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

Although somewhat reluctant, Manabu could only passively get on the bus that had brought them to Advanced Nurturing High School with other graduates.

The school has not continued with exams or classes since March.

They were also given an extra month’s living expenses.

For some students who have no money, it is best to go home as early as possible.

Because wild vegetable set meal is really not tasty.

“Horikita-kun, what are your plans now?” Tachibana was a little unnatural. She always felt that Manabu was emitting negative emotions.

“My original plan was to go back home first, and introduce you to my family. But now, let’s go to Chiba. While completing Hikigaya Hachiman’s mission, I also want to meet his family.”

“.....” Tachibana, ’W-what..did I hear?’

Perhaps because he felt that the tone was a little inappropriate, Manabu immediately replied, “I am very grateful to you for always being by my side and assisting me. During these 3 years, I only focused on the class competition, so I couldn’t spare any time to do other things. But. I’m sorry.....I’ve kept you waiting for so long. As for love, I think we should start dating at university.”

“Eh....ehhhhh?!!” But these words almost made Tachibana jump up from her seat!

Hey hey hey?

If she had understood Manabu correctly, then Akane Tachibana felt like her brain was about to burn out.

’Because, because Horikita-kun, aren’t you...made of a piece of wood?!’

xxxxxxx

The 3rd graders left school, left gate, and headed towards their own lives.

“If you want to cry.....I can lend you my shoulder.”

’Although I feel that Horikita-senpai doesn’t understand his sister well enough, she is timid and weak. But, relationship between these two siblings should be pretty good. Therefore, at this time of farewell, Horikita’s emotions should be out of control.....Just like now, you can see that her eyes are a little moist.’

“No need,” But Suzune shook her head rapidly, “In two years, I can go out too. Besides, I don’t want to show weakness in front of you.”

’Darn it. What’s matter with this stubbornness?’ Hachiman decided to change her mood and took initiative to start a new topic, “By the way, do you think there will be any development between Horikita-senpai and Tachibana-senpai in future?”

“Development?” Suzune frowned slightly, while using her brain to figure out the exact meaning of words, “Could it be that my brother and Tachibana-senpai are actually dating in school?”

“Not at the moment, because he is both class representative and President, he doesn’t have the energy to think about anything else in school......”

“.....” Speaking of this, Hikigaya-kun suddenly became a little nervous. ’Because isn’t it just being filled with work and not being able to enjoy life? So, I hate being a social animal!’

“Is that so? But, I think my brother will definitely respond to her in the future!” Suzune’s face looked, um what, is that being proud for some reason?

“Why do you say that?” Hikigaya-kun also noticed this weird behaviour, and concentrated his camera’s lenses.

“My brother has a rather rigid personality. If he realizes someone has feelings for him, he will probably reject them while he’s still in school, but may respond after graduation. So, I think it’s possible that Nii-san will reply to Tachibana-senpai....maybe even in bus right now...!”

’Salazar’s grave?! Horikita Suzune, aren’t you actually a piece of wood?’ Hikigaya-kun looked at her in surprise. ’You and your brother are actually similar in many ways. For example, you may fall into the same type of pit. Now your brother will be careful and perhaps even serious in responding to someone he already knows has feelings for him. So, you are this type too? As long as someone confesses to you sincerely, would you be likely to agree? The current Horikita is stern and aloof, but gives people the feeling of being upgraded...’

Hikigaya-kun quickly suppressed the strange thoughts that suddenly came to his mind and looked away, “If it’s your brother, I don’t think anything to worry about....”

“Explain?”

“A few days ago, after having dinner at your place, I was too full, so I sat at the table bored and took out my phone and sent a message to your brother.....At that time, I asked him if he regretted paying me so many points for the forest exam. Then I asked him what he would do if I didn’t get involved. He thought that even if they were deceived, he would still try best until the last minute....”

What Hachiman mentioned about him being too full and not wanting to move suddenly made Horikita Suzune remember that it should have been the day before yesterday.

’After washing dishes, he stayed at the table, won’t even read the books given to him. So you actually sent a message to my brother at that time?’

“Hiki----Hachiman, do you think it’s still possible for Nii-san to win even in that situation?” Suzune looked over immediately.

“....He just felt it, but wasn’t absolutely sure. But he should have confirmed one thing,” Hachiman felt like his heart was beating at more pace than usual, than it most likely should have.

“What?”

“If I don’t participate, Tachibana-senpai will still be framed, but she won’t be expelled. Your brother will use points gathered by Class A, and then his own to make up the 20 million.”

“...You are right, Nii-san is indeed like this. That’s why his class is always full with 40 people in the end,” Suzune said with some emotion. ’Because there are already students dropping out of Class B, and will be more in future. But my brother can guarantee that place is full, which shows how much effort he puts in. At least I felt that I couldn’t do it....’

“You, like your brother, have missed the point of what I said....”

“• ? •” Suzune. “So what do you want to say?”

“I repeated it at that time, if  Tachibana-senpai was not the person who got expelled, would your brother still be willing to gather all his strength to save this classmate?”

“I think he’s willing!” Suzune was completely sure.

“Yeah, I’m willing. That’s what he answered as well.....”

“I don’t understand your point.”

“His reply missed usual speed of incoming. It means he was thinking about it, even if a little. But for Tachibana-senpai, he didn’t even hesitated. So, at that time, I just told him that if he had any feelings for his Secretary, should take action now.”

“....” Suzune. “So, you are testing Tachibana-senpai’s position in brother’s heart?”

“It’s not a test,” Hachiman shook his head, “Just for him to confirm, and don’t make her wait any longer....”

