The confession they want is wrong as expected - Season 2 (Kaguya-sama/Oregairu)

[ZeroXSEED]

Hayasaka Ai felt stressed out.

She always prided herself on being in complete control when managing her school life, but this situation was an absolute disaster.

It was all because someone barged in and made a splash in a tense but otherwise calm pond.

Yukinoshita Yukino.

What an absolute madwoman.

It wasn't as if she had never entered Hayasaka's radar before. On the contrary, she had always been considered a possible threat. But not in the way that Kaguya or Hayasaka had expected.

Yukinoshita was close to Shijo Maki and seemed to have a strong connection with powerful families in Tokyo. Naturally, anyone from the Shinomiya Family would be wary of her existence.

Hayasaka made sure to include her name occasionally in her work reports.

But as Kaguya's love rival?

No one, not even Hayasaka, considered it. It was safe to say that the entire school had not expected such a thing either. Yet, when the fact were laid out it suddenly clicked.

The possibility was not zero.

Small pieces of seemingly unrelated information came out like leaks in the pipes of an old building. It all culminated in a seemingly believable pile of conclusions.

The possibility was not zero. That was more than enough. Because, up until now, Kaguya had never had any rivals for Miyuki's affections. With that no longer seeming to be the case, Kaguya panicked.

"Yukinoshita and Miyuki? Don't make me sick." Hachiman told Hayasaka. "Those two couldn't possibly be further away from each other."

Hayasaka thought Hachiman could be jealous, but there was no hint of jealously in his words. However, Hayasaka knew that the situation was so urgent that she couldn't ponder Hachiman's real feelings too much. No matter what happened, Kaguya took priority.

But it seemed that Hachiman was also confident about it. Where did that confidence come from? The fact that Hachiman and Yukino had a bond from before?

"Hachiman met that frigid bitch, before we even got to know each other..." Momo told Hayasaka. "They're not exactly friends, but sometimes you'd think they're one step away from being lovers. In fact, I always thought they were dating, but Hachiman kept denying it."

As someone who was the closest to him, Momo would know that fact well. Momo was also suspicious of Hayasaka and made her wariness clear. But Momo was also more than aware of Miyuki's pursuit of Kaguya.

Far too aware.

Without Momo, Miyuki wouldn't put on such a mask and push himself to half-death, trying to pursue the unobtainable Moon Goddess. The aloof and flawless image that Shirogane Miyuki cultivated was the handiwork of Momo after all.

That's why Hayasaka was not being overly careful. She was very open about approaching Momo regarding the latest gossip with no hidden intentions. Momo would be able to sense them right away. Thus, being honest about it would actually dampen any suspicions.

"Shinomiya would be insane to think there's any romance between Miyuki and Yukinoshita. I think she's lost her mind because she got bounced off to third."

Personally, Hayasaka wanted to agree, but she knew the situation was far more complicated than that. Kaguya wasn't a stranger to losing, but that rank of second held a special place for her.

No one else would understand. And these people weren't wrong to see how pointlessly Kaguya was suffering.

"About President planning the Yozakura event with her? Yeah, that's true. I heard it from President himself during our ride on our way there." Momo sneered. "Shinomiya was dense not to realize it was all done for her sake."

Again, Hayasaka would absolutely agree.

Such a deceptively exquisite party... Miyuki probably worked hard for it without the help of the other Student Council Members. However, he would never admit it.

He was every bit as prideful as Hayasaka's mistress.

"Did Shinomiya tell you to ask me?" Momo openly questioned. She was done playing ignorant and decided to confront the matter at hand. Namely, Hayasaka had been a good part of the student council for months at this point, and Momo still couldn't discern her motive.

"Nah. I'm new to the school's elite circles in general, so I'm curious why it blew up now of all times." Hayasaka shrugged and wryly grinned. "It really was the exam, huh?"

Hayasaka was being honest that Kaguya didn't specifically tell her to... precisely because Kaguya refused to say anything at all. Everything that was happening today was Hayasaka's initiative.

Momo squinted, eying Hayasaka discerningly and noticed no hint of fakeness in the other girl's words, so she decided to ease up.

"Yeah, there was absolutely zero gossip involving them before. It came out because of the exam results." Hachiman came and barged into the conversation. "It was people's way to destress. Because gossip involving big names on campus boosts dopamine like you wouldn't believe."

Momo's face saddened. "Hachiman..."

"More than that, it's better to simply raise your hands, let this go, and not interfere." Hachiman gravely said. "Shinomiya projected her own insecurities toward Yukinoshita. If she can't overcome that, then her relationship with Miyuki was destined to fail."

"Yeah, all this time, it was always President who put in some effort." Momo scoffed. "In any case, Shinomiya better shape the fuck up. If she doesn't want him getting stolen, then lay an early claim."

In all honesty, Hayasaka wanted to agree with them. However, not only was she duty-bound to serve Kaguya, but she also didn't want to see her wallow in her own sadness like this.

"What about President?" Momo asked him.

Hachiman shook his head. "If Miyuki opens his mouth now, he will either come off as pitying or condescending, so he's keeping it shut."

It seemed that Hachiman had given up and washed his hands of the entire affair after he failed to convince Miyuki to give up his ego and give a proper confession to Kaguya.

And honestly, Hachiman probably felt mad about it too.

If Miyuki tried to imply that he wanted Kaguya to be there, she might be a lot less mad. Despite her pride, Kaguya would easily overlook it in favor of pursuing a higher objective.

Unlike Miyuki, Kaguya had tons of different sides to her. Some were less prideful than others.

Hayasaka couldn't blame Hachiman for giving up.

Even so...

Hayasaka felt miffed.

Their entire relationship was defined by working together trying to push Miyuki and Kaguya forward by getting them to put aside their pride, destroying their stupid schemes, and working to get them to actually start nurturing a proper and healthy relationship.

But, you cannot help those who don't want help.

Was this really the end of their cooperation?

It couldn't be helped. Hayasaka was a professional. Sometimes, investing in fruitless pursuits was unprofitable. It was just a needless waste of energy.

Yet, thinking about it, Hayasaka felt a sting in her chest.

She felt a cold sensation and looked aside to see Hachiman shoving a cold canned coffee into her shoulder. "It's hard to deal with these dumbasses, so be sure to keep a cool head if you want to survive this reclusive society of awkward people."

As a matter of fact, Hayasaka might legit be the only one who could be considered normal, and Hachiman was more than willing to reinforce that impression.

He was protecting her disguise.

Hayasaka smiled. Judging by the similar canned coffee in Momo's hand, Hachiman probably didn't mean anything special by it. Even so...

It was sweet, in more ways than one. Especially since Hayasaka knew that it was Hachiman's favorite drink and not Kvass.

"Thank you, Hikigaya-san!" She leaned closer and almost kissed his cheek, if not for Hachiman blocking her forehead and pushing her back. "Ouch!"

Still, he could feel her breath on his face and blushed slightly. Momo almost choked, looking at the scene. Hayasaka was really bold.

Gal girls really are way too shameless. But then again, Momo, of all people, had no right to shame others, considering the amount of vulgarity she showed Hachiman herself. And that one time on the spring vacation camp...

"Sorry about it, Ryuju-san!" Hayasaka apologized quietly.

"Pssh, I bet you haven't shown him your body." Momo snorted smugly, then took another sip off the Max coffee can.

Hayasaka widened her eyes and looked at Hachiman in disbelief, but the guy didn't hear the conversation due to the recently plugged earphones.

"Hikki-san! Hikki-san!" Chika arrived in a hurry and then saw the coffee in Hayasaka's and Momo's hands. She pulled out one of his earphones, demanding his attention. "Ehehehe, do you have another? I'm kind of thirsty."

Hachiman looked at the coffee in his hand. It was actually his last one. "No. This is my last one."

"WHY?!"

"What about the bubble tea in your hand?" Hachiman, pointed to said item.

Fujiwara Chika became flustered, feeling exposed because it was clear that she only asked for one out of envy. It was true that she ran here with a boba cup in her hand.

Which she had actually forgotten about.

Why would she ask for a canned coffee when she already had a drink in her hand? From Hachiman's perspective, it was expected when it came to Chika. This is the clumsy and forgetful girl who occasionally lost her lunch to freaking pigeons!

"How about we trade then? I just remember I'm on a diet, so..." Chika decided to pick the standard excuse, even though it wouldn't fool anyone.

The other three were all too aware of Chika's monster appetite. Despite her average silhouette, Chika was packed to the brim with muscles, and she had a craving that far exceeded other girls.

Diet my ass!

"..."

Hachiman actually had to weigh it since he bought the cans from outside. They're considerably cheaper than if he got them in the school vending machine.

He got them for 130 yen. In contrast, the Boba cup in Chika's hands cost 1000 yen.

"Sure. It's your financial loss, though." Hachiman handed over the last one to Chika.

"Eugh, why do you have to remind me?" Chika was agape in shock and disgust at Hachiman's audacity. "Hikki-san, you idiot!"

"Hey, I'm just warning you..." Hachiman told her. "I'm not into ripping my friends off."

"I'm taking that loss!" Chika barked and yanked the last can from his hand. Then shoved the boba cup to his chest.

"Seriously?!"

Hachiman really didn't know that someone liked Max coffee so much they were willing to get ripped off so openly. Not even Hachiman was that gullible.

Momo and Hayasaka wondered which was worse, that Hachiman was shamelessly petty or that he was being incredibly dense in this moment.

Oh well, it wasn't like they knew him only yesterday.

やはり, 彼らが望む告白は間違っている. S2
As expected, the Confession they want is wrong S2

Original Story by: Watari Wataru and Akasaka Aka
Written by: @ZeroXSEED, Co-Writer/Editor: @GoukaRyuu​

Chapter 27 - Kaguya wants to confront...

The situation in the Student Council office was cold.

Ishigami Yuu was hardly the densest man in the world. In fact, he ass exceedingly sensitive. Perhaps it was because he had spent quite a long time alone.

Even before the Ogino incident, Ishigami didn't have anyone he could call a friend. He had always been a quiet loner that most of his classmates ignored when not needed.

Recently, after the crappy reconciliation (which Ishigami was absolutely sure was staged), the old status quo was returning, and people were starting to ignore him again, with far fewer people expressing hatred directly at him. Ishigami had mixed feelings about it. But, he decided to bear with it.

The air in the student council was cold.

Usually, he could hear a lot of idle chatter between the President and the Vice President. They would talk about small things, including stories as innocuous as Kaguya watching birds near the school fountain.

"The financial report from the soccer club is here."

"Ah, right."

Yet, now they were saying almost nothing to each other beyond what was necessary to do their jobs. Ishigami found that really weird.

The only other person in the room, Iino Miko, probably preferred it this way. She had always been overwhelmed by the pace of the others when it came to messing around.

Ishigami was a bit uncomfortable, though.

"I'm just about done with the accounting. Can I go home early?" Ishigami asked.

"I'm also done with the auditing. I'll return to the Disciplinary Committee." Miko stated to Miyuki as she stood up too.

"Ah, sure enough." Miyuki wryly smiled. "Be careful on your way."

With that, pretty much almost everyone was done with their work for the period. The current workload had been delayed due to the Council working at half capacity in the period before the exams.

"I-Ishigami!" Miko called out to him as soon as they were out of the Council's office. "Wait."

"Eh? Umm, sure."

The relationship between Iino Miko and Ishigami Yuu could be said to be awkward. Since Ishigami had stopped being the object of his class' hatred and a problem student he also stopped being of object of attention for Iino.

Both of them considered it a good thing. The relationship Ishigami and Iino shared before could be said to be toxic and abrasive. Though there was a brief moment where their classmates gossiped that they had a romantic relationship.

However, it made their subsequent interactions very awkward. Closer than acquaintances but less than friends. Sometimes they even took the train home together, and it was awkward every time.

They just didn't know how to deal with each other when Iino lost the impetus to nag on Ishigami and for him to insult and provoke her in turn.

"Uh... is it just me, or is it really awkward between President and Vice President back there?"

"Just noticed now?"

"No..." Iino said with a guilty face. "It was nice to work quietly for the first few days."

Guilt had finally caught up with her. As much as the usual shenanigans between Kaguya and Miyuki disturbed her, she couldn't in good conscience say she enjoyed their now cold and distant relationship.

Ishigami thought that Iino looked ugly in more ways than one, but it didn't elicit any disgust on his part. He could only feel pity. He didn't know if the one feeling causing Iino's current wretchedness now were her feelings of camaraderie or her sense of justice. Perhaps a bit of both.

"It was like this ever since the announcement of the exam results..." Ishigami explained her, just in case.

"I know I don't have the right to say this..." Iino hesitated. "Was it that a big deal?"

Iino always worked hard to maintain her #1 position in terms of grades because she was physically short and unathletic. Because otherwise, she felt she had nothing to personally back her legal authority.

No one would bat an eye. No one would listen to her. Miko had been a victim of minor bullying in the past because she had nothing but her own convictions.

Things only changed because she had become the top of her grade.

However, both President and Vice President were top of theirs, though it went beyond just their grades. Whether it was in terms of athleticism or charisma, they left Iino in the dust.

Iino only had her grades and nothing else. That was why she took the exams with mortal dedication.

"It was!" Ishigami told her. "For you, it might seem trivial, but it meant everything for the second years. From that day, nothing will be the same anymore."

"Ah..."

Right.

The current council roster began with Shirogane Miyuki's challenge against Shinomiya Kaguya, and things snowballed from there. The general assembly where Miyuki's candidacy was announced was a riot.

And also, perhaps the relationship between those two began and ended with that rivalry. Miyuki and Kaguya didn't know how to deal with the change.

Right. Just like Iino and Ishigami.

...

The atmosphere in the Student Council office grew even colder than before.

The lack of shenanigans from Chika and Hayasaka, the lack of Hachiman doing damage control, and the lack of the two awkward freshmen with contrasting attitudes made the tension grow even higher...

It was almost as if the two individuals were left trapped in inescapable ice.

However, it wasn't as if Miyuki was without any plans.

One word.

One word is all he was waiting for, and then he would do his best to cheer her up in his own way. But without Kaguya speaking first, it would be impossible.

Because Miyuki knew that the door to Kaguya's heart was half-closed and trying to open her up would only make her retreat back harder, potentially locking herself away.

"...Last week."

YES!

Miyuki pretended he didn't understand and made a questioning look at her.

"Last week... where did you go, President?" Kaguya asked. "You're not usually borrowing Hikigaya-san's bike."

"Ah."

On any other occasion, Miyuki would try to milk the situation for all it was worth, thinking he has the upper hand in their war for a confession. This time though, Miyuki didn't. Because he knew how hard Kaguya was trying to start a casual conversation.

"Kei and I went to the countryside to visit our father on the farm."

"The farm?" Kaguya raised her eyebrows. "Your father has been working on the farm since April, yes?"

"More accurately, he inherited it from my grandparents." Miyuki confidently nodded. "They're not getting any younger, and my father has no stable job. So he decided to take it over."

"I see."

Kaguya was more than aware of the financial situation that the Shirogane family suffered. They weren't just impoverished... they were almost totally destitute.

"I guess it's thanks to Hachiman." Miyuki laughed. "He can be an asshole, but he always finds the obvious things that people overlook."

Kaguya chuckled a bit, partly amused and partly irritated. How many times had Hachiman's rotten eyes broken her plans and schemes, whether accidentally or on purpose?

Kaguya couldn't say she hated him, but she wasn't fond of him at all.

"That's indeed true."

"What about you, Shinomiya?"

"I spent most of the last week wall-"

No. Kaguya wouldn't admit it, her weakness. Especially not to Miyuki. She wouldn't allow him to know that she had wallowed in her misery for almost three days straight while pretending to be sick to the servants in the family.

It was a believable excuse to claim that the stress from the exams had gotten to her. Not to mention the weather at the time was unstable too. Kaguya's weakness to the changing of seasons and climates was something the family knew well.

"-aluating my exam results and seeing where I had gone wrong."

"I see."

Here was the minefield. Now that Kaguya had brought up the topic of the exams Miyuki could no longer retreat. No, he didn't WANT to retreat.

"You were short of a point from a perfect score." Kaguya's eyes turned dark and lifeless. "Did you find where you had gone wrong?"

Miyuki nodded. "A partially correct answer worth two points."

"Is that so?"

"Yes."

"Since it was partially correct, was it a mistake in writing or-"

"Not at all. It wasn't a mistake, and I gave a partially wrong answer thinking it was the right one."

Kaguya was legitimately surprised.

Miyuki decided to take that hit to his prestige head-on. Usually, Miyuki would never admit that he was wrong or made mistakes.

Open up, Shinomiya!

"...Surprising." She finally spoke in astonishment.

"I still have a long way to go..." Miyuki said. "And I'm not stopping here."

The implicit message in that statement was that he didn't intend to slow down for her sake or anyone else's. If Kaguya kept dragging her feet, then Miyuki would leave her in the dust.

Bite the bait, Shinomiya!

At the end of the day, their relationship had started with provocation. If that was how it had started before, then like the death and rebirth, Miyuki needed to start the cycle again.

"If you're that determined... then it might be impossible for me to catch up with you again."

Kaguya looked relaxed and content as she said this, but then again, it shook Miyuki. Kaguya. Do not surrender. Ever. It wasn't in her character to resign into defeat and stop trying.

"Don't even joke about that." Miyuki smiled back at her, but inside he was screaming. Screaming at her and telling her to try and catch up.

It doesn't end like this. Shinomiya!

"That's right, it was a joke." Kaguya took a sip of her tea and sighed. "But Yukinoshita-san... people just keep ignoring her existence and potential, what about you?"

"What about it? We don't really interact all that much, so I've never thought about her at all."

"Is that so?" Kaguya narrowed her eyes. "About the Yozakura event last April too... I heard you two planned it together."

Fuck.

How long had Kaguya known about that? It was something that even Hachiman and Momo knew after the preparations were done. They couldn't have been the source of leaks...

But...

"Yes." Miyuki calmly and earnestly answered. "I mentioned offhand that I wanted a Yozakura party to be held instead of the original plan she proposed, which was a Hanami party."

