When Watanabe Hayabara left the Special School Building, night had already fallen. The campus streetlights cast a dim yellow glow, stretching his shadow long across the ground. He quickened his pace and hurried toward the dormitory.
However, as he passed a patch of woods, a familiar figure suddenly caught his eye. It was Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, standing perfectly still like a pillar. His gaze seemed fixed on something in the distance, and there was a hint of furtiveness about him.
Curious, Watanabe Hayabara softened his footsteps and crept up behind Ayanokoji. Then he lightly tapped him on the shoulder and asked in a low voice, "What are you looking at?"
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka slowly turned his head. Not a trace of surprise showed on his face as he calmly replied, "Watanabe, you're just in time. Horikita's meeting a boy here in secret. They haven't started talking yet."
Watanabe Hayabara followed Ayanokoji's gaze and saw Horikita Suzune standing beneath a streetlight in the distance, facing an unfamiliar boy.
"Suzune, I didn't expect you to come all the way here."
"I'm not the useless person you knew three years ago anymore." Horikita Suzune's voice carried a hint of stubbornness. "I came to this school so I could catch up to you."
"I heard you got into Class D. It's just like three years ago—you haven't changed at all. You keep staring at my back, and even now you still haven't realized your own shortcomings. Choosing this school was a failure for you."
"T-That has to be some kind of mistake. I'll move up to Class A right away, and then—"
"That's impossible. You'll never make it to Class A. And it doesn't stop there; your class will fall apart too. This school isn't as simple as you think."
"I'll get into Class A, no matter what..."
"Didn't I just say it was impossible? You really are a disobedient little sister." The man was none other than Horikita Manabu.
Watanabe Hayabara gave Ayanokoji a faint smile, curiosity flashing in his eyes. "You don't seem at all surprised that Horikita Suzune's brother is the student council president, Horikita Manabu."
Ayanokoji replied expressionlessly, "Their surname gives me a few clues, but that's all." His voice was flat, as if he had little interest in the matter.
Watanabe Hayabara's lips curled into a faint smile. "Then shouldn't you go help her? You and Horikita Suzune are pretty close, aren't you?"
Ayanokoji's gaze remained calm. He glanced at the arguing Horikita Siblings, then shook his head. "I think this is a matter between them. It wouldn't be appropriate for me to interfere."
Just then, Horikita Manabu had Horikita Suzune's wrist pinned tightly, her body pressed hard against the wall. His expression was stern and cold as he spoke with grim resolve. "No matter how much I want to avoid you, it doesn't change the fact that you're my sister. If people around us find out about you, I'm the one who'll be humiliated. So leave this school at once!"
Horikita Suzune's face had gone pale, and her lips trembled. "I... I can't... I... I'll get into Class A, no matter what...!"
But Horikita Manabu seemed not to hear her. His gaze grew even colder. "How foolish. Since you're so stubborn, I'll make you suffer a little, just like you did in the past."
"Brother, I—"
Horikita Manabu ruthlessly cut her off. "You don't have the strength or the right to climb higher. Get that through your head!"
Before the words had even left his mouth, Horikita Manabu suddenly yanked her. Horikita Suzune lurched forward, her feet lifting off the ground. She lost her balance completely and clung to his arm to keep from falling.
"If you don't go help now, Horikita Suzune could be in danger." Watanabe Hayabara continued watching Ayanokoji's reaction.
"I think you'd have a better chance of helping Horikita, Watanabe. Someone as weak as me would only get in the way. Sorry for the trouble, Watanabe." Ayanokoji turned to look at him. Though he sounded as if he were asking a favor, his words still irritated Watanabe Hayabara.
[Ayanokoji, running away isn't the right choice.]
"All right, then, Ayanokoji." Watanabe Hayabara agreed. His figure flickered, and he crossed several meters in an instant, shooting forward like a gust of wind. He reached Horikita Manabu from behind in a single bound.
