Confession

Yun Lan felt like laughing at the barrage of questions she fired at him, but he was also a little helpless. He really did need time to sort out his thoughts. He knew perfectly well what Manabu Horikita's meaningful attitude and eventual acceptance meant. But they were still right outside the Student Council Room—not exactly the best place for a detailed explanation.

He raised a hand and gently rested it on Ichinose's head, ruffling her hair in a soothing way to interrupt her. "All right, all right, Honami. One question at a time." He made a shushing gesture and glanced around, indicating that someone might pass by. Then he continued in a more casual tone, "Well... it's a little complicated. I can't explain it in just a few words."

When he saw Ichinose immediately pout, her expression saying, You're not getting out of this, he hurriedly added, his tone coaxing and reassuring, "I'll tell you tonight, okay? After dinner, we'll find somewhere quiet. I promise I'll tell you everything, exactly as it happened." He blinked, trying to seem more convincing. "Definitely tonight."

Ichinose stared at him for a few seconds, as if judging whether he was brushing her off again. But when she saw the earnestness in his eyes—or at least what seemed like earnestness—and the familiar warmth that put her at ease, she finally gave in and sighed softly.

"Fine..." she drawled, sounding a little reluctant. But she quickly turned serious, held up a finger, and wagged it at Yun Lan. "It's a promise! Big Brother Lan, you're not allowed to hide anything or make up some excuse to fool me! I want to know what you really think!"

The instant she finished speaking, perhaps to reinforce their "promise," or simply because she instinctively wanted reassurance, she reached out and naturally took hold of Yun Lan's hand, which hung at his side.

Her hand was warm and soft, a little damp with nervousness or excitement. The gesture came so naturally, as if they had long been accustomed to such closeness. Ichinose herself might not have fully realized what it meant. She simply looked up at him with clear blue eyes, waiting for his final promise.

Yun Lan paused. The warmth in his palm stirred something deep inside him. He looked at Ichinose's eyes, filled with worry, curiosity, and an insistence he couldn't refuse. The calculations and weighing of options he had used to deal with Manabu Horikita seemed to quietly fade away.

He gently squeezed her hand in return, though he soon loosened his grip and simply let her hold on to him. A smile, far more genuine than the one he had worn in the Student Council Room, appeared on his face. It held a hint of helplessness, but more than that, a tender indulgence.

"All right. It's a promise." He nodded, his voice softening. "I won't hide anything or brush you off. I'll tell you everything tonight."

At last, Ichinose's face blossomed into a radiant smile, and her slight displeasure vanished. "Mm!" She nodded enthusiastically. Still holding Yun Lan's hand, she didn't let go. Instead, she naturally tugged him toward the stairs. "Then let's go eat first! I know the cafeteria has a good set meal today!"

The evening sun stretched their shadows across the empty hallway floor, where they intertwined. The tension of the power struggle that had just ended seemed to quietly dissolve in the simple, warm connection between them, replaced by a calm that belonged only to the two of them, bound by a secret promise.

Yun Lan let her lead him along. He glanced at their hands, briefly clasped together, then looked up at the girl's lively figure ahead. A complicated thought flickered in the depths of his eyes.

Tonight... how should I tell her? The whole truth? Or... should I hold something back? The thought flashed through his mind, but as he watched Ichinose's trusting figure, he let out a soft breath.

Forget it. At least... I won't lie to her.

Yun Lan's dorm room was so tidy it was almost stark, furnished to the school's standard specifications. Apart from a few open textbooks and notebooks on the desk, there was hardly any sign of personal life. Ichinose was clearly familiar with the place. As soon as the door closed, she acted as if she were back on her own turf. Without hesitation, she went to the bed, patted it gently, then turned and sat down with elegant but unmistakably firm poise. The soft mattress sank slightly beneath her. She braced herself with both hands at her sides and lifted her chin a little, her blue eyes sparkling in the gentle light as she stared straight at Yun Lan, who was still standing by the door, looking somewhat caught off guard.

"Okay," she said, her voice clear and especially distinct in the quiet room. "There's no one else here now, and no Student Council rules to worry about. Big Brother Lan, you can come clean now." She pronounced the last three words one at a time, leaning forward slightly with a focused gaze. The mood felt almost like an interrogation—or, rather, like a no-escape confession between close friends.

Her stance made Yun Lan's scalp prickle. He closed the door and slowly walked over to sit on the chair beside the desk, trying to put a little distance between them. But Ichinose's gaze followed him like a shadow.

"Uh..." He rubbed the back of his neck and gave her a weak, ingratiating smile. "Come clean... What does Honami want to know? Could you... give me a little hint?" What is with this atmosphere? I'm the one who passed the Student Council's test, so why does it feel like I've been caught doing something wrong and dragged in for questioning by my little sister?!

Ichinose clearly wasn't falling for it. She narrowed her eyes slightly, evidently unhappy with Yun Lan's attempt to wriggle out of answering, but soon resumed her serious, questioning expression.

"Fine, then I'll ask." She sat up straighter and laid out her questions clearly. "What exactly did you mean when you told President Horikita you were willing to 'help' him? Manabu Horikita is so capable. He looks like he doesn't need anyone's help, so why would he need anything from a freshman like you? And did you really join the Student Council just because you 'wanted to join' and thought 'feelings were important'? I don't believe you."

Her questions went straight to the heart of the matter. While waiting outside the door, she had clearly been turning over the fragments she'd overheard and the information she already had.

Yun Lan knew he couldn't fool her. He let the deliberately meek look fade from his face, sighed, and sat up straighter. His expression grew serious and composed, even taking on the sharpness he showed when analyzing a situation.

"Honami, where do you think the true center of power in this school lies?" Rather than answering directly, he countered with a question.

Ichinose paused to think. "Is it... points? Or the teachers?"

"It's the rules." Yun Lan shook his head. "And in this school, to some extent, the Student Council is the students' 'legislative' and 'executive' body. It creates or helps create many of the regulations that affect our lives, holds a great deal of information, and can even influence the distribution of points and class evaluations. The Student Council President is at the core of that body."