COTE: A Man On A Mission || Love is War?

So, day, when Second-year students went to school gate to stare, Nagumo-senpai left with a disgusted expression on his face.

As Vice president, Hachiman was not as showy as Nagumo. He just put his name tag on table, but he had an extra armband with [Vice President] written on it.

Sakayanagi said that he had to wear it in student council.

Although it’s unclear where her competitive spirit comes from, it’s not a difficult task, so Hikigaya-kun agreed.

In this way, during afternoon, Manabu announced his resignation, but that doesn’t mean he will have nothing to do.

He also has to prepare for handover.

Halfway through the process, it was already evening.

“Wait a moment....”

When Hachiman was about to leave the office, he was stopped by Manabu.

And now, not only Manabu is left in this room, but his Secretary Tachibana Akane is also here.

Hachiman understood immediately.

Maybe he wanted to say something to him alone. And as a brother, he probably understood what Manabu wanted to say.

“.....” Tachibana thought both people were a little strange. ’However, President did not let me go, so I should be able to listen to what he and Hikigaya say next....’

She thought so.

“So, you asked me to stay here on purpose, because you want me to take care of your sister?”

“Indeed.....” Manabu wasn’t much surprised either that his intentions were so easily guessed.

??? Tachibana always felt like something was not right.

“It’s already 1st, and in 9 days 3rd grade will graduate. And we will also leave school on that day. Those who cross line will not be able to re-enter unless they become employees of the school.....Tachibana, can you give me your phone number?”

“Uh, sure....” Only then did girl realize the purpose of why she was left behind.

She seemed a little reluctant, but still wrote down a number and marked her name next to it.

Tachibana Akane.

Next to her name was a number.

In other words, this is Tachibana Akane-senpai’s phone number, and it’s not from the school, but probably her number outside.

“Before being selected to enter this school, Tachibana was also somewhat wary....When she was admitted to this school, she received a school-issued mobile phone. It is the same model you are holding now. Even though students already have mobile phones, they still have to reissue them and give everyone new phone cards....She paid three years’ worth of phone bills for her original number, so she can still be contacted now.”

’That is to say, If you have something to do at school or are leaving school, you can call this number to contact him.....It is probably that Akane Tachibana-senpai gave her number to Horikita-nii herself, hoping that he would contact her after graduation. But, he gave me this number....It means I should call Tachibana Akane-senpai to contact Horikita Manabu......’

“.....” Hachiman. Looking at the phone number handed over, felt a little upset.

’The order for Nagumo to drop out of school yesterday was signed by Horikita Manabu. At that time, Sakayanagi said that he was also selfish, but I knew that Senpai was very fair, and now...Is he really that much of a straight man? Didn’t you see that Tachibana-senpai was a little confused?.....’

“If you want to get in touch, you can contact me using this,” Hachiman then took out a pen and paper he had with him.

Wrote a string of numbers. Then, home address.

“Actually, I also have something I hope you can help with. During the holiday last semester, my head teacher left school, so I asked her to help me take the cash I exchanged from the school back home. But now, she won’t be leaving school this holiday, so, Tachibana-senpai, your phone number is also in Chiba’s area code, right? Can you help me with this....?”

“You’re going to send money home again?!” Tachibana was very shocked.

“Yeah, some people may think school is harsh, but I think is heaven and you can earn a good salary....” Hachiman gave way to his true feelings.

’You took more than 30 million from my Class 3A!’ Tachibana herself also ate the wild vegetable meal for three months. ’From this perspective, since Hikigaya earns so much, it is reasonable for him to spend the money outside of school.....But I still feel very angry!’

“...If you ask me to do so, I have no objection,” Although the other party had eaten up so much of her class’s money, it was undeniable that it was their own shortcomings, and also herself. ’During forest exam, I had not seen through Nagumo and Class B’s ideas at all. It almost put class in danger, and all efforts of everyone and Horikita-kun over the past three years could have been wasted....’

“But I need to exchange a lot of cash...Tachibana-senpai carrying so much alone... wouldn’t it be dangerous?”

“Then I’ll come and help as well,” Manabu pushed up his glasses and declared his own time is free.

“Then, I have no problem,” Hachiman was very grateful. But when he thought he could leave, Manabu said something else.

“Since you are going to redeem the points and take them home, are you interested in making another 1 million?”

Hachiman immediately looked over, ’Earn another 1 million, which means, does Horikita-senpai have any other commissions that he wants me to do?’

Stared at Manabu’s forehead.

“• •” Tachibana who witnessed this incredible scene, and couldn’t believe her eyes.

“It’s a request related to my sister. Although she has been in school for a year and have grown, but I don’t think she can adapt well. And you, will probably abandon your class in your second year.....”

’Abandoning a class means that people move to higher places, and Hikigaya is going to skip. He can leave, but Suzune is still there. Then there will be no one to take care of my sister.....’

From this perspective, Manabu is a good elder brother.

“Right now, first-year Class D is trying to raise money to buy me over. And once they gather enough points, I will go to Ryuen’s.”

“D class?” Hearing this answer, Manabu smiled slightly, realising something very extraordinary is going to happen in second year, “I thought you would wait for people in Class A to buy you over, so that you could create a history of being brought to Class A by D. I thought students in A had already recognized you.”

“Class A was ready to buy me, but I refused her offer....”

