Chapter 281 Suzune's Kiss / Have They No Self-Respect or Dignity?
Shimizu Akira glanced at the clock. It was 8:50 PM—time to head to Horikita Suzune's dormitory.
However, thinking back to his phone call with Horikita Manabu made his head ache. The President had explicitly stated he would tell Suzune things like, "Shimizu Akira is your trainer, and he can do whatever he wants with you."
"What a headache," Shimizu muttered, rubbing the bridge of his nose.
He vividly remembered how awkward Suzune had acted after being lectured over summer break; this time, it was bound to be even worse.
Just as he was thinking this, his phone vibrated.
Horikita Suzune: You don't need to come to my room. Wait for me at yours; I'm coming over.
'Is this a form of throwing a tantrum?'
Two or three minutes later, there was a light knock at the door. He rose to open it, and his gaze instinctively landed on Suzune. The girl had actually changed into new clothes: a silk short-sleeved top paired with a short skirt.
Being stared at made Suzune uncomfortable. She pursed her lips and walked straight into the dorm, closing the door behind her. Like any other girl, she liked pretty clothes and spent points on cute styles at the school mall. But this was the first time she had specifically changed into something new for a boy.
"This outfit suits you, Suzune. It's very cute," Shimizu said naturally, sweeping his eyes over her.
"...The tracksuit from the sports festival was in the wash. I didn't have anything else to wear," Suzune replied. Her expression softened visibly, though she still stubbornly clung to an excuse.
"Take a seat." Shimizu didn't expose her little awkwardness. He was long used to her personality and gestured toward a chair in the room.
Suzune sat down stiffly, her gaze drifting elsewhere, her hands clutching the hem of her skirt tightly against her thighs.
Shimizu watched helplessly.
'Is it necessary to be this nervous?'
It wasn't as if they hadn't hugged or kissed on the cheek before. Why was she panicking now over the possibility of physical intimacy?
"Suzune, come here for a second," he said.
Her body jolted. Her earlobes turned beet red instantly, yet she slowly dragged her chair over to him.
"Relax, I'm not going to suddenly do anything to you. That kind of thing depends on the mood; you can't rush it," Shimizu laughed, seeing how tense she was.
"I am not nervous," Suzune countered, exhaling in relief while still being stubborn.
'Still nervous' he thought. He didn't push it and instead asked casually, "Why the sudden visit to my room? Didn't we agree I'd go to yours?"
"...After 10:00 PM, boys entering the girls' dormitory is a violation of school regulations," Suzune explained seriously.
"So that's it." Shimizu couldn't help but chuckle.
"I did read the rules carefully at the start of the semester. Girls visiting boys' dorms doesn't actually violate anything."
He looked at her flustered state and added, "It seems you came over specifically so I wouldn't break the rules."
"It's nothing..." Suzune looked down. "I was the one who invited you first. This is just a remedy."
"You don't seem that angry?" Shimizu followed the lead.
"?" Suzune looked up, confused. "Why should I be angry?"
"Hmm? Didn't your brother call you?"
"..."
Suzune blinked and realized immediately. Indeed, her brother had called, saying he was handing her over to Shimizu for training and telling her to follow his arrangements. It would be a lie to say she wasn't annoyed, but it was an order from her brother; she couldn't argue.
However, after the call, Tachibana Akane had somehow heard about it and sent her many messages to comfort her, so the anger had mostly dissipated. Plus, with the prospect of seeing Shimizu, she had almost forgotten about it until he brought it up.
"It's an order from my brother. I have no choice but to comply," she said dismissively, turning her face away.
"I see." Shimizu smiled and dropped the subject, switching to the race.
"How did it feel running with the President today?"
"...Not bad." Suzune recalled the moment, her tone softening.
"It was very good." Although it was only a 400-meter lap, the feeling of running side-by-side with her brother provided a warmth she hadn't experienced in a very long time.
"You finished 51st, overtaking nine people. You did great," Shimizu praised.
