Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School, Class 1-D.
Four hours remained until the Class Trial.
There had been no progress at all. Horikita Suzune couldn't manage on her own, so at Ayanokoji's request, she'd reluctantly asked Kushida Kikyo to use her connections to look for some clues. But—
"Sorry, little Horikita. I asked my friends, but they all said they didn't see anyone going to the Old School Building at the time~"
That was what Kushida Kikyo said. (In truth, she hadn't asked anyone. She'd just gone to Amasawa Reigetsu's room to wheedle a snack out of her, and then Amasawa Reigetsu told her to respond that way.)
Kushida Kikyo: Ehehe☆
As it turned out, there were no eyewitnesses at all. At least, that was how things looked from Horikita Suzune's perspective. She felt utterly helpless. No matter how much she thought about it, she couldn't get anywhere.
Ayanokoji Kiyoko sat expressionlessly at her desk, her calm gaze resting on her desk mate, who looked utterly distressed. She was trying to find a good opportunity to talk to her friend, but this didn't seem like the right moment.
The previous night, while teaching Ayanokoji Kiyoko about emotions, Amasawa Reigetsu had told her to find a chance the next day to tell Horikita Suzune the correct answer.
Horikita Suzune: So Amasawa stole all my wings, huh?
Amasawa Reigetsu: What do you mean, homewrecker? You're the one making a move!
Meanwhile, Horikita Suzune had been frowning all day. She propped her heavy head up with one hand while pressing hard against her temple with the other, as though that were the only way to ease the throbbing pain deep in her brain.
All the overthinking and mental strain had left her already cool, pale face looking even more washed out. She stared fixedly at one spot on her desk. Her gaze was focused, yet filled with exhaustion and confusion.
"Ugh..."
Horikita Suzune let out a long sigh. Since entering this school, how many times had she felt this helpless?
Sudo had hit Amasawa once. Her brother had been blackmailed by Amasawa once. And now Sudo had gotten into a fight...
Amasawa Reigetsu.
His name surfaced in Horikita Suzune's mind. But why had she thought of him? No—why was he involved every time she ran into trouble? Why was he targeting her...? And yet, somehow, he always helped her solve things.
And the price was always... having to apologize to him?
"What a strange man. Why does he do this?"
Horikita Suzune rested her chin in one hand, her fingertips unconsciously tapping her cheek. Clearly, she'd fallen into another endless loop of thought.
A sudden flash of insight.
Could it be...!?
Horikita Suzune's red eyes, usually so cool and determined, began to flicker as her gaze wandered. Her tightly pursed lips parted slightly, her face giving away her uncertainty and bewilderment.
Clearly, the conclusion she'd just reached seemed unbelievable to her—and somewhat... embarrassing.
"Could it be... that Amasawa Reigetsu likes me?"
The moment the thought crossed her mind, Horikita Suzune snatched her hand away from her cheek as if it had been burned. The tips of her ears flushed with a faint blush she couldn't quite hide.
No, no, no, no, no, no way!!
But...
Although it was almost impossible, if he liked me, then all of this would just be a little game of push and pull to win me over... Then it would all make sense?
No, no, no, no...
Yes, yes, yes, yes...
Then maybe this time, I could...?
Horikita Suzune thought back to her past clashes with Amasawa Reigetsu. Complicated, inexplicable emotions surged through her chest, making her heart pound rapidly.
A strange sensation came from her thighs. But she wasn't angry this time; she was just thinking about Amasawa Reigetsu's face—
No! How could something like that happen? Getting worked up just by thinking about Amasawa Reigetsu's face? Impossible! I must've spilled water on my skirt just now!!
Horikita Suzune, you're a woman who's going to surpass your brother! How can you waste time on something so pointless? The first thing you do after coming ashore is cut down the one you love!
No, I don't like him at all. How could he be the one I love!? Amasawa Reigetsu is such a jerk, always causing trouble for me. Why doesn't he bother someone else? That must mean he has feelings for me...
No, no, no, no, no, no, no!!
Horikita Suzune felt like she was going crazy. She shook her head hard, trying to fling those thoughts out of her mind, but once they'd taken root, they clung to her like a parasite.
And besides... wasn't Amasawa Reigetsu Ayanokoji's husband? No, no, no. Wouldn't that make this NTR!?
Feeling a little unsure of herself, she glanced toward Ayanokoji Kiyoko and saw that she was looking at her too. Horikita Suzune quickly turned away.
Horikita Suzune: Was I just feeling guilty because I had something to hide?
Ayanokoji Kiyoko: I finally got you to make eye contact, and you looked away? How am I supposed to tell you the right answer like this?!
Ayanokoji Kiyoko left her seat and walked over to someone's desk in Class 1-D.
It's over, it's over, it's over, it's over. Ayanokoji Kiyoko must have seen right through me! What should I do? What if she misunderstands me...?
Horikita Suzune realized that her heart was pounding painfully, but in her current state of confusion, she couldn't even tell whose feelings were causing it.
"Um... Horikita?"
A voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz came from behind her. Though quiet, it was clear the speaker had needed to work up tremendous courage before finally taking this step.
"Huh?!"
But Horikita Suzune, lost in her own wild thoughts, jumped at the sudden voice and let out an adorable, unexpectedly startled cry.
Then Sakura Airi, who had finally mustered up the courage to speak, was startled by Horikita Suzune too. Like a frightened little rabbit, she drew her neck in and clutched the hem of her clothes, freezing on the spot.
For a moment, the air seemed to freeze. The two faced each other in silence, neither able to speak, until the atmosphere grew awkward and tense.
"Ahem... You... good afternoon."
Several seconds passed before Horikita Suzune finally came to her senses. Then she realized she didn't know the girl's name, and the conversation stalled.
Sakura Airi clearly hadn't recovered from the fright yet. Her face was bright red with nervousness and embarrassment. She stammered, her eyes darting around rather than meeting Horikita's.
"I-I'm terribly sorry! I didn't mean to scare you... I'm Sakura Airi."
"Oh... Oh, right. Sakura, did you need something from me?"
"I have proof that Sudo didn't hit anyone."
Two hours remained until the Class Trial.