"How wonderful, Kaguya-sama."
Hayasaka Ai, dressed in her maid uniform, watched Kaguya Shinomiya lie on the bed, legs kicking happily as her face was buried in a pillow.
"Mm…"
"The president called you first, and he even sent the first text."
Anyone could tell Kaguya was overjoyed.
"Better go to sleep early. You've got a big day with your favorite president tomorrow."
"He's not my favorite…"
Kaguya mumbled, face still buried in the pillow, voice barely audible.
Hayasaka turned off the lights and left to return to her room. But just a few steps outside the door, she stopped and tapped her chin thoughtfully.
"If I remember right, tomorrow is…"
---
The next morning, at the president's house.
The kitchen counter was filled with prepped plates. A gas burner was lit, and Rinji stood in an apron, simmering something in a pot.
"Sorry to trouble you with breakfast too."
"It's no big deal."
Shirogane's father stood behind him while Rinji tended to the stove, making porridge.
The night before, after dinner and some TV, Rinji was about to head home when it got too late.
Seeing the hour, Shirogane's dad simply told him to stay over for the night.
The apartment they lived in was tiny. One small living room under 20 square meters, a bathroom, a kitchen, and a single bedroom.
The bedroom was shared by Shirogane and Kei. The dad usually slept in the living room, so Rinji had to bunk there with him.
"Haaaah…"
Kei yawned as she entered. Shirogane's dad was already sitting at the table. Rinji had just served two bowls of seafood porridge.
"You're up early, Rinji-nii."
"Yeah, but the president was up even earlier," Rinji said with a smile. "The porridge wasn't ready yet, so I just made him some fried eggs and he went out."
"I see…"
Kei sat down, took a spoonful, and tasted it.
"Tastes okay."
"It's delicious."
"That's good."
Kei looked a little dazed at Rinji's warm smile.
He was supposedly the student council treasurer and had known her brother for over a month now—one year older.
And yet, the warmth he gave off felt like that of a family member. Almost like a big brother or even a parent.
It really felt like… they were a family.
After breakfast, Shirogane's dad began doing the dishes. Rinji leaned against the wall in the living room, planning to leave soon.
But just then, he heard the soft tapping of raindrops on the roof… followed by the heavy sound of a downpour.
Looking out the window, the sky was overcast. Thick clouds had blocked out the morning sun, casting the entire district in shadow.
"It's raining…"
Kei looked out, worried. It wasn't just a drizzle—it was a heavy storm.
Rinji frowned and glanced at his phone.
"Shibuya Station is reportedly already flooded."
"So… my brother already left?"
"Yeah."
Putting his phone down, Rinji gazed out at the rain, his eyes tinged with something nostalgic.
"Rain, huh… What an unpleasant weather."
---
"Uncle Amano! Calm down!"
"...It's you, Rinji."
"Stay right there! Just listen to me calmly!"
Rain was falling steadily from the sky as the young Takamine Rinji ran up to the rooftop. There, he saw a middle-aged man standing at the very edge, his face ashen and lifeless.
Ignoring the raindrops drenching his clothes, Rinji extended a hand and slowly stepped forward.
"Uncle Amano… calm down. It's just some dirty tricks those bastards pulled." Rinji clenched his teeth, forcing a smile. "The company may be gone, but… we can still start over. There's no need to throw your life away."
The man looked at the anxious child still trying to comfort him and gave a bitter smile through his surprise.
"Rinji, you're still young. It was my mistake to let you experience the darkness of society too soon."
"That's not true! I've already seen plenty of darkness!"
Rinji inched closer to the man, his small face full of urgency.
"I can find a way to help repay your debts! It's not time to give up yet! As long as—"
"It's useless."
The man shook his head. His expression was full of sorrow, and it was hard to tell whether the wetness on his face was from rain or tears.
"This time, the company that came after us is a subsidiary of the Shinomiya Group. We can't win against them. They've already investigated every detail about our employees. Most of our key staff were threatened and turned against me. Even the banks and members of the council are on their side… there's no way to beat them in Japan."
"Then we'll go abroad—Southeast Asia, maybe—"
"Rinji, thank you for the money you gave us back then. It helped us get through a hard time. And I'm sorry that all your investment is gone now."
"…It doesn't matter."
Rinji smiled through the pain.
"That money meant nothing to me. I still have some left. We can still—"
"I'm sorry."
"You bastard! Can't you trust me even just a little!?"
"I'm sorry…"
And with those last words, he suddenly leaned backward.
"Wait—"
The final thing Rinji saw was the man's body falling, blood mixing with the rain, and the distant sound of sirens growing closer.
---
"…"
Expressionless, Rinji glanced down at the scene below, then pulled out his phone from his pocket.
"Hello?"
"Uncle Sagara, can I go and kill the Shinomiya people now?"
"…I don't know what happened, but I advise you not to. The Shinomiya family controls the backbone of Japan's economy. It's easy to take them out, but if we do, our own assets in Japan will suffer devastating consequences. The stakes are too high."
"What about their subsidiaries?"
"…What exactly happened?"
"Nothing much. Just lost my allowance. I felt like killing someone for fun, that's all." A twisted smile crept across Rinji's face. "Those people have never seen what a real villain looks like. Let them find out."
---
"I'm heading out."
Takamine Rinji picked up the umbrella by the entrance, slipped on his shoes, and opened the door.
"Huh? Rinji-nii, you're going out?"
"No, just going to pick up the president. He went out without an umbrella."
"Wasn't he supposed to go shopping with someone?"
"No, that person won't be showing up," Rinji said calmly.