“Is that so?”

“Because I feel like there’s no passion or drive in Class A. I like the feeling of struggling to climb up from the bottom. It’s like a counterattack.”

“• ? •” Tachibana is almost ready to faint, she just really couldn’t make out his words, and thought junior is now gone complete lunatic!

But Manabu shook his head.

“I see....Because if you go to Class A, it will only be icing on the cake, but if you go to Class D, it will be a lifeline....Then you can get a huge amount of points from Ryuen. But, Sakayanagi will not reuse you after buying you over, and her classmates will feel relieved as long as they do, negating a potential enemy. So it is almost impossible for you to get a huge amount of points from them....Oh dear, I sometimes forget how much you love money...”

“…” These words leave people like Tachibana speechless, so I say.

“Let’s get back to Horikita’s question,” Hachiman chose to return to the topic, as he felt very exposed, and didn’t like dumb face of Tachibana staring at him like a fool.

“I thought you two would have a better relationship. For example, call her Suzune.”

“….” ’Did Horikita’s brother also hear something wrong? Most students would misunderstand that me and Horikita Suzune are dating....And it seems that I was spotted by brother more than once being intimate with his sister.....Damn...’

“Well, let’s get back to the question about Suzune,” Hachiman modified his wording for now.

“Yeah,” Even Manabu seemed satisfied with this.

“.....”

“• ! •” Tachibana felt like she was standing with very strange people, she couldn’t match the wavelength.

“Because of your departure, Suzune should not be able to skip classes. But that’s just [supposed to be], if she can find her true self, then she still has a chance to collect 20 million points and relocate.”

???

After hearing this, not only Hachiman but also Tachibana beside him looked at him in surprise, because Horikita Manabu is so confident in his cute little....

“In the past, Suzune was just chasing my steps and following my figure. This isn’t really her, But, if she can find her true self, girl can become stronger than me.....”

’Is that so? That Horikita?’ Hachiman felt very doubtful again, didn’t deny that she had grown, but it would be difficult to surpass Manabu, “So what is real Horikita... um, what is Suzune like?”

He also became interested in topic.

’Now I meet Horikita, who is aloof but down-to-earth, can cook very tasty food. But real Horikita, in other words, the current version is not actually her true nature, but is she acting just like Kushida? If that’s case, how terrible it is!’

’Because it’s not just Kushida who hates Horikita’s inconsistency.  In fact, she is also one of the only two people I have ever met who is consistent in their words and deeds. Second is my younger sister, Komachi. So now he says girl is not the real Horikita Suzune, which means that I really underestimated her? Or is her brother just bragging like Sakayanagi to me....?’

“Suzune is a girl who loves to laugh and act coquettishly. She is like a brat, who does best to get her wishes fulfilled....”

xxxxxxx

Boom——

Something from Tachibana’s side rolled to the ground. But not only her, but even Hachiman was frightened.

Horikita Suzune loves to laugh. Like to act coquettishly. She is a brat.

Brother, are you lying?

[You stayed here for too long at night, disturbing my reading. Please go back quickly.]

[It’s not that I don’t want to lend it to you, it’s just that my clothes don’t fit Ichinose-san, there’s no reason why]

[Hmm? This kind of question will be clear once you look at it, why do you think it is difficult?]

[Kushida-san is troublesome, but I lost to her, so I have no choice but to abide by the agreement.]

[Smile? What’s that? I don’t think it’s necessary.]

His mind was filled with strict and fair Horikita Suzune. So things like laughing and acting coquettishly.

Couldn’t imagine that at all.

“This is real Suzune who is outgoing, but she imitated me and became what she is now. But when I was very young, I was actually the kind of person who followed behind her like a background. In other words, although it’s not good for me to say it, my sister grew up crooked....So, Hikigaya, I hope you can make her return to her original state.”

’Horikita admires her brother very much and works hard to be like him. But is her current coolness, hard work, and everything else she does just because she is imitating her brother? And what he said was also very simple. Let Horikita Suzune be herself....Tell her to stop imitating Horikita Manabu, who hopes to regain his sister’s original talent. Find stronger herfrom the past, and then survive and gain something here...’

“Wouldn’t it be better if you said these words to her yourself?” Hachiman said after thinking about it, not finding too much good in being a Tsundere.

“I can’t do that. My status is not suitable for asking her to change. Even if I told to her face, she would just follow orders. What I hope is that she chooses herself to change. And only person who can make her do that is you, Hikigaya Hachiman. You have already changed her once, so you can do it again.”

This silenced Hikigaya-kun. Because, she was changed by him once, knowing well he corrupted her thoughts.

Otherwise, there wouldn’t be a harmonious relationship between 2 of them now.

After a little thought, Hikigaya-kun decided to take another job.

Because he was also somewhat curious about how talented Horikita Suzune really was and what she could become....As for how to bring out the real her, it is actually not difficult.

Take excellent brother as the goal and imitate him as excellence. But she is fake like this.

She tried to imitate her brilliant brother from a very young age, but never succeeded.

In other words, if it is cracked, there should be gaps. All Hachiman had to do was open her heart again.

There is a way, and it’s very simple. Just make her collapse once.

What Suzune is best at - Studying.

It would be devastating if a person becomes worthless in a field that she is good at, so he defeats her in academic study.

“You are simply a monster—”

xxxxxx

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