It was just a matter of getting Horikita Suzune to make three friends before June...
Shikime Natsu stood in the classroom of the dream, watching this absurd scene unfold. He couldn't help but twitch his lips twice.
Is this girl under that much pressure? To the point that she's even making friends in her dreams...
Although there were only a short two weeks left until the agreed-upon June deadline. Still...
Isn't this a bit too exaggerated?
Originally, seeing all of this around him, Shikime Natsu felt a hint of sympathy for her, wondering if he had put too much pressure on her.
However...
When he saw the next scene, Shikime Natsu's meager bit of sympathy vanished in an instant.
In the dream, Horikita Suzune faced the bitter pleading of that 'humble version of Shikime Natsu.' Far from showing a hint of being moved, she instead slightly raised her delicate chin and looked at him with a condescending gaze.
Those burgundy eyes were filled with indifference and disdain.
"I refuse."
Her voice was cold and heartless.
"?!"
The 'Shikime Natsu' in the dream instantly showed a heartbroken expression. He looked as if he had lost his soul, trembling as he asked.
"W-Why... Horikita-san?!"
"As long as you agree... we'll all be your friends!"
At this time, the 'supporting act' Sakura Airi, who had been standing nearby, also leaned in. With a face full of encouragement, she patted 'Shikime Natsu' on the shoulder to cheer him up.
"It's okay! Shikime-kun!"
"As long as you are a little more sincere and say it one more time... maybe Suzune will agree next time!"
"Keep going! Don't give up!"
Looking at this somewhat familiar scene filled with a sense of déjà vu.
The real Shikime Natsu froze right where he stood.
Good grief.
This plot felt awfully familiar.
Since this girl couldn't do anything about him in reality, she decided to strike back at him with heavy blows in her dreams, huh?
Shikime Natsu felt the veins on his forehead throb.
This feeling of watching 'himself' being toyed with like a fool was simply a form of torture!
"It seems... I can't let this girl continue with this beautiful dream anymore."
Shikime Natsu narrowed his eyes and let out a cold laugh in his heart.
Originally, because Kamuro Masumi was around today, he had specially canceled Horikita Suzune's maid service, considering it letting her off the hook.
He hadn't expected this girl to be so ungrateful as to dare to portray him like this in her dream.
If he didn't give her a little lesson, this woman would really think she could turn the tables and become the master in her dreams.
You're getting a bit ahead of yourself, Horikita Suzune.
Shikime Natsu tried to reach out his hand, wanting to touch that 'himself' in the dream.
However, there was no contact.
His hand was like passing through a layer of air, going directly through the body of that 'Shikime Natsu.'
There was no sensation of touch at all.
"As I thought..."
Shikime Natsu withdrew his hand and nodded thoughtfully.
"Aside from the master of the dream, I cannot touch anything else."
"If that's the case, it will be quite convenient to identify who the dream master is in the future."
At this moment, the 'Shikime Natsu' in the dream seemed to have been filled to the brim with Sakura Airi's toxic motivation. He was preparing to pull himself together and open his mouth once more to humbly beg Horikita Suzune for friendship.
"Horikita-sa..."
The very instant he opened his mouth.
Shikime Natsu decisively reached out and lightly tapped Horikita Suzune's shoulder.
Tap.
The moment his finger touched Horikita Suzune's shoulder.
That 'Shikime Natsu' who was speaking, along with Sakura Airi beside him, and all those random background students in the classroom with 'Friend' labels pasted on them... disappeared without a trace in an instant.
In the entire classroom, only Shikime Natsu and Horikita Suzune remained.
"...?"
Horikita Suzune didn't seem to realize the change in the surrounding environment.
She turned her head, those beautiful burgundy eyes filled with dissatisfaction. Her brow furrowed slightly as she stared intently at Shikime Natsu, as if looking at some incomprehensible piece of filth.
That gaze seemed to say—
How dare you touch me?
It had to be said.
In this dream belonging to her, Horikita Suzune's aura was truly at its peak.
That high-and-mighty queenly vibe was several times stronger than it was in reality.
"What do you want to do?"
Horikita Suzune spoke coldly in questioning.
It was entirely the attitude one would have toward a stranger, or even an enemy.
"I'm telling you, no matter how much you pester me, I will absolutely never agree to become your friend."
"Give up on that idea."
Looking at her small face filled with coldness and arrogance.
Shikime Natsu didn't have any intention of getting angry.
On the contrary, the corners of his mouth curved up slightly, revealing a meaningful smile.
He spoke softly:
"That's perfect then."
"Actually... I don't really want to become Horikita's friend either."
"...Huh?"
Hearing this.
Horikita Suzune's burgundy eyes widened suddenly, looking at Shikime Natsu in disbelief.
In her subconscious, the setting of this dream was 'Shikime Natsu thick-headedly begging to be her friend.'
