Chapter 268: The Assertive Junior and the Meek Senior

Forest school, girls’ dormitory.

The hands on the wall clock had not yet reached seven. The sky outside the window was not yet bright. The distant horizon was still a stretch of indigo.

In the somewhat dim dormitory, at the lower bunk of the bed closest to the far wall of the room, a pair of eyes opened without warning. Their owner gently lifted the blanket, slowly put on the clothes placed by the bedside last night, and finally rose from the edge of the bed, standing quietly beside it.

Every movement was so silent, soundless yet carrying a faintly oppressive atmosphere.

In fact, Tachibana Akane had woken up around three or four in the middle of the night. Or rather, she hadn’t slept at all. The increasingly clear situation within the group pressed down on her until she couldn’t breathe. The anxiety kept her awake.

This was the girls’ group led by third-year Class B’s Inokari Momoko. Third-year Class B girls made up the vast majority. The rest were one student each from Classes A and C, and three from Class D.

Since one class’s students made up the overwhelming majority, if this group wanted a good ranking, the group leader had to welcome the students from the other three classes with an open attitude, build good relationships with them, and then pull together to strive for a better ranking.

Logically, in a combination like this, the students from the remaining three classes wouldn’t exactly live comfortably, but deliberate mistreatment shouldn’t happen. Instead, it was the group leader who had to worry about whether these three would deliberately cause trouble and drag down the group’s average.

Yet the reality was the exact opposite.

From the very first day, Tachibana had sensed a faint, elusive rejection from these people.

It wasn’t the blatant kind. She’d try to greet a classmate she knew, and the other would smile and respond amicably. But then, come class time, there would always be group members reporting to the supervising teacher that they’d been harassed by her.

She had clearly done nothing. She’d asked the other students around her to testify for her. But the situation was bizarre to the point that not a single person responded.

At first, Tachibana thought it was because they were from Class B and might bear her hostility. But gradually, she realized it wasn’t just Class B. The other two classes also chose to stay silent about the situation.

This strange atmosphere, combined with the warning Horikita’s little sister had given her on the first day, and then, thinking back to the start of the special exam, when Nagumo had specifically challenged Manabu on the boys’ side.

Three years of student council experience, having witnessed events big and small, brought a terrible possibility to her mind…

In the dim room, Tachibana drew a deep breath, pressed a hand to her heart, and silently pressed her lips into a thin line. Then, she carefully lifted her feet and walked noiselessly toward the door. With a faint click, the room sank back into silence.

About a dozen seconds later, a slightly uneasy voice rose in the darkness.

“Should we follow and take a look? Momoko?”

Inokari Momoko, sleeping next to Tachibana, opened her eyes. Her tone was utterly flat. “No need to bother with her. Just proceed as planned.”

“But—”

“No buts. This is the only chance!” Inokari sharply cut off the third-year Class B student’s words. After a few seconds of silence, she closed her eyes again and softened her tone. “That’s how it is. Three years now. Compared to Tachibana and the others who’ve always held onto the Class A position, haven’t we lost more companions?”

…

The morning air carried the scent of mountain vegetation, tinged with a bit of chill. A thin mist shrouded the entire forest school.

As Tachibana walked, the view around her grew clearer.

The mist dispersed. There sat a girl with waist-length hair and a cool, aloof aura, hands resting on her thighs, back perfectly straight, sitting properly on a stone bench. A clear breeze passed, and her waterfall-like black hair swayed with it, giving off an air of “admirable from afar, not to be trifled with up close.”

Her steps slowed. Tachibana hesitated for a moment, then spoke weakly. “Um… good morning, Horikita…-san. Sorry to keep you waiting.”

“Actually, I only just arrived too. Please call me Suzune, Tachibana-senpai.”

Taking out the tissue she carried, Horikita Suzune wiped the remaining water droplets off the stone bench and extended her slender hand.

“Please sit, Tachibana-senpai.”

“Okay. Thank you, Suzune…-san.”

The moment the words landed, Tachibana, who had habitually sat down, froze slightly. Then she rolled her eyes and secretly stole a glance at Horikita’s fair profile.

