Tachibana Akane Hissing / Ichinose Honami Bravely Lifted Her Head

My counterattack did cause damage; Kamuro's face froze as well.

Is it because I hit the nail on the head that you're feeling guilty?

"... Can I just leave you here?"

Look, she's getting anxious.

"Tap~ Meow! Hoshino-kun said you have to take me back to my dorm, so you absolutely have to take me to my room."

"You... why do you keep bringing up that bastard Hoshino? What do you see in him?"

Kamuro asked me a question that I was very familiar with.

What is it about Hoshino-kun I like?

This question gave me a lot to think about last time, and even now, I still haven't been able to find a definite answer.

"I have no idea."

I answered truthfully.

But there's one thing I've already realized.

"I... seem to be completely unable to resist Hoshino-kun. Just being by his side seems to make me feel much better."

My answer seemed to have a pretty big impact on Kamuro. She first gave me an expression like a computer crashing, then it changed to... well, something else entirely?

Is there anything wrong with what I said?

"You... Sakayanagi, don't you think you're acting like a perverted woman who only gets lustful towards Hoshino?"

"A madwoman? A Vadashi? How is that similar?"

"Kamuro, you need to wash your eyes."

She was so incredibly rude!!

But this time she didn't react to what I said; in fact, a hint of helplessness flashed across her face.

She then raised another question.

"So you should be able to walk on your own now, right?!"

Does this mean they're going to let me go?

"I can, but I don't want to walk. My legs feel sticky, I don't want to walk."

As I spoke, I rubbed my thighs; it didn't feel comfortable at all.

Moreover, as the perceived temperature gradually decreased, the wind that Kamuro stirred up as she walked blew into my skirt, making me feel a bit chilly.

Ugh, this feels awful. I'll stick to doing it in a heated room from now on.

"Kamuro, isn't now the perfect time for you to shine?"

"Also, you spat too much saliva just now. When you get back, you need to take responsibility and help me take a bath."

Although my tone was somewhat impolite, although I could feel her hands tremble as she hugged my legs, and although I could see her brow furrow slightly... she finally let out a sigh of relief.

Excellent! Kamuro truly lives up to her reputation as my closest friend!

"Let me follow you from now on, so I don't have to face Hoshino En anymore."

"With me watching over him, he shouldn't be so reckless again."

First Semester of First Year:

Chapter 110, Chapter 103: Akane's Tachibana Akane

"Let's make this clear beforehand: you'll have to figure out how to get information from Horikita Nana yourself. I won't interfere."

Before knocking on the Student Council Office, Hoshino En gave a reminder.

Horikita Manabu didn't seem like the kind of person who was easy to talk to, and he didn't want to get dragged into any trouble because of him.

"Of course, En-kun only needs to stand aside and watch. I never intended for you to help."

Karuizawa Kei quickly walked ahead of Hoshino En, taking a step ahead of him.

Then, she turned her back to the door, rushed into his arms, and buried her face in his chest.

"As long as En-kun stands by my side... huff huff... I feel like I can do anything... huff huff..."

"Pfft~"

Two or three seconds later, she looked up, her face flushed with satisfaction.

"Let's go, Hoshino -kun, let's go find the key to stop this riot!"

After saying that, she turned around, raised her hand and knocked on the door. Without waiting for a response from inside, she pushed the door open and went in.

Hoshino En: "..."

Karuizawa, you really do have some perverted tendencies, don't you?

On the other side, hearing the noise coming from the door, the people in the Student Council Office stopped talking and looked towards the door in unison.

"Sorry to bother you."

After a polite knock, a girl dressed in a sultry outfit that was clearly not typical of a "top student," with her hair tied in a high blonde ponytail that reached past her shoulders and down to her waist, pushed the door open and entered.

"Oh my? Is the Student Council this lively today?"

Looking at Ichinose Honami and Katsuragi Kohei sitting on the guest sofa, Karuizawa Kei's eyes showed a hint of surprise.

Although she had learned about the class representatives from other classes beforehand, she did not have any personal relationship with them.

Why were they in the Student Council Office? Was there a conflict between Class A and Class B?

Karuizawa Kei, who followed Hoshino En in, also saw the two of them.

Ichinose and Katsuragi? What's going on with them?

"Good afternoon, Karuizawa... oh, and Hoshino-kun too!"

Upon seeing the two enter, Ichinose Honami greeted them cheerfully, while Katsuragi Kohei's expression darkened and his brows furrowed.

Is Hoshino going to get involved in Class C's lawsuit against Sudo?

Didn't this guy say he wouldn't interfere with class competitions?

"I'm just here to protect Karuizawa from being hit on by some clueless upperclassmen."

His change in expression did not escape Hoshino En's eyes, and he immediately clarified.

"Katsuragi, don't be too nervous."

Katsuragi Kohei: "..."

Just your presence here is enough to raise suspicion.

"You... I remember you're Karuizawa Kei from Class 1-D, right? What brings you to the Student Council Office?"

