March 31st. Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School. Today was a rather special day — the day the third-years left the school.
Those who had spent three years living within these walls would today leave behind the place where they had struggled and grown.
That morning the sunlight wasn't harsh. It came with the particular softness of spring, slipping through the gap in the curtains and spilling across the dorm room.
Horikita Suzune sat on the edge of her bed with a book in her hands, though her attention wasn't entirely on the pages.
Her eyes kept drifting toward the phone on the desk. The screen stayed dark, no notification of any new message.
She didn't know what she was waiting for. Or rather… she wasn't sure whether she should be waiting for anything at all.
Today was the day the third-years left, which meant… her brother, Horikita Manabu, would be leaving this school today as well.
Honestly, back when she had first arrived here and met Horikita Manabu again, he had been thoroughly disappointed in her. In his eyes she hadn't grown even slightly, and that disappointed gaze had been hard to bear — she simply couldn't become someone her brother would acknowledge.
Things were different now, though. Since coming to this school she had been through a great deal, and she had changed a great deal, especially through her dealings with that Shikime Natsu. Much as she hated to admit it, she really had learned a lot from him.
Thanks to him, too, she had made a few friends — people she could actually open up to.
None of that would have made any sense to the old Horikita Suzune. She would never have accepted it.
But now… she was slowly learning.
And Horikita Manabu's attitude toward her had shifted, subtly, ever since she began to change.
The thought drew a soft sigh out of her, and she set the book down.
Once again, her gaze settled on the phone screen.
Today… should she be the one to contact her brother?
It was the day the third-years left. Whatever else, seeing him off was the least a sister could do, wasn't it?
Though… knowing Horikita Manabu, he probably wouldn't care about something like that. He might even find her a nuisance.
Still… whatever else, he was her brother.
Just as she was thinking it, the phone on the desk buzzed.
She picked it up and found a message from Horikita Manabu. Her brother reaching out to her first — that was a rare thing indeed.
[Horikita Manabu: Eleven o'clock this morning. I'll be waiting at the café in Keyaki Mall. There are a few things I'd like to discuss with you before I go.]
The message caught her off guard, but she answered quickly all the same.
[Horikita Suzune: Understood. I'll be there on time.]
When it was almost time, Horikita Suzune changed her clothes and headed out. For some reason she had the feeling that today's meeting would hold something out of the ordinary. Just a hunch, of course.
It didn't take long to reach the café in Keyaki Mall. She counted as a regular here by now, and she walked straight in.
The door chime rang, a crisp little sound reaching her ears.
Her eyes swept the interior and quickly found Horikita Manabu.
He sat there perfectly upright, expression as severe as ever, giving off all the warmth of an iceberg.
However… once her gaze landed on him, it didn't stop there.
Because she had spotted another figure. Sitting across from her brother was someone she knew all too well — Shikime Natsu. The moment she saw him, she froze where she stood.
Shikime Natsu? What was he doing here?
Why was he sitting at the same table as her brother?
The two of them… had they arranged this?
Or had they simply run into each other?
Horikita Manabu hadn't mentioned Shikime Natsu when he invited her out. Well, she was already here, and she wasn't about to lose her nerve — she just hoped that guy wouldn't bring up the whole 'pervert' business in front of her brother.
She had no idea why that particular word had surfaced in her mind. Nearly a year had passed since then, yet Shikime Natsu still held it over her head.
A cup of black coffee sat in front of Horikita Manabu, faint steam curling off it — clearly ordered a while ago — while a latte sat in front of Shikime Natsu.
Horikita Suzune walked up to the table and paused for a moment. Since she would be talking with Horikita Manabu, sitting face to face seemed better, so she took the seat beside Shikime Natsu.
In any case, whatever her reasoning, she settled into the chair next to Shikime Natsu with perfect composure.
Then she lifted her head, looked at the two of them, and offered a greeting.
"Brother. Shikime."
Hearing her voice, Horikita Manabu gave a small nod, his face barely changing, still wearing that same severe look.
Shikime Natsu turned toward her with a faint smile.
"You made it, Horikita-san."
She only nodded slightly at that, then looked at Horikita Manabu and spoke. "Brother, was there something you wanted to talk about?"
Since Shikime Natsu was here, whatever her brother intended to say clearly didn't need to be kept from him, so she asked outright.
She assumed Horikita Manabu would bring up school, or her studies, or her future.
Things like… he hoped she'd keep working hard, hoped she'd grow at this school, hoped she wouldn't waste these three years.
Though… even if he never said a word of it, she was going to do exactly that anyway.
After all, she wanted to prove herself here. She wanted to become better. She wanted Horikita Manabu to see how far she had come.
