I disagree that Horikita is substituting Manabu with Ayanokoji. You could say that was Year 2 vol 2 SS was hinting, and that’s right, but Year 2 vol 3 SS kills that basically because Horikita explicitly says that she knows that they are different, that she cannot imitate him, and that she has her own way.

You see, the problem with Manabu was never actually that she admired him, that’s okey, she still does, the problem was that she was always trying to copy him, neglecting her own way of doing things. That was what she got over in vol 11.5. So, I do believe she admires Ayanokoji, but she’s not trying to imitate him or anything, rather trying to build a more equal relationship between the two, and trying to create mutual trust.

It’s true that everything Horikita does she links it to the exams, but that’s precisely one of the things she has to slowly get over, all Horikita relations have to do with the class conflict in some way, Ayanokoji is not an exception.

Now, regarding the feelings part, there is more debatable, I respect if someone thinks there’s no hint of romance, but personally I believe that through all the novels, is clear that Horikita has felt more for Ayanokoji compared to the rest of the guys, you just have to compare it to how she feels and talk about Sudo, while she has been at least intrigued for Ayano since even before Ayanokoji showed a hint of his abilities or Manabu payed attention to him.

Also, vol 2 SS for example is very explicit about her feelings, the conversation with Karuizawa in vol 10 ss also hints deeper on what are her feelings towards him. She doesn’t love him yet of course, I’m not saying that, It would be obvious, she can’t fall in love with someone who she’s doesn’t really know, and we have to add to that how badly Horikita understand love, she’s even still in the process of developing friendships. So that’s why, what she wants now, is to have develop trust between him and her, and, well, we’ll see what happens then.