The Horikita Are......

Unknown POV

The walkways of the school stretched endlessly, or at least, that's how it felt as I dragged my feet forward, one step at a time. My pace was slow, deliberate.

For a full minute, I simply stood there, staring at the vast sea. It had been a while since I last saw the ocean. Japan was a strange place—overwhelming for a teenager, perhaps. The culture, the rigid social structures, the unspoken rules. Then there were the more unsavory aspects: the stalking, the occasional assault on public transport. A society obsessed with order but riddled with contradictions.

What fascinated me most wasn't their achievements, nor their rich history, but their mental fragility. They had a delicate psychological framework, easily manipulated, easily swayed. With the right pressure, a person here could be driven to take actions that were either shockingly erratic or painfully predictable.

I had seen enough for now. Time to move.

As I neared the dormitories, a familiar figure caught my eye—Horikita, creeping around suspiciously before slipping into an alleyway. Instinct kicked in. I concealed myself behind a nearby bush, watching as she disappeared into the shadows.

Then another presence emerged.

The Student Council President.

Interesting.

Manabu Horikita. That explained a lot. Same surname. Siblings? It wasn't a rare name, but considering Japan's size, the probability was decent. Their naming conventions lacked creativity, though I had to admit, their kanji wordplay was clever.

A vibration in my pocket. I glanced down—Ichinose. I quickly sent a reply before turning my attention back to the scene.

Manabu had his sister pinned against the wall.

I pressed record on my phone.

"Please," Suzune wheezed, "I've worked hard to get here... I just want you to acknowledge me."

Manabu exhaled sharply, unimpressed. "Acknowledgment? You're in the lowest class of the year. Forgive me if I struggle to see the potential." His words sliced through her resolve like a scalpel.

She clenched her fists. "You haven't changed. You push people away. You isolate yourself."

"And yet, somehow, I am at the top, while you grovel in mediocrity." He squeezed her arm tighter. "Tell me, did you come to this school just to prove something to me? Have you even considered your own growth?"

Suzune stiffened but didn't break. "I've come this far without anyone's help. Just give me time. I'll catch up. I'll rise to Class A."

Manabu's expression darkened. "Pride. That's all this is. You call it independence, but it's nothing more than arrogance dressed in self-reliance. Lower your standards. Stop isolating yourself."

She opened her mouth to protest, but he cut her off. "You're insufferable, Suzune."

His hand moved.

Just before the strike landed, another presence stepped in.

Ayanokōji.

He caught Manabu's wrist effortlessly, his grip unyielding. "Student Council President, do you really intend to hit a girl?"

Manabu's gaze flickered to him. "Mind your business. This doesn't concern you."

Ayanokōji remained unfazed. His grip didn't tighten, but he also didn't let go.

Suzune, despite everything, had the audacity to look annoyed. "Ayanokōji... stay out of this."

Even now, she clung to her pride. She reminded me why I disliked her.

Ayanokōji held her stare for a second longer before slowly loosening his grip. Manabu wasted no time. The moment his wrist was free, he struck.

Ayanokōji leaned back effortlessly, dodging at the last possible second. A quick backstep. Calm. Measured.

Manabu didn't hesitate. A kick followed, sharp and precise. Ayanokōji sidestepped, his movements efficient, avoiding any unnecessary energy expenditure. Another strike. Ayanokōji deflected, stepping in slightly—just enough to glimpse an opening at Manabu's ribs before Manabu withdrew, recognizing the danger.

Manabu's eyes narrowed. "You move well. Have you trained in martial arts?"

Ayanokōji's voice remained as monotonous as ever. "No. I study calligraphy. And I play the piano."

Manabu scoffed. "Is this your friend, Suzune?"

She looked away. "He's... an acquaintance."

"Hm." Manabu turned on his heel and walked off, uninterested.

Ayanokōji extended a hand toward Suzune. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." She slapped his hand away.

I stayed hidden as they left. Then, once the coast was clear, I pulled out my phone and played the recording. A few edits, and this footage would be very useful.

Manabu had just given me permission to test him.

Suzune, on the other hand, was a coward—pestering her brother, chasing validation she would never receive. I almost felt bad for Manabu. If that's what having siblings was like, I was glad I didn't have any.

But the real enigma here was Ayanokōji.

His combat ability far exceeded Manabu's, yet he played the part of an ordinary student flawlessly. If he truly didn't want to stand out, then he was dangerous.

If someone like him interfered in anything, I needed to know.

I'll keep an eye on him.

---

Whis POV

The midterms had arrived, and the class buzzed with energy. After our disastrous loss of points in the first month, everyone was desperate to redeem themselves.

Hirata stood up, the picture of optimism. "Everyone, thanks to our study group and hard work, we'll ace this exam. Let's do our best!"

A chorus of agreement followed.

"Yeah, Hirata-kun!"

"That's the spirit!"

"We got this!"

I wasn't nearly as enthusiastic. Instead, I found myself wondering—where the hell were Ayanokōji and Kushida?

I glanced to my left. Horikita was buried in a book, either studying or pretending to. Without looking up, she deadpanned, "I don't know where he is, so don't bother asking."

"I wasn't going to ask, but thanks for the info."

The classroom door slid open.

"Hey everyone, how's it going?" Kushida's cheerful voice filled the room as she stepped in, Ayanokōji trailing behind her.

"Oh, Kushida-san! Where were you?"

"Sorry, Ike-kun! I was handling something important. But don't worry, I've got good news." She handed out sheets of paper to the class.

"Wait… are these—?"

"Old exam scripts?" Sudo finished.

"Yep! If we're going to pass the midterms, we need every advantage. This should help prevent any expulsions."

"Whoa, thanks, Kushida-san!"

"This is huge!"

"Could've given us these sooner instead of making me study," Yamauchi muttered.

"Shut up, you ungrateful idiot," Kei snapped.

Horikita watched Kushida with narrowed eyes. Some of the class called her an angel. Others hailed her as a lifesaver.

So, she liked the attention. Not surprising.

Ayanokōji quietly returned to his seat, but Horikita wasted no time. "What did you do, Ayanokōji? You expect me to believe Kushida pulled this off alone?"

"Nothing. I just tagged along."

"You're lying. You're so annoying."

"Coming from someone who tricked me into eating her food just to manipulate me?"

"You're acting like you didn't enjoy it."

"I did. And honestly, if you bribed me with food again, I'd probably fall for it."

"Oh?"

"It's free food. Anyone would fold," I interjected.

They both stared at me before Ayanokōji smirked slightly.

"…He's right."

Chabashira-sensei entered, and the room fell silent.

It was time to see if all this effort would actually save the idiots in our class.