COTE: Horikita Is My Childhood Sweetheart

Chapter 184: Shiina and Suzune met!

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There were two elevators in the dormitory building. One elevator was descending, while the other was already on the first floor. Shiina entered the elevator on the first floor and pressed the button for the third floor.

Coincidentally, the two elevators—one going up and one coming down—arrived at the third floor at the same time.

Shiina stepped out of the elevator, and Suzune emerged from the other. The two girls met at the elevator entrance.

Shiina glanced at the beautiful girl with a cold expression, and a hint of surprise flickered across her face.

Having crossed paths with Horikita before, Shiina knew she didn't live on the third floor.

Why is she here? Is she looking for someone?

Horikita, maintaining her usual cold and composed demeanor, noticed Shiina holding two plastic lunch boxes. Without saying a word, she walked purposefully toward dormitory room 304, carrying a plastic bag.

Room 304 was Rin's dormitory.

In this silent procession, the cool and dignified Horikita led the way, while the gentle and soft Shiina followed behind.

Two girls with completely opposite temperaments were heading toward the same destination—room 304—while its occupant, Rin, was still at the convenience store shopping for a low table.

Horikita reached the door of room 304 first. She stopped, raised her slender hand, and knocked.

Knock knock knock.

There was no response from the room. Instead, a soft, slightly curious voice came from behind her.

"Are you here to see Rin?" Shiina asked.

The mention of "Rin" made Horikita turn around. She stared at Shiina, who had tilted her head slightly in question.

"Yes… are you here to see him too?"

"No," Shiina replied simply.

Horikita felt an immediate sense of relief.

"I made plans with Rin to have dinner together," Shiina added.

Horikita's brief moment of ease evaporated. Her concern spiked again.

To her surprise, Shiina pulled out a key and unlocked the door to dormitory 304. Horikita watched in disbelief, her worry growing even more intense.

"She… she has a key to Rin's dormitory!"

Shiina opened the door and turned to Horikita with a calm smile. "Rin is out buying a low table, but he'll be back soon. Please come in and wait for him."

Horikita said nothing, but the sight of Shiina speaking so casually—as though she were the hostess of Rin's room—left her deeply unsettled.

"Alright," Horikita finally said, her curiosity about the relationship between Shiina and Rin compelling her to step inside.

Once inside, the two girls quickly noticed a problem.

Rin only owned one pair of guest slippers.

Who should wear them?

---

About ten minutes later, Rin returned to his dormitory, carrying a low table in one hand and a carpet in the other.

Since the dormitory door was left slightly ajar, Rin pushed it open with his foot and stepped inside.

"Huh??"

Standing at the shoe rack, Rin stared at the two pairs of round-toed leather shoes and furrowed his brow.

"Why are there two pairs of shoes here? And where are my slippers?!"

Not only were two unfamiliar pairs of shoes at the entrance, but his own slippers were nowhere to be seen.

---

Boom boom boom.

Tap, tap.

The sound of two sets of footsteps—one dull and one light—echoed from deeper inside the dormitory. Rin raised his head and was greeted by an unexpected sight.

Not only was the soft and delicate Shiina standing before him, but beside her was the cold and stoic Horikita.

Horikita's feet, wrapped in sleek black stockings, were snugly fitted into Rin's slippers.

"Horikita? Why are you here?" Rin asked in astonishment. "And… why are you wearing my slippers?"

Horikita showed no embarrassment. Instead, she retorted confidently, "Who told you to only buy one pair of guest slippers? Were you planning to let me walk in barefoot?"

"…Alright," Rin replied, feeling slightly defeated.

Shiina, watching their interaction with curiosity, walked toward Rin. Her gaze fell on the carpet he was holding, and she extended her hands toward it.

"Rin, give me the carpet. I'll lay it out," she said softly.

"Sure. Thanks, Shiina."

"No trouble," Shiina replied, her face lighting up with a soft smile as she took the carpet from Rin.

Meanwhile, Horikita, pursing her lips slightly, shifted her gaze to the low table Rin was holding.

Hmm… that table looks heavy. I doubt Shiina-san can move it alone, she thought.

"Hiyori-san, let me help you," Horikita said, stepping forward.

"Hmm~" Shiina responded, her tone light and cheerful.

Rin observed the scene with a hint of amusement. Watching Horikita take the initiative, he couldn't help but mutter under his breath, "Is this really Horikita taking the initiative? What a rare sight."

While the two girls spread the carpet, Rin, still holding the low table with one hand, removed his leather shoes by stepping on each heel in turn. Then, wearing his short boat socks, he stepped into the room.

By the time Rin entered, the carpet had already been laid out perfectly. Shiina and Horikita both approached him, clearly intending to help him position the low table.

Although Rin could have handled the table by himself, he decided to let the girls assist, not wanting to diminish their enthusiasm.

Together, the three of them placed the low table neatly on the carpet, marking the end of their task.

Rin looked at the two girls, who were now standing at opposite corners of the table, and broke the silence. "Horikita, Shiina, do you two already know each other?"

"Yes, we've introduced ourselves," Shiina answered softly, nodding her head.

Horikita glanced at the stack of classic novels on Bai Yuan's desk and remarked, "Rin, I've known you for a while, but this is the first time I've learned that you're interested in classic novels."

"Well, I only started getting into them after meeting Shiina," Rin admitted with a faint smile.

Shiina's expression brightened, her eyebrows raising slightly. It was clear Rin's response had made her quite happy.

"By the way, Horikita, why did you come to see me?" Rin asked, turning his attention to her.

"I… I forgot that I no longer owed you dinner," Horikita began, her tone slightly flustered. "So I accidentally made too much dinner tonight."

"Since I can't eat that much by myself, and leaving it overnight would affect the taste and texture, I figured I'd bring it down to you and ask you to help me finish the extra food," she explained, turning her head slightly to the side, her voice quieter.

Oh… so that's her reason, Rin thought.

"But Rin and I already brought back dinner from the student cafeteria," Shiina interjected, pointing to the two plastic lunch boxes sitting on the desk.

Hearing this, Horikita froze for a moment before shooting Rin a sharp look. Her eyes seemed to convey an unspoken message: If you don't eat the dinner I brought, you won't live to see tomorrow.

Of course, that wasn't what Horikita was actually thinking. Rin was simply embellishing the moment in his own mind for his own amusement.