"What should I do tomorrow?"
After finishing a late-night meal with Arisu-chan, I was lying on my bed, fiddling with my smartphone. The words that came out of my mouth were about how I should apologize to Horikita-san. I was aware that my mind was unstable. It was probably because the events of the past week were digging up old memories.
"Sigh..."
Thinking about it calmly, I was probably the only one who could have calmed Horikita-san down at that moment. She hates Kushida-san, and Ayanokoji-kun doesn't get involved in such troublesome matters.
As I was thinking about such things, I naturally became unable to sleep. I decided to go buy a drink to clear my head, so I got up and left my room.
"It's still cold this time of year."
Putting my hands in the pockets of my hoodie, I bought some tea from the vending machine in the lobby and noticed that the elevator I had just been on was stopped on the 7th floor.
Being aware that I'm a fairly well-known person, if I were to meet someone at this time of night, it would probably lead to strange rumors. For no particular reason, I looked at the monitor showing the inside of the elevator. The person on the screen was Horikita-san in her school uniform.
"Seriously?"
She was the person I wanted to see the least right now. It was too awkward, so I hid behind the vending machine. Horikita-san, who had come down to the first floor, went out of the dorm while being unusually cautious of her surroundings. Sensing something was wrong with her demeanor, I decided to follow her.
And when I turned the corner behind the dorm, Horikita-san suddenly stopped.
"Suzune. You've come all the way here to chase me."
It was dark and I couldn't see the other person's face, but I remembered that voice.
"I'm no longer the useless person you knew, big brother. I've come to catch up to you."
The person she was talking to was Student Council President Horikita Manabu. As I had expected, they were siblings. This is... I shouldn't get involved in this. I'll go back.
"I heard you were put in D-class, but you haven't changed at all from three years ago. You're just watching my back, and you still haven't realized your own shortcomings. Choosing this school was a mistake for you."
"That... is a mistake. I'll rise to A-class right away. And then—"
"You can't. You will never reach A-class. On the contrary, your class will fall apart. This school is not as easy as you think."
"I will, I'll definitely get there..."
I turned my back to the two of them and started to walk away, but the student council president's words were so malicious that I stopped, sensing that something was wrong.
"I said it's impossible. You're a truly disobedient sister."
Saying that, the student council president slowly closed the distance, and his figure was illuminated by the streetlights. He gave Horikita-san a cold look and grabbed her wrist, pushing her against the wall.
"No matter how much I avoid you, you are still my sister. If others find out about you, it will be me who is shamed. Leave this school immediately."
"I-I can't... I'll definitely rise to A-class...!"
"You're foolish, really. Should I give you a painful lesson like in the past?"
"Big brother—I am..."
"You don't have the power or the qualifications to aim for the top. You should know that."
Horikita-san's body was pulled forward, and she was lifted into the air. Judging that it was dangerous, I ran forward, thinking that I would apologize to Horikita-san later. I arrived behind the two in an instant, grabbed the student council president's right hand before he could notice me, and restricted his movement.
"What is it? Who are you?"
Without showing any surprise at the sudden visitor, the student council president slowly turned his sharp gaze towards me. As I thought during the explanation session, he was no ordinary person.
"Sa-Saito-kun!?"
"I apologize for eavesdropping. But you were seriously about to throw her, weren't you? What would you have done if she got hurt?"
"This is a matter between the two of us. An outsider should not interfere."
"Don't screw with me. I'm not going to just stand by and watch my friend get assaulted right in front of me. Let go of her hand."
"That's my line."
No matter the reason, hitting a defenseless person, and his own sister at that, is wrong. It's the same as abuse. I was aware that my tone was getting rough, but I didn't back down at all, and we glared at each other.
"Stop it, Saito-kun..."
The one who broke our silence was none other than Horikita-san. Her strained voice, which was completely unlike her usual dignified self, made me instinctively loosen my grip.
At that moment, an incredibly fast backhand punch flew towards my jaw. I managed to avoid it reflexively, but if I had been a little slower, I would have been knocked out with a concussion. Without a moment to breathe, a small front kick came flying towards my vitals... He's used to fighting.
"That was dangerous."
