Horikita Suzune stood before him, her eyes glistening with a few tears. It was hard to tell whether they were caused by the pain or by Horikita Manabu's harsh accusations.
Or perhaps it was both.
The sight was a stark contrast to her usual cool, composed demeanor.
"Chihaya... what are you doing here?"
Horikita Suzune's voice was much lower than usual, but her surprise was still clear.
At that moment, though, she felt even more awkward.
He had seen her in such a pathetic state—and witnessed what was going on with her brother...
"Your classmate, Suzune?"
Horikita Manabu had heard him, too. His intent gaze settled on Chihaya Rei as he studied him.
Before this, Horikita Manabu had never taken any notice of Chihaya Rei.
As Student Council President, Horikita Manabu knew that Class D at Advanced Nurturing High School had always been an unusual class.
Many of its students excelled in some subjects but struggled in others.
Every so often, it also received students with outstanding abilities who had been placed in Class D because of various complicated circumstances.
So Horikita Manabu paid attention to the particularly capable students he discovered in Class D.
But Chihaya Rei had clearly never been on his radar.
If Chihaya Rei had known about it, he would have said:
Wasn't that only natural?
He wasn't some NPC who scored 50 in every subject. Of course Horikita Manabu hadn't noticed him.
Besides, the main reasons he'd ended up in Class D were his truancy and the things he'd said during the interview that he shouldn't have.
"I am Horikita's classmate."
Chihaya Rei first confirmed who he was, then continued:
"Hello, Horikita-senpai. But using force against an underclassman is against the rules."
"Even if Horikita Suzune is your sister, you shouldn't behave like this."
"Especially since you're the Student Council President. You're knowingly breaking the rules."
"Just think how many eyes are on you every day. How can you set a good example for your underclassmen if you act like this?"
Chihaya Rei had wasted no time saddling Horikita Manabu with a damning accusation.
His expression was full of regret, as if he hated to see the Student Council President go astray.
Even Horikita Manabu looked taken aback, but he patiently listened.
Horikita Suzune, standing behind him, didn't have the same patience.
"N-no, Chihaya, you've got it wrong. My brother wasn't trying to attack me. He was just..."
Though Horikita Suzune's thoughts were a little muddled at the moment,
she understood perfectly well that Chihaya Rei's version of events would only cause trouble for Horikita Manabu.
"He was just..." Horikita Suzune couldn't think of a reasonable excuse right away.
"Just what?"
Chihaya Rei gave Horikita Suzune a brief glance and decided there was no point in saying more.
He tapped the digital camera hanging against his chest with his long index finger and smiled. "You can tell that to my camera."
"It clearly recorded everything that just happened."
Chihaya Rei had obviously directed that last sentence at Horikita Manabu.
Horikita Suzune's expression stiffened.
Then, to her even greater surprise, her brother, Horikita Manabu, said without turning around:
"Be quiet, Suzune. You don't need to get involved."
Horikita Suzune gave a slight, wounded shudder. She parted her lips, her voice barely audible.
"Brother..."
Chihaya Rei regarded the two of them with an inscrutable look, then said with some distaste:
"You really are a troublesome pair of siblings."
He was thinking, Why does it feel like I'm the villain here?
He was clearly a good student who'd stepped in to stop an act of violence. He'd just arrived a little late.
[Torture Horikita Manabu, Torture Points +1800] [Torture Horikita Suzune, Torture Points +1700]
"Are you ready?"
Horikita Manabu suddenly spoke.
Chihaya Rei raised an eyebrow, surprised. "Whenever you are."
Almost the instant the words left his mouth, Horikita Manabu's arm shot toward Chihaya Rei with a whoosh, slicing through the air.
"Wait! Brother, what are you—"
Horikita Suzune's eyes widened, and she instinctively tried to stop them.
A moment ago, she'd been baffled by their inexplicable exchange. Now she saw her brother attacking Chihaya Rei.
She was even more confused.
Horikita Manabu wasn't actually aiming to attack Chihaya Rei. He was trying to snatch the camera.
Chihaya Rei had known Horikita Manabu would try to take it.
He was only a little surprised that Horikita Manabu was upright enough to give him a warning first.
"Thud!"
Their arms collided with a sharp impact. Chihaya Rei clenched his fist and knocked Horikita Manabu's incoming left hand aside.
