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

As a result, a nobody from Class D managed to manipulate him completely.

This made Koenji lose control of his anger. If he hadn't participated in the final round of rock-paper-scissors, he would have even thought that Amane and Horikita had already discussed and planned to expel Koenji Rokusuke from school.

"Kōenji-kun, please watch your attitude."

Mashima-sensei's reminder forced Koenji to suppress his anger and begin to think seriously.

He can only win the game if he doesn't lose a single game, but how can he avoid losing a single game?

……

"As expected of Ninomiya-kun! I almost thought we were doomed."

"Hey, look, Kanzaki doesn't look too good."

"Tch, who has time to care about him right now? If Ninomiya were our class leader, we might have already gotten back to Class B. Kanzaki is completely unreliable!"

As the students of Class D cheered their victory while also making sarcastic remarks about him, Kanzaki clenched his fists tightly. He was the leader of this class!

Ninomiya was just lucky...

Kanzaki thought indignantly, but when he thought about how Ninomiya had deliberately tricked the academically strong students in Class B with the Tian Ji horse racing strategy, and then proved the strength of Class D to everyone with three consecutive victories, especially in rock-paper-scissors, where even Ayanokoji and Koenji were easily defeated by Ninomiya, what about Amane? Maybe Ninomiya could really defeat Amane as well.

At that time... the biggest reckoning for Class D will begin, and Ninomiya will transform from the guy who betrayed Ichinose into the hero who saves Class D.

What should he do then?

Kanzaki sighed, ultimately deciding not to sabotage Ninomiya at such a crucial moment. Kanzaki also knew that if Class D could defeat the invincible Class B in this special exam, Class D, which had disbanded after Ichinose left, would be reunited.

Because Ninomiya can give them something that Kanzaki can never give them.

That is "hope".

The students in Class B sat on the sidelines, sighing and groaning. This special exam was crucial for their chance to advance to Class A. Despite seeing that their class's overall strength far surpassed that of Class D, they were being completely outmaneuvered by the other side. The feeling of being powerless to do anything about it was incredibly frustrating.

"Don't be discouraged, everyone. We haven't lost yet. The next match is the real deciding game. If we go into the next match with this mindset, we might actually lose."

Horikita addressed the students of Class B in a loud speech, trying to boost their morale, but Ninomiya's performance was just too impressive, and even Hirata had given up hope.

Because among the remaining people, besides Horikita and Hirata, there's only Ichinose. If it's an academic exam, they'll probably have to take it together if they don't want to lose.

Even if you win the next game, what about the game after that?

Hirata clutched his head in anguish, unable to understand why everyone was so skilled yet they couldn't even beat Class D.

What's the point of them getting promoted to Class A?

It's nothing more than being a drag on the team.

"Hirata, aren't you going to say something?"

Seeing that no one reacted to his reprimand, Horikita could only look at Hirata.

Deeply distressed, Hirata saw everyone's gaze fixed on him. Knowing he was likely to lose, he still stood up and faced the Class B members.

"Horikita is right. We haven't lost yet. As long as there's even the slightest chance, we can't give up! And the road ahead is still long. Even if we do lose, the gap between us and Class A won't be as hopeless as it was at the beginning of the semester. When we had nothing, none of us gave up. Now we're just at a slight disadvantage in the competition, so how can we give up now?"

Hirata's speech was clearly more effective than Horikita's. Many people then realized that even if they lost, losing a game would only deduct thirty class points, which wouldn't cause them much harm. Although they wouldn't be promoted to Class A immediately, their quality of life wouldn't change much.

If that's the case, what else do they have to fear?

"You're right. It's just a disadvantage. What's there to be afraid of? Even if we lose, we can just win it back next time."

Karuizawa's agreement brought a sense of reassurance to everyone.

"Hirata-kun is right, we haven't lost yet, we must win the next game!"

"Win it back!"

"Win it back!!!"

Watching Hirata and the others boost morale through the big screen, Ninomiya sneered.

Special exams aren't something you can win just by shouting slogans. Five rounds have already been played, and Class B only has two more rounds left to turn the tide.

Class D has already won three matches, which means that as long as they win one more match, this special exam can be declared over.

Moreover, even if they lose another game, Ninomiya has room for error, unlike Class B who have no choice but to fight with their backs against the wall.

