Chapter 45: Clearly, I was here first
Question: [How do you make a boy like you?]
A few days ago, Shinomiya Kaguya had absolutely no clue about this.
But now, after thoroughly studying a thick book called "Tips for Flirting with Boys 101", she had gained clear awareness.
Strategy No.1: Use time to gradually wear him down, slowly build feelings – this type is the most stable.
Shinomiya Kaguya felt this was the strategy that least suited her, because her relationship with Sakurai Saki had only just recently eased up a bit.
( ＾◡＾)っ Pass!
Strategy No.2: Create a burden too great for the other party to bear, force him to take responsibility.
Shinomiya felt this type wasn't very reliable.
She didn't want to throw away her first kiss just because she was mad at Hayasaka Ai. Moreover, doing so would be overboard, and she couldn't bring herself to betray the sisterly bond between her and Hayasaka.
She was Hayasaka's good sister, how could she steal her friend's boyfriend?
(❁˃́ᴗ˂̀)(≧ᴗ≦✿)
She thought, just secretly snapping a shot of Sakurai Saki being shy would be enough.
Having that decisive photo in hand would be enough to prove that guy wasn't as hard to win over as Hayasaka claimed.
To carry out the plan of photographing Sakurai Saki looking flustered, Shinomiya decided to use the third strategy—
Strategy No.3: Suddenly shorten the distance, surprise the target to spark feelings.
This was the strategy Kaguya felt most satisfied with.
ദ്ദി (◕ᴗ◕✿)
Because this was the most classic method of "soft words, hard results" —
Normally cold and distant, but suddenly showing gentleness today… that would surely make him flustered.
What would Sakurai Saki think?
A virgin boy who's never been close to a girl, suddenly facing her, Shinomiya Kaguya, being this unexpectedly gentle… he would definitely have his heart pounding and reveal a super cute shy expression!
Heh, How Cute~
( · ❛ ֊ ❛)
After finishing her thoughts, Shinomiya Kaguya immediately leaned closer to Sakurai.
Step One: Shorten the physical distance!
Done. She immediately glanced at his bento box.
Pretending to be surprised: "Is this a boy's bento~ you eat so much, I usually only eat a little bit~"
w(°o°)w
Step Two: Show off her own cuteness!
Girls who eat little are a plus!
Girls shouldn't eat like pigs!
Like that secretary Fujiwara, eating a whole pile every meal — how is that still a girl!
What pissed Kaguya off the most was: all the nutrients she ate just accumulated in that huge damn chest!!
( • ) ( • )-----┌∩┐(◣_◢)
This shit defies science! It completely contradicts normal human physiology!
Shinomiya Kaguya recalled her opponent's face, and then felt there was no issue.
After all, she was like a cockroach that never stops multiplying, so that kind of thing was completely normal.
Chika: ( ｡ •̀ ⤙ •́ ｡ )
Next! Step Three! Praise him!
"Sakurai-kun, you're so good at studying~ How do you usually study~? I really want to know~"
(๑✪ᆺ✪๑)
The two male students sitting there remained silent.
(っ º - º ς)(っ º - º ς)
Shirogane Miyuki felt like he was dealing with a fake Shinomiya Kaguya. He was starting to believe what Sakurai Saki said yesterday about ghosts.
Ghosts truly exist in this world.
Maybe aliens exist too.
Right here, right now, in front of him was a humanoid monster, some unidentified alien creature that had taken over Shinomiya Kaguya's body, using it to carry out strange behavior.
To summarize in one sentence, this thing, motherfucker, is not Shinomiya Kaguya.
Shirogane Miyuki spoke up, as if something prickled his back: "Shinomiya, act normal."
I'm kinda scared, Shinomiya.
"I'm always like this~" – Shinomiya Kaguya said in a cutesy voice.
(*ᴗ͈ˬᴗ͈)ꕤ*.ﾟ
Shirogane & Sakurai: (·•᷄_•᷅ ) (ಠ_ಠ)
You said it yourself, and even you don't believe it, do you?
Fooling us is one thing, but please don't lie to yourself, okay?
Sakurai Saki took a bite of rice, then quietly shifted away from her a bit.
(¬_¬")
Shinomiya Kaguya felt a bit unwilling.
She reached out her hand, intending to touch his face. While doing the action, she even tried to wink. She initially planned to wink with her right eye to act seductive, but unfortunately wasn't skilled, so she ended up closing both eyes at the same time.
Sakurai Saki saw that scene and panicked, raising his hand to try and block hers.
