Chapter 018 Horikita-san, Short Hair Suits You Better
"You guy, you only took a few punches, and you dare to take 100,000 from my brother?"
Horikita Suzune looked indignant. "Also, didn't you kick my brother just now too?"
She had no idea that another 1.5 million had been deposited into Hikigaya's anonymous account. Otherwise, she would have jumped back in shock right then and there!
"What do you mean 'extort'?
That was Onii-chan being willing!"
Hikigaya narrowed his dead-fish eyes and spoke with righteous conviction.
"Don't call him Onii-chan, it's disgusting!"
The moment Horikita Suzune heard that awkward, intimate form of address, she felt goosebumps all over her body.
"Those points, besides being hush money, are also for..."
Horikita Manabu looked at him with a meaningful gaze. "You understand, Hikigaya Hachiman."
'Ugh, I don't want to understand...'
Hikigaya's brow twitched. He knew that a massive sum of 1.5 million wouldn't be so easy to take!
"???"
Horikita Suzune looked completely bewildered. She really wanted to say: Can you two stop playing this 'tacit understanding' drama right in front of me? I'm clearly the sister here!!
"Suzune, as for what you should do next..."
Horikita Manabu changed the subject, his words loaded with implication. "I don't need to teach you, do I?"
"I... I know..."
Horikita Suzune understood this time. She looked down and kicked a small pebble with her leather shoe, seemingly trying to hide her embarrassment.
"???"
Now it was Hikigaya's turn to be confused.
'Could these 'riddle-talkers' please get lost?'
As night fell, the three of them went their separate ways.
A moment later, a figure emerged from the bushes. Under the moonlight, a poker face devoid of any emotional fluctuation was revealed.
"I was originally just curious about Hikigaya's actions. I didn't expect to see such an unexpected scene."
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka reached out and brushed the leaves off his clothes.
Since the first day of school, he felt that Hikigaya Hachiman was somewhat different from the others. Especially those sharp, dead-fish eyes—it felt as if they could see through his disguise at any moment.
"Though he possesses a certain level of combat skill, his physical fitness is no different from an ordinary person's.
So, he probably isn't from the White Room..."
.
.
.
Back at the dorm.
Hikigaya, having finished his shower, was preparing to sleep, but the soreness all over his body made it hard to settle down.
It's worth mentioning that most of the soreness wasn't from being hit by Horikita Manabu. Instead, it was from Hikigaya using too much force during his counterattack and injuring himself. It was quite embarrassing!
Bam, bam, bam—
A knock came from the door. Hikigaya looked up at the wall clock; it showed 10:20 PM.
'Who is it this late at night?'
Hikigaya was currently in a frustrated mood. He got up and walked to the door wearing only his boxers. While he didn't think any girl would come looking for him at this hour, he still cautiously asked through the door.
"It's me..."
The other party deliberately lowered their voice, making it impossible for Hikigaya to tell who it was for a moment.
Creak—
Hikigaya turned the doorknob and opened the door just a crack, intending to see who the visitor was first. However, the person outside was a bit impatient and pushed the door open forcefully to enter.
"Hey! You..." Hikigaya's eyes widened.
"Ah! Why aren't you wearing clothes?"
The late-night visitor was indeed Horikita Suzune. Seeing Hikigaya bare-chested, her cheeks flushed slightly. She instinctively looked down, only to see his boxer briefs and...
"I'm in my own room, I can wear whatever I want, right?"
Hikigaya quickly retreated to the bathroom to put on pajamas, complaining at the same time: "Horikita-san, why do you barge into someone's room without permission?"
If it were a normal girl, she would likely start with a "kyaaa" battle cry and then scream things like "pervert," "creep," or "exhibitionist." Even though it was the boy who was seen, if we set the facts aside, doesn't the boy bear at least a little bit of the fault?
Fortunately, Horikita Suzune was a "steel-straight" girl. If it was her mistake, she wouldn't deny it.
"It was my lack of manners...
Considering a late-night visit, it wouldn't be good to be seen by others."
She had lowered her voice earlier precisely because she didn't want to attract attention.
"If you knew it wasn't good, why did you come?"
Seeing her good attitude, Hikigaya's tone softened. "So, what exactly are you here for?"
"Hikigaya... for the time being, just lie down."
When she said this, Horikita Suzune's expression was somewhat unnatural.
