The white walls, the faint sunlight filtering through the curtains—Kaoru lifted his drowsy eyes as a slender figure suddenly drew back the curtains, flooding the room with dazzling light.
"You should get up now. We have classes today."
As she turned around, Kaoru finally saw her clearly: long, jet-black hair cascading smoothly down her back, a well-endowed chest, and a serious expression.
Though she wore a neat and tidy school uniform, she had an apron tied around her waist, giving off an inexplicable "JK mom" vibe.
Without a doubt, it was Horikita Suzune.
"I've already tidied the room. Hurry up and get ready for breakfast."
Kaoru checked his phone and realized he had overslept.
Surprisingly, Kushida hadn't called to wake him.
"Sorry, you really didn't have to do all this."
"Since it was a birthday party for me, it's only right that I help clean up."
Horikita Suzune untied the apron around her waist, her tone calm. "Though, I have to admit, I'm a bit surprised. I thought you were really going to throw a sound party."
"Who would throw a sound party at a birthday celebration? Never mind Kikyo, your impression of me is way too terrible."
Kaoru slowly got up from the bed, noticing his body having an odd reaction upon seeing Horikita Suzune in this state.
"If you leave such impressions on people, you're the one who's terrible to begin with."
Horikita Suzune paused briefly, "Besides, keeping a girl in your room, then holding her and using her as a hugging pillow all night - anyone would think you're a pervert if this got out."
Kaoru's face darkened.
So now it was his fault?
Last night, someone was the one flustered and tongue-tied when Kushida and Karuizawa suspected them of sneaking around.
That same person ultimately surrendered because of the birthday party and Valentine's chocolates.
"I'm not someone who only thinks about those things all the time. Can't I be like this occasionally?"
Kaoru said gloomily, "As for daring to do naughty things in public, Suzune, you're much worse than me."
Horikita Suzune immediately turned her face away, calmly stating, "I'm just satisfying your desires. Like Kikyo said, you can treat me as an onahole. What I'm thinking has nothing to do with it."
Kaoru nearly choked.
This girl definitely didn't understand what an onahole was.
Why would Kushida teach them such things?
However, watching Horikita Suzune sitting properly at the table, seeing that she had personally made breakfast for two while he was sleeping, Kaoru found his feelings becoming complicated.
"What are you staring at? Hurry up and go wash your face."
Horikita Suzune frowned, particularly uncomfortable with his gaze.
"Suzune would make an excellent mother too." Kaoru's tone was extremely complex.
Under Horikita Suzune's death glare, he immediately shut his mouth and turned to enter the bathroom.
After he left, Horikita Suzune averted her eyes.
What did he mean by "excellent mother"?
Come to think of it, she had felt somewhat happy last night.
It was just a birthday party, so why did she feel that way?
It wasn't like Horikita Suzune had never had birthday parties before.
Her family would hold parties for her and her brother, but her memories of them were completely unenjoyable.
Was it because the cake tasted different? Or because she received more gifts than before?
Perhaps it was because she received a gift from her brother after so long?
Horikita Suzune's mind conjured Horikita Manabu's face, then quickly flashed with images of Kushida Kikyo, Ichinose Honami, and Karuizawa Kei.
The moment the door opened, with several pops, the party poppers exploded, filling her vision with flying confetti.
[Welcome back! Suzune-chan!]
"This time, I was really... quite surprised."
Recalling Ichinose Honami's smile, Horikita Suzune murmured to herself, "Is this what they call a surprise?"
When preparing Kushida's birthday party, she had heard them emphasizing something about surprises, but Horikita Suzune hadn't paid it much mind.
When it was her turn, Horikita Suzune found herself unexpectedly startled.
"Let's eat."
Kaoru's voice suddenly made her tense up.
Looking up, she saw he had somehow sat down beside her and was already eating the fried eggs with relish.
"This is pretty good."
"Has no one ever told you not to startle people during meals?"
"What were you thinking about just now, Suzune?"
"It feels utterly baffling. Last night they suddenly threw me into your room, and Kei specifically stuffed a few things into my hands, as if it were some predetermined routine—like animals mating at specific times."
"Just one day apart, and your mouth has suddenly become so venomous."
"Nothing really. I'm just annoyed that you all arbitrarily included me in your harem, and what's more, you're being so polite about it."
"..."
Kaoru silently ate his breakfast.
To be honest, he didn't quite understand the girl's point of annoyance, but perhaps that was exactly what made her seem cute.
No matter how cold and aloof she usually appeared, Horikita Suzune was ultimately just a sixteen-year-old girl.
"What about Valentine's Day?"
Horikita Suzune suddenly said, "Wasting all your time here with me seems like a poor trade-off. Last night they mentioned that Hasebe and several others brought you chocolates, but you weren't there."
Because of Horikita Suzune's situation, Kaoru hadn't attended the study group gathering, so they had specifically delivered the chocolates to his room.
He heard they originally planned to leave them at the door, but unexpectedly heard Ichinose Honami's voice coming from inside the room.
Thus, the two groups accidentally ran into each other.
"I never expected you to quietly win over my classmates like that. Had I known earlier, I should have interfered with your study group back then."
Kaoru silently drank his miso soup.
Most of his Valentine's chocolates yesterday had been received by Ichinose Honami on his behalf, while he himself was completely absent.
Just thinking about it felt despairing.
"Kei suggested that since we had no time yesterday, we might as well each have our own Valentine's day."
Kaoru explained, "For example, I'll go on a date with Kei today, with Honami tomorrow, with Kikyo the day after... This way there's no need to worry, and everyone has plenty of comfortable time."
Horikita Suzune remained silent for a moment.
"You should try for a Guinness World Record - the biggest scumbag with the most consecutive dates with different girls."
"I feel like you're being particularly sharp with me today." Kaoru said puzzledly.
"Isn't it the truth?"
Horikita Suzune put her hands together, "I'm finished eating. I put your lunch box in your bag. This time, don't give it to the neighbor's classmate again."
Kaoru felt somewhat guilty - when Kamuro wanted to eat the lunch box, he couldn't stop her.
Suddenly, Horikita Suzune let out a deep sigh.
"Although I don't think it's necessary for you to prepare these things for me, but..."
As she spoke, Horikita Suzune's voice gradually softened, "It doesn't feel too bad. I'm actually a little happy."
Kaoru was taken aback for a moment, then his expression became complicated.
Shouldn't you have said that yesterday?
"Don't look at me with that 'why didn't you say this yesterday' expression. It's my first time experiencing something like this - how was I supposed to know what to say?"
For some reason, Horikita Suzune glared at him fiercely.