"Since you've already arranged everything, why didn't you tell me? Are you intentionally hiding something from me, Amane?"
Horikita forcefully turned Amane's body around, compelling Amane to meet her gaze.
Suddenly.
Chirp.
"Ptooey, ptooey, ptooey. We're talking business, what are you doing?"
Horikita grabbed Amane's ear with a look of disgust.
"Ouch, ouch, ouch! I couldn't help it, and besides, it's Suzune's fault."
My fault?
Horikita's mind went blank for a moment. How did this become her fault again? Miyako Amane clearly ambushed her again.
Fortunately, yesterday's heavy rain meant many people hadn't rested well, and most were currently catching up on sleep in their rooms, which was why no one was looking this way.
Otherwise… "Seriously, Amane-san, I'd like to hear what twisted logic you have this time."
Horikita released Amane's ear, intending to give her a chance to explain, but Amane unexpectedly pounced into her arms.
"It's all because Suzune is too cute. Every time I make eye contact with Suzune, I feel a flutter in my heart, and I can't help myself…"
"Stop, stop, stop. Say what you need to say, but don't demonstrate it. It's daytime now; what if someone sees us?"
Horikita looked around worriedly.
She was afraid someone might be peeking at them at this moment.
"So what if they see? Then we can openly do intimate things with Suzune in the future."
Amane winked at Horikita.
Even without thinking, Horikita knew what she was implying.
"Spring has passed so long ago, and you're still like this. Are you busy being in heat all four seasons of the year?"
Horikita playfully tapped Amane's head with the back of her finger.
After taking two steps forward, Horikita suddenly stopped.
"No, Amane, you're deliberately changing the subject. Now, you must answer me seriously: why did you intentionally hide today's plan from me?!"
Horikita confronted Amane with a stern expression.
"Do you really want to hear? The answer might not be what you expect."
Amane's voice was somewhat ethereal.
Horikita's gaze shifted uneasily, but she immediately met Amane's eyes again.
She knew that Amane sometimes deliberately used ambiguous psychological suggestions to create illusions in others.
Then, once Amane gained control of the conversation, she would lead them by the nose.
Knowing Amane's abilities, she dared not be careless in the slightest at this moment.
"Then I'd like to hear even more what your answer is."
"Because I was afraid of disturbing your rest."
Amane calmly stated an answer that was very difficult for anyone to accept.
The ultimate reason for all the secrecy was supposedly to avoid disturbing Horikita's rest; it sounded like a lie no matter how she thought about it.
Horikita thought so too.
"Amane, when did you learn to tell such lies? This kind of lie has no skill whatsoever; it can be easily exposed."
Seeing that Horikita was unwilling to believe her, Amane merely shook her head.
"Perhaps everyone… including Suzune, you are concerned with how to scheme against other classes, how to quickly rise to Class A. But for me, none of that is as important as letting you rest a little longer."
Amane tenderly placed her hand on Horikita's face.
"Eh…"
Horikita didn't know how to respond to Amane for a moment.
It sounded… indeed like something Amane would do.
"Suzune, do you like me?"
Thump.
Amane's direct question was like an arrow, piercing Horikita's heart.
"Why, why would you ask such a question at this moment? I, I'm not at all prepared…"
Horikita frantically tried to explain something, her gaze becoming evasive. She had completely not anticipated Amane pulling such a move on her here.
"You hesitated."
Amane smiled and took Horikita's hand.
"No, it's not like that. I just haven't thought about how to answer this question yet…"
Horikita really wanted to answer Amane's question right now.
But reason told her.
Now was not the best opportunity.
Amane was not yet exclusively hers. If she answered now, Amane would consider the girl named Horikita Suzune to be successfully conquered, and her energy would inevitably shift to other girls.
This was a conclusion Horikita had reached through her observations of Amane.
"I'll take it that Suzune, you're not ready yet. So, if I ask this question again next time, can Suzune give me a definite answer?"
In the end, Amane took a step back, giving Horikita some breathing room.
Horikita finally breathed a sigh of relief.
If Amane had insisted on an answer today, Horikita would have been completely unable to avoid this question concerning their future relationship.
"Of course, next time I will definitely give Amane an answer."
"Really?"
Amane seemed not to believe Horikita's reply.
Because, if one were to count seriously, this was already the second time Horikita had equivocated and refused to answer this question.
Horikita also knew she was in the wrong. To make Amane believe her, Horikita looked at Amane with a serious expression, and at the same time, extended her hand.
"I, Horikita Suzune, swear that next time I will definitely answer Amane's question about whether I like her."
Seeing that Horikita had sworn, Amane immediately changed from a somewhat sad expression to one of joy.
"Suzune is the best. So, Suzune, do you like me?"
Amane, who was clinging to Horikita's neck and acting spoiled, whispered into Horikita's ear.
"Wait, usually wouldn't you give me a few days to think about it before asking that question again?"
Horikita, caught off guard by Amane's sudden follow-up question, felt her entire brain burning up.
Who would ask the question immediately after she just swore to answer it next time?
Amane completely played outside the rules!!!
"I don't care. We're Class D, why should we follow the usual rules? So, Suzune, what's your answer?"
Amane rubbed her cheek affectionately against Horikita's.
At this moment, if she answered that she didn't like her… what would Amane's reaction be?
Horikita pondered for a moment, then replied.
"I like you."
She had no spare time to try an answer that would make Amane go berserk.
"What? Your voice is too soft, I can't hear you."
Amane went behind Horikita.
She pulled Horikita into her embrace.
Horikita, as if giving up resistance, leaned against Amane's embrace.
"I like Miyako Amane, is that good enough?"
No sooner had she spoken than Horikita felt a pair of mischievous hands doing as they pleased on her snowy white chest.
But at this moment, Horikita had no intention of struggling whatsoever.
Instead, she decided to let Amane do her mischief, since her chances of escaping were not much different from zero.
Just then.
"Huh? Horikita-san and Amane, what are you doing here?"
Karuizawa, who was holding her change of clothes and planning to take a shower, froze at the sight before her.
Coincidentally, Amane suddenly gave two more squeezes at that moment.
"We're playing a girls' game, Kei. Do you want to join us?"
Amane's gaze fell on Karuizawa's chest.
"Wait, I'm just, I'm just passing by, I didn't see anything."
Karuizawa, terrified, covered her chest and ran away, even leaving her change of clothes on the ground, which showed how scared Amane had made her.
"Honestly, why is she so scared? I wouldn't eat her."
Amane, scratching her head in confusion, watched Karuizawa's retreating back, like a startled rabbit, when suddenly a long-awaited punitive strike landed on her abdomen.
"Amane-san, what were you going to eat again?"
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