"I'm home~"
Amane's cowlick led the way.
It wasn't yanked, which meant it was relatively safe.
Only then did Amane peek inside.
She whispered into the room.
The lights were on in the room, but no one replied.
Something could vaguely be seen lying on the bed.
It seemed Horikita had fallen asleep while waiting for her.
In that case... he escaped punishment again.
Hehehe.
Amane's grin nearly reached his ears.
Amane tiptoed quietly into the living room.
The next second, his hair hurt.
Amane's heart suddenly went cold.
"Are you coming home or sneaking around? I thought a big rat had come in tonight."
Horikita lifted Amane in front of her.
"Hehehe, Suzune, you're still awake? Staying up so late will give you dark circles, you know~"
Amane tried to change the subject.
Amane took the opportunity to look at the bed; she clearly remembered someone being on the bed.
But upon closer inspection, it was actually her brown bear pillow lying on the bed, and Suzune had even thoughtfully covered it with a blanket!
What a cunning woman.
I like it.
"Where's my coffee?"
Upon hearing Suzune ask about the coffee.
Amane breathed a sigh of relief.
Then she handed over the canned drink in her hand.
"I bought it for Suzune the moment I went down..."
"Orange juice?"
Horikita eyed Amane suspiciously.
"Huh? Where's my coffee? That big can I bought..."
Memories of having fallen asleep suddenly came back to life.
Amane went downstairs.
He bought himself a can of orange juice to quench his thirst first.
"So I bought orange juice!"
Amane looked like she had suddenly realized something.
He gently tapped his palm with his fist.
"And it's half a can... You didn't give it to another girl to drink, did you?"
Horikita's hand formed a chopping gesture.
"No, no! That half can was mine. I forgot to buy coffee..."
Amane quickly explained.
If he didn't explain this well, there would be big trouble.
"Hmph."
Horikita snorted softly.
Then, she chugged the orange juice.
And casually tossed it aside.
The can surprisingly landed perfectly in the living room's trash can.
"Wow! Suzune is amazing!"
Amane-san immediately clapped her hands.
Then, a thought crossed her mind.
Doesn't this mean she and Suzune indirectly kissed?!
Then a direct one should be fine too, right?
Amane-san took advantage of Horikita's inattention and suddenly leaned in for a kiss.
However, Horikita seemed to have known it all along, directly pressing Amane-san's face that was trying to get close.
"It's always like this. Even if I don't look at you, I know what you're trying to do."
"I just want to be closer to Suzune~"
Amane-san's thick skin could be said to be quite rare.
To describe trying to steal a kiss as 'being closer'.
"Closer? Then, before that, can you explain why you smell of Kushida?"
Hiss—!!!
Amane-san's face turned pale.
Was that discovered too?
As expected of Suzune!
"Kikyo-chan was so mean today! She actually bullied Ayanokoji-kun. Luckily, I got there in time, otherwise Ayanokoji-kun would have... *sob*"
Seeing Amane-san say this, Horikita, even if a little displeased, couldn't say anything.
If it was to help Ayanokoji.
Although Horikita and Ayanokoji's relationship was average.
She wouldn't just stand by if he encountered difficulties.
This study session was her asking Ayanokoji to find Kushida-san.
Ayanokoji also tried to help when Sudo hit her.
Based on this alone, there wasn't much problem with Amane-san lending a hand when the other party encountered difficulties.
But... how could Ayanokoji be bullied by Kushida?
Horikita keenly sensed that something was amiss.
"How did that Kushida fellow bully Ayanokoji-kun?"
Seeing Suzune ask.
Amane-san immediately put on a look of righteous indignation.
"Let me tell you, Suzune, Kikyo-chan was so bad today, she actually wanted Ayanokoji to touch her here."
As Amane-san spoke, she mimicked it for Horikita.
"You mean... Kushida asked Ayanokoji to touch her chest...?"
Horikita's voice rose a few octaves.
Although she disliked that Kushida fellow a lot.
She couldn't imagine Kushida doing something so shameless.
To actually let a man casually touch... Wait.
"Are you sure Kushida was bullying Ayanokoji?"
If Kushida and Ayanokoji were already in a relationship.
Even if doing such things on campus was a bit inappropriate.
Still, others had no right to say anything.
Could it be that Amane-san ruined their good thing?
"How could that be! Ayanokoji's face at the time clearly showed an unwilling expression, which made me feel a pang in my heart, so I was forced to step forward and save Ayanokoji."
Amane-san hugged Horikita and gently rubbed against her.
Hmm.
Although Amane-san's way of putting it was a bit strange.
If Ayanokoji refused, then Kushida's behavior was indeed a bit excessive.
Suddenly.
Horikita seemed to have thought of something.
What if Kushida was planning to frame Ayanokoji?
It shouldn't be... Ayanokoji doesn't know about her.
She has no need to frame an inconspicuous boy.
The logic doesn't hold.
Since it doesn't hold, put it aside.
There was something else she was more concerned about.
"How did you save Ayanokoji, Amane-san?"
Amane-san happily took Horikita's hand.
She placed Horikita's hand on her own.
Then pressed it against Horikita's chest.
"So, you took Ayanokoji's place, is that right?"
Horikita's face showed a kind smile.
"Mm-hmm, aren't I smart! This way, I won't hurt Kushida-san and can protect Ayanokoji-kun. Sigh, my sacrifice was too great, boo hoo."
"Amane-san, you really worked hard."
"Yes, yes... Suzune, you, you calm down!! No! Don't! I'm still a child! No!!!"
The next day.
Horikita walked briskly ahead, carrying two backpacks by herself.
"Amane-san, if you keep dawdling like this, you'll be late."
Amane-san, following behind, had big dark circles under her eyes.
Her eyes were dull and lifeless.
"I'm no longer pure."
"Stop saying strange things. We just had a deep emotional exchange."
Horikita said casually, even tapping Amane-san's little head.
"Waaah waah waah."
As soon as the two entered the classroom.
The class's gaze instantly turned to them.
"Eh? Why are you looking at me like that? I'll get shy."
Amane-san's small face flushed slightly.
She lowered her head, a little shy.
Seeing this.
A considerable number of both boys and girls averted their gaze.
Hirata glanced at Karuizawa.
Although Karuizawa didn't want to meddle, she was now one of the leaders of Class D's girls.
While enjoying everyone's respect and trust.
She also had to shoulder a part of her responsibility.
"I heard, Amane-san, that you hit someone in the library yesterday, is that right?"
As soon as Karuizawa said this.
Amane-san subconsciously looked at Kushida.
Karuizawa moved slightly, blocking Amane-san's line of sight.
"No one ratted you out or anything. Just now, someone from the Student Council came to inform us that Amane-san... you injured Sudo-kun, is that true?"
After Karuizawa finished her question.
The class's gaze immediately refocused on Amane-san.
"Oh, Sudo? Yes, I hit him."
"Eh!!!!!!"
-----------------------
To read the next 40 chapters in advance, you can follow and support me on Patreon.
I'll be posting early chapters there so you can always stay ahead and never miss any new content.
patreon.com/SolyuraMT
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"