Suzune, Do You Want to Come to Class A?

A bout of "fun" roughhousing.

Suzune Horikita let off steam, and Yuki Gyakukai got more than his fair share of advantages.

All in all, neither came out on the losing end.

On the bed, sitting in a duck-like pose, Suzune Horikita tugged at her slightly disheveled clothes. Catching sight of the red handprints on her body, she couldn't help but feel a surge of irritation.

Finally, she stared at Yuki Gyakukai impatiently:

"So what exactly did you come to me for? We could have talked on the phone—why did you have to come to my room?"

"There are various reasons for that." Yuki shrugged, reaching into his pocket to pull out the past exam papers Sho Ryuuen had given him earlier.

Already folded over and over, and then roughed up during their scuffle in the room, those few sheets of past exams were now completely crumpled beyond recognition.

He slowly spread out the battered mess of papers.

"Take a look for yourself. These are most likely the original questions for this year's first-year midterms."

Taking two of the wrinkled past exam papers, Suzune Horikita shot Yuki Gyakukai a suspicious glance.

"You're being this generous? Last I checked, our classes are in competition with each other."

That's what she said, but Suzune Horikita still honestly opened the two papers and read through them.

First, she could confirm that these papers were indeed from upperclassmen—one from a second-year, one from a third-year. No doubt about it.

But when she saw the Japanese language exam scope, Suzune Horikita couldn't help but frown.

"The Japanese exam scope is wrong. Our homeroom teacher, Chabashira, gave us a different range..."

Just as he was wondering why Suzune Horikita had frowned, hearing that Sae Chabashira's assigned scope was off, Yuki Gyakukai understood.

Always causing trouble as usual. He vaguely remembered that in the original story, Class D's homeroom teacher Chabashira also deliberately misassigned the exam scope.

"Suzune, the past exam papers are most likely not the problem. So the real problem..."

He didn't say it outright, just raised an eyebrow at Suzune Horikita.

Realizing that Sae Chabashira was problematic, Suzune Horikita still couldn't figure out what motive she, as Class D's homeroom teacher, could have for doing this.

At that moment, she felt a slight dissatisfaction with Sae Chabashira's actions:

"It seems Sae Chabashira, as Class D's homeroom teacher, has major issues too. I suppose she's what they call a defective product."

"Suzune, can I take that as you mocking yourself, or affirming that you're a member of Class D?"

Watching Yuki Gyakukai's handsome face close in fast, their noses just a finger's width apart from touching, Her breathing involuntarily quickened. She instinctively turned her head away:

"That's too forward. Don't get so close to me. And I've never said I'm a member of Class D—I don't accept that I'm a defective product..."

"Then, Suzune, have you ever thought about transferring to our Class A?"

The warm, thick breath brushed against her face, carrying a strong masculine pheromone that made her body heat up.

His seductive voice teased her ears, and with a slight tremor, her pupils unconsciously shook.

Strange—the air conditioner was already on, the room was cool, so why did her body feel so hot for no reason...

Hadn't the sage mode just kicked in? Why was it gone so fast?

Suzune Horikita realized she was being charmed by some unknown allure from the man in front of her.

Though she wanted to resist with all her heart, no matter how she struggled, she was drawn in.

At that moment, she silently chanted in her mind: At least, at least let me get through this. Once this is over, you'll thank yourself, Suzune!

One wrong step leads to another. He's a man with a fiancée—he's an abyss...

Reason overcame bodily desire. Forcing herself to stay calm, Suzune Horikita answered nonchalantly:

"Does your class already have 20 million personal points?"

As everyone knew, 20 million personal points could avoid expulsion penalties and allow free class transfers.

"Not yet, but that might change soon."

Yuki Gyakukai answered like that, still watching Suzune Horikita's struggling expression with interest.

"So you can't transfer anyone right now? Then your talk about me moving to Class A is just empty words.

Not that it matters. I don't need anyone's help. For the next three years, I'll rise to Class A my own way."

Suzune Horikita had always been fairly confident in her own abilities.

Even though she wasn't good at socializing and had no friends, Her academic skills were excellent, and even her personal combat ability was beyond what others could match.

She believed that with herself like this, she could definitely make it to Class A.

Watching the confident Suzune Horikita, Yuki Gyakukai smiled encouragingly, not trying to crush her confidence.

After all, having a goal was a good thing. If he pressured his little sister like Manabu Horikita did, one day Suzune Horikita might just break down.

"Since you say so, Suzune, then do your best in the special exams to come."

"Of course, I've never thought myself inferior to anyone else. I'll definitely reach Class A by my own methods."

With that, Suzune Horikita handed the Past Exam Papers back across the table.

"This... there's really no need for that."

Seeing Suzune Horikita return the Past Exam Papers, Yuki Gyakukai felt it was entirely unnecessary.

"I don't need to win by cheating..."

As Horikita seemed about to say more, Yusoku didn't give her the chance to speak, cutting her off:

"Tell me, Horikita, your Class D is already down to zero class points. Don't you want to do something about it?"

"Like what?" She tilted her chin on one hand, eyeing the smirking man before her with suspicion.

"Like clearing out the pests in your class. Class D is still a mess, no leader. With your grades, you won't get expelled in the midterms anyway. You might as well use this chance to overhaul the class—prune the deadwood, develop some promising people..."

Listening to the plan the man laid out, Suzune Horikita let out a light laugh and asked curiously:

"So this was your real reason for coming to see me. But why not go to Hirata or Kikyou Kushida? They're far more popular in Class D."

"Horikita, what makes you think I haven't approached them already?"

Hearing this, the curiosity that had flickered in Suzune Horikita's eyes vanished, her expression stiffening.

She had thought she was special, only to find she was just one of the options.

"Relax. With the other two, I had people pass the information to them indirectly. You're the only one I visited in person. Doesn't that make you a little happy, little Horikita?"

Realizing she was the favored one, Suzune Horikita's expression softened, and an inexplicable flutter rose from the depths of her heart once more.

Then, Yusoku Gyakukai pulled out his phone, checked the time, and mused:

"It's getting late. I'll head out now. I've still got things to take care of at Tomie's place tonight."

"Womanizer..." Suzune Horikita muttered under her breath, glaring at the back about to leave the room, a hint of displeasure in her voice.

But just as he was about to open the door and step out, Yuki Gyakukai suddenly turned around.

Under Suzune Horikita's gaze—half-terrified, half-anticipating—their lips met.

A long moment later, he pulled back, left the room, and closed the door behind him—all in one fluid motion.

He didn't give Suzune Horikita a single second to process it.

Realizing the foolish thing she'd just done, she flopped onto the bed, running her hands through her disheveled hair, her face flushed crimson, unable to suppress the shyness burning in her heart.

Beep-beep!

A message from Yuki Gyakukai.

Yuki Gyakukai: I gave you my first kiss today... That should count as an apology, right?

Reading that shameless reply, Suzune Horikita didn't know whether to be angry or laugh.

"Womanizer... take responsibility!!!"