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...
ANHS really does shape its students. Both upper and lowerclassmen were already bracing for the coming year-end special exam.
Even though it was the weekend, plenty of students weren't relaxing too much; they were training or haunting the library, getting ready for the final test of the year.
Horikita Suzune was no exception—or shouldn't have been. On Sunday, March 7, she should've been headed for the library or maintaining her physical condition. But strangely, out of character, she went nowhere… and ended up at Yukio's dorm.
All to carry out the wager they'd made before the voting exam—the winner could ask the other to do one thing.
This left Horikita quite troubled. They'd agreed in advance it couldn't harm the class's interests, couldn't violate school rules, and had to be safe.
Even so, she couldn't help feeling tense, unable to guess at all what that guy would make her do.
With those thoughts, she stepped into Yukio's dorm. While changing into slippers at the entrance, she stared at him with wary coolness. "You can say it now, right? What exactly do you want me to do?"
Yukio wasn't even standing properly; in his own dorm he was completely casual, arms folded, shoulder leaned against the wall. "Tsk, tsk. That expression."
"?" Horikita couldn't follow; she had no idea what he meant.
He pointed toward the living room, motioning for her to go in. "That expression of yours—so cool and distant, with that haughty vibe."
"It makes people think of fantasy heroines—an aloof, high-mountain flower of a lady knight. I was thinking, if a lady knight like you were captured, what would that scene look like? I wanted to see it."
"Hah? What are you even talking about?" Faced with this half-teasing, half-nonsensical spiel, Horikita frowned in irritation. "Be direct. What do you want me to do?"
The nerves she'd had upon arriving were pressed down—for the moment. She had a bad feeling and wanted to leave immediately.
But bound by the wager, she forced herself—proud as ever—not to run.
"Simple." Yukio stopped toying with her. "Can you cook?"
"Of course." She gave him a look of don't underestimate me, her furrowed brow quietly loosening. So he just wanted her to make a meal? That was almost too easy.
It didn't harm the class, didn't break any rules. Sure, there's always a sliver of "kitchen disaster" risk, but Horikita was confident—there would be no such horror on her watch.
As expected, Yukio's request was for a meal. "Good then. Ingredients are in the fridge. Make me lunch."
Horikita relaxed completely. After all that needless anxiety, it really was just cooking a meal! What a waste of nerves.
Thinking that, she headed straight for the fridge to get it over with—just in case Yukio suddenly changed the terms, which would be a pain.
"Not so fast." The more she hoped for smooth sailing, the more surprises popped up. From the entryway, Yukio flashed her a grin. "My request isn't that simple."
"The condition is: you cook… while wearing that cosplay." He pointed, oh-so-helpfully, at the outfit laid out on the table.
"!" So it wasn't going to be that simple—of course! Horikita's face went even colder, and she instinctively resisted. "That makes it two demands. I refuse."
Yukio seemed certain he had her, showing no worry she'd go back on the bet. "Cooking in the cosplay is the request. If you can't manage that, I don't mind switching to something… more exciting."
He even stressed the word exciting, which sent a chill through Horikita and made her scalp prickle. Maybe… maybe she should just agree?
Better that than a new, even more mortifying demand.
Fuming and annoyed, she still obediently opened the package and took out the cosplay—finally understanding what Yukio had meant at the door.
He'd prepared a lady knight's outfit for her. Even the plastic armor had a convincingly solid look—clearly a high-end set.
Seriously?! Horikita's irritation spiked. She knew Yukio had just hauled in 2.9 billion, but with that many private points, could he not buy something a little more… sensible?
What good was an ultra-fancy lady knight costume?
Then he tossed another line to set her off: "Go ahead and change. I'll stand here in the foyer with my back to you. I won't watch you change…"
"…" Horikita's cheek twitched hard. She tried to hold it in, but she absolutely could not. The pent-up anger burst out. "Don't even think about it! You're a complete pervert, aren't you?!"
"Who wants to watch a girl cosplay a knight?!"
"Oh?" Yukio didn't get angry at all. He rested his chin on his hand, as if considering a new request. "If you hate it that much, I can change it."
"For example, forget cooking—just wear the knight outfit and walk a few laps outside. That should be fine, right?"
"You—!" Horikita froze, face flushing as she glared at him. Just picturing herself parading around in the knight costume— even someone as cool as she was felt a wave of embarrassment.
This new demand was a hundred times worse than what she'd imagined!
She didn't dare keep snapping at him, terrified he'd escalate to something even worse. She couldn't take that.
So, tail between her legs, she snatched up the outfit without a word and dashed into the bathroom. No way was she trusting his "I won't look" promise. If she had to change, she'd at least make certain he couldn't see.
A short while later, she came out blushing, and Yukio got an eyeful. Underneath, she wore a black sleeveless pleated one-piece; over it, a sleeveless, pure-white, vertically striped, medieval Western-style padded vest.
Because of the sleeveless dress and vest, her snow-white shoulders and upper arms were exposed to view. On her hands were silver-white gauntlets with gold floral trim and black gloves.
Sheer black stockings hugged her legs to mid-thigh; from the knees down to the feet, silver-white armor with gold filigree covered her. At the waist hung a grand battle skirt—blue lining, blood-red outer—giving her a strikingly valiant look.
Add a blue plastic scabbard and a blue plastic longsword, and with that proud, cool demeanor, she truly did look like a lady knight.
Yukio applauded her. "As expected of Horikita—it suits you perfectly."
...
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