Back at the dorm.
Amane was carefully treating Horikita's forehead injury.
It looked like a scratch.
Based on Horikita's description, Amane judged that it was probably scratched by a sharp object or stationery on her backpack.
The wound was not deep.
However, Amane still cleaned the wound with disinfectant alcohol.
Then she put on a band-aid.
"It should be fine by tomorrow."
Amane smiled, looking at her masterpiece.
"Mm."
Horikita replied perfunctorily.
Her mind was now full of the conflict that had just erupted.
Horikita did not intend to shirk responsibility.
What she said might have been a bit harsh.
But those were her true thoughts, and not a single word was deliberately distorted to attack the other party.
What she didn't understand was why Sudo suddenly became enraged.
Can people really not accept and face their own shortcomings?
Horikita knew her shortcomings: straightforward personality, overly blunt speech, a bit reclusive, and so on.
She could face every shortcoming and was working hard to improve.
Why couldn't someone like Sudo face his own shortcomings?
"Suzune, if you're not feeling well, go to bed early today. You don't have to tell a bedtime story, but as compensation, I want a kiss~..."
"Amane..."
Amane, who was clowning around, was interrupted by Horikita.
"What are your shortcomings?"
Amane was directly stunned.
This... the topic was too jumpy.
Suddenly asking someone what their shortcomings are, this question is a bit demanding.
After all, no one would tell others their shortcomings.
Even if they did, they would only be some trivial minor flaws.
People all hope that their image in others' eyes is perfect.
How could they easily expose their shortcomings?
However, since Horikita was asking.
Amane could only come up with one answer.
"My shortcoming is that I am too perfect."
This narcissistic statement successfully earned a roll of Horikita's eyes.
"Amane, I'm not joking with you, answer seriously."
Horikita pinched Amane's face and looked at her.
But... this really was her shortcoming.
Perfect people tend to be extreme.
The more perfect a person is, the more personality flaws they will have.
But are personality flaws considered shortcomings?
If someone asks you what your shortcomings are, would you tell them about your personality flaws?
If Amane answered that way, Horikita might just punish her and make her transition to tomorrow early.
"I can't think of any other shortcomings for a while, so what are my shortcomings in your eyes, Suzune?"
Amane looked at Horikita curiously.
Perhaps Horikita could give her an unexpected answer.
But she didn't expect.
As soon as Horikita heard Amane's question.
Her face actually turned strangely red for a moment.
Do people blush when talking about others' shortcomings?
Suzune is so cute.
"Amane, your shortcoming..."
Horikita found it a bit hard to say.
Because in Horikita's opinion, Amane's biggest shortcoming was being too cute and easily abducted.
But... was that something she could say?
Horikita would rather die than admit that Amane was, to some extent, a tiny bit cute.
"Say it, say it, I've been waiting for ages."
Seeing her stop mid-sentence, Amane anxiously shook Horikita's arm.
"I'll tell you later."
"Eh!!! Suzune is mean, hmph~."
Amane turned her head away.
At this moment.
She suddenly felt something warm touch her cheek, then quickly leave.
"Suzune, you just..."
"I didn't do anything."
Horikita replied seriously.
"Liar! I clearly felt..."
"Maybe it's just your imagination, Amane. I didn't do anything here."
Amane looked at Horikita suspiciously.
There was only her and Horikita in the room.
If it wasn't Horikita.
Then it could only be... Amane felt a chilling sensation.
Did I kiss myself?
Pfft!
Are her little brain's neurons tangled?
To even come up with such logic.
Amane touched her cheek.
Anyway, she was kissed.
Happy.
Seeing Amane cover her face and giggle foolishly.
Horikita covered her forehead, a headache coming on.
Is this idiot so easily satisfied?
"Is there still coffee in the fridge?"
"I'll go check."
Amane walked to the fridge and opened it.
A dazzling array of ingredients and various seasonings.
As for drinks, various canned beverages were fully stocked.
Unfortunately, the coffee was all gone.
There probably wasn't any left in the cabinet either.
"If there isn't any, then forget it."
Seeing Amane-san start to rummage through the cabinet, Horikita knew the stock was probably depleted.
She didn't insist.
"Suzune, since you want to drink it, I'll just go downstairs to the vending machine and buy you a can."
Amane-san said as she put on her jacket, intending to go downstairs.
"No need for such trouble. I was planning to go to bed early anyway. It's not worth running down so late just for a can of coffee."
The May night still carried a hint of coolness.
The night temperature today was also on the lower side.
If Amane-san went out and caught a cold, Horikita would surely feel guilty about it.
"I think it's worth it, so just wait for me."
Amane-san zipped up her jacket and took the elevator straight to the vending machine.
Amane-san bought a can of orange juice.
She casually opened it and took two sips.
Then, just as she was about to buy coffee, she saw two figures in the distance, one after another, walking towards a school building.
Are there students this dedicated to studying so late at night?
But... the girl walking in front looked a little familiar.
Although her face wasn't clear, her figure was visible.
According to the information in Amane-san's memory, someone with that size should be Kushida.
Of course, it could also be someone else.
However, a man and a woman secretly meeting in a school building...
No matter how you look at it... it seemed like they were about to do something naughty.
Driven by a sense of gossip, Amane-san quickly followed them.
"Ah!!! — — — This is so annoying!"
Kushida loudly vented her dissatisfaction to the empty balcony.
"It's really annoying. Why don't they just die? What right does that muscle-brained gorilla have to yell at me? What kind of thing is he?"
Thump, thump, thump!!!
The corridor door was violently kicked by Kushida.
After a few kicks, Kushida panted, glaring at the door with unresolved anger.
"And that bitch Horikita, does she think she can just deny everyone with her mouth just because she's pretty? What good does it do her to provoke Sudo? Don't I still have to clean up her mess?"
Kushida cursed at the air.
No one who knew Kushida could possibly connect her current self with the usually gentle, kind, and considerate Kushida Kikyo.
"And Amane-san, why protect that bitch? And dump a bunch of messes for me to handle. This is so annoying, so annoying!!!"
Kushida's roar even penetrated the door, echoing through the silent school building.
Click.
The door moved slightly.
"Who? Who's there!"
Kushida asked loudly, on alert.
Emerging from behind the door was Ayanokoji.
Kushida's suspended heart finally relaxed.
"Ayanokoji-kun, why are you here? Did you hear anything just now?"
Kushida put on a gentle demeanor.
But even if Ayanokoji were an idiot, he wouldn't fall for it.
"My appearance here is a coincidence. As for hearing anything, you wouldn't believe me if I said no, right?"
Kushida frowned.
If any bad rumors spread, it would undoubtedly damage her image in everyone's minds.
Kushida's eyes darted around.
Then she walked over to Ayanokoji and took his hand.
"What are you planning to do?"
Ayanokoji could easily withdraw his hand if he wanted to.
But he was curious what Kushida would do.
Kushida didn't answer, smiling as she pressed his hand to her chest.
Suddenly.
The door was kicked open.
"Let go of Ayanokoji-kun! If you have the guts, come at me!!!"
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