Contacting Horikita Suzune

With his abilities improved, Shiomiya felt incredibly refreshed!

The frustration of being threatened by Kushida had faded quite a bit too.

Class...

School was over!

Shiomiya was in a pretty good mood today, so he actually paid attention in class for once. But for some reason, Chabashira-sensei kept looking his way.

Shiomiya was planning to go to the mall to buy some equipment. With a soldier's talents, being unarmed made him feel a little insecure.

He intended to buy some toy guns, fruit knives, and the like.

The phone in his pocket vibrated.

Shiomiya took it out and looked.

[Kushida: Weren't you going to introduce me to Horikita? First-floor lobby. Get here now!]

Ah! Kushida's orders had arrived.

Shiomiya could only go meet her first. He had almost forgotten about it.

They met up in the lobby.

"So? Where do we find her?" Shiomiya asked bluntly.

"Weren't you the one taking me to find her? Why are you asking me?" Kushida shot back.

Shiomiya scratched his head awkwardly. He really had not considered where to find Horikita Suzune.

He had only made that promise before to deal with Kushida.

Shiomiya began unsealing his analytical abilities.

Horikita loved studying, disliked making friends, and liked being alone in quiet places...

The library!

Shiomiya got his answer and smiled faintly.

"Of course I prepared. I arranged to meet her at the library."

At those words, Kushida's face darkened, and she immediately questioned Shiomiya.

"Where did you get her contact information? You didn't have it on your phone before."

Shiomiya did not know what was wrong with Kushida. Why had she suddenly become so sensitive?

"I asked her in person!"

Kushida was even more speechless after hearing that.

"You slept at your desk all day. Tell me, how did you arrange anything?"

"I was resting my eyes! I was perfectly awake, okay? I could even feel Chabashira-sensei looking over at me!"

"It's rare for me to pay attention in class, yet this is how you all look at me. Boohoo..."

Shiomiya put on an affectedly aggrieved expression and somehow produced a handkerchief to dab at the corner of his eye.

"Big Sister doesn't love me anymore..."

Kushida remained utterly unmoved by Shiomiya's performance. If anything, she wanted to laugh.

"Who did you learn that from this time?"

Shiomiya answered instantly.

"I recently read a classic from a great Western nation. It was pretty interesting. That's the heroine from it."

Kushida nodded, stepped closer to Shiomiya, and planted her foot on his.

Shiomiya looked down at his foot, then at Kushida.

"You stepped on my foot."

With a sweet smile and not a trace of apology, Kushida said, "I know." Her foot ground down harder.

Shiomiya frowned, glanced down again, and said calmly, "I'm fine. Put some force into it."

He even nodded as he spoke, as though apologetically offering advice to a masseuse.

Kushida's smile froze, as though it had cracked down the middle. A vein faintly bulged on her forehead.

Kushida took a deep breath, raised her leg high, and stomped down hard on Shiomiya's toes.

Shiomiya cried out in pain and immediately crouched down, clutching his foot.

"Hmph!" Kushida snorted. "Follow me yourself." She turned and headed toward the library.

The moment Kushida turned around, the pained expression on Shiomiya's face vanished, replaced by a smug smile.

Shiomiya was wearing the latest model of protective work boots.

The special material inside was soft and comfortable normally, but it provided powerful protection against impacts. When it came to fighting, who could withstand my heart-stomping kick?

Kushida... Hmph! She was merely an ordinary mortal.

Besides, if I did not put on an act, how would Kushida vent her resentment? This way, I would not have to explain the lie about arranging to meet Horikita.

What? You ask why I could not just tell the truth?

Obviously, because I could not accept having my lie exposed.

Even if I had said it casually.

As expected, Shiomiya Yo still won!

Everything was under control!

Shiomiya got up and followed Kushida, putting on a show of how difficult it was to walk when one foot could not exert any strength.