As expected of siblings. Even their way of speaking was similar…

“Then I’ll get straight to the point and ask directly. Tachibana-senpai, you asked me out specifically because you’ve confirmed this really is third-year Class B’s scheme?”

Horikita cut straight in, striking at the heart of the problem from the very first word.

“Yes…” Tachibana pressed her legs together, curling her body in on itself. “Third-year Class B, I think they really do want to drag the whole group down to last place, and then…” She didn’t continue, only unconsciously wrapped her arms around herself.

“…” Horikita frowned slightly, raised a hand to press her forehead in exasperation, and muttered under her breath. “So it really was exactly as he guessed, right from the start.”

After the special exam rules were announced, he had specifically contacted her. That meant the current Student Council President’s scheme had most likely landed on the girls’ side.

Hmm… it definitely wasn’t her…

At this thought, a faint blush, barely noticeable, rose on Horikita’s fair face. Her gaze briefly drifted toward the mist-wreathed treetops in the distance, and ripples stirred in her heart.

If it really were her, that guy probably wouldn’t be so leisurely going off to Ryuen’s group to play games.

Ruling herself out, what remained were the girls in her brother’s class. And among them, the one closest to her brother, Tachibana-senpai, entered her field of view.

Having partnered with her brother on the student council for three years, and being a fellow student council member, Nagumo-senpai also understood her personality very well. It was possible to predict what choice she would make.

Add to that the hint Fuyuji Mikage had specifically given her — Murder on the Orient Express. Its most famous element was everyone committing the crime together.

With that, what Nagumo-senpai wanted to do became very clear. Deliberately go easy during the exam, let Tachibana’s large group finish last, then use the special exam’s joint-liability funeral escort system to frame Tachibana-senpai and expel her!

Having sorted out her thoughts, Horikita drew a deep breath of the cold, clear air, turned to look at Tachibana, and let the words brew in her throat for a moment before slowly speaking:

“So… does Tachibana-senpai have any plans going forward?”

Hearing this, Tachibana’s shoulders trembled slightly. She lifted her somewhat pale face and tried to force the corners of her mouth upward, but it looked utterly strained. “Leaving… just like this is fine too. If this strategy is carried out… third-year Class B… won’t be able to catch up in the remaining time.” Tears slowly pooled in her eyes, glinting.

‘As expected. Even Tachibana-senpai’s personality had been factored in.’

Horikita’s heart sank sharply.

Indeed, if this strategy were carried out, third-year Class B would actually be the side taking the bigger hit. Not only would they lose a member, but the group would also finish last and have class points deducted.

But…

“Tachibana-senpai should know that my brother won’t allow this kind of thing to happen, right? And doesn’t Tachibana-senpai plan to tell my brother about this?”

“Please don’t…” Tachibana lowered her head and silently wiped the tears she couldn’t control with her sleeve. “Because we Class A students are always dragging him down… and we’ve lost many class points we didn’t have to lose. Even private points—he’s always been sacrificing himself to protect his companions.”

She paused, drooping her head, and continued listlessly.

“Right now Horikita-san is focused on handling the boys’ group’s affairs. And this matter is itself an internal problem within the girls’ group. Even Horikita-san would find it hard to intervene…”

Seeing this, Horikita beside her let out a breath of relief.

Thank goodness. Tachibana-senpai still wanted to stay at school. If even she herself were determined to trade her withdrawal for an advantage in class points, nothing anyone else did could change it.

“Does Senpai have any plans for the remaining days?”

“Mm…” After a moment of thought, Tachibana tentatively spoke. “Try to raise my own score in the final exam, to lower the risk of expulsion?”

“…Tachibana-senpai, that won’t work. If you’re this meek, you’ll definitely be suppressed by the others.” Horikita had a bit of a headache.

“Then… if the one caught in the trap this time were Suzune-san, what method would you use to solve it?”

“Of course, I’d call out their little tricks to their faces,” Horikita’s expression turned cold, and she said sharply without mercy. “As long as the school notices the group has internal conflict, and then I work hard to take first place in every subject on the exam a few days later, even if it’s a collective framing, at the factual level, its force would weaken considerably. Then I’d appeal to the school, and both sides could confront each other in a hearing!”