Thinking that it would be bad to create distance, I parried his right leg and closed the distance, hitting him with the inside of my elbow in an uppercut motion. It was a pro-wrestling move called a lariat, but my attack, with my superior physique, should have been quite effective.
"…!"
Perhaps he didn't expect me to close the distance, as the student council president looked surprised. However, his reaction was impressive as he properly guarded with both arms.
But perhaps because he had one leg raised, he couldn't completely block the attack, lost his balance, and fell backwards. Judging that it was impossible to regain his posture, he put both hands on the ground behind him and threw a side kick as he fell.
"Ouch... How can you throw a kick from that position?"
I barely managed to guard it, but my arm felt a stinging heat.
"I can't believe you blocked it three times. Your split-second judgment is also remarkable. Did you learn something?"
"...I learned from the parent of a girl I used to date. I don't know the style."
I remembered getting beaten up every time I showed my face. Honestly, it's not a good memory. I stayed on guard, and the student council president suppressed his killing intent and spoke to Horikita-san.
"Suzune, I'm honestly surprised you have a friend."
"...He and I aren't like that. We're just classmates."
"As always, you're confusing being solitary with being lonely. And you, Saito, was it? As the information says, you're quite an interesting student."
The student council president, who had been aggressive just a moment ago, now acted friendly for some reason... Maybe they're similar in that their moods change frequently. Or rather, I'm curious about that 'information.' He couldn't possibly know, could he? About my past.
"If you want to rise to the upper classes, you must struggle to the death. There is no other way."
After saying that, the student council president walked past me and disappeared into the darkness. Sigh... I feel like all I've been doing lately is getting tired. I want to jump into bed right now, but first, I have to do something about Horikita-san. She's been glaring at me with those eyes.
"Okay, let's talk for a bit. You must be cold, so put this on."
"...You're going to explain everything properly."
I gently put my hoodie over Horikita-san's shoulders. According to Arisu-chan, my clothes and room have a calming scent, so it would be lucky if this would help her calm down.
After walking for a few minutes with Horikita-san toddling along behind me, which I found kind of endearing, we arrived at my room.
"I can't believe I've had you up to my room twice in one week. Go on in."
Horikita-san entered my room with a more unsteady gait than usual. From what I've heard, this was probably the first time she had met him since she entered the school. Even Horikita-san would be discouraged after being told off so badly by someone she had talked to after two years. And the study session today too... The timing was just terrible.
"Are you okay, Horikita-san?"
"Yes, there's no pro... Ugh!"
Just as she said that, Horikita-san tripped over nothing, fulfilling the trope. I caught her from the front as she was about to fall. Normally, a sharp word or hand would come flying, but she didn't even try to resist.
"Haha, you're not okay. I'll make you some warm soup, so take your time and rest."
"...I'm sorry."
She was so weak that she even apologized. Ugh, this is the opposite of what I expected. I wanted some time to think about how to comfort her, so I poured hot water into instant corn potage.
"Here, drink this and cheer up. It's just instant, but still."
I placed two cups of soup on the table and sat next to her. After taking a sip in silence, Horikita-san began to speak little by little.
"...First, let me apologize. I was also at fault in the Sudou-kun incident. I'm sorry."
"That's unexpected. Did you have a change of heart?"
"Don't make fun of me. Originally, when I talked to you here, I already understood the usefulness of Sudou-kun and the others. I just couldn't accept it, that's all."
"You were angry for my sake, weren't you? You told me not to give up after I had taught you."
At my words, Horikita-san looked down awkwardly. She also defended me when the class point system was revealed, so maybe she does recognize me after all.
"...I said that to my brother, but these past three months, the time I've spent talking to you all wasn't bad. Anyone would react that way if someone they cared about was being made a fool of."
This was something I would never hear from her normally. I felt bad for taking advantage of her weakness, but there was nothing I could do about it. After those words, silence fell between us. Then, as if she had made up her mind, Horikita-san cleared her throat and muttered softly.
"----You probably understand why I want to go to A-class, don't you?"
"Um, it's about your older brother, right?"
Horikita Manabu is in 3-A. And from her statement about catching up, I could guess.
