Horikita's Brother's Advice (Continued)

"So, we still have some time, how about we go for a walk?" Having finished the meal and asked the questions, Karuizawa checked the time.

Perhaps because of the upcoming Sports Festival, there weren't many students on the Shopping Street.

So she didn't see any familiar faces, and she thought it would be nice to kill some time with Hachiman.

"Want to go shopping?" Hachiman Hikigaya didn't immediately agree. "I don't need to replenish any daily necessities for the next couple of days."

6.

Karuizawa almost wanted to give him a 6.

Is your goal when you go shopping with a girl actually to buy everyday items?

He's such a straight man.

I often see you with Kushida, but Kushida never teaches you about these things?

Wait a moment.

Karuizawa suddenly thought of something.

But does that mean that Hachiman doesn't actually have many opportunities to go shopping with girls?

"Don't you think your eyes look fierce?" Karuizawa said. "You treated me to dinner just now, right? I don't like taking advantage of others."

"So let's cancel each other out," she said. "Let's go to the optician's and buy you a pair of non-prescription glasses. They can cover up your fierce eyes. In my opinion, this will boost your popularity."

"..." Hachiman Hikigaya.

He already has non-prescription glasses; they were recommended by his Sakura.

But since it's free, there's no reason to refuse.

His mother taught him not to be a picky eater.

On the other side...

The number of people skipping training in Class B wasn't just from Kōenji, who didn't participate, or just from Hachiman Hikigaya and Karuizawa; even Suzune Horikita skipped it.

Certainly.

Horikita didn't not want to train; rather, she had been assigned a task by Hachiman Hikigaya.

You need to understand your own shortcomings.

Hachiman Hikigaya's task for her was to learn how to cooperate with others.

Really.

I still can't figure it out.

"Has something happened?" Just then, a voice came from over there.

Almost immediately upon hearing that tone, Suzune Horikita's body reacted instinctively.

They looked over, somewhat surprised.

It was Student Council President Manabu Horikita who came here.

However, Horikita did not come alone; he was probably patrolling with Secretary Akane Tachibana.

Akane Tachibana just stood there, and then he walked over on his own.

He gently pushed up his glasses.

"Elder brother..."

Suzune Horikita looked up.

"Actually, we ran into trouble in the three-legged race," Suzune Horikita said after a moment's thought. "My partner is slower than me, and I hope he can speed up and catch up with me."

"And Hachiman taught me how to cooperate with others."

"But cooperating with the opponent means that I also have to reduce my speed, so I have to rely on the opponent's speed. This will reduce the combat power of both of us. For example, I won't be able to use my speed."

"..." Manabu Horikita.

Hearing his sister describe the problem, Manabu Horikita seemed to fall silent for a moment.

However, Akane Tachibana, who had Manabu Horikita, felt that no one was more suitable to answer this question than Horikita.

Because.

Horikita is excellent, but the students around her are holding her back.

Many times, when you could have gained a lot of points and scores, you could only watch the opportunity slip away.

Even the advantage of current class evaluation scores has been diminished.

Third-year Class A 2154 points

Third-year Class B, 1530 points

310 points in Third-year Class C

Third-year Class D, 255 points

This year's All-School Sports Festival also put some pressure on the third graders.

Because the maximum difference can be 800 points.

Certainly.

Because their Third-year Class A has the largest number of students (40), compared to other classes with dropouts and the nine required projects, they can be assured that they will have an advantage in this part of the score.

And with Horikita there, their class won't lose.

Therefore, the Red and White Competition should naturally be awarded an additional 200 points.

So the class is still safe.

Only.

It is undeniable that Horikita is outstanding, while some of her classmates are holding her back.

And Horikita did not abandon any of his classmates.

Therefore, this is indeed the topic that Manabu Horikita is best suited to answer his younger sister about.

Because Horikita excessively strong, but his classmates around him are only so-so.

"Simply speaking, in a three-legged Manabu Horikita, there will definitely be pairs where someone is fast and someone is slow. First of all, it's impossible for someone slow to team up with someone fast, because that's not feasible."

"Human potential has limits."

Forehead.

Horikita's little sister was the first to be shot.

