Chapter 146: A Miscalculation—She Actually Agreed!
Suzune returned holding the document envelope, her pretty face visibly downcast. It seemed Manabu's cold attitude toward her had left her rather disappointed.
Resting his cheek on one hand, Yuto watched her silently sit back down.
"What's wrong, Horikita? You look like some poor girl who just got dumped by a terrible boyfriend."
That instantly revived Suzune.
She glared at Yuto with her foxlike eyes.
"Shimizu Yuto! What nonsense are you saying?!"
"Hey, this is a library. Don't speak so loudly, Horikita. You'll disturb everyone studying," Yuto said with a smile.
"..."
Suzune angrily closed her mouth, though she continued glaring sharply at him.
"If you keep looking at me that frighteningly, I might decide not to tell you what your brother just said to me."
"I don't care." Suzune raised her chin proudly.
"Your brother talked to me about you."
"...Please tell me."
The proud snow fox immediately lowered her head.
"You care now?"
"Mm..."
Perhaps from embarrassment—or because Yuto had completely caught her weakness—a faint blush appeared on Suzune's cheeks.
Yuto enjoyed the adorable contrast for a moment before handing her his phone.
"Open the recording. I recorded my entire conversation with your brother."
"You actually did something like that?!" Suzune stared at him in disbelief.
What was wrong with this person?
Whenever her brother was involved, Yuto was either filming him or secretly recording him!
"Don't look at me like that. If you dislike it so much, don't listen," Yuto replied irritably.
"No, I don't dislike it. I'm simply shocked."
Suzune quickly accepted his phone, then opened the audio file with a mixture of nervousness and anticipation.
The recording was not particularly long and soon ended.
After hearing Manabu's evaluation of her, as well as his disappointment, Suzune stared blankly ahead.
"An unpolished gemstone..."
"I never imagined Nii-san thought so highly of me. Before this, he even said that being placed in Class D made me an embarrassment to him..."
"That's because your brother is an extreme tsundere," Yuto said with a smile.
"This school is also unlike ordinary schools, so he originally wanted you expelled and sent away from this strange competitive environment."
"In other words, his concern for you simply comes out in a twisted way."
"Mm..."
Suzune nodded gently.
Since she did not object, it appeared she had accepted that her brother was indeed an extreme tsundere.
She pressed play again.
She wanted to hear the recording one more time.
Manabu's usual treatment of her differed so greatly from what he had said in private that Suzune needed to listen several times before she could truly believe it.
After the second playback, she was about to start a third.
Yuto laughed helplessly.
"You're still listening? I'll send the recording to you. Use your own phone."
Suzune's cheeks reddened slightly.
She returned his phone and whispered, "Thank you."
"What are you thanking me for?" Yuto teased.
Normally, Suzune would have become irritated by his teasing.
But after hearing the recording, her response was unusually gentle.
"Thank you for letting me hear what Nii-san truly thinks of me, including his disappointment."
"And thank you for sending me the recording."
"I just can't stand how awkwardly you siblings interact."
"If you care about your family, say it honestly. What's the point of acting all awkward and tsundere?"
Yuto sent the recording to Suzune through Line.
Suzune accepted the file but did not listen again.
Instead, she touched her smooth black hair with a complicated expression.
"You really admire your brother that much?"
"He merely said he liked long hair, yet you grew yours out even though you personally preferred short hair," Yuto asked.
"Of course. Nii-san is the most capable person I've ever known."
After answering, Suzune glanced toward Yuto.
Though now...
Perhaps she had already found someone even more capable than her brother.
"Now that you know what your brother truly thinks of you, how do you feel?"
"How do I feel... It's complicated."
Suzune's eyes softened.
"I always believed Nii-san disliked me and considered me a useless younger sister."
"But apparently, he doesn't dislike me. He's simply disappointed in me."
"Then grow properly, Horikita."
"Lead Class D into Class A. Once your brother sees that, he'll definitely change his opinion of you and be proud!" Yuto encouraged her.
"That's right!"
Suzune's gentle expression disappeared.
Her posture became confident and determined once again.
If her brother expected so much from her, then she absolutely could not disappoint him!
She would definitely raise her Class D into Class A!
Yuto watched Suzune become even more confident and nodded with satisfaction.
What he needed most were capable companions willing to work toward the same goal.
Suzune was completely different from Kikyo, Kei, and the others.
She was terrible at communicating and cooperating with people, but both her academics and physical abilities were excellent.
There were countless situations where she could prove useful.
Kushida Kikyo, Karuizawa Kei, Hirata Yosuke, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, and Horikita Suzune before him were all powerful allies who could help Shimizu Yuto raise Class D into Class A.
With all of them contributing, Yuto's own workload would become much lighter.
...
Kei returned from the restroom and looked curiously at Suzune.
Something seemed different about her.
Kei could not explain exactly what had changed.
It was merely an impression, but Suzune definitely felt different.
At that moment, Shiina Hiyori entered the library carrying her school bag.
Following her usual route, she first headed toward the corner of the library.
When she spotted Yuto, the soft and gentle Hiyori showed a faint smile.
Then she turned around and quietly left that section.
Although she could not approach and speak with Yuto, merely seeing him from a distance was enough.
Hiyori was already satisfied with that.
Suzune removed all the papers from the envelope Manabu had given her.
