Chapter 352 Short-Haired Suzune
"Thud~"
Dust rose slightly over the training ground. After a prolonged struggle, Hikigaya and Horikita Manabu had finally exhausted their strength, collapsing heavily onto the ground. "I suppose... you've passed the trial..."
After a violent venting of fists and kicks, Horikita Manabu finally detached himself from his rampaging emotions and regained his usual composure.
"It hurts... my whole body hurts."
Hikigaya grimaced in pain, barely propping himself up from the ground to sit. The reason he was able to bring Manabu down wasn't that they were equals in strength, but rather his staggering endurance, which allowed him to grind the other's stamina down to nothing.
"Having such an exaggeratedly abundant supply of stamina—is that the source of your confidence to 'link the ships'?"
Manabu pondered for a moment before letting out a helpless sigh. "But I suppose this is for the best. It's better than letting Suzune carry everything alone and exhausting herself..."
Doting on his sister, he feared she would suffer a loss, yet he also feared she would take on more than she could chew. Perhaps this is the eternal worry of all elder brothers in the world.
Understanding the implication, Hikigaya immediately gave a solemn promise: "Rest assured, Horikita-senpai. I will take good care of Suzune."
"You don't need to guarantee anything to me."
Manabu spoke casually, using calm words to say something hair-raising: "If I find out you've hurt Suzune, I'll kill you."
'I'll kill you...'
Coming from an ordinary high schooler, one might laugh such a comment off. However, Hikigaya clearly felt that Horikita Manabu was serious. The Horikita family were food suppliers and had long-term dealings with both the legal and underworld elements of the region. If they truly wanted to ruin an ordinary person, it wouldn't be difficult at all.
"Tomorrow, I will be leaving this school.
These points... I'm leaving them to you."
As he spoke, Manabu took out his phone and tapped it a few times in a seemingly nonchalant operation. A second later, Hikigaya's phone synchronized, receiving a transfer notification.
[You have received a transfer: 26,000,000]
"!!!"
Hikigaya's eyes widened involuntarily. He counted the digits repeatedly to confirm—ones, tens, hundreds, thousands, ten thousands, hundred thousands, millions... tens of millions!
A full 26 million Private Points!!!
"This... isn't this way too much?"
Hikigaya couldn't help but swallow hard. This instantly doubled his savings. While most people would be ecstatic facing such a sudden windfall, Hikigaya felt a deep sense of trouble.
Manabu explained with a serious expression: "Within this is the reward for protecting Akane during the Mixed Training Camp."
During that exam, Manabu had accepted Nagumo Miyabi's challenge but failed to see through the other's true scheme, leading to Tachibana Akane being sabotaged and nearly expelled. If Hikigaya hadn't intervened in time, Class A would have had to pay an additional 20 million points to save her.
At that time, during the final semester for the third years, class competition was at a fever pitch. A sudden loss of massive points would have certainly destabilized Class A's position. The reason he hadn't transferred the points to Hikigaya immediately was the consideration that they might be needed for subsequent special exams.
Now that the third years had graduated, Manabu naturally would not forget the debt he owed Hikigaya.
"I was just fulfilling my duty as the Disciplinary Committee Chairman," Hikigaya said calmly. Even without the connection to Manabu, he would have acted. It wasn't that his moral compass was exceptionally high, but rather that in his mind, since he had accepted the responsibility, he had an obligation to handle it. It was for his own self-satisfaction.
"I am glad you think that way."
Manabu showed a relieved smile. "It seems this time, I didn't misjudge my person."
After all, he had previously shown poor judgment by recruiting the likes of Nagumo Miyabi and Kiriyama Ikuto into the Student Council.
"But, is it really okay for you to give me all of Class A's points without permission, Horikita-senpai?" Hikigaya questioned. "Won't the other senpais have grievances?"