But Horikita Manabu reacted just as quickly. His right hand shot toward the camera at Chihaya Rei's chest even faster.
"Smack!"
This time, a crisp sound rang out.
From where Horikita Suzune stood, she saw Chihaya Rei's right hand firmly gripping Horikita Manabu's wrist.
A dazed look crept across Horikita Suzune's face.
Her brother, who could do no wrong in her eyes, seemed to be at a disadvantage?
No, her brother just wasn't using his full strength...
That was it. It had to be. Her brother wasn't the kind of person who would resort to violence.
Horikita Manabu's movements had been forced to a stop.
A flicker of surprise crossed his face.
Horikita Manabu tried to wrench himself free, but Chihaya Rei had a tight grip on his wrist. He could clearly feel the pressure from the other boy's fingers steadily increasing.
And Chihaya Rei looked completely at ease.
"President Horikita, can we talk this out now?"
Chihaya Rei asked calmly.
He knew Horikita Manabu wouldn't let anyone hold leverage over him without putting up a fight.
In an area without surveillance cameras, seizing the camera and deleting the evidence would have been the best option for him.
So if Chihaya Rei didn't show enough force, this could turn into a classroom where might made right.
"Of course."
Horikita Manabu nodded firmly.
Only then did Chihaya Rei release his hand.
Horikita Manabu withdrew his arm and straightened his rumpled sleeve.
That brief exchange had been enough to make him abandon the idea of using force.
He was a fifth-dan black belt in karate and a fourth-dan in aikido, yet he hadn't gained the slightest advantage in their exchange.
He'd made his sudden move to see whether Chihaya Rei had the strength to protect the evidence.
If Horikita Manabu had easily snatched the camera from him, it would have proved that Chihaya Rei wasn't skilled enough.
But now, he had no choice but to accept defeat.
"Have you had special training?"
Horikita Manabu raised an eyebrow slightly and asked with some curiosity.
When Chihaya Rei had grabbed his wrist, Horikita Manabu had felt calluses on the other boy's palm.
"No. I just played the drums for a few years."
Chihaya Rei smiled with a hint of pride.
Horikita Manabu was momentarily taken aback by the answer, but he didn't hesitate to praise him.
"Then you're incredibly strong. Your ability to stay hidden and react under pressure is even more impressive."
Horikita Manabu didn't believe he'd failed to notice Chihaya Rei simply because he'd been focused on talking to Suzune.
"How could someone like you be in Class D?"
"That's just how Class D is."
Chihaya Rei replied as if it were obvious.
Horikita Manabu nodded, agreeing.
"Delete the video on your camera. I won't disappoint you with my offer."
Horikita Manabu was brief and to the point. As he spoke, he took his Personal Terminal from his pocket.
At Advanced Nurturing High School, students of course settled matters between themselves with points.
"Of course." Chihaya Rei nodded. It was about time.
He thought it over. "If we're just talking about an offer, I'll have to give it some thought..."
"Five hundred thousand points, plus a favor from me. Is that enough?" Horikita Manabu asked calmly.
"Deal."
Chihaya Rei agreed without hesitation.
A favor from Horikita Manabu could come in handy in unexpected ways.
The Student Council held considerable power at this school and could adjust the rules of Advanced Nurturing High School to some extent.
Neither of them was the type to dither, so they quickly took out their phones, added each other as friends, and transferred the points.
Horikita Suzune, still leaning against the wall, stared at them in disbelief.
She hadn't even had the chance to stop what was happening—and neither of them would have listened to her anyway.
Chihaya Rei had just taken 500,000 personal points from her brother, along with a favor from him?
How could something like this happen...
Horikita Suzune fell silent.
Meanwhile, Chihaya Rei saw that Horikita Manabu had transferred him a million personal points and left a note saying the extra amount was for looking after Horikita Suzune.
"..."
Chihaya Rei couldn't help falling silent for a moment.
But he really had looked out for Horikita Suzune. Ever since the school year began, he'd given her personality no end of a hard time.
Then Chihaya Rei readily tossed the digital camera to Horikita Manabu and let him check it and delete the video himself.
It was the first time the digital camera had come in handy. There wasn't anything else in it that Horikita Manabu shouldn't see.
Before you continue