Chapter 369 Confessing the Harem to Horikita Manabu / Nagumo Miyabi Rejected
After the graduation ceremony, it was school tradition to hold a farewell banquet for the third-year graduates and the entire faculty. During the banquet, graduates could say goodbye to the teachers they respected and discuss their future plans.
Kouhais also took this opportunity to find senpais they were close with for one last conversation.
Shimizu Akira was planning to go to the boxing club to formally bid farewell to several senpais who were about to graduate. Just as he took a step, a familiar, loud voice called out from beside him:
"Shimizu! Over here!"
It was President Sato. He was waving his hand vigorously in this direction. Shimizu Akira did not hesitate and walked straight over.
"Shimizu," President Sato patted him on the shoulder, "that boxing match the other day, you fought really well. Although... it would have been better if the opponent had more weight to them."
As the president, he felt somewhat regretful that the kouhai he had nurtured for a year ended up facing just an ordinary high school girl in the finals.
"It couldn't be helped. You know, Senpai, that no one in Class A actually knows boxing."
In the entire Class A, only Kito Hayato could be considered a qualified opponent, but he hadn't trained systematically, and his physical fitness wasn't as good as Shimizu's. If he had stepped into the ring, he likely would have been knocked out in one punch.
President Sato couldn't help but sigh again.
"After I graduate, the boxing club will rely on you and Karuizawa to hold it together. When you move up to the second year, she'll be the second-year manager. You two must maintain the club well! Once we third-years leave, there really won't be many people left in the club."
He counted on his fingers; the remaining members amounted to only six or seven people—not even enough to put together a lineup for an exhibition match.
"Don't worry, Senpai. I'll help with recruiting new members too," Shimizu Akira nodded heavily.
Although recruiting new members was the responsibility of the manager and the president, he had received a lot of care from his senpais, so he wanted to help as much as he could.
"Once the new semester starts, I'll also go to the recruitment fair to see if any kouhais are interested in boxing. What do you think?"
Kouhai boys as members, kouhai girls as managers—the current boxing club was open to everyone.
"Hearing you say that puts me at ease." Sato breathed a sigh of relief, then suddenly remembered something.
"Right! Do you remember last semester, when I asked my girlfriend to help introduce you to Ichinose? I never asked for details afterward. How is it going between you two now?"
"Well," Shimizu Akira replied frankly, "we're dating."
Sato froze for a moment before slapping Shimizu hard on the back.
"Good! That's great news!"
Sato's slap was full of strength, but since Shimizu was already used to it, he stood his ground firmly despite the "bear-paw" strike.
"Not bad! Not bad at all! I think you two make a great couple." Sato grinned. "With this, one of my regrets before graduation is completely resolved. I just wonder when you'll be able to fulfill my other regret, Shimizu?"
"Other regret?" Shimizu Akira didn't react for a second.
"Who else could it be? Nagumo Miyabi, of course! Besides worrying about the boxing club and your life's big events, the thing I care about most is when that guy will finally step down from the position of Student Council President," Sato said irritably.
"About that!" Shimizu Akira thought seriously for a moment. "It probably won't be long now."
He wasn't joking. Now that Ichinose Honami, Horikita Suzune, and Kushida Kikyo had all entered the Student Council, all three intended to become president.
Given Nagumo Miyabi's style of doing things, it would be difficult for him to stay in that position for much longer.
"Fine! Then I'll leave that matter to you!" Sato turned to look at the other side. "Eh, let's stop for now. It looks like Horikita-senpai is looking for you."
Not far away, Horikita Manabu was talking with several kouhai, and his gaze had indeed drifted toward them several times.
"Alright, I'll head over there first." Shimizu Akira nodded. "I'm going to the boxing club this afternoon; we can talk more then."
"No problem!" Sato waved him off.
Shimizu Akira walked toward Horikita Manabu, who had also finished his conversation and was walking toward him.
"Horikita-senpai , congratulations on graduating as part of Class A." Shimizu Akira came to a stop in front of him.
"It is merely the natural result," Horikita Manabu said confidently, lightly adjusting his glasses.
Shimizu Akira couldn't help but chuckle at that.