She had never once abandoned that goal — and not only to prove herself, but to make herself better. It was something she did for her own sake, too.
Just as those thoughts were running through her, Horikita Manabu spoke.
"Suzune. You've been at this school for close to a year now."
"Over that year I've watched you change. The way you handle things now is nothing like it was when you enrolled."
"I'll admit that's something I hadn't anticipated."
"I used to think you would simply carry on as you were — clinging to that stubbornness, refusing to accept others, refusing to change yourself, never growing at all."
"But… you changed."
"And in a relatively short span of time, you achieved a remarkably visible change."
"That… I have to say, surprised me."
Horikita Suzune said nothing. She simply listened, her eyes on her brother.
A tangle of emotions stirred inside her.
Because… this was the first time Horikita Manabu had ever affirmed her growth so plainly.
His tone was as flat as ever, and he hadn't offered a single word of outright praise, but she could feel the acknowledgment running underneath it.
And yet, faced with that praise, she stayed remarkably calm. The old her would have been beside herself with joy. Now she was perfectly steady.
"Then… there's something I want to ask you."
"What is it?"
"If you remain at this school, will you be able to keep growing?"
The question left her momentarily blank. She hadn't expected him to ask something like that.
Remaining at this school… could she keep growing?
Did Horikita Manabu think she had already gone as far as she could?
Urgency flashed through her, and she answered at once.
"Of course I can."
"There's still a great deal I lack, a great deal I need to learn, a great deal of room left to grow — and precisely because of that, I can keep growing."
She said it with complete seriousness. Even in Class D, she could keep walking forward without wavering.
Once the words were out, she realized she had gotten a little too worked up, reined herself in slightly, and looked at Horikita Manabu.
He was silent for a while after hearing her answer. He didn't respond immediately, only watched her quietly.
Then a rare smile appeared on that severe face — the smile of a man quietly reassured. Horikita Suzune couldn't remember the last time she had seen him look like that.
"Is that so."
Horikita Manabu spoke, his voice a shade gentler than before.
"Good. I believe you. I believe that in the days ahead you'll keep growing stronger."
"Not only stronger academically, not only stronger physically, but… stronger in spirit as well."
Receiving such open trust from him only made her self-conscious. She sat up a little straighter, her fingers tightening on the hem of her clothes, unsure where to let her eyes rest.
"Mm… I'll keep working at it."
"Mm."
Horikita Manabu nodded, then went on.
"There is, however… one thing I want you to understand."
"What is it?"
Horikita Suzune raised her head and looked at him.
He met her eyes and spoke in a serious tone. "You don't need to make me your goal."
"Setting me as your goal makes it difficult to go far. I don't want you chasing after my back. I want you to surpass me."
Horikita Suzune had always taken Horikita Manabu as her goal, because he was so exceptional. If she could reach her brother's height, then she would no longer be worthless.
Then his gaze shifted slightly, landing on Shikime Natsu beside her, and he said something she never saw coming.
"I want you… to take Shiki as your goal instead, and keep moving forward."
"Because Shiki is far above me. With him as your goal, you'll go much further."
The words left her utterly frozen. Her eyes widened in disbelief, going first to Horikita Manabu, then to Shikime Natsu in the seat beside her.
Take Shikime Natsu as her goal?
Her own brother… had actually said something like that?
Shikime Natsu was undeniably exceptional — his ability surpassed even Horikita Manabu's. But it was precisely because he was so exceptional that no ordinary person would ever set him as a goal. With anyone else there was at least the possibility of catching up; with Shikime Natsu, even if you threw away your humanity entirely, you still wouldn't reach his level.
"Shiki. I'm leaving Suzune to you from here."
Horikita Manabu said it directly to Shikime Natsu.
Shikime Natsu smiled at that and nodded.
"Don't worry about it."
The exchange left Horikita Suzune struggling to keep up. Something about it felt off, though she couldn't put her finger on what.
She looked at Horikita Manabu, then at Shikime Natsu, wanting to ask something — and finding she had no idea what to ask.
Just then, Horikita Manabu glanced at the time on his phone.
"That's about all the time there is. Seeing the two of you one last time was enough. I should be going."
And just as he rose to leave, he stopped himself and spoke to Horikita Suzune once more.
"Suzune. Be a little more honest. Honest about what you think, honest about what you feel."
She blinked at that. More honest?
The Horikita Suzune of the past had been plenty honest, in her own way — perfectly honest about expressing her malice. That obviously wasn't what he meant.
She drew a deep breath and nodded. "Mm. I understand."
Satisfied with her answer, Horikita Manabu turned and walked toward the café door.
Watching his retreating back, something moved in her, and she got to her feet and followed him.
Seeing that, Shikime Natsu set down his cup and fell in behind her.
