Himeno Yuki

To be honest, Horikita Etsuka was quite interested in getting to know his "big sister" desk-mate. Of course, he didn't want to get to know her just because she was a beauty!

After adding Ichinose on social media, Ichinose left to attend to some business.

The afternoon was long, and the students in the class had already formed small cliques. They each had their own things to do, so there weren't many people left in the classroom.

Horikita Etsuka sat at his desk, resting his chin on one hand, quietly waiting for his desk-mate to return.

Before long, the rhythmic sound of footsteps echoed from the hallway outside.

Himeno Yuki walked into the classroom with a cold, pretty face; she seemed to be chewing bubblegum at all times.

She first glanced with surprise at Horikita Etsuka sitting at his desk, then bent down to organize the books in her desk compartment. She didn't seem to have any intention of greeting him.

Horikita Etsuka wasn't in a hurry, just resting his chin on his hand and watching Himeno Yuki organize her books in silence.

Himeno Yuki had a well-proportioned figure, and the patch of snow-white skin on her thighs could be called an absolute territory, while her long purple ponytail further accentuated her aloof temperament.

Himeno Yuki finally couldn't take it anymore. Without looking up at Horikita Etsuka, she continued organizing her books and said in a cold tone, "Don't you know it's impolite to stare at people?"

"Sorry, beautiful things always make it hard to look away," Horikita Etsuka replied.

"So, do you need something? Horikita Etsuka-kun?"

Still that cold voice, and Himeno Yuki still didn't look up. She just kept organizing on her own, seemingly not taking Horikita Etsuka seriously at all.

But beneath that desk, her cheeks were as red as a ripe apple; she simply didn't dare to look up and face Horikita Etsuka directly!

Many students in the class might have misunderstood; they mistook Himeno Yuki's love for solitude and poor social skills for aloofness.

However, even Horikita Etsuka hadn't noticed this.

He just thought Himeno Yuki was being too aloof.

"I do have some things to discuss, but I mainly wanted to get to know you. After all, we'll be spending three years together, and we're desk-mates, to boot."

The cheeks under Himeno Yuki's desk finally cooled down. She looked up with an expressionless face, slightly dodging Horikita Etsuka's gaze as she said:

"Then, how do you want to get to know me?"

Horikita Etsuka looked at her evasive eyes with a bit of confusion and said in a teasing tone:

"Hmm? How about we go to the store together to pick up some daily necessities first?"

"Yeah, okay." Himeno Yuki nodded.

Horikita Etsuka was stunned for a moment. He hadn't expected her to agree without hesitation; he had thought it would take some effort.

"Let's go then."

"Yeah."

The two stood up and walked out of the classroom one after the other.

There was basically no conversation on the way. They walked side by side, keeping a basic, polite distance between them.

Horikita Etsuka noticed that although Himeno Yuki's walking posture was normal—one could even say she walked with confidence—her eyes were fixed straight ahead on the road.

[Introverted? Aloof? Or just likes being alone?]

After a brief time together, Horikita Etsuka judged that she simply enjoyed solitude, and her cold language was just a lack of social skills.

"Himeno-san, may I ask you a question?"

Himeno Yuki stopped in her tracks. She chewed her bubblegum and looked at Etsuka, saying, "Go ahead."

"Do you really like being alone that much?"

Horikita Etsuka guessed that she was the type of person who enjoyed loneliness, so he wanted to verify his hypothesis.

Himeno Yuki's small mouth stopped moving: "Hmm... pretty much. Don't you think enjoying loneliness is the greatest pleasure?"

Himeno Yuki took a few steps forward, covered her short skirt, and sat on a bench. She looked up at the sky and said slowly:

"I used to yearn for group life, and even made unnecessary self-compromises just to fit into a group."

"And now?" Horikita Etsuka asked comfortably.

"Now..." Himeno Yuki bent over, her left hand balled into a fist, resting her chin on it as she wore a thoughtful expression:

"Now I feel great. I have plenty of time to do what I like, and I don't have to compromise to fit into a group."

Horikita Etsuka didn't offer any judgment, just a simple smile: "Well, let's get into the store now, otherwise there will be a lot of people buying daily necessities later."

"Yeah, let's go."

