Chapter 35: Brother Sister Meeting

A/N- I really have no words, 350 to a 1000 in a day? P.S Read the AN at the end too.

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[Ayanokouji]

I was a bit tired after standing for so long and doing nothing so I bought some juice from the lobby's vending machine and headed back for the elevator.

"Hmm?"

I could see that the elevator had stopped on the seventh floor.

Curious, I decided to check out the CCTV, which showed what was happening inside the elevator car. I saw Horikita, still dressed in her school uniform.

"Well, I don't really need to hide, but…"

Seeing her might be awkward right now, so I hid behind the vending machine. Horikita arrived at the first floor.

Looking wary of her surroundings, she exited the building. After she'd vanished into the night, I decided to follow after her.

However, I instinctively hid again after I turned the corner.

Horikita stopped in her tracks. I sensed another person was with her. "Suzune. I didn't think you'd follow me this far," he said.

Had she left in the dead of night to rendezvous with some guy?

"Hmph. I'm far different from the useless girl you once knew, niisan. I came here to catch you."

"Catch me, hmm?"

Niisan? In the dark, I couldn't see the person she was talking to. Was she meeting her older brother?

"I heard you were placed in Class D. I suppose nothing has really changed in the last three years. You've always been fixated on following me, and as a result, you don't notice your own flaws. Choosing to come to this school was a mistake."

"That's… You're wrong about that. I'll show you. I'll reach Class A right away, then—"

"It's pointless. You will never reach Class A. In fact, your class will fall apart soon enough. Things at this school aren't as simple as you think, there's more danger than you expect."

"I will definitely, definitely reach—"

"I told you, it's pointless. You really are a disobedient little sister, even if you're trying to prove yourself to me it doesn't have to be now. Even if you reach Class A I won't be impressed."

His voice was incredibly stern.

Horikita's brother stepped closer to her. From my hiding spot, I could see him plainly. It was Student Council President Horikita. He displayed no hint of emotion.

It was like he was staring at an uninteresting object.

He grabbed his younger sister by the wrist—she offered no resistance—and pushed her against the wall.

"No matter how I try to avoid you, the fact remains that you're my little sister. If people around here learned the truth, I would be humiliated. Leave this school immediately."

"I-I can't do that… I will definitely reach Class A. I'll show you!"

"How incredibly stupid. Do you want to relive the pain of the past?"

"Niisan, I…"

"You possess neither the abilities nor the qualities needed to reach Class A. Get that through your head. I'll repeat myself, leave this school at once, Suzune."

He moved forward, as if about to act. The situation looked fraught with danger. Resigned to facing Horikita's anger, I leapt out from my hiding space and went after her brother.

Before he knew I was there, I grabbed his right arm, which he was using to pin his sister.

"What? You…" He stared at his arm and slowly turned to me with a sharp gleam in his eye.

"A-Ayanokouji-kun?!" Horikita cried.

"You were about to throw your sister to the ground, weren't you? You do realize the floor here is concrete, right? You might be siblings, but you should know the difference between right and wrong."

"Eavesdropping is not an admirable quality," he said.

"Fine. Then let go."

"That's my line."

We glared at each other in complete silence.

"Stop it, Ayanokouji-kun," said Horikita, her voice strained.

I'd never heard her voice like that before.

Reluctantly, I released her brother.

Instantly, he tried to backhand me in the face. I instinctively took a step back to avoid it.

For such a lightly built guy, he was a nasty attacker. He then aimed a sharp kick at my unguarded spot.

"Watch it!" He had enough power to knock me out with one blow. Looking slightly confused, he exhaled deeply, extended his right arm, and opened his hand.

If I grabbed his hand, he'd probably throw me to the ground. Instead, I slapped his hand away.

"Good reflexes. I didn't imagine you could evade all of my blows so quickly. Also, you seemed to understand quite well what I was trying to do. Have you been taught?"

After the attacks stopped, the questions began.

"Yes, I was taught piano and calligraphy. Also, when I was in elementary school, I won a national music competition," I said.

"You're in Class D, too, aren't you? What a unique boy, Suzune."

After he let go of his younger sister, he turned to face me.

"No. Unlike Horikita, I'm pretty incompetent."