Upon hearing what Hoshino En said, Horikita Manabu shifted his gaze from Hoshino Yuki to Karuizawa Kei standing in front of him.

Because he saw her almost every morning, and considering she had contact with Hoshino En, she was likely a student in Class 1-D, so Horikita Manabu specifically spent points to look up her information... out of [targeting] his good-for-nothing younger sister.

To be honest, unlike those weirdos who were thrown into Class D for special reasons, based on his personal data and past experiences, Karuizawa Kei fits his stereotype of Class D students very well.

At first, he thought she was waiting on the playground every day to get closer to Hoshino En, but when he saw that she was really working hard in her morning exercises, his opinion of her changed.

Did he discover the truth about this school, and that's why he started working so hard?

Looking back now, his initial judgment was not wrong.

... Can she stand up to Nagumo?

"What's wrong? Horikita Manabu should know very well what's wrong with me, right?"

Karuizawa Kei walked to the desk next to the window, directly opposite the door—the desk of Horikita Manabu. Her pale purple eyes were fixed on Horikita's unchanging gaze as she asked.

"Regarding the accusation brought by Class C against Sudo, I would like to know why the Student Council accepted and considered it—simply because they had injuries and filed a complaint with the Student Council, so the Student Council accepted their so-called 'truth'?"

"The school has zero tolerance for bullying and violence. Since the victims have filed a complaint, the Student Council will naturally not stand idly by. However—"

Horikita Manabu rested his elbows on the table, interlaced his fingers, and placed them in front of his chin, intensifying his serious demeanor.

"The Student Council did not believe Class C's explanation, so they are also seeking evidence from Class C."

"But if Sudo can't provide evidence to prove his innocence, then the Student Council will go along with Class C's opinion and conduct a review, right? Even if they don't provide any evidence to support their claims."

What do you mean by that?!

Before Horikita Manabu could even speak, Tachibana Akane, standing next to him, exploded after hearing this.

"Are you saying that our Student Council will make unfair decisions?!"

"I did not express any opinion, so please do not make assumptions, Bun-haired Senior."

Karuizawa Kei senior with two small purple bags on her head, and spoke to her in a completely impolite tone, showing no respect whatsoever for her senior.

"Furthermore, even if there was some bias, I don't think it's unfair—objectively speaking, their bodies were indeed harmed, they are victims, and even some degree of bias is understandable."

"You--"

Karuizawa Kei's rude tone didn't provoke Tachibana Akane's anger, but that familiar address made her eyebrows practically stand on end, giving the impression that she was about to jump up and punch someone in the knee.

"Orange."

Just as she was about to completely lose face in front of her younger schoolmates, Horikita Manabu slammed on the brakes.

"... Yes, Chairman."

The excessively calm tone immediately stopped Tachibana Akane from losing control. She stepped aside, but her eyes, which flickered like dancing flames, still glared fiercely at Karuizawa Kei, and she kept breathing on the other person.

She resembled a fluffy kitten, and with her petite figure, she didn't give off the vibe of a senior student at all; instead, she seemed more like a comical junior.

Seeing her reaction, Hoshino En couldn't help but burst out laughing.

"Puha swell {; turn?: two ¤ № nine four @☆ ∈ ∴ four three ◇ five six =″ four ha--"

He very consciously sat on the sofa for guests, on the other side of Ichinose Honami, and laughed so hard he almost fell over.

His laughter drew the attention of everyone in the room.

"No, I'm sorry, I couldn't help it, I apologize!"

Hoshino En turned her head to the side, covering her mouth with one hand and waving the other in the direction of Horikita Manabu and Karuizawa Kei.

"You continue, continue."

But looking at that senior student who seemed to be gathering her strength in a sullen mood, he still couldn't resist the urge to make a sarcastic remark.

"But Maru... cough cough... the one with the bun... um, Secretary Senior, you're always by Horikita Manabu's side, why haven't you learned any of his composure and calmness? You're still just as easily angered as you were two months ago."

"You're supposed to be a third-year student, for goodness' sake. Don't let your lack of height diminish your authority and competence!"

"Stand still, don't embarrass Horikita Manabu!!"

Others: "..."

That makes a lot of sense.

Tachibana Akane: "..."

This guy, he... he used that kind of address... he must have forgotten my name!

This rude junior--!!!

Then, she had another object to breathe on.

First Semester of First Year:

Chapter 111, Chapter 104: Ichinose Honami bravely raised her head.

"Hoshino-kun, you are so rude to the fourth senior! Apologize quickly."...3∨▲∵<"*∩

Before Tachibana Akane could unleash her fury again, Ichinose Honami timely dealt with Hoshino En.

Then, she looked at Tachibana Akane, whose anger had been forced back, and explained on behalf of the boy beside her.

"Senior Tachibana, Hoshino-kun didn't mean to mock you. He just... he said that because he considers you a good friend, right? So please don't take it to heart."

"Hoshino-kun, you need to get along well with your senpai!!"

She then proceeded to lecture Hoshino En without any hesitation.

What do you mean by speaking in a tone that sounds like my mother's?