"Is that so? And she agreed just like that?" Kaguya was visibly shaken.

"No, I actually had to convince her because she felt that a night party was superfluous and didn't reflect the image of model students."

Huh? That was surprising. Kaguya did hear that Yukino could be stubborn over the tiniest things, but she disapproved? Does that mean she and Miyuki weren't on common ground?

"How did you convince her?"

"By finding the cheapest and lowest-key place that was suitable for the event." Miyuki answered. "As you remember, the restaurant we booked wasn't exactly a top class establishment. She found it an acceptable compromise that fit the budget."

Kaguya DID remember. She was expecting it to be held in a somewhat grander place, but the end result was what mattered the most. She spent a good few hours with Miyuki together, which beat any of the five-star restaurant dinner experiences she had had.

For the entire night, Yukinoshita Yukino wasn't in the picture at all. She had other people to attend to.

"I did promise the council a fun Yozakura event, and I wanted to fulfill that promise." Miyuki finished his explanation. "That was the extent of our collaboration. Really."

Kaguya relaxed again. Of course. Miyuki made it about them, or rather, himself. But... even though her frigid jealousy had been thawed, her deep-seated insecurities remained.

"I guess I, too... underestimated her." Kaguya stood up and looked out the window. "If there was something I lacked, then it was probably caution."

"That's right. Actually, what is it that you lacked?" Miyuki stealthily praised her. "You lacked nothing, Shinomiya."

Whether in sports, arts, academics, physical beauty or inner appeal... what was it that Kaguya lacked?

You're perfect as is.

"Perhaps." Kaguya grinned and twitched.

"Someone like Yukinoshita not entering your field of view isn't surprising at all." Miyuki stood up. "So don't be too worried and focus on what you want to do next."

For someone to enter Kaguya's field of view, they had to try their damnedest, whether on purpose or accidentally. Yet, Kaguya wondered if her thoughts on Yukino were one-sided.

She had to find out for herself.

...

And that was why she ended up confronting Yukino. Kaguya wanted to ascertain her own feelings on the matter and what Yukino thought about it.

"I came here to congratulate you." Kaguya offered her hand. "Congratulations for winning second place."

"Thank you." Yukino was a bit weirded out but appreciated the sentiment nonetheless.

"...You don't seem to be excited."

"To be honest, these academic rankings matter less than the sum of our grades." Yukino confidently answered. "I'm glad it's higher than what I earned at the end of the first year."

Oh?

Yukino brushed her hair behind her ears and looked out of the window. "Shuchiin's standard of education terrifies me... I was working with my exam fully expecting to get a failing grade."

"Someone even chastised me for being so busy that I couldn't maintain a tidy appearance."

If she was that nervous, then how could she...

Oh...

I see.

It never mattered to HER.

"Mistakes are bound to happen to anyone no matter how much you prepare..." Yukino said. "But if you don't change yourself and the way you think, then your problem will never go away."

Not for a single moment had Yukinoshita cared for her standing in Shuchiin's society. Because when she had enrolled she had been treated as part of the lower castes. People expected nothing out of her. Just surviving alone was enough.

However...

People who entered Shuchiin from outside were all extraordinary. And Kaguya's generation was even more outstanding compared to their predecessors.

Just like Hikigaya Hachiman, Yukinoshita built her own social network from scratch. Those two possessed an incredible amount of soft power, not through lies or deception, but by behaving true to themselves.

No...

It could be said that they gained all their power by changing themselves to keep moving and not getting crushed by the circumstances and people around them.

Either survive as heroes or die as peasants. They were too busy climbing up to push others down.

"I find it strange that people made such a big deal of it, achieving second place, I mean."

"Was it?"

"Do people even remember the second tallest mountain in Japan?" Yukino asked.

"Hmm? Yamanashi..." Kaguya tilted her head, thinking. "It's Mount Kita in the Prefecture of Yamanashi."

"The fact that even someone as brilliant as you hesitated to answer proves that second place does not matter to most people, and yet, for some reason, people made a big deal out of it."

Yukino held the railings of an open window.

"Forget illogical... it doesn't even follow standard emotional and psychological convention." Yukino laughed, not a shred of burden in her voice. "There's even plenty of research concerning the Olympics. That it is silver medalists who suffer the most. What's there to gain being in second place?"

Kaguya wasn't unfamiliar at all with the idea. The person in third place often came out more satisfied because they subconsciously looked down at people who didn't get the chance to stand on the podium at all...

It might seem awful, but being human means fighting one's rotten, animalistic behaviors and instincts with rationality. Hence, respecting opponents regardless of their achievements was the 'correct' thing.

Kaguya always knew that the so-called elites only maintained a veneer of respectability. Hiding spite and fierce competition behind polite words, backstabbing each other at a whim, and living hedonistic lives. Because they were above society at large, they didn't care about respecting others below them.

They didn't care about behaving like animals. They had the privilege to do so.

Kaguya was not an exception. She did as she pleased, and only her family's influence and values held her back.

"It doesn't really matter if I placed second, third, or fourth," Yukino told Kaguya with a hint of annoyance. "With that kind of gap of grades in the first place, it doesn't matter in the end. President left us both in the dust, didn't he?"

Hearing Yukino mention it so openly made Kaguya seethe inside.

"Ha, it's rare to see Auntie loitering around here, even caring to interact with us peasants." A cute voice laced thick with sarcasm said out loud. "Came here to confront Yukino-san or something?"

"You're mistaken, Shijo-san." Yukino smiled. "Shinomiya-san came to congratulate me."

Kaguya didn't like that smile at all.

It was too honest and genuine to the point of creepy. And Yukino even said it clearly without a hint of arrogance. Not only that, because Yukino denied the importance of the second rank in Shuchiin, Kaguya was irrationally mad about it too.

Part of her understood Yukino's opinion, a very logical and grounded view, yet... she couldn't accept it.

Kaguya was too emotionally compromised to accept it. It was as if Yukino outright denied her existence.

"That's right." Kaguya grinned. "I came to congratulate her. With that said, I wouldn't be as complacent next time."

"Isn't that some kind of thinly veiled challenge?" The red-haired girl, with a face baring a resemblance to Kaguya's own, goaded. Indeed, Shijo Maki would take every chance she could to throw shade at her distant relative and mortal enemy. "Someone is really a sore loser here."

"You may interpret it as you wish, Shijo-san." Kaguya's outer expression was calm, but she was screaming murder inside.

"Speaking of sore losers." Yukino's voice turned cold. "Shijo-san, could you not try to insult someone for losing despite being ranked lower than her?"

Maki coughed blood in response to that. Leave it to Yukino to stab even her closest friend critically with her rapier-sharp tongue!

Kaguya blinked in confusion, however. Was there internal strife among their group? Kaguya wasn't familiar with Yukino's personality at all. Take, for example, Chika. Kaguya never, ever once attacked her directly or badmouthed her so straightforwardly.

"I'm taking your side!!" Maki screamed at Yukino, half crying.

"It was incredibly unnecessary, and my point still stands... you can't provoke Shinomiya-san when your grades were even lower than her!" Yukino told her. "And if it was something as pointless as who would rank higher in the next exam, I have no interest about it at all."

Kaguya almost laughed seeing her old rival getting shanked right in front of her. By a close friend, no less. Yukinoshita Yukino is absolutely savage!

"Well, I guess that was the reason why we put a lockdown on the Service Club activites after all." Maki gave up. "You have zero interest in something like this. But then again, I doubt Auntie can beat you in anything."

Kaguya unconsciously clenched her hand.

She had never felt this threatened before.

"We wouldn't know that if we don't try." Momo climbed up from the window with a smug face. "But I guess Yukinoshita is too afraid of losing."

For a second, the entire corridor was filled to the brim with a murderous aura. In the epicenter of that outburst was none other than Yukino.

"Let's make this more interesting." Momo pointed a finger. "How about you two have some friendly competitions. Not like you have better things to do this Saturday, right? Then we can prove which one of you is more talented."

"As I said-" Yukino was about to retort but was cut off.

"How could you even be a club president with that cowardly mentality?" Momo cackled. "Makes me wonder what Hachiman saw in you back then. It certainly had nothing to do with your lacking figure."

As she said this, Momo slapped her own chest.

The other students nearby gasped. Bringing up a rumor so old it might as well have been stale bread and directly insulting a girl about her body in the same breathe, there was no such thing as too low for Ryuju Momo!

Demon! Ryuuju Momo is a fucking demon!

"...Fine. I wasn't going to run away, anyway." Yukino sighed. "No offense meant, Shinomiya-san."

"Oh. Don't get me wrong, I'm not happy with this either." Kaguya frowned. "But I would embarrass my family if I ran away."

 

[ZeroXSEED]

Competition!

It could be said that, like everything in the world, humans grow and thrive in competition. Society develops and modernizes through competition.

Even people in the scientific field competed with each other, with the discovery of imaginary numbers in math fueled by the staggeringly epic battles and competition between mathematicians in the 1500s.

It could be said that competition is one of the most crucial parts of youth. Through competition, one will be motivated. To break your own limit. To improve oneself and win.

To compete is to grow. That's why many say you haven't truly enjoyed youth until you enter a competition!

"Or so people like to justify themselves as they crush each other in wars. In reality, competition is nothing more than the self-serving need for accomplishment. Especially in Shuchiin, where everyone is too busy dragging each other down." Hachiman said.

"...You haven't changed in the slightest." Yukino grinned. "Your pessimism is gross, but I'd be an idiot to say it was wrong."

"Can you at least try to be agreeable for once?" Hachiman gawked. "In fairness, you're the one changed the most."

"You think that is the case, Hikigaya-kun?"

"Yeah. You seem happier after the formation of the Public Service Club."

"...I see," Yukino said. "I can say the same about you. Though you still have that bitter outlook, you're significantly softer since you joined the Student Council."

Hachiman rolled his eyes up, remembering all these times he'd beaten girls with slippers in public. Softer, me?

"You can be a little vicious, but isn't it because you now dare to voice your opinion? You don't have the spine to talk back to me when we first met." Yukino pointed. "Considering the silliness around you, I can hardly blame you. I couldn't call you out about that."

"Oh, at least you're self-aware."

One of Yukino's most admirable traits in Hachiman's eyes is her constant self-reflection. Yukino is proud of herself, but unlike Kaguya, Yukino is more than willing to admit her weakness and find a way to address it eventually.

"If I'm not at least self-aware, then my pride will eat me from the inside." Yukino confidently said. "But other than me, you always claim you've done everything for yourself, yet you singlehandedly stabilized the Shuchiin shadow powers and made life better for everyone."

"I did it for my own interest, mostly peace of mind and quiet school life," Hachiman said. "I'm not like you. I'm the least benevolent person in this entire school."

"You know very well I'm nowhere that altruistic, Hikigaya-kun," Yukino said. "Our goal is the same, even if we took a different path to achieve it."

"But our paths are the opposite to each other. I like worming my way into the system while you wish to change it." Hachiman sighed and walked away. "Yet, we keep looping back into the same intersection. I have no clue how it happened."

"Silly Hikigaya-kun, we're confined in the same school. Of course, we'll keep meeting each other." Yukino smiled. "Even if it disgusts me, our fate always crossed. That's the reality of it."

"You know. I was about to say I'm rooting for you in the competition, but maybe I will rethink it." Hachiman jibed. "Besides, you're the one getting provoked into this idiocy."

"Oh, do you perhaps hate Vice President Shinomiya?" Yukino asked weirdly. "And do you think it is unhealthy for the school environment to fight like this?"

"The competition itself is not wrong. In fact, even if this happened in private, you'd still accept it." Hachiman waved his hand dismissively.

"You know me well." She rolled her eyes awkwardly, her lips twitched. Yukino is easy to provoke when it comes to challenges. Even if she doesn't have a personal stake in it.

"The issue is making this open circus. It will split the second year in half, winner be damned." Hachiman said. "All because a spoiled bitchy princess has no clue about what it means to have time, place, and opportunity."

Yukino grimaced. "That's a close friend you're talking about."

"I don't want to hear that from the queen of roasting." Hachiman scoffed.

"Unlike you, I tried my best to pick the words carefully." Yukino chuckled. "But you're right. It is hypocritical of me to point that out."

Only Yukinoshita Yukino could openly stab her friends in the back with her polite but harsh words.

"Besides, hate is too strong of a strong word, but someone should take Shinomiya down a peg and make her realize what's important," Hachiman sighed. "If anyone can do it, it would be you."

"You know it's rare for me to say this, but I'm flattered," Yukino said earnestly. "Thank you for the encouragement. I meant it."

If the needs of the many are the most important, altruism will be the most widespread philosophy of humankind. However, even self-serving kindness can save many. With this in mind, Hikigaya Hachiman and Yukinoshita Yukino separated yet again.

Behind the wall nearby, Hayasaka Ai stood frozen and dumbfounded.

...

The news spread fast, and the fire remained even though five days had passed. Two young, beautiful maidens will face each other with their personal and family pride at stake. Two of the most beautiful girls in the Shuchiin second year would have a face-off to prove which one is more talented.

All because a certain yakuza Princess couldn't shut her mouth and provoked them in public. Had this happened in private? Both girls had every reason to ignore her taunts, but she had to do it in public.

She makes perfectly avoidable conflict unavoidable.

Momo groaned as she pulled her hair. "It's been a week, and Hachiman still gave me the cold shoulder."

"I mean, I'm not saying it was well deserved, but it kinda is," Miyuki remarked. "It WAS his job to reduce tensions between Shuchiin VIPs, and you threw a lighter into a tar pool."

"Hmph, bastard only cares because it was his ex getting involved." Momo grouched.

"...Isn't it BECAUSE you involved his ex that he got mad?" Chika bluntly pointed. Her face was oddly serious. "Of course, Hikki-san took it personally."

"What's your beef with Yukinoshita anyway?" Miyuki winced. "I know they're close, but calling them exes is a bit much."

"What do you call this?" Momo pulled up a picture of Hachiman and Yukino sitting oddly close to each other, even though they looked in the opposite direction and were reading separate books.

The photo wasn't exactly the best quality, most likely taken with a cellphone with haste. But the location was unmistakably the bench in Shuchiin High backyard area.

The Hachiman in the picture is clearly different from the current Hachiman. He looks somewhat thinner, his hair shorter and spiky. His eyes were like that of a dead fish's, and his back was slouching.

Momo was responsible for slapping his back straight after their fated meeting in early September last year.

Literally!

"Wait." Chika widened her eyes. "Their hands..."

Their free hands were this close to touching. In fact, their arms clearly brushed on each other, and neither of them looked embarrassed or mindful.

As if it was the secret reality they lived in, the unknown side of Hachiman that absolutely no one in the Student Council knows.

"Do you know how much effort I need to spend to get this close to him?" Momo waved it. "Not easy. Same with titty Secretary. At a minimum, they're clearly close friends."

Hikigaya Hachiman is protective of his personal space. The first time Chika tried the lap pillow joke, he went apeshit when he woke up, and chaos ensued. Hachiman also avoided Chika for a week afterward.

Fujiwara Chika understood more than anyone else how strict Hachiman is about physical contact with girls.

"You went out of your way to find this?" Miyuki was creeped out. "Just how obsessed you can be?"

"I didn't." Momo sighed. "This photo only recently became widespread after Yukinoshita accepted the challenge. Because people tried to dig any dirt they could find on Yukinoshita."

"Do you have any clue about this?"

"Considering the situation, this happened after I became the general affairs manager last year," Miyuki said. "Hachiman doesn't have other friends that I know. So he might be a little lonely without me around. If I wasn't mistaken, Yukinoshita was also a loner back then."

"Birds of a feather flock together, they say," Chika said. "Perhaps they found a company in their lonesome."

Miyuki wondered why, but there seemed to be a tinge of jealousness in Chika's voice. Could it be that it's not just Momo...

"Hikigaya-san is nothing more than a collateral." Hayasaka finally joined and spoke. "I just happen to overhear him talking with Yukinoshita-san, and from his tone, it is not that he disagreed with the duel. He was mad because it got him and the entire school involved."

"Fuck." Momo's squinted eyes bulged. In fact, she was crying. In almost one year of knowing her, Miyuki had never seen her so distraught and vulnerable.

This girl really, really likes Hachiman. But...

"Yeah, you totally deserved it." Miyuki and Chika said.

No wonder Hachiman was mad. Hachiman only wanted a peaceful school life. It was why he decided to take the mantle of General Affairs before and the newly established Public Relations right now.

To keep conflicts within Shuchiin elites suppressed, Hachiman decided to become a mediator and assisted Miyuki. Hachiman is the prime definition of working hard so he could laze around.

"I think it's best to wait until the conclusion. Then you can apologize." Chika tried to cheer Momo up. "And extra points if you're willing to make amends and deal with the fallout."

"Tch. I guess I'll do just that." Momo spat. It is not like she had any other choice, though.

"But for him to root for Yukinoshita-san instead of Kaguya-san... that surprised me a lot." Chika hummed. "I always thought that their relationships aren't that bad."

Miyuki, Momo, and Hayasaka looked at Chika like she was crazy.

"I know it's hard to believe, but Kaguya-san is hardly close with any boys," Chika remarked. "She's even more guarded toward the opposite sex than Hikki-san is. You often see them arguing, but they always reach an agreement. If anything, he's the closest person Kaguya-san calls a male friend. I mean, only the President is closer."

Hayasaka honestly wanted to say agree, but that would blow her cover something fierce. Despite the many frictions, Kaguya never went out of line and specifically out to destroy Hachiman. That one time Hayasaka committed an act of revenge, Kaguya was legitimately concerned that Hayasaka might go too far.

That's not how you treat someone you hate.

"I have to agree." Miyuki squirmed. "But for him to want Shinomiya losing, that's typical of him."

"You think so?" Chika opened her mouth in surprise. "Even though he wouldn't openly cheer for Kaguya-san, at least he would still be on her side, no?"

"No. This is very Hachiman way of thinking." Momo smirked. "Hachiman is the type of person who would talk shit on you while you're down and then extend a helping hand."

