Chapter 155: Ai Morishta (Patreon)

Suzune Horikita had finally agreed to have lunch together.

Since Hikaru Naruse had set the meeting for around 12:30, there was still plenty of free time left.

So he decided to head out and buy breakfast first.

By nine o'clock, Airi Sakura was only just drifting awake. She rubbed her eyes, then instinctively stretched out a small hand to feel the space beside her.

"?"

Nothing. Her hand reached a little farther, and still found nothing.

"Hikaru-kun!"

Not feeling Hikaru Naruse there, Airi Sakura reacted instantly. Startled, she shot upright in bed.

"Hikaru-kun?"

The familiar figure was nowhere in her field of view. Panic seized Airi Sakura, and she was about to climb out of bed to look for him.

But just then the bedroom door swung open, and Hikaru Naruse walked in carrying a stack of clothes.

"Airi... what's wrong?"

"Hikaru-kun!"

Her sudden anxiety and alarm vanished in an instant. She fixed her gaze on her lover with shining eyes, and a calm settled over her all at once.

"I just went out to buy breakfast. Are you okay? Did you have a nightmare?"

"I'm fine..."

The girl shook her head, then glanced at the clothes in his hands. Besides a clean T-shirt and a short skirt, there was also a set of light-blue underwear.

"Everything you wore yesterday got tossed under the bed, so let's put on fresh clothes."

Hikaru Naruse smiled and spoke in a mild tone.

"This set should be nice, right? Want me to go swap it?"

"No need. I'll wear whatever Hikaru-kun likes."

Hikaru Naruse walked over with the clothes, but before Airi Sakura could change, the girl pounced on him.

"What the..."

Airi Sakura's slender arms wrapped tightly around his waist and pulled him down to his knees on the bed.

"Hikaru-kun... will you dress me?"

As time went on, Airi Sakura had gotten better and better at acting spoiled. It was probably one of those skills girls pick up without ever being taught.

"Of course."

Hikaru Naruse held the girl's warm, delicate body, feeling her smooth, soft skin pressed against his own, and a faint smile curved his lips.

"But be more careful next time. You've got no stamina at all, and yet you refuse to admit defeat."

"Because I've been missing Hikaru-kun this whole ten-plus days, so..."

Airi Sakura blushed. She really had been eager yesterday—so eager that by the end she'd nearly lost consciousness.

"You still need to pace yourself. Or you could work out more, Airi. It'd be good for you."

"Mm."

Hikaru Naruse started helping Airi Sakura dress. She was like an obedient doll: arms up when told, legs out when told.

"I heard the Sports Festival is being held in October. Why don't you find some time to work out with me, Airi?"

"?"

As Airi Sakura straightened her legs, she lifted them and parted them slightly, making it easier for Hikaru Naruse to slip her panties on.

Then she tilted her head back and asked.

"Does Hikaru-kun want me to work out with you?"

"Exercise is a must. I want to see you grow, after all. Don't forget, the school's rules want everyone to grow in every way."

"If it's what Hikaru-kun wants, then I'm willing."

After the underwear, Hikaru Naruse put the short-sleeved top and skirt on her. Airi Sakura's strength had actually been returning bit by bit since she woke up, but she still liked acting spoiled.

"Honestly, you feel less like my lover and more like my daughter."

Hikaru Naruse teased, but Airi Sakura ran with it.

She knelt on the bed, wrapped her arms around his neck, and whispered into his ear.

"...Next week is that time for me, you know... Will you stay?"

"You're getting more and more outrageous."

Hikaru Naruse rapped her on the head, then finished dressing her.

"Alright, go wash up, Airi. We still have breakfast to eat afterward."

"Mm... Will Hikaru-kun stay with me all day today?" Airi Sakura asked, turning back at the bathroom door.

"I'm going out for lunch with someone at noon, but the rest of the day is all yours."

"Oh."

Knowing how busy Hikaru Naruse was, Airi Sakura was very well-behaved and never pried.

Since the rest of today belonged to her, she'd make sure to make him even happier.

"Hurry up and wash. Daddy still has to feed you breakfast~" Hikaru Naruse teased.

"Mm-hm!"

The girl nodded earnestly and slipped into the bathroom.

Ever since they'd come back to school two days ago, Hikaru Naruse had more or less planned out the coming ten-plus days.

Yesterday had belonged to Kei Karuizawa, today was Airi Sakura, and tomorrow was Ai Morishita—he'd probably have to bring Miki Yamamura along too.

The day after was Kikyo Kushida. That girl claimed she'd already prepared two big boxes of balloons and planned to use them all in one go. She sounded confident enough.

Then again, her skills were rather mediocre, a lot like Airi Sakura's: terrible at it, yet crazy about it.

After they finished breakfast together, Airi Sakura brought up the magazine shoot coming up.

"Hikaru-kun, the cover for the next issue should be shot in the first week of October. I'll have to trouble you again."

"It's no trouble at all. I'm looking forward to taking photos with you, Airi."

Hikaru Naruse took a sip of milk and spoke softly.