The two arrived at the store, where goods were displayed in a dazzling array on the shelves; one could say all kinds of daily necessities were available.

They picked out the things they needed.

Just then, a voice came from the next aisle: "If you don't know how to recommend products, then don't."

Etsuka's ears had grown calluses from this arrogant tone.

Sure enough, Horikita Suzune was holding toothpaste and walking toward Etsuka's side. As soon as she looked up, she saw Horikita Etsuka and the purple-haired girl beside him.

Her cold gaze landed on Etsuka's face.

Horikita Etsuka suddenly felt it get a bit cold in the area. He waved his hand in greeting: "Big sister, you're here to buy things too?"

Horikita Suzune first glanced at Himeno Yuki before answering, "Yeah, I'm here to buy some daily necessities."

Just then, the boy with the center-parted hair whom they had seen on the bus walked up from behind, his tone indifferent as he spoke:

"Horikita, I didn't realize you had a younger brother."

Hearing this, Horikita Suzune's face darkened. She turned around and said, "Is there any reason I need to tell you about that, Ayanokoji-kun?"

"Hmm, well, as classmates, I thought it would be appropriate to introduce him." Ayanokoji responded with a completely expressionless face, his tone not changing in the slightest.

Horikita Etsuka watched Ayanokoji, his mouth twitching.

No way, this guy with the center part—is his skin thicker than mine?

Horikita Suzune let out a long sigh; she seemed quite helpless when it came to Ayanokoji. She pointed a finger at Etsuka and said, "He is my younger brother, Horikita Etsuka."

"Hello, Horikita Etsuka. I am Kiyotaka Ayanokoji." Ayanokoji remained as impassive as ever.

"Uh, hello."

Horikita Etsuka was privately wondering if the guy was suffering from facial paralysis.

"Right." As if remembering something, Horikita Suzune took out her student terminal: "What is your student ID number?"

Horikita Etsuka honestly recited his student ID number.

After tapping on her student terminal for a moment, Horikita Suzune looked up and gave Horikita Etsuka a strange look: "Etsuka, what are you up to?"

"Ahem, nothing much, just... you know, studying."

Horikita Etsuka didn't panic, just casually brushing it off.

My sister's personality isn't the type to press me on these things anyway.

Just as Horikita Etsuka expected, Suzune couldn't be bothered to pursue the matter further. She simply nodded and said:

"Are you done shopping? Want to head back together?"

The boys' and girls' dormitories were in the same building and both were equipped with elevators, but since the girls' dorms were on the upper floors, that was why Suzune had asked.

"No need." Horikita Etsuka waved his hand: "You go ahead, Sis."

"Mm." Horikita Suzune took one last look at Himeno Yuki before walking away, and Ayanokoji simply nodded at Horikita Etsuka before following after her.

From start to finish, Himeno Yuki and Horikita Suzune hadn't exchanged a single word, though they had locked eyes quite a few times.

Himeno Yuki looked at Horikita Etsuka with interest and asked, "Is Horikita-kun afraid of your sister?"

Horikita Etsuka shrugged: "Afraid isn't quite the word, it's more like a suppression of my life dimension."

This remark successfully made Himeno Yuki laugh.

"Horikita-kun, you must be very popular with girls."

"I don't know. As a girl yourself, do you like me, Himeno-san?"

Himeno: "..."

After the two finished their shopping, they headed toward the dormitory building.

Along the way, Himeno Yuki became much more talkative, though most of the topics were initiated by Horikita Etsuka.

"By the way, what was it you wanted to tell me at the beginning, Horikita?" Himeno Yuki asked.

"Actually, it wasn't anything important." Horikita Etsuka carried the plastic bags and stretched: "It's just that Ichinose wants you to join the gathering tonight. She seems worried about you being marginalized."

"I see." Himeno Yuki nodded: "Ichinose-san is a very kind person."

Horikita Etsuka stopped in his tracks and turned to look at Himeno Yuki:

"So, what is your decision, Himeno-san?"

Himeno Yuki shook her head: "Horikita, I've told you before, I'm someone who prefers solitude, so I don't really want to attend these kinds of crowded gatherings."

"I see." Horikita Etsuka nodded: "Alright, I understand. I will relay your message exactly as it is."

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