"...If you put it like that, you're right." Chika sadly laughed. "Speaking of which, Kaguya-san is extremely focused. That's why she took time off from Student Council works for self-improvement and mental preparation."

Hayasaka quietly confirmed it in her mind. Although Kaguya had withdrawn all activities from the Kyuudo club and Student Council, she asked Hayasaka to monitor the school situation for her.

Hayasaka had no reason to refuse.

Hayasaka was surprised and unsurprised that Yukino didn't take the challenge seriously. Public Service Club is still active, and she had enough free time to have an affair... err, have a casual meeting with Hachiman.

To begin with, she was the only person in the entire school who did not care about snatching the second exam rank from Kaguya. She only accepted it because Ryuuju Momo provoked her.

"Have you met her outside school?" Miyuki asked worriedly. "We... haven't talked much after she agreed with the competition."

Chika was right. Kaguya was putting every ounce of her mental strength to focus and win. She didn't even bother to give an air of false confidence.

She refused to repeat her mistakes in the exam.

"I visited her at home twice. I even spent a night together with her. To be honest? She was a little scary!" Chika said. "I have never seen Kaguya-san this focused on taking down someone."

"Well, yeah? Who wouldn't after that kind of humiliation?" Momo remarked, only for Chika and Miyuki to beat her with Harisen together as the primary offender. "FU-"

Hayasaka wanted to say she had seen it countless times, but saying it out loud would be improper. Kaguya was never not serious when she studied for the exam. The difference is she would still act casual at school.

This time, she gave it 108% of her effort.

"Are you rooting for Shinomiya-san, President?" Hayasaka teasingly got close to Miyuki and elbowed him.

"I think that much is obvious." Miyuki confidently smiled. "After all, she also represented the entire Student Council in this challenge, just like Yukinoshita represented the VIP assembly."

Lies and damned lies!

It was clear that Miyuki would support Kaguya no matter what, even if Kaguya brought her own problem. Even if her anger was born out of her insecurity. Miyuki will still be there for her.

Because love is blind.

"Sadly, I can't support her," Chika said as she pulled out an invitation card. "Because I'll be one of the judges."

"Ah." Hayasaka widened her eyes. Chika was chosen as one of the elite students who would judge the two girls' performance. "Don't they afraid you will take sides?"

Chika wordlessly smiled.

やはり, 彼らが望む告白は間違っている. S2
As expected, the Confession they want is wrong S2

Original Story by: Watari Wataru and Akasaka Aka
Written by: @ZeroXSEED, Co-written by: @GoukaRyuu​

Chapter 28 - Kaguya-sama wants to Duel, Part 1

And so, the day of the competition comes.

A combined effort of the Hachiman, the Disciplinary Committee, and VIP students suppressed the curious ears and rabid fans alike. People who were not worthy of watching the competition were weeded out. It was a complete lockdown of information.

Other than the Student Council Members and the VIP students, only the dozens of chosen judges were there to witness everything.

"So it has come into this," Yukino said. "Nice to meet you again, Shinomiya-san."

"I feel the same way, Yukinoshita-san."

The air itself is heavy! The mental pressure exerted by these two girls would've sent lesser teens to the hospital and made animals flee in fear! Two of the most talented girls in Shuchiin are about to duke it out! How could the world not tremble in fear?

Miyuki had to unbutton his upper collar because he felt suffocated. Not even the hot and humid weather of Japanese summer forced him to this degree!

"Ahem." Momo coughed. "As agreed before. Today's competition will be done through a series of challenges. We choose them at random based on this gacha machine. I'll be the host, and I swear to be impartial."

Momo lifted and shook the gacha machine, which should take considerable strength. She put it on the table, rotated the switch, and a plastic egg dropped.

As she opened it, she unrolled the tiny paper scroll.

"First match of the competition, violin duel."

Kaguya and Yukino sharpened their eyes.

"Judges, please step forward."

"What do you think, President?" Hayasaka whispered. "Do you think Kaguya-sama has the upper hand?"

"The certainty of victory is unknown," Miyuki answered. "Although Shinomiya studied the violin, she never delved deep into it, right?"

"I have no clue." Hayasaka lied as naturally as she breathed. "You would know that as the closest man to her."

Miyuki blushed a bit, for Hayasaka certainly got on his nerves. Then again, he's already under pressure as it is.

"It is unknown how skilled Yukinoshita is. She could be completely unskilled, or she could be a violin God. But all the challenges were something both parties agreed on."

Unless Yukino bluffed by agreeing, it is one hundred percent likely Yukino had some skill. Someone like Shirogane Miyuki, who struggled to master basic tasks, had no place on this battleground.

It made him uneasy. Afraid, even.

"These are two modified sheets for Vivaldi's Summer, split in half at random intervals. Variations are allowed. Just make sure to keep the tempo." Momo put two stacks of papers face down. "Either someone calls dibs or gambles for it."

"I call seconds." Both Yukino and Kaguya said, then looked at each other weirdly.

"One braincell moment." Momo sighed. "Rock paper scissors, please."

Yukino closed her eyes like she was asleep before raising her hand. Kaguya knew Yukino did this to avoid showing micro-expressions that might telegraph her choice.

The competition barely started, and Kaguya found a hurdle, but she will never quit. She focused everything on reading Yukino, but she saw absolutely nothing. So she switched her attention to Yukino's arm.

"I only have 0.1 seconds to decide." Kaguya thought. "Should I focus on myself, or should I focus on how to counter her?"

"Jan, Ken, Pon!"

Yukino dropped a piece of paper, and Kaguya won a scissor.

"Shinomiya won, Yukinoshita, you decide first." Momo said.

Yukino opened her eyes and picked the right stack.

"Without a moment of hesitation," Kaguya remarked as she picked up the left stack. "Have you decided all along?"

Yukino wordlessly smiled. "Does it really matter? It's not like we could see the content. What matters is the choices of the violin."

As Yukino and Kaguya opened their respective violin cases, they immediately noticed what they were dealing with.

"Ancient Stradivari copies." Kaguya noticed. "It might not be the original million-dollar instrument, but certainly precious and irreplaceable."

Stradivarius! Anyone who dabbles in the art of classical string instruments would know this name. This series of musical instruments were made by the Stradivari family in the 17th and 18th century! Known for their legendary, almost unmatched sound quality, it is said that the older a well-preserved Stradivari is, the better it sounded.

Currently, the Stradivarius series are some of the most expensive musical instruments in the world. The cheapest Stradivarius violin cost 1.5 Million US Dollars!

Between the 17th and 19th centuries, many instrument makers copied, sometimes outright pirated, the Stradivarius to varying success.
A good copy of Stradivari's violin could easily be worth a few hundred thousand dollars!

"Crazy talk. Who would lend you such a thing? Those are modern Strad copies." Momo chuckled. "Regardless, they're both good violins, so use them well."

A silent agreement occurred between Yukino and Kaguya as they picked the violins up without arguing.

One note.

One note is all one needs. When you know classical music and have the talent and knowledge to grasp it, one note is all you need to judge the potential of another classical musician.

However, one note is just that. One note.

It is not enough to judge someone's overall skill. The judges, Chika included, listened intently as Kaguya and Yukino took turns based on their respective sheets.

It was majestic.

While not on par with competing violin geniuses of national and international competition, Kaguya and Yukino played at the level where they could easily wipe out local competition. How their fingers danced on the fingerboard, pressing the strings precisely, even violin masters would call this a good show.

It was mesmerizing. Other than the two playings and relatively quiet reference background music, no sounds could be heard.

As the background music stopped, so did the two.

And then, it's time to stand up and clap.

"Amazing!" Chika laughed. "Both of you are very skilled."

"Overpraise." Yukino closed her eyes. "It is clear that Shinomiya-san is much more skilled."

Kaguya sharpened her eyes and wondered how Yukino could throw the towel easily. While she's prideful of her play, was the gap that obvious?

"I'll let the judges decide on that," Kaguya said with a slight smile. Of course, she couldn't help but jump in triumph inside. However, there are parts of her that feel uncomfortable.

The judges raised their scores, and Kaguya had a higher total score by about 15%.

"Winner, Shinomiya," Momo announced. "It was a close match, still."

"I see. In that case, I'll take this first victory." Kaguya said. "But how could you be so certain?"

Kaguya wondered if Yukino deliberately took such a defeatist stance to make Kaguya lose her guard. But even if that was the case, Kaguya would not take this competition lightly.

"The HAND," Chika said aloud.

"The hand?" Kaguya raised her eyebrows in confusion.

"It is because Kaguya-san's fingers are nimbler," Chika said. "The way you push the string. It was more secure than Yukinoshita-san. Although most people wouldn't even notice, I can see the hesitation on her face."

As expected of the musical genius. Even though Chika did not play the violin, Chika understood enough to tell the difference.

Yukino raised her left hand. "My fingers are like this compared to yours."

Yukino's fingers were smooth and delicate. Kaguya's hands were similar on the surface but different in specific parts.

The fingertips. Kaguya's fingertips are harsher than Yukino's.

"It has been more than a year since I touched the violin last time, and my callouses became much thinner," Yukino said. "So it was a little painful."

"I see." Kaguya sighed. "I haven't touched violin for a long time, too. But I play koto, so the callouses remain there."

Koto is a Japanese string instrument. It took the shape of a long box and played face up while sitting on the floor. It's similar to Chinese guzheng.

In terms of harshness to the finger, the koto is even worse than the violin. Kaguya has some complex about ugly fingertips. However, even she recognized the importance. When properly formed, callouses acted as a shield for the delicate finger nerve system.

For string players, callouses are a badge of honor. It shows their dedication and hard work toward the musical art.

For this reason alone, Yukino could not give her 100% performance.

"If you stopped playing violin for a year, what about those callouses on your hand?" Kaguya asked. Because it wasn't that Yukino's hands were completely smooth. On the contrary, while her fingers were less calloused, her palms were the opposite.

Yukino smiled.

...

"Second competition! Fried rice cooking!" Momo announced.

"Excuse me? Why are you in the judge's seat? You're not even a culinary master, Fujiwara-san." Kaguya half-yelled at Chika. "Can you even cook?"

"Do not underestimate my palette, Kaguya-san." Chika's face darkened. "A food critic doesn't have to be actually skilled at culinary arts, you know?"

The other judges glared at Chika. Is this girl for real? How dare she slander critics like that!

"Freaking glutton!" They collectively swore inwardly.

"This happens when you hang out too often with PR Manager Hikigaya." Kaguya shook her head. "Never mind about that, I have no objection."

"I also have no objection," Yukino said.

"You can use everything in this kitchen to make it, but nothing more than that," Momo said. "You can use extra tools if you need."

"Thankfully, the bones already came precut. I was about to ask if you have a bone saw." Yukino said. "I'm disappointed the fish isn't live, though."

"Are you a psychopath?" Momo chastised her. "99% of people in this academy haven't even seen an intact bone, let alone a live animal! Do you not remember what happened with Class 1-C and 1-D last year?"

"Last I remember, you were one of the people who did the live gutting." Yukino snarked. "Along with me and a few others."

"Exactly." Momo cheekily winked. "You can call me stubborn, but I learn from my mistakes too!"

Yukino looked at her as if she was walking garbage.

"Both of you are psychopaths!" Everyone else thought. Scared.

The incident involving a Home Economics class comes to mind. The absolute amount of blood, chaos, and hilarity was staggering! So many traumatized students.

All for the sake of cutting a freaking carp!

Since then, all Home EC in Shuchiin has used precut slabs of meats and fish fillets.

"Well, since everything is conveniently prepared, what about the time limit?"

"40 minutes including preparation and cooking." Momo presented a pair of small cooking jars. "For the sake of fairness, we use polished white rice. Otherwise, it would take too long."

Japanese rice requires 20-30 minutes of soaking before cooking. It would take too long, and many other contests left to do. Polished white rice might be too plain, but soaking and cooking would take a much shorter time.

"I see." Kaguya nodded. "What about the priority of judgment?"

One of the judges said. "Of course, the taste is a priority."

"And so, the contest shall begin!" Momo raised a stopwatch and pressed the button. "NOW!"

Yukino and Kaguya began with the same steps, briefly washing the polished rice grain and then soaking it. However, the subsequent actions couldn't be more contrast.

Whereas Kaguya took multiple ingredients and precooked them separately, Yukino seemed to take her sweet time and gathered raw materials and cut them.

Kaguya was annoyed. Did she think that maybe Yukino would throw one match again? In that case, what is the point of competing anyway?

Infuriating!

Kaguya will show her who is the closest person to perfection! With her perfect fried rice!

40 minutes later

"Winner, Yukinoshita." Momo announced.

"How... how could this be?!" Kaguya asked in shock.

The upset didn't just surprise Kaguya but also the rest of the audience. Kaguya's seafood fried rice was so luxurious. Crowned with scallops and shrimp as toppings and small salad dressing. With hints of various herbs and spices to increase flavor. It was a plate fit to serve kings!

It was impossible to understate how appealing it was visually.

"Were my fried rice that bad?!" Kaguya was destroyed inwardly. Her cooking, praised by a certified Michelin Star chef, lost to Yukino's blandest pile of charred carbs?!

Okay, that last part was hyperbole. But still.

"You must be confused about why you lost." One of the judges said. "It is not that Shinomiya-san's cooking was bad. On the contrary, it was a top-class cuisine."

"However, the difference between rice quality is too much," Chika commented as she stuffed herself with Yukino's fried rice, which looked so ordinary it could only be described as boring. "Have a try by yourself."

Kaguya was afraid.

She was so afraid of trying that her confidence would shatter instantly. However, she refused to be a sore loser and jammed a spoonful in her mouth.

Doesn't seem particularly special? Especially flavorless when it was cold like this.

Explosion!

Just as Kaguya thought Yukino's fried rice was lame, flavor flooded her tongue, which didn't diminish as she kept chewing. Blast after blast, it was like a dam burst, and her saliva overflowed.

Somehow, even though she just ate, she almost drooled.

"How could this be?! The more you chew, the stronger it tastes!" Kaguya gasped. She gave the plate to the student council member.

"What is this?!" Ishigami gawked in shock. "Sorcery! This is sorcery!"

"Yukinoshita used bone marrow to cook and flavor the rice. The nature of tallows is that they harden as they cool down. As such, you will not see oil seeping out until you start eating." Miyuki said.

"The rice is relatively soft yet dry. It doesn't feel disgusting to eat cold. It makes you produce more saliva to chew. I seemed to recall eating this somewhere, but when was that?" He pondered aloud.

PRESIDENT ATE IT BEFORE?! Kaguya became furious. Then, the rational part of her bonked the manifestation of wrath. Wait, he couldn't even recall it? In that case, it is most likely not from Yukinoshita!

"Because bone marrow is located in the deepest part of the animal body, their composition and flavor is extremely complex, and many would even say exotic." Yukino smiled. "After all, SOMEONE kindly taught me this recipe. Of course, President Shirogane ate it before."

If that's not the proof of an old affair allegation, everyone else doesn't know what is. Maybe making out at school or walking out of a hotel together. However, it was strange for Yukino to throw the bait, considering how vehemently against the idea she was.

The physically absent Hachiman sat comfortably, rent-free, in their collective minds. Because he assisted the Disciplinary Committee in securing the event.

"Very well, I shall accept this defeat," Kaguya said, her voice filled with grace.

Kaguya might not have noticed it herself, but Hayasaka and Miyuki, in particular, saw something oddly out of place on Kaguya's face.

Excitement.

 

[ZeroXSEED]

Ishigami Yuu rushed out of the Home EC room and immediately approached Hachiman. He looked at Hachiman, who briefed the other people about where the next competition will be held.

Hachiman stood outside the Home EC room with some personnel from the disciplinary committee. They were present to ensure no intrusion from other students, whether they were curious or malicious.

Ishigami Yuu made sure there was no one else close before he whispered. "Just to make sure I wasn't mistaken, you gave the recipe to her, Senpai?"

"What was that about?"

"Beef tallow fried rice," Ishigami said. "If I wasn't mistaken, she used bone marrow. It was delicious, and she won against Vice President's Michelin-star seafood fried rice!"

"She brought the beef tallow fried rice, huh." Hachiman scoffed. "I'll get you back on this later, snowwoman."

Ah, he's not even denying it. Ishigami thought. And the people distant from them began whispering among each other.

"Yukinoshita might look straightforward and honest, but she never comes into a fight unprepared." Hachiman laughed. "Smart women always have a bag of tricks with them."

"Who do you think would win?" Ishigami asked.

"It's a complete tossup." Hachiman shrugged. "I know both of them just enough to know they're too comparable to easily deduct who will win. It depends on luck."

Before Ishigami could ask to clarify, Hachiman pulled a gun from his back pocket and began shooting in some direction, and this scared the rest of the committee members.

Of course, it wasn't loud. After all, it was just a gas-powered toy. The problem was how realistic it looked!

"Senpai! Don't scare people like that!" Miko chastised him. "Warn us before shooting, won't you?!"

Eh?

"If I warn you, the idiot behind the camera will be alerted," Hachiman said. A spider-shaped drone fell behind him. "This is Shuuchin High, after all."

Iino Miko grumbled as she gathered the drone pieces and threw them into a designated trash bin. "You're always prepared for the craziest scenario, and I hate that you're right. This is so stupid."

Ah, so he was taking out spy drones. Also, it was an airsoft gun, albeit exceptionally high-powered.

"See? He is that kind of person," Ishigami mumbled. "I might not have known him well, but I don't think he's the type who leaves things to luck."

As far as Ishigami knew, Hachiman didn't believe in coincidence. At least when it comes to competition. He correctly deduced whose grades would improve and whose grades would decline based on their behavior before the exam.

Hachiman always told Ishigami: "To work is to lose, but hard work will betray no one."

"It depends on what kind of competition is drawn from the gacha pool." A bespectacled girl remarked. "Since there are some things that Vice President Shinomiya does better and things that Yukinoshita-senpai does better."

"Osaragi!" Ishigami Yuu was spooked. "Don't just show up so close like that."

