Saturday, a day when students should've been resting at home, but the student council was still busy preparing for the welcome party for the French exchange student.
As usual, Shirogane was working in the student council room. The task of setting up the auditorium was given to the two boys, Rinji and Ishigami. As for Kaguya and Fujiwara—they might've been busy with other things… or just slacking off. Either way, it wasn't Rinji's concern.
"Rinji, I'm going to go grab the rest of the supplies. You stay here and wait."
"Sure, go ahead."
Once Ishigami left, Rinji continued arranging the tables and chairs.
At that moment, Sagara Kaya walked into the auditorium and smiled warmly at the sight of Rinji hard at work.
"Rinji, I used to worry you'd struggle adjusting to school life, but I'm starting to feel reassured now."
"I still haven't adjusted. But at least I'm content with the atmosphere here."
Rinji casually pushed a large round table into place and laid a cloth over it. Then he looked back at Sagara.
"The student council is a noisy bunch, but they're good people. Working here makes me feel… a little lighter inside."
"I'm glad to hear that. I really hope you can grow a little during your time at Shuchiin."
"That might disappoint you, Aunt Kaya. I'm not someone who changes easily."
Rinji kept working as he spoke.
"My core hasn't changed just because I'm in a new environment. I'm still the same brutal person I used to be. The student council just forces me to hold it in. The moment I step out, I'm back to being the unforgivable bastard I always was… Not that I want to change anyway."
"…Well, at the very least, I'm happy with how you've been behaving these days. Sure, you've done some dumb stuff, but you're a lot calmer than before."
She had expected to watch Rinji like a hawk after placing him in Shuchiin, worried he'd cause trouble. Aside from that one fight early on, though, he hadn't done anything problematic.
She had to admit—the student council was an amazing place. It could even suppress someone like him.
---
Later that night…
"Ah… It's finally over for today."
Back at the estate, Kaguya threw on her pajamas and collapsed onto her bed.
"Was student council work that busy?"
"It's just been especially hectic lately. The planning is handled by me and the president. The auditorium setup was given to the boys. As for Fujiwara… I don't think she did anything."
Actually, she did. Fujiwara was responsible for notifying the volunteer students who'd be helping at the party. But since that was finished by Friday, her visit to the council on Saturday was just to watch others work.
"I believe you're going shopping with the president tomorrow?"
"Yes. I'm looking for—I mean, what a troublesome task."
"You were about to say you're looking forward to it, weren't you?"
Ai Hayasaka had long gotten used to Kaguya's awkward personality. She didn't bother calling her out anymore when she insisted she had no romantic interest in the president.
"So? Want me to text the president and set the meeting time?"
"No."
Kaguya turned her head defiantly.
"I will never initiate contact with the president."
"..."
"If I text him first, it's like admitting I want to talk to him. That's absolutely unacceptable!"
"..."
Watching her stubborn expression, Hayasaka was briefly speechless.
But she was used to this.
"What if he doesn't message you?"
"He will. I guarantee he'll message me at exactly 9:45 PM."
"That precise?"
"Of course," Kaguya said confidently. "Most high schoolers sleep around 11:30 or midnight. I sleep at ten. So anything past ten is 'unnatural.' The president will message me right before ten."
"…What's unnatural is your entire logic."
Without comment, Hayasaka calmly picked up Kaguya's flip phone and began composing a message.
"President, I'm looking forward to our shopping trip to—"
"What are you doing!?"
Kaguya snatched the phone away.
"If you're so unwilling to message him, I'll do it for you."
"You absolutely cannot message from my phone first!"
"..."
That's when Hayasaka realized something important.
Kaguya was the kind of person who never broke her own rules. If she said she wouldn't send the first message, then no matter what, she wouldn't.
But… rules always have loopholes.
"Miss Kaguya, if you won't text him, that's fine," Hayasaka said sharply. "Just call him."
"Huh?"
"If you call, it's not texting. It totally fits your rules."
"Well, that's true, but…"
While Kaguya hesitated, Hayasaka had already dialed the number.
"There, it's done."
"Wait—!"
She shoved the phone into Kaguya's hands. The call was already connected.
With no way out, Kaguya could only speak, trying to stay calm.
"Uh… Hello? Is this the president?"
"It's me, Takamine Rinji."
"EEEEEEHHHHHH!?"
Kaguya's expression instantly collapsed.
"T-T-Takamine-kun!? Why are you answering the president's phone!?"
Hayasaka, who'd been watching with a smirk, froze as well.
"It's totally normal to hang out at the president's place on a Saturday."
In the background, she could hear the sound of a cooking stove and a range hood running.
"I just came over to make dinner. What's the problem, Miss Shinomiya?"
"..."
'He's at the president's house again… and he's cooking dinner… It's like they're already a family…'
"Hello?"
"N-No… But why is the president's phone with you?"
"Oh, he's in the shower. He asked me to answer if it rang. Probably thought it was a sales call. I haven't told him it's you yet. Want me to pass it to him? Or have him call you back?"
"..."
Kaguya fell into deep thought.
'Have the president call me back? That would make him the initiator… Sounds like a great idea.'
"Then… tell him to contact me later. He has to message me first, okay!?"
"Got it, got it."