I'm in a real religion, why are all the people who confess to me girls?

Unfortunately, she didn't have that kind of thick skin, so she could only wander aimlessly around the school, like a homeless kitten.

Finally arriving here, she planned to sit here until dawn before going back, but the cold winter night was so unbearable that after her phone ran out of battery, she had no way to distract herself.

And so, she shivered in the cold wind, the coat she had grabbed at random offering her no warmth whatsoever.

Suddenly, Horikita, who was sitting on the bench, opened her eyes wide. She could vaguely see the reflection of the elevator entrance through the dormitory window. At that moment, the elevator was started by someone.

A sense of anticipation rose in Horikita's heart.

The convenience stores outside were all closed by now. Even a first-year student would know about this. Could it be that Tianyin came out to look for him because he hadn't gone home yet?

Horikita tried to turn on the phone, but the phone, which had long been out of power, did not respond at all. Horikita was not discouraged when she saw that the phone could not be used; graduation was something she had expected.

Just as Horikita couldn't help but stand up and look at the figure walking out of the door, her heart felt as if it had been doused with cold water.

Although she couldn't quite make out who came out of the door because of the swirling snowflakes and frost, the unfamiliar color of the umbrella and the tall figure made it clear that it couldn't be Tianyin.

Thinking about it carefully, how could Tianyin possibly go down to the boys' floor at this time and then take the elevator out? Besides... Tianyin might not even want to see her right now.

Horikita shrank back onto the bench, dejected.

Gradually, Horikita sensed something approaching her. The sound of shoes stepping on the snow grew louder and louder until it stopped in front of her.

Horikita felt a headache coming on. Without even thinking about it, she knew she was about to be approached. Seeing a pretty girl sitting alone on a bench on a snowy night, for whatever reason, would greatly increase the chances of a conversation, especially since Horikita had already confirmed that the other person was a boy.

She became even more certain that she would be approached by someone.

Although the other person might be a pushover like Hirata, she just wanted to be alone right now.

I don't want to be disturbed by others.

"I'm fine. If possible, I hope you won't bother me."

Horikita buried her head in her knees and spoke first.

The other person seemed unsure how to respond to Horikita's cold words. After a long while, Horikita still hadn't heard the other person speak, but the other person showed no sign of leaving.

Horikita looked up with a hint of confusion, only to see a face that was all too familiar.

"Brother? What are you doing here?"

"You really look quite pathetic."

Horikita Manabu handed the umbrella to Horikita Suzune. She habitually took the umbrella but for a moment didn't know what to do with it, or whether she should use it herself or use it to shield Horikita Manabu from the wind and snow.

Seeing Horikita Suzune's flustered state, Horikita Manabu's expression gradually turned serious.

At this moment, Horikita Suzune was like a hedgehog with all its quills plucked out.

Despite her many flaws, such as arrogance, disdain for others, sharp tongue, and aloofness, the original Horikita Suzune was also a thorny armor that protected her from any harm.

People who like pretty girls would never accept Horikita Suzune's nasty personality, and those who like gentle girls would be scared away by Horikita Suzune's sharp tongue and arrogance, even though some people might like roses with thorns.

However, Horikita Suzune is someone who has no interest in socializing and who doesn't mince words when it comes to criticizing useless people.

Regardless, Horikita Suzune has managed to get to where she is today without incident thanks to these flaws that might seem to outsiders as affecting her reputation.

As a result, Tianyin broke through this spiked armor from the inside.

A hedgehog without its quills is doomed to be manipulated by others.

Chapter 107: If you're not brave, someone else will be brave for you.

Horikita Suzune naturally noticed the change in Horikita Manabu's gaze, even though she knew that the gaze did not represent sympathy, much less pity.

"I just forgot my keys when I went out, and my phone was dead so I couldn't contact Tianyin, so that's why..."

Horikita Suzune couldn't believe that she could lie so calmly one day, especially to her most respected and admired older brother.

She didn't seem to be like this before...

"Why didn't you report it to the dormitory supervisor?"

"It's so late, the dorm supervisor might already be asleep. Tianyin can't possibly not go back, so I'll just go back later. Brother, you still haven't answered me why you're here. The convenience stores are all closed. If there's anything I need, I'll have to buy it tomorrow. Are you here to buy juice, brother?"

