COTE: Horikita Is My Childhood Sweetheart

Chapter 108: [Host, Horikita Suzune is going to be beaten]

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Rin's expression changed instantly, and he said in disbelief, "To what extent did this guy Horikita offend a senior that they're about to beat her up?!"

"Narrator, give me the coordinates!"

[Understood.]

As the narration system responded, a 3D electronic map appeared in Rin's mind, and one of the locations was marked with Horikita's icon.

"That's where Horikita is now," Rin muttered. "She's on the street next to our dormitory building. She's quite close."

Rin quickly pocketed the USB flash drive in his hand, grabbed a wooden stick lying next to a trash can, and dashed toward Horikita Suzune's location.

The relationship between Rin and Horikita was complicated. They could be called childhood friends, but they hadn't communicated properly in over two years.

Even if it wasn't for their past friendship, Rin couldn't allow Horikita to be bullied, especially considering the care Horikita Manabu had shown him two years ago.

Running at full speed, Rin reached Horikita's location in just eleven seconds.

At that moment, a senior had grabbed Horikita's right hand and raised their own hand, as if ready to strike. Horikita, eyes shut tightly, appeared to be bracing for the blow.

Waiting to be hit?

This doesn't look like the usual proud and aloof Horikita, Rin thought.

Seeing her about to be bullied, Rin didn't hesitate. He hefted the wooden stick in his hand, slowed his pace, and walked toward the senior and Horikita.

'Hmm… why does this senior's back look familiar?

No matter, let's deal with him first.'

Horikita, who seemed to have a built-in "Rin radar," opened her trembling eyes and saw Rin walking toward her, holding a wooden stick.

What?!

Her fox-like eyes widened in shock as Rin slowly approached.

Rin noticed her wide-eyed stare and put his index finger to his lips, signaling her to stay quiet.

But how could Horikita remain quiet?

The person Rin was about to hit wasn't just anyone—it was her older brother, Horikita Manabu!

As Rin swung the stick at Manabu's arm, Horikita's panicked voice rang out.

"Brother! Watch out!"

Horikita Manabu sensed the danger instantly. Feeling a gust of wind from behind, he quickly released Horikita Suzune's hand, turned around, and raised both arms to block the incoming blow.

A dull thud echoed in the night.

"…"

Rin froze, speechless.

"Hiss…"

Horikita Manabu let out a sharp intake of breath, his usually composed face showing a flicker of discomfort.

"!!"

Horikita Suzune looked panicked.

In truth, the moment Horikita Suzune yelled "brother," Rin had tried to stop his swing.

But… it was already too late.

"Narrator, you bastard! Why didn't you just say the senior about to beat up Horikita was her brother?!" Rin cursed internally at the narration system.

Unfortunately, the narration system had gone silent once again.

"Brother, are you okay?" Horikita Suzune asked anxiously, seeing Horikita Manabu rubbing his arm with beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

"I'm fine," Horikita Manabu replied in his usual calm tone, despite the pain.

"This… isn't this Brother Manabu? I'm Rin Matsuoka, the one who lives next door to you. What a coincidence running into you here late at night, hahahaha…" Rin greeted nervously, his laugh awkward and forced.

Under the dim, questioning gazes of the Horikita siblings, Rin Matsuoka's awkward laughter gradually faded. Realizing he was still holding the stick, he quickly threw it into the bushes nearby.

"Rin! What have you done?" Horikita Suzune demanded, her fox-like eyes fixed sharply on him.

"Stop!" Rin interrupted her, raising his hands in mock surrender and wearing a helpless expression. "You can't blame me for this. How was I supposed to know the person about to hit you was actually your brother?"

"How could I have imagined that? I thought it was some random senior trying to bully you."

"…" The Horikita siblings exchanged silent looks.

"Brother Manabu had his back to me, so I couldn't see who he was. And he was grabbing your arm! In a hurry, I didn't think twice and rushed in to help you with my sword… I mean, my stick!" Rin explained, gesturing animatedly.

"Although what you're saying makes sense, Rin, I can't accept it!" Horikita Suzune snapped, her fox eyes widening with irritation. "I'm a loner, but I've never offended anyone!"

Rin rolled his eyes. "Oh, really? What about that time on the bus when you forced someone to give up their seat for you?"

"You—!"

Horikita Suzune's face turned red with anger and panic.

Meanwhile, Horikita Manabu's expression darkened as he rubbed his still-sore arm.

Turning his sharp gaze toward his sister, he said in a low, disappointed voice, "Suzune, you forced someone to give up their seat for you?"

"Brother, this… that…" Horikita Suzune stammered, her anxiety rising as she realized her misstep.

Horikita Suzune's luck had run out tonight. Running into her brother here, of all places, before she was mentally prepared, was bad enough. And now, she had no way to avoid his scrutiny.

Summoning her courage, she confessed the reason she had come to this school—to catch up with her brother.

This revelation left Horikita Manabu deeply disappointed. He hadn't seen his sister in over two years, and yet she was still chasing after his shadow.

No independent ideas. No path of her own.

In his disappointment, Horikita Manabu decided that estrangement, distance, or even cutting off contact would never break Suzune's admiration for him. If those didn't work, maybe force would.

Thus, Horikita Manabu resolved to teach his sister a lesson—not out of malice, but to make her stop idolizing him.

And then Rin Matsuoka appeared.

Had Rin not shown up, things might have gone as planned. But Rin did show up—and he hit Horikita Manabu with a stick.

To make matters worse, Rin had just spilled the beans about how Horikita Suzune had made Ayanokoji Kiyotaka give up his seat on the bus.

Now, her brother must be even more disappointed in her.

Horikita Manabu fixed his piercing gaze on his panicked sister and asked slowly, "Suzune, what made you do something like that?"

Horikita Manabu didn't believe his sister was a bad person who would deliberately take someone else's seat. Despite her awkward and difficult personality, she wasn't malicious or mean-spirited.

That's why he didn't scold her outright but instead sought an explanation.

But…

How could Horikita Suzune admit that she'd wanted to sit next to Rin Matsuoka?

Not with Rin standing right there!

"Uh, this… that… how should I put it…" Horikita Suzune stammered, flustered beyond words.