Kushida's Choice!

"What do you know?" Horikita asked reflexively.

"Still putting on an act now, are you, Horikita Suzune?"

Shinomiya glanced at Horikita without leaving a trace, signaling her not to give herself away.

Horikita caught the signal.

"Stop saying useless things and give me your answer.

Are you choosing Shinomiya, or are you going to keep targeting me?"

Rather than answer directly, Kushida poured herself a glass of juice and took a drink.

"Hehe, Shinomiya? What does he have to do with me?"

Shinomiya saw the look in Kushida's eyes. Though he felt a little hurt, he still played along.

Shinomiya looked at Kushida in disbelief, his tone uncertain. "Kushida, what are you...?"

"What are you looking at? Never seen it before?"

"Horikita, who do you think he is? Why would I care about him? I already have a way to get you expelled.

Let you go? Dream on!"

Before Kushida came, Shinomiya had given her the video. The happiness she had shown at the beginning of her act probably hadn't been entirely fake.

"Why are you so determined to get me expelled? You should know I won't go around telling people." Horikita sped up her speech and recited the lines Shinomiya had given her.

Right now, Horikita still didn't know what secret she supposedly knew that made Kushida want her expelled so badly.

She only knew that they had attended the same middle school.

Horikita glanced at Shinomiya. He should know what it was.

"So I can live the life I want, everyone who knows about my past has to disappear," Kushida said coldly.

At that moment, Shinomiya cut in, playing the role of a devoted simp.

Shinomiya pressed his lips together and said tremblingly, "It's okay... Kushida, don't worry about me. Go pursue the life you want."

Both Horikita and Kushida froze. Since when had Shinomiya become so good at this?

"He said it himself, Horikita. You're definitely getting expelled!"

Horikita calmed down as well and stuck to the original plan.

"In that case, I'll send the video to the student council now.

Sorry, Shinomiya, but you'll be expelled along with me."

Horikita took out her phone at a measured pace, giving Kushida plenty of time to think.

Shinomiya stared at Kushida, his heart full of tension.

Kushida, can you choose me?

You have leverage over Horikita now. You can threaten to get her expelled whenever you want. But you can also choose me, let Horikita stay, and take the risk of exposing your past.

You know Horikita's personality. Even if she knew, the chances of her saying anything are slim.

With such a tiny risk, can there be a place for me in the life you want so desperately, the life where everyone recognizes you?

As Horikita continued moving, Shinomiya unconsciously clenched the hem of his clothes. He watched Kushida's expression, but it did not change at all.

Kushida, I still can't see through you.

Kushida's acting skills truly were outstanding. More importantly, she had woven that performance into her daily life. Even Shinomiya couldn't tell when she was being genuine and when she was faking it.

Shinomiya had deliberately set up this situation because he wanted to see Kushida's real reaction.

Horikita was already using the card reader to access the surveillance footage.

Kushida still did not budge. Shinomiya's heart slowly sank, and the light in his eyes dimmed. It seemed he was going to lose this time.

"Wait!"

Kushida suddenly spoke.

Shinomiya's eyes lit up. Could it be?

"Don't you want to know how I plan to get you expelled?"

Kushida took out the video Shinomiya had used to threaten her.

Horikita was furious, her gaze toward Shinomiya practically spitting fire.

That bastard actually sent the video to Kushida!

Shinomiya silently turned his head away, refusing to look at Horikita, though he could still feel her murderous glare.

Sorry, Horikita!

After you're expelled, I'll have someone compensate you!

"Your older brother is the student council president, and he's already a third-year. It would be such a shame if something happened to him at a time like this!"

Horikita was genuinely panicking now. Before, she had only been acting. She never expected Kushida to actually have something on her.

She had no real leverage.

Damn you, Shinomiya!

Horikita had no way out now. The only way to protect herself—and her brother—was to make Kushida back down!

The extreme pressure instead made Horikita calm down.

"Kushida, why are you stopping me?"

Shinomiya already knew the answer. Kushida still wanted to have it both ways.

She wanted Horikita expelled while also keeping Shinomiya by her side.

That made it impossible to tell which mattered more to her. Shinomiya would not accept that outcome.

But there was nothing he could do now. He could only watch Horikita perform!

Horikita, I apologize for what I did before!

If you can stay, I'll transfer another 100,000 points to you.

"What do you mean, stopping you? I'm merely declaring victory."

Kushida leisurely sipped her juice.

"Is that so...? Then I'll continue."

Horikita ignored Kushida and resumed transferring the video, preparing to send it.

Kushida's hand holding the juice paused for a moment. It was subtle, but Shinomiya noticed. Was that a good sign?

Horikita looked at Kushida and spoke slowly, emphasizing every word.

"This is your last chance. All I want is for you to stop provoking me."

Kushida gave no response and continued drinking her juice.

Horikita shook her head as if she had accepted her fate and was about to tap send.

Kushida grabbed her hand.

Shinomiya's eyes lit up. Is it what I think it is?!

"You bitch! If you tell anyone about me, I'll kill you!

And I'll drag your precious older brother down with you!"

Then Kushida looked at Shinomiya.

"You're useless too. How could you let someone get such an easy hold over you?