Therefore, these words shouldn't have come out of Shikime Natsu's mouth at all!
He should be continuing to beg her, crying and shouting for her to agree!
Horikita Suzune was stunned for several seconds before opening her mouth again, somewhat questioning her reality.
"You... what did you just say?"
"I said..."
Shikime Natsu leaned in a bit closer, repeating word by word.
"I don't really want to become your friend either."
"What? Has something gone wrong with Horikita Suzune-san's ears?"
"You can't even understand such simple words?"
Horikita Suzune's expression changed instantly.
What was going on?
This guy...
His tone of voice, his demeanor, that annoying sense of mockery...
It had become very unpleasant.
And... very familiar.
Familiar enough to make one grit their teeth. Familiar enough to make one want to punch him.
Shikime Natsu ignored her shock.
He turned around and casually pulled over a chair from the classroom.
Although he couldn't touch 'living beings' other than the master of the dream, he could touch inanimate objects like this.
He sat down on the chair, crossed his legs, and looked at Horikita Suzune standing before him at his leisure.
"Hehe..."
He chuckled, his gaze playful.
"If Horikita Suzune is willing to come and beg me... I might consider it. Maybe I could become your friend."
"After all..."
"Right now, it should be you, Horikita Suzune, who has a request for me, right?"
"A request for you?"
Horikita Suzune froze for a moment, then as if she had heard some joke, she let out a cold snort.
"Are you kidding me?"
"How could I possibly have a request for someone like you?"
Shikime Natsu couldn't help but let out a soft laugh.
"Really? Not at all?"
Shikime Natsu leaned forward slightly, those pale gold eyes looking directly into hers, carrying a trace of faint pressure.
"Horikita-san, why don't you... try thinking back carefully?"
Horikita Suzune's brow furrowed even deeper.
She instinctively wanted to retort, but deep in her mind, something seemed to truly be aching faintly.
She tried hard to think, but that memory felt as if it were covered by a layer of mist; she couldn't reach it no matter what.
Watching her appearance of thinking hard yet having no clue.
Shikime Natsu sighed, deciding to give her a hand.
"Here's a hint."
He held up one finger and wagged it gently.
"Before June."
"Three friends."
"And one of them... is me."
This was no longer just a hint.
It was practically shoving the answer right into her face.
The moment these few keywords entered Horikita Suzune's ears.
"...!"
Horikita Suzune's pupils constricted violently.
That small face, which still carried a bit of arrogance, instantly turned deathly pale, and her expression became quite unsightly.
Those painful memories that her subconscious had deliberately tried to forget surged up like a tide.
When she raised her head again, and her burgundy eyes met Shikime Natsu's pale gold ones.
She saw that familiar, punchable face again, wearing a devilish smile.
"Remembered it now?"
Shikime Natsu spoke softly again, his tone light.
"I said it just now, you know."
"I... won't become Horikita Suzune's friend."
Looking at Horikita Suzune's increasingly unsightly expression.
The smile at the corners of Shikime Natsu's mouth deepened as he slowly threw out the final blow.
"By the way, let me remind you."
"As for the day of the agreement..."
"There's only one last day left."
"Wh...?!"
Horikita Suzune's beautiful eyes instantly bugged out.
Obvious panic emerged from the depths of her eyes.
Only... one day left?!
In a place as illogical as a dream, a person's subconscious is very easily manipulated by suggestion.
When Shikime Natsu told her this 'fact' in such a certain tone, Horikita Suzune's brain had almost no doubt and directly accepted this setting.
Even though there were clearly still two weeks in reality.
But at this moment, in her perception, this was a rock-solid fact!
It's over...
Only one day left...
But she still hasn't made Shikime Natsu her friend...
She had even just rejected him...
If she loses...
Brother...
Brother will be completely disappointed in her!
Shikime Natsu looked at her flustered appearance and nodded with satisfaction.
"Well then, Horikita-san."
He asked in a tone as if watching a play:
"What do you plan to do?"
"What are you going to do to make me change my mind and become your friend in this short one day remaining?"
"If you can't do it..."
"It will make your brother very, very disappointed, you know."
"You don't want to let your brother down, do you?"
These words directly shattered Horikita Suzune's mental defenses. It was like this in reality, let alone in a dream.
She suddenly stood up and looked at Shikime Natsu.
"Then... what do I have to do?"
"Tell me..."
Shikime Natsu chuckled.
He didn't answer her directly.
Instead, he reached out his hand and lightly rubbed his own shoulder, complaining as if in passing:
"Sigh... I don't know why."
"I feel like my shoulders have been a bit sore lately."
In the next second.
With a soft poof sound.
The student uniform on Horikita Suzune's body instantly transformed into a maid outfit.
And Horikita Suzune herself naturally walked behind Shikime Natsu and began to massage him. Unfortunately, he couldn't feel the pressure.
"Like this... will this do?"
