Classroom of the Elite, Keima Katsuragi's Love Brain Battle

And then you gave it to a classmate?

For the first time, Manabu Horikita felt a sense of unreality.

"I, I, I just, I promised..."

Suzune Horikita's linguistic system seemed to have been possessed by Airi Sakura, as she couldn't squeeze out a single coherent sentence for the longest time.

"Horikita-san knows I like playing games, so she gave me a game cartridge. She also discussed improving our class's grades with me earlier. She is indeed full of flaws right now, but she is also growing."

Keima Katsuragi walked up to Manabu Horikita, stopping less than a meter away, and spoke with neither servility nor overbearingness.

"Reaching Class A is impossible for her as she is now, but you cannot guarantee that Horikita won't be able to do it in the future, can you?"

"Do you have that much confidence in her?"

"Confidence isn't exactly the right word, but even if it's only one percent, isn't that still a possibility?"

"Katsuragi..."

Suzune Horikita's brain, which had been on the verge of shutting down, gradually cleared. She finally realized that Keima Katsuragi was speaking up for her.

The streetlamp cast a dim, yellow light over Keima Katsuragi, but the gaze behind his glass lenses was incredibly earnest.

This was the first time Suzune Horikita had seen Keima Katsuragi like this.

He was also very serious when discussing topics related to games.

But Suzune Horikita could feel that these two types of seriousness were completely different.

"As long as she remains like this, further growth is impossible."

Manabu Horikita said, his tone filled with disappointment.

"But that is also a problem with you, as her older brother."

Keima Katsuragi replied.

"What did you say?"

Manabu Horikita's expression turned stern, his gaze landing on Keima Katsuragi like a sharp blade.

If it were anyone else, they would likely feel fear just from meeting his eyes.

Yet, there was no change in Keima Katsuragi's expression as he continued:

"Actually, you care deeply about your sister, but you aren't good at expressing it directly. You only resort to using these kinds of words to strike her down, which will only produce the opposite effect."

"I assume you want your sister to walk her own path. You could have just stated your true feelings, but you didn't. In this regard, you are actually inferior to your sister; after all, your sister is capable of speaking her true heart."

"Come to think of it, you two siblings are really awkward. Things that could be solved with a proper conversation have ended up like this. If you want to continue, I don't mind; just pretend I'm a passerby."

Keima Katsuragi criticized Manabu Horikita without mercy, to the point where the latter couldn't help but widen his eyes slightly.

Keima Katsuragi was the first person to ever speak to him like that.

And...

Today was the first time they had ever met, yet Keima Katsuragi had seen through his true attitude toward Suzune Horikita at a single glance?

Manabu Horikita did not know that Keima Katsuragi had already encountered many characters with similar settings in games, which was why he had seen through the essence of this pair of siblings instantly.

Regardless of the reason, however, Manabu Horikita became increasingly curious about Keima Katsuragi—

At this moment, Keima Katsuragi seemed to have lost interest in the two people before him and lowered his head to look at his game again.

He suddenly clenched his fist and swung it toward Keima Katsuragi's face.

Keima Katsuragi did not dodge; he simply stood where he was, his gaze focused on the screen.

And Manabu Horikita's fist stopped one centimeter away from Keima Katsuragi's face.

"You didn't even dodge?"

Manabu Horikita asked; he had just been trying to test Keima Katsuragi.

"Why would I dodge? There is a surveillance camera right here, and the school has explicit rules prohibiting fighting. As the Student Council President, I'm sure you wouldn't make such a low-level mistake."

Keima Katsuragi replied with absolute calm, not even lifting his head.

Manabu Horikita studied Keima Katsuragi; for the first time, he felt as though he had been seen through by someone else.

Suzune Horikita, standing to the side, heard their exchange and looked up, only then noticing the surveillance camera nearby.

"Keima Katsuragi, you really are a very special student."

Manabu Horikita withdrew his hand, the corners of his mouth curling into an almost imperceptible arc.

"Would you like to join our Student Council? We happen to be missing a secretary—"

"I refuse."

Keima Katsuragi's refusal came without a shred of hesitation.

"And what is the reason for your refusal?"

"If I join the Student Council, it won't be convenient to play games, would it?"

"?"

Volume 1: Chapter 46: Suzune Horikita Conquest Mission, In Progress

A flicker of imperceptible astonishment flashed through the eyes of Manabu Horikita.