The bespectacled girl grinned. Which was uncharacteristic for her. This girl almost always sports an unchanging poker face. So when she smiled ever slightly like that, it was unnerving!

Since Ishigami spent the last three months interacting with Miko, it was inevitable that he had to deal with this enigmatic girl all the time.

"But I guess you're right." Ishigami winced. "Unless the gachapon is tampered with, it is up to fate which one of them got an advantage."

And even if someone has an advantage, it is not a guaranteed win. This is why the competition is exciting. If someone like Hachiman doesn't know who will be the winner, then everyone else is about as clueless.

"Carefu!" Ishigami covered a girl when another spy drone fell.

The girl looked spooked but also a bit embarrassed as she walked away. "Uh, thanks?"

"Do you need any help? Honestly. Watching the fight up close is a little too intense for me." Ishigami unbuttoned his gakuran as he talked to Miko. "But if I'm absent, I feel I'd miss too much."

"We're not shorthanded, but..." Iino Miko rolled her eyes. "If you're serious, any help is appreciated."

"Well, honestly, I feel like it was a hassle. But at the moment, I have nothing better to do."

Iino knows this is very in character for him to say. Above all else, Ishigami Yuu is a lazy person. Nevertheless, she felt annoyed and kicked his shin.

"Why do you always ruin such a good impression by opening your mouth?" Osaragi bluntly asked before she followed Miko.

"What the fuck did I do?" Ishigami asked inwardly.

"Ishigami!"

Ishigami honestly thinks that all his meetings with girls had been troublesome, so he ended up glaring. And his face met the scaredly Onodera Rei.

"W-w-what is that? Did I do something wrong?" Rei asked.

"Ah, it was Onodera, my bad." Ishigami sighed. "I'm just on edge right now because of the atmosphere."

To be honest? Of all the girls he is on talking terms with outside Iino Miko? Onodera Rei is probably the most troublesome. Their first meeting was hostile since Onodera openly hated Ishigami for what he did in middle school to Ogino.

Nevertheless, Onodera was also the first girl in class 1-B willing to hear his side. For this alone, Ishigami couldn't help but feel somewhat grateful. Despite their rough start, Onodera had been the friendliest girl he knew.

The fact that they even shared lunchtime last week was the proof.

"Was the competition that intense? The senpai from the newspaper club is bawling because they couldn't make a live report on it." Onodera pointed at crying, Kino Karen, and Kose Erika.

"It is super intense, as expected of two prized flowers of Shuchiin." Yuu nodded. "Hikigaya-senpai said the outcome is totally unpredictable."

"He said that?" Onodera raised her eyebrows, curious.

"Osaragi explained because the competitions are decided by gacha." He nodded. "There are things that Shinomiya-senpai does better, and there are things that Yukinoshita-senpai does better."

"It's up to God of gacha, huh." Onodera laughed. "What a twisted situation."

"Tell me about it," Ishigami smirked. "So, you want to watch? Even if you want, you can't."

"I wish I could, but following the trails would be good enough. Can I at least follow them to the site?"

"I'm sure you could, as long as you don't try to intrude," Ishigami assured her. "The Disciplinary Committee don't fuck around, I'm afraid."

"What's the result so far?"

"Shinomiya-senpai won the violin battle, while Yukinoshita-san won the cooking battle."

"I see." Onodera nodded and then rummaged through the pocket of her jacket. "Also, I'm returning this."

It was none other than the handkerchief that Ishigami gave her. Technically, he only lent it so she could have a clean place to sit when they had lunch together behind the main building.

"...I totally forgot." He grimaced. "You could have thrown it away. But..."

It was awkward to say this, but he said it anyway. "Thank you."

"...Why are you so embarrassed? Do you think I'm hitting on you or something?" Onodera sharpened her eyes.

"Not in a million years." Ishigami jibed.

Onodera popped a vein. "Now that was rude."

"That's not what I mean." He grimaced again. "If you're being too nice to me, people will start talking about stupid shit about you."

"Who cares." Onodera stuck out her tongue. "Here's your punishment."

She slipped a clip on Ishigami's bang, clipping it to his upper head and exposing his usually hidden eye. This, of course, made him flustered and flailed.

"If I see your bangs down, I'm using a roll hairpin." She smiled.

"That's scary. Please don't do that."

Ishigami Yuu couldn't help but feel his heart beating fast. This girl sure has zero sense of personal space!

"It was a joke." Onodera laughed. "You can remove it if you feel uncomfortable."

Normie girls are way too scary!

(Ishigami kept the hairclip on for the rest of the day.)

やはり, 彼らが望む告白は間違っている. S2
As expected, the Confession they want is wrong S2

Original Story by: Watari Wataru and Akasaka Aka
Written by: @ZeroXSEED, Co-written by: @GoukaRyuu​

Chapter 29 - Kaguya-sama Wants to Duel, Part 2

"Crushing her won't be easy." Kaguya thought, half anxious. "I'm not the kind of person who relies on luck, but I have no choice."

Kaguya isn't the type to play fair, either. She tried to rig the gacha in her favor, but someone laid all contingencies.

Right after Kaguya had Hayasaka switch the gacha capsule tank, Hachiman inspected the machine and replaced it with a new one, knowing it had been tampered with. Kaguya doesn't know if Hachiman knows who did it, but it spooked both her and Hayasaka from trying again.

Not to mention the drone hunt. Hachiman turned into a demon in that regard, being so trigger-happy that he took down the lunch delivery drone from Shinomiya's house as well.

Hachiman doesn't fuck around. Not today. He is more than committed to removing any form of interference. Violently.

Kaguya had no other way except to face this competition fairly and rely on her abilities.

It wasn't like Kaguya was a stranger to competition, and she wasn't a stranger to losing, either.

However, she hasn't been this pressured since the bet with Shirogane Miyuki last year. The more time passed, the more she wanted to win.

"Next match! 50-meter sprint and 100-meter sprint!"

The match took place outdoors. It is impossible to secure it from the watchful gaze of interested students and even teachers. Nevertheless, the two races shouldn't take much time at all.

Both Yukino and Kaguya were seen stretching as they prepared for the race. Showing off their slender build for all the boys to gaze at. Even though Shuchiin had long since abandoned bloomers in favor of short jerseys, some things cannot be hidden.

"Or lack of things, if I should say." Hachiman snarked.

Chika and Hayasaka looked at him as if they saw a walking garbage.

"Hahaha, see! That's funny!" Momo also laughed. "Right, Hachiman?"

Hachiman ignored her, which made her freeze from sadness and embarrassment. It was clear that yes. He was still mad about the whole ordeal.

"Who do you think would win, Hachiman?" Miyuki asked.

"Shinomiya will win the 50-meter sprint, and Yukinoshita will win the 100-meter sprint," Hachiman said.

"I see." Miyuki furrowed his eyebrows.

Hayasaka was quiet as she recalled the fitness test results of Kaguya and Yukino. From what was there, Hachiman's guesses were off the mark.

"Hmm, really? Hikigaya-san, is it because you know the two girls well?" Hayasaka poked him.

"Just enough to make an educated guess." Hachiman was phased. "Want to make a different bet?"

"Sure enough," Hayasaka pointed. "The loser had to do something that the others ordered."

Hayasaka didn't make this challenge willy-nilly. Kaguya had told her that Hachiman got distracted as much as possible. And if Hayasaka can find an advantage, she'll happily take it.

Were Hachiman any other boy, they'd be flustered as they imagined what they could order Hayasaka to do. And Hayasaka could tease them back about having perverted thoughts.

But Hachiman isn't any other boy. Within 100% confidence, Hayasaka thought Hachiman would choose something more humiliating than perverted.

"Sure," Hachiman said. "What's your wager?"

"Shinomiya-san will win both."

Kaguya had focused on physical contests enough that Hayasaka had confidence. Besides, she had done a little investigation on Yukino before. And found her greatest weakness and told Kaguya such.

Yukinoshita Yukino isn't a very athletic person.

Hachiman smiled.

"Bet."

Hayasaka doesn't like that smile. It was only something Hachiman showed up when he got the upper hand. Did Hayasaka get the wrong information? Or did someone purposely spread a rumor that Yukinoshita Yukino is bad at sports?

Did HACHIMAN do it?

Though confident, Kaguya decided to keep up her guard. No matter her chances of victory, if the chances of defeat aren't 0%, Kaguya can't afford to take this competition lightly.

"At ease, be ready!"

Kaguya and Yukino kneeled.

"3, 2, 1."

The gunpowder pistol went with a bang, throwing a small amount of smoke up. And the two girls launched themselves.

Kaguya felt like time slowed down as her brain went into high gear, ensuring her running posture was perfect with no inefficiencies. Other than the baggy jersey pants, the air resistance on the shirt is also present.

She also felt every inch of her soles and how the shoe connected to the sandy track.

"Don't get distracted!" Kaguya thought. "Focus on the track!"

"Shinomiya, win!"

The crowd exploded into cheer. Kaguya won the race, and it wasn't even close! Using a radio-based identification and timer proved that Kaguya was second faster than Yukino!

"I know it! Of course, the Vice President will win!"

"Yukinoshita? Who is that? Pfft. Bitch doesn't know her place at all."

"Outsider should remain an outsider."

The combined excitement and desperation were unreal. It isn't hard to see where most of the crowds leaned in favor of. On the other hand, the support for Yukinoshita Yukino is hardly few.

"Stop sucking Zaibatsu cocks!"

"This is why Shuuchin students are hated by the public right now."

Many wanted Kaguya to be taken down a peg due to her perceived aloofness and invincibility.

"Let alone fostering peace and friendships," Hachiman said. "It is as peaceful as a British soccer match right now."

Without a doubt, his words were said to guilt trip Momo, who clammed up out of annoyance. But also the fact that she couldn't argue back. The rivalry between Kaguya and Yukino will only heighten the tension and rift between students at school.

After a two-minute break, Kaguya and Yukino resumed their kneeling position. This time for the 100-meter dash. Kaguya gleefully looked at Yukino, only to notice her glowing blue eyes.

Yukino was dead focused in a trance.

In that case, Kaguya needs to be serious, too!

Just like before, the situation was perfectly identical. Kaguya leaped ahead of Yukino and dominated the race. With the same gap, too. Many were convinced that Kaguya's victory was secured!

Not!

In fact, Yukino caught up with Kaguya halfway through the race. Kaguya herself was absolutely shocked! How could Yukino catch up with her like that?! Yukino's acceleration was explosive! Throwing dust as if she had wings on her back!

"No way!"

"Yukinoshita, win!"

The crowd became silent.

And then exploded again in pure disbelief.

"You owe me one, Hayasaka," Hachiman whispered as she put a hand on her shoulder. She could feel his breath brushing her ears and cheeks.

Normally? Hayasaka would be excited. Hachiman isn't the one to act flirty like that, especially in public like this, in response to her teasing. Even some of the audience caught up on this and began whispering among each other.

He looked exactly like the charming bastard boyfriend from typical shoujo manga!

"PR Manager Hikigaya-san and General Affairs Hayasaka-san?"

"So the rumor must be true!"

Dread! All Hayasaka felt was dread right now!

"Eh?! It's tied again!" Chika gasped, unaware of the hostilities in the atmosphere. "How could you know, Hikki-san?"

"How tall do you reckon Yukinoshita is?" Hachiman asked.

"If I have to guess, maybe around 170cm?" Chika guessed. "I think she's the tallest Shuchiin girl I've met directly! That's pretty tall, isn't it?"

"She's 171 cm, and her legs are 11 cm longer than Shinomiya," Hachiman said. "In 100 m dash, it's not even a contest who will win."

Chika became pale and took a step back. "I wonder how you know that information, Hikki-san. You're not collecting weird information about Shuchiin girls, do you? Hentai."

Hachiman was about to poke Chika's eyeballs until Miyuki stopped him.

"In fairness, just eyeballing them both makes it easy to see the difference," Miyuki said as he gripped Hachiman's wrist. "The rest are just Hachiman's logical reasoning at work."

Kaguya had a huge acceleration advantage in the 50-meter dash. That was why Hachiman was confident she would win. In the 100-meter dash, stride length matters!

Kaguya wasn't disheartened. Even though Hayasaka made a mistake and the information about Yukinoshita's lack of athleticism was fake, Kaguya faced her earnestly with all her strength. Therefore, she couldn't blame this on her valet.

Kaguya wasn't fast enough. This is a fact. Now that she let go of her hatred, frustration, jealousy, and prejudice, her mind became clear.

"Just to be sure, I want to ask." Kaguya approached Yukino. "Everyone thought you were bad at sports, yet you prove them all wrong. Why today of all times? Was it deliberate?"

"Everyone is mistaken. In fact, I'm very good at many sports." Yukino said calmly. "But the fact that I'm unathletic is correct. If this were 400m dash, I would have no chance of winning."

Kaguya widened her eyes in realization. Does Yukinoshita-san have weak stamina?

"So you let the rumor run its course to surprise everyone." Kaguya smiled.

"Information warfare in Shuchiin is important," Yukino said. "I'm not one to believe rumors. But if it means I can have the upper hand, I have no reason to rectify the rumor surrounding me. Especially if it was partly true."

"I see." Kaguya sighed.

Indeed. Yukino dismissed a lot of demotivational speeches and rumors surrounding the exam and instead made a closed-room group study with her club. Three out of three members placed in the top ten of the second-year exam ranks!

As for rumors surrounding Yukino? Yukino only cares about rumor if it gets in the way. She would happily use negative rumors if it protects her interest.

Kaguya could only see Hachiman's back juxtaposed with Yukino's. Hachiman also has a negative reputation among some of the students. However, those negative rumors strengthened his position as a member of the Student Council and protected him from harm.

These two really are peas in a pod.

It made Kaguya even more excited! Because it means defeating Yukino would feel the same as her beating Hachiman!

"Are you so confident about winning that you disclosed this truth to me?" Kaguya taunted. "Won't you regret it in the slightest?"

"No. You're going to find it out eventually." Yukino knowingly smiled. "Just like I did."

Kaguya didn't like that smile. It was too pure and free of worry.

...

In the end, one competition after another was done. Dozens of matches, from Go to silly competitions like airsoft shooting. Though each competition was short, there were so many of them. In the end, it was dusk.

Kaguya led the competition by three victories. Even if Yukino wins the last game, she'll still lose the overall score.

"Next match, Poetry Karuta!"

Poetry Karuta!

Poetry Karuta (Uta-garuta) is one of the indigenous card games developed in pre-modern Japan! Inspired by the Portuguese, Uta-Garuta was made based on the famous classic [100 people, one poem each].

To match the reading of the poem and the card is how you play it. Those who seized the correct card the fastest won a score!

Kaguya sharpened her eyes.

Kaguya... isn't the person to play games in general. But she learned to play Karuta as part of Japanese culture. So she knew how to play it. Additionally, she's confident with her coordination and reflexes.

The question is, how good is Yukino? The fact that she accepted this challenge means she's also confident in her skills.

After all, Kaguya was beaten in the Go match. So Kaguya wouldn't underestimate Yukino in this regard.

Part of Kaguya, the vindictive and cold-hearted girl, wanted to crush Yukino, denying her last victory and ensuring uncontested defeat. However, another part of Kaguya thinks differently.

"This is fun." The little Kaguya said. "It would be a shame to throw the match. Let's fight her to the end."

Fun? Since when did Kaguya come here to have fun?

At the same time, though Yukino's defeat is already assured, Yukino shows no sign of crumbling. In fact, she looked like she had the time of her life.

Her posture was elegant, and her face was dignified. Like a Samurai facing imminent death on the battlefield but had no fear and refused to retreat.

Defiant to the end.

Kaguya began to understand why the VIP student body respected her. And how Yukino became an honorary member even though her family background wasn't high enough to qualify for that position.

Like Hachiman, Yukino symbolizes an ideal student's purity, self-respect, and determination. The proof is that they don't need foul play to gain influence and power but simply by being honest with themselves.

In the Shinomiya family, such values would be thoroughly mocked and trampled to death. In fact, these values might have no place in High Society as a whole.

It was rotten to the core.

However, these kids from elite families haven't been fully consumed by the darkness of their blood and upbringing. There is a chance, a ray of hope.

They can be a better person than their parents and grandparents were.

That is the purpose of the Public Service Club, as Kaguya found out via Hayasaka. To reform the society from the top to bottom, Yukino would either accomplish that... or die trying.

"This is the last match," Kaguya said softly. "Do you still want to go all out?"

"I always told that person that if you don't change, your problem will never leave." Yukino cracked her slender fingers as she gently massaged them. "He always told me something important to remember."

"Hard work betrays no one." Yukino smiled brightly. "You have no chance of winning this one."

What was that? Did Yukinoshita-san waste her time practicing Karuta or something? Foolish! How foolish of her!

Also, those quotes were awfully familiar. Kaguya chuckled inwardly.

The narrator of the poem began reciting the poem from the drawn card.

"Nanimo-"

Sleigh of hands!

Both in martial arts and general sports, it is known that many people have difficulty dealing with southpaws. Because the vast majority of people are right-handed, left-handed people have the advantage of surprise.

Even in Karuta, it is no different!

Though I was born different from others, I trained my right hand to be as agile. As such, many people didn't realize I was a left-hander.

Kaguya had won several competitions through this deception. This time, too! She will win against Yukinoshita!

As her brain and nerve system went into high gear, Kaguya's left hand moved at a speed indiscernible to the audience, heading for the card in question.

However, Kaguya's confidence shattered when a pale white blur seized the card right before she touched it.

When she raised her face, the poem card was in Yukino's hand. Her smile was wide. And dare Kaguya to say, it was oddly creepy.

"EH?!" Chika gawked. "Did you see that?!"

"I didn't see anything! Did her hand even move?!" Ishigami was freaked out as well. No matter how you look at it, Yukino's hand speed is inhuman!

"..." Momo took a deep breath. "Shinomiya can't win this."

"We won't know unless we see to the end," Miyuki said. "Shinomiya will find a way."

Hayasaka clammed up in shock. In fact, Yukino's hand was always slower than Kaguya's in the beginning. However, it accelerated midway so quickly that her hand seemed to disappear into thin air.