"Have you picked your outfit?"

"Mm, it's a new autumn long dress."

Airi Sakura nodded, then pulled out her phone to show him the coordinated look.

As a print model, Airi Sakura had her fashion skill maxed out, so she was especially good at putting outfits together.

"Not bad."

"If Hikaru-kun likes it, after the magazine shoot I can wear this and do it with you."

"..."

"You really are a little pervert."

Hikaru Naruse rapped her on the head again. "After school starts in September, train properly. I'll be supervising you."

"Mm."

---

Around noon, Hikaru Naruse left Airi Sakura's room and headed to the restaurant early.

The meal was set for 12:30 at a very popular family restaurant at the entrance to the food court in Keyaki Mall. It got heavy foot traffic every day, so you generally had to reserve a table ahead of time.

When Hikaru Naruse walked in, he found that Manabu Horikita had already arrived.

The man sat on the left side, looking down at the menu, his face as expressionless as ever.

As Student Council President, Manabu Horikita kept his back perfectly straight. He'd come to eat, yet his posture was so upright you'd think he was attending some formal meeting.

"Good afternoon, Senior Horikita."

Walking up, Hikaru Naruse didn't address him as "President." He used the warmer word "Senior" instead.

"Mm. Good afternoon, Naruse-kun."

Though Manabu Horikita was cold by nature, he never skimped on proper manners. He was nothing like certain arrogant domineering-CEO types who considered themselves superior to everyone but were really just ill-bred.

After sitting down, since Suzune Horikita hadn't arrived yet, Hikaru Naruse took the initiative to start a conversation.

"Senior Horikita, besides your Student Council work, what do you usually do during summer break?"

"Besides work..." Manabu Horikita paused. "I make a habit of training and reading."

"That's quite the textbook answer."

Hikaru Naruse smiled. After a little while, through the restaurant's glass window, he spotted Suzune Horikita hesitating at the entrance.

What an idiot.

Suzune Horikita would never be late. She took punctuality seriously, so she was sure to arrive before 12:30.

But once she got here and saw her brother chatting with Hikaru Naruse, she'd suddenly faltered.

After all, she'd almost never had a private meal like this with her brother.

The sibling relationship between the two was an unusual one. Suzune Horikita wanted to catch up to her brother, who was forever number one, yet his excellence put enormous pressure on her.

As a result, the girl was "terrified" of being around Manabu Horikita, while deep down she hoped to grow closer to him—he was important family, after all.

"Horikita-san, over here, over here."

Hikaru Naruse decided to give her a push. He waved toward the entrance and even called out loud.

Since the person across from him was the Student Council President, and Hikaru Naruse was a certain "big-name" champion at the school, plenty of people turned to look as soon as he called out. Some looked toward Suzune Horikita at the entrance too.

"..."

Seeing that Manabu Horikita's gaze had already turned her way, Suzune Horikita took a deep breath, stepped into the restaurant anyway, and made her way to their table.

"Good afternoon, Naruse-san... Brother."

"Good afternoon, Suzune."

Manabu Horikita nodded calmly and gestured for her to sit.

"Okay."

Once all three were present, Hikaru Naruse passed the menu to Suzune Horikita, who sat beside him.

Since family restaurants usually have four-person tables, Suzune Horikita sat on the same side as Hikaru Naruse, with Manabu Horikita across from them.

"Ladies first. Horikita-san, see what you'd like. Senior Horikita's treating today."

"..."

At those words, Suzune Horikita's small hands trembled slightly, but she took the menu all the same.

"That's right. Order whatever you like. As your senior, I can hardly let you two pay."

Manabu Horikita didn't seem to mind that Hikaru Naruse had boxed him in the moment he opened his mouth. Either way, both people in front of him mattered to him quite a bit.

"Mm..."

Suzune Horikita couldn't bear to meet her brother's eyes, so she lowered her head and focused on ordering.

Hikaru Naruse, meanwhile, raised the difficulty a notch, speaking with a beaming smile.

"Horikita-san, you don't need to be so nervous. Just order whatever you want. There's no outsider here."

"I understand." Suzune Horikita took a deep breath and chose three set meals that couldn't go wrong, plus three all-you-can-drink drink bars.

Hikaru Naruse smiled his agreement, and Manabu Horikita said nothing further.

After the waiter went off to pass the order to the kitchen, Manabu Horikita glanced at the two sitting across from him, nearly shoulder to shoulder, and asked calmly.

"Naruse-kun, it seems you and Suzune have grown much closer."

"Naturally. We're important companions now, after all."

"Companions?" At that word, Manabu Horikita's gaze immediately settled on Suzune Horikita.

"Suzune, I'd like to hear your thoughts."

"..."

Suzune Horikita was silent for a moment, then gathered her courage and spoke.

"Yes. Naruse-san and I really have become companions. I acknowledge his excellence, and I hope we can become people who fight side by side."

"But you aren't in the same class... Isn't that a bit odd?"

Manabu Horikita's voice dropped slightly. Swept by his cold gaze, Suzune Horikita cowered at once and didn't dare speak.

