While Natsukawa and the others were talking...
The club representatives had all finished their speeches one after another and left the stage.
So the last person standing onstage drew everyone's attention.
The student standing before the microphone gazed calmly over the first-years.
He was a little over 170 centimeters tall, not particularly tall. Above his slender frame was neat black hair. Through his smartly styled glasses, one could glimpse his intelligent eyes.
Natsukawa knew this was Horikita Manabu's famous scene of showing off from the original story.
"Do your best!"
"Hahahaha!"
The first-years shouted boisterously, but Horikita Manabu did not move a muscle.
Then the laughter passed its peak, and an awkward silence began to settle in.
"What's that guy doing?"
Students in the Gymnasium began exchanging dumbfounded reactions, and a hubbub arose.
Even so, the man onstage remained unmoved. He simply stood there silently, without moving.
Horikita did not take her eyes off the student either.
Then the relaxed atmosphere slowly shifted in an unexpected direction. It was like a chemical reaction.
An unbelievable air of tension and silence permeated the entire Gymnasium.
Ever since Natsukawa's reminder at the start, Horikita Suzune had been staring fixedly at the stage.
Only then did Ayanokoji find an opportunity to speak to Natsukawa:
"Horikita seems rather strange."
Natsukawa turned toward him and feigned surprise:
"Huh? Have you been here this whole time?"
Ayanokoji thought, So my earlier impression was right. Those two completely ignored me.
Ayanokoji replied:
"I'm the classmate who was with Horikita that day. Remember now?"
Natsukawa did not want to get too involved with him yet, so he could only nod perfunctorily and answer:
"Yeah, yeah, I vaguely remember. I didn't expect you to be walking around with Suzune."
Ayanokoji thought, His tone is dismissive, and his eyes keep drifting toward Horikita. Is he not particularly interested in getting involved with other classmates? Or is he only interested in Horikita?
Ayanokōji began by introducing himself:
"Let me introduce myself again. I'm Ayanokōji Kiyotaka. Natsukawa, Horikita and I are just in the same class. At the moment, I'm not even sure whether we're friends."
"Oh, do you like Suzune?"
"No, I'm just here looking for an opportunity to make friends."
"Oh, good, then. You remember my name, right?"
With that, Natsukawa stopped paying attention to Ayanokoji and walked behind Horikita Suzune.
Ayanokoji thought, Ignored again. Oh well, this is a good start. He knows my name now.
Ayanokoji was also very interested in observing how someone with Horikita's personality interacted with Natsukawa, so he once again stood there like a wooden post.
Natsukawa went behind Suzune and teased:
"Hey, Suzune. What are you doing?"
But Horikita Suzune seemed to be lost in a daze, immersed in her imaginings, and gave no response.
Horikita Suzune wrestled with her thoughts:
I finally get to see my brother again.
But will he scold me when he finds out I came to this school too?
How should I act around him?
I thought I'd grown a lot too, that I was as outstanding as my brother, and that was why I firmly decided to follow in his footsteps and come to this school.
But my brother is so outstanding. Will I embarrass him?
She was caught in indecision, inferiority, and a lack of confidence...
Natsukawa already knew what Horikita Suzune's personality was like early on. To save this lost girl who blindly idolized her brother...
Natsukawa deliberately reached out from behind, placed both hands on Horikita Suzune's cheeks, and tugged them.
"Hey, hey, Suzune, snap out of it."
Natsukawa pulled Horikita Suzune's cheeks out of shape, kneading them up, down, left, and right.
Natsukawa thought:
Good grief, even this doesn't faze her. What kind of memory is she lost in...?
Still, this is pretty fun. Feels nice too, bullying an ice-cold beauty.
If I win her over, it'll probably be pretty interesting when she remembers this someday.
Horikita Suzune felt the odd sensations and pain in her face, but her mind was immersed in considering how she should face Horikita Manabu.
Only one irritated thought flashed through her mind: Damn Natsukawa. He's so annoying... Then she returned to her thoughts about not daring to face Horikita Manabu.
My brother has such a powerful presence. He's as imposing as ever!
I came to this school to prove myself too.
I wonder if he's noticed me.
It would be better if he didn't. My brother's presence has silenced everyone below the stage. If I move around, I'll definitely ruin the atmosphere.
I absolutely mustn't embarrass my brother!
Huh? What's that feeling on my face? That awful guy!
"Haha, Suzune, are you made of wood? Here, let me knead those cheeks. Too bad I can't see your face from the front."
With the audience utterly silent, Horikita Manabu, who was looking down over everyone from the raised stage, soon noticed the commotion around Natsukawa.
Seeing Horikita Manabu look over, Horikita Suzune blushed and froze in nervousness!
Horikita Manabu remained expressionless, but inwardly he was utterly astonished, because he saw the corners of his stubborn sister Horikita Suzune's mouth being kneaded out of shape.
As Student Council President, he had also seen his younger sister Horikita Suzune's enrollment information, but he had no intention of meeting her.
What's with that guy? He's bullying Suzune, and she isn't resisting?
Horikita Manabu could only avert his gaze and begin his speech, his face expressionless.
"I am Horikita Manabu, the Student Council President!"
"With the graduation of our upperclassmen, the Student Council will once again recruit candidates from among the first-years. There are no special requirements for candidates, but anyone considering running for the Student Council should refrain from joining other clubs. As a rule, those wishing to participate in both the Student Council and another club will not be accepted."
Horikita Suzune breathed a sigh of relief. He had finally looked away. How should I explain to my brother that I chose to come to this school too?
Wait! My face!
Horikita Suzune stamped down hard, her face red, and stepped on Natsukawa's foot.
Current affection: 0
"You! Isn't it about time you stopped?"
Natsukawa kneaded her cheeks a little more before withdrawing his hands, still wanting more.
"Suzune, you're finally better! I thought you were possessed!"
"The normal Suzune really is back."
"Hmph!"
Horikita Suzune left the Gymnasium, her face red.
Ayanokoji said with an awkward smile:
"Natsukawa, you seem to have made Horikita angry."
Natsukawa smiled naturally and said:
"It's fine, it's fine. I was treating her. Didn't you see?"
Ayanokoji scratched his head in a show of embarrassment, smiled, and said:
"All right, then. See you next time!"
Then he followed Horikita Suzune to continue observing.
Ayanokoji thought, What an interesting way of interacting.
Horikita and that Student Council President probably have some special connection. They're both named Horikita, after all.
I didn't expect the ice-cold Horikita and Natsukawa to actually get along in their awkward way.
So this really is a free campus life?
There are so many interesting things worth observing...
After Horikita Suzune and Ayanokoji left...
Before long, a girl with short brown hair stood before Natsukawa.
She smiled sweetly and greeted him gently:
"Excuse me! Are you Natsukawa Tatsuya?"
Before you continue