For that split second, Manabu Horikita even thought he had misheard.

However, he simply shook his head slightly and spoke:

"Forget it. If you ever change your mind one day, you can come find me. I look forward to your performance in the future, Keima Katsuragi."

After saying these words, Manabu Horikita turned his head slightly to look at Suzune Horikita:

"Suzune, I never expected that you would actually have a friend."

His gaze seemed to have changed compared to before.

"I..."

"And a very special friend at that. Cherish this."

Without waiting for any response from Suzune Horikita, Manabu Horikita left the area first.

Keima Katsuragi did not look at Suzune Horikita either; he simply focused on playing his game and began to walk away from the spot.

"Wait a moment, Katsuragi-kun!"

Just as Keima Katsuragi was about to leave, Suzune Horikita hesitated for a moment, but still called out his name.

"What?"

"Sorry for making you see that scene, but... thank you..."

As she spoke, Suzune Horikita bit her lip.

Keima Katsuragi had indeed spoken up for her just now.

And...

Keima Katsuragi seemed to have voiced the true inner thoughts of her brother, Manabu Horikita.

Because Manabu Horikita had not refuted Keima Katsuragi's words at the time.

This allowed the knot in Suzune Horikita's heart to loosen just a little.

She had always viewed Manabu Horikita as her goal, constantly chasing after him.

The only response she ever received was Manabu Horikita's increasingly cold attitude.

This led Suzune Horikita to a misunderstanding, believing that she simply wasn't doing well enough, which caused her to choose to chase after Manabu Horikita even harder.

Only just now did she realize that her way of thinking had been wrong.

So...

Was that what her brother meant?

However, the moment she thought about how those words had come from the mouth of Keima Katsuragi, Suzune Horikita felt very embarrassed.

It wasn't annoyance, nor was it frustration.

Suzune Horikita wasn't even sure what that feeling was.

But Suzune Horikita also realized one thing.

Perhaps she had never truly understood Keima Katsuragi at all.

"Don't thank me. I told you, I was just passing by."

"Passing by? This isn't the way back to the dormitory building."

"Just walking around aimlessly."

Keima Katsuragi still didn't look up.

"If there's nothing else, I'm leaving."

"Wait."

"What is it now?"

"Are you busy later?"

"Yes."

"Doing what?"

"Playing games. There are still several games I haven't played yet! Because of that study session, I lost over an hour of gaming time tonight!"

Hearing Keima Katsuragi's words, Suzune Horikita didn't feel surprised; it was a very 'Keima Katsuragi' answer.

"That means you're free. Let's talk for a bit."

"I'm not."

"I did give you a game today, didn't I?"

"That was something you promised yourself earlier, wasn't it?"

"Just now, you seemed to use that opportunity to lecture me quite thoroughly. I feel like you were holding some personal grudges, and I haven't even settled that score with you yet."

Suzune Horikita glared at Keima Katsuragi.

"I suppose I can spare a moment to talk."

Keima Katsuragi followed Suzune Horikita and sat down on a nearby bench.

It was getting late, so there weren't many people around.

"Katsuragi-kun, were you serious about what you said to my brother earlier?"

Suzune Horikita turned her head, her gaze fixed on the side of Keima Katsuragi's face.

"Or were you just helping me out of a tight spot?"

The other party was completely focused on playing his game.

Suzune Horikita had to admit that, although he looked like nothing more than a gamer, Keima Katsuragi's grooming and appearance were actually quite decent.

Unlike the stereotypical shut-in, Keima Katsuragi looked refined and clean.

She hadn't paid any attention to that before.

"Is that important?"

"It is very important."

Suzune Horikita repeated herself, her expression turning serious.

"First of all, I wasn't helping you out of a tight spot, because you only help someone if they are in a predicament, and you weren't in one at the time. Although the senior looked like he was about to make a move, he actually had no intention of doing so at all."

Keima Katsuragi's fingers didn't slow down despite his talking.

"Furthermore, the possibility of you being promoted to Class A at this stage is zero; that much is beyond doubt."

"You..."

Suzune Horikita lowered her head, a hint of defiance still lingering in her eyes.

"As for what will happen in the future, I am not certain either. Whether or not new possibilities exist depends entirely on you."