There are vending machines in the lobby on the first floor, and people come and go from time to time. Thinking about it this way, it makes sense that Horikita Manabu might see them when he goes out to buy juice or other items.

Ok………

Horikita Suzune ultimately avoided meeting Horikita Manabu's gaze.

"I didn't expect you to have learned to lie. Although you're still quite naive, your methods, whether it's changing the subject or trying to use the term 'brother' to evoke my sympathy, are a bit stiff. But... it's still worth praising. You're finally starting to grow up."

Horikita Manabu spoke sincerely.

Just as he was about to reach out and touch Horikita Suzune's head, Horikita Suzune suddenly took a step back.

“I don’t like growing up like this. I… I’ve learned to lie, which isn’t a good thing, is it?”

Tears welled up in Horikita Suzune's eyes, and a bitter smile appeared on her face.

Horikita Manabu shook his head upon hearing this.

"Who told you that lying is a bad thing? Humans are naturally capable of lying. If someone says they can't lie, then that answer itself is a lie. It's just that your lie is too naive, so it was exposed immediately. Have you ever seen an idiot holding an umbrella and buying juice in the lobby on the first floor?"

Horikita's words made him involuntarily look up at the sky.

That way, the tears wouldn't fall. How could she not know that Horikita Manabu was after her? But... Horikita Suzune didn't want Horikita Manabu, who was about to graduate, to see her in this disheveled state.

"Then, brother, would you lie?"

"I don't lie. I always say what I mean. You should know my temperament very well, Suzune."

Horikita Suzune couldn't help but frown. Just moments before, Horikita Manabu had told her that there was no one in the world who couldn't lie, and that if anyone claimed they couldn't lie, then their answer itself was a lie.

But the next second Horikita Manabu said with a serious face that he would not lie. Isn't that... a contradiction?

Looking at Horikita Manabu's calm and natural expression, Horikita Suzune chose to give up. She couldn't find any flaws in Horikita Manabu's expression at all.

Does the older brother lie? If he has lied, what kind of lies did he tell?

"Ring sound".

Horikita Manabu's call brought Horikita Suzune's thoughts back to the present.

Now that her lie has been exposed, she will have to face the most humiliating situation.

frank.

"Tell me what happened. If you're trying to deceive me, I don't mind calling Tianyin. I believe everything will come to light then, right?"

Horikita Manabu had already guessed most of the situation just by observing Horikita Suzune's behavior and expressions. Although he hadn't expected it to escalate to this point because of something as unbelievable as a confession, he could still roughly guess that there was a problem in her relationship with Amane.

"I can't tell my brother about this kind of thing."

Even if it's Horikita Manabu, Horikita Suzune can't tell him about Amane asking her to confess her feelings.

"Can't even I tell you?"

Horikita raised an eyebrow, vaguely guessing what was going on.

"Ah."

Horikita Suzune's barely audible voice, coupled with her somewhat shy demeanor, confirmed his guess.

He somewhat regretted asking that extra question.

Now it's impossible for him to get away even if he wanted to. Although Amane promised to take good care of Suzune, he didn't guarantee that he would take special care of Horikita Suzune.

If it really is a matter of emotions, he has no right to say much. On the one hand, he is not good at interfering in emotional disputes, and on the other hand, he doesn't even have a girlfriend himself, so even if his analysis is correct, it lacks persuasiveness.

But if he's just left his silly little sister here unattended...

He couldn't do it either.

"Lingyin, what do you think are your strengths?"

"Strengths? Brother, are you suggesting I praise myself?"

"If you could state your strengths without batting an eye, I would look at you with new respect, but unfortunately you can't."

Horikita took off his glasses and then took out a glasses cloth from his pocket to gently wipe the lenses.

While wiping Horikita Manabu's clothes, he kept glancing at Horikita Suzune out of the corner of his eye.

Unfortunately, just as he had predicted, Horikita Suzune pondered for a long time but couldn't come up with any of her strengths.

"Feel sorry……"

"That answer is worthless. You think you can surpass me with this kind of attitude? You can't even name a single good point about yourself, so why are you getting angry? You're not trying to say that you're a good student, are you?"

Faced with Horikita Manabu's sarcastic remarks, Horikita Suzune lowered her head again, somewhat unwilling to give up.

She had already done so much, and she had been working hard to catch up. In less than a year, she had led Class D to Class B, and was only one step away from her brother's Class A. So why... why couldn't she gain her brother's approval?