When they arrived at the library, Shiomiya spotted Horikita Suzune studying alone with a single sweep of his gaze.

Kushida switched into gentle angel mode and followed Shiomiya toward Horikita Suzune.

"Excuse me, Horikita. Can we talk?" Shiomiya wore the gentle smile he had trained himself to make.

Horikita showed no reaction. Kushida, on the other hand, stared at Shiomiya in surprise.

It was as though she were getting to know him all over again.

"Since you know you're disturbing me, could you please leave?" Horikita looked up and said coldly, glancing at Kushida beside Shiomiya.

Shiomiya naturally noticed it. It seemed the difficulty was a little high.

As though he had not heard her, Shiomiya pulled out the chair beside Horikita and sat down.

Horikita's brows knitted slightly as she stopped writing.

"Horikita, we went to the same middle school, and Kushida did too.

We've only just arrived at this new school, so it's understandable that Kushida would want to be friends with you, right?

I heard about what happened at the café last time too. Kushida was in the wrong, so we came to apologize this time."

(The café incident was probably when Kushida used Ayanokoji to lure Horikita out and stage a chance encounter, only to be exposed.)

Shiomiya pulled over the still somewhat dazed Kushida, then turned to look at her. His smile instantly vanished as he repeatedly gestured at Kushida with his brows and the corners of his mouth.

Kushida still had professional standards. She immediately looked at Horikita with a face full of guilt, tears glistening in her eyes. Clasping her hands tightly before her, she bent sharply at the waist in a bow.

"Sorry! Horikita, I was wrong last time!"

After saying that, Kushida remained in her bowing position without moving.

Horikita felt somewhat awkward at the sight and did not know how to respond as she looked at Kushida.

She did not want to concern herself with Kushida, but Kushida was standing there continuously bowing. It would be embarrassing to ignore her.

Watching the silent Horikita, Shiomiya gave Kushida a mental thumbs-up.

He had only intended to ease their relationship, but Kushida even had a move like moral coercion.

It only worked because Horikita was kind-hearted.

If it were Shiomiya, he really could make someone keep bowing forever.

"You can get up. I never cared about it in the first place, but as for being friends, let's forget it."

Horikita directly cut off Kushida's next words, but Kushida acted as though she had not heard.

"Thank you, Horikita. Let's exchange contact information first."

Kushida's words made Horikita's expression turn somewhat gloomy.

As though she had only noticed it then, Kushida repeatedly waved her hands.

"Horikita, don't misunderstand. I only want to transfer you some points."

"Horikita, don't overthink it. Kushida just wants to express her apology." Shiomiya also spoke up to support her.

"No need." Horikita refused directly, then lowered her head to look at her textbook.

Her silence was a wordless rejection of them both. Kushida wanted to try again, but Shiomiya stopped her.

"Then we won't disturb you any longer, Horikita."

Seeing the look in Shiomiya's eyes that brooked no refusal, Kushida could only give up.

The two came to a vending machine.

"What do you want to drink?" After picking out his own Coca-Cola, Shiomiya turned to ask Kushida.

"Strawberry milk," Kushida replied sullenly.

Holding the strawberry milk he had just bought and his own Coca-Cola, Shiomiya walked over to Kushida.

Kushida sat on a bench looking rather downcast. Shiomiya pressed the Coke against the back of her neck.

"Eek!"

Kushida instinctively shrank away.

"What are you doing?!" Kushida glared at Shiomiya unhappily.

Shiomiya handed the strawberry milk to Kushida.

"What's wrong with you? Is it because you didn't get her contact information? Don't be discouraged. At least your relationship has eased up a lot now," Shiomiya comforted her.

Kushida still said nothing, merely drinking her strawberry milk in silence.

Shiomiya was in no hurry either, drinking his own Coca-Cola.

Coca-Cola really was the best!

The silence did not last long.

Kushida suddenly spoke.

"Shiomiya, do you like girls like Horikita?"