Horikita Suzune Is Picking Up Speed (End)

The meeting details later revealed by Ayanokoji Kiyotaka also proved the powerful influence that Student Council Horikita Manabu had on her.

So that's how it is... all for that brother who's like a flower on a high mountain?

This reason... is surprisingly pure, and surprisingly convincing.

Someone who sees their older brother as their ultimate goal will indeed place extreme importance on the value of promises and recognition.

By deliberately exposing this weakness, she actually seemed... more sincere?

Or rather, was she confident she could control the situation?

She was really serious...

Was it not a spur-of-the-moment decision, or was he even willing to expose his weaknesses to gain my trust?

Kushida Kikyo's eyes shifted dramatically, her previous anger and fear replaced by a rapidly calculating mind.

Horikita Suzune's honesty, however, revealed a "weakness" that Horikita could exploit.

A slight sense of excitement began to overwhelm the panic.

"Good"

Kushida Kikyo took a deep breath, as if she had made up her mind. The smile on her face became more genuine, but also more complicated.

"That's it then. The reason I hate you... is ridiculously simple. Because... we were classmates in junior high."

"... What?"

This time, Horikita Suzune was momentarily taken aback.

A crack appeared in her perpetually aloof expression.

His brows furrowed almost imperceptibly, and his eyes were filled with a pure, undisguised confusion.

She couldn't understand.

"Isn't your reason... a bit too absurd? I don't recall ever being in the same class as you."

"Absurd?"

Kushida Kikyo let out a short, sharp laugh, her eyes instantly filling with the humiliation of being looked down upon and a deeper fear. "It seems you have a bad memory, completely forgetting... or perhaps you haven't even noticed what I did!"

She forced out those words through clenched teeth, her body tense like a fully drawn bowstring.

Horikita Suzune remained silent, scrutinizing Kushida Kikyo's complex expression as her mind rapidly filtered through fragmented memories of middle school.

Kushida Kikyo at that time... seemed to be the prototype of a "popularity queen"?

However, the overly specific details were overshadowed by her own focused pursuit of her brother and the heavy workload of her studies.

"You mean... Oh, I see."

She finally remembered.

The sheer volume of information was like a raging tsunami, assaulting Horikita Suzune's usually calm and collected mind.

She finally understood the root of Kushida Kikyo's almost pathological, extreme sensitivity to potential threats, and the source of her twisted hatred towards herself.

That was not an ordinary scandal, but a complete social death and rebirth triggered by the collapse of trust.

"Actually, as long as you don't provoke me or try to sabotage my current goals, I have absolutely no interest in your past, the role you play, or even your current resentment. I will never reveal your worries because they are worthless to me."

Horikita Suzune spoke as if it were a matter of course, as if it were a matter of course.

"Worthless? Ha!"

Kushida Kikyo looked as if she had heard the biggest joke in the world, her anger almost tangible. "So you want me to gamble on your humanity? Gamble on your promise, you block of ice?"

She took a step closer, her voice rising slightly with excitement.

Having completely exposed Kushida Kikyo's biggest worry, Horikita Suzune knew that the negotiations had entered a decisive stage.

She decisively played her last card.

"I can promise you: I, Horikita Suzune, will absolutely not reveal anything about our past interactions in any form to anyone. In exchange for this promise, and as the basis for our cooperation, you must wholeheartedly assist me, using all your abilities and connections to help Class D advance to Class A."

She paused for a moment, her gaze fixed on Kushida Kikyo like a chain forged of ice.

"Furthermore, I add a guarantee: if our cooperation fails due to my personal reasons, or if I breach my promise of non-disclosure..."

She took a deep breath and uttered the name that was both most alluring and threatening to Kushida.

"Then I will allow you to present all the stains you possess about me, including my failures, to my brother— Horikita Manabu."

The last few words fell like a heavy hammer!

"I think he would be very disappointed in his sister for being so incompetent and a failure."

The room fell into a deathly silence.

Kushida Kikyo's breath hitched!

She stared intently at Horikita Suzune, her calm, expressionless face revealing no hint of a joke.

Using the approval of his most cherished brother as collateral for breach of contract?!

This condition... is too harsh!

That's incredibly accurate!

It struck right at her darkest fantasy!

That madman!

This madman will stop at nothing to achieve his goals!

But at the same time... what a heavy promise this first release of Yueyi carries!

This practically cut off any possibility of Horikita Suzune backing out!

