COTE: Horikita Is My Childhood Sweetheart

Chapter 113 Wow, Horikita, you are so vicious!

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"Responsible for your three meals a day on weekends?!"

"You wish! Don't even think about it!"

"What are you going to settle?" Rin Matsuoka curled his lips. "If there's a score to settle, it's not with you—it's with your brother, Horikita."

"You came to help me, and I... I am very grateful to you," Horikita Suzune said, glancing away. Feeling a little happy but unwilling to show it, she added with a proud expression, "It's not impossible to take care of your three meals a day, but only for two days. Don't even think about making me responsible for your meals for life."

"Two days is enough." Rin agreed readily, figuring that something was better than nothing.

Just then, Rin remembered he had plans with Sakura to have drinks on Saturday.

"By the way, I have an appointment on Saturday, so I might not be in the dormitory at noon. Before you prepare my meal, Horikita, make sure to message me and confirm if I'm around."

"And if you're not there?" Horikita Suzune asked sharply.

"Then I'll have to eat out again."

When Horikita heard that Rin had plans on Saturday, the slight joy she had felt immediately disappeared. She shot him a suspicious glance. "Who are you meeting on Saturday? Why won't you be free at noon?"

"You're not my girlfriend. Why are you asking so many questions?" Rin replied with mock annoyance.

Horikita Suzune glared at him fiercely and stormed off.

Still curious, Rin quickly caught up to her. "Horikita, I'm curious. You and your brother haven't seen each other in two years. Why did he want to beat you up as soon as you met? Did you cause trouble again?"

Horikita Suzune gave Rin a frosty glare. "I didn't cause any trouble! Don't make baseless guesses. My brother didn't want to beat me up!"

"Is that so? Then I'll just ask Horikita-nii directly."

"You—!" Horikita stopped walking, her frustration palpable. Lowering her gaze, she muttered, "I don't know why my brother treated me that way. But I think… he was very disappointed in me."

"If you don't mind, Horikita, tell me about your conversation with him, and I'll help you analyze it," Rin offered sincerely.

Horikita Suzune raised her eyes to meet Rin's sincere expression, her mood slightly softening.

"Fine. I'll tell you, but if you dare to make sarcastic remarks or laugh at me, I'll put laxatives in the food I prepare for you," she warned.

"Wow, Horikita, you're so vicious!" Rin exclaimed exaggeratedly.

"Snort!" Horikita snorted coldly, but for some reason, Rin's over-the-top reaction lightened her mood.

The two walked together, and Horikita Suzune quietly recounted her earlier conversation with Horikita Manabu.

The exchange between the siblings had been normal enough—no provoking words or actions from Suzune. So, why had Horikita Manabu become so angry that he'd nearly hit her?

Rin was baffled.

In truth, only Horikita Manabu himself knew the reason for his outburst.

'Narrator: Do you know?'

Unfortunately, Rin's internal narration system failed to provide any answers and crashed again.

After returning to the first-year dormitory building, Rin and Horikita Suzune said their goodbyes and went to their respective rooms.

Once inside, Rin placed the USB flash drive he had in his pocket into his desk drawer. Then he lay on his bed and began reading the famous novel Shiina Hiyori had lent him.

While Rin Matsuoka was reading, Ichinose Honami, Sakura Airi, Shiina Hiyori, Kushida Kikyo, and Karuizawa Kei all sent him Line messages.

Rin was chatting with these girls while reading a classic novel, multitasking with ease… or rather, doing many things at once.

In the blink of an eye, it was the third day of school. Rin, who hadn't stayed up late coding, was in high spirits. He headed to the Class D classroom, carrying the famous novel he hadn't yet finished.

Initially, Rin had planned to continue taking leave, but he felt that prolonging his "illness" might annoy Chabashira Sae. He decided it would be better to attend class for a change.

When Rin entered the Class D classroom, he was met with great popularity. Karuizawa Kei, having already set her sights on him, immediately walked over and, with an unyielding and assertive attitude, announced to the other girls in Class D that "she had taken a fancy to Rin Matsuoka."

Her declaration startled the girls in Class D. Even though some of them harbored feelings for the handsome Rin, they didn't dare to show it after witnessing Karuizawa Kei's intimidating stance.

Sakura Airi, seated quietly at her desk, glanced at Rin briefly before lowering her head, trying to remain unnoticed.

Horikita Suzune, already preparing for class, didn't take her eyes off her book.

As for Kushida Kikyo, she hadn't arrived yet. If she had been present, there was no doubt she would have challenged Karuizawa Kei for dominance.

After escorting Rin to his seat, Karuizawa Kei returned to her small group of friends, exuding pride like a peacock, enjoying their teasing and jokes.

Watching her from his seat, Rin shook his head with a small smile. "Karuizawa is pretty clever."

She understood that lingering around Rin for too long might bore him. After leading him to his seat, she decisively left to rejoin her friends.

Back with her group, Karuizawa Kei was free to express her admiration for Rin openly, solidifying her reputation in Class D as someone bold, proactive, and unafraid to claim what she wanted.

However, only Rin, Karuizawa herself, and Horikita Suzune—who had overheard a previous conversation—knew the truth. Karuizawa was merely a paper tiger, easily frightened and deeply insecure about being bullied.

"Hey, isn't this my good friend Matsuoka?" Yamauchi Haruki called out enthusiastically. "Are you into game consoles? Tomorrow's a holiday. How about I bring one over to your dorm so we can play?"

Rin glanced at him and replied bluntly, "I have a date with a pretty and cute girl on Saturday. I don't have time to play games with you."

His response left Ike and Yamauchi speechless. This bastard already had a date lined up for Saturday? That was fast!

Meanwhile, Horikita Suzune narrowed her eyes, recalling Rin's words from yesterday. He had mentioned having plans on Saturday, but whether this "appointment" was with a girl, she wasn't sure.

Suzune was well aware of Rin's knack for stirring trouble. She suspected he deliberately described his date as "pretty and cute" just to provoke Yamauchi.

How infuriating!

On the other hand, Sakura shyly lowered her head, her cheeks warm with happiness. She was the one who had an appointment with Rin on Saturday.

Hearing Rin call her "pretty and cute" made Sakura Airi's heart flutter with joy. A sweet warmth spread through her chest, flowing through her veins and enveloping her entire body.

Immersed in this feeling, Sakura Airi couldn't help but smile to herself, overcome with a sense of blissful contentment.