Horikita Falls into Chaos

Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School, Class 1-D.

There were 4 hours left until the Class Trial.

There had been absolutely no progress. Even with Horikita Suzune's capabilities, and even after she had reluctantly asked Kushida Kikyo for help at Ayanokoji's request, hoping she could find some clues through her connections, it was to no avail—

"Sorry, Horikita-san. I asked my friends, but they all said they didn't see anyone go to the Old School Building at that time~"

That was what Kushida Kikyo had said. (In reality, she hadn't asked at all; she had simply gone to Amasawa Reigetsu's room to act like a little glutton, and Amasawa Reigetsu had told her to answer that way.)

Kushida Kikyo: Hehe☆

As it turned out, the so-called eyewitnesses simply did not exist. At least from Horikita Suzune's perspective, that was the current situation. She felt a profound sense of powerlessness; no matter how much she thought about it, it was useless.

Ayanokoji Kiyoko sat at her desk with an expressionless face, her calm gaze resting on her desk-mate, who was currently looking pained. She was looking for a suitable opportunity to speak with her friend, but it seemed now was not a good time.

When Amasawa Reigetsu had been teaching Ayanokoji Kiyoko about emotions last night, he had told her to find an opportunity tomorrow to tell Horikita Suzune the correct answer.

Horikita Suzune: Are you saying my wings were all stolen by Amasawa?

Amasawa Reigetsu: What kind of NTR is that? You're the challenger!

Meanwhile, Horikita Suzune's brows had been tightly furrowed for an entire day. She supported her heavy forehead with one hand, while the other pressed firmly against her temple, as if that were the only way to alleviate the throbbing pain coming from deep within her brain.

Excessive thinking combined with the extreme exhaustion of her mental energy made her already cold and aloof face appear even paler. She stared fixedly at a point on the desk; although her eyes were focused, they revealed a deep sense of fatigue and bewilderment.

"Sigh..."

Horikita Suzune let out a long sigh. Since she had entered this school, how many times had she felt this sense of powerlessness?

Sudo hit Amasawa once, her brother was blackmailed by Amasawa once, and now there was Sudo's fight again...

Amasawa Reigetsu.

The name of this person surfaced in Horikita Suzune's mind, but why was she thinking of him? No, why was he involved every time she encountered a difficult problem? Why did he target her...? Yet, it seemed that every time, he would end up helping her solve it.

And the price was always... making her apologize?

"What a strange man. Why would he do that?"

Horikita Suzune rested her chin on one hand, her fingertips tapping her cheek unconsciously, clearly trapped once again in a cycle of circular thinking.

A flash of inspiration.

Could it be...!?

Horikita Suzune's red eyes, which usually radiated coldness and determination, suddenly began to flicker, her gaze drifting uncertainly. Her thin, tightly pressed lips parted slightly, writing her agitation and confusion all over her face.

Clearly, she found the conclusion she had just deduced both incredible and somewhat... difficult to speak of.

"Could it be... that Amasawa Reigetsu likes me?"

As soon as this thought popped up, Horikita Suzune felt as if her cheeks had been scalded; she abruptly pulled back the hand supporting her chin, and the roots of her ears uncontrollably dyed themselves a faint, imperceptible crimson.

No, no, no, no, no, no, that's impossible!!

But...

Although the possibility was almost non-existent, if he did like her, then all of this would just be a little trick of playing hard to get... and then everything would make sense, right?

No, no, no, no...

Yes, yes, yes, yes...

Then, could she also...?

Horikita Suzune recalled her past confrontations with Amasawa Reigetsu, and complex, inexplicable emotions collided within her heart, emitting a rapid "thump-thump, thump-thump" sound.

A strange sensation came from the skin of her thigh, but she clearly wasn't angry this time; she was just thinking about Amasawa Reigetsu's face—

No! How could such a thing happen! Thinking about Amasawa Reigetsu's face and then that happening, how could that be possible! It must be that she had spilled water on her skirt earlier!!

Horikita Suzune, you are a woman destined to surpass her brother! How can you waste time on such useless things! The first sword upon landing, slay the beloved!

No, I don't like him at all, so how can there be a "beloved"!? Amasawa Reigetsu is incredibly annoying, always causing trouble for himself; why doesn't he go bother someone else? That must mean he has me in his heart...

No, no, no, no, no, no, no!!

Horikita Suzune felt she had probably gone insane. She shook her head vigorously, trying to shake these thoughts out of her mind, but once these thoughts were born, they stuck to the bottom of her heart like maggots on bone.

And besides... isn't Amasawa Reigetsu Ayanokoji's husband? No, no, wouldn't that be NTR!?

She looked toward Ayanokoji Kiyoko with some trepidation and, finding that the other girl was also looking at her, quickly averted her gaze.

Horikita Suzune: Am I feeling guilty because I have a guilty conscience?

Ayanokoji Kiyoko: We finally made eye contact, so why are you running away? How am I supposed to tell you the correct answer if you act like this?!

Ayanokoji Kiyoko left her seat and walked toward the seat of someone in Class 1-D.

It's over, it's over, it's over, it's over; her thoughts must have been seen through by Ayanokoji Kiyoko! What should she do? If she misunderstands me...

Horikita Suzune realized she was experiencing severe heart palpitations, but in her current chaotic state, she could no longer distinguish exactly who these feelings were for.

"Um... Horikita-san?"

A voice as faint as a mosquito's hum drifted from behind. Although the sound was tiny, it was clear that the person behind it had summoned immense courage just to take this step.

"Ehh?!"

However, Horikita Suzune, who had been lost in her own wandering thoughts, shuddered at the sudden sound and let out a surprisingly cute cry of alarm.

Then, Sakura Airi, who had finally mustered the courage to speak, was startled in turn by Horikita. Like a frightened little rabbit, she jerked her neck back, instinctively clutched the hem of her skirt, and froze in place.

For a moment, the air seemed to solidify. The two stared at each other, neither able to speak, as the atmosphere sank into a delicate awkwardness and silence.

"Ahem... Good... good afternoon."

It took several seconds for Horikita to finally regain her composure. Then, she realized she didn't know this person's name, and the conversation stalled once more.

Sakura, clearly not yet fully recovered from the shock, had cheeks flushed bright red from nervousness and embarrassment. She stammered, her eyes darting around, unable to meet Horikita's gaze:

"U-um... I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to startle you... I'm Sakura Airi."

"Oh... oh, I see. Sakura-san, is there something you need from me?"

"I have evidence that Sudo didn't hit anyone."

Two hours remained until the Class Trial.