Σ(°ᗩ°l|l)
This girl wasn't Shinomiya Kaguya anymore. She wasn't even human anymore!
Right at that moment—
"Everyone's here~ I'm here too!!"
✧｡٩(ˊᗜˋ )و✧*｡
Fujiwara Chika opened the door and witnessed a scene that shocked her.
"( ˶°ㅁ°)!!!!"
Why was Sakurai-kun holding hands with Kaguya-san? (Both palms pressed together, Sakurai Saki was trying hard to push Kaguya's hand away)
Why was Kaguya-san even closing her eyes? (Tried to wink seductively but failed, one eye became two)
Were they about to kiss?
( ˶˘ ³˘(⋆❛ ہ ❛⋆)!♡
And another thing!
President Shirogane, why are you just sitting there watching!!??
This is the sacred student council room! This kind of impure male-female relationship must be purged!!
Ugh~
Clearly I was the one who came first, whether it's hugging or holding hands.
First time liking someone, first time having a best friend, those two joys stacked on each other—clearly it should've been a time of happiness. What she should've gotten was a dreamy, beautiful period.
But why… why did it turn out like this?
'...'
Fujiwara Chika looked at the two of them being close, and her eyes stung.
(இ﹏இ`｡)
The more she thought about it, the more wronged she felt.
"Uwaa~~~" Fujiwara Chika's eyes turned red as she quickly slammed the door shut. She turned around and ran away in tears.
.·°՞(¯□¯)՞°·.
Sakurai Saki heard the last thing she said as she left—
"Kaguya-san, I clearly saw you as a friend!! Uwaa~ you flat-chested traitor——! I'll eat ultra-spicy noodles alone for a whole month!!"
༼;´༎ຶ ༎ຶ༽
Ultra-spicy noodles? What the hell is that?
Sakurai Saki's face was full of question marks.
Don't tell me you think there's something between me and her?
Wait a second, that's a massive misunderstanding!!
Sakurai Saki hurriedly pulled out his phone, ready to send a message explaining things on LINE.
If it were a rumor with anyone else, he could ignore it, but with Shinomiya Kaguya — absolutely not! Especially since the first witness was Fujiwara Chika!
Shinomiya Kaguya heard the other person's voice and opened her eyes. She curiously asked: "Did Fujiwara-san come just now?"
Shirogane Miyuki looked up and replied: "She just arrived and then seemed to leave right away."
He had been lowering his head to eat, and only heard her say one greeting.
Sakurai Saki opened LINE.
Lowered his head and typed a message to her.
Sakurai Saki: Fujiwara-san, you misunderstood what you saw just now!!
"Beep~"
It was read almost immediately.
"Beep~"
Fujiwara Chika: crying dog face.gif
૮₍ ´╥︿╥` ₎ა
Seeing the crying dog face sticker she sent, Sakurai Saki let out a sigh of relief.
"Beep~"
Fujiwara Chika: So Sakurai-kun actually cares about me that much~? Even took the trouble to message me on LINE~ It's just like you're doing that thing to me…
'It's like I just confessed to Fujiwara-san...'
Sakurai Saki recalled his earlier actions.
Only now did he realize what he had just done.
————
On the other end.
Not far from the student council room, Fujiwara Chika leaned against a wall, holding her phone, a silly smile blooming on her face.
Read it immediately…
Sakurai-kun is probably looking at his phone right now.
Suddenly feeling a bit embarrassed.
A few dozen seconds later.
"Beep~"
Saki-kun: I was afraid you'd spread some ridiculous rumors. I'm already miserable enough as it is, that's why I rushed to message you like that.
Fujiwara Chika knew he was referring to being confessed to yesterday, but the way he worded it… wasn't he clearly trying to cover up his shyness?
I want to run back and look at his face so bad right now~
૮₍ ´ ꒳ `₎ა
————
In the student council room, Shinomiya Kaguya looked at Sakurai Saki blushing face as he typed away, and instantly pulled out her phone, quickly capturing the moment.
Sorry, Hayasaka, but this time, I win the competition!!
Shinomiya Kaguya believed the reason he blushed was because of her earlier actions.
Having secured decisive evidence, Shinomiya Kaguya immediately withdrew her expression, her face instantly returning to its usual icy cold demeanor.
In a bit, she would send this photo to Hayasaka via email.
Sakurai Saki? Hmph, he's nothing at all!
Shirogane Miyuki sat across from the two, looking at their completely different facial expressions.
In that moment, he felt like he had been cut off from the rest of the world.
What just happened earlier?
Did the alien in Shinomiya's head get eaten by Sakurai or something?