The night was inky black, and the cool evening breeze swept through the campus, rustling the leaves.
The teaching building cast a huge shadow, intertwined with the halos of scattered streetlights, dividing the area into alternating light and dark.
In a secluded corner, the light was dim, almost blending into the night.
Horikita Suzune stood there, looking up slightly at the tall and stern figure in front of her, his back to her—her brother, Horikita Manabu.
He wore his crisp school uniform, meticulous even at night, his glasses reflecting a cold, hard glint in the weak light.
His mere back exuded a sense of oppression.
Horikita Suzune, in contrast, seemed a little frail, a few strands of her long black hair blown by the evening breeze.
She was uncharacteristically not as cold and sharp as usual, but carried a softness unique to girls.
"Suzune, you actually chased me all the way here."
Horikita Manabu did not turn around, his voice deep and devoid of any emotional fluctuation.
"I am no longer the useless me that Big Brother once knew."
She tried to make her voice sound firm, "I came to catch up to you."
"Catch up to me?"
Horikita Manabu finally moved; he raised his hand and pushed his glasses, his movement precise and indifferent.
"You may have noticed your shortcomings, but it's not enough. Choosing this school was your mistake."
His words were like ice picks, piercing Horikita Suzune's heart.
Her face showed an expression mixed with unwillingness and the pain of being denied, a vulnerability she only revealed when facing her brother.
"I will immediately move up to Class A to show you! Then…"
She tried to argue, but her voice involuntarily weakened.
"You can't do it."
Horikita Manabu's tone was decisive, leaving no room for negotiation.
"I will definitely do it!"
Suzune's voice grew increasingly uncertain.
"What an disobedient younger sister."
Horikita Manabu finally turned around, his cold gaze scrutinizing her through his glasses, looking down on her.
The next moment, his movement was as fast as lightning.
A hand shot out abruptly, precisely grabbing Horikita Suzune's wrist, and with immense force, he slammed her entire body against the cold wall.
"Ugh!"
Suzune let out a muffled grunt, pain shooting through her back as it hit the wall, and her wrist throbbed from his grip.
Horikita Manabu leaned slightly forward, assuming a posture of absolute dominance, his gaze like he was inspecting a defective item.
"Having a younger sister thrown into Class D, I'm the one who's disgraced."
His voice was very low, "Disappear from this school immediately."
Suzune's face showed an expression of pain as she tried to struggle, but under her brother's absolute strength and imposing aura, it seemed futile and fragile.
"You have neither the qualification nor the ability to climb higher," Horikita Manabu continued coldly, slowly raising his other hand, as if about to commit a more aggressive act of violence the next second, "Recognize that!"
Suzune closed her eyes, her long eyelashes trembling, as if preparing to endure the coming blow.
However, the anticipated pain did not arrive.
A clear and composed male voice abruptly cut into the almost solidified air.
"Oh dear, violence is not good. It will scare it."
The source of the voice seemed very close, yet somewhat elusive.
Horikita Manabu's movements suddenly paused.
His sharp gaze swept around like a hawk, and Horikita Suzune also opened her eyes in surprise.
There was no one else around.
Just then,
a slight rustling sound came from the dense tree in the green belt beside them.
Immediately after, a figure—
did not fall, but with the elegant and precise posture of a gymnast,
leapt down from among the branches and leaves with unhurried grace.
His movements were incredibly light and agile,
as if gravity was merely a suggestion to him.
He landed silently, not a single leaf clinging to him,
his posture as straight as a pine.
It was Sakamoto.
In the palm of his right hand, he was carefully cradling a small bird, its feathers slightly ruffled but its eyes bright.
The bird seemed a little startled but did not fly away,
only gently pecked Sakamoto's finger.
The brother and sister were startled by Sakamoto's sudden appearance.
Sakamoto bowed, apologizing for intruding on their conversation.
"Excuse me. I was just in the tree, looking for a safe new home for this little friend who unfortunately got injured."
Sakamoto slightly raised his palm, showing the little bird to the Horikita siblings, and calmly explained his reason for being there,
"The commotion you two just made nearly startled it."
Horikita Manabu's brows furrowed tightly as he scrutinized the uninvited guest.
Sakamoto,
the First Year student he greatly admired.
He released his grip on his sister's hand,
but the coldness in his eyes did not dissipate.
Horikita Suzune quickly straightened up, tidied her disheveled school uniform and hair,
a hint of her usual aloofness returning to her face, she glanced at the bird in Sakamoto's hand,
then quickly averted her gaze.
