The night grew deeper, and the evening air turned slightly cold.
After saying goodbye to Asahina Nazuna, Shiki Natsu was walking toward the dormitory building. However, as he passed the vending machine downstairs, his peripheral vision caught a figure standing in the shadows.
That person wore glasses, stood with an upright posture, had a stern face, and possessed a considerably powerful aura. Wasn't this the Student Council President, Horikita Manabu?
Why does he like standing in the shadows so much? Does he think it makes him look cool?
"Good evening, President Horikita. It's so late, yet you've co to the first-year dormitory. Is sothing the matter?"
Shiki Natsu greeted him first, revealing a gentle smile.
Horikita Manabu slowly walked out of the shadows. Those eyes, appearing exceptionally sharp behind his lenses, locked straight onto Shiki Natsu.
"Shiki."
His voice was low and calm.
"I heard you have a betting duel with Nagumo?"
Shiki Natsu raised an eyebrow slightly.
"News travels really fast. I didn't expect even the Student Council President to pay attention to such a small matter."
"Nagumo is not an opponent that is easy to deal with," Horikita Manabu stated his evaluation bluntly.
"Even I have to admit that his abilities in certain areas are excellent, perhaps even troubleso. If you underestimate him too much, you will lose miserably. regarding this betting duel, how confident are you?"
"What if I said one hundred percent?"
Shiki Natsu stepped forward, walking to Horikita Manabu's side, and their gazes t in the air.
"However, I am sowhat curious."
Shiki Natsu tilted his head, a look of amusent in his eyes.
"How did President Horikita find out about this news?"
Horikita Manabu pushed up the glasses on the bridge of his nose.
"Just a short while ago, the news of the betting duel between you and Nagumo had already spread throughout the entire school," he said indifferently.
"Hmm?"
Now it was Shiki Natsu's turn to be slightly stunned.
The whole school knew? One had to know that his agreent with Nagumo Miyabi was only a matter of last night. Less than twenty-four hours had passed since then, right? This speed of dissemination was a bit too exaggerated.
"Who leaked it?"
Shiki Natsu narrowed his eyes slightly. However, he already had two candidates in mind. One was Nagumo Miyabi; after all, if he could defeat a prominent first-year figure like Natsu, it would be a good thing for elevating Nagumo Miyabi's prestige.
As for the other one, it was naturally the smug brat. If he lost, his prestige in the class would likely drop a bit. At least... that image of an invincible leader would suffer a heavy blow.
"I don't know," Horikita Manabu replied, his tone remaining rippleless. "But what is certain is that the news ca from the first years. Now, everyone in the school is paying attention to the betting duel between you and Nagumo Miyabi."
"I see."
Shiki Natsu shrugged. It must be the work of that smug brat. He hadn't expected that in the re ti it took him to give his Senpai a massage, that smug brat had already pulled sothing like this.
However... this also suited Shiki Natsu's intentions. If he defeated Nagumo Miyabi, his reputation would skyrocket.
"Shiki."
Horikita Manabu's tone beca a few degrees more serious.
"In this betting duel with Nagumo, you can only win. You absolutely cannot lose."
"Of course I will win."
Shiki Natsu looked at this serious President with so amusent.
"But... why does President Horikita place so much weight on the victory or defeat between and Nagumo-senpai?"
"If you lose, then it proves I judged the wrong person, and the agreent we made at the start will be void. I do not feel that a person who only has arrogance but no ability can teach Suzune well."
Horikita Manabu said this quite directly, the expression on his face extrely serious.
"Rest assured, President Horikita. I will defeat Nagumo-senpai and extinguish his lilight, so he can be a bit more well-behaved in the Student Council and not cause you too much trouble, President."
Shiki Natsu chuckled lightly. If he lost, Nagumo Miyabi's montum would be great, which would still have an impact on Horikita Manabu, the Student Council President, especially since Horikita Manabu and Nagumo Miyabi were currently adversaries. The more montum Nagumo Miyabi gained, the more disadvantageous it was for Horikita Manabu.
Regarding these words from Shiki Natsu, Horikita Manabu did not say much more, tacitly accepting them.
"How is Suzune doing recently?"
Horikita Manabu changed the subject, shifting the topic to Horikita Suzune. This was probably one of his main purposes for appearing here tonight. No matter how cold he pretended to be on the surface, he was actually still a sis-con.
Shiki Natsu laughed inwardly, but a aningful smile appeared on his face.
