Threat

[Ayanokoji: Got it!]

[Shinomiya: Tell Horikita to come to my dorm at eight. Say it's a celebration!]

[Ayanokoji: She probably won't come.]

[Shinomiya: That's your problem. I don't care!]

Night fell.

Ayanokoji and Horikita knocked on Shinomiya's door.

Knock, knock.

Shinomiya opened the door and ushered them inside. In the middle of the room stood a small table.

It was covered with all kinds of expensive delicacies.

Looking at everything before her, Horikita felt a wave of extravagance wash over her.

"Shinomiya, didn't you say we should save where we could and spend where we should?"

"This is where we should spend!"

Shinomiya invited Horikita and Ayanokoji to sit down. Horikita looked around but didn't spot Kushida.

"Where's Kushida?"

"She'll be here later. There's something I need to tell you first."

"Eat first!"

Shinomiya urged Horikita to start eating.

Watching this, Horikita and Ayanokoji were hit by a strong sense of déjà vu.

Wasn't this the exact method Horikita had used to make Ayanokoji recruit people for the study group?!

Shinomiya figured that since Horikita was the type to help anyone whose food she'd eaten, the same method would work on her.

Horikita hesitated for a moment, but she still picked up a piece of fried shrimp and ate it.

Shinomiya's tone immediately turned forceful.

"Horikita, I need you to do me a favor."

Horikita: ?

"No!"

"You've already eaten my food. Shouldn't you repay me?"

"I can pay you points, but I absolutely won't help you personally. I only helped with this trial because it was for the class."

Shinomiya sighed helplessly. It looked like he would have to use his trump card after all.

Shinomiya directly took out the video of the Horikita siblings from that night and played it.

Horikita instantly saw red and snapped at Shinomiya, "Shiomiya Yo, you despicable bastard! You still haven't deleted that video!"

Shinomiya didn't want this either. Along the way, he felt as though he was always threatening people, constantly walking on thin ice. Could he really make it to the other side?

But since he had already done it, Shinomiya accepted the infamy.

"Horikita, you wouldn't want your brother to be expelled because of this, would you?"

Hearing that, Horikita's expression darkened completely. She glared viciously at Shinomiya.

"What exactly do you want?"

"Didn't I tell you? I want you to do me a favor. It'll benefit you too."

Shinomiya froze. It was as if he had grasped Kamuro's true essence. He really was doing a good deed now.

As long as Horikita followed the plan, Kushida might give up on making her drop out.

Shiomiya Yo was truly helping someone.

Shinomiya felt his state of mind become even more open and unburdened.

What do other people's honor and disgrace have to do with me? I'll simply face it all with calm indifference.

"Speak!" Horikita barely forced out the word through clenched teeth.

"When Kushida gets here, threaten her the same way you threatened those three people from Class C today.

Tell her that the surveillance footage in your hands can get me and the four people from Class C expelled. Now that Class C has withdrawn the complaint, I'm no longer under threat.

But make Kushida promise not to target you anymore. That way, you won't hand over the footage.

Otherwise, you'll get me expelled!"

"Kushida is targeting me?" Horikita frowned in thought.

"You don't need to worry about that. Just do as I say. Otherwise, you know..." Shinomiya cut off her thoughts.

Horikita fell silent for a moment before finally nodding.

After that, Shinomiya explained all the details to Horikita.

From the moment he entered, Ayanokoji had quietly faded into the background. He felt that if he got involved, he would definitely be unlucky.

Beep—!

Kushida opened the door and walked in, her face blooming with a bright smile.

"Hi, everyone. It's really great that Class C withdrew the complaint today."

Kushida took off her shoes and sat down in the only empty seat.

"Wow~, today's celebration feast is so lavish!" Kushida clasped her hands together and happily said to the three of them.

Shinomiya felt Kushida didn't need to put on such an exaggerated act. Her usual performance wasn't any worse than this.

Horikita had no appetite. She went straight on the offensive.

"Kushida, do you know how I made Class C withdraw their complaint?" Horikita's tone was icy, even more hostile than usual.

Kushida sensed that something was wrong, but she maintained her smile.

"And how did Horikita manage it?"

Kushida put on a curious expression.

Horikita took out a memory card.

"This contains surveillance footage from the scene of the incident. It was very well hidden, so neither side discovered it.

"The contents can get Shinomiya and the three people from Class C expelled.

"But I used this footage to threaten those three people from Class C. They didn't want to be expelled, so they withdrew the complaint."

Kushida clapped in praise. "Horikita is amazing. You even came up with something like that!"

Shinomiya and Ayanokoji exchanged glances as they silently ate.

They would leave the stage to the two female leads.

"Kushida, I don't know why you've been targeting me.

"But I hope you'll stay away from me from now on." Horikita spoke sternly.

Kushida pressed a finger to her lips, seemingly deep in thought.

"I don't know what Horikita is talking about. Did I do something that made you misunderstand?"

"Drop the act! Kushida Kikyo!" Horikita barked.

"If you don't rein yourself in, I'll hand over this video and get Shinomiya expelled!

"He's your friend, or your admirer, right?" Horikita said coldly.

Shinomiya straightened up, staring at Horikita with a shocked expression.

"Horikita, what are you talking about? Why would you do this? Can't everyone talk things out if there's a misunderstanding?"

Shinomiya's performance held shock, confusion, and a trace of grievance.

Ayanokoji continued playing dead.

"Horikita, why are you doing this? Why are you targeting me so much? To me... this is too cruel..." Kushida spoke pitifully, tears glistening in her eyes as her voice grew softer and softer.

Kushida looked like a bullied child—weak, helpless, and pitiable.

Even Horikita began to feel a little sorry for her.

But under Shinomiya's threatening gaze, she continued.

"Ayanokoji, leave first!" Horikita said.

Ayanokoji immediately put down his bowl and chopsticks and fled at lightning speed.

"Shinomiya still doesn't know your true face, does he? Let him stay and see it for himself!" Horikita said teasingly.

Kushida merely lowered her head and sobbed quietly. Tears could be seen falling, spreading damp patches across her skirt.

She continued murmuring, "Why... why are you treating me like this?

"I clearly... haven't done anything."

Shinomiya slammed the table and sprang to his feet, angrily berating Horikita.

"Enough, Horikita! You've gone too far today! You're not welcome here. Please leave!"

Horikita remained perfectly calm.

"Don't be in such a hurry. Shinomiya, do you want me to tell you about her past? You went to the same school, but judging by your expression, it seems you don't know anything."

Before Horikita could speak, Kushida's cold voice rang out. It was nothing like her usual gentle tone.

"So you really do know!"

Kushida raised her head and looked at Horikita. Tear tracks still marked her face, but the sharpness in her eyes made her impossible to underestimate.

It was Horikita's first time seeing Kushida like this, and she stood there frozen for a moment.