Upon graduation, Private Points can be converted into cash—one of the greatest benefits of the Advanced Nurturing High School. If Hikigaya were in their shoes, he certainly wouldn't agree to leave his hard-earned points to someone else.
"They won't.
I bore the full responsibility of leading Class A. Everyone was willing to place their points under my unified control."
Manabu's words sounded extremely domineering—controlling all personal point earnings for Class A for three years. In a sense, Manabu's control over his class far exceeded that of Ryuen Kakeru.
But upon reflection, from Manabu's position, he was fully deserving of the maximum yield. Among all the graduating Class A classes, Manabu's was the only one where every single student managed to graduate successfully. Over three years, through countless expulsion exams, Manabu led his class through crisis after crisis. His personal strength was beyond doubt.
"With this many points, surely you don't just want me to look after Suzune, Horikita-senpai?"
Hikigaya took a deep breath, his expression suddenly becoming grave.
"Yes. I hope that you, Hikigaya, can become the Student Council President."
Manabu's expression was stern.
"Become the Student Council President?" Hikigaya frowned. "According to Nagumo's reforms, if nothing goes wrong, the President can hold the position until graduation, right?"
"Find a way to take him down."
"That's way too difficult."
"You didn't say it was impossible."
Hikigaya was momentarily speechless.
"Nagumo has long since betrayed the duties of the Student Council President, abandoning the original intent of maintaining fairness and guiding students toward positive growth. He even follows the orders of the Acting Chairman, acting recklessly to persecute students. I cannot forgive his actions!"
Manabu's voice was cold. "Unfortunately, as a graduate, I can no longer stop Nagumo. I can only leave the problem to the wisdom of my kouhai."
"You think too highly of me, Horikita-senpai." Hikigaya gave a bitter smile. If it were just dealing with Nagumo, he might be able to think of some underhanded tricks. But with that old fossil Tsukishiro standing behind him, it really wasn't that easy.
Manabu didn't push further, merely patting his shoulder. "In any case, where there's a will, there's a way."
Just like that, Hikigaya's total Private Points swelled to over 45 million! This meant that even facing an unavoidable expulsion, he could negate it twice. He could also change classes at will, or even bring someone along with him.
Then again, whether it was expulsion or changing classes, Hikigaya wouldn't consider either. With this many points, wouldn't it be better to just convert it all to cash?
.
.
.
Back at the dormitory.
Horikita Suzune arrived uninvited.
"I received the gift. It tasted good." Suzune lifted the food container in her hand. "Tonight, I made teppanyaki beef ribs."
"Is this a return gift for the return gift?" Hikigaya opened his door.
"You can think of it that way."
"If I said 'no thanks,' would you go back?"
"No!" Suzune glared at him fiercely upon hearing that. "What are you acting so pretentious for? It's not the first time you've eaten my dinner."
"Yes, yes~ I just feel like there have been too many visitors to my room lately," Hikigaya grumbled helplessly.
"That is something you truly need to reflect on." Suzune let out a cold snort as she entered.
At the table, Suzune set out three dishes and a soup she had prepared herself. The aroma filled the room.
"This smells really good."
"Comparing it to Ichinose, who do you think cooks better?"
"Of course... Suzune's is better." Hikigaya paused slightly before delivering a high-EQ response.
"You probably said the same thing to Ichinose, didn't you?" Suzune's gaze was sharp; she wasn't that easy to fool.
"Ah~ when I'm with Suzune, I don't think about other girls." Hikigaya suddenly felt he had the potential to be a real scumbag.
"Hmph~ I'll take those words for now..." Suzune's voice remained cold, but her eyes softened slightly.
She then changed the subject. "Hachiman, you saw my brother today, didn't you? What did you talk about?"
Hikigaya told the truth: "Mainly about you, Suzune."
'That four-eyed siscon almost beat me to death!'
"About me? How is that possible..." Suzune's eyes were complex. In the entire year since enrollment, the times she had met Manabu could be counted on one hand.
