Chapter 010: Ten Days Since Enrollment—Even a Pig Should Have Noticed the School's Peculiarities by Now
Horikita Suzune's appearance was extremely striking.
She possessed waist-length black hair that fell naturally over her back and shoulders like a waterfall, with a faint, elegant scent of lilies lingering among the strands.
Perhaps this was the subtle afterglow left by her shampoo.
On the right side of her long hair, a delicate white ribbon bow served as an accent, with a thin braid woven beside it, adding a touch of refined softness.
Her features were memorably exquisite: beneath slender lashes were a pair of orange eyes, possessing a fox-like allure and depth; however, this stunning beauty was often masked by her cold expression. Her face seemed perpetually frozen in a sense of detachment that kept people a thousand miles away, silently radiating an aura of rejection.
This was Horikita Suzune, the heroine of the Classroom of the Elite world.
Ichinose Honami in Hikigaya's class was the school beauty, the top tier of looks, but it had to be said that, to some extent, Horikita's raw beauty appeared slightly higher.
But because of her icy temperament and cold treatment of others, her popularity was low. She was likely treated as if she were invisible in Class D.
The difference between Ichinose and Horikita was much like the difference between Yuigahama and Yukinoshita.
However...
Ichinose might be stronger than Yuigahama in all aspects, but Horikita Suzune could not match Yukinoshita in every regard; in fact, while Yukinoshita was already the "complete form," Horikita Suzune was still in her "larval stage."
It was a comparison between a caterpillar that had failed to transform and a butterfly.
"...Hmph!" Horikita.
Horikita Suzune's pace toward the faculty office suddenly faltered, and she turned around, seemingly shooting a glare over.
Yes.
Horikita Suzune had just heard this boy's voice.
She didn't actually care about what he said regarding her beauty.
As for comparing her to Ichinose Honami—even she knew of Ichinose, the most popular girl in Class B who received nothing but praise from both boys and girls in Class D. 1
However...
She had no interest in gaining the praise of others.
But when he suddenly said something about her being a "caterpillar" compared to a "butterfly" named Yukinoshita, she became quite displeased.
But...
She was ultimately a person who ignored others if she wasn't interested. Finding that the person who had just "spoken" was someone she didn't know, she prepared to simply ignore him and enter the faculty office.
"If you're looking for Chabashira-sensei, you probably don't need to go in.
She's not inside," Hikigaya said.
Horikita: "..."
Horikita Suzune didn't reply but went inside anyway. After about forty seconds, she walked back out and stood before Hikigaya once more.
"Where is she?" she asked.
Her voice was somewhat cold; her entire being seemed like a block of ice, making her difficult to approach.
"..." Hikigaya didn't reply immediately.
'I remember in the original story, Horikita Suzune was someone who completely failed to understand social graces. Even when she needed help, she'd treat someone to a meal... well, I guess she understands social norms a little, knowing she should treat someone to a meal before asking for a favor. But the moment the other person takes their first bite, she starts blabbering about what she needs them to do.
If tell her now, could it be treated as a transaction? That way, taking her photo wouldn't count as being a creep.'
Horikita Suzune: "..."
Horikita's brow furrowed slightly.
How could this person be so rude, describing her that way? And besides, does asking for help really require treating someone to a meal?
She didn't believe she needed help from anyone, because she had been alone since she was a child. She believed she could do things well enough on her own.
Furthermore, why did he want to take her photo?
Was it some boring game of "collecting" or "archiving" girls?
Horikita frowned slightly, and she was just about to say, "Since you won't speak, then forget it," but she quickly realized something.
That was...
This boy... didn't seem to have opened his mouth to speak.
However...
Her eyes darted quickly left and right, only to find that there were only the two of them in the stairwell.
In that case, was what she just heard not him speaking?
Was she... having auditory hallucinations?
Horikita fell into a brief silence. She had come to this school to follow her excellent brother, hoping he would see that she was no longer the weak, useless person she used to be.
But if she started having mental health issues at this stage... she might have to receive treatment and then withdraw from school.
To her, that was a catastrophic scenario.
"Are you okay?" Hikigaya noticed her expression suddenly becoming tense, and fine beads of sweat were even starting to form on her forehead.
"..." Horikita.
Horikita felt that what she had heard just now was definitely this boy's voice.
"Do you know where Chabashira-sensei went?" Horikita Suzune's voice was still cold, but it was slightly more polite now.
It wasn't just the simple "Where is she?" from before.
"She went up to the rooftop. Probably to smoke," Hikigaya said.
Horikita "..."
Horikita prepared to ignore this dead-fish-eyed boy and walk toward the rooftop.
But after only three steps—three stairs up—she stopped again.
Because...
That worrying state of thinking she was having auditory hallucinations and developing mental illness returned.
'Horikita Suzune really is incredibly bad at interacting with others. Only a masochistic protagonist could put up with her foul temper.
Compared to Yukinoshita, the difference is like heaven and earth. I actually find myself missing her sharp tongue. Sharp-tongued as she was, Yukinoshita still understood social graces; sometimes she was even better at it than I was. How annoying.
But that was indeed a moment of weakness for me. Because Horikita carries a bit of an aura similar to Yukinoshita's, I felt pity for her and told her where Chabashira was.
At this rate, I'll only be able to take a photo of her back. Whatever, I'll just take it. To someone who cares, they can recognize Horikita Suzune even from the back.'
Horikita intended to ignore it.
She intended to keep walking.
But...
'Though, for her to look for Chabashira at this time, could it be that she's discovered the school's peculiarities?
I guess it's been ten days since enrollment; even a pig should have noticed the school's oddities by now. So she shouldn't be going to report to Chabashira-sensei because she thinks the teachers are being too generous—not giving out homework and dismissing class the second the bell rings without staying behind.'
Horikita "..."
Hearing this, Horikita lowered her raised left foot.
She turned around, crossing her arms. Her gaze was piercing.
"Are you calling me a pig?"
Hikigaya: "..."