Chapter 201: The Moment Closest to Victory
"Please, Horikita.
This is the request of a lifetime!"
Hikigaya pressed his hands together, using the same move a certain girl had once used on him.
Unexpectedly, the strong-willed Horikita Suzune actually agreed to his request after hesitating for a moment.
'Could it be that she herself wanted to see her Onii-chan?'
"Let me state this beforehand, I am only accompanying you to see my Onii-chan...
I won't say a single word."
Horikita Suzune's expression was somewhat unnatural.
"That's fine, just leave everything to me."
'Your role is simply to distract President Horikita; it's enough that you're just there.'
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The Student Council door.
As Hikigaya prepared to knock, he noticed Horikita Suzune standing beside him with her head lowered, fidgeting with her fingers, looking quite restless.
"What are you afraid of? That's your Onii-chan." To ease her tension, Hikigaya made a rare joke: "Why do you look like a young girlfriend meeting the parents?"
Stomp!
Horikita Suzune's hair practically stood on end.
She raised her foot and stomped hard on him.
"Hikigaya, I think you've gotten a bit overconfident lately.
To think you've learned to make such frivolous jokes!"
'Seriously...'
Hikigaya was speechless. Perhaps because there had been too many girls around him lately, he occasionally fell under the illusion that he was popular with girls.
However, judging by Horikita Suzune's reaction, that was clearly not the case.
Knock, knock, knock— Hikigaya knocked on the Student Council door.
"Come in." A heavy voice came from inside.
Hikigaya felt a tug on his sleeve and realized that Horikita Suzune was tightly clutching his arm.
'Is she really this cowardly?'
But honestly, a timid Horikita Suzune actually had a certain "damsel in distress" charm to her.
"President Horikita." Hikigaya pushed the door open and entered.
"You're here, Hikigaya.
Why are you so early... Huh?!
Suzune is here too."
Upon seeing his sister following closely behind Hikigaya, Horikita Manabu immediately put down the important documents he was reviewing.
"..." Horikita Suzune looked up and offered a greeting, forcing herself to stay calm.
"President, didn't you tell me to bring Suzune here?"
"I said that after you finished your date with Suzune, it wouldn't be too late to come to the Student Council."
"Ah? Did Onii-chan... tell Hikigaya to go on a date with me?" Horikita Suzune looked shocked.
"Hmm? Suzune, don't you like Hikigaya?" Horikita Manabu's words were equally bombshell-dropping.
"!!!" Horikita Suzune was instantly stunned.
"???" Hikigaya was utterly bewildered. The scene became incredibly awkward for a moment.
"Wait a minute, President?" Hikigaya was the first to break the silence.
"Where did you hear such rumors?"
"The fact that Suzune goes to your room every other day and personally makes bento for you...Are those all rumors?"
Horikita Manabu narrowed his eyes.
"Th-that part is actually true..."
Hikigaya was momentarily at a loss for words, trying to figure out how to explain: "But there's a reason for that."
"Yes, Onii-chan.
My visits to Hikigaya's place are purely for the sake of studying.
As for the bento, I just happen to make an extra portion, and Hikigaya pays for them with points." Horikita Suzune provided a detailed and plausible explanation.
"Is that so? Then let me ask you, Suzune, would you study with any other boy in the class?" Horikita Manabu delivered a soul-piercing question.
"..."
"And would you make bento for other boys?"
"Absolutely not!"
As soon as the words left her mouth, Horikita Suzune felt something was wrong and hurriedly shook her head.
"Hikigaya is... different!"
"So, as far as Suzune is concerned, Hikigaya is a very special person."
"..." This time, Horikita Suzune was unable to refute him.
Hikigaya's heart skipped a beat, and as if possessed, he asked a soul-searching question: "Horikita, do you like me?"
"...." Horikita Suzune paused for a full second, then turned her head away.
"Ah, this..." Hikigaya's face turned bright red. He was frantic with embarrassment and screaming inwardly.
'How many times have I said it! Never fall for the Three Great Illusions of Life!!'
"..." Horikita Suzune looked like she wanted to say something but stopped.
"Sigh— Suzune, although you have grown, your growth is limited."
Horikita Manabu sighed helplessly, looking like he was disappointed his sister wasn't living up to her potential.
He said meaningfully: "Just now was your moment closest to victory. I hope you won't regret it later."
"I'm sorry, Onii-chan. I don't understand what you mean." Horikita Suzune looked completely blank.
"Stop it, President! I'm so embarrassed I want to crawl into a hole!" Hikigaya couldn't help but cover his face.
"Hikigaya, you seem very clever, but in reality, once things involve yourself, your brain doesn't work so well." Horikita Manabu stared at him unblinkingly.
"Is the President praising me or insulting me?" Hikigaya found it annoying. He hated people who spoke in riddles!
"Fine. If you have nothing else, you may leave." Horikita Manabu issued the order to dismiss them.
'That straightforward?'
Hikigaya looked surprised and happy. He was about to leave, but Horikita Suzune blocked him.
"Wait, Onii-chan, didn't you have business with Hikigaya today?" Horikita Suzune asked seriously.
"Indeed. However, with you here, it is inconvenient to speak."
'Holy crap! Where did this 'Iron Straight Man' come from?'
Hikigaya looked at Horikita Manabu with a strange gaze.
Horikita Suzune pursed her lips, her face looking deeply hurt.
What Hikigaya couldn't stand most was a Onii-chan making his sister sad. He immediately stepped forward!
"President Horikita means he doesn't want his dear sister to get involved in troublesome matters."
"..." Hikigaya's words instantly plunged Horikita Manabu into silence.
"Onii-chan... is that true?"
Horikita Suzune looked surprised. In her eyes, her Onii-chan had always been distancing himself from her and was indifferent to everything concerning her.
Horikita Manabu didn't respond, just kept a stiff face, seemingly lost in thought.
"Don't try to deny it, President Horikita."
Faced with Hikigaya's dead-fish eyes that seemed able to see through everything, Horikita Manabu had to give up his denial.
"As an older Onii-chan, it is only natural to want your sister to avoid risks."
"So, it's okay for me to bear the risks instead?"
Hikigaya's mouth twitched. He could bet that if he hadn't brought Suzune to the Student Council today, Horikita Manabu would have 100% forced some incredibly troublesome work onto him!
"You can't put it that way... I actually think quite highly of you, Hikigaya." Horikita Manabu reached up to adjust his glasses and continued.
"However, to earn my recognition, you must possess the strength to resolve crises.
Otherwise, how could I feel at ease... entrusting Suzune to you?"
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