Ichinose's Inquiry

Sudo crossed his arms, looking unconvinced:

"What do you want to say to me, kid? If it's an apology you're after, I might consider it."

Although Etsuka felt a bit of distaste for the person in front of him, his expression remained unchanged as he spoke:

"Sudo-san, I believe you are well aware of Article 3, Chapter 7 of the school rules: intimidation or acts of violence against a fellow student can result in immediate expulsion in the most severe cases."

Etsuka had no intention of debating right or wrong with Sudo; he simply stated the consequences with a blank expression.

"Are you trying to scare me? I only grabbed her collar a little bit." Sudo's expression shifted slightly.

"Scare you?" Horikita Etsuka raised his arm and pointed toward the security camera in the corner of the ceiling: "The library surveillance has already recorded your actions just now very clearly."

Sudo's face changed. Just as he was about to start arguing, Etsuka didn't give him a chance and continued:

"My sister was trying to help you out of kindness. Even if her words were lacking in tact, that does not constitute a reason for you to resort to violence."

"Your actions have escalated a matter of [academic ability] into a matter of [moral character]."

"Expulsion? Or having your basketball career tarnished before it even begins? Which is more serious? Do you need me to calculate that for you?"

Horikita Etsuka spoke with such eloquence and flawless logic that Sudo was left speechless for a moment.

Etsuka paused briefly, feeling the timing was right, and said:

"You have two choices now."

"One, apologize to my sister and guarantee that such an incident will not happen again. We can treat today's events as a momentary loss of control."

"Two, you can stick to your attitude, but I will immediately submit the video recorded by the library to the Disciplinary Committee and the Academic Affairs Office. By the way, the class representative of our Class B just happens to be a member of the Student Council."

Horikita Etsuka didn't mention his brother, the Student Council President, but merely brought up Ichinose, the class representative of his own class, which instantly placed a silent pressure on Sudo.

After finishing, Etsuka simply waited quietly for Sudo's response.

Sudo clenched his fists tightly. He looked at Etsuka, whose expression hadn't changed in the slightest, and felt filled with resentment.

However, he was swayed by the other's words; a small voice inside him kept telling him that what the other was saying was correct.

"Fine... I apologize." Sudo gritted his teeth and spat out the words with difficulty.

He looked toward Suzune's position and bowed slowly: "I'm sorry, Horikita, please forgive me."

Horikita Suzune was slightly stunned; she really hadn't expected Sudo to apologize.

Suddenly, Suzune's tone was no longer so sharp.

"It's fine. My way of speaking was indeed a bit harsh."

Horikita Etsuka glanced at the cluttered books on the table, then changed his tone and said to Suzune:

"Sis, you guys can't continue this study session today, right? Let's go get something to eat."

The shift in his tone from before to after was as drastic as it could be.

Suzune looked at her younger brother, clearly a bit dazed, because in all the years she had known Etsuka, she had never seen this side of him. She suddenly felt that she didn't understand her brother at all.

"Yeah, okay." Suzune felt that the study session really couldn't continue today, so she walked toward the main entrance with Etsuka.

As they passed Sudo, Etsuka reached out and patted his shoulder: "Control your temper. Your physical fitness is fine, so there definitely won't be any problems when it comes to basketball."

After saying that, he walked out of the library without looking back.

[Is there really no problem when it comes to basketball?...]

For some reason, Sudo felt that the words coming from the other's mouth were exceptionally genuine and highly convincing.

Suddenly, Sudo bowed directly to Hirata:

"Hirata, I want to ask you to please continue teaching me!"

Hirata smiled gently: "Of course, that's fine."

"What? Sudo, did you take the wrong medicine?" Yamauchi Haruki looked at him in disbelief.

"Indeed. Yamauchi, we should study hard too." Ike Kanji tidied up the books on the table and said slowly.

"Tch, seriously? Have you guys forgotten what we said when school started? Honestly, you have no sense of commitment at all."

Yamauchi grumbled as he put down his bag, forced to take out his books with a miserable expression.

With Ike Kanji and Sudo both starting to study seriously, how could he not study too?

Just as the group was making a ruckus, Karuizawa Kei watched Horikita Etsuka's retreating back, seemingly deep in thought.

Meanwhile, Kushida's brow furrowed for a split second, though it was instantly masked by her lively and cute expression.

"Come on, let's all work hard together!"

Inside the cafeteria.

Horikita Suzune ate her meal in silence.

"Sis, you really need to change your temper in the future. Learn from me: talk to people in their own language, and talk to ghosts in theirs." Etsuka began to boast, looking quite pleased with himself.

Suzune rolled her eyes at Etsuka and popped a green bean into her mouth: "If I were like you, saying nothing at all, Sudo would never have woken up."

"Sis, you can't just lie with your eyes open. I clearly encouraged Sudo at the end," Etsuka said with dissatisfaction.

Suzune did not answer. As she ate, she recalled how Etsuka had looked in the library, and looking at the somewhat goofy Etsuka before her now, she couldn't help but feel a momentary sense of daze.

The Etsuka right now is a completely different person from the one just a moment ago...

If the current Etsuka was a lively, cheerful boy with a humorous side, the Etsuka in the library had been an extremely rational person, as if he were devoid of any emotion and concerned only with results.

"Hey, Sis, are you even listening to me?" Etsuka muttered, expressing his dissatisfaction.

"No."

"..."

Dusk fell.

On the way back to the dormitory, Etsuka held a lemonade and drank it heartily as he walked.

"Sis, I misjudged you; you really do understand me."

Etsuka gave Suzune a thumbs-up.

Watching Etsuka, who was so easily satisfied by a single cup of lemonade, Suzune couldn't help but tease him: "Etsuka, to be this happy over just a cup of lemonade, you really are like a child."

Etsuka waved his hand: "Sis, stop talking. You aren't much older than me. If Big Brother said that, I might begrudgingly accept it, but sometimes you act like a child yourself, Sis."

"I do not. That was in the past; it would absolutely never happen now. As one grows older, their way of thinking changes. How could I possibly act like a child?" Suzune said firmly.

Suddenly, Etsuka freed his right hand, extended his middle finger, and poked it into Suzune's armpit.

Suzune's expression changed instantly, revealing an indescribable look.

She immediately stepped forward, simultaneously swatting Etsuka's hand away: "Etsuka, what are you doing!"

Suzune's expression turned slightly annoyed.

Horikita Etsuka held the lemonade with both hands while taking a sharp sip, not answering, only quickening his pace.

"To think you'd dare use a trick from when we were kids." Saying this, Suzune also extended her fingers and walked quickly toward Etsuka.

"Huh? Horikita Etsuka!" Ichinose stood downstairs at the dormitory building, waving a greeting, seemingly wanting to ask something.

The corners of Etsuka's mouth curled up slightly. He pulled down his lower right eyelid to make a face at Suzune behind him, then stepped forward to approach Ichinose and said: "Ichinose-san, are you looking for me for something?"

Suzune suppressed her anger, walking toward Etsuka step by step.

Although she wanted to retaliate immediately, she felt completely embarrassed with an outsider present.

Suzune could only pat Etsuka on the back: "Etsuka, I'll be heading off first then."

Etsuka responded with a sunny smile: "Take care!"

Watching Etsuka and Suzune, Ichinose felt a wave of warmth wash over her.

Their sibling relationship must be very harmonious; how wonderful...