cote react to

part 19

After I changed into my uniform in the locker room, I returned to the classroom. Horikita, now also clad in her uniform, entered the classroom
slightly later than I did and sat next to me.

"This time, we were defeated soundly. Completely." Yet, as Horikita said that, she didn't appear depressed.

"Aw. We still lost?" Sato pouted.

"Who won though?" Hashimoto asked.

"I wanna know." Komiya whined.

"But I feel like I grew today. I never imagined a day would come when failure would nourish me, but...that's really how I feel."

"I see. That's good, right?" I asked.

"This class is going to get stronger. Then we'll definitely climb the ranks to the upper classes," replied Horikita.

"When it comes to acquiring class points, your class is the fastest." Sakayanagi commented.

"And the one who keeps on losing is Ryuuen-kun." Katsuragi added.

"Honestly, this optimism is kind of freaking me out. It's not like you," I told her.

"I suppose not. It's different, isn't it?" She bashfully averted her eyes.

"Horikita-san did suffered on the last scene." Ichinose said.

"She was targeted and humiliated. What do you expect?" Ibuki huffed.

"And who do you think was the cause?" Shinohara raised a brow.

Ibuki narrowed her eyes at her. She was about to speak when Ryuuen's laugh cut her off.

"That humiliated her? How shallow."

"We're facing a ton of challenges. There are also problems I need to take care of. But I suppose, first of all, I have to get down on my knees."

"On your knees?"

"Horikita-san?" Hirata said worried.

"Why are you going down on your knees?" Kanzaki asked.

"Wait." Ichinose looked at Ryuuen, "She had a dispute with a Class C student during a dash, right? That's low even for you Ryuuen-kun."

"Whatever do you mean?" Ryuuen smirked at her.

"Hey, what was that about?" Ike whispered to his friends.

The phrase concerned me, but Horikita didn't expand any further.

"It doesn't involve you. Thank you for today," she added.

"So, you didn't run away, Suzune. You came," said Ryuuen.

"You're going down on your knees in front of Ryuuen-kun?!" Miyake blurted out shock.

"Huh? Ryuuen-kun?" Yahiko asked confused.

Manabu's eyes narrowed significantly.

"What brought this on?" Ishizaki asked.

"You would do that?" Ibuki whispered harshly to Ryuuen.

"Private points are private points." Is the only reply she got.

"If I had run away, I truly would've been hopeless. I'm going to face my problems," I told him.

"You've got a good heart. You've become a finer woman than before," said Ryuuen.

This is giving me the creeps.' Horikita shivered.