Seeing five examination papers that were almost perfect, admiration appeared on her face.
As expected of her brother.
"Shimizu, Karuizawa-san, do you want to look at the previous midterm papers?" Suzune asked.
"I'd like to. Thanks, Horikita."
"No need to thank me. I can't look through five papers at once anyway."
Suzune kept the mathematics paper and pushed the Japanese, chemistry, social studies, and English papers toward Yuto and Kei.
English was Kei's weakest subject.
She immediately picked up the English paper and began studying it carefully.
Seeing how seriously she stared at it, Yuto chuckled.
"Kei, are you treating that old paper as though it's definitely going to be this year's midterm?"
"Of course!"
"That bad senpai you encountered already said this year's midterm might be exactly the same as previous years!"
What bad senpai?
That was clearly a good senpai!
He had helped Yuto drive Nagumo out of the student council.
Seeing how focused Kei was on the old paper, Yuto did not say anything more.
Even after she memorized its contents, he intended to continue tutoring her properly.
That way, even if Manabu's old papers proved useless, Kei could still achieve a respectable score through Yuto's lessons.
Simply looking for something to pass the time, Yuto picked up the chemistry paper.
The three began studying quietly inside the library.
...
Time passed, and before they knew it, evening had arrived.
It was time to head to the cafeteria for dinner.
"Horikita-san, could you lend me the papers? I want to study them carefully tonight."
Kei clasped her hands together and looked pleadingly at Suzune.
"But I planned to organize the questions tonight and have Sudo Ken and the other two complete them so I can see what scores they can achieve."
"Why not just photocopy them?" Yuto casually suggested.
"Mm-hmm!" Kei nodded repeatedly.
"That works too."
Suzune agreed without hesitation.
The three left the library and found somewhere they could make copies.
They photocopied Manabu's midterm papers twice.
One set went to Yuto and the other to Kei.
Yuto originally had no intention of taking a copy.
However, he remembered Airi and decided he also wanted her to complete the papers so he could see what score she could achieve.
As thanks for sharing the papers, Kei enthusiastically invited Suzune to eat dinner with them.
"Horikita-san, let me treat you to dinner!"
Suzune glanced at Yuto.
Lowering her foxlike eyes, she nodded.
"Then I'll come with you. But there's no need to treat me."
"O-Oh... Okay."
Kei's pale cheek twitched slightly.
She had expected the cold and antisocial Suzune to refuse.
In fact, that was precisely why Kei had been so generous in inviting her!
Why would she genuinely want someone interrupting the wonderful time she could spend eating dinner alone with Yuto?
Unfortunately, Kei had miscalculated.
She never expected Suzune to agree!
In the past, Suzune certainly would have refused.
However, after hearing Manabu's evaluation and disappointment, she felt that it was time for her to change and make an effort to interact with other people.
Yuto watched Kei secretly pout and found it amusing.
That was what she got for pretending to be generous and welcoming.
Now it had backfired.
...
The three headed toward the cafeteria together.
Halfway there, Yuto's phone began ringing.
This time, it was in the opposite pocket of his uniform, so he could retrieve it without Kei's help.
He took it out and saw Kikyo's name on the screen.
Yuto instinctively glanced at Kei beside him.
Fortunately, she was not curiously looking at his phone.
If his jealous girlfriend saw Kikyo calling him, she would definitely start pouting again.
"Kei, I'm taking a call."
"Okay~"
Kei obediently released his arm.
Yuto slowed down until he was two steps behind Kei and Suzune, then answered Kikyo's call.
"Yuto~"
An exceptionally sweet voice reached his ears through the phone.
"What is it, Kikyo?" Yuto asked with a smile.
"I can see you! You're walking with Horikita Suzune!"
Kikyo's sweet voice gradually filled with resentment and dissatisfaction.
He clearly knew that she and Suzune did not get along!
"Kikyo, if you can see Horikita, you should also see Kei."
"She's walking with us too. Horikita and I aren't alone together."
"Hmph~"
"You're huffing pretty hard. How about we spend some time together later?"
Kikyo paused before answering, "Not tonight. I'm not feeling up to it these days."
"I see."
"Yes~"
Yuto's teasing tone made Kikyo respond in a slightly spoiled voice.
"If you're nearby, do you want to come eat dinner with us?" Yuto invited.
Although neither Kei nor Suzune would particularly welcome Kikyo, she was still his girlfriend.
Since she was nearby, naturally Yuto would invite her.
"I'll pass. I already ate dinner."
"Actually, Yuto, I didn't call just to complain about you walking with Horikita Suzune. There's something I wanted to tell you," Kikyo said seriously.
"Oh? What happened?"
"You know I'm quite close with Manabe Shiho from Class C, right?"
"Yeah." Yuto nodded.
Kikyo had a good relationship with Manabe, so much of the information she obtained about Class C came through her.
"She contacted me earlier and said Ryuen Kakeru somehow obtained the papers for the upcoming midterm."
"Then she asked whether I wanted to see them."
"Ryuen obtained the midterm papers..."
Yuto murmured thoughtfully.
The figures of Ryuen and Nagumo immediately appeared in his mind.
Since Ryuen had cooperated with Nagumo, the papers had most likely come from him.
After classes ended that afternoon, Ryuen had left his dormitory and gone looking for Nagumo, hoping to confirm information about the upcoming midterm.
…
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