However, having already been reprimanded by Hachiman, Suzune Horikita continued listening.

"It is the easiest way to pair a fast person with a slow person."

"But it also brings problems, namely that the two are tied together. If the slower one is the main player, then they probably won't get a good ranking in the competition."

Manabu Horikita said, "But if the two can cooperate well, then even a slower pace doesn't necessarily mean they'll lose."

"Because the three-legged race test, besides physical fitness, also tests teamwork."

"I see." Suzune Horikita nodded.

I must say, the older brother is indeed the older brother.

But.

Seeing that her brother seemed to be about to leave with Akane Tachibana- senpai again, Suzune quickly asked.

"Then, brother, can you answer my other question?"

Um?

Manabu Horikita turned his head.

"It seems that Hachiman is planning to leave the class after accumulating 20 million points," Suzune said.

"..." Manabu Horikita.

20 million?

As the Student Council President, he knew that Sakayanagi Arisu had already met this requirement.

And Hachiman Hikigaya.

The number of points they have is not low either.

It is highly likely that the other party will be able to reach the threshold of 20 million to go solo.

"Did you come to tell me about this?" Manabu Horikita, looking at his younger sister.

His sister had already told him that she would no longer chase after his back.

It looks clear now.

But now it seems that I am lost.

"Suzune," Manabu Horikita said. "You said Hachiman Hikigaya collected 20 million yen and was going to leave the class, but what you really wanted to ask was Hachiman was going to abandon you and leave, right?"

Horikita's little sister and Hachiman, but Hachiman Hikigaya is going to skip a class, which can be interpreted as him going solo and abandoning Suzune Horikita.

"..." Suzune Horikita.

This made the younger sister, who had heard this, look up.

His once bright eyes now seemed to hold a hint of confusion.

"You're too dependent on him," Manabu Horikita said. "So you can't accept that he might abandon you and leave."

"But it's not like there's no solution," Manabu Horikita said. "And if he leaves, he'll grow into someone the other side can't ignore, and then the other side will come back."

"An existence that cannot be ignored?" Suzune seemed to feel pressured by these words.

"Yes," Manabu Horikita said. "And if the other person doesn't turn back, but you can [know the reason, understand him] and chase after them, then you have grown."

After saying that, he left with Akane Tachibana, leaving his younger sister pondering his words.

Akane Tachibana, who was catching up with Manabu Horikita, seemed somewhat curious.

"Is this Horikita sister?" Akane Tachibana asked.

Suzune Horikita and Manabu Horikita share a 3-point resemblance in appearance; both have black hair and the same eye color.

Although Akane Tachibana is Manabu Horikita's secretary, she is also his classmate.

He was one of the few people in the class who could help Manabu Horikita, or rather, one of the few who were relatively close to him.

"Hmm." Manabu Horikita nodded. "She came here following in my footsteps. Although she said she didn't want to follow my shadow anymore, she doesn't seem to have realized that she is now following Hachiman Hikigaya's shadow."

"And I will graduate this year."

"A slight headache—"

"My sister is mostly alone. She only knows family. In the past, she relied on me, but now she relies on Hachiman Hikigaya. So she feels lost when she finds out that he is really going to go solo."

"Isn't that very dangerous?" Akane Tachibana quickly said.

Because it's like falling for someone without even realizing it.

"Perhaps," Manabu Horikita said. "But Hachiman Hikigaya isn't a bad person; he's very sensible. So nothing bad should happen."

Then, Hachiman, who had gained the approval of Horikita, went to the room of Horikita's sister.

"If that's what your brother says, then he'll suffer sooner or later," Hachiman commented.

Hachiman asked Suzune Horikita to figure out how to cooperate with others.

Suzune Horikita provided Manabu Horikita's answer.

He, however, did not agree with this plan.

This is because this solution is only available when there are no other options.

To achieve results in a three-legged race, teamwork is necessary, but the most important factors are the individual's and partner's individual abilities.

If you are strong enough, you can take off with your partner. If your partner can't keep up, you don't have to accommodate the slower partner, but instead find a faster one.

However, this also means that although Manabu Horikita is the Student Council President and the Class representative of Third-year Class A, he is not a fierce person like Sakayanagi Arisu who can decisively give up.