Chapter 109: Please, stop talking!
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Looking at Horikita Suzune, who was mumbling and avoiding an explanation, Horikita Manabu's expression gradually turned into one of disappointment.
Rin Matsuoka, standing nearby, was a little surprised. It was the first time he'd seen Horikita Suzune so flustered, almost as if she was about to cry.
(Horikita Suzune: Who do you think is responsible for this mess?)
Since Horikita Suzune wasn't taking the initiative to explain, Rin stepped forward and said, "Brother Horikita, there were other empty seats on the bus at the time. The people forced to give up their seats still had places to sit, so it wasn't a serious matter."
I beg you, just stop talking!
At that moment, Horikita Suzune really wanted to punch Rin and make him shut up.
Horikita Manabu frowned as his sharp gaze landed on Suzune. "There were empty seats, yet you didn't take one. Instead, you forced others to give up theirs. Suzune, explain your reasoning."
"..." Horikita Suzune was silent.
"I'm curious too," Rin added with a hint of amusement. "There were several empty seats, but you insisted on sitting next to me. What was going through your head, Horikita?"
"..." The Horikita siblings exchanged a long, uncomfortable silence.
Rin Matsuoka, you absolute idiot. Go to hell!
Horikita Manabu glanced briefly at Rin before his eyes returned to Suzune. As her cheeks gradually flushed, something clicked in his mind. Horikita Manabu suddenly understood why his sister had behaved so uncharacteristically.
"I see."
Horikita Manabu adjusted his glasses, then turned his head to look at Rin, who stood awkwardly beside him.
"Um?"
A giant question mark might as well have floated over Rin's head. Horikita-kun, what exactly do you think you understand? And why are you looking at me like that?
Noticing her brother's focus on Rin, Suzune panicked, her blush deepening. "Well… well, there were so many people on the bus, and I only knew Rin, so I…"
"You don't have to say anything, Suzune. I already understand."
No, brother, you really don't understand!
Horikita Manabu turned back to Rin, his expression a mix of complexity and quiet relief. He sighed softly, then patted Rin on the shoulder.
"Suzune has an annoying and troublesome personality, and she hates communicating with others. I'm counting on you to take care of her, Rin."
"No problem," Rin replied with a confident grin. "For Manabu's sake, I'll look after her in class."
"No, not for my sake… Forget it." Horikita Manabu shook his head in exasperation.
In truth, long before Horikita Manabu enrolled at this school, he had noticed something peculiar. When Rin visited their home, Suzune would occasionally sneak glances at him.
Realizing this, Horikita Manabu came up with an idea.
He decided to use Rin, a peer, to distract Suzune so that she would stop imitating him and trying to follow in his footsteps.
This was the main reason Horikita Manabu frequently invited Rin to visit their house.
Unfortunately, after Horikita Manabu started attending this school, Rin never visited their home again.
That wasn't Rin's fault. Without an invitation, it would've been rude for him, as an outsider, to show up unannounced.
Horikita Manabu couldn't help feeling disappointed in Suzune. After two years apart, he had hoped she'd find her own path. Instead, she had followed him to this school, still chasing his shadow.
What makes Horikita Manabu feel relieved is that his sister, Horikita Suzune, already seems to have a girlish affection for Rin Matsuoka, the neighbor's brother. Otherwise, with her awkward and troublesome personality, how could she have forced others to give up their seats just to sit with Rin?
But Rin doesn't seem to have any such intentions towards Suzune, and he doesn't even understand why she forced others to give up their seats… Horikita Manabu thought silently while staring at Rin.
Actually, Rin Matsuoka's Intelligence isn't low.
If it had been Karuizawa, Sakura , or Ichinose who insisted on sitting next to him, Rin would have immediately suspected they were interested in him.
But the girl who insisted on sitting with him was Horikita Suzune!
Horikita Suzune is a tsundere with a troublesome, awkward, and cold personality. Rin concluded that the reason she chose to sit with him must have been because the bus was crowded and he was the only person she knew and felt comfortable with.
He never even considered the possibility of romantic feelings.
So, you can't blame Rin. If there's anyone to blame, it's the tsundere Horikita Suzune.
Horikita Manabu pushed up his glasses and suddenly asked Rin in surprise, "Matsuoka, I saw your admissions file. How did you score zero points in all subjects? I remember your academic performance used to be quite good."
"Ah." Rin sighed exaggeratedly. "It's all because of your sister, Manabu- San."
"???" x2
Both Horikita siblings looked at Rin in confusion, with Horikita Manabu glancing at Suzune. He noticed that she, too, seemed utterly puzzled as she stared at Rin with wide eyes.
She doesn't know about this?
"Explain," Horikita Manabu said.
"Ever since you came to this school, your sister hasn't invited me over to your house for dinner anymore. So, I've been working part-time every day to make money, leaving me with no time to study," Rin replied with a completely serious expression, though he was clearly making things up.
Rin noticed that Horikita Manabu's attitude toward him remained as friendly as ever, so he decided to play along and see how far he could push it.
Suzune, on the other hand, was fuming. Her cheeks flushed as she angrily retorted, "Nonsense! Your academic performance has always been among the best! Scoring zero on your junior high graduation exam has nothing to do with me!"
"Silence. Be quiet," Horikita Manabu said calmly.
"...oh."
Just one sentence from her brother was enough to deflate Suzune, leaving her looking like a frost-damaged eggplant.
If you want to control the troublesome Horikita Suzune, all you need to do is win over Horikita Manabu. Suzune listens to him more than anyone else.
After Suzune had settled down, Horikita Manabu turned back to Rin and asked with a gentler tone, "Since then, Matsuoka, you've been working part-time every day. Is your family situation still the same as it was a few years ago?"
Suzune felt a wave of grievance and frustration.
Why has my brother never spoken to me in such a gentle tone?!
Yet here he was, speaking to Rin in the softest voice imaginable.
I'm his biological sister!
And Rin isn't even related to him!
Rin, unfazed by the attention, shrugged casually and replied.
"That's right."
"They all have their own families now, and I still live alone. While they send me living expenses, it's barely enough to get by. I can't even afford to get sick."
"But now that I'm studying at this school, where personal points are equivalent to money, I don't have to worry about finances for the next three years." Rin smiled as he spoke, his tone lighthearted despite the heavy implications of his words.