Horikita Route

Chapter 14 - V1

The day of the dreaded test finally came.

Readiness filled the air, nervous anticipation and excitement fogging up the whole room.

That morning, the students of 1-D could be seen in their room, their faces filled with determination.

The papers that we're given to them by Ayanokouji were a godsend, specially for the likes of people like Sudo and Ike.

For the past day and a half, they've been hard at work memorizing the answers, burning the words in their minds.

While the more competent students were doubtful about the accuracy of the old test, the questions and the overall coverage were spot on to the material they were learning. Because of this discovery, their belief towards Ayanokouji's words only increased.

Now that it's finally the day of reckoning, they would see if their hardwork would pay off.

....

....

....

While some have their minds occupied by the exam, a certain black-haired girl was busy hiding her smile from her fellow classmates.

Horikita felt fantastic.

Ecstatic, even.

She felt at peace.

She felt like a heavy weight finally was lifted from her shoulders.

She turned to his left to look at her Ayanokouji-the guy still staring at the clouds-and heaved a sigh once more.

As she saw Kiyo's peaceful expression, she couldn't help but remember the events that transpired the day before.

....

....

Embarassing, honestly.

....

A tinge of red slowly crept from the back of her ears towards her cheeks.

....

Who knew that she would display such behaviour? So unbecoming for someone of hee stature. It was wierd to even think about. She felt abashed, shy and yet happy and relieved all at the same time.

Recollecting the words spoken by the boy, a small smile appeared of Suzu's face.

Who knew that that apathetic face could say those cheesy one-liners?

If it was anyone but him, she would've instantly called bogus.

But it was precisely because it is him that made the words more meaningful than what they were, no matter how absurd that was.

He wasn't the type of man to seduce and to purposefully play around a girl's heart, after all.

His tone back then surprised her the most.

His usually detached voice was filled to the brim with worry and sorrow when he talked to her. His embrace tight and, dare she say it, so heartwarming to her at that moment.

When he uttered his apologies, it made her second guess her actions. Before that, she was sure that she was in the right, but after hearing his broken voice, it made her almost regret saying the words she did.

Looking away from the boy, she tried to control her breathing once again.

Ever since that talk, an uncontrollable reaction occurs every time he's near her person.

Every time he's near, or every time she remembers, her heartrate increases, her cheeks turn pink, her eyes glaze over.

Sometimes, just the thought of him spirals her out of control.

Taking deep, methodical breaths, she tried to analyze the situation at hand.

Right now, it's the day of the exam.

Hopefully, the combined efforts of Mii-chan, Hirata, Yukimura, Horikita along with Ayanokouji's point purchase would not be in vain.

Ayanokouji....

Ever since that day, Horikita has been having trouble looking at him in the eye. With her motives finally out in the open, she couldn't help but feel a bit awkward around the handsome boy.

She could still remember the happenings after that tearful event... the shame she felt after reaching her dorm room, the loud shrieks of excitement and horror combined that filled her room to the brim, the pleasant feeling of content she felt just minutes before sleep overcame her.

It was truly a feeling she couldn't describe by words. For once, all the stress of aiming for the top felt light on her shoulders since that day.

Yesterday especially, was truly a great experience for both teenagers.

After weeks of reduced contact, they had lunch together at the cafetaria, their conversation steadily streaming as if nothing unpleasant happened between them. As they fought over the last of the tempura, the people around them, specifically a certain group containing important figures of Class D, were happy to finally see the two make up and talk once again.

Sae-sensei walked in abruptly, shaking the black-haired girl from her daydreams.

Looking at her left, she saw Kiyotaka staring at her face, not knowing that the boy has been looking at her for more than 10 minutes now, enthralled by her sleepy face.

She couldn't help but smile to him, her first friend.

Who would believe that she'd be so lucky to get him? She certainly wouldn't if she was told 3 months ago.

In the back of her mind, she couldn't help but thank a certain old lady from a specific bus....

VOLUME 1 END