Horikita Suzune Is Picking Up Speed 2

As she was thinking this, her gaze inadvertently swept over Horikita Suzune beside her, only to find that the other was also looking in the direction where Wang Meiyu and Inogashira Kokoro were playing.

Horikita Suzune's face remained expressionless, but her gaze seemed to carry a hint of... observation?

"You seem to be enjoying this situation?"

Horikita Suzune suddenly spoke, her voice not loud, but clearly reaching Kushida Kikyo's ears.

She didn't turn her head; her gaze remained fixed on the two laughing and joking people in front of her.

Kushida Kikyo paused slightly, then her smile deepened, her tone light and sincere.

"Isn't it normal for friends to bicker and argue? That's part of friendship. Look how happy they are now."

She pointed to Wang Meiyu and Inogashira Kokoro, who were laughing together about who was right and who was wrong.

Horikita Suzune remained silent for a few seconds, seemingly processing Kushida's words.

Her long eyelashes drooped, concealing the emotions in her eyes.

Just when Kushida Kikyo thought the conversation was over, Horikita Suzune suddenly turned her head.

His clear eyes looked directly at her, his tone earnest.

"I need to talk to you after dinner. Do you have time then?"

This sudden, purposeful invitation made Kushida Kikyo's heart skip a beat again.

It's here!

She became certain of her guess almost instantly.

Horikita Suzune's compromise was indeed not unfounded!

A mixture of wariness and intense curiosity rose within her.

"Yes, Horikita."

Her answer was crisp and clear, her eyes revealing just the right amount of doubt and a hint of "willingness to help".

"Um."

Horikita Suzune gave a brief reply and then turned her gaze back towards the cafeteria.

The four of them quickly found a relatively quiet corner in the cafeteria and sat down.

During the meal, Wang Meiyu and Inogashira Kokoro carefully tried to find topics to talk about with Horikita Suzune.

Although Horikita Suzune wasn't quite comfortable with this kind of social interaction, she still tried her best to respond to every word.

Although social Kushida Kikyo thought Horikita Suzune's performance was too stiff.

"Horikita, how did you solve that math quiz problem last time?"

Wang Meiyu mustered her courage and asked, her fingers nervously twisting together.

Horikita Suzune put down her chopsticks and thought about it seriously for a moment.

"You mean the third proof question?"

After receiving an affirmative answer, she explained her problem-solving approach in detail, and even picked up a napkin to draw a diagram.

Inogashira Kokoro widened in surprise.

"Oh, I see! I didn't understand a thing the teacher said in class..."

She stuck out her tongue shyly.

Kushida Kikyo observed this scene, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes.

As the meal drew to a close, Kushida Kikyo checked the time, a perfectly timed apology on her face.

"Xiaomei, Kokoro. I have some things to discuss with Horikita later, so please excuse me."

"Okay, Kikyo, you can go ahead and get busy!"

Wang Meiyu and Inogashira Kokoro nodded simultaneously, their eyes darting curiously between the two of them, but they wisely refrained from asking any further questions.

Thank you for your hospitality.

Horikita Suzune also stood up and nodded slightly to the two of them.

Kushida Kikyo led Horikita Suzune away from the noisy cafeteria.

The afternoon sun was blazing, and the air was thick with the oppressive heat typical of summer.

The two walked one after the other along the tree-lined path leading to the girls' dormitory, dappled shadows falling on them.

Kushida Kikyo deliberately quickened her pace, wanting to walk alongside Horikita Suzune, but Horikita Suzune seemed unaware and maintained a distance of about half a step ahead.

"How's Horikita's studying going lately? Final exams...?"

"Proceed as planned."

Horikita Suzune's concise and clear answer interrupted Kushida Kikyo's small talk, clearly showing she had no interest in idle chatter.

Kushida Kikyo's smile froze for a moment, then she continued leading the way as if nothing had happened.

Soon, the two arrived at Kushida Kikyo's room.

The room was neat and cozy, filled with a girlish atmosphere.

Kushida Kikyo opened the door and stepped aside to let Horikita Suzune enter first.

"Please come in, Horikita, make yourself at home."

Then he closed the door behind him, making a soft "click" sound, shutting out the outside world.

She walked quickly to the small refrigerator, opened the door, and cold air wafted out.

"Would you like something to drink? We have juice and milk."

Horikita Suzune glanced around at the space, which was completely different from her own style, her gaze calm and unwavering.

