joining a club?"

Horikita Suzune shook her head. She didn't want to waste time on useless things.

"Ayanokoji, what about you? Any club you want to join?"

"Mm..." Ayanokoji thought for two seconds.

"I was previously affiliated with the Going-Home Club. I suppose it'll be the same now."

"Well, in that case, I'll head off first. Kano~" Suzuki Tsubame seized the chance to slip away.

Just as Suzuki Tsubame stepped out of the classroom, a hand instantly grabbed him and pulled him aside.

The move was lightning fast. If not for the heavy sensation on his arm, Suzuki Tsubame might have nearly elbowed her twice.

"Ah, it's Kushida. What's up?"

The one grabbing him was Kushida Kikyo. She was currently leaning a small portion of her weight on Suzuki Tsubame.

Must be tired, right?

"Suzuki-kun, we haven't exchanged contact info yet."

She looked both playful and cute.

"Ah, right, sorry about that, Kushida-san."

Horikita was just too interesting. He'd momentarily forgotten about Kushida Kikyo.

"No problem. Adding it now works too!" Kikyo smiled playfully, her rose-red eyes narrowing into slits.

"Oh, okay." Suzuki Tsubame obediently pulled out his phone.

After adding each other, Kushida Kikyo seemed a bit shy.

"What's wrong, Kushida-san?" Suzuki Tsubame knew what she wanted but still asked with concern.

"Suzuki-kun, you can just call me Kikyo."

Kushida Kikyo pressed a little closer, her eyes looking pitifully charming.

"Are you close with Horikita-san? I want to be friends with her."

Kikyo, I admit you're charming and know how to use it. If I weren't cheating, I'd really be fooled by this act of yours.

"Well, why choose Horikita? Her personality doesn't suit you at all."

"Actually, my dream is to become friends with everyone in the school. If I can't even manage my own classmates..."

Kushida Kikyo looked like she wanted to say more but held back. What she said, though, had nothing to do with the real answer. She was simply getting close to Horikita Suzune to have her expelled.

"Mm, I understand."

"I'll help you."

Suzuki Tsubame didn't refuse her.

Even if he did, Kushida Kikyo would just find someone else to help.

It was better to keep Kushida Kikyo under his control from the very start.

"I'll find a chance to arrange a meeting for you. Don't worry, leave it to me."

"Mm, thank you! Suzuki-kun."

Kushida Kikyo smiled happily.

But how much of it was genuine?