Horikita Suzune let out a quiet sigh.
In the end, she truly hadn't been able to catch up to her brother's footsteps.
The gap between them only grew wider.
Not only had she lost in the group competition, but she had also ranked last in her grade.
All of this meant that Class 1-D had suffered a crushing defeat in the sports festival.
Yet, for some reason, the moment she saw their points drop to zero, Horikita Suzune felt an odd sense of calm.
The award Sudou had been hoping for didn't go to him—instead, it went to Kamuro Masumi from Class 1-A.
At the same time, six students from Class 1-D would face penalties for their poor individual rankings.
Even now, Horikita Suzune could still recall the chorus of complaints—some blaming their classmates for not trying hard enough, others accusing Class A of abandoning them, and a few even furious at Class C's tactics.
But no matter what, Class 1-D had returned to its original state at the start of the new semester.
Horikita Suzune had thought she would struggle to accept this outcome, but surprisingly, it didn't feel all that terrible.
This class had always been a mess—self-centered, disruptive, and constantly running from reality.
Now, at least, they had no choice but to face it.
A faint sense of satisfaction flickered in her heart.
Serves them right.
Maybe now they'll finally wake up.
Her mood was almost pleasant as she embraced the zero points like a sweet, ripe fruit.
Not only that, but after the relay race, Horikita Manabu hadn't left immediately.
Instead, he approached her.
"It seems this is your limit, Suzune."
"No… I never intended to surpass you, brother. Just being able to stand on the same field as you is enough for me. But in your eyes, I must just be an embarrassment, right?"
The moment she said those words, she caught a flicker of surprise in his gaze.
"Finally gaining some self-awareness?" Horikita Manabu replied coolly.
"Keep struggling here from now on. Don't expect me to look after you."
Under her watchful eyes, his figure gradually faded into the distance, and the memory abruptly ended there.
The sports festival was already yesterday's event.
The girl stared at her reflection in the mirror, Kaoru's words echoing in her ears.
She felt like she understood something now.
But she still had many doubts.
Horikita Suzune wrapped herself in her coat and stepped out of the room.
The moonlight was serene, the air crisp, and the entire academy shimmered under a delicate veil, enhancing the profound silence of the moment.
She walked silently to the elevator and pressed the button for the second floor.
Though the journey felt tense, no one interrupted her, and she arrived on the second floor unnoticed.
The hallway was just as deserted, with some rooms already dark—after all, it was one in the morning.
Horikita moved with practiced ease to a certain door, pressing the doorbell lightly before waiting quietly for someone.
Strangely, the response seemed much slower than previous times.
Frowning, she thought to herself—she had given advance notice, so there was no reason for such sluggishness.
Just as she was about to ring again, the door suddenly swung open, revealing Kaoru standing before her.
"You're late," Horikita said with slight displeasure.
Noticing his bare chest, her frown deepened.
"You'll catch a cold at night. But if you enjoy being an exhibitionist, suit yourself."
"I have something I want you to see," Kaoru said, stepping aside to let her enter.
Most people would have turned and left upon hearing such a suggestive remark, but Horikita sensed nothing amiss.
Though she knew she ought to be wary of men, her relationship with Kaoru was different.
Moreover, she was utterly clueless about matters between men and women, so no strange thoughts crossed her mind.
"If it's the same thing as last time, I'll smash it immediately."
Of course, Horikita remained cautious.
Anyone who had been thoroughly humiliated in front of others would react the same way.
"Of course not. Actually, I've caught someone quite extraordinary."
As he spoke, Horikita stepped into his room and instinctively glanced at a figure struggling violently on the bed.
Her expression froze.
Noticing her gaze, the figure writhed even more desperately, muffled whimpers escaping intermittently.
"Please quiet down, Kushida. The neighbors need their rest," Kaoru said, stepping past the stunned Horikita and crouching beside the bed.
"Besides, you were the one who promised to fulfill my requests. It's too late to back out now."
There lay Kushida Kikyo on his bed, her hands bound tightly behind her back with what appeared to be a towel, her wrists marked with cross-shaped imprints.
No matter how she struggled, she couldn't break free.
Perhaps Horikita's sudden appearance had unsettled her—the girl twisted her upper body frantically, desperate to escape.
Her pale arms flailed, her big chest rubbing against the sheets, her skirt disheveled, and her slender legs kicking wildly like a caterpillar.
As she tried to turn over, her face accidentally buried into the pillow, muffling her cries.
Only when Kaoru helped her up did Horikita notice the strange object stuffed in her mouth.
"Mmmph—!" Kushida's face was flushed, but she couldn't utter a single word.
"I'll take it out, but keep your voice down. You know the consequences if we're discovered," Kaoru said, reaching to remove the gag, now damp with the girl's breath.
The next moment, Kushida Kikyo shouted agitatedly, "Why is this girl here?!"
Her outburst snapped Horikita Suzune back to reality.
Seeing Kushida in such a state, Horikita's cheeks flushed slightly as anger flickered in her heart.
She hadn't even questioned Kushida yet, and here the other girl was already interrogating her?
"Kushida-san, lower your voice."
"I get it now. Did you two plan this from the start to gang up on me?"
"You seem to have quite a problem with Horikita?"
"Damn it! Didn't you promise that as long as I satisfied you, you'd keep it secret and never tell another soul?"
"I believe Suzune has the right to know."
"Suzune? Suzune again? How intimate. Have you two been..."
"Enough." Horikita Suzune coldly interrupted their exchange, her gaze icy as she stared at Kaoru.
"I believe I deserve an explanation now."
Kaoru Mitoma had anticipated this.
He promptly recounted how he'd discovered Kushida Kikyo badmouthing others behind their backs, including her plans to retaliate against Horikita Suzune.
Never expecting their "little angel" to be like this, he'd decided to intervene, threatening Kushida until she was forced to humiliatingly submit to his demands.
"So Kushida's recent friendliness toward you was all your doing?"
Facing Horikita's question, Kaoru just nodded without the slightest hint of shame.