As the dull course time came to an end, the students in the class showed no inclination to leave. Instead, they huddled in groups, chatting animatedly about their plans for the evening's activities.
"Mahiru-chan, who's going to be your partner for tonight's event?"
The trio of girls who had previously appeared during the pool incident approached Shiina Mahiru with teasing smiles.
Over time, Mahiru had unwillingly—or perhaps inevitably—become friends with them. It wasn't unusual for her to end up as their primary confidant (read: target).
"Eh? Me?" The angelic girl had just finished tidying up her things and was instantly surrounded. "How would I know who my partner is? It's not like I get to choose…"
"Liar~! With grades as stellar as yours, you'll be fine for sure! And the partners are ultimately decided by the student council, right?"
"Even so, I don't know who I'd want to pair up with…" At the mention of the "student council," Mahiru's face turned redder than the setting sun. She had no doubt about what these girls were insinuating, but she wasn't going to admit it out loud.
"Reaaally?" The ringleader among the girls grinned slyly. "If that's the case… Mahiru, how about letting me take this chance? There's someone I've always wanted to invite!"
"Who is it?" Mahiru's curiosity got the better of her. Despite being friends, she'd never heard this girl mention any particular crush before.
"Of course, it's our student council president! Handsome, athletic, brilliant, and highly respected—having him as a boyfriend would be the ultimate badge of honor!"
The other two girls enthusiastically nodded in agreement, but before they could say more, Mahiru blurted out:
"No way!"
A beat passed, and Mahiru realized she had walked straight into their trap.
"Not—not like that! I mean… The president is busy! We shouldn't bother him!" she stammered, trying to salvage the situation. Her tone, however, grew increasingly unconvincing.
Her friends exchanged knowing glances, then burst into laughter.
"See? We didn't even say much, and you're already so defensive, Mahiru-chan~!"
"Alright, alright, let's not tease her too much. If we keep going, she'll just run off blushing again."
"But for real, this is a rare opportunity, Mahiru. You've got to seize the moment! Boys like the president are magnets for attention. If it weren't for you, even I'd consider making a move!"
With that, the group launched into a lively discussion about the president's many virtues. As they spoke, Mahiru found herself quietly agreeing with every word. If her pride hadn't held her back, she might have joined in to list even more of his merits—things she had personally observed.
"So, Mahiru-chan, you need to act fast! If you drag your feet, someone might just snatch your dashing prince away." One of them gestured toward a specific direction.
Mahiru's gaze naturally followed, landing on the figure at the center of a bustling crowd:
"Everyone, I understand you want to partner up with your friends, but rules are rules. I can't make arbitrary changes. Pairings are determined by student numbers," said Kanade Natsukawa, the student council president. His gentle smile didn't falter, but an undercurrent of exasperation lingered beneath it.
While the final confirmation of pairings did rest with the student council, the allocations had already been mostly set. Their role was more administrative—ensuring no one was left partnerless or any gaps arose.
Who leaked this half-truth? he thought. Even if we could tweak the list, it's not something to advertise recklessly!
Caught between maintaining his public image and fending off overly eager classmates, Natsukawa found himself in quite the bind.
Unbeknownst to him, several pairs of eyes were fixed on him from afar. Among them was a gaze so fiery and unwavering that it could outshine the sun.
Naturally, it belonged to Mahiru.
"Handsome and charming, huh… That's over the top," she murmured, attempting to feign indifference. Yet the ripples of emotion in her heart betrayed her.
Her friends noticed her reaction immediately.
"Oooh, you only denied the 'handsome and charming' part!"
"Exactly! And look at you, so entranced you might fall into his eyes any second now!" They teased relentlessly, giggling as they alternated between watching Natsukawa and nudging Mahiru.
"Speaking of, look at all those people around him. Who knows, maybe someone there will invite him just like I planned to. It'd be nice, huh~? Just speak your mind without worrying about anything…"
They even started toying with Mahiru's hands as they continued.
"Though, do you think he'd accept? Or maybe he already has someone in mind? Right, Mahiru-chan?"
"H-how would I know?" Mahiru's gaze flickered nervously. She knew exactly who her friends were hinting at, but what they didn't realize was that there truly were many exceptional girls interested in Natsukawa.
The thought of them—like the elegant blonde doll she'd seen that day, or the stunningly poised vice president—sent a pang through her heart.
Would he agree if they asked him? Or…
Mahiru shook her head, pushing those thoughts away. She wanted to ask him herself. Desperately. But what if he already had plans? Approaching him then would only put him in an awkward spot.
"Alright, enough ogling! Let's grab lunch and rest up. We still have tonight's event to prepare for!" Mahiru said firmly, using all her strength to push her friends out of the classroom.
If she stayed any longer, she feared she might lose control and rush over to him.
Meanwhile, at the center of the crowd, Natsukawa remained oblivious to the storm brewing on the other side of the room. He continued fielding questions, his patience wearing thin. Just as he contemplated making a break for it, a melodious and familiar voice cut through the noise.
"Is President Natsukawa here?"
To him, it was the sound of salvation.
"I'm here!" he called, weaving through the crowd toward the voice. "Apologies, everyone. It seems there's student council business I must attend to."
His savior, none other than Vice President Kaguya Shinomiya, greeted him with a composed smile, brushing her hair elegantly behind her ear. Despite having no prior coordination, the two seamlessly played along, their synergy flawless.
This was their bond. Their proof of being the perfect pair.
A mutual effort. A two-way street. Yay! Kaguya thought, a triumphant smile gracing her lips.