Time flew by, and before they knew it, Friday had arrived—the start of the weekend and students' happiest day.
They had plenty of points to spend, which made the days off all the more precious.
3:30 p.m., inside Class 1-B.
With a shoulder bag slung over his shoulder, Kanzaki Ryuji exchanged a look with Horikita Etsuka at the back of the classroom. After they nodded to each other, he left.
Ichinose came over too and waved. "I'll head off first, then."
Horikita Etsuka nodded. "Go ahead."
Once everyone had left, he stretched and looked at Himeno Yuki, who was absorbed in her novel beside him. "Himeno, aren't you leaving?"
Himeno Yuki shook her head. "You go ahead. I want to finish this chapter first."
"Okay." Horikita Etsuka didn't say anything more. He slung his bag over his shoulder and left the classroom.
Over the course of the week, he'd gotten to know nearly everyone in the class. He'd also begun forming friendships with Ichinose, Himeno Yuki, Kanzaki Ryuji, Shiranami Chihiro, and others.
[Ichinose is someone I can trust. She's just a little too kind.]
Horikita Etsuka walked on, lost in thought.
"Hey, Horikita! Want to come play soccer with us?" A hand landed on Horikita Etsuka's shoulder. He turned around.
"Oh, it's Shibata."
Shibata Kaede was a boy who loved playing soccer. Among the girls in class, he was nearly as popular as Horikita Etsuka, thanks to his handsome looks and impressive athleticism.
Among the boys, though, his popularity was nothing special. Horikita Etsuka, on the other hand, was second only to Ichinose in class, thanks to his excellent people skills.
And the reason he was only second to Ichinose was that she was practically an incubus in human form. She had a unique charm that made even Horikita Etsuka want to get close to her, let alone everyone else.
"So, you coming or not?" Shibata said with a grin.
"Of course I'm coming." Horikita Etsuka had taken care of everything he needed to, so a little relaxation sounded nice.
They headed to the soccer field together.
After Shibata gave him a quick introduction, Horikita Etsuka soon hit it off with the others, and they quickly split into teams and started playing.
On the field, the players raced around freely.
Outside the field, a group of lively girls gathered, chattering excitedly.
"Wow, it's Shibata Kaede! He's so handsome," one girl said, holding a bottle of water.
"Hmm? Hey, have you noticed the boy beside Shibata Kaede? He has such a nice smile."
"Oh! You're right! I noticed him too! Should we ask for his contact info later? Ahh, I'm kind of scared to."
Even with her headphones on, Himeno Yuki heard the girls talking. She pulled one earbud out and looked up, spotting Horikita Etsuka sweating it out on the field.
"Horikita's this good at soccer?"
Himeno Yuki had never seen Horikita Etsuka play before. She paused for a moment, then sat down on a bench nearby, where the trees provided just enough shade from the sun.
Nakanishi Jiro was walking along a path on campus, fiddling with the camera in his hands, when he happened to spot Himeno Yuki sitting on a bench.
Curious, he followed her gaze and saw only Horikita Etsuka darting back and forth across the field.
"Man, comparing yourself to someone like that is depressing." Nakanishi Jiro shook his head and continued on his way, still fiddling with his camera.
The first game ended soon afterward. Horikita Etsuka spotted Himeno Yuki sitting on the bench outside the field. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and said to Shibata,
"You guys can start without me. Don't wait—I'm going to take a break."
Shibata gave him an OK sign.
Horikita Etsuka walked up to Himeno Yuki, about to greet her, when she took a bottle of water at room temperature from her bag and handed it to him.
"Drink this after all that exercise."
Horikita Etsuka looked at Himeno Yuki's calm expression, smiled awkwardly, and took the bottle. He gulped down the water.
Droplets slid down his throat, and Himeno Yuki's gaze followed them.
His sweat had soaked through his thin white shirt, revealing glimpses of his well-built muscles beneath. His lean, muscular physique looked perfect.
Horikita Etsuka noticed her gaze. He screwed the cap back on and teased, "Himeno, do you like what you see?"
Though Himeno Yuki was usually good at keeping her emotions in check, such a blunt question still made her blush.
"W-what do you mean, 'like what I see'?" Her eyes darted away.
Seeing the girl's shy expression, Horikita Etsuka felt more and more certain he'd come to the right school. Thank goodness his big sister had been assigned to Class D!
And just like that, the person they'd been talking about appeared. A familiar yet strangely distant voice rang out.
"Etsuka? You can play soccer?"
Horikita Suzune stood some distance away, watching Horikita Etsuka with a calm expression. Behind her, Kiyotaka Ayanokoji raised a hand in greeting, his face expressionless.
"Come on, Sis. There's a lot you don't know about me." Horikita Etsuka put his hands on his hips and said confidently, "Who says I can't be a hidden gem?"
Horikita Suzune didn't answer him directly. She simply studied Himeno Yuki, who was sitting on the bench, then said, "I need to discuss something with you."
Himeno Yuki put her headphones back on. "I'll get going, then."
"Okay. Bye." Horikita Etsuka waved with a smile.
Horikita Suzune watched Himeno Yuki walk away, then turned to Kiyotaka Ayanokoji. "Ayanokoji, don't you feel awkward just standing here?"
Kiyotaka Ayanokoji blinked, his expression unchanged. "Yeah. I guess I was slow to react."
With that, he strode off.
Horikita Suzune pressed down on her skirt and sat on the bench, crossing her long, snow-white legs. She patted the spot beside her.
"Etsuka, sit."
[What am I, a dog?] Horikita Etsuka grumbled inwardly as he sat down.
Horikita Suzune looked at Horikita Etsuka, who had sat at the other end of the bench, and felt a little exasperated. Was she really that scary?
"Etsuka, come sit a little closer."
Horikita Etsuka scooted over three or four centimeters.
Horikita Suzune's expression darkened. "Three..."
The next second, Horikita Etsuka immediately moved beside her, leaving only a fist's width between them.
Only then did Horikita Suzune nod in satisfaction.
Then she said seriously, "Sudo's being harassed by people from Class C again."
"Did they get physical?" Horikita Etsuka asked curiously.
Horikita Suzune shook her head.
"No. Luckily, you warned me the other day, so I went back and talked to the class. Ken Sudō didn't hit anyone, but when he got back to class, he took his temper out on the rest of us."
Horikita Suzune waited for Etsuka to speak, but he didn't say anything. The two fell silent.
"Etsuka, is something holding you back?" Horikita Suzune finally broke the silence.
Horikita Etsuka rested his chin on his hand. "No. Actually, I already have a plan, and I've started putting it into action."
"Hmm? What plan?"
Horikita Etsuka didn't answer directly. He looked at Horikita Suzune. "Sis, do you have anyone you trust?"
"Someone I trust..."
Kiyotaka Ayanokoji's face came to mind. She couldn't say she trusted him; he was simply the only person she'd interacted with during the past week.
Horikita Suzune fell silent. It seemed she didn't have anyone...
Horikita Etsuka could tell from her expression that she didn't, so he sighed. "Sis, you can do it on your own, too."
Horikita Suzune finally relaxed. "Relying on your own strength is the most reliable way."
Horikita Etsuka was at a loss for words.
[Ahh, she really is Jail Sis!]
P.S. Thanks to [Luanxie de Ni Ye Xin] and [Eastern Little Salted Fish]. The gifts you've given me mean more than friendship—they're what keep me going, and they made me happy for a long time.
٩(*´◒`*)۶
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