Such Tacit Understanding, I Don't Want It!

"Tell me, you were genuinely planning to strike just now, weren't you?"

Facing Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's question, Horikita Manabu did not answer immediately. Instead, he took a glasses cloth from his pocket, removed his spectacles, and began to wipe them.

"So, you saw everything just now, didn't you?"

Was he dodging the question? Or perhaps...

Before Chiba Yu could even react, Horikita Manabu flashed forward in the next second, instantly closing the distance to Chiba Yu and Ayanokoji Kiyotaka. Before either of them could respond, he raised his right leg and lashed out a kick toward one of them.

The wind whistled, followed by a sharp, biting strike.

A sneak attack? And against both of them at once?

Regardless of the outcome, neither of them gambled on whether they were the intended target. The moment the attack began, both reacted simultaneously, dodging into the empty space beside them.

Seeing this, Horikita Manabu paused noticeably, but his offensive did not cease.

Once his movement stabilized, Horikita Manabu raised his right hand again, clenched it into a fist, and lunged fiercely toward Chiba Yu.

"Again?" Chiba Yu frowned slightly, seemingly puzzled by Horikita Manabu's actions, his tone even carrying a hint of dissatisfaction.

Though he complained, Chiba Yu's movements did not falter.

He planted his feet in a horse stance, extended his right hand, and firmly gripped Horikita Manabu's fist, relying on his own strength to withstand the blow head-on.

The wind died down, the night curtain slowly drew back, and the situation was laid bare before them.

Chiba Yu maintained his grip on Horikita Manabu's fist, staring at him with a serious gaze. "What is the meaning of this, Horikita-senpai? May I assume this is your way of venting dissatisfaction toward your juniors by resorting to private retaliation?"

Faced with Chiba Yu's accusation, Horikita Manabu remained unresponsive, his icy expression welded firmly to his face, unmoved.

Gradually, feeling the force in Horikita Manabu's hand begin to wane, Chiba Yu slowly relaxed his grip.

Withdrawing his hand, Horikita Manabu calmly straightened his attire, then swept his gaze over Chiba Yu and Ayanokoji, speaking coldly: "You're quite agile. Have you studied anything?"

"I've studied piano and calligraphy."

"I've studied piano and the tea ceremony."

"Huh?" For a moment, Chiba Yu and Ayanokoji Kiyotaka exchanged glances, their eyes filled with surprise and shock at the other's response—though it was a mystery how Chiba Yu managed to read shock on Ayanokoji's perpetually deadpan face.

"Oh? Interesting." Hearing their synchronized answers, let alone Horikita Manabu, even Horikita Suzune standing to the side was left dumbfounded.

"Right, I remember now. I saw your files in the Student Council."

"Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, and..." Horikita Manabu turned to look at Chiba Yu, who was adjusting his stance. "Chiba Yu, correct?"

"In this year's entrance exams, two freshmen's scores caused quite a stir in the Student Council. One scored exactly 50 points in every subject, and as for the other, he scored 60 in every subject. Furthermore, the recent small tests yielded the exact same scores."

"So, did you calculate it so that you'd score the same on 100-point papers?"

Faced with Horikita Manabu's questioning and the curious gaze of Horikita Suzune behind him, Chiba Yu and Ayanokoji Kiyotaka remained calm.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka faced Horikita Manabu without a hint of concern, answering blandly: "Sometimes, coincidences can be quite terrifying."

"Oh? And you? Or are you going to say it was a coincidence for you as well?" Horikita Manabu turned to ask Chiba Yu, who was standing to the side.

Chiba Yu shrugged. "Is it possible that scoring 60 is simply my limit?"

Horikita Manabu did not get angry at these two obviously suspicious answers; he merely looked back at Horikita Suzune. "Suzune, to think you'd have friends—honestly, I'm surprised."

Compared to his earlier icy tone, there seemed to be a hint of relief in his words this time.

Although her brother's remark was startling to Horikita Suzune, she lowered her head and answered cautiously: "They... they aren't my friends. We are just... classmates."

"Heh, you're still the same, misinterpreting the true meaning of being aloof versus being lonely."

Horikita Manabu glanced at Horikita Suzune, then began to walk away. "Suzune, if you wish to ascend to a higher class, then struggle with all your might."

As he passed by Chiba Yu and Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, Horikita Manabu gave them a brief glance before leaving without looking back, leaving the three of them standing in place, silent for a long time.

"Clack!"

"Here, my treat."

A drink dropped from the vending machine. Chiba Yu picked it up and casually handed a bottle to Ayanokoji Kiyotaka beside him.

"Thanks."

"Gulp, gulp... huff... I'm alive again."

Downing more than half of the drink in one go, Chiba Yu finally felt his body returning to normal, his parched throat warming up at last.

Chiba Yu leaned against the streetlight, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka stood in front of the vending machine, and Horikita Suzune sat on the nearby curb. The three of them stayed there quietly, waiting to see who would break the silence first.

"I apologize for the scene tonight," Horikita Suzune finally broke the silence.

"If anything, I'm glad to know that Horikita is just an ordinary girl..."

"Stare~"

"I didn't say anything."

The death glare from Horikita made Ayanokoji Kiyotaka shut his mouth instantly.

"Impressive..." On the other side, watching the interaction between Ayanokoji and Horikita, Chiba Yu couldn't help but praise Ayanokoji. At the very least, if it were Chiba Yu in that position, he would never have been able to say such a thing.

"And you..."

Hearing Horikita shift the topic to him, Chiba Yu slowly raised his hands above his head, saying calmly and with a hint of helplessness, "I just came out to buy a drink tonight."

Out of his understanding of Horikita, Chiba Yu promptly ended the topic.

Seeing this, Horikita lowered her head, then spoke in a serious tone, "What was said just now—that you two intentionally scored the same marks on the entrance exam—is that true?"

Regarding this question, Chiba Yu glanced at her and replied nonchalantly, "I still stand by what I just said."

"Me too; it was just a coincidence."

Horikita Suzune fell silent. After a long while, she finally spoke slowly, "I don't really understand you two. You clearly possess great ability, yet you insist on hiding yourselves."

To this, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka spoke up again, but this time, the topic was no longer a discussion of that matter.

"Horikita, do you really think there's no need to hold study sessions anymore?"

"Yes." Horikita Suzune stood up from her seat. "I don't think there's any need to waste time on people who only ever fail their exams."

"If that's the case, Sudo and the others will be expelled."

"If that happens, the good students will remain, and it will be easier to promote to a higher class."

Just as the two were arguing their points, Chiba Yu interjected appropriately, "Then, what if I told you that one of the requirements for promoting to a higher class is that no one can be expelled?"