Sibling Spat

Horikita Suzune glanced at Horikita Manabu and immediately understood that Tsukishima had called him here.

She gritted her teeth, took a deep breath to calm herself, wanting to show her brother how capable she was: "Tsukishima-kun..."

Tsukishima raised a hand, cutting her off again, and pressed the call button.

Knock knock knock~

"Come in."

The attendant entered after receiving permission, eyes lowered, exuding an aristocratic demeanor.

"Five coffees, a box of sugar cubes, and some pastries, please."

The attendant bowed slightly and withdrew.

Horikita Suzune took a deep breath: "If you're hungry, you can go eat first. I can wait."

Tsukishima glanced at Horikita Manabu, whose brow was twitching, and laughed, asking curiously: "Have you considered that this might turn into a war of words? What happens when our mouths go dry?"

"Have you considered that we might get stuck thinking and not know how to answer for a while?"

"Just dry chatting? That confident in yourself? That sure you can convince me?"

Horikita Suzune's voice was cold: "Private points. You want private points, I'll give you private points. You help me ensure no one in Class D gets expelled during the midterms."

The attendant entered, placed the coffee and other items Tsukishima had ordered on the table, and quietly left.

Tsukishima took a sip of coffee, frowning: "This coffee is bitter and fragrant. Everyone, please help yourselves."

Horikita Suzune frowned: "The coffee can wait."

Kiyotaka Ayanokouji picked up his coffee, sipping it expressionlessly: She's lost her rhythm.

Tsukishima casually added sugar cubes to his coffee: "Horikita-san, how many points do you have left now? Coming to talk to me about this, did you do even a little research on me?"

"Why would I investigate a Class D... student? Let's get back to the point. I give points, you complete the task. A perfectly fair trade."

Tsukishima laughed—the kind of laugh when someone is speechless: "Horikita-san, you... you, ah, damn, you've got me stumped."

He turned to look at Horikita Manabu: "Horikita-senpai, aren't you going to say something?"

Horikita Manabu glanced at Horikita Suzune but said nothing.

Kiyotaka Ayanokouji held his coffee cup, his flat voice carrying over: "Tsukishima-kun probably isn't short on points. He made 400,000 last night alone..."

Horikita-san lacks bargaining power.

Horikita Suzune bit her lip: "600,000!"

Tsukishima froze: "What did you say?"

"I said 600,000! I can give you 600,000!"

"Sis, are you out of your mind? Let's not even talk about whether you have 600,000—is a midterm really worth that price? That's a serious overpay. You dare say it, I don't dare believe it! If we signed a contract, I'd be afraid this is a trap you and your brother set for me. Horikita-senpai, maybe you should book a brain scan for your sister?"

Horikita Manabu's eye was twitching so badly he had to pinch the bridge of his nose with his fingers.

Kikyou Kushida turned her head, her shoulders trembling slightly.

A faint ripple stirred in Ayanokouji's coffee: It's over.

His flat voice came through: "Horikita-san means the terms can be negotiated..."

Hearing Ayanokouji's hint, Horikita Suzune glanced at Horikita Manabu, took a deep breath, and forcibly steadied herself: "So, what do you actually want?"

She paused, as if finding her rhythm: "And if someone gets expelled, it also affects the class points, which affects your private points. That's not something you want either, is it?"

Horikita Manabu's brow finally eased a little.

Tsukishima swept a glance at Ayanokouji and smiled: "I don't care. I've got at least 400,000 from your brother last night in my pocket. This semester's definitely fine."

"If I'm frugal, even the whole school year's no problem. So why should I care about class points?"

"As for my conditions—what am I lacking right now? Seems like I'm not lacking anything, right?"

Horikita Suzune stared at Tsukishima, leaning forward with both hands on the table, trying to pressure him: "Name your conditions. If you're not lacking anything, why are you sitting here talking to me? You think I can give you what you need!"

Tsukishima rolled his eyes: "Horikita-san, get one thing straight—you came to me. Banging on my dorm door last night, sending Ayanokouji-kun to find me this morning, hunting me down in the cafeteria at noon, then at the club after school. If I didn't show up, would you have let it go?"

"My demand is: leave me alone. Of course, you can try clinging to me like a nuisance, and see if I beat the shit out of you."

Horikita Suzune's pressure failed. She sat back in her original seat, biting her lip, sweat beading on her forehead.

She instinctively reached for the coffee, sipping it to mask her embarrassment at having no bargaining power left.

So that's what the stuff on the negotiation table is for.

Silence fell in the private room.

Tsukishima sipped his coffee, raised an eyebrow at Horikita Manabu, then rolled his eyes toward Kiyotaka Ayanokouji.

Kiyotaka Ayanokouji's voice finally rang out: "Horikita-san is very persistent."

Horikita Suzune seemed to grasp at something. She suddenly spoke: "How about a trade for future peace? I can block the troubles you consider annoying."

Tsukishima snorted lightly: "That's tempting, sure. But I have a better option—like Horikita-senpai. Compared to you, I trust his ability and influence more."

Horikita Suzune glanced at Horikita Manabu, who showed no reaction. "What makes you think my brother would help you? Yesterday's matter is already over!"

Tsukishima chuckled. "Of course yesterday's matter is over, but isn't there still you?"

"The teachers at this school basically don't handle anything. Most things are managed by the student council. Take a guess—how much profit does the student council president's position bring? How many people have their eyes on it?"

"Now think again—what exactly is your identity?"

Horikita Suzune stared at Tsukishima, speaking word by word. "But that identity is mine, not yours. If you want to use it, you need my consent."

Tsukishima set down his coffee cup and rested his chin on his hand. "Why would I need to use your identity? The information itself holds great value."

Horikita Suzune was starting to panic. She didn't want to cause trouble for her brother. "Then how do you plan to use this information? Sell it? Or threaten my brother?"

Tsukishima didn't answer. He looked at Kiyotaka Ayanokouji.

Kiyotaka Ayanokouji avoided his gaze. "Everyone has some friends, don't they?"

Horikita Suzune immediately seized the key point. "My brother has supporters too. Your troubles will only be greater and bigger."

Tsukishima shifted his gaze to Horikita Suzune's face. "I'm not the only one who knows your identity. Everyone who knows you knows it. Remember Horikita-senpai's self-introduction at the entrance ceremony?"

"Sometimes just a small hint is enough for someone to remember. Right now, everyone in the class is desperately short of points."

"And exchanging one condition for me not actively revealing your identity—Horikita-senpai should be willing to agree, shouldn't he?"

Horikita Suzune immediately retorted, "Since so many people already know I'm my brother's sister, what makes your information worth my brother's help?"