"Is that how you speak to me? How disrespectful... Hmm, I remember reading in a book that immature young men and women embark on a path called 'rebellious phase' in their lives. Suzune, are you still in your rebellious phase?"
Horikita Manabu looked at Horikita Suzune thoughtfully.
"Just assume it's a rebellious phase. Please let go of my hand."
Horikita Suzune raised her head and looked directly at Horikita Manabu.
She used to be a sister who would shyly lower her head whenever she met her brother's gaze.
Now, she had become Horikita Suzune, willing to stand up for her good friend.
Should this be considered growth, or has she become more impulsive?
Horikita Manabu slowly released her hand.
The next second, his body swiftly moved to the side.
He dodged Horikita Suzune's kick.
"Your speed is good, but you lack strength. In that case, no matter how fast your attacks are, they are merely for show and can easily be exploited for a counterattack. Your attacks are purely impulsive. Suzune, your current state... is truly disappointing."
Horikita Manabu deliberately provoked Horikita Suzune.
To be honest.
This was the first time Horikita Manabu had seen Horikita Suzune angry.
He had never seen his sister angry before, and she looked so fierce, completely different from the weak image she had previously presented to him.
Were all these changes brought about by Amane?
If he had the chance, he really wanted to thank her properly.
But he probably couldn't bring himself to say such embarrassing words of thanks, could he?
"So annoying! I don't need a brother like you to lecture me! The things you've done... you're not even worthy of speaking to me in such a condescending tone."
Was she enraged and humiliated because she had been deceived?
However, Suzune, who dared to oppose him.
At this moment, she was undoubtedly at her most radiant.
However.
It was a pity.
As her elder brother, he had to make her clearly understand.
Absolute strength cannot be overturned by mere words.
Horikita Manabu swiftly grabbed Horikita Suzune's collar.
Under her astonished expression, he forcefully slammed her entire body onto the concrete ground.
Thud.
Dust on the ground swirled in the air.
The smell of dust continuously wafted into Horikita Manabu's nostrils.
Horikita Manabu squatted expressionlessly on the ground, looking at Suzune, who was curled up, clutching her arm.
"Do I qualify now? This 'brother' status is not something I desire. Just imagine how embarrassing it is to be known as having a foolish sister! Someone who can force a classmate to drop out of a study group... does she still have the right to yell at me? If you know what's good for you, drop out. This is not a place for you to play around."
Horikita Manabu finished speaking, stood up, and slowly prepared to leave.
3, 2, 1 ---.
"Brother... you really underestimate people."
Indeed.
No matter how her personality changed.
She was still the strong-willed Horikita Suzune.
Horikita Manabu was about to respond to her when he saw a white hair peeking out from the corner of the wall.
"Oh? Is that so? Then work hard to climb up and let me witness your strength, Suzune."
"I will! I will make you take back those words, Brother."
"I'll be waiting, hmph."
Horikita Manabu snorted coldly and strode towards the dormitory building.
Only Horikita Suzune remained, sitting blankly on the ground.
"I'm so useless. Right now, I don't have the strength to avenge Amane... I will, I will definitely become stronger than I am now, and I will definitely rise to Class A... with Amane."
Horikita Suzune showed a tragic smile.
She knew how difficult it was.
But where there's a will, there's a way. She believed that as long as she started working hard now, that day would definitely come.
As soon as Horikita Manabu turned the corner, as expected, Amane delivered a hand chop to his abdomen.
The intense pain made even the mentally prepared Horikita Manabu vomit the water he had drunk before leaving.
He was bent over like a shrimp.
"How could you throw Suzune down so hard? And you're her own brother."
Amane stood by, displeased.
Horikita Manabu glanced at Amane.
He opened his mouth but said nothing.
Is this really a girl?
Horikita Manabu's throat began to dry from the pain.
It felt like he had been hit by a car.
It took Horikita Manabu a full five minutes to straighten up.
What surprised Amane was that Suzune hadn't come over for such a long time.
She had originally planned to treat Horikita Manabu as a trophy.
She didn't expect Horikita Manabu to recover.
"Are you really a girl?"
He didn't expect Horikita Manabu's first words after recovering to be this.
"Look how cute I am, and I have two of these. President Horikita, how do you think I'm not a girl?"
Seeing Amane praise herself while pointing at her face.
Horikita Manabu had no temper left.
Last time, he only felt that Amane was dangerous.
But he didn't expect this guy to be a walking violence machine.
Just from this one blow, Horikita Manabu could tell the difference between their strengths.
"Your hand chop was clean and precise, but as far as I know, there aren't any moves with such an attack method. It's a bit too... underhanded."
Horikita Manabu never thought he would say such a thing one day.
"Underhanded? There are many ways to win. I just used the one with the highest chance of success. See, it worked in one go."
Amane shrugged.
She pulled out the remaining half of a radish from her pocket.
She was a little hungry.
Looking at Amane, who was gnawing on a radish like a harmless little white rabbit.
Horikita Manabu chose... if I can't provoke her, can't I at least avoid her?
However, something made Horikita Manabu curious.
He had to confirm it with Amane before going back.
"Does Suzune know about what happened last time?"
After Horikita finished asking.
Amane blinked.
Logically, judging by Suzune's reaction, she should definitely know.
But... it still felt a bit strange.
"I think she should know, but she was a bit strange when she got angry. It seemed like she wasn't angry about that particular incident."
Seeing Amane's similar reaction.
Horikita Manabu suddenly became interested.
This meant Suzune was angry about something else.
So much so that she was willing to oppose him, her brother, for this matter.
And this matter was also related to Amane.
"Did you say anything?"
"No, she just asked me what kind of points you gave me."
Someone suddenly receiving 200,000 points one day.
No matter how I think about it, similar questions should have been asked.
Could it be that Amane and I were really overthinking it?
"Then how did you answer?"
His intuition told President Horikita that the root of the problem still lay with Amane.
"I said it was points to aid me, is there a problem?"
Amane said casually.
President Horikita was startled at first.
Then he opened his mouth.
And closed it again.
And opened it again.
But he still didn't know what to say.
Weren't those the points Ryuuen paid to Class B?
Didn't he need to review them as a witness?
Shiraha Chihiro even said something about agreeing with Amane to split half of them.
This was a trap!
No.
Amane was the one with the common sense problem!
Aid or something... President Horikita had never done such a thing.
He finally understood why Suzune was so angry.
President Horikita's face remained calm.
But the corners of his mouth were twitching uncontrollably.
Slander!
Someone is slandering me!!!
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