The three of them walked out of the café together.
Horikita Suzune quickened her steps to catch up with her brother and spoke. "Brother, let me see you off."
Horikita Manabu shook his head slightly.
"No need. I can get there on my own."
"Go on back."
But she wasn't giving up that easily. Watching his back, she said, "Weren't you the one who told me to be more honest?"
"Right now, I'm being honest about what I want."
"I want to see you off."
At that, Horikita Manabu's steps faltered. He turned around and looked at her.
Surprise flickered through his eyes. The corner of his mouth curved faintly, and he nodded.
"All right, then."
Relief loosened her shoulders at his agreement, and she hurried after him.
The three of them walked quietly toward the school gate. A light breeze passed through, carrying the scent of spring.
Cherry blossom petals drifted down on the wind, settling on their shoulders and scattering across the ground.
Looking at the scene before her, an inexplicable wave of feeling rose in Horikita Suzune.
This time last year, she had just enrolled.
And it was right here at the school gate that she'd had that unpleasant run-in with the newly enrolled Shikime Natsu. Back then her impression of him had been dismal — a guy with a thoroughly rotten personality.
Now, a year later, her view of him had turned completely upside down.
It struck her as strange, thinking about it. Time really did change a great many things.
Before long, the three of them reached the school gate.
Several cars were already parked there — the vehicles responsible for taking the third-years away.
Horikita Manabu stopped and turned to face her.
"This is far enough."
She looked at him, silent for a moment, then nodded.
"Mm. Take care."
"Mm."
Horikita Manabu nodded and stepped into one of the cars. It started up soon after, and then it was gone from their sight.
"So President Horikita's gone."
Shikime Natsu's voice came from beside her.
"Mm."
She nodded and was about to turn back — she still had her own business to attend to — when Shikime Natsu spoke again.
There was a faint smile on his face, and in those pale golden eyes, a glint of open amusement.
"Just now, you snuck two looks at me. What was that supposed to mean?"
The question froze her on the spot. She'd snuck looks at him?
Had she? She thought back carefully — and found that, yes, she probably had.
On the walk seeing Horikita Manabu off, her eyes had turned toward Shikime Natsu a few times without her meaning them to.
She hadn't expected him to notice. But his words also dragged her back to the beginning of the school year.
Back then, in this same spot, it had been the two of them, just like this.
She had stood on the steps blocking his way, and she had said that line.
"You looked at me three times on the bus, didn't you?"
She had used an accusing tone that day, wanting to see what kind of reaction it would draw out of him.
And the result was that he had turned the whole thing around and cast her as a pervert.
So what was he planning this time?
Her gaze settled on his face, searching his expression for something.
But all it held was that same unreadable smile as always.
Back then, the moment she'd said her line, he had called her a "pervert" outright.
And now the roles were reversed, so… did he want her to call him a "pervert" in return?
The instant that possibility crossed her mind, the way she looked at Shikime Natsu changed entirely.
If he really was thinking along those lines, then he truly was a deviant.
Then again, there might be another possibility. It might not be true, but perhaps this was a moment where she could afford to be a little more honest. At the very least it was an opportunity — exactly as Horikita Manabu had said.
Horikita Suzune drew a deep breath, her eyes fixed on Shikime Natsu. The old her would never have done anything like this. A smile pulled at her lips — a sly one, learned from Shikime Natsu himself.
"Because I like you."
"Will that reason do?"
There. The words were out. All that remained was to wait for his answer.
When Shikime Natsu heard her, surprise flickered through those pale golden eyes. He hadn't expected Horikita Suzune to say anything of the sort — least of all by hijacking the very moment he was teasing her.
So for a moment, he didn't answer.
And his silence set her nerves on edge.
She remembered the last time, in the café, when Hasebe Haruka had confessed to Shikime Natsu. He had given his answer almost at once.
That time he'd barely hesitated. He had simply smiled and told her he looked forward to being with her.
This time, after she'd spoken, he had gone quiet.
What did that mean?
Had she gone about it the wrong way?
Or was there some other problem?
Horikita Suzune decided to just ask.
"Well? Your answer?"
At that, Shikime Natsu smiled and said, "Of course it'll do."
Those few words let the breath out of her — and then he went on.
"From now on just relax and call me Natsu, Suzune."
She blinked at that, and then it came back to her: it was in this exact place that they had first learned each other's names. And now it was as if the whole thing had come full circle.
"Mm… Natsu."
Horikita Suzune nodded and answered with a smile. Last year, this place had marked the start of an ill-fated tangle; now it marked the start of something new.
The two of them walked side by side beneath the cherry trees, the breeze drifting past, petals falling to rest on their shoulders.
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