Horikita Manabu and Horikita Suzune really were siblings! This confidence rooted in strength—their expressions and tone were practically identical.
However, the former's confidence was built on absolute strength, while the latter's felt more like a bluff. This was the direction in which Suzune needed to grow in the future.
"Have you decided on a university yet?" Shimizu Akira asked casually.
"Yes. In the end, I chose Tokyo University. The environment and faculty are important; one should walk with excellent people as much as possible. I will choose my major from Management, Economics, or Law."
"I see." Shimizu Akira nodded. Horikita-senpai was indeed skilled at organization, coordination, and resource allocation—those fields suited him perfectly. "And Senpai Tachibana-senpai? Is she the same as you?"
"Yes. She said she would choose the same major as me."
Seeing that graduation was imminent, Shimizu Akira finally couldn't hold back the question he had been curious about: "Horikita-senpai , are you two... dating?"
"...We are not dating."
"But do you have feelings for her?"
"...I do not deny that. At this stage, besides family, I do indeed have feelings for Tachibana Akane that exceed those of ordinary friends."
Listening to this, Shimizu Akira felt a bit of a headache.
Why did this answer sound so familiar? Wait... a few months ago, when his relationship with Suzune became close, she had said something similar.
When it came to matters of the heart, this brother and sister really were both tsunderes!
Horikita Manabu himself never thought he was a tsundere or anything of the sort. He had just turned eighteen and was at the stage of putting all his effort into his life. At this time, romance was an inefficient and unnecessary option for him. If one day in the future he actually needed to consider a partner, Tachibana Akane would be the most rational choice.
That was all.
He coughed lightly, pulling the topic back.
"Let's set my matters aside. What about you? How is your progress with Suzune?"
More than his own private matters, this elder brother cared about his sister's romantic situation. Shimizu Akira felt there was no need to hide it.
"Well, we are currently dating."
"Is that so?" Horikita Manabu's mood visibly improved.
However, this joy didn't last long, as Shimizu Akira added two more words: "But..."
"But what? Is the relationship not going well? Does she refuse to go on dates with you? Or does she not let you touch her?" Horikita Manabu had actually begun to think about how to give his sister a lecture.
"It's not that." Shimizu Akira interrupted quickly, looking a bit embarrassed. "Regarding physical intimacy, though it was difficult at first, things are flowing naturally now. The problem lies with me... Actually! Currently, I have more than one girlfriend."
Shimizu Akira finally said those words to the older brother's face.
"Is that so?" The brother froze for a rare moment.
Horikita Manabu's expression instantly became inscrutable, his gaze sharp as he looked at Shimizu Akira. "Who else?"
Shimizu Akira took a deep breath and looked up. "Besides Suzune, there is Ichinose Honami, as well as Kushida Kikyo..."
"Seven people?" Horikita Manabu was taken aback, his brow furrowing again. Even the school's Special Exams hadn't been this tricky for him.
"Yes. I know it sounds absurd and goes against common sense. I don't intend to make excuses."
"...And their wishes? Does Suzune know about the existence of the others?"
"She knew from the very beginning. The eight of us have a clear consensus on this."
"Risks. Emotional inequality, external pressure, future uncertainty. Have you considered these, Shimizu?"
"I consider them every day. But more than the risks, I am afraid of failing any of their hearts due to cowardice. They all know what they might face, yet they still chose this path. I don't want to trample on that courage; I want to persevere with them."
Another silence followed. Horikita Manabu looked at him, his fingers tightening.
"I can see that you have indeed considered a lot. But for some reason, even hearing you say that... I still really want to punch you."
Shimizu Akira said with a cold sweat, "I understand. Horikita-senpai , if you want to make a move before you graduate, you can find me anytime."
After all, he had pursued the man's precious sister—and in the form of a harem. It was only natural that the brother would want to hit him.
Just as Horikita Manabu seemed about to say something more, a familiar greeting came from behind them.
"Horikita-senpai , congratulations on graduating!"
The two turned and saw Nagumo Miyabi and Asahina Nazuna walking over side by side. The latter looked at Horikita Manabu with a bright smile, then toward Shimizu Akira.
"Horikita-senpai , Shimizu-kouhai, good morning."
"Good morning, Asahina-senpai ," Shimizu Akira returned the greeting.