Ninomiya refused to believe it. Couldn't they draw an academic competition in two rounds? With Class D's current strength, Ninomiya was confident that if they gave them another academic competition, they could easily defeat Class B.

At that time, Ninomiya will no longer be an outcast of Class D, but a hero who saves Class B.

"Hehe... Kanzaki-kun, you must be regretting it now, right? If it weren't for you, I would never have had such a dazzling day."

She defeated Class B in three consecutive rounds, and apart from Tianyin, all the top players in Class B were completely outmaneuvered by her.

Before this special exam, no one had ever forced Class B to the point where they needed to mobilize their morale and fight with their backs against the wall.

Only Ninomiya Yui has achieved this.

This is something she can be proud of.

The school didn't give Class B much time; the big screen continued scrolling, finally stopping at "Aikido".

Cheers erupted from Class B.

Without even needing Koenji's arrangement, Horikita, Hirata, and Ichinose came to the competition stage together. Then, another figure came up from below the stage. Amane glanced at him and realized that it was Miyake Akito before silently nodding.

This lineup is the strongest that Class B can field right now.

"I'm sorry, Koenji, but now we have to fight a desperate battle."

Hearing Horikita Suzune's voice coming through the headset, Koenji gave a wry smile.

He never imagined that one day he would so desperately want those guys he would never bother to look at to win.

Although Koenji knew that Horikita couldn't see what he was doing, he still stood up from his seat.

"Please help me."

"Okay, leave it to us. It's our last chance anyway, so let's go all out."

Upon hearing this, Ichinose looked up in surprise at Horikita Suzune, whose eyes were filled with a fierce light.

At this moment, Horikita Suzune exuded an aura completely different from before. No, to be precise, it should be described as a sense of oppression. Even the students in Class D could feel this, and they all looked at Horikita with fear on their faces.

"Be careful, everyone! Horikita's about to go all out."

Ninomiya also noticed that Horikita was acting strangely and quickly reminded Kanzaki, who was leading the charge.

Aikido is a one-on-one competition, and the winner can continue to the next round. This means that even if you are not strong individually, you can wear down your opponent by using a series of matches.

Kanzaki was the first to appear from Class D. He didn't know any Aikido, but that didn't stop him from going on stage. In fact, the school wouldn't care too much whether you used Aikido techniques or not.

Just as Kanzaki was about to make his move, a series of surprised exclamations erupted from the crowd.

Hearing what the students were saying, Kanzaki, Horikita, and Amane all turned around and looked into the crowd.

"Isn't that President Horikita? What's he doing here watching the first-year students' match?"

"He's the former president, so he should be called Horikita-senpai now. Horikita Suzune is his sister, so it's normal for her to come and visit."

"Oh? Horikita Suzune is his sister?"

……

"Brother, what's wrong with you...?"

When Horikita Suzune saw that familiar figure, who was about to leave, she didn't know what to say.

Horikita Manabu looked up at the score, then at Horikita Suzune's eyes, which still held a hint of ferocity.

"Rin-nee, good luck."

Chapter 220: I hope your butt won't get spanked (10,000 words)

After hearing what Horikita Manabu said to her, Horikita Suzune froze on the spot.

Then, with a nervous tremor as if eager to confirm something, he spoke.

"Brother, no... Horikita-senpai, what did you just say?"

Horikita Suzune couldn't believe that the man who had so ruthlessly shattered all her illusions not long ago would say such things to her.

Since she could remember, Horikita Manabu had never said anything like "good luck" to her so formally.

In addition, Horikita Manabu had just shown her with his abilities not long ago that staying in this school for even one more day would only bring shame to Horikita Manabu, who was once the student council president.

Horikita Suzune initially thought it was a statement that nearly severed their sibling relationship, but... but just now...

"Surprised? I'm cheering you on, Suzune. By the way, it's okay to call me 'brother' now, because..."

"Brother!! I... I'll do my best..."

"Since I've officially graduated, and tomorrow is my graduation ceremony, you're welcome to come anytime if you want. Although I've said before that I wouldn't bother with you anymore, we're still siblings, so let me see the results of your hard work one last time. I want to see if you're really the same as you said, no longer the same Suzune you were back then. I'll remember everything that happened today, so... don't let others down, Suzune."

Horikita Manabu's words were like a bucket of cold water poured over Horikita Suzune, who had been beaming with joy. Tomorrow would be the day Horikita Manabu ended his time as a high school student.

