"What did my brother say to you?"
On their way back, Horikita Suzune slightly turned her face toward Kaoru, posing the question as if casually, yet her gaze remained fixed on him.
The faint redness that had lingered at the corners of her eyes was gradually fading.
She thought she could face Horikita Manabu directly, but she had hesitated, paused, and even paced back and forth in front of the office door, almost wanting to avoid entering altogether.
In the end, Kaoru took advantage of her distraction, opened the office door, pushed her inside in one swift motion, muttered something like "bon voyage," and then closed the door behind her.
"Probably just the usual worries an older brother has for his younger sister, asking me to look after you a bit more."
Kaoru responded absentmindedly, his thoughts drifting to what Horikita Manabu might be discussing with Tachibana Akane.
After their conversation ended, Horikita Manabu indicated he had something to say to Tachibana Akane, seemingly wanting to talk about life's deeper topics.
Kaoru simply took Horikita Suzune back with him.
He had originally intended to invite Tachibana Akane and Horikita Manabu to the birthday party, but Tachibana Akane felt too embarrassed, and Horikita Manabu had no interest in joining.
"Is that all?"
Horikita Suzune shifted her gaze back forward. "I thought my brother already knew, so I ended up saying a bit more. But... thank you."
"Actually, even if you hadn't said anything, I was considering whether to tell Horikita Senior. We can use the excuse of free love for now, but eventually we'll have to consider gaining family approval."
This wasn't the first time Horikita Suzune had heard such words from him.
For some reason, it still felt strange to her - like seeing a notorious gangster helping an elderly woman cross the street, creating an inexplicable sense of dissonance.
"Compared to me, what did you talk about with Horikita Senior in the office?"
Kaoru pointed to his own eye corner with a mischievous smile. "Were you crying?"
Horikita Suzune immediately denied it.
"No, who was crying?"
The smile on Kaoru's face widened as he softly said, "Actually, you do believe deep down that your brother doesn't hate you. If he hated you, how could I have possibly tricked him into coming here?"
Horikita Suzune pressed her lips together.
Yes, no matter how much she hesitated, seeing Horikita Manabu appear before her still stirred an involuntary urge to draw closer to him.
Moreover, Horikita Manabu hadn't shown the same disgust toward her as before. Perhaps the sports festival had slightly changed his perception of her.
"I told him about what you showed me today, what you taught me, and... my feelings."
Horikita Suzune whispered, "But I still want to catch up to him."
Kaoru glanced sideways at her lovely face.
What Horikita Manabu actually wanted to tell her was that she was free, that she didn't need to hesitate, and that she should boldly forge her own path.
"Not just catching up to his shadow, but as a sister, catching up to my brother, surpassing my brother."
Horikita Suzune seemed to be searching for something as her gaze wandered before settling on Kaoru's face.
"I will lead our class and surpass you someday. At the very least, I need to prove this to you."
So he's that important to her now. Kaoru roughly understood what the siblings had been discussing.
"Big brother... he seemed genuinely pleased. It's been so long since I've seen him smile at me. It really surprised me."
Horikita Manabu wasn't expressionless, Kaoru was quite certain of this, though he rarely saw him smile, and probably even less so in Horikita Suzune's memory.
"It shows Suzune is starting to try to understand her brother."
Kaoru chuckled, "As for me, I'll look forward to the day Suzune defeats me. I hope you can do it."
The pleasant atmosphere was broken.
Though Horikita Suzune didn't realize it, she still shot him a glare.
"I admit Class D is currently behind, but don't forget we still have two years."
Horikita Suzune said, "Next, I'll defeat Class C, then Class B, and finally it will be your turn. Please wait for me with the determination to fight to the death."
Kaoru couldn't help but laugh.
"So you can have chuunibyou too. Besides light novels, no one actually talks like that in reality."
Horikita Suzune frowned.
Though she didn't understand what chuunibyou meant, it probably wasn't a good term.
"Getting carried away."
"Yes, I am getting carried away."
Kaoru suppressed his laughter, "So, what about Horikita-senpai's gift?"
The book Horikita Manabu gave her was already in her bag, and Horikita Suzune showed no intention of taking it out, merely pursing her lips.
"It's Nietzsche's 'Thus Spoke Zarathustra,' with his notes inside."
Kaoru turned his head.
Seriously, as a brother, you give your sister something like this?
No wonder he raised his sister like this. He strongly suspected Horikita Manabu also needed correction, at least in terms of education.
"My birthday is tomorrow, right?"
Horikita Suzune suddenly said, "Why did you specifically ask me out today and have my brother give me a gift?"
Kaoru hesitated.
He didn't know if Horikita Suzune would agree if he told her.
Because today's birthday party was also Kushida Kikyo and the others' idea, intending to trick Horikita Suzune into coming.
"Kushida?"
Well, she had already guessed.
Kaoru had no choice but to surrender and answer truthfully.
"I see. You planned to hold a birthday party for me today, so Valentine's Day would essentially be celebrated together?"
"Can't be helped. Your birthday is just too coincidental."
"So, where's your gift?"
Kaoru was taken aback, his steps faltering as he looked incredulously at the girl beside him.
She had slightly flushed cheeks but was staring at him seriously.
Perhaps finding Kaoru's expression amusing, Horikita Suzune leaned in slightly, a faint smile crossing her face.
"Did you think I wouldn't mention the gift myself?"
"I am a bit surprised."
Kaoru felt somewhat awkward, "It's not like the Suzune I know."
The evening breeze was slightly chilly, a few strands of hair gently brushing against her snow-white cheeks.
Horikita Suzune tucked her hair behind her ear with her fingertips, a sly, girlish smile flickering in the corners of her slender eyes.
"I've always been led by you. Isn't it my turn now?"
She said it as if it were natural, "If you can satisfy me, there might be a reward. Otherwise, you should know the consequences."
It was somewhat intimidating for no reason, but Kaoru didn't really believe she had any means to deal with him.
After hesitating for a moment, Kaoru took a contract out of his bag.
Seeing the content of the contract, Horikita Suzune suddenly fell silent, her earlier smile completely gone.
"What does this mean?"
"These debts, I believe Suzune should be able to repay, but they're no longer suitable for our relationship."
"Are you saying we should end things?"
"What's ending is the past. If Suzune wants to defeat me, she can't have weaknesses in my hands. Who would want to see their leader being the plaything of their enemy?"
"Between you and me, it was just purely..."
"I want to have a better relationship with Suzune. If not lovers, then at least the most intimate relationship."
He didn't specify what constituted the most intimate relationship, but the usually stubborn Horikita Suzune understood his meaning.
By now, this could be considered his second confession.
"I know this doesn't really count as a gift, but you..."
Horikita Suzune suddenly grabbed Kaoru's wrist.
Under his astonished gaze, she forcibly dragged him to a secluded path.
She'd really had enough of this guy's presumptuous behavior!
They were right - he needed to be taught a lesson!