"Maybe..." Natsukawa Kanade nodded absentmindedly, his mind already drifting to the upcoming event. These details weren't something he felt the need to dwell on. He would only reply if Shinomiya Kaguya pressed him about it directly.
Kaguya, however, was far from satisfied.
Sure, she had narrowly avoided exposing her embarrassing lack of technological know-how, but the real issue she was concerned about remained unresolved.
Who was it?
Just before the Test of Courage event, instead of looking for his designated partner, the president had gone off with another girl?
Suspicious. Highly suspicious.
It was obvious that this mysterious woman was scheming something. And the worst part? The president had actually ditched her to go on what was essentially a date!
There was no way Kaguya was going to believe that nonsense about a "chance encounter." Oh no. She trusted Natsukawa Kanade's words, sure—but she didn't trust the girl he met. Clearly, that woman had orchestrated the whole thing, manipulating the situation to create an opportunity for private one-on-one time with the president.
A calculated move. A blatant act of war.
Maybe she used underhanded tricks to lure him in? Or worse... maybe she was using her body to seduce him, stealing away the precious moments that rightfully belonged to Kaguya Shinomiya!
Kaguya clenched her fists. Damn it! This enemy was formidable. Not only had she launched an attack while Kaguya was distracted, but she had done it so flawlessly that no traces were left behind. Until now, Kaguya hadn't even known such a dangerous rival existed!
By comparison, Fujiwara was nothing—a simpleminded girl whose only weapon was her well-endowed figure. Hardly a threat. But this new competitor? She was a different breed entirely.
Kaguya bit her lip, frustration bubbling inside her.
All this time, she had been holding back. She had restrained herself from constantly being around Kanade, thinking that giving him space would make him appreciate her presence even more. But instead of making him realize how precious their moments together were, it had only left an opening for other girls to swoop in.
Unforgivable.
That settled it. Starting today, she needed to be around the president more often. No more keeping her distance. No more giving space. She had to solidify her position before anyone else got any ideas!
But... Kanade was the kind of person who valued his independence. If she suddenly started clinging to him all the time, wouldn't he get annoyed? What if he thought she was too pushy? She needed a strategy. A plan.
What if she invited him out first? Something with a legitimate excuse—something he couldn't refuse. But then... wouldn't that make him think she really, really liked him?
Wait. Did he already suspect that?
Would he see through her intentions? No, she had to be careful. Kanade wasn't an idiot. If she pushed too hard, he'd figure out everything.
Kaguya fell deep into thought, trying to devise the perfect approach. But despite all her calculations, she couldn't come up with a foolproof plan. And yet, she absolutely refused to let some unknown girl steal her president away.
That's it!
She'd ask Hayasaka for advice. Surely her ever-reliable maid could come up with a brilliant strategy!
With that decision made, Kaguya pushed all her worries aside. For now, she would enjoy this private moment with Kanade.
"President, your tie is crooked. Let me fix it for you," she said sweetly.
Then, before Kanade could object, she stepped forward and carefully began adjusting his tie.
"Uh... thanks," Kanade murmured, lowering his head slightly as she worked. He watched her expression, noting how focused she looked.
Truthfully, this kind of action felt rather intimate—almost like a newlywed wife adjusting her husband's clothes before he left for work. But then again, the two of them had done things even more intimate than this before. They had held hands... fingers intertwined, even. Though, that had been when Kaguya was half-asleep and not entirely conscious of her actions.
Still, he would never forget that moment.
She had been unbelievably cute back then. That innocent, unguarded expression had stirred something deep inside him. A strange contrast to her usual composed self—one that made him want to protect her forever.
But he still didn't fully understand her. How could she do something like that so easily? Was she really that clueless about how much it affected him? Or was she just that comfortable with him?
As Kanade tried to make sense of it, Kaguya was lost in her own world of victory.
Hmph. That tricky woman hadn't succeeded in seducing Kanade after all! The evidence? There were no stray hairs on his collar, no unfamiliar perfume lingering on his clothes. His scent was the same as always—clean, fresh, and unmistakably Kanade.
As expected of the president! He was a man of integrity! He would never let himself be ensnared so easily!
By the way... his chest was surprisingly broad. Firm, too. It felt like he had quite a bit of hidden strength...
"Kaguya? Are you done?" Kanade's voice snapped her out of her thoughts.
She blinked. Huh? Oh right, she had been adjusting his tie... and yet, her hands had somehow wandered a bit lower than necessary.
Wait.
Had she just been feeling up his chest?!
Her face turned bright red as she quickly pulled away, straightening her back with forced composure.
Meanwhile, Kanade was utterly confused. He couldn't see what Kaguya was doing from this angle, but he had a weird feeling that her hands had been moving around a bit too much.
Wasn't she just fixing his tie? Then why did it feel like she was fidgeting with his torso?
Did ties even need adjusting near the stomach? Was his tie secretly that long?
Kanade dismissed the thought, chalking it up to his imagination. It wasn't like Kaguya to do something weird, right?
Right?
Luckily, years of self-discipline had honed his iron will. He had conditioned himself to resist such impulses and maintain a cool and composed demeanor. Otherwise, he would have absolutely embarrassed himself in moments like these.
"Okay, it's all sorted!" Kaguya finally announced, sounding utterly pleased with herself.
Not only had she confirmed that the president hadn't been seduced by some shameless interloper, but she had also taken the opportunity to establish a bit of physical closeness. Now, her energy levels were off the charts.
"After all, the president is the face of the student council, so his appearance should be absolutely perfect!"
"…That's true," Kanade admitted, nodding. As expected of Kaguya, her pursuit of perfection extended even to small details like this.
If it were him, he probably wouldn't pay as much attention. He wasn't exactly sloppy, but he had a tendency to overlook minor things unless reminded. But with Kaguya around, he felt oddly reassured.
She was always looking out for him. He had received so much kindness from her, but he could never quite find a way to properly repay her. Even if she never said anything about it, that lingering guilt remained in the back of his mind.
"Thank you, Kaguya… and sorry for always making you worry."
"It's nothing of the sort. It's my honor to assist the president."
"That's too much... But seriously, if there's anything I can do to return the favor, just say the word. It'll make me feel better."
"Hmm... if that's the case..." Kaguya tilted her head slightly, considering for a moment. Then, a brilliant idea struck her. "President, why don't you invite me to the opening ceremony in a proper, gentlemanly fashion?"
As she spoke, she stretched out her hand towards him, her crimson eyes shimmering with anticipation.
Kanade blinked. "That's it? No other requests?"
"Well... President, are you unwilling?" Kaguya's voice dipped into a teasing tone, but there was an unmistakable earnestness beneath it.
"Of course not!" Kanade shook his head instantly. Seeing that she was serious, he took a deep breath, straightened his posture, and put on his most composed, formal expression.
"In that case… Vice President Shinomiya, would you do me the honor of attending the next opening ceremony with me?" He extended his hand towards her, voice rich with sincerity.
Kaguya's heart skipped a beat.
A moment later, she placed her hand in his. "Of course, I'd be delighted to."
"..."
His hand is so warm! His palm is so big!
Did you see that, Ai?! I did it! The president invited me!
Victory! Big win!
Internally, Kaguya was practically bouncing with excitement, but outwardly, she maintained her usual graceful composure.
Meanwhile, Natsukawa Kanade had no idea that, in Kaguya's mind, fireworks were already going off in celebration.