That night, what Kushida had said earlier didn't come to pass.
Normally, An Xiao should have been happy.
But at that very moment, he would rather Kushida's words had come true.
Though he was standing right outside his own room, An Xiao huddled in a corner, shivering like an outsider.
He looked like a nobody.
How had things ended up like this?!
Half an hour earlier.
An Xiao dragged his exhausted body back to his dorm room.
"Why couldn't I just keep my mouth shut back then!"
"Keep my mouth shut! Keep my mouth shut!"
The thought that Kushida would be coming over soon made An Xiao feel uneasy all over.
He didn't mind Kushida's other side, but for some reason, she seemed to have a particular passion for insulting Horikita.
From her face to her figure, from her personality to her conduct...
She could keep it up for hours.
Some people might enjoy listening to a beautiful girl insult someone, but An Xiao wasn't one of them!
Besides, you couldn't just enjoy it for hours, could you?!
"Ah, well. I'll deal with it as it comes." An Xiao muttered to himself. He had only just put his hand on the doorknob, without even turning it, when the door swung open from the inside. A familiar long-haired girl with straight black hair appeared before him.
"I heard you come back earlier. Why have you been standing outside for so long?"
"..." An Xiao.
An Xiao drew a deep breath, then forced a smile.
"Horikita, can I ask you something?"
"How did you get into my room?"
"Didn't you give me your room key last month?"
"But didn't I get it back from you?"
"..." Horikita Suzune.
Horikita didn't answer. Her gaze simply drifted to one side.
"Your wall... looks pretty nice."
Weren't all the dorm room walls the same?
An Xiao felt a little worn out, but didn't say anything else.
She's the younger sister of my boss and my financial backer. She's the younger sister of my boss and my financial backer. She's...
After silently repeating that to himself several times, An Xiao finally calmed down. He went into the living room, grabbed a chair, and sat down with his arms around its back.
"Go on, what do you need me for this time? You went back after all, didn't you? The study group's been going well lately, hasn't it?"
"It's not about the study group." Horikita shook her head and brought over another chair, sitting down across from An Xiao.
"Chabashira-sensei came to see me. She hopes I can lead Class D and help it rise to Class A."
Who? Horikita? Had I been seeing things?
Several question marks rushed into An Xiao's mind as Horikita finished speaking, and he couldn't help giving her another once-over.
"What are you doing?" Horikita asked, looking at An Xiao with some distaste when she noticed him sizing her up.
"Nothing. I'm just a little surprised." An Xiao looked away. He suddenly felt that there was a reason Chabashira-sensei had approached Horikita.
After all, the two of them were pretty similar.
Who else would keep information secret, get caught, and then immediately tell someone she wanted them to lead Class D to Class A?
Contradictory and bizarre.
It was just like some of Horikita's decisions.
"Were you just thinking something rude?" Horikita asked with a frown. But she didn't dwell on it. Just as she was about to continue, someone knocked on the door of An Xiao's room.
"Are you expecting someone else?" Horikita said, starting to get up and answer it.
Remembering who else might come that night, An Xiao broke into a cold sweat.
"W-wait! I'll get it myself."
An Xiao hurried to his feet and pressed Horikita back into her chair before walking to the door.
He cautiously opened it a crack and was just about to speak when Kushida yanked the door open and walked straight in. She shut it behind her, still talking as she came in. "Why are you taking so long to open the door? And, do you know what that Horikita did today again..."
Kushida's tirade stopped halfway through. Behind An Xiao, Horikita Suzune stood watching her, her face expressionless.
The room fell silent.
"It's getting late. I'll head home now," An Xiao said, cautiously reaching for the doorknob. Just as he was about to turn it, a hand clamped down hard on his shoulder.
"Where do you think you're going?" / "Don't you dare!"
In the living room, An Xiao watched the two girls sitting there with unreadable expressions, feeling thoroughly on edge. Inside, he was screaming.
I've really done something to deserve this! Anyone, please come save me!
"Heh. An Xiao, you're always so cheerful, aren't you? Why aren't you smiling now? Can't think of anything to be happy about?" Kushida was the first to break the silence. She sneered at An Xiao, then fixed her glare on Horikita Suzune, who sat across from her with a calm expression.
"So, why are you here?"
Because of what had happened at the door, Kushida had stopped pretending around Horikita and let the insults fly.
Horikita frowned at Kushida's words. Holding the cup of tea in her hands, she said coolly, "Looks like someone needs to wash out her stomach. Eat too much garbage, and even the words that come out of your mouth get filthy."
"What did you say?!"
"Oh, I see. Eating too much garbage has even made you hard of hearing."
"All right, all right, you two, stop arguing!"
Seeing the two of them about to get into an even bigger fight, An Xiao hurriedly interrupted.
At last, they both fell quiet.
"But maybe this is for the best," Horikita said suddenly. "At least now I know you really do hate me. My instincts weren't wrong."
"Yeah, I hate you most of all. Would you like me to tell you why?" Kushida sneered.
"No need. Knowing that is enough. At least now I can be completely at ease when dealing with you."
Horikita stood and glanced at An Xiao.
"Looks like we can't talk tonight. I'll come see you again when I have time." After saying that, Horikita looked at Kushida once more, then left.
"Are you going to keep insulting her?"
"What do you think?" Kushida rolled her eyes and answered An Xiao irritably.
"But we're not done here." Kushida leaned toward An Xiao and grabbed him firmly by the collar, pulling him closer. "I'll put things with Horikita aside for now. You and I still have some unfinished business, don't we?"
An Xiao wanted to ask what any of this had to do with him, but when he saw Kushida's eyes fixed on him, something seemed to occur to him. In the end, he reluctantly gave in.
"Then what do you want?"
"What do you think?"
"...How about I make you some more desserts from now on?"
"...When I want some, I'll choose what kind. And..." Kushida let go of An Xiao's collar, her face returning to its usual gentle, lively expression.
"Whenever I want to insult Horikita, I'll come to your room. Remember to open the door."
After saying that, Kushida straightened her clothes and headed for the door.
Watching her leave, An Xiao shuddered. Suddenly remembering something, he hurried into the kitchen, took out a small, yellowish piece of cake, and handed it to Kushida.
"Next time you feel like insulting Horikita, eat a small piece of this. If you still want to insult her after you've finished, come find me. I promise I won't refuse."
Kushida looked curiously at the thing An Xiao had handed her, weighing it in her hand.
"Are you sure this stuff is really that amazing?"
"Absolutely. But there's one condition: take small bites when you eat it. It's best to chew it slowly, with a bowl of water nearby."
"Okay. By the way, what's this cake called?"
An Xiao stared at Kushida and fell silent for a moment before finally uttering a few words.
"Yellow Cake."
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