Chapter 65: Interests are a Double-Edged Sword

  "Yo, good evening."

  Hikigaya greeted the three of them, then looked at Ayanokouji with admiration, "I didn't expect you to be so impressive, Ayanokouji. The way you handled yourself just now was so effortless, way better than that explosive kid."

  "Explosive kid?"

  Horikita Suzune was puzzled.

  "Sorry, I misspoke. I was referring to Sudo, the guy who tried to use violence against you in the library today. His temper is so votile, it's like a ticking time bomb that blows up at the slightest provocation."

  Hikigaya awkwardly expined.

  Horikita Manabu raised an eyebrow, and a sharp glint fshed in his eyes.

  "I just happened to pass by, and I’m not as amazing as you think, Hikigaya."

  Ayanokouji smoothly followed up with an expnation.

  His face remained emotionless, but internally Ayanokouji was already thinking of ways to distance himself from the situation.

  "No, no, no, Ayanokouji, stop pying the humble card. Words might deceive, but our eyes never lie, right?"

  Hikigaya gave Ayanokouji a skeptical look, unlike the gullible Horikita Suzune.

  "No, even eyes can be deceived."

  "So, does that mean everything you said just now was a lie?"

  "I..."

  Ayanokouji suddenly stopped, quickly realizing he'd almost been led into a trap by Hikigaya, "What I meant was, what you saw just now may not have been the whole truth. In fact, I just happened to pass by. I usually train in various activities, and I've also studied the tea ceremony and piano. That's it."

  Ayanokouji repeated his previous expnation once more.

  "Tea ceremony? I thought you said calligraphy earlier?"

  Hikigaya gave him a curious expression.

  Heh, a small slip-up there!

  "…Well, I also studied calligraphy."

  "So, can you tell me where there are calligraphy or piano csses that teach this level of martial arts? I'd love to sign my sister up for them."

  "Sorry, those csses closed down many years ago. I happened to be the st batch of students."

  Ayanokouji spoke in a calm tone, adding in his mind that this was the truth.

  "So, I misunderstood? So Ayanokouji, you're actually pretty weak? Just relying on your physical ability, you managed to hold your own against the student council president who has a 5th-degree bck belt in karate and a 4th-degree bck belt in Aikido? If that's the case, my suggestion would be to sign up for the Olympics with our css's 'big shark' or 'little Phelps.'"

  Hikigaya gave Ayanokouji a "do you really think I'm that gullible?" expression, while Horikita Manabu also wore a subtle look, only Ayanokouji maintained his emotionless face. No matter what Hikigaya said, he was sticking to the fact that he was 'weak.'

  "Ayanokouji?"

  Suddenly, Horikita Manabu spoke, breaking the silence. "Speaking of which, there was a very special score on this year's first-year entrance exams. Every subject was scored 50, and if I’m not mistaken, that student’s name was Ayanokouji."

  "Maybe it’s just a coincidence."

  Ayanokouji had already made up his mind to deny everything.

  "So, are you saying that everything you've said up until now was a lie?"

  Hikigaya couldn’t help but add.

  Ayanokouji: "…"

  "Sorry, I just remembered I have something else to do."

  Ayanokouji then said his goodbyes and left.

  Since he couldn't argue his way out, he might as well leave!

  After Ayanokouji left, just before Hikigaya could speak, Horikita Manabu suddenly spoke first, "Hikigaya, I hope you can keep tonight's events a secret."

  Hikigaya didn’t respond immediately. He waited until he was sure Ayanokouji had truly left before looking at Horikita Manabu and nodding, "Tonight, I just happened to pass by. I didn’t intend to get involved in your family business, but there was a little accident that forced me to get involved."

  "Horikita... Suzune?"

  Horikita Suzune stiffened and then cautiously gnced at her brother. When she saw that he didn't object, she let out a small sigh of relief.

  Horikita Manabu remained silent; he could tell from Hikigaya's words that there was another yer of meaning behind them.

  Once Hikigaya noticed that Horikita Manabu understood his point, he didn’t stay longer. Just as he was about to leave, Horikita Manabu spoke again, "Hikigaya, as compensation for tonight’s matter, I’ll give you personal points."

  "No, that's not necessary. I'm not cking points right now, and I'm not the kind of person who easily spills others' secrets."

  Hikigaya understood Horikita Manabu's intention, but he didn’t like how everything was dealt with through a system of give-and-take.

  "I understand."

  Horikita Manabu nodded. "Then consider this a favor I owe you."

  "President, I really won’t leak tonight’s events, so you don’t need to—"

  Hikigaya frowned. A favor is worth far more than points, and he couldn’t help but try to advise him.

  However, Horikita Manabu interrupted Hikigaya’s words, "Hikigaya, I know you don’t like handling everything based on 'gains and losses,' but in this school, it's the most suitable method for dealing with interpersonal retionships. You haven’t fully adapted to the hidden rules of this school yet, but trust me, sooner or ter, you will."

  "Interests and retionships, huh?"

  Hikigaya went silent, pondering, then lifted his head to look directly at Horikita Manabu and said, "In that case, please still give me the points. I lied earlier—I’m actually in need of personal points."

  "I never take back what I've said."

  Horikita Manabu refused.

  "Is that so?"

  Hikigaya gave a neutral expression, gnced at the pitiful Horikita Suzune, and then said, "I understand. It’s getting te, so I’ll be leaving now."

  Just as Hikigaya took a few steps, he suddenly stopped, turned his back to Horikita Manabu, and sighed, "If it really is as you say, then why insist on owing a favor?"

  Horikita Manabu remained silent, a fsh of appreciation passing through his eyes.

  "By the way, I also have a younger sister. I understand that when one side 'thinks they’re doing what’s best for the other,' things often turn out differently. Sometimes, a simple sentence, if said frankly, could yield a completely different outcome."

  Hikigaya seemed to recall a past event, giving a small self-deprecating ugh.

  And internally, he couldn’t help but ridicule himself. Why meddle in someone else’s family matters? Hikigaya, don’t get too self-important!

  "Of course, that’s just the advice of someone who’s been through it before. If you don’t like it, just ignore it."

  After leaving that remark, Hikigaya's figure gradually disappeared into the darkness.

  After a long time, Horikita Suzune looked up at her brother and was about to say something when, suddenly, Horikita Manabu smiled.

  Her brother… was smiling?

  Horikita Suzune's eyes widened in disbelief as she looked at him. She hadn’t seen her brother smile in years—was it in middle school? Or elementary school?

  She couldn’t remember the st time her brother smiled, it seemed like it happened when she just entered the third grade.

  Was it because of… Hikigaya?

  Suddenly, Horikita Suzune felt bitterness and frustration welling up inside her!

  What… what am I cking compared to Hikigaya?!

  "Suzune, looks like you’ve made an interesting friend. This is a bit unexpected."

  Although Horikita Manabu returned to his serious expression, Horikita Suzune had the strange feeling that her brother was somewhat happy?

  "He... he’s not my friend. He's just a cssmate."

  Horikita Suzune said defensively, still unwilling to admit anything.

  "Seems like you still misunderstand the meaning of 'aloofness' and 'loneliness.'"

  Horikita Manabu stared at his sister, and she instinctively avoided his gaze. But then, as if something crossed her mind, she bit her lip and looked directly at him.

  "I... I’ll definitely work hard to get into Css A!"

  "If you want to move up to Css A, then struggle with all your might."

  Horikita Manabu walked past his sister.

  "But if you can’t even see yourself clearly, and your focus is still only on yourself, Suzune, then it might be better for you to leave this school early."

  With that, Horikita Manabu’s figure disappeared from his sister’s sight.