In other words... today is the last time she will see him. As for tomorrow? Horikita Suzune felt that she probably didn't have the courage to say 'goodbye' to Horikita Manabu.

The next time I see Horikita Manabu will probably be two years later, after she has graduated from the school and left.

All of this was so cruel for Horikita Suzune.

'I'm not the same Horikita Suzune I was three years ago! I'm worthy to stand beside my brother now!'

'One day I'll show my brother how much I've grown, Tianyin, come help me too.'

'Even if you're my brother... you can't trample on my dreams like this! What's wrong with just wanting to surpass you?'

'I don't want to see my brother's back anymore. I want to surpass him and become even better than him.'

'Hmm? What if my brother graduates? That's a problem. If I haven't become an outstanding person by the time he graduates, I'll probably choose to do everything I can to show him what I've accomplished so far?'

'I lost. It seems there's no way I can surpass my brother.'

'I'm not even allowed to call him "brother" anymore, so what right do I have to say I want to surpass him?'

'Who's stronger, you or my brother? Probably you, Tianyin, are a bit stronger. No matter how hard my brother tries, he can't possibly beat a monster like you… As for why I dare to bully you but don't dare to fight my brother again, I think I've probably lost my 'courage'.'

"I will not let my brother down!"

"Damn it! Horikita Suzune, what nonsense are you spouting? Haven't you woken up from your dream after all this time? Your standing on this field has nothing to do with me, and you shouldn't be fighting just to live up to my expectations. What you shouldn't be letting down are the classmates who chose to believe in and support you in the most important match that determines the class's victory or defeat. If you only stood there to show me your childish performance, then I can only say... I overestimated you, Suzune."

Horikita Manabu sighed in disappointment, turned around and prepared to leave. He skipped celebrating with his classmates the moment his special exam ended and ran here as fast as he could, afraid that if he was even a step too slow, he would miss Horikita Suzune's last special exam while he was still on campus.

But now, Horikita Suzune actually told him that she would fight so as not to let him down. Thinking of this, Horikita Manabu felt sorry for Amane. He had irresponsibly handed over the task of correcting Horikita Suzune to Amane. Amane had also tried every means to wake Horikita Suzune from her dream.

But all the efforts ultimately resulted in this outcome... It's incredibly disappointing.

Horikita Manabu looked at the email on his phone. It contained a message that Horikita Suzune had sent him half a month ago. The message said that the last special exam for first-year students would be held today, but it didn't say whether Horikita Manabu was invited to watch it.

If it were someone else, they might choose to ignore it, because the email looks too much like a formulaic notification message, with nothing else to it.

But only Horikita Manabu knew that Horikita Suzune hoped to see him arrive on this day.

Now he has arrived, but the girl in her dream has not yet woken up.

Ugh……

"Please wait a moment."

"I no longer have time to watch Lingyin's performance."

"I... I wasn't acting. I stood here precisely because I didn't want to let everyone down. Whether you believe me or not, I just hope you can see me to the end. After all... this is the last time we'll see each other at this school, isn't it?"

No matter how beautifully or pleasantly the words were spoken, Horikita Manabu remained unmoved. He had seen countless people who only knew how to shout slogans, and Horikita Suzune was no different.

However, the last sentence made him hesitate.

Tomorrow is the day of parting. He might stay for a few more days after the graduation ceremony, but Horikita Suzune probably doesn't have the courage to meet him.

Who knows, today really might be the last time we meet, and the next time won't be for at least two years.

Thinking of this, even the heartless Horikita Manabu stopped in his tracks and quietly looked at Horikita Suzune.

If it were the previous Suzune Horikita, she would have smiled happily upon seeing Manabu Horikita's tacit acceptance of her behavior. However, Suzune Horikita's face now showed a very serious expression due to her excessive focus.

Regardless of what Horikita Manabu thought, Horikita Suzune genuinely wanted to win this match.

She owes everyone so much. Several times, her willfulness has led to unsatisfactory results. Horikita Suzune is well aware of this. Every time, Amane takes the blame for her, which makes everyone resent Amane.

Although Amane wouldn't blame Horikita for this, Horikita didn't want to be anyone's burden anymore.

"Both sides, get into position as soon as possible!"

Only after Horikita Suzune and Horikita Manabu finished their conversation did the teacher in charge of the referee announce that the two should take their places as soon as possible.