I'm going to cry

After finishing that whole knightly salute routine, Kazami Saku did not dare linger.

Feeling the almost tangible resentment in Kanji Ike's and Haruki Yamauchi's stares behind him, he turned and bolted, giving them no chance to react.

Kanji Ike and Haruki Yamauchi refused to let it end there. They fixed their eyes on Kazami Saku's fleeing back and chased close behind, their gazes full of frustration and indignation.

Their furious, teeth-grinding roars could be heard from far away, cutting clearly through the classroom's noisy clamor.

"We're absolutely not letting this slide!"

"Just you wait, Big Brain! This isn't over!"

The two resentment-filled voices echoed through the hallway for a long time, their intimidation at full force, drawing sidelong looks from quite a few students nearby.

Only a dumbstruck Kikyo Kushida remained where she stood. She stared blankly at the back of her hand, still held in midair, her mind briefly going blank.

After a long while, Kikyo Kushida finally took a light breath, inwardly launching into a frantic tirade.

H-how did this guy even dare?!

That gesture just now, almost a kiss on the back of her hand, was utterly outrageous in a school where boundaries and manners mattered everywhere. It went completely beyond the scope of normal interactions between classmates.

She desperately tried to hypnotize herself, forcing herself to find an excuse that would make it acceptable. Kissing greetings did exist overseas, but they were not acquaintances interacting in some foreign country. They were merely classmates who had started school less than a week ago!

Forget it, forget it. I'll put up with this outrageous gesture for now, since I'm asking him to help me become friends with Suzune Horikita.

Deep breaths... no, I still can't stand it! That damn guy, he's absolutely ridiculous! What normal person would do something so misleading to a female classmate?!

Kikyo Kushida raised a hand and rubbed her forehead helplessly. That damn guy-if he failed to bring that woman Suzune Horikita out, he would see how she dealt with him afterward.

Meanwhile, having successfully shaken off his pursuers, Kazami Saku leaned against a wall and let out a long breath. Although he had collected quite a few Emotion Points, what he had promised Kushida was giving him a terrible headache.

Oh no. I was so busy messing with Ike and Yamauchi that I forgot the actual task.

He had already promised Kikyo Kushida that he would help bring her and Suzune Horikita closer. But while it was easy to say, actually putting it into practice was hellishly difficult.

What kind of person was Suzune Horikita? From his interactions with her so far, she was cold, sharp-tongued, a tsundere, extremely socially anxious (in Kazami Saku's estimation), and averse to pointless socializing. Nothing got through to her; neither gentle persuasion nor force worked, especially where Kikyo Kushida was concerned. Getting her to willingly accept someone as a friend was harder than saving up a thousand Emotion Points to draw a trait.

How exactly am I supposed to invite Suzune Horikita out and create a chance for her and Kushida to spend time alone together?

Kazami Saku scratched his head, which felt as though it were buzzing. This was an unprecedented headache. Damn feminine beauty. I actually have no resistance to it whatsoever. This won't do. I'll have to train harder in that area.

After agonizing and hesitating for a long time, with the break almost over, Kazami Saku finally gritted his teeth, made up his mind, and walked over to Suzune Horikita.

At that moment, Suzune Horikita was quietly reading the textbook on her desk, her expression cool, an aura of "keep your distance" surrounding her as she completely ignored the classroom's noisy chaos. Credit had to be given to the girl here: she truly had remarkable concentration.

Kazami Saku took a deep breath, summoned his courage, and spoke. "Horikita, after school, would you like to come with me to..."

He had barely begun, not even managing to name the destination, before Suzune Horikita interrupted him without a second thought, brisk and decisive, her tone firm and cold.

"No. I refuse. Not happening."

Kazami Saku: "..."

I finally try being outgoing for once. How cruel. Good thing I wasn't confessing to her. If she rejected me like that, I'd cry myself to death. Kazami Saku looked helplessly at the girl before him. "Look, I haven't even said anything yet. At least hear me out before you turn me down."

Suzune Horikita raised her eyes and glanced at him, not the least bit apologetic. "Then go ahead," she said flatly.

Seeing that she had given him a chance, Kazami Saku got straight to the point. "Would you like to hang out at the school's Tresche Café?"

"No."

Sure enough, another instant rejection, clean and decisive, without the slightest hesitation.

If she was going to refuse anyway, she shouldn't have made me say it. Kazami Saku was utterly helpless. "Why are you turning me down outright again? Can't you at least think about it?"

Suzune Horikita closed her book, her gaze calm as she laid out her refusal clearly. "I have my own things to do after school. I don't have spare time to wander around. If you want to go, you can easily go alone, or invite Ayanokoji."

As she spoke, she tilted her head slightly and glanced at Kiyotaka Ayanokoji, who was sitting quietly beside her, her tone turning somewhat teasing. "He's already looking as eager as a puppy, waiting expectantly for you to invite him."

Kazami Saku instinctively looked toward Ayanokoji.

The boy still wore his usual flat, unruffled expression, his features relaxed and his face calm. Never mind puppy-like anticipation-there was not even the slightest extra flicker of emotion.

Although Kazami Saku could vaguely sense that Ayanokoji was indeed not opposed to going together, he genuinely could not see anything resembling a cute puppy in his expression.

"I'll invite him too." Kazami Saku withdrew his gaze and continued trying to persuade Suzune Horikita.

"In that case, the two of you going is enough. Isn't that a perfect solution? Why drag me along as well?" Unmoved, Suzune Horikita refused outright, leaving him no opening at all.

Kazami Saku immediately looked troubled and explained sincerely, "But Tresche Café is mostly a place where girls go in groups to check it out. If Ayanokoji and I go there alone as two guys, it'll feel a little awkward and strange."

With that, he pressed his palms together in a pleading gesture, his eyes sincere and his tone full of entreaty. "Please, just do me a favor and come with us."

That humble plea, paired with his earnest expression, finally made Suzune Horikita waver slightly.

She fell silent for a few seconds, then, for reasons unknown, actually agreed. "All right."

After a pause, she specifically set a boundary in advance. "I'll only have a cup of coffee and leave. I won't stay long."

Hearing those words, Kazami Saku instantly let out a huge sigh of relief, his anxious heart finally settling.

Great. I've finally handled the hardest part.

He reflected silently that Suzune Horikita looked cold, was difficult to get along with and sharp-tongued, and occasionally even used physical force to intimidate people. She seemed fierce and domineering, but deep down, she was actually quite kind.

So Suzune Horikita really is a tsundere. You've given yourself away, haven't you?

Suzune Horikita looked at the boy's strange smile. I only agreed to one invitation. Is that really worth getting this happy over?