"It was okay..." Suzune replied softly. She wanted to clarify that she didn't actually "overtake" nine people—technically it was three. Five students from Class 1-A had withdrawn, and her own class only had four participants. But when the words reached her lips, she lost the urge to argue.
"I was surprised you beat Kinoshita Minori from Class D. Purely in terms of sprinting, she should have been stronger than you."
"She was no match for me," Suzune said, a hint of pride slipping into her voice.
This was a rare highlight of her sports festival. Kinoshita was Class D's track ace.
While Suzune struggled to keep up during the "prop" segment of the race, she eventually won fairly through sheer persistence, ignoring all of the other girl's petty tricks.
"Speaking of which, did you really not hear what Kinoshita was saying while you were running?" Shimizu asked.
"I didn't." Suzune frowned.
"What did that woman say? Akira-kun, didn't you get a copy of the recording from the staff? If there's audio, I want to hear it."
"You have to promise not to get angry first," Shimizu said, holding up his hands. "I'm afraid you'll blow a fuse."
"...I do not get angry that easily," Suzune replied confidently.
Seeing her determination, Shimizu played the recording file sent by the staff.
Kinoshita's breathy shouting filled the room: "Horikita! Horikita Suzune! Suzune! You're really not going to look back? Hey! Horikita Manabu is your brother, right? Is your brother a total stone-face? That expressionless glasses guy is just like you. Are you two even human?
...Fine, Horikita! You win! You really aren't getting mad? Fine! Then I'll talk about Shimizu Akira! Your seatmate! He's a black-hearted, manipulative jerk! He doesn't act like a high schooler at all.
He's probably some reincarnated old man! He's an old fox! A smiling tiger!"
The recording ended with her frustrated panting: "Still not looking back... Horikita Suzune, you're... tough!"
Within ten seconds of the recording ending, Suzune's face darkened visibly. The soft atmosphere vanished, replaced by a chilling pressure. She clenched her fists for a long time before suppressing her rage enough to speak.
"She actually... dared to insult my brother and you. Does that woman want to die?" Her voice was laced with the sound of grinding teeth. Her earlier claim of emotional control was long gone.
'I knew it.' Shimizu looked at her flushed cheeks and handed her a cold bottle of water.
"Drink some water and calm down. It's not worth getting upset over."
Suzune took the bottle and took several large gulps. The icy liquid managed to dampen the fire in her chest. She looked at Shimizu, her eyes still burning.
"Ryuen Kakeru and Kinoshita Minori... those two are beyond despicable! Fine. Since they love 'caring' about others during competitions, I am making Class D my number one target. Every special exam from now on will have the goal of crushing Class D!"
She huffed. "Did she really think those low-class insults would work on me?"
Shimizu shook his head.
'You're this mad and you're still saying they didn't work?'
If he hadn't prepared her beforehand, she wouldn't have made it through the first stage, let alone the "Insult Manabu" stage.
"Alright, no need to be angry." He took the chance to gently take her hand and pat the back of it.
"The fact is, she was disqualified, and you won fairly. Besides, Ryuen lost to our class by a dozen points today; he's probably fuming too. If Kinoshita hadn't been banned from the subsequent events, she might have actually ranked well given her athleticism."
Suzune froze slightly at the warmth on the back of her hand. She didn't pull away.
"Her disqualification was her own fault. Competitions are about strength, not underhanded tactics."
Seeing the anger fade from her eyes, Shimizu teased, "Not mad anymore? Someone just said they 'absolutely' weren't going to get angry."
"I... I just thought her level was too low," Suzune scrambled to justify herself. However, she didn't withdraw her hand; instead, she gripped Shimizu's hand back.
Shimizu didn't say more. He raised his other hand and gently pinched her cheek.
"Alright, stop letting those trashy people get to you."
Suzune stared at his face. Her blinking increased in frequency, and the red on her ears spread to her cheeks. The irritation from the recording was completely washed away by this sudden intimacy.
She realized she wasn't as nervous as when she first arrived.