"Yes. The reason I wanted to go to A-class was to be acknowledged by my brother. Of course, there's also the matter of my future... And I was just taught that it's impossible with my own strength alone."
"Horikita-san..."
Seeing her like that, all I could do was call her name. Everything I wanted to say had flown out of my head.
"...I'm a little tired."
And then, Horikita-san's shoulders trembled, and she whispered as if confessing. The things she had been holding back were now coming out as tears. She had just realized the despair of working so hard just to be acknowledged by her only family member and finding out it was impossible.
"...I'm so, so sorry. I lied to you, had you help me, and then wasted everything. I did something terrible to you, who treated me as a friend, I'm a horrible person..."
She was so similar it was sickening. To me, who had screwed up everything and ended his life in despair.
"Huh..."
The moment I realized that, I reflexively hugged her head. I didn't care if she got angry later. I would accept it even if she hit me. I just couldn't leave this hopelessly clumsy girl alone.
"You're not a horrible person. I'll never accept that."
"Saito-kun...?"
I heard her confused voice muffled against my chest, but I continued to stroke her head without a care.
"If anyone insults you as a horrible person, I'll get back at them. Even if no one else recognizes you, I will always be on your side, Horikita-san. So please, rely on me more. It's lonely, you know?"
"Why... Why would you go that far?"
Horikita-san spoke, her voice trembling and her sobs unconcealed. This girl must have been seeing me as a reflection of her brother. Me, who was more academically and athletically talented than her.
Of course, I didn't intend to be arrogant about it at all. If anything, a person who could catch up to me, with the advantage of my past life, at this age is the abnormal one. Horikita-san is a prodigy who is following closely behind. I can't even imagine how much effort she's put in to get this far.
"You're an amazing person. It'll be easy for you to get to A-class."
"I...!" "Just take a deep breath."
I hugged her again as she tried to look up and retort, placing my hand on her head, which was now right next to my face. It was as if I was recreating what I had longed for for nearly 20 years, a mother comforting her crying child.
All her hard work, all her efforts, must have been driven by her desire to be acknowledged by her brother. It's clear from the fact that she went out of her way to come to this school, even though she would have reunited with him in a year.
And she couldn't find any value outside of academics and sports. Then she listened to my story, listened to her brother's story, and understood. That the things she had looked down on and never cultivated were the most important things she needed to be acknowledged by her brother.
"When you overcome this, you'll truly grow as a person. I'll help you in any way I can. Will you let me help you with your dream one more time?"
I grabbed Horikita-san's shoulders, lifted her up, and looked her straight in the eyes as I asked. Her beautiful face was a mess of tears. There was no trace of the usual Horikita-san, she looked just like a small child.
"Come on, you have to work hard again tomorrow, and no one will get mad if you just let it all out once? The room is soundproof, so I'll be here to catch you even if you cry your heart out—You've worked so hard, Horikita-san."
"----...Ugh...!"
After looking down once, everything she had held back broke free, and Horikita-san let out a loud sob. I held her again as she cried, her large tears flowing freely, and I continued to stroke her head until her sobs died down.
"Are you feeling better now, Horikita-san?"
After a few minutes, I spoke to Horikita-san, who was now quietly burying her face in my chest. However, no matter how long I waited, there was no response from her.
"...Horikita-san? Are you kidding me?"
When I tried to gently move away, her head landed on my lap. I put my ear to her mouth and heard her regular breathing. She must have fallen asleep from exhaustion after crying so much.
"Hehe. You're really like a kid."
Since I had no choice, I took off her uniform jacket and laid her down in just her shirt, covering her with a blanket. I guess I'll sleep on the floor tonight. I sat on the bed and gently stroked her messy bangs with my fingertips. ...A child, huh? I died when I was about 27, so if you add it up, I'm about 43. At that age, it wouldn't be strange to have a child like Horikita-san.
"I'd like a cheerful girl if I ever had one... Huh?"
I pictured that and mumbled it unconsciously. I felt the blanket twitch a little, but Horikita-san's eyes were closed. I must have imagined it.
"Good night, Horikita-san. Rest well."
I patted her head as I had done before and turned off the lights in the room.
============
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