Although Horikita believed that the solution Fuyuji was pointing to was definitely not this, she had also found some flaws in the scheme itself.

In the end, the current Student Council President’s plan could be successfully carried out mainly because it specifically targeted this forest school’s regulatory blind spot, lacking cameras.

If the school itself could sense the possibility of collective framing, then when it finally determined whether this student was one of the causes of the group’s lagging behind, the weight of the group members’ testimony would be greatly reduced.

“As long as I usually perform outstandingly in class, I can then find this group of people to testify for me. With both sides’ testimonies canceling out—”

Horikita’s stern words suddenly stopped. She looked strangely at Tachibana, who was staring at her without blinking, then looked down at her own outfit.

“What’s wrong? Is there something on me?”

“Mm, no…” Tachibana hurriedly raised a hand to wipe the tear stains off her face. “No, it’s just that I feel Suzune-san and Horikita-san are a bit alike, but also a bit different.”

“My brother?” Horikita’s body froze slightly.

“Yeah. If it were Horikita-san, he’d probably use a more secure method, pressing forward step by step. Ah!”

At this, Tachibana seemed to suddenly remember something and waved her hands repeatedly at Horikita. “Of course, I’m not saying Suzune-san’s method is bad. I just simply feel like the two of you have somewhat different ways of handling things…”

“Is that so…”

So even their personalities were different? Herself and her brother…

Horikita lowered her head and quietly dropped her eyes.

“What’s wrong? Suzune-san.” Tachibana asked with concern.

“No, nothing. Let’s continue the earlier topic.” Horikita pulled her thoughts out of her head and tucked a fallen strand of hair behind her ear. “As long as Tachibana-senpai directly tears off the mask with them in public, draws a clear line, and sternly rebukes them, then takes first place on the exam.”

“N-no, that won’t work.” Tachibana shook her head like a rattle drum and said in a fluster. “Setting aside going head-to-head with others, my physical fitness is very poor. It’s impossible to raise it in a short time. And the road relay’s score proportion should be quite high!”

“Then how about performing outstandingly in class first, so the supervising teacher remembers you?”

“I can try that…”

“Not try. It has to succeed. And it has to be through outstanding ability.”

“Okay. I’ll do my best.”

“And also…”

…

The voices, one strong and one weak, came from beside the stone bench in the morning forest, finally reaching the depths of the woods, faint beyond hearing.

Beside a large tree in the forest, the white mist began to disperse under the sunlight, gradually revealing two figures who had been standing there from the very start.

“She really is your little sister. Even her way of speaking is so similar.” Fujimaki, the overall commander of the red team at last semester’s sports festival, rubbed his chin and said in surprise.

“No. She and I are different.”

A barely detectable smile rose at the corner of Manabu’s mouth. He silently watched the two on the stone bench.

“Yeah, you can tell from her way of doing things. Your sister seems to prefer one-on-one, going head-to-head with the opponent.” Fujimaki nodded in agreement. “But she’s really impressive, your sister. To actually see that the real target of Nagumo’s scheme is on the girls’ side. And if Tachibana follows her method, given the school’s usual style, it really might succeed. But Tachibana’s personality…”

Fujimaki smiled bitterly and didn’t continue.After three years of spending time together, compared to Horikita Suzune, whom they’d only recently met, they clearly understood Tachibana’s personality better.

At this moment, a rustling sound rose nearby. A turn of the head showed Manabu had already turned and was walking away.

“Huh? Leaving so soon? Manabu, aren’t you going to take a look?” Fujimaki hurried to catch up. “And Tachibana’s matter needs handling too, right?”

“Someone will handle this matter.”

“You’re really strange, you know. You clearly stood guard at the girls’ dormitory entrance since early morning, yet you won’t even meet her. Do you trust your sister that much?”

“Half and half. I hope Suzune can handle it well.” Manabu continued forward.

“Then there’s no need to walk so fast, is there?”

“Because I need to discuss the matter of private points after graduation with my classmates.”

“Points? How did the topic jump to private points again?”

Fujimaki’s questions piled up. Manabu, like a riddler, went on saying his own things. With the sound of shoes crushing dead leaves, the two figures quickly vanished into the depths of the forest.