Student Council Room.
Horikita Suzune was a bit absent-minded.
Thanks to Kushida Kikyo joining, the disputes over these last two days had indeed eased a lot.
Kushida Kikyo's ability to resolve disagreements was indeed good.
Occasionally, she would even use secrets as threats to make the other party stop.
But regardless of the means.
Being able to solve the problem was a type of ability.
However.
She felt Kushida Kikyo was slightly different today.
As if she had received some kind of nourishment, her complexion was rosy and she seemed even cuter than usual.
More importantly.
Although Kushida Kikyo's expression remained indifferent, and she had a kind of repulsion toward Katsuragi and Nanase Tsubasa—strictly speaking, a businesslike attitude.
But it felt like she had become much closer to Hikigaya and Ichinose.
If one had to say.
It was the feeling that Kushida Kikyo would prioritize responding to Hikigaya and Ichinose's words; clearly, she and Kushida Kikyo were classmates.
Was it to get on the good side of the leaders that she had this differential treatment?
After school.
Horikita Suzune sought out Kushida Kikyo once more.
"Kikyo, can I trouble you for a moment?"
"Again? I have something to do today, please keep it short."
Kushida Kikyo was a bit displeased, but she also knew there was nothing she could do.
The school was only this big.
For a period of 20 days she had also said very harsh things to Horikita Suzune.
But as long as this girl decided on something, she would stubbornly persist; even if one didn't want to listen, it wouldn't work.
"Mm."
The two left the school together, and Horikita Suzune said in a deep voice:
"I feel like your relationship with Hikigaya and the others is a bit strange today; did something happen?"
"You've actually noticed."
Kushida Kikyo was a bit sarcastic.
Logically speaking, it was indeed possible she treated Hikigaya and the others specially, but not to the point of being easily detected by others.
Horikita Suzune's directness was indeed sharp, or was most of her energy spent observing her or Hikigaya?
After all.
They were from different classes.
As a leader, Horikita Suzune being concerned was only natural.
After hesitating for a moment.
Kushida Kikyo's expression was cold as she said nonchalantly:
"It's nothing, I'm just dating Hikigaya, well... you could also say I've become his booty call."
Pride born in the darkest sinking.
The more it was so.
The more Kushida Kikyo showed her terrible side, yet on the other hand, she craved to be recognized.
It was hard to understand.
Fortunately, Hikigaya saw through it, and Horikita Suzune also stood firm in her judgment: Kushida Kikyo was just childish, her nature wasn't bad.
"I see..."
Horikita Suzune suddenly hesitated.
After all, when young, no one doesn't dislike social niceties; facing people one hates with a fake face is not an easy task.
Kushida Kikyo can easily do what she cannot, thus Horikita Suzune has a great deal of favor toward her.
"I don't intend to criticize others' relationships, but can you tell me the reason? Why Hikigaya? You should have better options, right?"
Wanting to maintain fake friendships.
With Kushida Kikyo's strength, it actually wasn't hard.
As long as she sincerely apologized.
She believed most people would still be willing to accept Kushida Kikyo again; they would just think a bit more before sharing topics with her in the future.
Even now.
With Kushida Kikyo's appearance, as long as she spoke, she imagined a large number of "simps" would still flock to her.
Unfortunately.
Kushida Kikyo had no intention of apologizing.
Although not answering would have been fine, Kushida Kikyo didn't hide it, saying nonchalantly:
"No special reason; if I had to say one, it's that he feels the current me is more 'cute' instead."
"Just that?"
Horikita Suzune suddenly knitted her brows.
She felt the same way.
But.
She had already said the same words to Kushida Kikyo countless times.
Why was Hikigaya okay, but she wasn't?
Furthermore.
She'd rather share him with Ichinose and the others, degrading herself by saying she's like a booty call, rather than accept her view.
"What? Unable to accept it?"
Kushida Kikyo was somewhat disdainful.
Actually, she herself was a bit puzzled, but she had no thoughts of regret.
Even if she chose again.
She might still make the same choice.
Especially after experiencing that feeling, she was even more eager to see Hikigaya.
"Perhaps liking someone doesn't need a reason at all."
"Is that how it is?"
Horikita Suzune frowned.
As long as people are together for a long time, feelings will grow; but Kushida Kikyo's case was perhaps exactly what she craved—suddenly falling for someone.
She was slightly envious.
It was still just a bit hard to accept.
Horikita Suzune wanted to know more: clearly they said the same words.
Where was the difference between her and Hikigaya.
"You seem unable to accept it."
"I suppose so, especially since what you've said is no different from saying nothing."
Even though Kushida Kikyo had once betrayed the class, Horikita Suzune was now not at all worried she would betray the class.
Because Kushida Kikyo's previous act of betrayal had a reason.
Now that reason no longer existed.
Seeing Horikita Suzune looking unable to accept it, Kushida Kikyo thought it was funny, but also tried to think.
"If I have to say one thing, maybe it's because Hikigaya is more 'real'."
"What does that mean?"
Horikita Suzune understood even less.
"During the school trip."
Speaking, a smile couldn't help but appear on Kushida Kikyo's lips, as if she were mocking herself.
"That guy approached me and said the current me is more cute, and even apologized to me because the matter of hiring Ryuen made my secrets known to the whole school."
"That was..."
"Thinking carefully, one would know that he just wanted the school trip to go more smoothly, so he came to give me a warning."
"..."
Horikita Suzune didn't respond.
Even if Kushida Kikyo didn't understand it at the time, she certainly could have figured it out afterward.
Knowing clearly that Hikigaya approached with a purpose, yet why.
"But to make the school trip go smoothly, there were actually many other methods, and I didn't cause trouble for the group during the trip."
Kushida Kikyo played with the hair by her ear, her face full of reminiscence.
"Even if we failed, the school trip didn't have any punishment; Hikigaya didn't seem to care much about free time either."
"It's just that that idiot felt the group atmosphere was bad, and took the task of organizing the group as his own responsibility."
"In that case, his apology to me was definitely real."
"..."
Horikita Suzune didn't refute either.
Hikigaya indeed didn't look like a persistent person.
He likely did it with the mindset that it would be good if it worked, but if not, then forget it; instead, it made Kushida feel a sense of sincerity.
"Furthermore."
Kushida Kikyo said self-mockingly: "Afterward, if I hadn't taken the initiative to approach him, that guy probably wouldn't even have acknowledged me."
This point.
Kushida Kikyo had even more self-awareness.
Given the relationship between her and Hikigaya, the Hikigaya who finished apologizing wouldn't avoid her anymore, but he wouldn't proactively approach either.
"But you are different."
Kushida Kikyo stopped walking and looked at Horikita Suzune with a flat gaze.
"Horikita, you kept me because you valued my ability; if my ability were about the same as Sakura's, you would have definitely cut me off without hesitation."
"Is there a problem with that?"
Horikita Suzune didn't deny it, but she didn't think it was a problem either.
"But the fact is your strength is far above Sakura's; to let everyone rise to Class A, this is the best choice. This thought hasn't changed even now, it's just that Hikigaya's methods were a bit outside my expectations."
Although she said this, Horikita Suzune's heart also wavered slightly.
Only now.
Though the class atmosphere was bad, the exam results were all positive.
Then there was no problem.
"It's not a problem if you want to think that way, I can't say I don't understand."
Unfortunately, even Kushida Kikyo didn't think it was a problem.
"It's just that, even I want to be number one, want to be a special existence; is there a problem with that?"
"No..."
Horikita Suzune shook her head.
A special existence...