Hayasaka truly wanted Kaguya to win, but rationally, she knew she and Miyuki were coping.

This hand-speed difference is too staggering!

Another card, another card, and yet another card. Yukino was able to destroy Kaguya and seized four victories.

"How could this be?" Kaguya mumbled.

"Your mistake is assuming I don't know you're a left-handed person," Yukino whispered. "I knew this all along since our violin battle."

Kaguya widened her eyes.

In Karuta, one could not switch hands after the first card battle. Kaguya switching to her right hand would be an illegal move.

Still, with that hand speed difference, could Kaguya win using her right hand? She doubted it. Nevertheless, she refuses to give up.

She took out the glucose tablet from her pocket and chewed on it. Yukino seemed to do something similar... except she did it with sugar cubes!

Overdrive!

Despite people thinking it was a simple card game, Karuta is legitimately a sport. People who attended a Karuta competition have been known to suffer severe dehydration and hypoglycemia! As such, people have been observed snacking and drinking mid-game. This is perfectly acceptable as long as it isn't disruptive to others!

Kaguya was able to see through Yukino's veil of invincibility.

Despite her zen-like calmness and clarity, Yukinoshita Yukino was exhausted. They spend a few hours competing with each other. And even though they rested between competitions, the fatigue will creep up eventually.

Her white skin became deathly pale, and her aqua-blue eyes dimly shone with desperation. Yukino was in much, much worse condition than Kaguya was.

She was on her last legs.

Opportunity! If Kaguya missed this, then she's a Shinomiya no more!

With a newfound battle spirit, Kaguya's eyes set ablaze as she pushed her body to its limit. No matter if Yukino is faster than her, eventually, she will slow down.

Another loss.

Another loss.

Another loss.

The final card, seize it!

Kaguya was able to swipe the last poem card right before Yukino was able to touch it. The card spun midair and headed to the audience, into the hands of Shirogane Miyuki.

Miyuki flipped it to show the content.

"You got the last card," Miyuki remarked. "Vice President."

"Winner, Yukinoshita Yukino." Momo announced.

In the end, it was nothing more than a brief victory. Kaguya may have won that last exchange. But she still lost the game.

Even so, Miyuki wondered.

How is it that Kaguya laughed so openly?

"It is my loss." Kaguya finally composed herself and bowed slightly.

"No, it is my loss." Yukino smiled and politely bowed back. "In the end, you still won more games than I did."

Kaguya won the whole competition day with two scores advantage.

Both participants stood up and exchanged a brief handshake, and the audience clapped in collective euphoria. No matter who won. And no matter who they rooted for. Today's showdown was a treat for sore eyes.

"To be honest, there were things I wanted to say." Kaguya closed her eyes in resignation. "But sadly, we don't have the time."

"You're always welcome in the Public Service Club, Vice President Shinomiya," Yukino responded. "We always receive those who come in good faith."

"Then I will surely give a visit." Kaguya grinned. "Please excuse me."

Yukino and Kaguya left the tatami-clad traditional art room from the opposite doors. Everyone else shortly follows and disappears through the main entrance.

Miyuki waited for Kaguya to come out from the changing room and then gave her a small bouquet of flowers.

"What's the occasion, President?" Kaguya asked. "Are you, perhaps, hitting on me?"

It was odd for Kaguya to tease him so bluntly. Usually, she would say something in a more roundabout manner. But Miyuki understood that Kaguya was riding the highs of adrenaline and the sweet victory, so he took the L and let it slide.

"It is to celebrate your victory." Miyuki confidently smiled.

"But my victory is not guaranteed," Kaguya said. "Had you bought this, and I lost, it would be a waste of your hard-earned money."

"Then consider it a consolation." Miyuki scoffed. "And even then, I know you would win anyway."

"Why is that? Isn't it irrational for you to say that?" Kaguya curiously pondered. "From a certain point of view, we were evenly matched. I was lucky that the gachas were slightly in my favor."

"Because I have faith." Miyuki earnestly told her. "It would be a lie if I wasn't concerned, but I have faith that Shinomiya Kaguya would win."

Kaguya was taken aback, and blood began to rush from her heart straight to her face. Even though the lights were dim, even Miyuki could see it clearly.

She was flustered beyond belief! So she rushed to walk past him, just in case she made herself even more vulnerable.

Yet, she decided to stop and looked back at him with an earnest and confident smile.

"Thank you for believing in me." She said. "Shirogane Miyuki."

Miyuki could feel his heart thump harder before he coughed to calm himself. "Ahem. See you next week."

"Yes. See you next week." Kaguya replied and left with the bouquet in her hand.

Miyuki was glad that the cloud around Kaguya seemed to disappear, and she was happy to accept the gift without teasing Miyuki too much about it. Miyuki could consider it a success, and things should return to normal shortly.

But for some reason, he could feel a sense of uneasiness in the corner of his heart.

...

Elsewhere at school...

"Put me down, Hikigaya-kun, or I'll scream and call you a rapist kidnapper."

"Look, you have three options, you snow-tempered bitch of a woman." Hachiman rambled. "Either I haul your ass to the infirmary for everyone to see. Or carry you to the Public Service Clubroom and wait for your friends to come and help. Or, I put you down in the nearest dumpster so you can be left to rot and forgotten."

"...I pick the second option," Yukino said. "Honestly, I am thankful you didn't give me the so-called Princess Carry treatment. I'll have to transfer out of shame."

"Because being carried like a sack of rice is much better." Hachiman snarked. "Now shut up and save your strenght. You almost fainted while walking."

To be clear, Hachiman carried Yukino correctly based on various emergency first aid and rescue guidelines.

The method he used was the firefighter carry. Hachiman hauled her over his left shoulder while holding her left wrist over his neck to secure it. This method could lift someone over a long distance but requires strength and skill on the rescuer's part.

This way, he could avoid touching her nonexistent chest in any way, saving her dignity.

Meanwhile, Chika, Momo, and Hayasaka hid in the bush as Hachiman walked past it.

"What the heck are we looking at?" They collectively thought. Part of them were jealous, but also weirded out.

...

Today's Result of Battle: Yukinoshita Yukino's loss!

 

[ZeroXSEED]

When Hayasaka reunited with her Mistress, she was dumbfounded to find someone seemingly refreshed and having the time of her life, with a bouquet and a weird smile.

"You look happy, Kaguya-sama."

"How could I not?" Kaguya grinned. "Not only did I win a hard-fought battle splendidly, but the President was also willing to be the subservient one and made the first move."

"Ah." Hayasaka realized. "He gave it to you, I suppose?"

"He said it was a congratulatory gift for my victory. But when I asked how could he be so sure I was going to win, he said-"

Kaguya snickered hard.

"He said it was because of his faith in me!" Kaguya cheerfully pointed. "Isn't that basically admitting his devotion to me?"

"That is true." Hayasaka nodded.

"Then it is just a little more until he confessed to me." Kaguya boasted. "Because if he's that devoted to me, then that means he loved me!"

"I wouldn't say that." Hayasaka waved her hand. "Faith and devotion could also mean friendships, comradeships, familial, and in my case, servitude."

Faith! The word faith itself is not necessarily religious. However, it means absolute belief in something, even if people call it unreasonable.

"Having faith in someone means burdening them with unreasonable expectations, or so Hikigaya-san would say." Hayasaka rolled her eyes. "Nevertheless, it is not necessarily romantic on the President's part."

Kaguya popped a vein, knowing that Hayasaka was right and that she couldn't argue. And that was the reason why she felt mad now! Her mood is ruined!

"I think you missed the most crucial part of the whole ordeal. The reason behind these flowers, and why President gave it." Hayasaka smiled knowingly. "Rather than selfishly thinking it is about the confession you waited for so long, should you not think about the deeper meaning behind that gesture?"

Kaguya was agape.

"True. If it was the usual President, he would do this to fish for a compliment or try to seduce me into confessing instead." Kaguya sadly smiled. "Did he purposely show his weakness to cheer me up?"

Kaguya understood how prideful Shirogane Miyuki can be. So for him to openly show care and affection like that, regardless of how it makes him look...

"He has been doing that for an entire week to cheer you up, but you were too obsessed with Yukinoshita and the exam ranks." Hayasaka pointed. "I will be frank. You're a terrible woman for ignoring him because you were jealous of someone completely unrelated. You were, literally, missing the forest for the trees."

Kaguya felt harpooned by each of Hayasaka's statements. It was true that hatred and envy clouded her eyes for a week straight. To the point of ignoring Miyuki entirely!

"It was a great opportunity to nurture his feelings so he could be more open too." Hayasaka scoffed.

"...Aren't you as rotten as I am for thinking that way?" Kaguya twitched.

"I'm just saying," Hayasaka said. "Maybe you should extend him an olive branch in return."

"Hmm." Kaguya gave a non-committal answer, which worried Hayasaka somewhat.

"Also, I made a mistake in many ways, which was disheartening. I'm sorry I wasn't able to do my duty properly."

"Was it about the intel on Yukinoshita-san? You can brush that off just fine." Kaguya said. "She let that rumor spread to play possum and made people underestimate her."

"Appear weak when you are strong! And appear strong when you're weak!" - Sun Tzu (paraphrased).

"The intel is one thing, but there was this thing," Hayasaka explained the bet she made with Hachiman and how it backfired horribly. All because she believed Kaguya could dominate the race.

"It isn't like you to believe in something like faith, Hayasaka." Kaguya blushed. "I mean, I appreciate it, but still."

"I won't repeat that mistake," Hayasaka remarked, which annoyed Kaguya a bit. Needless to say, Kaguya is an emotionally unstable girl.

"You better start writing your will." Kaguya smiled in dejection.

That bad?!

"Don't worry. I know just enough to say that Hikigaya-san is actually the least perverted guy in the student council, so be assured your purity will be preserved." Kaguya sighed heavily. "But he is extremely petty."

"I know he is," Hayasaka said. "But how petty are we talking about?"

"One time Fujiwara-san stole his irreplaceable seasonal candies, he asked her to buy him dagashi, 100 yen worth every day for a week," Kaguya explained. "And she's not allowed to buy the dagashi in bulk. She HAD to go to grandma's store and buy 100 yen of dagashi daily. Hikigaya-san will snitch her to her father about her school mischiefs should she refuse."

Let alone someone born into an elite family. Doing that would be humiliating for any high school student, period. And Hayasaka is aware of how strict Minister Fujiwara is. The threat of snitching, for Chika, is a fate worse than death!

Now granted, Fujiwara Chika is innocent and casual enough to do that alone. However, she is also lazy, and the enforced routine will ruin her fun.

That was why Hikigaya Hachiman is evil. He gave Chika the lightest possible punishment under the threat of something legitimately grave!

"And I also know he had been ignoring Ryuju Momo-san for instigating the competition in public, dragging his name under the mud on accident." Kaguya raised her hand. "I couldn't personally blame him."

"Well, at least his demand is relatively reasonable," Hayasaka remarked. "If it was something petty and tedious, I'd be relieved."

Dealing with Kaguya's shenanigans and pettiness is already tedious as it is. Not that Hayasaka would say it aloud...

Kaguya shrugged. "I won't chastise you or anything since it was partly my fault. But when he gives his demand, you better deliver. He hasn't been awfully disruptive recently, so I have no ill will about him. Make sure he remains as unproblematic as possible."

Of course, that was because Hayasaka conspired with Hachiman to not interfere with her plans. Having Hachiman snitch Hayasaka to Kaguya would be the worst-case scenario, so Hayasaka better be obedient.

"If you say so, Kaguya-sama." Hayasaka bowed in gratitude. "Thank you for the lenience."

"Speaking of Yukinoshita-san, I wonder how she felt about the ordeal," Kaguya said.

"I don't know about how she feels about the defeat." Hayasaka gave a tablet with a picture of Hachiman hauling Yukino's weakened body.

"He wanted to ravish her in secret?!" Kaguya gawked and flailed. "Maybe Hikigaya-san isn't as celibate as he appeared to us, after all! Should we call the Police?!"

"ARE YOU AN IDIOT?!" Hayasaka screamed.

Hayasaka explained to Kaguya that Hachiman said Yukino almost fainted when she walked out of the Traditional Arts room. Slowly, Kaguya's panic attack turned into a genuine concern.

Which Hayasaka found strange.

"In fairness, I was also quite tired when we were done. But fainting is a bit too much. I wonder if Yukinoshita-san had a condition."

Kaguya hardly has a robust physique to begin with. But it seemed that Yukino was so much worse in that regard.

"We did have her medical records, and they showed no anomalies." Hayasaka refuted. "But she lived a sedentary life, so her stamina is less than average teenage girls."

Ah, so Yukino have a geek physique!

"It is relieving to hear that," Kaguya said. "I mean? It would be bad optics if she suffered something major after our fight today."

What Kaguya said was perfectly rational and sensible. However, Hayasaka noticed the oddity in her delivery. Hayasaka had seen it before, and calling it a Deja Vu is an apt comparison.

Could it be... she...

"Kaguya-sama," Hayasaka muttered. "Could it be that you fancied Yukinoshita Yukino now?"

Kaguya grimaced, and her face was flushed.

"For the record, I am completely straight," Kaguya said defensively.

"Then why did your reaction to her feel like when you started opening up to President?"

"Maybe it is." Kaguya rubbed her chin, thoughtful. "Though. It was more like... something different yet familiar."

Hayasaka pondered for a moment. But her train of thought got stopped when Kaguya called her out. "And what about you? Don't tell me you lost the plot and fell for Hikigaya-san for real?"

"If I have to be honest, it is a possibility." Hayasaka kept her poker face as she truthfully explained. "Objectively speaking, he may not be a perfect man, but he is ideal for many. It is too easy to fall for his oblivious charm and fall in love."

Kaguya gagged as if she wanted to vomit. "You sure have a poor taste in men."

"Are you SURE you want to say that to me, Kaguya-sama?" Hayasaka popped a vein. "Let me remind you of the person you fell in love with."

"AH!!!" Kaguya lost her cool and screamed as she hid her face in the bouquet. "I don't want to hear it."

Hayasaka got closer and whispered to Kaguya's ears. "You are in love with the President of Shuuchin High, far from the perfect man. In fact, he is the worst possible match for you. He is destitute, has zero talent, and achieves everything through painstaking effort. Most Shinomiya members would call him a loser."

"Shut up, Hayasaka." Kaguya bit her lips and started crying. "Don't make me verbally admit it! And don't you dare to insult him and his effort!"

Ah, so you really had fallen for him.

"But as I said, Hikigaya Hachiman might be a heavily flawed person, but he also had a lot of charming points," Hayasaka said. "I'm sure you're not dense enough to not realize why I said this."

"Hrm." Kaguya scrunched up her face. "Certainly, what you said isn't objectively wrong. The President is definitely far more likable in public. But when women are involved, I think Hikigaya-san has a slight edge."

"You seem happy about that." Hayasaka drily commented.

Kaguya decided to ignore that blatant teasing. Kaguya might deny it, but she is unhappy whenever other girls display interest in Shirogane Miyuki.

"Fujiwara-san is banned from dating, so she used him for the so-called boyfriend play. She acts like a needy girlfriend to him and tries to spoil him with kindness in return. However, I think Hikigaya-san is either oblivious or denies the whole ordeal and thinks of her as a close friend."

"That is indeed correct."

"As for Ryuju-san, he more or less becomes her moral compass. Their relationships are significantly deeper, complex, and, dare I say, more intimate. At first, their relationships were more like two brothers." Kaguya explained. "I think he's more conscious of her as a girl recently, and she's putting effort into getting more feminine too. Thus, the rift in their relationships grows."

In fact, Kaguya noticed that Momo started to grow her hair again after keeping it short since she quit the Student Council. Kaguya thought something had happened in the Spring Vacation two months ago.

"That is also correct."

"How can Kaguya-sama be so perceptive and understanding of women and Hikigaya-san yet completely and utterly fooled about herself or the President?" Hayasaka wondered. "Love truly makes you blind."

"What about you, Hayasaka?" Kaguya sharpened her eyes. "No lies allowed."

"I think I might fall for him if I don't keep my guard up," Hayasaka said, half-truth and half-lie. "Hikigaya-san will be able to see and accept me for what I am. And that scared me the most. He made me feel weak and exposed, and I despised him. With him around, it is hard to do my job."

Hayasaka prized her ability to lie and deceive to fulfill her duties, but Hachiman? He could dismantle her efforts with a glance.

"If I have to be honest with you, I am not confident I can hold him for long." Hayasaka sighed. "I won't make excuses for my incompetence and accept my punishment, no matter what you decide. But I can say you don't have leisure time left."

"So even YOU were driven into a corner." Kaguya frowned. "Hikigaya-san really is a menace."

Kaguya understood the most how dangerously intrusive Hachiman could be. So, it is not a matter of Hayasaka failing out of incompetence. Hachiman bested the best just fine by being a proverbial sledgehammer.

"He is, indeed, scary." Kaguya frowned. "But never mind about that, just continue your job."

Hayasaka wondered how Kaguya could be so tolerant these days. She grows softer thanks to her love for the President. As a Shinomiya, nurturing this would be a mistake.

But as a person, Hayasaka couldn't feel more thankful.

"Anyway! While your appearance altered the balance, Yukinoshita Yukino shook it upside down." Kaguya said. "Perhaps Hikigaya-san really loves her. What do you think, as one of his potential suitors?"

Hayasaka couldn't tell if Kaguya was joking, which worried her. Nevertheless, Hayasaka decided to use her objective assessment.

"We have no clue unless we ask," Hayasaka said. "Either them or their former classmates."

It was a pointless answer but also a correct one.

"Well, get on it, then." Kaguya smiled in a sinister manner. "We could always use Yukinoshita-san to distract him, should there be an opportunity."

That would be effective. But somehow, Hayasaka felt unsettled.

やはり, 彼らが望む告白は間違っている. S2
As expected, the Confession they want is wrong S2

Original Story by: Watari Wataru and Akasaka Aka
Written by: @ZeroXSEED, Co-written by: @GoukaRyuu​

Chapter 30 - Hayasaka Wants to Deal with

"The other two can stay, but you, please go away." Yukino coldly said as she slammed the door shut in Momo's face.

