A Serious and Forceful Girl

"I happen to have a good idea." Shi Cheng put on an unfathomable expression.

"What is it?" Kushida Kikyo looked expectant.

"You just need to arrange a chance encounter when the time comes." Shi Cheng casually named a location, then said nothing more.

Watching Shi Cheng's departing back.

Kushida Kikyo hurried after him. "Shi Cheng, will this really work?"

Based on what she knew of Horikita Suzune.

Kushida Kikyo did not think this plan could go smoothly.

"Just trust me." Shi Cheng waved a hand casually.

Kushida Kikyo still wanted to argue. Her plan was clearly better.

But that would not fit her persona.

In the end, Kushida Kikyo could only encourage him. "I understand, Shi Cheng. I believe in you."

School was over soon enough.

Unlike those leaving in small groups.

Horikita Suzune was all alone.

Unable to bear it, Shi Cheng decisively extended an invitation. "Horikita, could you come somewhere with me?"

Hearing this, Kato Megumi, who sat behind him, quietly packed away her lunchbox and gave the two of them plenty of space.

Horikita Suzune raised an eyebrow.

She did not believe Shi Cheng was being kind out of the goodness of his heart.

Besides, it was not as if he had no one to accompany him.

Of course, the most important thing was.

She did not need it.

Horikita Suzune said coldly, "Put away your little schemes and focus more on your studies."

With that, she unceremoniously slung her bag over her shoulder and prepared to leave.

Her response was within expectations.

Shi Cheng immediately played his trump card, saying eerily from behind her, "Horikita, you really are rude. Looks like I have no choice but to come clean."

"All right, President Horikita actually asked me to come get you."

The moment those words left his mouth.

The icy expression on Horikita Suzune's face instantly crumbled. She asked anxiously, "My brother...?"

"No time to waste. Let's go."

The Horikita Suzune who had been anxious just moments ago calmed down in an instant.

The speed of that change was astonishing.

Shi Cheng clicked his tongue in admiration.

He could not understand what she was trying to be reserved about.

She had clearly already exposed herself.

That also gave Shi Cheng a definite answer.

They really were brother and sister.

What he could not quite figure out, though, was.

At the stadium.

Why had Horikita Suzune looked so nervous?

She was clearly desperate to see President Horikita now.

He could not figure it out.

Shi Cheng scratched his head.

He could only remark that these siblings really knew how to play.

Because they had delayed for a while.

The hallway was now extremely quiet.

Only the footsteps of the two of them continued to echo.

Horikita Suzune could not help probing, "Did President Horikita say anything specific to you?"

Faced with her expectant gaze.

Shi Cheng gave her a strange look and spread his hands.

"Can't you be a little more honest? What's wrong with calling him brother? Is it that embarrassing?"

Shi Cheng teased, "No way, no way. He's the president of the Student Council, you know."

Horikita Suzune pressed her cherry lips together and said with difficulty, "Fine, don't tell me."

Seeing her attitude.

Shi Cheng really wanted to say.

Tsunderes were out of fashion.

Charging ahead was what was in style now.

Arriving at the place they had agreed on beforehand, Shi Cheng fiddled with his phone. "Let's wait a bit. President Horikita got held up."

"Mm."

Horikita Suzune stared at the only passageway, craning her neck in anticipation.

Before long, footsteps approached, and unconcealable joy appeared on Horikita Suzune's face.

She stretched her neck and said, "Brother... Why are you here!"

The emotionally stirred Horikita Suzune nearly choked on her breath, and her attitude instantly turned exceedingly unfriendly.

Kushida Kikyo acted as though she had not noticed, maintaining her gentle smile.

"A club I'm interested in is over here, so I came to take a look."

Horikita Suzune did not respond. She merely swept Kushida Kikyo with a cold glance before ignoring her.

Based on Kushida Kikyo's explanation.

Shi Cheng completely pegged her for what she was.

Kushida Kikyo was a very calculating girl.

If Horikita Suzune had not been entirely focused on President Horikita right now.

She would have immediately seen through this clumsy excuse.

Then gotten into a huge argument with her.

After all, this place was so remote.

What club would be located here?

The Service Club?

Then she had wandered onto the wrong set.

Kushida Kikyo ignored Horikita Suzune's cold treatment and stepped right up to her.

"Horikita, please be my friend!"

Those sudden words.

Not only left Horikita Suzune stunned.

Even Shi Cheng was dumbfounded.

Wait, she was dropping the act already and just laying her cards on the table?

Could she not at least look around first?

She was coming right at her face from the start?

Shi Cheng stood to one side, watching the show listlessly.

This was a war between girls.

It really was not his place to interfere.

Worried that her brother might show up, Horikita Suzune anxiously tried to shake off this clingy Kushida Kikyo.

She said sharply, "I made myself very clear last time. Could you please stop harassing me?"

Shi Cheng strongly agreed with that.

Though he did not know whether the two of them truly had any history.

If Kushida Kikyo really had that much free time.

She could completely come harass him instead.

Because he was not afraid.

Kushida Kikyo was finally frightened, but she still did not back down. She merely sniffed.

With concern on her face, she said, "But Horikita, you've always been alone in class, haven't you? I'm really worried about your situation."

That sounded truly terrifying on further thought.

Kushida Kikyo, who was never short of people around her, actually had the time to worry about Horikita Suzune's situation.

Just how much attention had she been paying to her?

She had grasped it so precisely.

Did she install surveillance on her?

Unfortunately, Horikita Suzune did not think of that.

She was simply resisting on instinct.

Of course, it would not have mattered even without that instinct.

Because she did not need friends.

She had been used to it since long ago.

Horikita Suzune took a deep breath and firmly rejected her again.

At last, Kushida Kikyo cracked. Pointing at Shi Cheng, she said, "Don't you have Shi Cheng as a friend? Why can you accept him but not me!"

Tears welled in Kushida Kikyo's eyes, making her look utterly pitiful.

"He's not..." Horikita Suzune paused. Considering her brother, she did not explain clearly and brushed it off. "This has nothing to do with you. Please leave."

"I won't give up."

Leaving behind those resolute words, Kushida Kikyo covered her tear-streaked face and fled this place of heartbreak.

Horikita Suzune did not seem troubled at all.

She was merely waiting for the next person to arrive.

Seeing this.

Shi Cheng silently began inching toward the exit.

"Horikita, I owe you an apology."

Shi Cheng's attitude was exceedingly sincere.

Horikita Suzune, who had been eagerly anticipating things, felt her heart drop. Her lips trembled as she asked, "Why?"

Though she had a rough guess in her heart.

She still clung to hope.

Her adorable, contradictory reaction made Shi Cheng want to laugh.

But he held it in.

Shi Cheng said solemnly, "I actually just wanted to know whether you were related to President Horikita. After all, it's nice to have shade under a big tree."

Having said that.

As Horikita Suzune's expression grew colder and colder.

Shi Cheng swiftly made his escape.

"I'll be going now! You should head home early too."