"Huh?"
'Do you hear what you're saying?'
"Don't get the wrong idea!" Horikita glared at him.
"I'm not getting the wrong idea..."
Hikigaya noticed she was holding a small first-aid kit. His mind raced, and he figured it out instantly: "Are you specifically here to treat my injuries?"
So that's what Horikita Manabu meant by "I don't need to teach you what to do next."
"I didn't expect your brain to work so fast. It saves me the trouble of explaining."
A flash of surprise crossed Horikita Suzune's face. Normally, when a girl visits a boy's room late at night, it would be hard for the boy not to let his imagination run wild. Especially since she had been cute since she was a child.
Suzune had even anticipated that Hikigaya would have a shifty-eyed, flattered, and blushing face—maybe even confessing to her in the heat of the moment!
At that point, she would have rejected him sternly!
However, to her absolute surprise, Hikigaya didn't just avoid the misunderstanding; he guessed her intent immediately. This made her pre-prepared "confession rejection" lines useless, leaving her feeling somewhat inexplicably frustrated inside.
"By the way, isn't President Horikita a bit too open-minded?
Actually sending his sister to an opposite-sex room late at night."
Hikigaya expressed his lack of understanding. If it were him, he would never agree to let his sister do this.
"It's fine. Brother knows you can't beat me."
Horikita Suzune looked serious.
"You make a lot of sense, I have no retort to that."
Feeling the lingering pain in his arms, Hikigaya knew she wasn't lying.
"Hmph~"
Horikita Suzune let out a small huff of pride. She walked over to the edge of the bed and sat down, then patted the space beside her.
"Don't waste time, lie down quickly."
This action, and these words—why did they sound so strange?
Hikigaya endured the discomfort and carefully lay down, but he still accidentally pulled a shoulder muscle, making him grimace in pain.
"This is a muscle strain. Honestly, just how much does your body lack exercise?"
Horikita's expression was odd. How could someone who doesn't exercise trade blows with her brother? Could the person in front of her be a martial arts genius?
She took out a pre-prepared ice pack from the kit and placed it on Hikigaya's shoulder.
"Sss—"
The freezing sensation made him draw in a sharp breath, but the soreness did indeed lessen slightly.
"Thanks, Horikita-san..."
"Don't thank me. After all, this happened because of me. You were just caught up in it."
Horikita Suzune lowered her head, her bangs obscuring her eyes. She took a bottle of medicated oil from the kit and skillfully rubbed it into her palms.
'Wait? Do normal girls keep medicated oil on hand? And this skillful technique...'
"I already said, this has nothing to do with you.
I just can't accept an older brother raising a hand against his sister," Hikigaya emphasized.
"In that case, do you also have a sister?" Horikita asked curiously.
"Eh?"
Hikigaya feigned surprise. "How did you know that Komachi is the world's cutest little sister?"
"Hmph~ To be able to say such embarrassing things with a straight face, in a certain sense, you are also an incredible older brother!"
Horikita Suzune gave him a look of slight disdain, but a trace of hidden envy flickered deep in her eyes.
At that moment, Hikigaya felt her small, cool hands pressing onto his shoulders.
'No way, is it necessary to go this far?'
"Don't misunderstand! This is a task assigned by my brother!"
Horikita Suzune began to knead and massage.
'Good grief, I'm even a link in your sibling roleplay?'
Feeling those slender, jade-like fingers pressing on his body with just the right amount of force, Hikigaya couldn't help but let out a series of pained yet satisfied groans.
"Mm~ Ah~~"
"You are not allowed to make strange noises!"
Horikita Suzune's gaze sharpened, and she suddenly increased the pressure as a warning.
"Yes..."
Hikigaya immediately shut his mouth and turned his head slightly, peeking at her. He saw that Horikita Suzune looked focused, with a few beads of sweat on her smooth forehead, and a faint fragrance emanating from her.
'This person... unexpectedly has a gentle side...'
Hikigaya couldn't help but think of the short-haired Suzune from his dream. Their gentle demeanors perfectly overlapped at this moment!
Her long black hair cascaded down. As her hands moved, the stray strands would occasionally brush against his cheek—itchy and a bit annoying.
Hikigaya suddenly reached out and gathered a handful of the loose long hair, saying on a sudden whim: "Horikita-san, has anyone ever told you that short hair would suit you better?"