"President, you can be at ease. Horikita can now engage in normal communication with classmates in the class."
"...Normal communication?"
A trace of astonishnt rarely flashed across Horikita Manabu's face, which usually lacked expression all year round.
He seed to doubt whether his ears had heard wrong. Is normal communication sothing worth commorating? Although his sister was aloof and looked down on those around her, she certainly knew how to communicate.
But... for Shiki Natsu to bring this up, was he mistaken about sothing?
"For Horikita, normal communication is already a very rare thing. Moreover, Horikita also wants to beco the leader of Class D. Being able to communicate with people around her, not retorting against others from ti to ti when they speak, and furthermore, being able to get along normally with people she hates, and even relying on people she dislikes—isn't this considered a huge improvent for Horikita?"
Hearing this, Horikita Manabu fell silent.
Given his sister's personality, she indeed might do those things. For example, when tutoring others, if she couldn't teach them, she might directly call them idiots. Or when encountering soone she disliked, she would tell them to stay away from her.
Relying on people she dislikes... what is that situation? However, regardless, listening to Shiki Natsu's words, Horikita Manabu really felt that his sister seed to have grown.
"Don't forget our agreent. In the first sester, Suzune must make three friends."
Horikita Manabu spoke again, his gaze falling on Shiki Natsu. He truly hadn't misjudged this guy back then; he really could bring change to Horikita Suzune.
"I know, of course. By the way, does President Horikita want to co up to my dorm and sit for a while?"
Shiki Natsu glanced at the ti; it was almost eight o'clock. If he ca up next, he might just let the siblings et. Mn, if he saw Horikita Suzune in a maid outfit, Horikita Manabu would definitely believe in his abilities. After all, if the haughty Horikita Suzune beca his maid, making friends would naturally be a piece of cake.
If Horikita Manabu really saw it... Mn, it would be slightly thrilling. He wondered what kind of expression this Student Council President would reveal.
Unfortunately, Horikita Manabu didn't seem to have this intention.
"No need."
Horikita Manabu refused without hesitation.
"I ca over only to remind you not to lose to Nagumo Miyabi. If you need second-year textbooks, I can provide assistance."
Is this considered indirect support? It seems he really doesn't want to see Nagumo Miyabi win.
"Many thanks for the President's kindness."
Shiki Natsu smiled and shook his head.
"But it's not needed. I have already obtained very detailed study materials from an enthusiastic second-year Senior."
"If President Horikita doesn't intend to co up and sit, then I will take my leave first."
"Mn."
Horikita Manabu nodded. Without saying anything more, he turned and vanished into the night.
Watching that gradually receding back, Shiki Natsu couldn't help but chuckle softly.
Returning to his room, Shiki Natsu collapsed onto his bed in a relaxed manner. He took out his phone and opened LINE.
Sure enough.
The group chat notification sounds were ringing non-stop like a machine gun. Whether it was the class group or several private discussion groups, there was only one central topic of all discussions—the betting duel between Shiki Natsu and Nagumo Miyabi.
He opened the Class A group chat.
[Totsuka Yahiko: Since Shiki-san dared to agree, he must have absolute certainty of victory, right?]
[Hashimoto Masayoshi: That goes without saying, right? I've never seen anyone get full marks on a quiz before. Handling the second-year midterm exam, the leader definitely has no problem.]
[Kitou Hayato: Win.]
These guys...
Shiki Natsu looked at the ssages on the screen, the corners of his mouth rising slightly involuntarily. Was this the prestige he had established during this period? Even facing an opponent of Nagumo Miyabi's level, they still maintained a nearly blind trust in him.
Just then, a ssage notification suddenly popped up at the top of the phone screen.
[Horikita Suzune: Open the door.]
Shiki Natsu got up, walked to the entryway, and opened the door. Outside the door, that iconic long straight black hair ca into view.
Horikita Suzune stood at the door with her arms crossed, those sharp eyes staring coldly at Shiki Natsu.
"I heard you are going to have a betting duel with that Vice President Nagumo?"
Horikita Suzune looked at Shiki Natsu. She had no interest in caring about ordinary betting duels, but this was Shiki Natsu's. Moreover, the entire grade was paying attention to the betting duel between the two of them now. After all, one was Shiki Natsu, recognized as the number one in looks in the school, and the other was a prominent figure of the second year, the ruler of the entire second year, and also the Student Council Vice President.
