On the way to escorting Shiina Mahiru back to the girls' dormitory, Natsukawa Kanade couldn't help but notice the steady flow of students emerging from the venue, most of them walking in pairs. Very few remained in larger groups. It was a clear sign—the test of courage had officially concluded.
A notification buzzed on his phone, and he instinctively checked it. The message was from Kaguya:
"The list of all students who participated in the game has been compiled. No one is missing, and no discrepancies were found. The venue is currently being cleared, and the props are being retrieved. The process should take approximately 20 minutes. If the president has the leisure, he may come by the office to inspect the work."
Kanade pondered for a moment. There was no reason to personally inspect things—Kaguya was more than capable of handling it. He quickly typed out a reply:
"No need for me to check. If you've already arranged everything, I trust you. Go ahead as planned."
After confirming that the message had been delivered, Kanade let out a small sigh of relief. But almost immediately, a wave of guilt crashed over him.
Here he was, indulging in what could easily be perceived as a "date," while Kaguya, his most capable and diligent vice president, was still working. Compared to her dedication, he felt like an irresponsible leader.
It wasn't just guilt, though—he was also deeply grateful. Kaguya was truly remarkable. Her efficiency was unmatched, and her ability to learn new things was borderline terrifying. Just a few days ago, she had been struggling with even the basics of electronic communication, and now she was seamlessly managing logistics and sending detailed reports through text. Her growth was nothing short of impressive.
Kanade chuckled to himself, reminiscing about their past challenges. He had never underestimated her, not even from the start. When he first decided to challenge her academically, he had gone all out, studying relentlessly for days before the exam. He had even employed a few tricks—issuing his challenge only a few days prior so that she wouldn't have time to prepare.
And yet, despite all his efforts, he had only barely managed to secure the top spot.
Of course, he hadn't stopped there. He had continued to challenge her in different fields, refusing to accept defeat. Even when he lost, he used those failures as motivation to improve. Each competition was not just about proving himself but also about getting closer to her. In his mind, all of it was leading to a grand confession at the perfect moment.
But reality had played a cruel trick on him. Overwhelmed by pressure, he had faltered. In the end, he had given up entirely, even considering resigning from the student council to escape the suffocating expectations he had placed upon himself.
It wasn't until a fateful encounter with Katou-san that his perspective had shifted. That day, he had finally realized—relationships between boys and girls didn't have to follow a rigid, predetermined path. It didn't always have to be about romance. Friendships could be just as meaningful.
Since then, he had changed. He no longer avoided the girls he had once admired. Instead, he interacted with them naturally, seeing them for who they were—people with unique personalities rather than unattainable ideals.
Of course, there was still one lingering thought in his mind: the "former crushes" who had rejected him. But now, rather than dwelling on those past rejections with bitterness, he viewed them as a necessary part of his growth.
Looking back, he wondered—had his past affections even been genuine? Or had he merely been seeking emotional support in an unfamiliar world? If he had succeeded in one of those confessions, would they have truly been happy? Or would they have realized too late that they weren't truly compatible, leading to resentment and regret?
In that sense, he was grateful for those rejections. They had spared him and the girls from the pain of forced relationships. Now, he could approach them sincerely, without the weight of past emotions clouding his judgment.
A small smile formed on his lips as he typed out another message to Kaguya:
"Kaguya, it's really great to have you helping out."
Perhaps it was just an impulse, an honest thought that slipped out. But before he could second-guess himself and delete it, the message had already been sent.
He hesitated for a brief moment, wondering if he should follow up with an explanation, but then shook his head. No need. Kaguya would understand. She always did.
Still, feeling a little awkward about his spontaneous sentimentality, he quickly sent another text:
"You've worked hard. Go back and rest early."
Satisfied, he tucked his phone away and continued walking, humming softly to himself. Today had been an eventful day, but it wasn't over yet.
His mind wandered to his roommates—those three traitorous fools who had gleefully sold him out earlier. He wasn't going to let them off that easily. Oh no, he was going to wring every last detail out of them tonight.
Natsukawa Kanade grinned mischievously. Revenge was on the horizon.
Those three guys—those traitors—had really done him dirty earlier. Selling him out without a second thought? Unforgivable. Natsukawa Kanade wasn't about to let this slide. No, tonight, someone was going to pay the price. There would be no mercy.
Tonight, someone was destined to have a sleepless night.
—And Shinomiya Kaguya was naturally one of them.
The moment she received the message, "Kaguya, it's so good to have you," she completely froze. Her mind blanked out. Everything else—completely irrelevant. The student council work? Forgotten. The people calling her name? Ignored. Even the disapproving look from her ever-dutiful maid? Utterly meaningless.
Her world had been reduced to a single thought—
"Ai-chan! The president... he finally confessed to me!"
"… Huh?"
This time, it was Hayasaka Ai's turn to be completely dumbfounded.
But after a brief moment of consideration, her rational mind rejected the idea outright. There was just no way. That incorrigible, playboy-like, infuriating student council president—could he really make such a blunder? The man who thrived on mind games and careful calculations?
Absolutely not.
He was fully capable of charming this silly, love-struck young lady without even trying. Without lifting a single finger.
Just like he had always done before…
Realizing something, Hayasaka Ai narrowed her eyes and carefully asked, "Kaguya-san, did Natsukawa-sama… confess to you in person?"
With a dramatic flourish, Shinomiya Kaguya proudly presented her phone, pointing at the message as if it were the most valuable treasure in the world.
"Look, look! What else could this be if not a confession?!"
Hayasaka Ai sighed, already feeling a headache coming on. She leaned in, took a quick glance at the screen, and immediately spotted the flaw that her young lady—completely consumed by her delusions—had failed to notice.
She exhaled sharply and, in the gentlest tone she could muster, said, "Miss… is there a possibility that… the president was just acknowledging your hard work and offering a little encouragement?"
She carefully avoided using words that were too blunt, too cruel.
But love-struck fools were blind to reason.
"Impossible, absolutely impossible! This is clearly a confession, okay?!"
Hayasaka Ai: "…"
Ah.
There really was no saving her, was there?