COTE: Horikita Is My Childhood Sweetheart

Chapter 170: Reactions and Inquiries from All Parties

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Hashimoto Masayoshi was a frivolous and unreliable boy. Recently, he had become one of Arisu Sakayanagi's subordinates, someone she had managed to "recruit" through her cunning.

In addition to Hashimoto, Arisu's group of subordinates included Hayato Kitō and the crafty Kamuro Masumi, a girl Rin, had encountered before.

"Hashimoto, I need you to do something for me," Sakayanagi said with her usual air of confidence.

"Please, command me, Princess," Hashimoto replied.

Though his expression was serious, the way he addressed Sakayanagi was anything but. His playful tone seemed out of place in the conversation.

Sakayanagi, however, paid no attention to Hashimoto's peculiar form of address. With her small, crystal-clear lips, she calmly issued her instructions.

"I'll be heading to the café later. I need you to go to the chairman's office building and wait for Matsuoka Rin from Class D of the first year. Once you see him, find a way to invite him to the café. I'm quite interested in him."

The mention of "Rin Matsuoka" caused Kamuro to turn sharply toward Sakayanagi, her expression full of suspicion.

"What do you want with Matsuoka?!" she demanded, her tone laced with hostility.

Despite being a subordinate of Sakayanagi, Kamuro had not joined her willingly. She was under Sakayanagi's control due to threats, and her resentment showed in moments like this.

Kamuro couldn't help but grow defensive when she heard that Sakayanagi was interested in the boy who had once threatened her.

Sakayanagi, noticing Kamuro's reaction, tilted her head slightly, her delicate face showing a hint of amusement.

"Masumi, why are you reacting so strongly? Do you know Matsuoka?"

"…So what if I do?"

"Good. Since you know Matsuoka, why don't you go find him on Hashimoto's behalf?"

"I refuse," Kamuro said flatly, without hesitation.

She didn't know why Sakayanagi wanted to meet Rin, but she was certain the silver-haired girl had some hidden motives.

To Kamuro, Sakayanagi was nothing more than a manipulative little schemer.

---

Class D, Year 1

"Arata-sensei and the school sure are efficient," Rin muttered to himself with a small sigh.

Unlike Nagumo, who was puzzled and anxiously trying to figure out why he'd been summoned, Rin knew exactly why he had been called to the chairman's office.

After all, the entire situation had been set in motion by him.

The students in Class D, however, were clueless. They exchanged surprised glances as they heard Rin's name on the broadcast.

Karuizawa, looking panicked, quickly approached Rin.

"Rin, why did the announcement ask you to go to the chairman's office? Did something happen?"

Like many students, she instinctively feared places like the teacher's office, the dean's office, and the chairman's office. Being called to any of these places usually meant trouble.

Rin chuckled lightly, trying to reassure her. "Don't overthink it. It's a good thing."

"A good thing?"

Nearby, Horikita and Sakura, who were also curious about Rin's summons, subtly leaned closer to eavesdrop.

"Yes, it's good news. Arata-sensei reported my swimming results to the school, so they called me to learn more about it."

"So that's what it's about," Karuizawa said, visibly relieved. The explanation also eased the concerns of the other students.

Karuizawa had been planning to invite Rin, Matsushita, and a few others to hang out at a beverage shop after school, where they could chat and maintain their friendship.

But now, with Rin heading to the chairman's office, her plans were dashed.

"Then I'll head to the chairman's office first. See you tomorrow," Rin said, standing up with his bag containing swimming trunks and towels.

"Well, see you tomorrow~" Karuizawa replied cheerfully.

Rin left the D-Class classroom and began making his way to the chairman's office.

---

Grade 3, Class A

Seated at his desk, Manabu closed his eyes and murmured to himself, "It's about to begin, Matsuoka. I'll wait and see how this unfolds."

Akane, seated nearby, overheard part of his whisper and asked curiously, "President, what do you mean by 'wait and see'?"

"Uh, it's nothing," Manabu replied, brushing it off.

Tachibana wasn't convinced. "President, do you know why the school summoned Nagumo to the chairman's office? And why your neighbor's younger brother was called too?"

"I do, but it's a little complicated to explain. Let's go to the student council room, and I'll fill you in there."

"Alright."

Just as Manabu stood up, his phone buzzed in his pocket.

"Hmm? An unfamiliar number… Hello, this is Horikita Manabu. May I ask who's calling?" His voice shifted as recognition dawned. "The chairman?!"

Akane looked at Manabu in surprise. The chairman was calling the president? What could it mean?

---

On his way to the chairman's office, Rin's phone kept buzzing with notifications. Curious, he took it out and saw multiple Line messages waiting for him.

The senders included:

Ichinose Honami

Shiina Hiyori

Kamuro Masumi

Asahina Nazuna

Even Chabashira Sae, his homeroom teacher

Most of the messages expressed concern, though each sender had their own reason for reaching out.

The messages from Ichinose and Shiina were filled with genuine care, their worry for Rin apparent between the lines.

Senior Asahina, on the other hand, wasn't as concerned about Rin himself. She was more curious about why both Rin and Nagumo had been summoned to the chairman's office.

Her curiosity stemmed from a prior interaction: before leaving the second-year Class A classroom, an irritated Nagumo had snapped at her question, replying impatiently:

"I don't know! If you want answers, go ask that bastard!"

Frustrated but curious, Asahina decided to message Rin directly.

Masumi's message, however, stood out as strange. It wasn't about why Rin was being summoned to the chairman's office. Instead, she warned him that a "silver-haired girl" from first-year Class A seemed to have taken an interest in him.

"Be careful. That girl is trouble," Kamuro had written.

Rin was baffled by Kamuro's cryptic warning. "A silver-haired devil is targeting me? What's going on now?" he muttered, shaking his head.

He decided to respond to the messages in order.

First, he expressed gratitude to Ichinose and Shiina for their concern. To both of them, he reassured:

"It's nothing to worry about. It's actually good news. My swimming results were reported to the school by the swimming teacher, and they're calling me to the chairman's office to discuss it further."

Both Ichinose and Shiina seemed relieved upon receiving this reply.

Rin sent a similar message to Chabashira, ensuring his homeroom teacher that everything was fine and that he'd explain later if needed.

As for Kamuro, her cryptic warning didn't seem to require much of a reply. Rin simply wrote back:

"Noted. Thanks."

Finally, to Asahina, who had asked why he and Nagumo were summoned, Rin played dumb:

"I don't know either."

With that, Rin pocketed his phone and continued on his way, a faint smile tugging at his lips. Sometimes it's better to play ignorant.