With a creak, the bus finally came to a slow stop.
Horikita Etsuka stretched as he followed Horikita Suzune off the bus.
Etsuka glanced casually at the entrance. Apart from the imposing words "Advanced Nurturing High School" above the gate, there were two people who looked like teachers, standing on either side of it.
His gaze settled on the devices in their hands. They looked like phones.
What are they holding?
Suzune stopped and turned to Etsuka, one hand on her hip.
"Etsuka, we can look around the school after we go in. For now, let's head inside."
"Yeah, coming." Horikita Etsuka nodded and walked through the gate.
"Students, please hand over your communication devices."
One of the teachers standing at the entrance spoke up.
Suzune and Etsuka handed over their phones without asking any questions.
Handing over their communication devices was mandatory.
It wasn't just that the notice of admission had spelled it out. Their older brother, Horikita Manabu, also attended this school, so they knew a little about the situation.
The school's policy was to cut off all contact with the outside world for the next three years.
The teacher took out two brand-new Student Terminals and handed them to the pair. "These are your Student Terminals, and they also serve as your student IDs. Please make sure you keep them safe."
"Okay." They each replied and walked onto campus.
"It's been two years since we last heard from him." Etsuka clasped his hands behind his head and looked around at the surroundings. "Sis, do you miss our brother?"
Suzune's steps faltered for a moment. She didn't answer, only turning her gaze to the large screen scrolling along the wall.
It was filled with names and the classes they'd been assigned to.
"Let's not talk about that now. Come check the class assignments," Suzune said.
Etsuka felt a headache coming on as he watched the screen scroll.
Then he turned to the teacher at the entrance. "Excuse me, teacher. Sorry to bother you, but could you look up which class a student is in?"
The teacher paused. "Yes, of course. We're here to help guide the new students."
"Oh, I see." Etsuka gave him a sunny smile. "Could you please check which class I'm in? My name is Horikita Etsuka."
"Sure."
As the teacher looked it up, Etsuka added, "Could you check my sister's class too? Her name is Horikita Suzune."
Etsuka knew his older sister wasn't the type to ask people for help, so he figured he might as well ask for her.
The teacher nodded. A few seconds later, he looked up and said, "Horikita Etsuka is in Class 1-B, and Horikita Suzune is in Class 1-D."
Suzune furrowed her brows. "Why am I in Class D?"
The teacher glanced at her. "I couldn't tell you. You should hurry to your classes and report in."
"Okay." Etsuka made an OK sign, then smiled and waved at the teacher. "Thanks, teacher. I'll head to class now."
"Go on, then. Be sure to report in as soon as possible," the teacher replied with a smile.
Etsuka nudged Suzune forward as she walked along, frowning in thought. "Come on, Sis. What's there to think about? It's just a random class assignment."
"Mm." Suzune answered and let the matter go. After all, both she and Etsuka had been among the top students, so a random assignment was the only explanation that made sense.
There was no way something shady was going on with the class assignments, was there?
"Then I'll head to my class first!" Etsuka waved and parted ways with Suzune.
Suzune stayed where she was, watching Etsuka's back as she thought of Horikita Manabu.
"Brother..."
"Not bad. This place seems nice." Horikita Etsuka surveyed the facilities as he made his way along, offering his opinions and sneaking glances at the youthful girls passing by.
He had to admit, the girls at this school were really beautiful.
That made Etsuka, who had never been in a relationship, feel a little shy.
When he reached the door of Class B, he saw that several girls were already chatting inside.
Horikita Etsuka knocked. In an instant, the gazes of three or four girls turned toward him.
"Hi, everyone," Etsuka said, waving openly.
The girls paused. The blue-haired girl with braids at the front brightened and raised a hand to greet him in return. "Hi, there!"
Horikita Etsuka walked over and held out his hand with a sunny smile.
"My name is Horikita Etsuka. It's nice to meet you all."
The blue-haired girl with braids reached out and shook his hand. "I'm Sakurajima Sweet. It's nice to meet you, Horikita!"
"Horikita Etsuka..." said the short-haired girl beside Sakurajima Sweet. "That name sounds really familiar!"
Horikita Etsuka raised his brows in surprise. "Have we met before?"
"No." The short-haired girl shook her head.
"Oh! I know, I know!" Another girl, with her hair tied into two buns, raised her hand and hopped excitedly. "It's really similar to the name of the third-year Student Council President!"
Sakurajima Sweet rested a finger against her lips, thinking. "I think it is! What was his name again? Horikita Manabu?"
Then she blinked and looked at Horikita Etsuka. "Are you two related?"
Horikita Manabu? The Student Council President?
Horikita Etsuka understood at once.
So my brother became Student Council President.
He smiled faintly. "Actually, he's my brother."
"Really?!" All three girls looked astonished.
"You don't know? Horikita-senpai is really handsome. Lots of girls at school like him!" the short-haired girl said cheerfully.
"Is that so? My brother really is popular, then."
As Horikita Etsuka answered, he thought to himself:
These new students sure picked up information fast. I just arrived, and they already know who the Student Council President is.
Horikita Etsuka and the three girls seemed to have endless things to talk about, and they kept chatting and laughing.
Class 1-B was lively at that moment, with the students chatting happily.
In one corner of the classroom, Ichinose Honami, her pink hair flowing over her shoulders, was deep in conversation with Shiranami Chihiro, whom she had just met.
"You're such a nice person, Ichinose," said the slender, brown-haired Shiranami Chihiro with a warm smile.
Ichinose Honami gently shook her head and replied modestly, "Not at all. I'm really enjoying talking with you, Chihiro."
Chihiro blushed at that and nodded shyly, still holding Ichinose's hand tightly.
Ichinose Honami's gaze happened to pass over the empty seat by the window, and a flicker of curiosity rose in her heart.
"Ichinose, is something wrong?" Chihiro noticed Ichinose's gaze and looked up at her in confusion.
Ichinose Honami snapped back to attention and quickly shook her head gently. "It's nothing. I just noticed that seat is still empty."
After spending a little time with the class, Ichinose Honami had already gotten to know some of her classmates. Even so, one student still hadn't shown up.
She wondered what the last classmate would be like.
Before you continue