COTE: Horikita Is My Childhood Sweetheart

Chapter 128: Horikita? Really?!

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Sakura lay on her side on the bed, her naturally gifted, extraordinary figure creating an exceptionally deep, snow-white abyss due to gravity.

She stared at the camera transferring photos, her delicate eyebrows drooping slightly as she muttered, "Why is tomorrow Sunday? It would be nice if it were Monday."

If it were Monday, there would be classes, and with classes, Sakura would have the chance to see Rin again.

After today's date and their conversations, Sakura found herself becoming more and more familiar with the boy named " Rin Matsuoka." His smile, his figure, and the sense of security he brought her were all deeply etched into her heart.

For this reason, Sakura eagerly anticipated seeing him again, longing for another intimate conversation.

Because of her extremely shy personality, Sakura Airi had always hidden her true self, pretending to be an ordinary, rustic girl while living behind a hypocritical mask.

Yet, deep down, even someone like Sakura Airi yearned to meet someone she could truly connect with.

And now, that person had appeared.

That person was none other than Rin.

Sakura smiled shyly, murmuring to herself, "Coming to this school was such a great decision."

When Sakura had first learned that this school was cut off from the outside world, she had been very resistant to attending. Her career as a graphic idol was thriving, and she had even been featured in a popular boys' magazine.

Choosing to attend this school meant putting her idol career on hold for three years.

Three years without any news or updates—no matter how popular an idol was, such a long absence would inevitably lead to being forgotten.

In the end, after her father's persistent persuasion, Sakura reluctantly decided to put her career on hold and attend the school.

Now, she was incredibly grateful for her father's advice. Otherwise, she felt she would have definitely missed meeting Rin.

"If I had missed Matsuoka-san, would I have regretted it for the rest of my life..." Sakura murmured to herself, lost in thought.

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[Congratulations, host. Even if you become a vegetable now, there will be someone to take care of you until the end of your days.]

[This is truly cause for celebration.]

Rin twitched his lips at the narrator's inexplicable prompt. Frowning, he said, "Narrator, are you cursing me? Can't you say something nice for once?"

[Horikita was upset because the host had lunch outside today. While cleaning the kettle this afternoon, she was distracted and accidentally got her hand stuck inside.]

"Pu–!"

Rin couldn't help bursting into laughter. With an incredulous expression, he asked, "Horikita? She got her hand stuck in the kettle? Is that for real?"

So shocked by the mental image of Horikita Suzune's hand stuck in a thermos, Rin completely forgot to ask the narrator why she was upset about him having lunch outside.

Shouldn't Horikita Suzune have been happy? After all, it meant she didn't have to prepare lunch for him.

Why would she be upset about something like that?

[It is absolutely true that Horikita Suzune got her hand stuck in the kettle.]

"Hahahahahaha, what an idiot!"

Rin Matsuoka nearly laughed himself to tears as he pictured the cold, arrogant Horikita Suzune in such an absurd situation. The image was simply too ridiculous for him to contain himself.

Who would have thought that someone like Horikita Suzune, who seemed so reliable, would get her hand stuck in a kettle?

"And then the narration."

[Afterwards, Horikita Suzune calmly poured shower gel into the thermos. With the lubricating effect of the shower gel, she easily solved the dilemma of her hand being stuck in the thermos.]

"Tsk, although I know Horikita isn't stupid, she'll definitely think of a way to solve the problem of getting her hand stuck in a kettle," Rin Matsuoka muttered, smacking his lips lightly.

[In short, Horikita Suzune will bring the host's dinner. If the host teases her without knowing how to behave, the host will be punched in the stomach.]

"…"

Rin really wanted to tease Horikita Suzune about the "hand stuck in the kettle" incident, but he couldn't explain how he knew about it in the first place.

Besides, Rin didn't want to get punched by an angry Horikita Suzune, so he resolved to behave himself when she brought dinner later.

Rin promised himself—he wouldn't be naughty!

With a ding-dong sound, the dormitory doorbell rang. Rin opened the door and saw Horikita Suzune holding a plastic bag.

Hmm?

Horikita looked at Rin with a hint of suspicion. Why was this guy smiling so happily?

Could he be looking forward to her cooking?

That thought made Horikita Suzune's mood, which had been dampened by the events earlier that day, improve significantly.

"Horikita, you're here to bring me dinner."

"Mm."

With a smile on his face, Rin couldn't help but glance at Horikita Suzune's hands. Whether it was his imagination or not, he felt the faint fragrance coming from her hands.

"Didn't Horikita use shower gel to solve the problem of her hand being stuck in the kettle this afternoon? Maybe that's the scent of the shower gel."

"Rin, what are you looking at?" Horikita's fox-like eyes sharpened.

"Nothing." Rin, who didn't want to get beaten, stepped aside and said, "Come in and sit down."

"Sorry to intrude, then."

Horikita didn't refuse. With her slender legs, she stepped into Rin's dormitory.

"Where are your indoor shoes?"

"I haven't bought any yet. Just come in, Horikita."

Horikita furrowed her delicate eyebrows slightly. After a moment of hesitation, she took off her shoes, revealing her slender feet wrapped in black stockings.

Horikita, now barefoot in black stockings, stepped into the dormitory. Rin, who had entered first, couldn't help but show a subtle expression when he noticed this.

There was something subtle and alluring about the sight of Horikita in black stockings.

Once inside, Horikita looked around, her gaze clearly evaluating the space. Her expression quickly turned to one of disdain. "Your desk…"

Rin twitched his lips. "Isn't this how all boys' rooms are? Who keeps their room spotless every day? I don't have OCD."

"Horikita, have a seat. Help yourself to anything you'd like to drink." Rin gestured to the left corner, where a pile of canned drinks was stacked.

The drinks had been bought for cocktail mixing, but Rin had failed to purchase the base liquor. As a result, the cans remained unopened.