A chilling dread crept up Kushida Kikyo's spine and onto her scalp.

Fear, ecstasy, disbelief... a multitude of emotions clashed violently within her!

The card in her hand, which Horikita Suzune had offered and which read "Total Destruction," felt so heavy that her fingertips went numb!

"I agree."

After the agreement was reached, the gloomy aura around Kushida Kikyo receded like the tide, and almost instantly, she returned to being the sunny, friendly, sweet, and lovely angel of Class D.

She has a bright smile and a sweet voice.

"So, Horikita, what do you want me to do now?"

The speed at which they changed their tune is astonishing.

"First,"

Horikita Suzune ignored her change and directly gave instructions. "I need you to tell me in real time about the true situation inside the class, especially information that won't be discussed openly. Secondly, when I need to push forward certain class decisions or actions, you must step forward to support me and use your influence to guide public opinion."

"No problem! Leave it to me!"

Kushida Kikyo readily agreed, as if the scheming and threatening negotiation that had just taken place had never happened.

Chapter 119 118 Horikita Suzune is accelerating (End)

Horikita Suzune stood on the rooftop, a gentle breeze ruffling her hair.

I just achieved my goal, but I don't feel the joy of victory I expected.

She clenched her fists so tightly that her nails almost dug into her palms.

In the end... they still chose to cooperate.

But this is not a compromise, but a strategy.

She doesn't like to depend on others.

But reality told her that some things cannot be accomplished by relying solely on her own strength.

"However, this does not mean that I have abandoned my solitary nature."

She closed her eyes, and the image of her brother appeared in her mind—that outstanding, strong, and loving man.

But then, the figure transformed into Tanaka Yukishin.

The free-spirited bird, 1, together with the artist, 28, is free and unrestrained; no one can change his decision or shake his will.

"Compared to collaborating with others... I definitely prefer Tanaka Yukishin's carefree attitude."

She opened her eyes, her gaze resolute.

"I'm sorry, brother. But you should be happy to see this change in me, right? After all, you left without saying goodbye and came to this school in the first place so that I could get rid of the identity of being a sister who admires her brother, right?"

She turned and left the rooftop, her back still showing aloofness and stubbornness.

We exist here to become better and more excellent.

Me too.

Cooperation is a means, not an end.

One day, I will become strong enough—strong enough that I will no longer need anyone.

But before that...

I will do it my way until the end.

After school in the afternoon, sunlight streamed through the tall windows, casting long shadows on the polished floor of the Student Council Office.

The room was lit with soft lighting.

Horikita Manabu was reviewing documents at his desk, Tachibana Akane was organizing materials beside him, Ichinose Honami was quietly studying.

Knock, knock, knock.

A crisp knock sounded on the door.

"Please come in."

Horikita Manabu didn't even raise his head.

The door was pushed open, Horikita Suzune appeared in the doorway.

Her appearance immediately drew the attention of the three people inside.

All three men turned their gazes to her simultaneously, and a subtle atmosphere filled the air.

Suzune?

What is she doing in the Student Council?

Is this time... class affairs or...?

Horikita Manabu looked up, his gaze behind his glasses sharp and scrutinizing as he habitually assessed his sister's condition.

Suzune- neechan?

It's rare to see her come to the Student Council on her own initiative. Is she here to see the president?

She seemed... a little different than before? More composed?

Tachibana Akane stopped what she was doing and looked at Horikita Suzune with curiosity.

Ichinose Honami observed with curiosity, displaying the gentle yet perceptive nature characteristic of the leader of Class A.

"Suzune, what brings you to the Student Council?"

Horikita Manabu put down his pen, his voice as calm as ever.

His tone was businesslike, revealing no particular emotion.

Horikita Suzune walked to the center of the office, her gaze sweeping over the three of them before finally settling on her brother's face.

"I have successfully persuaded Tanaka to join the Student Council."

This statement is like a pebble thrown into a calm lake.

Ichinose Honami opened her eyes wide in surprise, and Tachibana Akane's pen stopped on the notebook.

Only Horikita Manabu's gaze behind his glasses flickered slightly.

His surprise was quickly suppressed, and his expression remained as calm as ever.

As the older brother who has always silently watched his younger sister grow up, he knows better than anyone the limits of Suzune's abilities.

Given her previous way of handling things and her interpersonal skills, there was absolutely no way she could easily persuade someone like Tanaka Yukishin.