COTE: Horikita Is My Childhood Sweetheart

Chapter 96: Horikita, you are guilty too!

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Rin Matsuoka turned his head to Horikita Suzune and asked curiously, "Horikita, what did you think of that senior, Tachibana Akane, just now?"

Horikita Suzune looked at Rin coldly. "Why, Matsuoka, do you think she's beautiful and want to pursue her?"

"What nonsense! Don't be ridiculous!"

That's your sister-in-law! Rin thought to himself, feeling a little guilty.

Horikita Suzune stared at him in confusion, wondering what he meant by feeling "guilty." She hadn't done anything to warrant that reaction.

Nearby, Ichinose Honami, who had been watching Rin and Horikita Suzune talk, felt like an outsider who had no chance to interrupt.

"Rin-san, Horikita-san, would you like to apply to join the Student Council with me?"

"Well, let's go and take a look," Rin replied.

Rin didn't actually plan on joining the Student Council. He mainly wanted to find Tachibana Akane and ask her for Horikita Manabu's contact information.

Since Horikita Suzune was always finding excuses to delay meeting her brother, Rin decided he might as well contact Horikita Manabu directly.

It was clear that Horikita Suzune was normally quick and decisive. But now, it was already the second day of school, and she still hadn't tried to find Horikita Manabu.

Rin turned to the silent Horikita Suzune. "Horikita, are you coming with us?"

"I…" Horikita Suzune shook her head gently. "No, I'll pass. You two go ahead."

Horikita Suzune had come to the gymnasium not because she wanted to join a club, but to see if her brother, Horikita Manabu, was in charge of club recruitment this year.

Unfortunately, that wasn't the case—the one in charge was the Student Council's secretary, Tachibana Akane.

Although Horikita Suzune wanted to join the Student Council to work with her brother, she lacked the courage to face him directly.

So, Horikita Suzune bid farewell to Rin and Ichinose Honami and left the gymnasium.

Ichinose watched Horikita Suzune leave, feeling a bit of relief, and then turned to Rin. "Let's go, Matsuoka-san. We should head to the Student Council's recruitment desk and fill out the application forms."

"Alright."

Rin walked with Ichinose Honami toward the Student Council booth. As they continued, Ichinose suddenly felt a hint of uncertainty, as though she'd forgotten something important.

But she quickly brushed it off, reasoning that if it was truly significant, she wouldn't have forgotten it so easily.

Just as she let go of that thought, she felt a slight tug on her school uniform sleeve from behind.

"Honami-chan, where are you and Matsuoka-san going? Didn't we agree to look around the clubs together?"

Ichinose turned to find Shiranami Chihiro pulling at her sleeve. Seeing her friend's tearful face, Ichinose immediately realized her oversight.

'Oh no… how could I forget Chihiro-chan?'

Embarrassed, Ichinose realized she'd been so focused on Rin that she'd completely forgotten her friend. She hurriedly tried to comfort the tearful Shiranami Chihiro, offering a warm smile to make up for her oversight, and then glanced apologetically at Rin.

"Matsuoka-san, do you mind if Chihiro-chan joins us?"

"I don't mind, but… her expression seems to tell me that she does." Rin responded with a subtle smile, glancing at Shiranami Chihiro.

The bob-haired girl looked as if she was about to cry, her teary eyes fixed on Rin with a somewhat indignant expression that clearly revealed how she felt about being momentarily forgotten.

In Chihiro Shiranami's eyes, it was Rin Matsuoka who had stolen her friend Ichinose Honami away!

Ichinose turned to Chihiro, asking, "Chihiro-chan, do you mind coming with us to the Student Council booth?"

"…I don't mind."

Of course, Shiranami Chihiro did mind! But she couldn't say it directly, as it would make things awkward for Ichinose Honami.

And so, with a hint of reluctance, Chihiro joined Rin and Ichinose as the three made their way over to the Student Council recruitment desk.

Two desks were set up for recruiting new members, with Akane Tachibana sitting upright at one of them. The desk beside her was empty, with no one seated there.

That seat belonged to Denai, who had chosen not to attend. After he learned that Akane was handling the gymnasium club recruitment, he took the opportunity to skip this responsibility, leaving his desk unattended.

It seemed that freshmen weren't too interested in joining the Student Council, which involved actual work. The area around the desks was quite empty, with only one... bald student filling out an application form.

"Huh?"

Rin noticed the bald student, letting out a small, surprised sound. He felt like he'd seen that bald head somewhere before…

Ah, he remembered seeing this guy on the bus on enrollment day!

Katsuragi Kouhei was diligently filling out his application form for the Student Council. Akane Tachibana's attention shifted from him to Rin and the others as they approached.

As Akane looked at Rin and his companions, she couldn't help but display a puzzled expression. Where was the girl with the long black hair? Why was she suddenly replaced by a girl with a short bob?

Suppressing her confusion, Akane spoke to the group. "Are all three of you here to apply for the Student Council?"

"Just me and him," Ichinose Honami said, gesturing to herself and Rin, her white fingers pointing as she clarified. "Chihiro-chan just came along with us."

"No, actually, it's only her," Rin corrected. "The two of us are just here to keep her company."

"Eh?" Ichinose looked at Rin in surprise. "Matsuoka-san, didn't you say you were applying to join the Student Council with me?"

The mention of "Matsuoka" brought a small smile to Akane Tachibana's face. This boy was quite handsome, and if his name was Matsuoka, he must be the "neighbor" that the Student Council president had mentioned.

But it seemed he had no intention of actually joining the council…

"I had that thought a moment ago, but now it's gone," Rin replied seriously, leaving Ichinose looking slightly disappointed.

By this time, the bald student had finished filling out his application form and handed it to Akane Tachibana.

"Secretary, I've completed the form. Please take a look."

"Alright." Akane took the form from Katsuragi Kouhei, glanced over it, and nodded approvingly.

"The format is correct. Next, you'll wait for further updates. The Student Council will schedule an interview for you, and if you pass, you'll be accepted."

"Understood. I'll take my leave then."

Katsuragi Kouhei stood up, casting a glance at Rin, Ichinose, and Chihiro. His gaze lingered a moment on Ichinose Honami.

Not to misunderstand—Katsuragi Kouhei wasn't interested in her personally. He simply wanted to observe his "competition" for the Student Council.

By taking in Ichinose Honami's cheerful expression and attire, Kohei concluded that she was a lively girl, though nothing more could be discerned from that alone.