"He's just a 'tsundere.' Surely you've noticed that, Suzune?" Hikigaya looked at her with a subtle gaze.
"Don't use such a strange term for my brother!" Suzune instinctively defended her brother's image.
"It's the truth. There isn't a brother in the world who isn't a 'siscon'!" Hikigaya nodded with absolute conviction.
"Your way of thinking is too extreme." Suzune's lip twitched. She suddenly felt that discussing the topic of sisters with this man was not a rational move.
"Tomorrow Horikita-senpai will graduate and leave the school. I think he's also looking forward to his sister personally seeing him off."
"..."
Suzune's eyes wavered; she seemed to be struggling internally. Noticing her conflict, Hikigaya asked, "Suzune, do you have some concern?"
"I want to change my image." Suzune's attitude was firm. "To draw a line between myself and the coward I was before enrollment!"
"Change your image?" Hikigaya's eyes shifted, his gaze falling upon her long, straight black hair. "Suzune, are you planning to..."
"Hachiman, do you like girls with short hair?" Suzune suddenly looked up, staring at him with burning eyes.
"...Rather than saying I like girls with short hair, I like you with short hair." Faced with her gaze, Hikigaya couldn't help but recall the "Hikigaya Suzune" from his dreams—with fresh, capable short hair and the aura of a strong woman.
"In that case, I'll cut it." Suzune took a pair of pre-prepared scissors out of her school bag.
"Wait, Suzune? Are you serious?" Hikigaya's gaze held a trace of shock. He quickly added, "Actually, I think Suzune with long hair is very beautiful too!"
"It's okay. It can grow back after being cut." The corners of Suzune's eyes curved slightly, and a rare blush appeared on her cheeks. "I want Hachiman to see a different version of me."
'This... why is this girl being so flirtatious today?' Hikigaya's heart wavered.
"Come, help me."
Suzune walked to the desk on her own and put on an apron to catch the falling hair.
"Suzune, is it necessary to cut it yourself?" Hikigaya held the mirror for her.
"It is. Because what I am cutting away is not hair, but my past self."
Despite her words, the skilled way she handled the scissors showed she had some confidence in her own handiwork.
Snip—
The scissors closed, and a lock of waist-length hair fell. Hikigaya was prepared and caught it. Holding it in his palm, it was dark and thick, carrying a faint scent of shampoo. It is said that some people buy hair at high prices—the longer and better the quality, the more expensive! Of course, Hikigaya had no intention of selling it.
He took a few hair ties and bands from a drawer and tied her long hair together.
"Hachiman, what are you keeping my hair for?" Suzune saw his actions through the mirror and asked curiously.
"Nothing, just keeping it as a memento," Hikigaya answered casually.
Suzune turned her head and gave him a reproachful look. "The person herself is right here. What are you keeping a memento for?"
"Don't worry about that..."
'When playing certain 'alternative' games, hair can serve as a special prop. Details are inconvenient to discuss here.'
After some careful trimming, Suzune cut her hair to just below her chin. She left a slightly longer strand on the right side, braided into a small plait, adding a touch of pure and lively aura.
"How does it... feel?" Suzune turned around, looking at him expectantly, her brow full of anticipation.
"Very cute. It has a different charm compared to usual." Hikigaya praised her without hesitation. Ultimately, it was because Suzune's natural foundation was good enough. A beautiful person looks eye-catching regardless of the hairstyle.
"Really...?"
Suzune looked up directly at him, then slowly closed her eyes. This couldn't even be called a hint; it was a blatant, undisguised invitation for a kiss.
Hikigaya's heart was firm—would he really succumb to this level of enchantment?
Mwah~
"..."
Before his brain could think, his body acted. But since things had come to this, there was nothing to resist. Hikigaya exerted force with both hands, pulling Suzune tightly into his embrace.
"Suzune."
"Hachiman."
Calling each other's names, they felt their body temperatures rise rapidly. Everything was as natural as water flowing into a channel.
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