"I'm back, Miss Kaguya."
"Welcome home, Hayasaka... Wait, you didn't come back with anyone? That's rare."
"It was a rare day off, Miss Kaguya—please go easy on me."
Inside the Shinomiya estate, Hayasaka Ai had changed into her maid outfit and was helping Kaguya tidy up her room.
As she folded laundry, she noticed Kaguya still seemed lost in thought—probably still thinking about the movie she had watched with Shirogane.
"How was the date with President Shirogane today?"
"Ha!? What date!? We just happened to see a movie, that's all!" Kaguya turned bright red.
"You planned a fake coincidence to see a movie together. That's clearly a date." Hayasaka's expression remained blank. "Really now—if Miss Kaguya were just a bit more honest, none of this would be so complicated."
"Hmph, as if I could ever like the president. But if he were to devote himself to me, then... I might consider it."
Hayasaka glanced at her lady, who was turning away in embarrassment, and twitched her brow.
"And that's why it's been a year with no progress."
"It's much more rewarding to be confessed to than to confess first. You probably wouldn't understand that feeling, Hayasaka."
"...Fine. You experienced it four years before I did, after all."
For the first time, Kaguya realized her status might actually be lower than her maid's.
"I'll go wash the clothes now."
"Wait!"
Just as Hayasaka was about to leave with the laundry, Kaguya tugged on her sleeve.
"What is it?"
"Um... Hayasaka," Kaguya asked shyly, blushing, "do you have any tips or experience to share?"
"Hmm?"
"I mean... you got a guy to confess to you, right? Did you use any secret tricks?"
"No tricks. It just... happened naturally."
"Eh!? Really? There must've been something—I mean, even someone like Takamine confessed to you! You must have done something amazing!"
"Nope."
"But—"
Just as Kaguya was about to press further, Hayasaka turned and gave her a cold stare.
Startled by the look, Kaguya shrank back.
"Wh-what is it? Are you mad?"
"No."
Hayasaka turned away, her voice calm. "I don't think the way you do. If I could go back in time and confess now, I wouldn't hesitate. But... does someone who rejected another person really have the right to confess to them again?"
"That..."
Just a few hours earlier, Hayasaka had chatted with Rinji for quite a while at the family restaurant.
He had stayed calm the entire time, acting like he had long forgotten her rejection. There was no resentment—but that nonchalance only made her more uneasy.
She had tried multiple times to bring something up—but every time, the words caught in her throat.
Everything she thought of saying felt like a cover-up.
She knew things wouldn't change overnight. The only way to rebuild what was lost was by gradually making progress at school.
At least, that was what she hoped. What Rinji truly felt... she still couldn't say.
"If the president confessed to you, would you accept?"
"I wouldn't say no, but..."
"If you worry too much about meaningless stuff, you'll end up letting happiness slip away," Hayasaka said, leaving the room. "That's my experience—since you asked for some."
"..."
---
Monday – back to school as usual.
During lunch break, Rinji headed to the student council office.
Inside, only Shirogane was there, busily organizing paperwork.
"President, how was your 'date' yesterday?"
"It was fine... wait, no! It wasn't a date!" Shirogane quickly corrected himself. "It was just a coincidence. Nothing's happened yet."
"Oh."
"By the way, Rinji... how did you switch Kaguya's ticket last time?"
"Just a cheap trick. Sleight of hand," Rinji replied vaguely.
He didn't tell Shirogane that he had bought out every seat except the one next to him. Knowing Shirogane's personality, that would only make him feel more pressured.
"So how's your progress with Shinomiya?"
"Well... there hasn't been much, honestly."
"She's a Shinomiya, after all. She's seen it all—conquering her heart won't be easy."
Rinji sat on the couch, watching the still-busy Shirogane.
"Still, it's impressive you'd put in so much effort for a girl you don't like."
"Th-that's only natural."
Shirogane always insisted he didn't like Kaguya—and Rinji believed him, even though he was helping Shirogane constantly.
To him, anyone who liked Kaguya Shinomiya must be crazy.
And Shirogane was clearly smart, so he couldn't be one of those people.
Conclusion: Shirogane didn't like Kaguya.
That was that.
The truth is, those who are a little broken tend to think everyone else is the weird one. Rinji hadn't yet realized how far his worldview was from others'.
"Rinji, if you're free now, give me a hand. I can't handle all this alone."
"Sure, got a lot to do today?"
"Yeah. The club budgets were all distributed. Any unused funds will be deducted from the next cycle, so now everyone's scrambling to spend what's left. All the stuff they bought got sent here to the student council."
"I see."
Rinji stepped forward and helped Shirogane sort through the pile of items.
"The student council's been getting busier and busier lately… Rinji, do you have anyone you'd recommend? We could use another person to help out with miscellaneous tasks."
"A recommendation, huh…"
Takamine Rinji thought for a moment.
"I actually do. His name's Ishigami Yuu, part of the Go-Home Club. He's got a lot of free time."
"Then ask him if he's willing to join the student council," said Shirogane Miyuki. "Besides the club matter, there's also the welcome party for the French exchange students next week… Seriously, why did everything have to pile up this week of all weeks?"
"A… French exchange student welcome party? Shouldn't we have been notified of that at least a month in advance?"
"Exactly. I don't know why, but the principal only told me about it today," Shirogane said with a sigh.
"…I see now."
"Huh?"
Shirogane watched as Rinji put down his work, looking puzzled.
"You see what?"
"Delayed intel from a key source. The principal bears the blame. I'll go drag him out and beat him up right now."
"Wait wait wait! Calm down!"