"I know you're working so hard because you want my approval, right?"

As if he could know what Horikita Suzune was thinking, Horikita Manabu immediately pointed out Horikita Suzune's inner conflict.

“That’s right, I’ve been trying so hard to catch up with my brother. There’s only one step between us, just one step away…”

"You're chasing after me to gain my approval, so the question is, why should I approve of you?"

Horikita Manabu's words left Horikita Suzune speechless. Why should he approve of her? Yes, why should her brother approve of her...?

"Just like you can't name your strengths, you've lost all your strengths now. Why should anyone care about you? Relying on 'right' and 'wrong' to solve problems is always the most foolish approach, because there's always the possibility that you're both right, just with different perspectives and views. If you don't dare to take a few steps forward and stand beside her, to see things from her point of view, then it's better to stop here to avoid the end... Hmph."

Horikita's suggestive remark caused Horikita Suzune to show a shocked expression.

"Brother, do you know...?"

“I don’t know anything, but there’s nothing new under the sun. I only know that if estrangement is left unresolved overnight, it will become a sharp blade that hurts people. Some things only have one chance. If you’re not brave, someone else will be brave for you. Do you understand, Horikita Suzune?”

Chapter 108: At the lottery draw, the prize turned out to be myself.

"I'll begin once you're ready."

Tianyin glanced at the two who had started glaring at each other and said cautiously.

"Let's begin. This is a perfect opportunity to have a showdown with you, Sakayanagi. I refuse to believe I'll lose to you again this time!"

Guilongyuan rubbed his hands together, then bent over and stared intently at the thing in Tianyin's hand, looking like a cheetah poised to pounce before hunting.

Sakayanagi gave a soft hum.

"This time there are no external factors affecting the outcome; the result depends entirely on luck. If you lose, you shouldn't have any excuses. Besides... there's no use in getting so excited. It's a 50% chance; if you hit, you hit; if you don't, you don't. It has nothing to do with speed. So don't make it like a competition. I have a heart condition and don't like overly tense atmospheres."

As she spoke, Sakayanagi patted her chest, but when her gaze fell on Amane, her eyes suddenly narrowed.

"Tianyin, I suddenly have a pain in my chest. It might be another attack. Could you come and massage it for me?"

Sakayanagi clutched his chest, his brows furrowed, looking as if his old illness had relapsed. Upon seeing this, Amane immediately stood up.

"Arisu, are you alright? I always carry medicine with me... Kaede, what are you doing?"

Just as Tenon was about to go up and check on Sakaryu's condition, Kiryuin pressed her back down.

"Are you really stupid or just pretending? How many times have you fallen for this trick? Why don't you ever learn? And you, aren't you afraid that playing the boy who cried wolf every day will actually lead to something bad happening one day?"

Kiryuin rolled his eyes at Sakayanagi, who was still clutching his chest and acting.

Seeing that her little trick had been exposed, Sakayanagi sat back down as usual.

"So you're the one who's clueless about romance. Anyway, Tianyin always falls for it. Even if the boy who cried wolf comes true one day, I believe Tianyin will protect me, right?"

Sakayanagi pinched Amane's cheek, then casually tossed her a candy.

"Hmm~"

With a candy in her mouth, Amane happily responded to Sakayanagi, while Kiryuin, standing to the side, was even more furious upon seeing this.

Have you two ever considered her feelings when you're showing off your love like this?

"Speaking of which, why did you make me create the lottery, and why am I the one who gets the prize? That's going too far!"

Tianyin pointed to two slips of paper in her other hand. The contents were actually very simple, containing only the character "中" (zhong).

But the prize is the right to use Tianyin that night.

In order to prevent Amane from getting cold at night, Sakayanagi Arisu and Kiryuin Fuka, working in perfect harmony, decided to draw lots to decide whose room Amane would spend the night in.

The two argued heatedly over who should prepare the items for the lottery, and almost came to blows. Just then, Amane popped up and asked Kiryuin if they had any tomato juice.

And so, Tianyin was dragged by the two to personally prepare the props for drawing lots, and Tianyin's mood was extremely complicated.

She prepared the props for the lottery, but she also won the prize. Something felt off.

"There's nothing we can do about it. Only if you prepare the tools for drawing lots yourself will you avoid doing anything strange. I wouldn't feel comfortable letting someone else prepare them."