Horikita Suzune behind him asked as she pressed.
"Well..."
Shikime Natsu leaned back comfortably against the chair, his eyes closed, saying with a light laugh:
"Regarding that, of course you have to figure it out yourself."
"Since you have a request for someone, you have to show some sincerity."
Hearing this ambiguous answer, Horikita Suzune's movements paused slightly.
Shikime Natsu could clearly feel the girl's emotions behind him gradually becoming irritable.
Shikime Natsu decided to play it safe. After all, he hadn't had enough fun yet. What if Horikita Suzune woke up directly because her emotions were too intense?
He turned his head slightly, looking at Horikita Suzune behind him, and asked.
"By the way."
"Since you said you want to make friends, how much do you know about Sakura Airi and Mei-Yu Wang?"
Hearing this question, Horikita Suzune calmed down a bit.
She thought for a moment and began to recount everything in detail.
Regarding the part about Mei-Yu Wang, Shikime Natsu didn't know much, so he only listened to a general overview.
But regarding the part about Sakura Airi, Horikita Suzune spoke quite logically and clearly, basically matching the situation Shikime Natsu knew.
It seemed...
Even this arrogant girl, for the sake of that wager, had privately put in a lot of effort to investigate and understand these two people.
She wasn't as careless as she appeared on the surface.
Wait until she finished speaking.
Shikime Natsu threw out another question:
"Then, Horikita."
"Do you think... you, Sakura Airi, and Mei-Yu Wang are considered friends now?"
This question was actually a trap.
A friendship is always a two-way street.
Even if Sakura Airi and Mei-Yu Wang had already unilaterally considered Horikita a friend.
As long as Horikita Suzune herself didn't admit it in her heart and didn't place them on an equal level, then this relationship was merely a hollow one.
However.
To Shikime Natsu's surprise.
Horikita Suzune answered almost without any hesitation:
"Of course we are."
"...?"
This answer made Shikime Natsu freeze for a moment, but then he smiled. If it were in reality, could Horikita Suzune say this so naturally?
"Then... how much of your heart truly wants to become my friend?"
Hearing this question.
Horikita Suzune's small face, which was originally a bit pale, suddenly flushed with an unnatural blush.
She bit her lip, her gaze dodging as if she were undergoing a fierce psychological struggle.
After several seconds, she seemed to give up resistance, turning her head away and somewhat unwillingly squeezing out two words from between her teeth.
"Ten-tenths."
"Ten-tenths... Is that enough?"
Has she even learned to lie in her dreams just to achieve her goal?
Shikime Natsu smiled.
"Very good."
"Since you have ten-tenths of a desire to be my friend..."
"Then, show me all your methods!"
"Let me see your sincerity!"
As Shikime Natsu's words fell.
The world of the dream seemed to have the fast-forward button pressed.
The originally somewhat normal classroom scene instantly became surreal.
The images began to switch rapidly, just like a movie played at double speed.
[Scenario 1: Shopping Mall]
Horikita Suzune walked ahead carrying large and small shopping bags, occasionally turning back to check on the empty-handed Shikime Natsu. She had completely turned into a hardworking ATM and porter.
[Scenario 2: Kitchen]
Horikita Suzune wore an apron, spinning around in front of the stove, preparing a table full of sumptuous feasts.
Shikime Natsu only needed to sit at the dining table with his mouth open, waiting to be fed.
After eating, it was again Horikita Suzune silently washing the dishes, while also cleaning Shikime Natsu's dormitory until it was spotless.
[Scenario 3: Massage]
Shikime Natsu lay on the sofa.
Horikita Suzune knelt beside him, earnestly rubbing his shoulders and pounding his back, occasionally asking: "Is the pressure okay?"
These images flashed past Shikime Natsu's eyes.
Shikime Natsu looked at all of this and couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh.
This...
How come it feels like he has become a complete bully landlord in this dream, while Horikita Suzune has become the oppressed little wife?
He really was a bad guy, wasn't he?
Finally.
This crazy fast-forward stopped.
The image froze at dusk.
Horikita Suzune stood before Shikime Natsu. That small face, which was usually cold as ice, was now filled with anticipation and anxiety.
"Now..."
"Can I get your recognition?"
"Can I... become your friend?"
Looking into her burgundy eyes.
Shikime Natsu smiled and nodded, giving a gentle smile.
"Mm."
"You did well, Horikita."
"Congratulations."
"We... are already friends."
"I recognize you."
The moment she heard these words.
Horikita Suzune clearly breathed a sigh of relief. At this time, the image faded into darkness.
Daylight broke.
Horikita Suzune got out of bed, holding her slightly aching head, recalling what had happened in her dream. She had gone through immense hardship to finally get the recognition of that nasty guy, and you're telling her it was a dream?
A wave of fatigue instantly filled Horikita Suzune's body and mind.
____
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