COTE: Horikita Is My Childhood Sweetheart

Chapter 151 Don't get excited, just listen to me.

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As soon as Rin sat down, his phone rang.

Taking it out, he saw a Line message from Sakura.

[Rin, your camera's memory card is in your desk drawer. I wrapped it in a tissue.]

Rin opened the drawer and found a folded tissue containing the camera's memory card.

The preparatory bell had rung, and the students were filing back into their classrooms. As it rang, the cool and elegant Chabashira Sae walked into Class D's room.

The homeroom teacher was dressed in her usual stylish women's suit. The tight-fitting outfit accentuated her peach-shaped hips and full chest, which couldn't be covered with a single hand. Her legs, clad in glossy black stockings, added to her dignified and striking beauty.

The boys in Class D couldn't help but follow her every move.

Chabashira stopped at the podium, her gaze drifting toward Rin—though, to be precise, she wasn't looking at him. Instead, her eyes were fixed on two seats to his right: Ike Kanji's and Yamauchi Haruki's.

The class had already started, but not all the students in Class D were present. The seats of Ike Kanji and Yamauchi Haruki remained empty.

This could only mean one thing: they were late.

Noticing Chabashira's focus on the two empty seats, Rin clicked his tongue softly and murmured, "Ike and Yamauchi are late. I wonder how many class points we'll lose because of them."

Horikita overheard Rin's comment. She pursed her lips, seemingly wanting to respond, but ultimately held back.

She knew the class had already started, and talking to Rin would violate classroom discipline.

Suzune had already broken the rules once earlier that afternoon when Rin had asked for leave. She wasn't about to make the same mistake twice.

Chabashira shifted her gaze away from the empty seats and, in her usual cold tone, announced, "Let's begin."

Class started, but Ike and Yamauchi were nowhere to be seen. By the end of the lesson, they still hadn't shown up.

It became clear they weren't just late—they had skipped class entirely.

As the bell rang, signaling the end of class, Chabashira said, "Class dismissed," and left the room with her handouts and textbooks.

After enduring an entire lesson, Kei quickly approached Rin, her smooth face lit up with a flattering smile.

"Rin, I came to see you."

"Let's go," Rin said as he stood.

Karuizawa hesitated for a moment, mustering the courage to cling to Rin's arm like she had during their date on Sunday. But she hesitated, afraid that Rin might reject or push her away.

After all, she still hadn't resolved the conflict with Kushida in Rin's eyes.

Even though Kikyo had clarified before class that they weren't fighting or arguing—that Kei had merely been asking her questions—she had also claimed that Kei's attitude had been unpleasant.

How bad could her attitude really have been?

Feeling uneasy, Karuizawa decided against grabbing Rin's arm. Instead, she walked as close to him as she could, leaving the Class D classroom by his side.

Horikita, who had wanted to say something to Rin, was a moment too late. She could only watch, her expression dim, as Rin and Karuizawa exited the classroom together.

In fact, Horikita Suzune wasn't the only one watching Rin and Karuizawa leave. Sakura, Kushida, and several other girls who harbored thoughts about Rin also observed the pair as they exited the classroom.

Mori approached Shinohara and Matsushita, her tone laced with surprise. "Kei and Rin left together. Could it be that she's already won him over?"

"I think it's possible. When we were shopping for swimsuits, she wouldn't stop talking about how things were progressing between her and Rin," Shinohara replied.

She turned to Matsushita, who had been silent. "Matsushita, what do you think?"

"Huh? I think you're probably right," Matsushita replied, though her voice was uncertain.

Matsushita did feel that Karuizawa and Rin seemed close, but something about Kei's demeanor felt off.

When they had left the classroom together earlier, Matsushita had noticed a subtle uneasiness in Kei's expression—a hint of humility, even.

Was it just her imagination?

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Rin led Karuizawa to the pavilion behind the teaching building. Turning to face her, he took in her quiet, well-behaved demeanor. With her honey-colored hair framing her face, she looked particularly lovely.

"Kei, it seems you've gotten so confident that you've started bullying others now," Rin remarked.

"No, that's not true! Rin, please believe me," Kei pleaded, her voice trembling as tears welled up in her eyes. What she feared most was being misunderstood and hated by him.

"If you want me to believe you, then tell me everything about your conflict with Kushida-san," Rin said.

"Okay!"

Karuizawa, not holding anything back, explained in detail why she had confronted Kushida and recounted the entire conversation.

"As for what Kushida-san said about my bad attitude, that's not true!" Kei insisted. "My tone was just... a little firm," she added, her voice growing weaker.

Rin couldn't help but let out a sigh, his expression turning exasperated. "Are you an idiot? If you wanted to know who I gave the hairpin to, why didn't you just ask me directly?"

"Ugh…" Kei whimpered pitifully. Her reaction and expression were so endearing that Rin couldn't resist pinching her smooth cheek.

His casual, affectionate gesture made Kei feel shy but overwhelmingly happy. His intimate action reassured her—he had forgiven her for the incident with Kushida!

Overjoyed, Kei clung to Rin's arm, her tone playful as she asked, "So, Rin, who did you give the hairpin to?"

"I'm not telling you," Rin replied without hesitation.

"Huh?" Kei froze, caught off guard by his answer.

"But Rin, didn't you just say I could ask you directly?"

"Sure, you can ask," Rin said with a smirk. "I didn't say I'd answer."

Kei glared at him in frustration, and Rin chuckled softly before his expression turned serious.

"Kei, maybe we're not suited to be a couple," he said, his tone calm but firm.

Kei's heart sank at his words. Her brief moment of comfort gave way to panic. Clutching his arm tightly, she exclaimed, "No, we're perfect for each other!"

"Even if there's something wrong, I can change!" she added desperately.

Rin frowned slightly, clearly troubled, as he looked at Kei's anxious face. "Don't get so worked up. Just listen to me."

"Okay…" Kei murmured, her voice trembling.

"We're really not a good match," Rin continued, his tone candid. "And if something needs to change, it's not you—it's me."

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