"So, you were talking about the race and the class on purpose to ease my tension?" she asked.
"Yes, partly," Shimizu nodded. "But it's also just nice for two people to talk, isn't it?"
Suzune rolled her eyes but imitated him, reaching up to gently pinch his cheek. Seeing the usually calm and stoic Shimizu with his cheek slightly puffed out gave him a clumsy, comical look.
"Oh? Being proactive this time, are we?" Shimizu laughed as she pulled her hand back.
Suzune's hand froze mid-air before she quickly turned her head away. Before she could compose herself, Shimizu reached out and placed his hand on her thigh.
"Let me massage your legs. It was your first ten-kilometer run; you must be exhausted."
Suzune stiffened. The warmth from his hand seeped in, making her toes curl.
She wanted to say "no need," but the words were stifled by the gentle pressure of his fingertips.
The strength was perfect—not too hard, not too soft—kneading away the lactic acid. It was the exact relaxation she needed.
"Relax, don't be so tense," Shimizu's voice was low, with a hint of a smile.
"Otherwise, your muscles will be even more sore tomorrow."
Suzune bit her lip and slowly let her body relax. She still didn't dare look at him, muttering, "I can do it myself..."
"You can't reach the right spots yourself," Shimizu said, adjusting his angle and avoiding the sensitive area behind the knee, focusing on the calves and thighs.
"Besides, as a trainer, isn't it my duty to take care of my Pokémon?"
"I am not your Pokémon..." Suzune's protest grew smaller, while her face grew hotter.
After about ten minutes, Shimizu withdrew his hand. "That should do it. If it still hurts tomorrow, let me know."
Suzune finally looked at him, her eyes still shimmering with a lingering flush. "...Thank you."
"You're welcome."
Shimizu looked at her red earlobes and shifty eyes. He reached out and pulled her closer, making her sit right beside him.
He then cupped her face, his thumb brushing away a trace of sweat from her temple before pinching her cheek again.
"...My face doesn't have muscle pain," Suzune protested weakly.
"True, this isn't to relieve muscle pressure." Shimizu's eyes were playful, yet his tone was matter-of-fact. "It's purely because I wanted to touch you. Is that okay, Suzune?"
Suzune was silent for a few seconds before whispering, "...It's okay."
Shimizu was doing it on purpose. He knew she wouldn't refuse, yet he asked anyway. He probably found her nervous and shy reactions amusing.
Before she could think further, Shimizu leaned down and planted a few light kisses on her forehead and cheek.
Then, he took her hand, interlacing his fingers with hers, the warmth of his palm steady and reassuring.
Feeling the soft touch of his lips on her skin, Suzune closed her eyes, her eyelashes trembling.
The next second, she felt his lips cover her own.
This time, it wasn't a peck on the forehead or cheek. It was a real kiss. Suzune's mind went blank; she even forgot to breathe. The soft sensation of their lips touching was clearer than she imagined, carrying a faint scent unique to Shimizu.
Her nerves were taut, yet she couldn't bring herself to push him away.
She felt his movements were gentle, not rushing to deepen it, just lingering against her lips as if confirming something. Only when she trembled from holding her breath did he pull back slightly, his nose brushing hers. He was still smiling.
"Suzune, you can breathe."
Suzune snapped back to reality and took a large breath, her face hot enough to fry an egg. Just as she was about to say something, he kissed her again. This time, his movements were even slower, his fingers gently stroking the back of her neck to soothe her.
After an unknown amount of time, Shimizu pulled away. Seeing her watery eyes and slightly swollen lips, he laughed.
"How did your first kiss feel?"
Suzune couldn't speak. She just shook her head and looked down at their joined hands, her heart racing wildly. She realized her fingertips were damp with sweat.
Shimizu pulled her into his arms. "Rest for a bit."
Leaning against him, she could hear his steady heartbeat. It acted like an anchor, helping her calm down. Suzune reached out and naturally wrapped her arms around his waist—just as they had during the three-legged race—and whispered, "Mm."
