-148- A very serious question

There's a saying:

"High school is the time when people long for love the most.

Junior high school love is considered early.

College love is considered normal.

And high school falls right in between, making it the perfect time for people to want to experience love.

So, as a high school student, it's normal to talk about love.

Moreover, it's summer vacation now.

Summer vacation is a great opportunity for romantic relationships to develop rapidly.

Many high school students take advantage of the summer vacation to find a partner, which is a phenomenon in this country.

Although now, because of special exams, summer vacation has turned into a situation where outdoor living is necessary, it can't stop the natural hormones of humans from emerging.

Especially for guys like Ike Kanji, Yamauchi Haruki, and even Sudou Ken, it's normal to talk about love.

But Hori didn't expect that this topic would one day fall on him.

"Which one do I like?"

Hori was a bit stunned.

Seeing Hori's stunned expression, Ike Kanji became a bit impatient.

"Don't play dumb. We're all men, surely you understand, right?" Ike Kanji, somehow gaining courage, grabbed Hori's neck and said seriously, "Today you have to tell us clearly, it's for everyone's good."

"Yeah." Yamauchi Haruki immediately grabbed Hori's neck from another direction, lowered his voice, and said sneakily, "Kushida, Sakura, and Horikita, which one do you actually like? Tell us."

"Don't try to fool us, okay?" Sudou Ken even locked Hori's neck from behind and threatened, "This question is very serious, it could ruin our relationship, so you better think carefully before answering."

You make it seem like we have good relationship?

If I don't answer properly, are you planning to fight me?

It's really frustrating.

Moreover, why ask me such a serious question?

With Ike Kanji, Yamauchi Haruki, and Sudou Ken locking his neck, Hori squinted his eyes, still not reacting, and Ayanokouji Kiyotaka spoke up.

"Because your relationships with Kushida, Sakura, and Horikita always seem very good."

While continuing to grind herbs, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka spoke in a tone devoid of emotion, helping to clear up Hori's confusion.

"So, everyone thinks that the person you like is among these three girls."

And then?

Even if that's the case, there's no reason for this to turn into such a serious question, right?

What does which girl I like have to do with these three guys?

...Well, maybe it does.

For example...

"Could it be that you three happen to like Kushida, Sakura, and Horikita?"

Hori's straightforward attitude once again exerted great force.

The expressions of Ike Kanji, Yamauchi Haruki, and Sudou Ken, who were locking Hori's neck, suddenly became unsettled.

The response they gave was like this:

"Is... is there anything strange about that? I just happen to like Kushida! I've always wanted to date her!"

Ike Kanji said excitedly.

Indeed, since before, Ike Kanji had been showing his desire for Kushida Kikyou. Originally, I thought he was like this with any girl, but now it seems that Kushida Kikyou is the one he most wants to date.

And if Ike Kanji's target is Kushida Kikyou, then Yamauchi Haruki, who had been competing with Ike Kanji for Kushida Kikyou, had some changes.

"You... look, didn't I tell you before that Sakura confessed to me, but I rejected her because she wasn't noticeable? Now I know she's that popular idol, right? So I think it's not bad!"

Yamauchi Haruki continued to lower his voice, sneaking a glance in the direction of Sakura Airi, as he said so.

This guy is still as talkative as before.

But this time, Yamauchi Haruki should also be telling some truth.

Although it's definitely a lie to say that Sakura Airi confessed to him and he rejected her because she wasn't noticeable, the latter part is true.

Because Sakura Airi wasn't noticeable before, Yamauchi Haruki only thought she had a good figure. But now, with her transformation into a popular gravure idol, and her unexpectedly cute and beautiful appearance hidden under her unnoticeable appearance, Yamauchi Haruki's thoughts about Sakura Airi have changed.

As a result, whether it's Ike Kanji or Yamauchi Haruki, they're both clearly superficial.

Ike Kanji likes Kushida Kikyou because she's sweet, cute, and popular.

Yamauchi Haruki likes Sakura Airi because she's outstanding in appearance and figure, and she's an idol who can grace magazine covers.

What can I say?

These two guys are as shallow as ever.

But compared to Ike Kanji and Yamauchi Haruki, who have extremely shallow views on love, Sudou Ken's reasons are much more justified.

"You see, during the midterm exams, didn't Horikita spend some points to help me buy points?"

Sudou Ken scratched his cheek, unexpectedly stuttering a bit.

"Before that, I almost beat her up, but in the end, she still stood up to help me share some points. From that moment on, I just felt that she's just someone who's not very straightforward."

So, because of the contrast before and after, Sudou Ken fell for Horikita Suzune?

This guy, clearly so violent, ended up being charmed by the contrast, and of all people, he fell for that mouthy and ruthless Horikita Suzune. Could it be that he's actually a masochist?

"Now do you understand?" Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, nonchalantly as usual, spoke up, "Your thoughts are important to them."

So, is this really such a serious problem?

"Anyway, just tell us which one you like!"

"Who let you have such good relationships with those three?"

"Clarify it here, it's good for everyone!"

Ike Kanji, Yamauchi Haruki, and Sudou Ken eagerly pressed on.

There's no way around it.

The person Ike Kanji likes goes to school with Hori every day.

The person Yamauchi Haruki likes is even closer to Hori.

As for the person Sudou Ken likes, it goes without saying that, aside from Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, she's the one who interacts with Hori the most.

In the eyes of others, Hori has very good relationships with Horikita Suzune, Sakura Airi, and Kushida Kikyou.

This must feel unpleasant for these three.

Therefore, these three probably wanted to ask Hori about it a long time ago.

"Could it be... you really like Kushida!?"

"Or... do you like Sakura!?"

"It can't be Horikita right!? Hurry up and clarify!"

Ike Kanji, Yamauchi Haruki, and Sudou Ken were all anxious and nervous.

I guess these three all think that if Hori really likes the same person as them, they have no chance, right?

Otherwise, they wouldn't be so excited.

Unfortunately, just as Hori was about to laugh it off and say something, a boy in the class suddenly shouted,

"Someone's coming!"