’Then in future, he will remember this favor from me....Now Horikita Manabu has graduated. Although goal is to go to college first. But as he said, he wants to go into politics in the future. Given strength of a student council president who can lead 39 students, and the fact that he is also a smooth-talker, I have no doubt about his future achievements and development.....This is considered to be good karma....A training high school can allow students to simulate social development in advance, so they can accumulate enough experience to cope with it, and at the same time, can also develop a considerable network of contacts.’

“.....” Hachiman suddenly realized that his goal was not to become a corporate slave, so why should he consider these things that slaves need to give attention now?

“Is there anything you would like to eat later?” So, he directly invited Suzune who was beside him, “I always eat your food, so I have to return the favor occasionally....”

“Hmm-hmm-----” She began to think, because words used just now were her own,  “Then let’s go to shopping street. I saw a girl saying that steak there is delicious.....”

’That’s the shop Sakayanagi recommended.....was Horikita...no, that’s probably a long shot.’ But never mind, Hikigaya-kun urently needs to get the corporate slave mentality out of his mind.

So he took the lead and walked forward.

Suzune followed, but wiped her eyes with a tissue when Hachiman wasn’t looking. ’I felt that he was treating me on purpose so that I could dilute the negative emotions I felt after my brother left the school and was left alone....Hachiman, in fact, is very different from the boys in my class in some ways....It should be said that he is a more mature type.’

At the end of first grade, Suzune also updated her understanding of her peers.

Note - I just wanted you to know, Suzune didn’t cut her hair. That photo in last chapter was how Manabu visioned in his eyes.

To be honest, I don’t like Suzune with short ones. She is already nerfed in recent volumes regarding her body.

xxxxxx

March 12th.

Even going to the cafeteria felt a little empty.

“It’s a little lonely,” A girl with golden-pink hair suddenly spoke up in student council.

This is Ichinose Honami.

In Sakayanagi’s days, all 3rd years were retired, and then all council members except Karuizawa were expelled.

So now there is only one President, a vice president, a pink-haired secretary, and a small-time discipline committee member who does not hold the position or even come to show face.

However, Sakayanagi’s plan did not go so smoothly.

Because sophomores were exploited by Nagumo, four classes of A, B, C, and D, were given one student council member position each.

In the end, only Asahina-senpai from Class A of sophomore year had the money to pay 1 million points.

Then, Sakayanagi awarded her the position of Discipline Committee Chairman which doesn’t hold any significance unlike Irregular.

Although this position has authority, ANHS has a closed management system, even if one wants to show off power of the discipline committee member.

Then, only way to check whether the new students are carrying any prohibited items is at beginning of the school year.

Normally, they will only be assigned to work when there is a shortage of staff. It is a slacking position.

Because sophomores were too poor, council renovated the building, spending more than 700,000 yen, most of it came from her pocket.

Then Hachiman could only get a share of 100,000 points, ’I feel a little regretful, even angry....’

Hachiman sealed the opening of a letter with glue and stamped it with council’s seal.

Then he handed it to Ichinose.

“Go submit it to the staff.”

“....Yes, sir.” Ichinose turned and left with a slightly red face, on being ordered around like this by him.

“• ? •”

“• ! •”  Sakayanagi...’what the hell’s going on here?’

As for the President, Arisu is catching up on her sleep in student council today, probably because she spent quite a bit of energy playing with Kamuro-san’s cat last night.

Then, she woke up now. However, her state seemed to be still a little confused. ’As soon as I opened my eyes, I saw Ichinose-san leaving Hikigaya-kun’s desk with a letter.....’

“I was just dealing with a letter. It needs to be delivered. I asked Ichinose to take it to the staff.”

’Oh...So, it was just an ordinary letter. I was shocked and thought it was a love letter from Ichinose-san!.. Indeed, she should be working not fooling around.’

“I heard that student council could send out items for delivery, so I came here.....” A tall, bald boy appeared at the door.

It’s Katsuragi from Class A, 1st grade, holding a pink stuffed rabbit in his hands.

It was neither too big nor too small, but it looked out of place for someone of his size and tough looks.

“Yes, there is such a service. If you want to send a letter, it needs to be reviewed by student council. Then you have to pay 10,000 points. It is important to note that content of the letter cannot be negative about the school, even rules and regulations need to be kept confidential. If it is involved once, it will be rejected. If found second time, there will be punishment. If it’s an outbound delivery, same applies. You can’t hide anything related to the school. At the same time, for such outbound delivery, you need to pay 30,000 points, which includes the courier fee......”

Hikigaya Hachiman, Vice-President.

“30,000?” Katsuragi frowned as he watched Hikigaya announce the rules in a serious tone.

However, he was not dissatisfied with the rules, but was a little embarrassed 30,000 was required to send out items.

“Katsuragi-kun,” Sakayanagi Arisu, who had just woken up, suddenly spoke.

’Although watching Hikigaya-kun, who doesn’t like working, being serious, will make sleeping more comfortable and improve the quality of my dreams.....But it would not be good to ask him to do all the time. In other words, although I was careful about my reputation, did not expand the student council yet. But it’s really too much to let only two people work like a horse! It’s also my job to hire one or 2 tool people to sign papers, and match the income of department...budget... everything...’

“What do you think of Student council? You applied to join during President Horikita’s tenure and got turned down, right? But, I am very generous, I can offer you a position as an Accountant!”

“You are....” Katsuragi seemed a little surprised, he couldn’t believe his ears.

“As you can see, my health is not good, and most of the work can only be delegated to members of student council. Of course, don’t think this is a slap in face....I judge people by their strength. For example, if there were other candidates in this year’s president election, will you vote for me or for someone else?”

“......” Katsuragi felt like he was giving an interview without even being aware of.

xxxxxx

Author’s Note

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