"Actually, thank you for cooperating," Shimizu added with a laugh.
"I was looking for the right timing to kiss you, and then you suddenly closed your eyes. Good job this time."
Being praised for closing her eyes made Suzune feel conflicted. She remembered the message Tachibana Akane had sent: 'When you're alone with Shimizu-kun and you feel nervous, just close your eyes and rest a bit.'
'Rest? That was clearly a signal for a kiss!'
Tachibana had set her up! She finally realized that when a man and woman are alone, small gestures like closing one's eyes carry a lot of unspoken intent.
Suzune began blinking rapidly, trying to process these "signals." The next second, Shimizu kissed her cheek again.
"Eh?" She was confused and asked instinctively, "Is blinking rapidly also a form of permission?"
Shimizu was amused by her bewildered look. He pinched her cheek.
"Not this time. I just wanted to kiss you."
Suzune rolled her eyes and reached up to pinch his nose. This time, she didn't hesitate; the pressure was light, more like a playful, spoiled retaliation.
"Suzune, close your eyes, open your mouth. Let's try again, but further this time." Shimizu didn't dodge; he reached out to pet her head.
Suzune instinctively closed her eyes again.
The next second, his lips covered hers, but it was different from before. Something warm gently entered her mouth, carrying his familiar scent. Because of his reminder to "open your mouth," she didn't resist, allowing the sensation to deepen.
As the warmth spread, Suzune's mind went hazy again, and she could only follow his rhythm. Only when her breathing became ragged did Shimizu pull away. He brushed his thumb against her reddened lips and smiled.
"That one didn't have a signal either. I just wanted to kiss you deeply."
Suzune opened her eyes, her vision slightly blurred. Looking at his face so close to hers, her voice trembled.
"Y-you don't have to explain... I know that much!"
Did he think she was a complete idiot in love? She understood what "caught in the moment" meant.
"Then do you want to try being the one to initiate?" Shimizu teased.
"..." Suzune hesitated for a moment and leaned in. She locked her gaze on his lips and pursed her own. After a long internal struggle, she suddenly turned her head away and gave up decisively.
Shimizu shook his head. It seemed it would take more time for Suzune to initiate a kiss. Still, for her, today was a massive step forward. They hadn't just kissed; they had shared intimate interactions afterward.
He considered his next words carefully. It was time to be open. "Suzune, actually, I plan to have several girlfriends."
This was something that had to be brought to light eventually.
"You?!" Suzune froze, her body turning stiff. She clearly hadn't expected this. But after a few seconds, she regained her composure.
"I see. I understand."
"Eh?" Now it was Shimizu's turn to be stunned. In his experience, Kushida Kikyo had bitten him, and Kamuro Masumi had vowed to ignore him for a month. How was Suzune so calm?
"Wait, you're not going to give me the cold shoulder and ignore me from now on, are you?" he asked.
"?! Why would I ignore you?" Suzune countered with a matter-of-fact look.
"You and I aren't a couple. I said from the beginning I didn't plan on having a boyfriend. My time with you is just to adapt to how men and women interact."
'Not a couple? Horikita! Your lips are red from being kissed! Do you even believe your own words?'
Shimizu complained internally but didn't dare say it.
The next second, Suzune's expression darkened, and her tone became biting.
"However, Akira-kun, speaking from the standpoint of a girlfriend, you are absurdly unfaithful. Several girlfriends? Even if I'm not your girlfriend, we've done these intimate things. Isn't I enough? Why look for other girls? Would other girlfriends really agree to such a ridiculous demand? I advise you to give up on that absurd idea as soon as possible!"
'First she denies she cares, then she gets angry from a girlfriend's perspective.'
Suzune's awkward nature was truly bone-deep.
"Uh... actually, people have already agreed. More than one."
"Who?! Have they no self-respect or dignity?!"
"Kushida Kikyo and Kamuro Masumi."
"What? Kushida Kikyo???"
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