The Incapable (Seeking Everything)

"Sudo-kun, you need to study these test questions today," Kushida Kikyo reminded him kindly.

"I will. This is a huge help," Sudo said, looking incredibly excited and happy.

"We have to keep this a secret from the guys in other classes! We're going to get high scores and shock them!" Ike Kanji shouted, getting carried away.

Everyone packed up the test papers Kushida Kikyo had distributed and left the classroom one after another.

[The evidence is here, too.]

"Kushida-san, you've done a great service," Horikita Suzune said, offering rare praise.

"Hehe, really?"

"Because I never thought of utilizing past exams. I'm also grateful that you went to verify whether the questions were actually useful."

"It's for a friend, so it's nothing," Kushida Kikyo said, acting shy and coy.

[I really want to see your true face once the test papers are revised.]

"Also, I think you were right to announce it after school. If news of the past exams had leaked out carelessly, it might have lowered everyone's focus on studying," Horikita Suzune commented.

"That's just because we got them late. If many of the same questions appear on tomorrow's test... maybe everyone will be able to get great scores."

"Yes, and everyone's hard work over the past two weeks won't have been in vain."

Just then, Kushida Kikyo suddenly looked up and said to Horikita Suzune with a smile, "Well then, let's head back too." With that, she began to lower her head and pack up her textbooks and bag.

However, just as Kushida Kikyo was about to leave, Watanabe Hayabara suddenly spoke up: "Horikita, I have something I want to discuss with you." His voice wasn't loud, but it was clear enough for everyone present to hear.

Hearing Watanabe Hayabara's words, Horikita Suzune's body gave a slight jolt. She turned around slowly, looked at Watanabe Hayabara, and asked, "What is it?"

Before Watanabe Hayabara could speak, Kushida Kikyo interjected, "Then I won't disturb you two; I'll head off first." After saying this, she waved to Horikita Suzune and Watanabe Hayabara, then turned and left.

Watching Kushida Kikyo's retreating figure, Horikita Suzune said to Watanabe Hayabara, "Let's go, then," and the two walked out of the classroom together.

"Let's talk while we walk back to the dorms," Watanabe Hayabara suggested.

"Mm, alright." Horikita Suzune nodded and walked side-by-side with Watanabe Hayabara along the campus path.

"Horikita-san, aren't you worried about rumors spreading if you walk with me now?" Watanabe Hayabara teased, the corners of his mouth curling into a smirk.

Horikita Suzune glanced at him expressionlessly and replied flatly, "You were the one who invited me. If there are rumors, then as a Watanabe-kun who already has a girlfriend, being labeled a scumbag would be your own fault."

Her answer was crisp and decisive, without a hint of hesitation.

Upon hearing this, Watanabe Hayabara didn't get angry; instead, he chuckled. "Then, if I'm already considered a scumbag, it would be quite reasonable for me to do something to you, wouldn't it, Horikita-san?"

With that, his hand flicked out like lightning, accurately brushing against Horikita Suzune's fingers.

This sudden move startled Horikita Suzune, and her body tensed up instantly, like a frightened rabbit.

"What are you doing?" Her voice rose an octave involuntarily, filled with vigilance and caution.

At the same time, her other hand moved by reflex, quickly reaching into her pocket to pull out a sharp compass.

The needle of the compass glinted coldly in the sunlight, as if it would pierce Watanabe Hayabara's body without mercy in the next second.

However, Watanabe Hayabara's reaction was just as swift.

He grabbed Horikita Suzune's wrist with lightning speed and squeezed, firmly pinning her hand so she couldn't move it an inch further.

Horikita Suzune's face turned slightly pale in an instant.

"Doesn't Horikita-san know what I'm capable of? Don't try to attack me."

Just then, Watanabe Hayabara suddenly noticed that the roots of Horikita Suzune's ears and her cheeks had flushed a faint red, like a ripe apple, making one want to take a bite.

"Let go of me!" Although Horikita Suzune's voice remained low, the anger in it was obvious.

Watanabe Hayabara remained unmoved, his smile growing even brighter: "Then beg me."

"Impossible!" Horikita Suzune's reply was firm, leaving no room for negotiation.

She began to struggle violently, trying to break free from Watanabe Hayabara's restraint, but his strength was clearly far greater than hers; no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't escape his control.

"Isn't it nice to just keep talking like this, Horikita?" Watanabe Hayabara looked at Horikita Suzune's angry face and smiled.

"You have a girlfriend, yet you're taking advantage of another girl. You really are a scumbag. I'll definitely find a chance to stab you."

"Then you should think about stabbing me at all times. After all, your brother has already handed you over to me."

"Impossible!!" Horikita Suzune didn't hesitate at all.

"I expected you wouldn't believe me." While holding Horikita Suzune's wrist with one hand, Watanabe Hayabara used his other hand to take out his student ID and play a recording—it was a portion of his previous conversation with Horikita Manabu, though it had been edited by Watanabe Hayabara.

That's definitely Brother's voice. That was Horikita Suzune's first reaction upon hearing the recording. Seeing the Horikita Suzune before him quiet down visibly to listen carefully, Watanabe Hayabara watched her.

[The obedience to her brother, carved into her very bones.]

As the recording played on, Horikita Suzune's brows gradually furrowed, a sense of indescribable complexity washing over her.

"How about it, Horikita-san? Those 40,000 points were my first bit of assistance; you don't need to pay me back." Watanabe Hayabara looked at Horikita Suzune with a smile.

"You had other business with me today, didn't you, Watanabe-kun?" Horikita Suzune no longer cared about her wrist being held by Watanabe Hayabara; instead, she was deep in thought, wondering why her brother would have Watanabe Hayabara help her, searching for the reason.

"You were involved in the past exam papers, right, Horikita?"

"Yes, it was my proposal."

"It was Ayanokoji's reminder that helped you come up with this, right, Horikita?" Watanabe Hayabara continued to press.

Horikita Suzune pondered for a moment. "Ayanokoji-kun did provide the train of thought, but I was the one who figured it out."

[A puppet who doesn't even realize she's a puppet, Horikita.]

[Ayanokoji, your reach is extending too far.]

"Then you're certainly impressive, but have you thought about how to handle the occurrence of special circumstances, Horikita?"

"Special circumstances?" Horikita Suzune looked slightly confused.

"If this year doesn't feature content from the past exam papers like in previous years, you, as the proposer, will have to bear the blame from the class," Watanabe Hayabara reminded her.

"Why would they blame me? I found the past exam papers to help them improve their scores. If the questions from the past papers don't appear, that's their own problem. Why should I be blamed for the results of their lack of effort? I've already done my best to help them." Horikita's reaction was somewhat intense, appearing genuinely uncomprehending.

"Because the incompetent are unwilling to deny themselves and prefer to shift the blame, so shouldn't such incompetent people be exiled, Horikita?"