Horikita Manabu didn't react in time—not even getting the chance to move—before Watanabe Hayabara seized the hand he had clamped around Horikita Suzune's wrist. His grip was like an iron vise, holding Horikita Manabu fast and leaving him unable to move.
A crushing pressure bore down on Horikita Manabu's wrist, as if his bones were about to be ground to dust, accompanied by unbearable pain. He grunted and whipped around, fixing Watanabe Hayabara with a sharp, knife-like glare. "Who are you?!"
"I'm Watanabe Hayabara, President Horikita." Watanabe Hayabara's lips curved into a faint smile, but a chill beneath it made the sight unsettling.
"Watanabe...?" Horikita Suzune's voice came from nearby, so faint it seemed ready to go out like a candle in the wind.
"President Horikita, you're quite something." Watanabe Hayabara's smile grew brighter, but it was as cold and piercing as frost in midwinter. "You don't know how to treat a woman with tenderness, and you're this rough with your own sister, too."
"This is a family matter. It has nothing to do with you!" Horikita Manabu's face darkened as he growled, "Let go of me!"
"Ayanokoji, stop..." Horikita Suzune's voice came again, weaker than before, as if she might faint at any moment.
[What a hopeless brother-con.]
"Are you not going to let go?!" Horikita Manabu growled again.
"Why don't you let go first, President Horikita?" Watanabe Hayabara replied with a steady smile.
Watanabe Hayabara waited until he saw Horikita Manabu release Horikita Suzune before letting go himself.
The moment Watanabe Hayabara released him, he felt a rush of wind from a punch. As soon as Horikita Manabu's arm was free, he swung at Watanabe Hayabara.
Horikita Manabu's fist whistled toward him, but just before it reached his cheek, Watanabe Hayabara leaned aside at an impossible angle. His right hand clamped around Horikita Manabu's wrist with pinpoint precision. Using his momentum against him, Watanabe Hayabara abruptly redirected his charge. Horikita Manabu lost his balance and stumbled forward, but just before he hit the ground, he executed a clean roll and sprang back to his feet.
"Looks like President Horikita still isn't ready to give up." Watanabe Hayabara's smile remained, though a flash of sharpness crossed his eyes. Horikita Manabu roared and sprang forward like a hunting leopard, knees bent, both hands curled into claws as he aimed for Watanabe Hayabara's throat. Watanabe Hayabara calmly dodged to the side, then swept a leg at Horikita Manabu's lower body. Horikita Manabu reacted quickly and leaped over the sweep, but Watanabe Hayabara had already anticipated him. He drove his knee upward. Horikita Manabu hastily crossed his arms to block, but the tremendous impact numbed his hands and sent him flying backward.
Before Horikita Manabu could hit the ground, Watanabe Hayabara was already upon him like a ghost, slamming an elbow into his shoulder. Horikita Manabu grunted and crashed to the ground. He tried to get up, only to find Watanabe Hayabara's knee firmly pressed against his back and one hand holding his arm in place, leaving him unable to move.
"President Horikita, do you want to keep going?" Watanabe Hayabara still wore that faint smile, but his voice carried an undeniable pressure. Horikita Manabu clenched his teeth, unwillingness written in his eyes, yet he had to admit he had lost this close-quarters fight.
"You're from Class D?" Horikita Manabu asked in a low, measured voice. He slowly got to his feet and brushed off his sleeve.
Watanabe Hayabara stood where he was and answered with a smile. "I'm Watanabe Hayabara of Class D. A pleasure to meet you, President Horikita."
Horikita Manabu studied Watanabe Hayabara. Surprise flashed in his eyes, quickly giving way to admiration. He nodded and said, "Very good! You're strong, especially in close-quarters combat." His words showed that he recognized Watanabe Hayabara's skill.
Then Horikita Manabu turned his gaze to Horikita Suzune. His expression softened a little as he continued, "Suzune, it looks like you've found yourself a good friend..." His voice held a hint of relief, as if he were pleased that his sister had made a friend like him.
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