Horikita Manabu's reaction was much colder, only giving a slight nod.
Nagumo Miyabi's gaze lingered briefly on Shimizu Akira. He felt a slight prick of displeasure at the way Shimizu greeted his childhood friend, but his attention quickly returned to Horikita Manabu.
"As expected of a senpai; until the very end, I wasn't able to truly threaten you. You still graduated smoothly as part of Class A."
"Threaten?" Horikita Manabu said coldly. "From the beginning, you were never seriously targeting the third-year Class A, were you?"
"Hehe... as expected, you saw through it." Nagumo Miyabi laughed and admitted it frankly.
If he had truly wanted to target Horikita Manabu, he had many methods, but in this final Special Exam, he had indeed chosen to hold back.
"What I'm more curious about," Horikita looked at him, "is the transfer slots to Class A you promised the other three graduating classes. Why is it that in these last few days, not a single student from our class has transferred in?"
"It's simple." Nagumo Miyabi snapped his fingers. "They only had the 'possibility.' According to the lottery results, not a single one of those people was chosen."
Lottery results? Shimizu Akira had heard of Nagumo's so-called "random selection" rules. But for not a single person to be chosen... wasn't that too much of a coincidence? This guy probably never intended to let anyone transfer in from the start.
What Horikita Manabu truly cared about was clearly not that.
"Next, do you plan to continue turning this school upside down?"
Nagumo Miyabi didn't answer directly but asked back, "Don't you think this school is too boring, Senpai? Everything revolves around points, classes, and Special Exams, like a precise but stale machine. It needs a little true chaos to spark its vitality, don't you think?"
"Finding pleasure in breaking rules is your freedom." Horikita Manabu adjusted his glasses with his index finger. "But let me remind you—after the incident where Class D's treatment was downgraded, you won't get a second chance."
Nagumo Miyabi went silent immediately.
Indeed, that incident regarding class treatment had invisibly brought him a disciplinary warning. If it happened again, he might truly have to step down as Student Council President.
Thinking of this, he unconsciously glanced at Shimizu Akira standing beside Horikita Manabu. Come to think of it, while it was that woman Sakayanagi Arisu who reported him to his father, could this guy have been the one pushing from behind the scenes?
His own childhood friend seemed to have a high opinion of Shimizu Akira now, Ichinose Honami was completely infatuated with him, and now even Horikita-senpai was constantly talking to him.
This Shimizu Akira was truly an eyesore!
Nagumo Miyabi was gnashing his teeth with rage internally, but on the surface, he maintained the posture of a steady senpai. He forced himself not to look at Shimizu Akira again and locked his gaze back on Horikita Manabu. His purpose for coming over today wasn't to get angry.
"Horikita-senpai , since graduation is near, I'm not sure exactly when you'll be leaving the school," Nagumo said respectfully, even taking a small step forward.
"Before you go, could I please shake your hand? After I graduate later, I will surely follow in your footsteps and apply for the same university."
As he spoke, he solemnly extended his right hand.
However, Horikita Manabu just quietly looked at the extended palm. After a few seconds, he slowly shook his head.
"Nagumo, I cannot forget what you did to Tachibana Akane. Therefore, I will decline the handshake. As for your desire to attend the same university as me... I must refuse. Because Tachibana Akane hates being around you."
"..."
Nagumo Miyabi froze completely, his extended hand still hanging in mid-air, not quite processing what happened.
Wait! He was actually rejected?
Shimizu Akira couldn't help but raise a hand to his forehead. Was there something wrong with Nagumo? He had just targeted the man's secretary, and then turned around and forgot it, actually running over to ask for a handshake.
Horikita Manabu would have to be crazy to agree.
However, this guy actually intended to follow Horikita Manabu even to university? Talk about clingy!
Shimizu Akira took another look at Nagumo's comical, embarrassed expression.
Behind the annoyance of a failed plan, there seemed to be something more complex mixed in. It didn't seem like a simple relationship between senpai and kouhai; rather, it felt like some sort of "special emotion" had been flatly rejected.
'Uh oh.' A ridiculous thought suddenly popped into Shimizu Akira's mind.
'Is this guy actually... gay for him?'
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