Amane recalled the events of that night.
A faint sense of melancholy washed over her. She never expected she'd fall for Horikita's scheme.
And then, caught between her threats and persuasion, Amane had no choice but to obediently agree to become Horikita's ally—to help guide their class all the way to Class A.
Clearly, Chabashira-sensei must have told Horikita something.
That night, Horikita had taken the initiative, treating Amane like a hugging pillow and doting on her quite affectionately.
Afterward, her attitude remained so unexpectedly warm that Amane could hardly believe it. Maybe this was just Horikita's awkward, unskilled way of making things up to her?
But no one knows a little sister like her older brother.
Horikita Suzune's little maneuvers had already been anticipated.
Still, even Horikita Manabu probably didn't expect that his sister would drag Amane into her schemes in quite this way.
Amane still remembered how, after she finished describing what happened, Horikita Manabu stayed completely silent for a full three minutes.
In the end, all he could muster was: "Miyako-san, I suggest you keep some distance from her for now. If you're ever in danger… you can contact me anytime if you need my help."
It seemed he too had realized that his little sister had undergone some startling transformation.
Though he might have anticipated changes, this was far beyond what he could control.
But that wasn't Amane's problem to worry about anymore.
Her role, under his arrangement, was to guide Horikita Suzune into becoming a capable and independent leader.
To Amane, it felt like she was following a "Suzune Raising Guide."
Even if things might have gone a little off-script…
Hey, growth is growth, right?
From a somewhat rigid, tsundere girl, she'd transformed into a cunning, shrewd… young woman.
Hmm.
Progress had definitely been made.
While lost in these scattered thoughts, Amane stood in line.
Her mission today: buy two limited-time special iced tea floats.
Horikita was handling grocery shopping and cooking, while Amane held down the queue.
One hour later, she was still waiting.
Her stomach was growling with hunger by the time she finally reached the front.
"Two iced tea floats and two white chocolate mousse cakes—that'll be 5,550 points." Hearing the total, Amane froze for a second.
Since when was this stuff so expensive?
A quick glance at the price tags:
The two floats alone cost 1,500 points.
And each white chocolate mousse cake was a whopping 2,024 points.
"If I'd known, I would've just bought the ingredients and made them myself." Wincing, she paid.
Carrying the drinks and cakes, Amane suddenly remembered—Horikita had asked her to pick up some kelp.
Probably for miso soup, she figured.
She headed to the grocery section.
The kelp was right there, in clear view on the shelf.
But just as she started toward it, her eyes landed on a girl nearby, looking at hand cream.
Same silvery-white hair, same violet eyes. Standing side by side, even with different faces, anyone could tell they were connected.
And indeed, they were.
"Fūka~"
Amane called out the girl's name, then dashed over and threw herself straight into the other's arms.
The girl was caught completely off guard.
Before she could react, Amane had already collided with her chest. Staggering back five or six steps from the sudden "boar rush" impact, she barely kept her balance.
"Hey! Watch where you're— Wait, you look familiar. Have we met?"
The girl stared at Amane's beaming, slightly goofy smile, a suspicious look in her eyes. She seemed to recall a… higher-spec version of this face.
"Amane! I'm Amane~" Amane nuzzled affectionately against the girl's chest.
"Amane? Miyako Amane?!" For once, the girl looked genuinely shocked. "How did you… become like this? You're not an imposter, are you?"
Unconvinced, she pressed a finger against Amane's still-smiling lips, then tugged at the corners of her wide eyes, trying to make her look gloomier.
Only after confirming the familiar features from her memory did she accept that this really was Miyako Amane.
"Kiryūin Fūka!!! I told you it's me! Why won't you believe me?" Amane pouted, visibly hurt.
"Ahem. You've changed too much. Forget me—even your grandfather might not recognize you now. What on earth happened to turn you into this… airheaded version?"
Kiryūin studied Amane curiously. It wasn't just different—it was like looking at a completely unrelated person.
"I'm not airheaded! I've just… realized what true freedom is. Before, I was carrying too much pressure, trudging along under all that weight. But now I've learned that if you let it all go, life can be so much lighter and happier."
Amane gave Kiryūin a radiant, flawless smile.
Kiryūin swayed on her feet.
Hold on.
Did she just say… let it all go?
The things she was carrying—could they just be dropped like that?
If that old man found out that Sakayanagi Narimori had guided Amane into becoming like this…
This school—would probably… no, would definitely be flattened.
But!!!
This girl had no idea what she was doing!
Kiryūin massaged her temples, a headache coming on.
"Fūka, are you okay? You don't look well."
Amane reached out, concerned, and felt Kiryūin's forehead. After confirming she wasn't feverish, her expression stayed soft and worried.
She'd finally met someone she knew here!
How could she not be overjoyed?
"We can't talk here. Let's go somewhere else."
Noticing that some people were starting to mistake them for twins—causing a bit of a stir among the boys nearby—Kiryūin decided it was time to move. Without another word, she grabbed Amane's wrist and pulled her outside.
"The kelp! My kelp!!!"
Ignoring Amane's protests, Kiryūin kept going until they reached an empty spot near the dormitory building.
Coincidentally, it was the same place where Horikita Manabu had met with Amane.
"Fūka, why did you bring me here? Don't get any funny ideas, okay~" Amane mimicked Horikita's mannerism, drawing a little X in the air.
Kiryūin promptly swatted her hand away.
Amane rubbed her stinging fingers, pouting.
"Who's getting funny ideas? Do you really not understand the consequences of becoming… this?"
Kiryūin started to explain, then caught herself—this was Amane's family affair. An outsider like her shouldn't interfere.
But still…
There was no way Amane hadn't considered this.
To just cast off everything she used to be, come here, and turn into… this.
"You can't seriously be this clueless. Unless you've actually lost your mind, you know exactly what I'm talking about."
Kiryūin's gaze was fixed intently on Amane.
Amane let out a soft sigh.
"Did you really miss the old me that much, Kiryūin Fūka?"
Her voice was cold, detached.
Strangely, that icy tone made Kiryūin feel a bit more at ease.
"Now that's the expressionless face I remember. It's been a while, Miyako Amane."
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.