"I said I'm sorry, hey!" Momo banged the door angrily.

"You have the worst timing and manner, Momo-chan," Chika remarked. "Maybe starts with apologizing properly and then goes from there."

"You bitches have a better idea. I am listening." Momo deadpanned.

"I literally just said it." Chika shrugged. "Apologize properly."

Momo pretended to ignore that one, which made Chika sigh.

"We've been telling you about this, Ryuju-san, but you acted like you were the one getting wronged. Or something equally as stupid." Hayasaka jibed exaggeratedly to style with her gal persona. "That is not how you approach a rumor victim, after all."

"Victim, right." Chika frowned. "I mean? People gossip about us, too, but I don't necessarily mind. But the thing is, it is different when it comes to Hikigaya-san and Yukinoshita-san. People would paint the rumor maliciously because they're external students."

In other words, the rumor between Hachiman and Yukino was excessively negative.

"The rumor had died for six months until it resurfaced recently." Momo nodded. "Although the trigger was Miyuki and later Shinomiya, Yukinoshita and Hachiman were the main targets. It was mainly the reason I provoked the fight in the first place. Otherwise, the tension will brew higher."

"You don't fix overpressure by slamming a sledgehammer on the pipe, though." Hayasaka grinned. "The President and Hikigaya-san were called the school safety valves for good reason. Although he's blunt, he always gives measured responses to resolve problems. And President can balance it out with his polite, professional approach."

Momo's actions were far from measured. Everything she has done has always been on impulse.

"What are you guys doing here?" Nagisa asked when she found the three hanging around the Public Service clubroom. "Do you want to have a consultation?"

"No, no, no. We were bothering Yukinoshita-san about something." Hayasaka waved her hands. "Too bad we were starting with such a rough patch! Please tell her we were sorry."

"Although she looked calm, her mood has been rough since yesterday." Nagisa sadly smiled. "Yukino-san might not show it well, but deep inside, she is fiercely competitive."

"We could tell, actually," Chika said. "I have never seen someone who pressured Kaguya-san to such a degree. Besides, if she wasn't competitive, she wouldn't get provoked by idiotic trash talk."

"Oh. Trash talk nothing. Insulting a girl about their physical appearance is the highest form of humiliation." Hayasaka gleefully pointed. "What was that again, Ryuju-san? Something about her lacking figure?"

Hayasaka did this as she mimicked what Momo did before. Slapping her own chest.

Momo felt like Chika and Hayasaka dropped an anvil on her. Right, there was that one. Momo literally insulted Yukino in public about her flat chest.

Understandably, Yukino was still upset. Why would she help someone so rude, hostile, and going out of her way to put you in an unfavorable situation?

Hachiman and Yukino are both frank and sometimes crass, but they are always ready to extend their hand to help people around them.

"Yukino-san can be petty, but she is not that petty." Nagisa smiled. "I'm sure there is something else that you missed. Something important you overlooked, and she wanted you to realize it."

"Something important that I overlooked," Momo mumbled.

"How do you feel about the whole ordeal?" Nagisa gave an angelic smile as she patted Momo's shoulder. "I'm sure you're frustrated, but so is everyone else."

"Hachiman said the same thing," Momo said. "He asked what I felt seeing everything unfold, and when I said I was amused at first, but... then I feel frustrated because he was so angry."

"Well, what else do you feel, other than amusement? And why do you think he is angry? What did you feel when he was angry?" Nagisa continued her string of questions. "Do you even care that he is angry?"

That last question was what finally shattered the confusion.

Momo rubbed her tears off. Recently, she had been developing a habit of crying for no reason. Which seemed cute. Until you realize this is the heiress to a dominant organized crime group in Kanto.

Do I even care?

With this in mind, Momo decided to knock on the door again.

"What is it?" Yukino opened it halfway.

Momo bowed deeply.

"I'm really sorry about what happened," Momo said. "I can't say with honesty that I care about what happened with you, but when I think about what Hachiman feels, now I realize that it was hurting me as well. And I feel bad for inflicting it on you both."

"Good." Yukino fully opened the door. "We're off to a good start."

Hayasaka and Chika looked at each other. Both were somewhat confused. However, they entered the room without much fuss now that Yukino allowed Momo to enter.

"Welcome to Public Service Club," Yukino said. "Although we've done a lot of social services and charities, our original purpose was to lend a hand to students who have unsolvable problems in their hands."

"But the way we do it is not through direct intervention." Yukino sat down and smiled. "You give a man a fish? He's set for a day. You teach a man to fish? He's set for life. Congratulations, Ryuju-san, you finally developed a sense of empathy and remorse."

Hayasaka and Chika both twitched. They always know that Momo isn't exactly like the average girl. But for Yukino to dig so deep, this girl is batshit insane. Dangerously clever, too.

No wonder she became so influential at Shuchiin.

"So it is called empathy," Momo mumbled. "Being upset about someone's problem, huh? Admittedly, it is a new thing for me. My family would've considered it a weakness."

"If humans were entirely rational, that would have been a weakness. Fortunately, we are not. The only reason why the human population survived countless disasters is because people cared for the sick and the disabled." Yukino said. "If humans have no empathy, we won't be here. We'd perish a long time ago."

Hayasaka thought what Yukino said sounded laughably naive, but it was far from it. The reality is that humans are complicated beings.

"I hate selfish and demanding people like you the most, Ryuju-san," Yukino said. "But at the end of the day, I can't selfishly turn down people willing to take a step forward."

Momo can't catch a break today!

"If you don't change yourself, your problem will never leave." Nagisa smiled as she brewed a pot of tea. "This is the motto of the Public Service Club."

"It is an interesting concept for a club, I admit." Chika smiled.

"You know why I came here, right?" Momo said. "I know it is bothersome, so I will keep it short. What is your relationship with Hikigaya Hachiman, really?"

"We're neither friends nor lovers," Yukino said. "I know that is hard to believe, but that is how it is."

"We don't believe it because Hikigaya-san is far more comfortable with you than strangers." Hayasaka shrugged.

"Ah, that's where you're mistaken," Yukino said. "We're not strangers. In fact, I'd hate to say we're uncomfortably close to each other."

Chika widened her eyes in confusion. "What do you mean by that, Yukinoshita-san? You're close, but you're neither friends nor lovers?"

"Being friends would require us to hang out regularly. And being lovers means we're committed to each other romantically." Yukino smiled eerily. "We barely met each other what, twice a month?"

"But we are close because we understand each other." Yukino gently took a sip of the tea from the cup Nagisa served. "Thank you, Kashiwagi-san."

"In other words, while they're physically distant, they have a strong emotional bond with each other." Nagisa laughed as she served red tea to the other girls. "Personally, I think the idea is quite romantic."

The story began last year.

Shirogane Miyuki was recruited into the student council, but Hikigaya Hachiman had no interest in joining. Though they remain friends outside, they're no longer as close at school!

Within this time filled with an emotional void, a lonely boy stumbled upon the presence of a lonely girl.

That was when Hikigaya Hachiman met Yukinoshita Yukino.

"We met a lot, we talked a lot. Most of the time, it was around lunchtime." Yukino said. "I was isolated at the time. People either looked down on me or were afraid of my cold attitude. I don't mind the loneliness. For me, that is just a fact of life."

"But since I met him, things around me have changed," Yukino said. "We have a lot of clashing opinions, yet we understood each other. We were loners, yet we disliked loneliness. And we hate to admit it, but we enjoyed each other's company."

"It was around the time when Yukino-san started to open up to her classmates," Nagisa said. "It is how I get to know her well."

"But while I started to get friends, he had no one but me. To be honest, I was concerned. And I think Hikigaya-kun also started to get uncomfortable because he felt like a burden."

"In that kind of situation, our relationships, or the nonexistence of it, became a sore point," Yukino said. "I could confidently say that he liked me, just like I was attracted to him."

"We were too stubborn, immature, and unwilling to admit our true feelings. With Summer vacation coming, it should be a good chance for us to mend our distance and get closer, but nothing ever comes out of it."

"Doesn't Hikigaya-san spend most of his time with the President around?" Chika asked. "I distinctly remember this."

"It was indeed like that," Momo said. "I know for sure because we become close after this. And Hachiman told his misadventures in Chiba involving the President."

"That is correct. After the election, Hikigaya-kun joined the Student Council. We met again for the first time within six weeks of separation and have changed as people." Yukino said. "It is ridiculous. Even though we're neither friends nor ever dated, my close friends said we behaved like a divorced couple."

"We did say that." Nagisa openly laughed. "Maki-san was this close to trapping you two in a closet because she was annoyed."

Ah, so you're super self-aware about it. Hayasaka remarked.

"Do you... still like Hikigaya-san?" Chika asked somewhat awkwardly. "Given the chance, would you like to go on a date with him?"

"If he was here, I'd say I'd rather die. But since he isn't here, I'd say the chances of it happening isn't zero." Yukino calmly answered.

This bitch. Momo popped a vein. "Your confidence is grating, you know?"

"Cry about it." Yukino straight-up told her off.

Hayasaka and Chika, too, understood that when Yukino said the chances aren't zero, it might as well be a hundred percent assured. If they get closer again, then it is not a matter of if, but when.

The old rumor resurfacing wasn't a coincidence. It was because Hachiman and Yukino met each other more regularly than before. In other words, any other girls romantically interested in him are on borrowed time.

Either they need to take action now or never.

However, while close to Hikigaya Hachiman, the three girls aren't necessarily attracted to him romantically. They were curious and wanted to get closer to him as a friend. Each has their own reasons why.

...Or so they would try to convince themselves.

"Also, when it comes to Hikigaya-kun, sure enough, big breasts are an advantage. Because he likes them just like most boys do." Yukino siddenly said. "But I am not too concerned about it."

"...Why?"

"Because he is obsessed with these."

Yukino's face suddenly turned devilish as she slid her chair behind... and crossed her legs. Uncharacteristically, she began showing off her immaculate, smooth, slender, and long legs for everyone to see.

"I hope I will never become a love rival for Yukino-san." Nagisa winced. "When you're being competitive, you really have no chill."

"Well, I know you have an AWFUL taste in men, Kashiwagi-san." Yukino said. "Considering you're pining for that guy..."

"I'm not even going to defend myself." Nagisa shrugged. "Good thing you gave up on him, so I have a chance."

It was when Ryuuju Momo, Fujiwara Chika, and Hayasaka Ai understood.

...

"As I said, I came here with a peaceful intent," Kaguya said while carrying a basket of fruits in her hand. "You know very well it is hard for me to get impressed with someone."

"Even more reason not to believe you." Maki frowned. "Get it? If you make trouble, I'll make you pay, Auntie."

"Stop calling me Auntie, I'm not that old." Kaguya scolded her.

When they entered the clubroom, they see Hayasaka, Momo, and Chika kneeling on the floor in despair. While Yukino smugly sat on the chair in front of them.

Kaguya and Maki closed the door in confusion and fear until Nagisa opened it for them with a grimace. "I can explain, but where to begin..."

Hikigaya Hachiman is, in fact, a leg man!

...

The Results of Today's Battle: Yukinoshita Yukino's splendid victory!

 

[ZeroXSEED]

What is the definition of a genius?

Many experts and laypeople alike have discussed this topic to death. At the end of the day, there is no such thing as an objective or universal definition of a word. There is only a dominant consensus used by the majority of people, and a definition cemented by a trusted, authoritative body, and knowledge used in academic and formal contexts.

A mistake people often make is the thinking that geniuses don't work hard. On the contrary, they have to work hard. Not only to maintain their, edge but also because their rapid progress means they hit a plateau sooner than the average person.

The human body and mind are limited. A genius is a person who can progress at something faster than the average, but it also means they hit the growth ceiling much sooner.

"In a race to the top, scum at Shuchiin only care about dragging each other to the bottom with rumors and trickery." Hachiman remarked as he took several books from the shelves.

"Are Kaguya-san and President Miyuki like that too?" Chika asked.

"Yes. Shinomiya and Miyuki pretend they are taking their leisure time while studying to death alone." Hachiman scoffed. "Ridiculous."

"I honestly never noticed it. But I did notice many people trying to underplay the exam." Chika winced.

"How can you become Prime Minister with that naive mindset." Hachiman was disgusted. "Especially with how shrewd you can be when dragging me into something stupid."

"Uhh, motivational issues?" Chika winked. "Tee-hee?"

In other words, Fujiwara Chika was only smart about things she enjoyed. And studying was not one of them.

"Don't tee-hee me." He flicked her forehead.

Hachiman already started regretting agreeing with the study sessions. He only agreed because Chika promised to pay for the textbooks they needed. And boy, they were not cheap in the slightest.

"Are you sure you can pay?" Hachiman asked. "I'm not rich, but at least I know my income and spending limits. How much money do you have, really?"

"To be honest? I only got a 50.000 yen allowance a month. I can pay for everything. But I'd be suffering afterward."

Hachiman scoffed. "50.000 Yen a month? Most kids would call that luxurious."

"Is it really? 50.000 yen is not small, but I wouldn't call it a luxury." Chika smiled. "It is kind of average in Shuchiin."

"Do you know how much pocket money the average high school student gets from their parents?" Hachiman asked

"Not a clue."

"5500 Yen a month," Hachiman said. "That is the average."

Chika's eyes bulged out in response. "No way! You have to be kidding, right? 5500 yen is nothing! I was thinking maybe 10.000 or 20.000 yen!"

Especially when one considered the cost of amenities in Shuchiin. For example, everything in the vending machine required at least a 1000 yen notes to pay. Overpriced didn't even begin to cover it. It was a pure and utter scam!

Hachiman would go out of his way to walk out of school and buy snacks or drinks elsewhere. Especially his favorite, Georgia MAX coffee. And yet, many students had no clue. As an extreme example, Kaguya has trouble buying things sometimes because she only had 10.000 yen denominations in her wallet.

"I wish," Hachiman said. "Before I came to Shuchiin, my monthly allowance was 25.000 yen. Komachi got about the same. We got 120.000 yen for groceries and household products because they were never home anyway. 80.000 yen out of that we spent on food."

"When accounted for everything, I got about 30.000 yen a month total," Hachiman said. "I literally have five times the pocket money of the average student. And I'm nowhere as rich as the average Shuchiin student."

The Hikigaya family had always been straddling the line between the middle class and the rich. This ambiguous status meant the two siblings never smelled or tasted poverty but were still money-conscious. Their economic awareness became even stronger after their father fell into a debt trap five years ago, something almost causing a divorce between their parents. The siblings knew that wealth could be pulled from under them, like a rug, should they be careless!

"Do you still get that much money from your parents?"

"They originally wanted to pay my rent, but I told them no. So they paid the advance deposit and gave me 88.000 yen for groceries and pocket money." Hachiman said. "Honestly, it was a lot of money even for me, and I think I earned quite a lot of money myself."

Chika laughed. "So it is Hachiman* plus tax."

"They have a shit sense of humor."

Hachiman might say this, but Chika noticed the subtle shift in his face. Instead of a grin or a scoff, it was more like a smile full of warmth. It was not something Chika would see from Hachiman, ever.

Even though he resented them and often talked about them negatively, it was clear that Hikigaya Hachiman cared for his parents.

"Hikki-san is a good boy, alright. Compared to you, I feel ungrateful for my blessings." As Chika said this, she casually hooked her arm around his. Anyone who saw this scene would justifiably mistake them for a high school couple. "I am truly amazed by your filial piety."

But Hachiman wasn't phased by her teasing. Momo and Hayasaka were frequently more outrageous anyway. "So, are you going to pay, Young Lady?"

Chika pulled out a gold card from her wallet with a confident grin.

"...just using your parents' money, why the smug face?"

Hachiman paid for his own rent! He earned significantly more income than 99% of kids of his age. So at the very least, he had the right to talk shit about Chika in this regard.

"Exactly." Chika waved the card and winked. "Unlike cash, credit is trackable. If I use the card, my father will know what I'm buying. That way, I can convince him I am dead serious about studying because I bought this many textbooks."

Hachiman paused, then nodded. "You have a point."

Clever girl, indeed.

"We should buy more books in that case. The more drain on your father's money, the better." Hachiman snarked as they walked out of the bookstore. "Considering the trouble he's caused."

"Let's do that." Chika cheerfully nodded as she tightened her grip on him.

"I'm joking," Hachiman said coldly. "And let go of my arm, will you?"

"Ah." Chika grimaced, her voice full of disappointment.

やはり, 彼らが望む告白は間違っている - 藤原編
As expected, the Confession they want is wrong - Fujiwara Chapter.

Original Story by: Watari Wataru and Akasaka Aka
​

Side Chapter 01 - Fujiwara-san wants to lean on

Usually, Fujiwara Chika would come and go from school via limousine. Only occasionally would she enjoy the leisure of a train ride.

Today was one of those days. And it was quite a special one, too.

"Errgh, so suffocating," Chika blushed. "Thanks, Hikki-san."

Somehow, Hachiman could stop the tide of six people pushing while giving Chika a little breathing room. With a single arm at that! They were caught in the middle of rush hour, and the train was packed like a can of sardines!

In times like this, private space was an unobtainable luxury, yet Hachiman could give Chika the semblance of it.

And not just that. The way he delivered it went above and beyond.

Kabe-don!

Any girl who had more than zero sense of romance and passion would know this gesture. When a man cornered a woman to the wall, at least one of his hands was beside her head, while he hovered over her.

A sure-fire way of flirting! Should this woman have weak resolve and/or be inexperienced, their heart would melt! And Fujiwara Chika was not an exception. Her heart was beating like crazy right now! She was suffocating in her own way!

"Hi-Hikki-san's arm is pretty strong, huh?" Chika tried to lighten up the situation. "Is it because you're always jumping around buildings and out of windows?"

"That might actually be the case," Hachiman answered, dead serious.