"Suzune, is this boy your friend? I'm honestly surprised."

"He's…not my friend. Just my classmate." Horikita faced her brother fully, as if denying him.

"You continue to confuse independence with solitude. And you, Ayanokouji... You're interesting but I'll advise both of you to leave this school at once. Consider it an advice and request of min-."

He suddenly paused and a dangerous look flashed through his eyes while looking behind me.

For a second, I might've seen a flash of... fear?

Was someone there? I turned around slightly but the area was empty.

He walked past me and disappeared into the night. So, that was the distinguished student council president. His presence explained some of Horikita's weird behavior.

But what did he mean by that last part? Why would he request us to leave? It was understandable if he wanted Horikita to drop out but why include me? Also what was that glance at the end?

This was confusing.

I felt as if he was trying to insinuate that there was some kind of threat in this school but maybe I was just overthinking it.

"I'm going to drag myself up to Class A even if it kills me," she said. With her brother gone, the night was silent once more. Horikita sat up against the wall, her head hanging low.

Maybe I'd made things worse by getting involved. I was about to return to the dorms when Horikita called out to me.

"Did you hear everything? Or was it just a coincidence?"

"Oh. Uh, it was half coincidence, I'd say. I saw you when I bought some juice from the vending machine. I was kind of curious, so I followed you. However, I really didn't mean to meddle in your business."

Horikita fell silent once again.

"Your older brother is really strong. He doesn't lack ferocity."

"He's ranked fifth dan in karate and fourth dan in aikido."

Whew, he was really strong. If I hadn't pulled away, it would've ended badly for me.

"You also practice martial arts, don't you, Ayanokouji-kun? You must hold a dan rank."

"I told you, didn't I? Just piano and tea ceremony."

"You said calligraphy before."

"I…did calligraphy in addition to those, yes."

"You purposefully get lower test scores, and you say that you studied piano and calligraphy. I really don't understand you."

"My scores were a coincidence. I really did do piano, tea ceremony, and calligraphy." If there were a piano here, I could at least have performed "Für Elise."

"You saw a strange side of me."

"On the contrary, I always thought of you as a normal girl. Well, not really."

Horikita glared at me.

"Let's go back. If anyone saw us out here, they'd prob—"

Suddenly we heard something, Horikita's head snapped towards where her brother had left and she ran out.

I followed behind her and only a few seconds later I saw Horikita freeze in shock. Her eyes were filled with disbelief.

Curious I followed her gaze and saw something unexpected. 

Horikita Manabu, who should've left by now was standing in front of the bench looking at a certain male student with a grim and heavy expression.

It was utterly different from the calm and composed expression from before.

But that wasn't why Horikita was shocked, or maybe part of why she was shocked. It was mainly due to the student that Elder Horikita was talking with.

The student was sitting on the bench with a laid-back expression. There wasn't a hint of respect in his behaviour or gaze.

He was very handsome and had a strong build. He had lengthy black hair which added to his looks.

(Image)

He wore a black pant and a black t-shirt which stuck to his skin, showing off his muscles, the veins on his hands and biceps in particular were bulging and was that a visible vein I saw through his shirt on his shoulder...?

I wonder how many steroids he's taken. Lean yet bulky, was this the physique that broke the paradox of either lean when naked or bulky in clothes?

There was no way he was natural.

He was sipping on orange juice with an amused expression. 

"W-Why..." Horikita mumbled.

Her shock was understandable and I too was wary of this particular student. There were many mysteries surrounding him.

As if just noticing us, he tilted his head and sent us a sidelong glance.

"Yamamoto Tatsuya..."

I muttered.

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A/N- This chapter might seem like filler and if you pay attention there's quite a bit of change to the original text (and in case someones thinking I've deliberately made a filler chapter just to fulfil the promise, this chapter was posted on patreon a week or two ago so bear with it. I would never cheat you guys) but it's absolutely necessary for the next three chapters (Probably the best chapters I've written besides sm*t, atleast I loved it.)

I'm also confused about what powerstone goal to set next, I'm still a little shocked from having jumped to 1000 from 350 in a day.

1500 ig? Get that and you'll have two chapters tomorrow as well then. I'm probably spoiling you guys but oh well <3< em>

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