With such a powerful lineup, the gossiping hearts of the teachers and students of the whole school could be said to be burning fiercely.
"That's right."
Shiki Natsu answered quite calmly. He didn't know how many tis soone had asked him about this matter today. However... why didn't his cute deskmate ask him? Was she not worried about him losing?
"How confident are you?"
Horikita Suzune's wine-red eyes continued to stare straight at Shiki Natsu.
"I don't fight battles I'm not confident in."
These siblings... no, it should be said that basically everyone who ca to ask him would ask how much chance of winning he had. Clearly, he had 'invincible' written all over his face; could they not see that?
She stared at Shiki Natsu for a while, then suddenly asked, "Is the resolution of the past exam questions issue related to your betting duel with Nagumo this ti?"
Shiki Natsu's action of drinking water paused slightly. He turned his head with so surprise and looked at Horikita Suzune. He hadn't expected that Horikita Suzune could actually associate it to this level.
"Oh?"
Shiki Natsu put down the water cup, a flash of appreciation passing through his eyes.
"Why do you think so?"
Seeing that surprised expression on Shiki Natsu's face, an inexplicable unhappiness surged in Horikita Suzune's heart. Who was he looking down on?
"Kushida said in class today that the past exam questions can continue to be used," Horikita Suzune scoffed and began to explain. "Imdiately following that, the news of your betting duel with Nagumo spread. One only needs to use their brain a little to make the connection, right?"
"In order to keep Nagumo from exposing the matter of the past exam questions, you agreed to the betting duel with him, right? And since you let Kushida say the past exam questions can be used, it implies that these past exam questions served as the condition for the duel, rather than the stake. Your stakes are sothing else entirely."
It had to be said. Horikita Suzune had indeed grown. Although the details weren't quite right, she had guessed that he had silenced Nagumo Miyabi.
"I won't tell you the specific details. Although there are so small flaws, I must say, Horikita, you have grown."
Looking at this emotional expression of Shiki Natsu's, Horikita Suzune beca even more unhappy. What kind of attitude was this, being so high and mighty?
"Alright, enough talk. Change into the maid outfit and give a massage, otherwise the maid service ti will be over."
Shiki Natsu spoke. Chatting also counted as ti, so in that case, why not let Horikita Suzune rub his shoulders while chatting?
Hearing Shiki Natsu's words, Horikita Suzune scoffed lightly, changed into the maid outfit, and rubbed Shiki Natsu's shoulders. After a while, Horikita Suzune spoke again.
"What about the other two?"
This naturally asked about the regular visitors to Shiki Natsu's room, Kamuro Masumi and Kushida Kikyou. Of course, calling Kushida Kikyou a regular visitor... actually, she had only been coming for a few days.
"They both have things to do today and aren't coming over for the ti being."
Shiki Natsu spread his hands, his gaze falling on Horikita Suzune with so amusent.
"So, today it's just and Suzune, two people."
A lone man and a lone woman, sharing a room. If this were a standard romantic cody, sothing would definitely happen next. But Horikita Suzune obviously didn't have that kind of pink thought process.
Although there were only two people, she didn't feel unnatural or shy. In her view, this was just work perford to fulfill a contract.
"Please help brew a cup of tea."
Hearing this, Horikita Suzune stopped the movents of her hands. This guy's demands were getting more and more nurous. However, she still obeyed Shiki Natsu's words and walked into the kitchen area to prepare it.
Watching her busy back in the kitchen, Shiki Natsu leaned back in his chair, his mood quite pleasant. It was a pity he didn't let Horikita Manabu drink the tea brewed by his sister. If he knew his sister could brew tea, he, as the brother, should be very happy, right?
Soon, the maid service ti ended. Horikita Suzune changed back into her own clothes, walked to the door, and stopped in her tracks. She didn't turn her head, but her voice drifted over coldly.
"If you lose... then it ans you represent nothing more than that."
Really now. If she wanted him not to lose, she should just say it properly. Does she have to say it like that? She really is awkward.
Shiki Natsu looked at her back and chuckled softly.
"Rest assured. That kind of thing will absolutely not happen."
"Hmph."
With a light snort, the door was closed. The room returned to silence once again.
Shiki Natsu took out his phone and contacted Sakura Airi, intending to see how Horikita Suzune's friendship progress was going. After all... the friendship targets Horikita Suzune chose were all his people. He had an obligation to inspect Horikita Suzune's progress. He couldn't let Horikita Suzune slack off.
____
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