So it fell to Hikaru Naruse to speak up.

"Senior Horikita, I think you can understand Horikita-san's situation right now."

"In a group like Class D, I don't think she needs to haul the whole class forward. If she wants to prove her excellence, she can move up a class on her own."

"If I remember right, the school rules have a provision for that."

"You mean the 20-million-point rule?" Manabu Horikita didn't seem surprised and went on. "Suzune, is that your goal?"

"...Yes. I will reach Class A, and I won't bring shame upon you, Brother."

Suzune Horikita bit her lip and finally voiced what she truly felt.

"..."

Manabu Horikita was silent for a moment, then spoke slowly.

"Since it's a path you chose yourself, I won't stop you. I hope you truly succeed."

"I used to tell you often that you'd mistaken the meanings of [Solitude] and [Aloofness], but now it seems..." Manabu Horikita glanced at Hikaru Naruse, smiling beside her. "You truly have found someone who can walk beside you."

Manabu Horikita knew his sister well.

The reasoning was simple. Suzune Horikita was sitting right next to Hikaru Naruse, and just now she hadn't seemed to mind physical contact with him at all.

If he weren't someone she acknowledged, Suzune Horikita would never have gone this far.

"Mm..."

"Good. This counts as progress too, Suzune."

"..."

Suzune Horikita's eyes widened. This was praise from her brother, something she'd never have dared to imagine in the past.

"I hope I can keep watching you grow from here on."

"I'll work hard."

For the rest of the meal with the Horikita siblings, the atmosphere stayed fairly pleasant.

The three of them chatted now and then about school and exams, and about the second term starting soon and the Sports Festival.

Since neither Manabu Horikita nor Suzune Horikita was talkative, the mood could hardly be called lively, but overall it felt harmonious, and the conversation never went dead.

Around 1:30, Manabu Horikita paid the bill and left, leaving only Hikaru Naruse and the black-haired girl beside him.

The boy turned and studied Suzune Horikita's delicate face.

"How do you feel today?"

Suzune Horikita thought about it. She understood perfectly well what Hikaru Naruse meant, because this meal had obviously been arranged for her sake.

"Thank you, Naruse-san."

"No need to thank me. I think Senior Horikita really cares about you. I'm honestly envious. I'd love to have an older relative studying at the same school as me."

"Naruse-san..."

Suzune Horikita suddenly asked.

"What month is your birthday?"

Hikaru Naruse was taken aback, then answered.

"November."

"Then I'm older than you. If you want, you may call me big sister."

"..."

Hikaru Naruse looked the girl over, and suddenly she seemed a little more lively.

"Horikita-san, do you know what you're saying?"

"I've been reading books on emotions lately. Since I've become your companion, I need to look after your health too."

Suzune Horikita tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, giving her an even more elegant air, and said calmly.

"Of course, that includes your psychological needs."

"..."

Hikaru Naruse chuckled before he finally spoke.

"Alright then. Next time I hope you'll treat me to a meal. You're older than me, after all, so you should take care of me."

"No problem."

"Are your points okay?"

"..."

---

After teasing Suzune Horikita, Hikaru Naruse was about to go back to Airi Sakura's room to keep her company.

But just as he was passing a certain special-purpose school building, he suddenly spotted a familiar blonde head beside it.

"Shiraishi?"

On a patch of open ground behind the building not far away, Asuka Shiraishi stood quietly, calmly facing a boy standing on the other side.

"Isn't that... Kenta Yoshida?"

Hikaru Naruse thought back to the plot. If he remembered right, this Kenta Yoshida had a secret crush on Asuka Shiraishi. Could he be here to confess today?

Could it really be this much of a coincidence, that I'd stumble onto something like this?

His appetite for gossip surged. He sent Airi Sakura a text saying he'd be back a little later.

Then he walked a few steps forward and pressed himself against the side of the building to peek around the back.

There was a fair distance between them, so he couldn't hear their conversation, only see their body language.

Kenta Yoshida seemed to be summoning his courage to say something. Asuka Shiraishi listened calmly, shook her head, then said something in reply.

The moment he heard Asuka Shiraishi's answer, Kenta Yoshida's head drooped, like a balloon with all the air let out.

Then Kenta Yoshida bowed deeply, turned straight around, and walked off in the opposite direction, soon vanishing from sight.

"Rejected, huh?"

Even among the girls in Class A, Asuka Shiraishi's looks easily ranked near the top, and she was smart and poised too, so it was only natural that she drew attention.

But... didn't this girl have a rather bad rumor attached to her?

And Kenta Yoshida still went and confessed to her?

What courage.

With no more show to watch, Hikaru Naruse quickly turned to leave. He'd barely taken a few steps when a pleasant voice suddenly sounded right beside him.

"Naruse-san, peeping is not a good habit."

The boy looked back and found, to his surprise, that it was Asuka Shiraishi. She had already come up to his rear flank.

What kind of movement speed was that?

How had he not heard a thing?

"Peeping at what?"

"I caught your scent just now. You were definitely peeping."

"?"