Brother Complex and Sister Complex

Following a figure out of the dormitory, he saw that their destination seemed to be nearby.

The figure slowly came to a stop and turned around, his expressionless face coming into view.

"What do you want, Hikigaya?"

Ayanokoji spoke up, and Hachiman stopped as well.

"Nothing. I was just curious why you were out alone so late."

"I was just thirsty and went to the lobby to buy a drink."

"Then why did you come out here?"

Hachiman glanced around at the dim surroundings and asked in confusion.

"Nothing much. I saw Horikita and was a little concerned, so I came out to take a look."

Ayanokoji revealed his true purpose, avoiding any wild speculation from Hachiman.

"Oh~ Actually, I was the one who asked Horikita to come out." Hachiman smiled and scratched his head.

Ayanokoji did not reply immediately. His calm eyes carefully studied Hachiman.

"I see. Looks like I was overthinking it."

Ayanokoji sighed, then walked toward Hachiman, seemingly intending to return to the dormitory and stay out of this mess.

"Sorry, sorry. Could you keep this a secret for me?"

"Sure, I will." As Ayanokoji passed him, he gave a slight nod.

With that, he left. Listening to his footsteps fade away, Hachiman continued forward.

Once he reached the corner behind the dormitory, Hachiman hid himself and listened to the conversation between the two main characters ahead.

"Give up, Suzune. There's nothing you can do."

"No, Brother! I'll definitely make it to Class A!"

Oh? A conversation between a brother complex and a sister complex. What an interesting sight.

Hachiman recalled their personalities. A pair of equally awkward siblings who had never let the other know how they truly felt.

As the argument reached its end, Horikita's older brother—Manabu Horikita, the current Student Council President of this school—grabbed Horikita's hand and forcefully lifted her up.

Seeing that it was time for his entrance, Hachiman decisively stepped out and moved behind President Horikita.

He reached out, grabbed Manabu's hand, and said with a smile, "Hey, hey, what do you think you're doing to my cute Horikita?"

"Who are you?"

His gaze swept sharply over Hachiman from behind his glasses, and the aura of authority around him was enough to make one shrink back.

"I'm her boyfriend. Please let go."

At the word "boyfriend," President Horikita frowned, a flash of fierceness appearing in his eyes.

He quickly released Horikita, then used his other hand to seize Hachiman's wrist, intending to pull Hachiman's hand away.

Seeing this, Hachiman obediently let go as well. But in the next second, a cold glint flashed, and a fist swung at him with full force.

Hachiman remained calm and swiftly sidestepped. One hand lightly tapped Manabu Horikita's fist, throwing his attack off course.

But it was not over yet. Manabu Horikita was in no hurry as he turned and threw a spinning kick. Hachiman reacted quickly, dodging backward and taking two steps back to widen the distance between them.

"What an interesting freshman. Suzune, it seems your taste in boyfriends is fairly decent."

Manabu Horikita pushed up his glasses. As a sister complex, he was especially irritated right now.

It felt like an old father who had painstakingly raised his daughter, only for her to end up dating some blond punk.

Although Hachiman was far better than any blond punk, Manabu simply could not accept it.

"Brother, you've got it wrong. He isn't—"

Horikita hurriedly tried to explain, but Manabu Horikita had no patience to listen and charged at Hachiman again.

Hachiman's eyes widened. Is this bastard seriously not done yet?

Just as Hachiman was about to strike back, he noticed that someone seemed to have appeared where he had been hiding earlier.

His clenched fist slowly loosened. Pretending that he had not reacted in time, Hachiman raised both arms before his chest and took Manabu Horikita's punch head-on.

A sharp pain shot through his abdomen. Before he even had time to feel nauseated, a large foot whipped into his face and sent him flying hard.

Hachiman rolled across the ground two or three times before finally coming to a stop.

Manabu Horikita seemed to have vented enough. Remembering his identity as Student Council President, he did not press the advantage.

"Hikigaya!"

Horikita swiftly passed by Manabu Horikita and crouched beside Hachiman, looking slightly worried.

"Suzune, if this is all the resolve you have, you'll never catch up to me."

With that, Manabu Horikita shoved both hands into his pockets, pushed up his glasses in a self-important manner, and left the scene.

Not only him—Hachiman could sense that the hidden presence had vanished as well, as though it had never been there.

Dormitory 404.

Horikita held a first-aid kit as she applied medicine to Hachiman's injuries. She had not wanted to do this, but thinking that Hachiman had been hurt because of her, she could only obediently treat him.

After all, the one who had attacked him was her brother.

"Please don't make that kind of joke again. It puts me in a difficult position."

Horikita spoke expressionlessly, and the force she used to apply the medicine increased noticeably.

Hachiman smiled. "Your brother really cares about you."

"No, he doesn't. Since I was little, he's never even given me a proper look."

Horikita refuted him, unconsciously voicing what was in her heart.

"Come on, just because I made a joke, he beat me up like this, didn't he?"

Hachiman wore an expression of utter sorrow, tears streaming down his face.

"And he's the Student Council President too. He hits way too hard."

The next moment, Hachiman grimaced in pain.

"Ow, ow, ow! Go easier."

"Don't say bad things about my brother."

Horikita glared at him and spoke with displeasure.

"Yeah, yeah, got it." Hachiman nodded helplessly.

Horikita did not seem inclined to investigate why Hachiman had appeared there. She was not that curious and simply did not care about such things.

After treating Hachiman's injuries, Horikita silently packed up the first-aid kit.

"Honestly, we could have just gone straight to your room. Why did you specifically come to mine to treat your injuries?"

"Do you want another wound on your face?"

"Sorry, I said too much."

Hachiman decisively lowered his head, not daring to keep running his mouth.

Horikita finished putting away the first-aid kit and picked up the cup on the table, taking a sip of hot water.

"Horikita..."

"Hikigaya..."

The two spoke at the same time for no apparent reason, and both froze.

"You go first." Horikita set down her cup and gestured for Hachiman to speak.

"It's nothing important. I just wanted to know what you plan to do next. If you're aiming for Class A, giving up on Sudo and the others like this isn't exactly a wise choice."

Horikita sighed, as though Hachiman had reminded her of something unpleasant.

"I don't intend to continue. When faced with someone unwilling to cooperate, no matter how good my academic ability is, I can't help him. It would only waste my time."

Horikita said coldly, unconcerned about what would happen to Sudo afterward.