Confession!

There Yuto was. Laying on the bed, his gaze fixed upon the ceiling, his expression devoid of emotion.

"I let 'him' out for the second time this month," he sighed, rising from the bed and making his way to the bathroom. Peering into the mirror, he confronted two identical yet vastly different reflections. One radiated brightness and cheer, while the other exuded darkness and gloom.

'I'm famished. Maybe I'll head out and grab something to eat...' 

___________________________

Yuto had just exited a store, one hand nestled in his pocket while the other gripped a plastic bag. He made his way quietly back to the dorms when a familiar voice caught his attention.

"Coincidences can be scary."

Curious, Yuto turned his head and was greeted by a bizarre sight. Manabu and Ayanokoji locked in a tense stare, while Horikita looked on with palpable fear. Yuto, with his goofy expression, stood there, observing the scene with bewilderment. Just as Manabu noticed Yuto's presence, he asked, "Why are you staring at me like that."

Yuto's eyes widened in realization.

"I knew it! It's a family tradition!" he exclaimed, connecting the dots in his mind.

"No reason, I'm just a spectator," Yuto replied casually, his goofy demeanor intact. "If I may ask, what's happening here?"

Manabu adjusted his glasses and replied, "Just an unfriendly coincidence."

Ayanokoji interjected with his own question for Manabu, "I also have a question. Who is it that you spoke of when you said, 'You're the other one'?" His gaze bore into Manabu, hinting at a deeper inquiry, Suspicious if it had anything to do with the white room.

Manabu chuckled, attempting to dispel the subtle threat under Ayanokoji's scrutinizing gaze. "Oh, I simply grouped you with him because of your identical behaviors in academics," he explained. Then, gesturing toward Yuto, he added, "As for who it is, he's standing right next to you."

Ayanokoji turned to Yuto in bewilderment! His brows even twitched a little. Horikita also looked shocked for some reason. Yuto, meanwhile just waved at them with a awkward smile due to the lack of context. 

Manabu turned to Yuto and stared at him with a deadpan expression and asked, "Kazuki Yuto, I'll repeat the same thing I asked Ayanokoji here. You scored 41 in every subject in his entrance exam. The other day, you scored 41 in your quiz aswell. Every single time, its one mark above the fail grade. Was this intentional?"

Yuto, taken aback by the sudden question, let out a sigh before responding, "Yes." His admission didn't come as a surprise to anyone present, prompting Manabu to continue with a barrage of questions.

"Why?" 

Yuto appeared slightly embarrassed before speaking up. "I will tell you the reason, but I have a condition," he declared, catching the interest of everyone in the room.

Manabu raised his brow before saying, "Ask. depending on what you say, I'll decide." as Horikita thought, "Not this again. That sly pervert is going to ask something absurd again!"

"Can I call you brother?" Yuto stated with a innocent smile. 

Manabu's confusion was evident as he opened his mouth to respond, but Yuto swiftly interjected, "As in brother-in-law."

Manabu's eyes widened in shock, while Horikita's cheeks flushed crimson with embarrassment. "What the hell is that pervert saying?!" she exclaimed. Ayanokoji, seeking to avoid any awkward gazes, glanced in another direction, silently processing the unexpected situation.

Manabu regained his composure after the initial shock, adjusting his glasses before turning his attention to Horikita. "I see. I wasn't aware of the relationship between you and my sister. Perhaps I judged too quickly, and she is changing after all," he remarked, his tone more measured now. "I suppose I have no reason to say n-"

"WE ARE NOT IN A RELATIONSHIP AND NEVER WILL BE IN ONE." Horikita yelled, her voice tinged with indignation and losing her cool as she was with her brother.

Manabu felt a pang of disappointment, though he kept his emotions well-hidden. Meanwhile, Yuto, stuck his tongue out and rubbed the back of his head with a cheeky grin. "Well, it was worth a try!" he quipped, his tone light-hearted despite the tension that surrounded him. Inwardly, Yuto was devastated. Horikita's words had dealt a crushing blow to his willpower. However, he could change that. Given some time. He hoped for it atleast.

 Yuto paused, allowing his words to sink in before continuing.

"I have no reason to lie to my brother-in-law," he asserted. "I scored low on the entrance exam intentionally, hoping to dissuade my mom from sending me to this school. She only warned me not to return if I failed, and I figured the lowest mark possible would do the trick. Clearly, it didn't." He sighed, reflecting on his failed strategy.

"As for the quiz, I thought pretending to be a retard would make so that lesser people would talk to me. Obviously, that plan backfired."

The group was left dumbfounded by the absurdity of Yuto's explanations. Manabu cleared his throat, breaking the silence. "I see. Let's leave it here for today," he stated tersely before walking off without another word.

As soon as Manabu left, Horikita approached Yuto, her hair cascading to overshadow her eyes.

"Oh, Suzune-chan, mind explaining the context behind this encounter?" Yuto asked with a smile, but Horikita ignored him.

"Suzune-chan?" Yuto repeated, puzzled. Suddenly, Horikita punched him in the gut. Despite Yuto's attempt to brace himself and lessen the impact, he still partially felt the force of the impact and gasped, "How hard did she hit me?"

Yuto exaggerated the punch by stumbling onto the ground, hoping to avoid any further retaliation from Horikita. He sprawled on the ground, groaning softly as he glanced up at her, hoping his act would be convincing enough to deter her from any further aggression.

Looking up, he saw Horikita with a flushed face. "Idiot..." she muttered under her breath.

Yuto's face turned red as he thought, 'Cute..'

Ayanokoji stood awkwardly nearby, observing the scene unfolding between Yuto and Horikita. He couldn't help but feel a twinge of anger at Yuto's antics, a sensation he hadn't exprienced in his life. "To think he could make me feel a hint of annoyance," Ayanokoji mused silently. "It certainly is interesting...."