COTE : Backed By Black Technology System

Watching Horikita Suzune cooking, Kanda Shuichi had the fleeting thought of sending this image to Horikita Manabu. 

But after careful consideration, he decided against it. 

That sly, bespectacled sis-con might not voice any objections, but who knows what tricks he'd pull in secret. 

And so, the day before departure finally arrived. 

After finishing making dinner for Kanda Shuichi, Horikita Suzune looked at him with a serious expression. 

"You really solved the problem for me, right?" 

"Of course. Just show up for the gathering as usual tomorrow." 

That day's meal was pork cutlet rice bowl. Horikita Suzune bought the ingredients, while Kanda Shuichi provided the points. 

But Kanda Shuichi didn't just idle in his dorm. Physical exercise was still necessary—life on an uninhabited island required stamina. 

However, the sight of Horikita Suzune carrying groceries to Kanda Shuichi's room every day didn't go unnoticed by their classmates, and soon, rumors began to spread. 

Then, quite a few nosy people started prying, leading to conversations like this: 

[Kanda, are you dating that annoying woman Horikita?] 

Seeing the message from Kushida Kikyo, Kanda Shuichi felt speechless. 

[Are you dreaming? Even if I dated you, I wouldn't date someone like Horikita.] 

[What do you mean by that? Are you looking down on me?] 

… 

What is this even about? Forget it, forget it. Not worth the trouble. Left on read. 

While eating a juicy fried pork cutlet, Kanda Shuichi replied to Horikita Suzune. However, Horikita kept staring at him with a suspicious look. 

"If I can't get on the bus tomorrow, don't think I'll let you off so easily." 

After throwing out this warning, Horikita Suzune left. 

Kanda Shuichi pictured a scene where Horikita showed up at the school gate with her belongings, only for Chabashira-sensei to tell her she couldn't board the bus. Left behind, she would angrily watch everyone else leave. The thought was oddly satisfying. 

But if that really happened, Kanda Shuichi figured life afterward would feel very different. 

After dinner, Kanda cleaned up the dishes and started packing. 

The trip was supposed to last 14 days, but Kanda doubted the school would be cruel enough to make them stay on a deserted island the entire time. 

So, there was bound to be some free time for activities. No need to bring books—better to take this chance to have some fun. 

Next came clothes. A southern island meant it'd be hot, so just a few sets of summer clothes, underwear, a phone, charger, and the sportswear required by the school would do. 

Oh, right—swim trunks. They might not be necessary, but just in case. 

Once everything was packed, Kanda opened his dorm room door, planning to take a walk, digest his food, and get some exercise—a habit he'd developed over the past two months. 

But as soon as he opened the door, he found Kushida Kikyo standing outside. 

"Uh… is something up?" 

"Aren't you going to invite me in?" 

Seeing Kushida blocking the door with a cheerful smile, Kanda had no choice but to let her in. 

Once inside, Kushida's nose twitched. 

"Did that annoying woman Horikita just leave?" 

Kanda held his forehead. Are you a dog? The smell of food is way stronger in here, yet you can still pick up Horikita Suzune's scent? 

"So what are you doing?"

At this, Kushida snorted, then left the room, leaving Kanda utterly confused. 

What was the point of that? 

Friday, July 31st—the day they were leaving for the southern island. 

Since it was a weekday, leaving late might result in traffic jams. So, the school instructed everyone to gather at the school gate by 5 a.m. After the homeroom teacher confirmed attendance, they could head to the port. 

As a result, even first-year students, who usually struggled to get up early, had to pack up and leave their dorms well ahead of time. 

When Kanda left his dorm, he found Horikita Suzune waiting at his door. 

You really don't trust me, huh? You even went out of your way to block my door. 

"Let's go. Time to gather." 

Kanda had thought about asking Miyake to carry his luggage, but with Horikita here, he had no choice but to carry it himself. He certainly couldn't make Horikita carry it. 

The student council president would be overseeing things on-site. If he saw Kanda Shuichi ordering his sister around like this... 

Even though it was a hot summer day, it didn't feel too warm before five in the morning. However, the sun had already started to rise, and by five o'clock, the sky was completely bright. 

When Kanda Shuichi and Horikita Suzune arrived at the school gate, Chabashira-sensei was already waiting by the bus door in her usual gray suit. 

Seeing Chabashira-sensei, Horikita looked a bit timid, like a child caught doing something wrong, but Chabashira-sensei didn't pay her any attention. 

She simply picked up her clipboard and looked at the two of them. 

"Let me confirm again—did you bring your sportswear and phone?" 

Following Chabashira-sensei's instructions, Kanda Shuichi and Horikita Suzune double-checked their belongings. 

"They're all packed." 

Chabashira Sae nodded and made a note. 

"Kanda Shuichi and Horikita Suzune have arrived. Get on the bus." 

When the two boarded the bus, they realized several students from their class had already arrived. The most noticeable was Hirata Yosuke, who was helping shorter girls place their backpacks on the luggage racks above. 

As they hesitated over where to sit, Kushida Kikyo, seated in the first two rows, smiled and waved at Kanda Shuichi. 

Well, if you're inviting me so warmly, I'll take you up on it. But aren't you worried about being misunderstood? 

After placing his backpack on the rack, Kanda Shuichi sat next to Kushida Kikyo. 

Sorry, Akito! 

"I'll be in your care, Kushida." 

"Yes, I'll be in your care too, Kanda-kun." 

The seats on the bus were spacious. After fastening his seatbelt, Kanda Shuichi crossed his arms and prepared to take a nap. 

In fact, most of the students in the class, after an initial burst of excitement, quickly began to feel sleepy as soon as they got on the bus. 

When Kanda Shuichi woke up again, he felt his shoulder was heavy and a little sore. 

Turning his head slightly, he saw a head of golden hair resting soundly on his shoulder. 

The bus curtains had been drawn to make it easier to rest, and the dim lighting inside made it hard to see clearly. 

Feeling Kushida's steady breathing, Kanda Shuichi seemed to understand why she came to him last night. 

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