How did I never realize you were this stupid?"

Kushida's sudden outburst startled both Shinomiya and Horikita.

Horikita quickly understood the situation. She had succeeded!

Once she relaxed, she realized her back was already drenched in cold sweat.

Yet when she saw Kushida's vicious expression, Horikita smiled.

"Very well, Kushida. I hope we both keep each other's secrets."

After saying that, Horikita stood and left.

The moment she stepped out of the room, Horikita let out a long breath. Even her fingers trembled slightly as she noticed Ayanokoji leaning against the wall.

Forcing her voice to remain steady, she said, "Let's go."

The two headed toward the elevator.

The situation inside the room, however, was far more intense.

Shinomiya was still immersed in the joy of their success. He felt as if he were floating, a smile lingering at the corner of his lips.

Kushida, on the other hand, was venting.

"Ah... damn it... Why? Why did it turn out like this?!"

Kushida kept throwing, beating, and tearing at the cushion Horikita had sat on.

"That bitch, that bitch!

What gives her the right to do this?

What gives her the right?!"

Kushida flipped the table over, scattering food across the floor.

When she turned and saw Shinomiya still standing there in a daze, her anger flared even hotter.

She rushed over, shoved Shinomiya to the floor, straddled him, and began raining punches down on his chest and face.

"It's all because of you! This is all your fault!"

Her fists fell like raindrops, knocking Shinomiya out of his blissful haze and back into reality. But he did not resist. He simply let her vent.

"Why...? Why couldn't you have been more careful?"

Kushida's punches grew slower and slower, and her voice became increasingly choked with sobs.

Shinomiya felt liquid dripping onto his face.

He reached up and wiped it away, then tasted it. It was salty.

Kushida finally stopped moving. Covering her face with both hands, she let tears stream through her fingers and fall onto Shinomiya's face.

Shinomiya felt a little heartbroken. Had he gone too far?

But he quickly firmed his resolve.

This is necessary. This is a sacrifice for the future!

Looking at the crying Kushida, Shinomiya slowly sat up and leaned against the bed, letting Kushida straddle his lap.

Shinomiya hugged Kushida and whispered in her ear, "Sorry, Kikyo. You worked hard this time."

Kushida cried even harder. She hugged Shinomiya tightly and leaned against his shoulder, her tears soaking through his clothes.

"Waa... It's all your fault. Waaah... It's all your fault."

Shinomiya gently stroked Kushida's back.

"Yes, it's all my fault. I'm the one who did wrong."

Kushida suddenly pulled open Shinomiya's collar and bit down on his shoulder.

"Ghk!"

Shinomiya frowned, but he did not push her away. He allowed Kushida to vent.

Kushida bit harder and harder until the taste of rust mixed with salt and filled her mouth.

Only then did Kushida release him and whisper, "You owe me this, Shiomiya Yo."

"Yeah. I won't be able to repay it even in this lifetime."

Shinomiya's gaze deepened as he stared into empty space.

He was not like Kushida's ordinary friends, casually telling others her secrets.

Telling someone a secret meant wanting them to share the burden, while forcing them to bear the obligation of keeping it hidden too.

Despicable.

Shinomiya had already prepared himself to keep this secret hidden for the rest of his life.

Kushida had changed for him, even if only a little. That alone was enough for Shinomiya.

"Kikyo, I won't let you run away again."

Kushida seemed to grow tired afterward, her voice becoming quieter and quieter.

"Kushida? Kushida?"

Shinomiya thought she had fallen asleep. He picked her up, placed her on the bed, and covered her with a blanket.

He wiped away her tear stains with a warm towel. Looking at her peaceful sleeping face, Shinomiya froze. This was the first time he had seen Kushida like this.

Unable to resist, Shinomiya leaned closer and lightly kissed her forehead.

He stepped onto the balcony, letting the evening breeze wash over him as he reviewed everything that had happened today.

Shinomiya transferred 100,000 points each to Ayanokoji and Horikita.

What happened today could be considered a success, and Horikita had stayed.

Though he had treated her rather badly in the process, Shinomiya was not a good person either.

Kushida would probably realize tomorrow that he had coasted through this whole affair.

He still needed to think of a way to explain himself.

Afterward, Horikita would probably remember what happened in middle school. That incident had been far too famous.

It had been called the greatest and most evil incident of despair in the history of the school.

Shinomiya had also helped fuel it. Otherwise, so many people would not have been seriously injured, and some would not have nearly lost their lives.

Fortunately, Shinomiya had stopped in the end. Otherwise, people really might have died.

Though even if it were investigated, nothing would lead back to Shinomiya.

Horikita looked like someone who only cared about studying, so she probably did not know the full details.

It did not matter anyway.

Kushida had already decided that Horikita knew, so Horikita could carry the blame a little longer.

At most, he would stop setting her up in the future.

In a sudden burst of inspiration, Shinomiya looked at the easel beside him.

After pinning up a sheet of paper, Shinomiya began sketching with a pencil.

He had intended to continue practicing self-portraits, but as he drew, the picture gradually became Kushida.

Not the usual Kushida, nor her dark side—just Kushida as she had looked asleep moments ago.

I'll give it to her tomorrow!