Right, it wasn't as if Chika was clueless. Hachiman did parkour almost every day. The primary cause would be his friend and tutor, the self-appointed Shuchiin rebel, Ryuju Momo! Chika and Momo were close friends. Not as close as Chika and Kaguya, but they were still close. Until Momo had left the council, the three had been quite a comedic trio. Hachiman had always been forced into the straight-man role.

"You're pretty athletic yourself, aren't you?" Hachiman asked.

"Mmm. I don't know if I would call myself athletic, but I am quite fit." Chika proudly stated. "I always wake up early and take my dog for a morning run."

"Good," Hachiman said. "I used to be lazy. But I realized the benefit of a healthy body, so I never stopped working out."

He praised me! Chika was overjoyed.

"Also, with your diet, it would be bad to live a sedentary life."

Only Hikigaya Hachiman would be so crass as to imply that Fujiwara Chika was a glutton! Honestly, this was possibly his greatest virtue and flaw. Around people he was friends with Hachiman had absolutely no tact whatsoever! Having the urge to punch him but afraid that she could get crushed, Chika's brain began formulating a suitable revenge plan to embarrass him! Momo always said that Hachiman was weak to anything sexual, so maybe Chika could tease him for real.

She was biding her time, waiting for a chance.

Japanese trains are known for being smooth, to the point where a glass of water won't ripple during the trip. But that's when the trains are loaded correctly, with the right amount of passengers.

During rush hour, the density of passengers is unimaginably high. The train's drive, brake, and stabilization systems won't function perfectly due to the heavy loads. Nothing catastrophic, but occasional shaking is expected.

And when the train shook, Chika purposely threw herself in his direction.

Only for Hachiman to catch her with his left hand on her shoulder.

"Careful." He said, his voice monotonous. "Are you hurt?"

Chika was unbelievably annoyed. She was touched that he would instinctively save her like that, but still annoyed.

"I'm hurt." She averted her eyes and pouted.

"Really? Do you want to get it checked?" Hachiman asked, half-worried.

Chika shoved the heavy bag holding the purchased books into his face.

Fujiwara Chika's pride as a woman was gravely hurt!

...

Afterward, the situation was normal. Chika decided to quell her desire for revenge and instead tried her best to focus on the situation.

Because, Hachiman was very focused, and it really was a sight to behold.

They say that there are two types of people in the world. Those who gets less attractive wearing glasses, and those who look better with them on.

Hikigaya Hachiman was the second type!

He always had those sharp, dry, menacing eyes that bore through peoples' masks and dug everything out of them. Those eyes might appeal to those who preferred bad boys and intimidating men, but Chika always thought they were unsightly.

But, with glasses, everything changed. The glasses gave an illusion of wetness and softness that had been missing before. Although far from gentle, Hachiman's eyes currently hit just the right spot to frame him as a handsome yet studious boy.

Peak fanservice. This is peak fanservice!

"Is there something on my face?" He asked.

"Your glasses." Chika decided to be honest. "They look good on you. You should wear them more often."

"I've been told that," Hachiman said. "I hate it."

"Why???"

"Because, the one time I tried, no one took me seriously anymore."

Ah.

People who say, "Don't judge a book by the cover," are either naive. Or big, fat, liars. This is especially true in Shuchiin, where appearance matters for a lot. It's not just about whether you're pretty or ugly, but also how you've styled yourself. Your tidiness and cleanliness. How you wear your uniform. Your choice of accessories. Your makeup, and so on.

It is's that Chika isn't aware of how she was perceived. She wasn't some innocent, naive girl like she might appear. She consciously dressed like that to make sure everyone found her likable.

(People who knew her personality understood that the cover was a lie, but that was beside the point!)

Perhaps because Hachiman looked less threatening with glasses on, his power of intimidation was greatly lessened.

"Right," Chika said. "If you put your hair back while wearing the glasses, people will take you seriously."

"Really?"

"Yes, because everything balances itself out." Chika nodded. "Because with your hair up, you looked like Momo-chan's underling or chosen fiancee. And that idea is terrifying to many Shuchiin students."

"Pfft." Hachiman chuckled. "That's a funny thought. Alright."

Not just unoffended, Hachiman laughed. He DOES look like a young Yakuza with his hair up, after all.

"...Are you that happy about being her fiancee?" Chika pouted again.

"The fuck are you talking about?" Hachiman asked. "Stop being weird. Why would I want to be her fiancee? I'm talking about being her underling, and that's funny as hell."

"Right, it is funny." Chika stopped pouting and started laughing as well. "I mean, other than the fact that it would piss Kaguya-san off."

"I don't see a downside." Hachiman countered.

"Don't be mean." Chika playfully elbowed him. "She is my precious friend. I won't stand for it if your relationship with her worsens."

Other than some small talk, the two were focused on their subjects. Occasionally, Chika would ask Hachiman for pointers or reminders. She really took the studying part enthusiastically. It was clear that she was determined to raise her grades.

Her motive might be less than admirable, but Hachiman always believed that hard work betrayed no one. And if Chika was willing to study hard, Hachiman had no reason not to help her.

Hachiman had a suspicion he was being observed under the CCTV, but he didn't know that their study session was being broadcast straight to Minister Fujiwara Daichi's laptop. The father couldn't help being worried. Although he told Chika to expressly forbid Hachiman from entering her bedroom and to use the study room as much as she could, he couldn't trust them fully.

At that age, it wasn't like Daichi was free of intrusive thoughts, let alone hormone-fueled lust. He achieved his position because he was focused and didn't let those feelings distract him.

Even in the well-respected Fujiwara family, nepotism was taboo. If Chika wanted to be a Prime Minister, she better earn it. And after he had failed his eldest daughter, Daichi wasn't going to take chances with his second one.

Especially in the hands of a random boy!

Daichi did admit that his early impression of Hachiman was good, but nowhere enough to let him entertain the idea of him being Chika's suitor. Not even close!

And unfortunately, his concerns were validated. After a few hours of studying and taking a snack break, his daughter began to doze off before finally succumbing and leaning on Hachiman's shoulder.

"It's time to go home."

Since he only had a few things to do today, it was an opportunity to come home early. It was only an hour until dinner time. A good time to leave. Not because he was gravely concerned about Chika or anything.

"Nothing bad's going to happen... right?" Daichi thought. He opened his laptop as soon as he sat down inside the limousine.

Chika was still in the same position. Unfortunately, he couldn't hear anything. But from what he saw, Chika was sleeping soundly.

No, he hated to admit it, but that unladylike face on her... Fujiwara Chika must have been snoring loudly. Even Hachiman was visibly wearing his earphones!

"How could you be so shameless, showing such a face to him! That's a face only parents and siblings should know!" Daichi growled. "Are you two going out without me knowing?!"

Daichi was fuming.

However, Hachiman finally finished what he was doing and looked at Chika before grabbing her shoulder and shaking.

"I won't forgive you if you dare to touch even a strand of her hair." Daichi was determined to deal with this boy once and for all. "I mean, more than touching her shoulder!"

Only for Chika to punch Hachiman in the face.

Hachiman was visibly annoyed and let Chika fall headfirst onto the table. No sound, but the table was visibly shaking from the impact. This gave Daichi a heart attack!

"How could you! Couldn't you be more gentle with her?!" He screamed at the laptop.

If anyone else was nearby, they'd give him the most disgusted stare of disapproval and ask what he wanted. Fortunately, he was sitting alone, and the driver couldn't hear anything due to the glass that separated him from the cabin.

Daichi became concerned in a different way now. Does Hachiman always treat her like this? That's not how you treat a sweet and fragile girl!

Hachiman returned and then put a small pillow under Chika's face before resuming his studies. Daichi realized it was one of the small pillows from the sofa in the living room.

...

"Why didn't you wake me up??" Chika shouted in embarrassment after she finished showering. "Oh my God, I even drooled. You're the worst. Don't tell me you're taking advantage of my deep sleep! Are you taking photos?"

"Nothing new to me, and I did try to wake you up." Hachiman pointed at her. "You punched me, too. Look at my bent glasses. I'll sue you for assault and libel, you dumbass."

The glasses weren't damaged significantly, but the nose padding was visibly bent.

"Uh? Tee-hee." Chika winked the moment she realized her mistake. "You'll forgive me, right, Hikki-san!"

"Fuck off."

Daichi couldn't help but twitch in response to the scene. No matter how you look at this, isn't Hachiman getting bullied and taken advantage of? Not that he lacked bite or anything.

"Are you two always like this at school?"

"N-not always." Chika winced.

"Yes," Hachiman said with a deadpan. "Unfortunately."

"We'll talk later, Chika-san." Daichi said. "For now, dinner first."

Chika didn't like that tone. Whenever Daichi used -san on her, it meant something serious. Chances were good that she was going to get an earful the moment Hachiman left.

But Chika had no one to blame but herself, so she sighed in resignation.

"I hope you don't mind eating simply today. We had it prepared in a hurry." Daichi humbly said.

"No, I'm very grateful," Hachiman said. "I really dislike formal dinners."

Chika was thankful for Daichi and quietly bowed because Daichi allowed them a simple Russian dinner today.

"So, have you learned a lot today, Chika-chan?"

"Yes, more or less." Chika nodded, her spirits improving. "I am confident I can raise my grades considerably."

"Forgive me to say this, but Secretary Fujiwara used to play piano, right?" Hachiman asked.

"Yes, and she's quite talented at it too." Daichi nodded proudly. "It's not as if our family has a lineage of musicians either, so it was all on her."

"Figures," Hachiman said. "She is easily distracted. However, just pressing her to focus will cause her to burn out. And she'll pass out just like today."

"Do you have any methods to increase her studying effectiveness?"

"Audiobooks," Hachiman said. "Because she's an auditory learner. She's learned multiple languages from conversation alone, correct? Her ears are sensitive because she was raised a musician, too."

"Ah."

"But this is only effective as far as rote learning goes. Perhaps it is better if you also hire a tutor. Someone who cares about conceptual learning and not just lecturing or reciting textbooks like a parrot."

For some reason, Hachiman's words were quite ominous. It's not as if Daichi was unfamiliar with the idea of a poor teacher. He would always ask for the best when it came to his daughters.

"I understand," Daichi said. "But finding the right person will take time."

"It is better to take it slowly instead of rushing for the exam deadline." Hachiman continued. "Once again, study burnout is the absolute worst."

"I take it that knowledge is from personal experience." Daichi knowingly smiled.

"Of someone within the top 10 ranks of the Shuchiin exam," Hachiman smirked. "I'm not Shirogane Miyuki. I don't easily recover from burnout and failure."

When Hachiman said that name, a hint of pride filled his voice. Clearly, Hachiman admired his close friend. Someone who was clearly not a genius by most metrics yet stood at the top.

After studying more post-dinner, Hachiman excused himself to leave at 9 PM. Only then did Daichi notice that Hachiman was on foot.

"Be careful on your way to the station." Chika waved her hand.

"You didn't bring your bike?" Daichi gawked.

Hachiman looked at Daichi as if he had said something crazy.

"Ah, if you don't mind, I can offer a ride back," Daichi said in realization. But before he could call the designated driver, Hachiman raised his hand.

"I'm not too comfortable with a limo. Thanks for the offer." Hachiman said.

As Hachiman's presence disappeared into the night, Daichi thought he saw a proverbial shroud of loneliness shut closed.

Daichi honestly felt unsettled. All this time, Hachiman had been nothing but helpful. And for him to leave just like that, Daichi wasn't too comfortable with it. Even Miyuki wouldn't have refused the offer. It wasn't like Hachiman was the first boy to ever come over.

Had it been anyone else, Daichi wouldn't bat an eye. Some Shuchiin students come to school and go back home by train. What was there to be worried about with Hachiman?

Yet, it was these seemingly insignificant differences that crept into his mind. Despite being so blunt and foul-mouthed, Hachiman had been nothing but caring and considerate with the Fujiwara family.

Isn't he making too many sacrifices to satisfy Daichi's nitpicking?

"Hikki-san has always been like that. He will act selfish and rude, yet he always has everyone else in mind." Chika said. A hint of sadness in her eyes. "Hikki-san doesn't trust people easily, doesn't like charity, and yet, he is willing to help even strangers. That's why, despite his roughness, everyone who knows him likes him."

After saying this, Chika turned back. Daichi thought he should leave it there, but he opened his mouth anyway.

"Including you, Chika-san?" Daichi asked before Chika could open the door. "Do you like him?"

"Of course." Chika grinned. "Because he's a good friend."

There was no hint of lies or embarrassment in Chika's voice, as if she was telling the complete and objective truth. Maybe she was confident in saying it because it wasn't a lie. Only time would tell. Daichi was determined to find the truth, however. And he had all the time in the world to figure it out, because he wanted to know everything about his daughter.

"Starting tomorrow, tell him to bring the bike," Daichi said. "Also, ask him what his favorite food is and have it cooked for dinner."

"Really? You'll allow him?" Chika's eyes became starry. "Thank you, Father!"

"Yes, but you still can't ride on it." Daichi firmly decided. "And I still haven't lectured you about your behavior today!"

"AWWWW," Chika whined.

...

* Hachiman translates to 80.000. The joke includes a 10% consumption tax, making it 88.000 instead.

 

[ZeroXSEED]

"He said that?" Hachiman asked in disbelief.

"Yeah," Chika told Hachiman. "I think he felt bad when he saw you walking back home at night and refusing the limo."

"Can't be that easy with him." Hachiman knew there was a catch.

"Do you hate my father that much?"

Chika has little clue what transpired, but she knows Hachiman immensely disliked him. Hachiman can be petty, but he's never been unreasonably petty. There must be some beef between them that Chika was unaware of.

"Hate is too strong of a word," Hachiman said. "But I don't trust him, not in the slightest. And I would continue to distrust him. Hopefully, you're not taking offense to that."

It was absolutely suspicious how Daichi could come home just like that to have dinner with them. Hachiman is familiar enough with politics to know that free time is the last thing a Minister can have.

Especially since his parents caught the wind of it. They don't know who did it, but they DO know someone is picking up their trails of crumbs. Hachiman found this out when they warned him of a potential stalker who snooped around for the Hikigaya family's information.

Hachiman found that his own parents can be a little elusive at times. He always thought that they were just simple wage slaves. But to be honest, the fact that their records are so clean (except for his father's mishap five years ago, but he was also a victim) made it all the more suspicious.

Hachiman suspect that his father and mother might be far more capable than he liked to believe. Otherwise, reaching their position before they turn 40 is downright impossible.

There might be things that even Minister Fujiwara doesn't know about them...

"Well, he IS a politician, after all." Chika winked, but Hachiman noticed the smile of resignation. "Sometimes, I hate that he is extremely overprotective and only around to lecture me when he thinks I'm only going to mess up."

"You think?" Hachiman raised his eyebrows, weirded out.

"Like, when it comes to two parental extremes, either they're absent and neglectful, or they're smothering and controlling." Chika winced. "In the case of my mother and father, it was the worst of both worlds."

Cripes. At least Hachiman only has to deal with absence and neglect. Otherwise, his parents can be supportive without dictating his or Komachi's behavior.

"Everyone has it tough, I guess," Hachiman said. "But I stand by my point. If possible, I don't want to get involved with your father and his bullshit."

"Understandable!" Chika grinned. "I'll make sure he won't bother you."

Needless to say, Chika might respect her father as a politician but not as a father. Naturally, she knows her father has always done a lot of machinations behind her back.

She was holding back from dismantling everything because she didn't want to anger him before impressing him. Politics, after all, is a long game of buttering.

It is not that Chika doesn't like having higher grades. She doesn't want to stray from her original goal and waste her energy in petty conflicts. Unlike Hachiman, Fujiwara Chika willingly takes the hit if it achieves her goal.

But still, deep inside, Chika's heart wishes Hachiman and her father could get along. But for that to happen, compromises need to be made. And God help anyone who would try to ask them to make compromises.

One thing these two people shared? It is that they're so damn stubborn!

For Chika to obtain sufficient bargaining power, she needed to gather soft power. And what better soft power there is than increasing her grades?

Suddenly, she feels even more motivated since monetary concern isn't just her goal.

She WILL make her father accept Hachiman as her friend.

"By the way, do you have specific food you like and dislike? You often cook Russian food, but I'm asking anyway."

"To be honest, I actually prefer Italians. It's just that Russian food is so much easier to make outside the basic pasta." Hachiman said. "As for things I dislike, it would be sliced fresh tomatoes. If I had a choice, I'd dump them off my plate."

"What a coincidence. I also dislike tomatoes!" Chika brightens up. "What about tomato sauce?"

"Eh, I don't mind. Tomato sauce doesn't actually taste like tomatoes anyway. Plus, they blend with other condiments."

"Right then. Today's dinner is Italian! Tomato is verboten!" Chika happily cheered. "Let's go, shall we."

"I'll wait for you in Shibuya. Call me when you arrive." Hachiman closed his helmet visor and revved away with his bike, leaving near-invisible smoke behind him.

Chika was frozen.

She only realized now. If Hachiman can ride his bike? His travel time got cut in half, if not more. It means there's no opportunity for them to come home from school together anymore.

No walking to the train station, no more holding cutely to his arm, and no more unintentional kabe-don. Did Daichi purposely do this instead of giving Hachiman lenience from the goodness of his heart?

"Can't be that easy with him." Hachiman's words rang in her mind.

As the Fujiwara limo came to a dead stop due to a traffic jam, Chika took a deep breath.

"MOTHERFUCKER!"

やはり, 彼らが望む告白は間違っている - 藤原編
As expected, the Confession they want is wrong - Fujiwara Chapter.

Original Story by: Watari Wataru and Akasaka Aka​

Side Chapter 02 - Fujiwara-san wants to ride along

"Ahhhh." Chika sighed in disappointment.

"Why are you whining? You literally just came, and you're whining." Hachiman asked.

"Hikki-san, wording please." She waved her hand. "That traffic was the absolute worst. I wish I could ride a motorbike, too."

"Now you understand why I decided to get one," Hachiman said. "Miyuki said he won't get one unless he's moving house, but he is saving to get one."

"Is he?"