She walked to the center of the room and sat down.

"Juice bar."

Actually, she doesn't like these sugary drinks; plain water is her favorite choice.

But considering her purpose and in order to create an impression of "accepting kindness," she chose juice.

Kushida Kikyo took two cans of chilled orange juice from the refrigerator.

She turned around and handed one of the cans to Horikita.

Their fingertips touched briefly on the cold jar before quickly separating.

Horikita Suzune took the juice; the cold touch made her fingers curl slightly.

"Thanks."

Kushida Kikyo sat on the edge of her bed, leaning slightly forward, holding a cold juice jug in her hands.

With her usual perfect, friendly smile on her face, she looked calmly at Horikita Suzune.

"So, Horikita, what brings you here?"

The air in the room seemed to freeze for a moment.

The faint chirping of cicadas outside the window accentuated the quietness inside.

Horikita Suzune did not speak immediately.

She lowered her eyes, watching the water droplets sliding off the juice can in her hand, seemingly organizing her thoughts.

Her fingers unconsciously rubbed the jar, the cool touch keeping her awake.

Kushida Kikyo waited patiently, her smile unchanged, but the fingers holding the jar tightened slightly, her knuckles turning white.

Finally, Horikita Suzune raised her head.

Her voice wasn't loud, but it echoed clearly in the quiet room.

"I need you, Kushida. Be my partner."

"Ha?"

This time, Kushida Kikyo's smile completely vanished.

She uttered a short, absurd syllable almost unconsciously.

Those eyes, which were always brimming with sweet smiles, were now filled with incredulous astonishment and... a hint of offended coldness.

Become her partner?

Who does she think she is?!

Using such a condescending, commanding tone?!

After the initial shock, a surge of anger, like a venomous snake, spread rapidly through her heart, fueled by the feeling of being mocked.

She could barely suppress the cold smile playing on her lips.

But her powerful ability to disguise herself allowed her to forcibly pull her expression back to "confusion" and "bewilderment" in the next second.

But that smile could no longer regain its previous naturalness; it appeared somewhat forced and fake.

"Horikita... what do you mean by this?"

Kushida Kikyo's voice carried just the right amount of confusion, her brows furrowed slightly, as if she had completely failed to grasp the weight and meaning behind Horikita Suzune's words.

"I... haven't I already been contributing to the class? Helping classmates, organizing activities... isn't that what classmates should do?"

Horikita Suzune watched Kushida Kikyo's rapidly changing expressions and impeccable responses, a faint hint of understanding flashed deep in her eyes.

As expected... she was avoiding the topic.

They tried to fob me off with these generic, platitudes.

She simply didn't understand what I meant by "partner".

Horikita Suzune made no further attempt to explain or persuade.

Instead, they retreated to advance.

She knew that once the other party had already built a wall around their heart, any words would be futile.

At this moment, Horikita Suzune's almost obsessive decisiveness is on full display.

She abruptly stood up, her movements swift and decisive, the chair legs scraping against the floor with a short, grating sound.

Looking down at Kushida Kikyo, who was sitting on the bed with a look of confusion still on her face, his eyes were cold and sharp.

"Is that so? If that's your attitude, Kushida Kikyo, then I think there's no need to continue this discussion."

She nodded slightly, the gesture carrying a rigid formality, but her tone was utterly devoid of warmth.

"I'm sorry, I disturbed you."

After saying that, she turned around without hesitation and walked straight to the door.

Without the slightest lingering attachment, his back stood straight and resolute.

"Etc!"

Kushida Kikyo stood up abruptly, her voice rising slightly with urgency, carrying a sharpness she herself was unaware of.

Horikita Suzune's completely unconventional actions threw her into disarray!

How could she just leave like that?!

Do you "need" me?!

This woman is insane! What is she trying to do?!

Overwhelmed by confusion and anger at being belittled, she blurted it out.

She strode forward, trying to stop Horikita, forcing a genuine smile on her face as if she were trying to salvage the situation.

"Horikita! Since this is a conversation, there needs to be a process, right? Isn't what you're saying a bit too extreme? We can totally have a proper discussion about your thoughts..."

Chapter 118 117 Horikita Suzune is accelerating 2

Horikita Suzune stopped in her tracks.

Her movements were so precise, it was as if the pause button had been pressed.

There was no staggering, no unnecessary swaying.