The stubborn Suzune Horikita

Watching Manabu Horikita's figure disappear, Suzune Horikita said stubbornly:

"Brother, I will make it to Class A!"

What did he mean by that?

Did he admire Natsukawa Tatsuya more? Did he think Natsukawa could see further ahead?

And was he telling me to make friends with him?

No, I will never admit that Natsukawa is more capable than I am!

Brother, I'll prove it to you!

Natsukawa's laughter interrupted Horikita's thoughts.

Horikita said coldly:

"What are you laughing at?"

"You really are a mess, Suzune! Are you all right?"

Looking at the hand Natsukawa offered her, Suzune Horikita hesitated, but still reached out, took it, and stood up.

Suzune Horikita had many questions she wanted to ask.

Perhaps if I first learn about this mysterious guy and defeat him, I can get my brother's attention!

Brother, I'll try to make friends with him.

Then I'll prove it to you!

I'm no less capable than he is!

Ding! Affection Rating +10

With some hesitation, Horikita asked coolly:

"Um... do you know what my brother meant about Class A?"

Natsukawa scoffed:

"Haha, Suzune, you don't even understand what reaching Class A means or what the school's rules are, yet you're standing here declaring over and over that you'll make it to Class A?"

Suzune Horikita replied coldly:

"Is that what you were mocking earlier? Although I don't know what it means yet, I will stand by my convictions and act on them!"

"Now, can you tell me what it means?"

Natsukawa deliberately turned to leave and said with a smile:

"What a shame. I was going to tell you just now. But now I've changed my mind."

Suzune Horikita's mind was in turmoil. Earlier, Manabu Horikita had dismissed her abilities and declared with certainty that she was unsuited to this school. There was also the fact that her brother clearly admired Natsukawa more than her.

Although Suzune Horikita had noticed something unusual about the school after Ayanokoji reminded her while she was buying groceries, she could not work out the real answer just then. Her understanding of the school's rules remained hazy, and there had to be a major issue with the Class A her brother had mentioned.

Now Suzune Horikita desperately wanted to learn the school's true rules that Natsukawa's words had hinted at, so she could prove herself to her brother sooner.

Horikita could not figure out the answer right away, but she knew Natsukawa must know more than she did.

Unable to think of another way, Suzune caught the hem of Natsukawa's clothes from behind and said expressionlessly:

"Stop right there!"

Natsukawa stopped and teased:

"Suzune, you really aren't honest with yourself. Is that the attitude you should have when asking someone for answers you don't know?"

Suzune Horikita, who had never been one to seek help from others, realized this too.

What a humiliating position to be in. But this man has already seen me in far more embarrassing situations, so this little bit doesn't matter anymore.

I came to this school with firm convictions. How can I back down?

A blush flashed across Suzune Horikita's face before her expression returned to normal, and she quickly stepped around to block Natsukawa's path.

Expressionless, Suzune Horikita said coldly:

"I still haven't settled the score with you for the nonsense you spouted in front of my brother! Saying you were my boyfriend and all that, you shameless jerk!"

Natsukawa explained with a grin:

"Huh? I wasn't talking nonsense. A boy who's a friend, boyfriend for short. What's wrong with that, Suzune?"

Suzune Horikita said coldly:

"I'd say you deliberately answered that way to cause a misunderstanding! Tell me the school's rules, and I can forgive your earlier offensive remarks!"

Natsukawa dropped his playful expression, looked into her eyes, and said with a smile:

"Suzune, are you trying to play dirty now? I got you out of a tight spot, you know. Otherwise, your brother would still have been lecturing you."

"Is this how you treat your benefactor? Hmm, let me think. Oh, right! Last time, you said you had your own convictions! Haha, what a very special way of standing by them!"

With her thoughts seen through and mocked, Suzune looked uncomfortable. Furious inside, she said coldly:

"You damned bastard! You've given me reason enough to kill you!"

As she spoke, Suzune pulled a drawing compass from somewhere and jabbed it toward Natsukawa's waist...

Naughty girl. I was only joking. Suzune, are you trying to destroy the tool for your future happiness?

Looks like you need some proper training...

Natsukawa swiftly caught her wrist with his right hand, stopping Suzune's sneak attack.

Suzune had not expected her sneak attack to fail, either. She had intended to teach this bastard a little lesson.

Holding the wrist she had thrust toward his waist, Natsukawa took a few steps forward. Caught off guard, Suzune Horikita retreated two steps, backing into the wall behind the school building.

Natsukawa immediately caught Suzune Horikita's right hand with his left and pinned her arm to the wall above her head. At the same time, he removed the compass from her hand.

Lifting her chin with his right hand, Natsukawa said with a smile:

"Suzune, you can't just play around with such a dangerous tool!"

After losing control of the hand that held the compass, Suzune Horikita quickly grabbed Natsukawa's collar and glared into his eyes, refusing to back down:

"Bastard!"

Natsukawa looked straight into her eyes and said:

"Suzune, do you want to know the school's rules that badly?"

Suzune Horikita felt a little uncomfortable under Natsukawa's gaze, and she also realized their position was somewhat inappropriate.

Ding! Affection Rating +10

Blushing slightly, Suzune Horikita turned her head aside and said in a cold, quiet voice:

"Y-you're willing to tell me the answer now?"

Look at you. Always so aloof, but you're blushing now, aren't you? I've still got you right where I want you.

Natsukawa continued:

"No."

Suzune turned back to glare fiercely at Natsukawa.

"Damn you!"

Before Suzune Horikita could say anything else, Natsukawa spoke again:

"How about this? If you agree to go on a date with me tomorrow, Suzune, I'll tell you the school rules you don't know. What do you think?"

Suzune Horikita stared into Natsukawa's eyes without backing down, frowned, and said coldly:

"Hmph! All for something this pointless? What a ridiculous deal!"

"This meaningless joke can end here! I know you're testing me, you nasty jerk! Tell me what you're really after. I can exchange points for information!"

Natsukawa shook his head and said:

"No, that's my only condition."

Suzune Horikita could not quite work out whether Natsukawa was continuing to mock her as he had before, wanting to see her embarrassed, or whether he really wanted something as pointless as a date.

Suzune Horikita said coldly:

"I don't think there's anything about me that attracts you. Hmph, Natsukawa, tell me what you're really after!"

Natsukawa said with a smile:

"That is what I'm after. Suzune, you were so confident about your figure and looks the last few times we met. Why aren't you confident this time?"

"Didn't you say you had your own convictions? Trading this little request for more valuable information shouldn't be a problem, should it?"