Having found Yukino, Kanade knew he had to inform the other search volunteers. It was only fair to save them the time and effort.
His first stop was to see Kaguya. After finishing her participation in the trial events, she had stationed herself at the temporary student council headquarters, managing the situation like a true leader—a stark contrast to Kanade's admittedly lackadaisical approach as president.
He knocked on the door lightly.
"Shinomiya-san, are you in there?"
"Come in," came her calm, commanding voice.
Kanade pushed the door open. Though the building was a temporary setup, it still featured a reception area, a testament to the meticulous planning of the student council.
He didn't bother setting Yukino down, walking straight in with her still on his back.
Kaguya was at her desk, gracefully multitasking—handling feedback from participants and issuing instructions to search parties through a walkie-talkie.
When Kanade had heard from a council member about Kaguya's diligent work, he had been surprised. She was injured herself; she should have been resting. But seeing her now, her unwavering dedication made him both impressed and guilty.
If Kaguya's commitment was the glue holding the council together, Kanade was the airhead who risked letting it all fall apart. He made a mental note to lecture a certain pink-haired chaos magnet for her part in slacking off.
Somewhere far away, Chika Fujiwara sneezed.
"Achoo!"
"Fujiwara-senpai, are you okay?" a junior asked.
"Hmm? Probably just someone thinking about me! Anyway, your turn—play a card!"
"Uh… single six."
"BOOM! I've got a joker!"
Kanade snapped back to the moment.
"You're working so hard, even in times like these," he said earnestly, acknowledging Kaguya's efforts before gesturing to Yukino on his back. "I've found the missing student. You can call off the search teams."
Kaguya started to nod, ready to dismiss Kanade's compliment with her usual grace, but her attention shifted immediately to the girl on his back.
The girl was stunning, with her porcelain-like complexion and elegant demeanor. But more importantly—why was Kanade carrying her? Couldn't she walk herself?
"What's this about, President?" she asked, her tone curious but her gaze sharp.
Kanade, oblivious to her underlying tension, answered matter-of-factly. "She's injured—severely sprained her ankle. I didn't want to risk further damage, so I carried her back."
"I see…" Kaguya's expression softened, though she still watched Yukino closely.
She smiled politely, masking her true thoughts.
Why is he carrying her? She could at least lean on him and walk. And just who is she?
With practiced poise, Kaguya continued, "President, you must be tired after carrying her for so long. Why not let me arrange for someone else to escort her the rest of the way? You should rest."
Yukino narrowed her eyes slightly. She had no personal investment in the situation but immediately understood Kaguya's intent.
The overly friendly smile, the seemingly casual suggestion—it was clear as day. Kaguya Shinomiya was marking her territory.
Raising an eyebrow, Yukino prepared to respond.
"That won't be necessary," Kanade interjected. "I'll take her back myself."
"President…" Kaguya's voice remained soft, but a faint edge crept into it.
Kanade was oblivious to the growing tension. He explained, "It's late, and her injury is serious. Carrying her ensures she won't put unnecessary strain on it. Besides, she'd probably complain about it later if I let someone else take over."
"Don't make things up," Yukino snapped, her calm facade breaking.
Kanade smirked as if to say, See? I wasn't wrong.
Kaguya pursed her lips. She wanted to argue, but Kanade's casual tone made it clear he saw nothing unusual about the situation.
Internally, however, she seethed. This girl must be someone special to the President. They even seem close enough to argue…
As she contemplated, her mind drifted to her own dynamic with Kanade. She thought about Chika's frequent teasing, her own insecurities, and how badly she wanted to stake her claim—especially in situations like this.
But her injury held her back. If she insisted on following them or taking over now, she risked exacerbating her condition and losing future opportunities to spend time with Kanade.
"...Fine," Kaguya conceded with a polite smile. "President, please take care on the way back. Don't overexert yourself, and make sure to rest if you feel tired."
Kanade raised an eyebrow, recalling how he had carried Kaguya earlier during the trial events without complaint. Why does she think I'm so fragile now?
"Understood," he replied.
Meanwhile, Yukino remained silent, choosing to ignore the conversation. She found Kaguya's hidden intentions trivial and unworthy of her energy. Instead, she focused on the small panda charm in her hand, finding solace in its simplicity.
Kanade adjusted his grip on Yukino and turned to leave.
"I'll be back soon to help with the student council work," he said.
"Of course," Kaguya replied, her expression neutral.
As the door closed behind him, she let out a soft sigh. Her composed facade remained, but internally, she was already plotting her next move.
Meanwhile, Yukino, still on Kanade's back, lightly brushed the panda charm with her fingertips.
Why did you have to be so nice to find this for me? she thought, biting back a small smile.
Kanade, oblivious to the brewing thoughts of both girls, muttered, "Man, this day just doesn't let up."
Yukino snorted softly. "Idiot."
"What?"
"Nothing," she replied, leaning slightly against his shoulder.