She hadn't expected to encounter this person, who had complicated her mood today,
again in such a disheveled state.
And in such a bizarre manner.
"You are... Sakamoto of Class 1-A."
Horikita Manabu said in a deep voice, his tone betraying no emotion.
"That is correct. Good evening, President Horikita, Horikita-san."
Sakamoto nodded slightly, his manners impeccable.
Horikita Manabu glanced at his sister,
seemingly assuming she did not know Sakamoto, and so he introduced him to Suzune in an almost formulaic tone:
"Suzune, pay attention. This is Sakamoto-kun of Class 1-A. He scored full marks in all subjects on the entrance exam and led Class 1-A to an unprecedented 1000 class points in the first month, creating new history for Koudo Ikusei High School."
His gaze returned to Sakamoto, casting an admiring look:
"He is a true elite, vastly different from your Class D. Now, you should realize more clearly the immense gulf that exists between your so-called 'catching up' and reality."
Sakamoto listened quietly to President Horikita Manabu's words,
and calmly interjected:
"President Horikita overpraises me. Furthermore, I am already acquainted with your sister."
A flicker of surprise crossed Horikita Manabu's eyes,
but it quickly vanished.
Sakamoto continued,
his gaze gently sweeping over Horikita Suzune, who stood beside him, her lips pressed together and her face pale:
"In my humble opinion, Horikita-san does not lack potential. She possesses firm goals and unyielding will; it is merely that the path to her goals may require more exploration and adjustment. Though the current change is slight, the possibilities for the future are not necessarily bleak."
Horikita Manabu listened in silence, his cold eyes moving between Sakamoto and Suzune for a moment.
He seemed to be weighing something,
and finally, perhaps out of some respect for Sakamoto, this 'miracle creator',
or perhaps feeling that further lecturing his sister was unnecessary.
"Hmph."
He snorted coldly, no longer looking at Suzune,
"Since Sakamoto-kun has said so."
He turned to Sakamoto, seemingly wanting to change the subject,
and also genuinely probing something:
"Sakamoto-kun, I have a question for you. Why did you choose to enter Koudo Ikusei High School? What is your goal?"
He glanced at Suzune, adding pointedly:
"Suzune's reason is ridiculously childish, merely to catch up to me. What about you? A person like you must have a grander goal, right?"
Upon hearing this, Sakamoto slightly raised his head, his gaze seemingly directed at non-existent stars in the night sky.
His tone remained calm,
but what he said caused both Horikita siblings to freeze simultaneously.
"My wish is to go to NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration)."
The evening breeze seemed to still at that moment.
"To contribute a small effort to humanity's great endeavor of exploring the starry sea."
A clear crack appeared in Horikita Manabu's perpetually cold expression,
his eyes behind his glasses widened slightly.
Horikita Suzune, even more so, suddenly looked up,
gazing at Sakamoto in disbelief, as if truly seeing him for the first time.
NASA?
Exploring the universe?
This... this goal was so grand that it completely exceeded the imagination of ordinary high school students, or even ordinary people!
Compared to him,
things like class competition and point rankings seemed like child's play.
After a brief shock,
Horikita Manabu was the first to recover.
He pushed up his glasses, a complex emotion in his voice:
"...I see. NASA, huh. Truly... an astonishingly grand ideal. This is completely different from Suzune's goal."
He looked at his sister again,
but this time the coldness in his eyes seemed to have melted a little,
perhaps because, in contrast to Sakamoto's overly grand goal,
his sister's obsession seemed less annoying.
"It seems we'll end it here tonight."
Horikita Manabu said finally,
he no longer looked at Suzune,
and gave Sakamoto a slight nod before turning and walking away with steady steps, his figure quickly merging into the night.
By the corner of the wall, only Sakamoto and Horikita Suzune remained.
And the little bird that had quieted down in his palm.
Horikita Suzune's emotions were incredibly complex.
She had once again been completely rejected by her brother,
yet, due to Sakamoto's sudden appearance and those few ambiguous words of protection, she had avoided a worse outcome.
Did this count as... him helping her out?
But as soon as she thought of the 'charitable' act he might have performed earlier in the day,
that complex, humiliating feeling surged up again.
She looked at Sakamoto's calm profile and the carefully protected little bird in his palm,
and in the end, said nothing, only gave him a deep look, then turned and quickly walked away, her back seeming somewhat hurried and disheveled.
Sakamoto did not mind her departure, only lowered his head to look at the little bird in his palm.
The evening breeze blew, and the leaves rustled again.