"I mean, he has a small car license*, but think how much money that would cost, especially the parking cost." Hachiman pointed. "Unless he moved to a renthouse like me, which either has a garage or private parking."

"Next time, you should bring me along," Chika whispered. "I can walk or ride the moment we arrive in Shibuya."

"Crazy talk. Not happening." Hachiman scoffed. "You said you won't get me involved in your father's BS. He has eyes everywhere."

"I did say that, but it is so annoying!" Chika cried. "Can we at least ask for a smaller car?!"

A limousine in a Tokyo traffic jam is certified tedium. Hachiman legitimately wondered if those rich people were insane. A limo can provide comfort, but navigation is hell, and their use of space is inefficient.

"Well, why not ask him?" Hachiman shrugged. "It isn't exactly an unreasonable request. A limo should not be a daily ride, let alone in fucking Tokyo. Even the Imperial Family doesn't use a limo every day."

"Right." Chika winced. "I guess you're right."

It is not like Chika would ask him to buy one so she could drive it herself. She'd be crucified should that happen. But still, it was disappointing that Hachiman didn't get the hint.

Chika wants to enjoy the limited time they have. She only has one week of private time with Hachiman, with no other girls pestering him, especially with the upcoming golden week before the exam since Hachiman will go on a vacation with his family.

"Speaking of which, your family will vacation to Hiroshima, right?" Chika asked. "When will you depart?"

"We're going Saturday night and return Wednesday night," Hachiman said. "So, not including transit, it's a four-day, three-night vacation."

"You seem excited," Chika remarked.

"I like my mother's side of the family more," Hachiman said. "Even my father prefers her side of the family. Because of the distance, we can't visit them that often."

"I see." Chika nodded. "Your father is a Chiba native, right?"

"Yep."

The two of them didn't waste more time and started studying. As Hachiman recommended, Chika listened to audiobooks as well. Both to increase focus and information absorption.

Should Daichi have seen this scene, this would have been the longest he had seen her sitting still and deathly quiet. Kaguya would have been creeped out. Fujiwara Chika could only sit still, deathly quiet, but never both.

However, information overload is still a thing. Humans can't use 100% of their senses all the time, so they take a short break after one hour of studying.

Chika removed her headphones and stretched herself. Hachiman did the same with his earphone.

"Wanna eat some snacks?" Chika asked. "Low-calorie konjac chips."

Hahchiman wordlessly stared.

"You don't like konjac chips?"

"They're good, but it feels like eating nothing. I'm not getting my money's worth buying them." Hachiman said. "It feels like I'm eating air."

"That is the point." Chika shook the package. "Girls just want to snack on something and not deal with all the calories. In fact, konjac is zero calorie food."

"Are you trying to diet?"

"I'm trying not to load calories. Because whenever I study, I start to crave." Chika whined. "To be honest? I want ramen, but we're this close to dinner, and I'd be too full by then if we eat now."

It was only 16:30 (04:30 P.M.). Too late for lunch and too early for dinner. The French would call this the time for goûter! Unfortunately, the Japanese have no such thing. And ramen would have been too heavy for a goûter anyway!

"We can have ramen for dinner if you want," Hachiman said.

"I thought we were supposed to have Italian!" Chika gawked. "Our family chef might already have ordered the ingredients, too."

Hachiman scoffed. "Ask first, bitch later."

Chika talked with the kitchen staff. She asked if they had things prepared beforehand. Sure enough, they bought pasta. It seemed that the Fujiwara family doesn't eat pasta that often, if at all.

"We already have wheat pasta." Chika sighed. "I mean, Hikki-san dislikes wasting ingredients, right?"

"We could eat pasta anytime, not like they expire overnight, sis. And why the hell you bought so much?" Hachiman remarked. "But quitters talk. I have a way."

Hachiman had a private conversation with the Chef, who furrowed his eyes first before smiling and nodding in understanding.

"It can be done." The Chef nodded.

"I thought you'd be offended."

"Thankfully, I'm not some food and cultural purist. My client is my king." The Chef twirled his thin mustache. "And it is an interesting experiment."

He signaled Chika with an OK sign. Chika had no clue but awkwardly grinned and nodded in response. So they continued studying.

...

Unfortunately, their peace did not last when Hachiman heard an unfamiliar humming note.

"Oyo, do we have a guest here?" A young woman asked, full of curiosity.

Hachiman's danger alarm immediately sounded as his entire body shook and his eyes widened. It doesn't even take a glance for him to activate his fight or flight instinct.

Just this seductive voice and the sickening fragrance told him enough information.

First-class threat.

Hikigaya Hachiman is a veteran of the battlefields of love. He only had failures upon failures, but after being defeated and disgraced so many times, it would be ignorant to say he didn't learn anything.

Coupled with his experience with Shuchiin students and various workplace acquaintances, Hikigaya Hachiman knows more than his fair share of women.

It is going to be a pain in the ass.

"Ah, neechan, you finally came home?" Chika realized and removed her headphones. "Where have you been? You've been missing all weekend!"

"Just hanging out at a friend's place." She smiled.

"Which friend? You didn't tell us at all." Chika suspiciously jeered.

Friend, huh.

Hachiman almost certainly doesn't believe it. Hachiman would tell them if he was outside for more than one night, even if his parents rarely home.

Toyomi noticed the unfavorable look on the younger kids and decided to swiftly change the topic. "Is this handsome boy a boyfriend of yours?"

"No." Hachiman and Chika responded in a similarly deadpan manner.

"This is Hikigaya Hachiman, the PR Manager of the Shuchiin Student Council and my friend." Chika introduced him. "This is Fujiwara Toyomi, my elder sister and eldest daughter of this family."

Ah, Hachiman already knows. But now it has been confirmed.

At first glance, their style might contrast each other. Chika rarely wears makeup, if at all, highlighting her youthful innocence. And she always dressed conservatively, at least in front of Hachiman.

However, despite her sultry look and sensual clothing, their face has an uncanny resemblance with each other, much like Chika and Moeha.

"Nice to meet you." Hachiman politely nodded.

"Thank you for taking care of my little sister." Toyomi sat beside Hachiman and smiled. "I've heard someone is helping her study. I didn't expect it was someone good-looking and around the same age. Chika-chan sure has good taste in men."

Thot alert. Thot alert. Thot alert. Thot alert.

Hachiman had it bad enough with semi-innocent girls at high school, where he'd have to ninja dodge his female schoolmates when they were too affectionate.

But young college women are something else.

For all his confident and decisive attitude, Hikigaya Hachiman is extremely weak to the presence of girls around his age or older!

"It's such a waste, though, since father banned you from dating." Toyomi smiled. "What about me, Hikigaya-kun?"

As Toyomi clearly leaned to Hachiman, he somehow disappeared from sight and reappeared beside Chika.

"Eh?!" The Fujiwara siblings both gasped.

"What?" Hachiman questioned.

"For the record, this boy is popular at school," Chika said, a hint of pride in her voice. "Just getting close to him is already a privilege."

Hachiman wanted to argue against Chika, but it wasn't like she was wrong. Hachiman wasn't sure how many brain-dead girls existed in Shuchiin for liking someone as rotten and unrefined as he was.

Hachiman can understand people liking Shirogane Miyuki. Fake as it may be about talents and charisma, Miyuki is genuinely kindhearted and always helps people in need without needing to be critical and confrontational.

Miyuki is also bloody handsome. More than Hachiman would verbally admit. Aside from his grades and athleticism, Hachiman had few things he could boast about.

His unpleasant personality is not one of them.

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Hachiman said as a matter of fact. "And no, I'm not interested."

"Hahaha, very serious. Onee-chan also likes that kind of guy, y'now." Toyomi licked her lips. "All the more tasty when they give in."

Chika was visibly annoyed, but Hachiman was legitimately creeped out.

"...If you have nothing better to do, please leave," Hachiman said, disgusted. "You're bothering me."

"Ara, why so angry? I'm just trying to be friendly, you know?"

Hachiman looked at Chika with a glance that said. "Either she leaves, or I will."

Chika knows that look. Whenever Hachiman is like that, even his close female friends are off-limits. Let alone some strangers he just met. However, if Hachiman lashed out, it would've been seen as overtly rude as a guest.

It is the job of the host to manage the rowdy locals. And since their parents aren't here, it's up to Chika to take things into her own hands.

"Nee-chan, please leave," Chika said with a frown.

"You can just ignore me, you know. I won't be loud, I promise!" Toyomi grinned.

Chika and Hachiman pulled out a folded paper pan and slipper, respectively.

...

"You know, Hikki-san, I began to understand why you're so sick about people dragging each other down instead of motivating and competing fairly." Chika stretched her arms.

"Exactly." Hachiman didn't look at her but nodded.

"But really, you're not tempted at all?"

"I'm tempted," Hachiman frankly answered. "Your big sister is objectively pretty and sexy. What's not to like?"

Chika popped a vein and pouted. "Then why did you refuse?"

"It won't work out," Hachiman said as he refilled his mechanical pencil with a new lead. "The mental gap between a college student and a High School Senior is more massive than between a Senior and a Freshman."

"Is it really?" Chika blinked. "I don't think so."

"When it comes to college students, they play with adult rules but still have the temperament of a kid," Hachiman said. "If I threw a tantrum as usual, they'd just call me childish and unwilling to understand or compromise with each other. Yet when they make mistakes, they downplay everything and ask for forgiveness. And then we'd break up like that."

"I was about to argue, but what you said is scarily realistic," Chika grimaced. "I lost count of how many boyfriends she had in the last two years. Are you sure you haven't dated someone from college?"

"No. I never dated anyone, period." Hachiman said. "But I've heard the stories, and they all shared the same pattern."

"Is that so? I'm surprised." Chika whistled. "But I guess it all makes sense, all things considered."

"People like to say I'm more mature than people my age. The truth is, I'm not at all that different." Hachiman pointed upward with his pencil. "I'm just nowhere as open about it."

The illusion of maturity that Hachiman possessed was solely decided by how cold and ruthless he could be. It is not the loud and angry Hachiman people need to fear, but quiet and angry Hachiman.

"I think Hikki-san appears mature and wise because you're self-aware about it, so you act reserved most of the time." Chika grinned as she poked his cheek. "It might be why I and the girls always teased you. It is because we all want to see the real Hikki-san. So I think it would be bad if you start dating Onee-chan and keep yourself even more guarded to keep up with her."

Hachiman blushed a bit and averted his eyes. "Shut up."

But Chika's happiness hearing his response was genuine. It is not that Chika specifically dislikes her big sister. On the contrary, she doesn't mind that Toyomi becomes the way she is, even if her parents are disappointed.

It is just that Chika doesn't want Hachiman to get hurt because her big sister treated him like a toy, and Hachiman was thankfully too smart to fall into her petty tricks.

"Excuse me, Ojou-chan. Should I ask you what broth you want for ramen dinner?" The Chef politely knocked on the door even though it was wide open.

"Ah, what do you want, Hikki-san?" Chika asked Hachiman.

"You don't have to ask for the same thing," Hachiman commented.

"I'm not that picky about ramen, so it's easier to make the same thing for two people, right?" Chika argued.

"Sure, seafood then." Hachiman smiled in resignation. Chika sure wanted to spoil him today, so he gave up resisting.

In Chika's mind, he made a concession by proposing the ramen even though they had planned for an Italian dinner day. So she can't be too greedy. Especially since having matching food is romantic!

"I'll have it prepared. Please wait." The Chef nodded while giving a knowing look. Ah, youth.

"I'll help," Chika said. "Let's just have a dinner here. Everyone else might not be keen on eating ramen for dinner, anyway."

Duh, what are you, some peasant? Hachiman asked jokingly in his mind. In his opinion, the Fujiwara family seemed to be typical of rich people in Japan. Modest outside and living a lavish life in private.

(Putting aside the limousine, anyway.)

People who flaunted wealth, like the Shinomiya Group, aren't actually the norm. That's why Shuchiin students can blend in with the masses if they don't wear their uniforms.

Only by knowing their personality would you notice the difference in charisma and influence.

"Are? Chika-chan isn't here?" Toyomi entered and sat close to Hachiman, only for him to slide away in response. "You really dislike me, huh?"

"It is not that I dislike you," Hachiman said. "It's awkward being so close with someone I don't know well."

"I see. Then let's get to know each other!" Toyomi cheekily pointed at herself.

Hachiman looked at her with disgust.

"Hmmm, Chika-chan is pretty conservative. I guess that's your type, and you dislike if a girl is being too forward."

"Correct." Hachiman said.

"I guess you dislike outgoing girls, huh? What about gal girls?"

"On the contrary, I have plenty of gal friends." Hachiman refuted. "The ones that aren't walking lie, anyway."

"Really?"

"It is not that I don't judge people by appearance. I am a very judgmental person, in fact." Hachiman said. "But I care a lot more about how they behave than anything."

"I see." Toyomi frowned. "You like it that Chika-chan would behave properly with you around."

Hachiman looked at her.

"Pfft." He scoffed.

"What's with the scoff?" Toyomi cringed. "I'm offended, but now I'm also curious."

"Fujiwara Chika, behave? Don't make me laugh." Hachiman snorted. "She only stays behaved because she doesn't want her father to get mad. I have never seen a home that feels like a prison more than this one."

"See? I'm inclined to agree." Toyomi stood. "Chika-chan is an obedient girl. Unfortunately, it only gave our parents more reason to restrict her."

She walked slowly and then bent over as she stood behind Hachiman. Her beautiful hands draped over his shoulder, almost touching his chest.

"But if it was me, you can do anything with me. Hikigaya-kun." She whispered seductively. "And father could do absolutely nothing about it."

"This is sexual harassment, you know." Hachiman's voice lowered. A mixture of anger and arousal filled his tone. "And you're doing it with a minor right now, so please cease."

"I'd like to call it flirting, though." Toyomi smiled. "And I'm sure you can consent, should you be willing to reciprocate."

"I see." Hachiman grinned and loosened his tie. "Two can play that game."

Meanwhile, Fujiwara Chika was hiding just outside and listening intently. A tray with two bowls of ramen in her hands. She tried her best to stay quiet, but she was panicking.

"Wha-wha-what did he mean with that?"

"Not so rough, Hikigaya-kun!" Toyomi cried. "I don't know if you're into hardcore stuff."

"I'd rather call it a foreplay," Hachiman said.

WHAT?!

Chika was so furious that not only Hachiman lied! But he was willing to soil the sanctity of the study room with unwholesome acts! Going this far, Chika won't let it slide!

They will pay!

As Chika entered the room, she saw her elder sister standing, her hand bound behind her, and her face was covered with a paper with letters written on it.

Chika snorted.

Then she laughed.

"Why are you laughing, Chika-chan?" Toyomi cluelessly asked. "I can't see anything."

On Toyomi's face, the single sheet of paper had a marker all over it, which read: [A thot and a kiddy diddler.]

"Oh, the food is here." Hachiman smiled, satisfied. "Thanks for spoiling me, Fujiwara."

"Mmmh, Hikki-san always indulged my whims at school, so let me be a nice host for you this week." Chika giddily sits beside him. "It is amazing how the pasta texture can change like that!"

"In cooking, the air and the water are often overlooked. However, the difference between pasta and ramen isn't just the wheat grind, but also the acidity."

"I am impressed how out of the box he could go to. Hikigaya-kun proposed to use alkaline water to cook the pasta." The Chef entered and nodded. "The base nature of the water made the pasta springy, but the taste didn't change much."

"Most people would use baking soda, but it would make the pasta bitter," Hachiman said. "Using natural alkaline water doesn't leave as much residue. So, the pasta isn't as bitter as using baking soda. You can wash it off by short boiling in ordinary water or let the broth taste cover it."

"Amazing!" Chika's eyes became starry. "You're both amazing."

In other words, Hachiman's recipe turned pasta into ramen. Most culinary purists would call this heresy. But when it comes to cooking, Hikigaya Hachiman never goes out of his way to make things difficult for himself.

Such is the mindset of a boy who cooks his own meal daily. The same person who makes meat jelly from store-bought gelatin powder!

"Waa, I want to have one, too! Please give me!" Toyomi begged. "It smells so good!"

"Naughty girls don't get dinner." The Chef laughed as he left.

It wasn't until Daichi came (sweaty and breathing hard) that Toyomi could be released from her binding, which he recognized as Hachiman's tie. However, the father gave her an earful about her actions today.

"How do you always appear at such convenient timing, Minister?" Hachiman gleefully asked.

"Right," Chika muttered. "How is it that he always comes home early these days?"

"I apologize for the intrusion." Daichi coughed awkwardly. "That won't happen again. I will make sure of it."

Chika wondered if Daichi hated Hachiman and distrusted him as much as Hachiman did Daichi. It seemed that the rift grew. Or perhaps it was bigger than Chika thought.

"That's bullshit, and you know it, Minister." Hachiman venomously remarked.

...

* IRL Japan, small car license was abolished in 1958

 

[ZeroXSEED]

"You only have the power because the kids gave you one. The moment they decide to rebel, that's the end."

"I don't understand what you're talking about, Hikigaya-kun." Daichi sat down across the table, somewhat offended. "Are you implying I don't have the power to control my own daughter?"

Hachiman might dislike how Toyomi invaded his private space, but he could not refute her words. Minister Daichi only has power over Chika because Chika lets him do so.

That's why Daichi feared Chika becoming as rebellious as her big sister. Once Chika decides it's enough, then there's nothing Daichi can do. Nothing that would not wound Chika's heart, anyway.

"At this stage, no. If I guessed right, you stopped giving Fujiwara Toyomi money. Perhaps even cutting her college tuition." Hachiman said. "But somehow, she found a way out of it. Now that she's financially independent, you can't do anything. Not without abusing your power to destroy her livelihood."

"..."

Chika closed her mouth in response, while Daichi was proverbially gagged and unable to argue.

"Father won't do that... would you?" Chika grimaced as she looked at Daichi in the eyes. "Right?"

"No," Daichi said. "I would never do that to my own child. I'd sooner disown her and write her off the family inheritance rather than rob her of what she earned."

"Everyone else is a fair game, though." Hachiman helpfully added, which made Daichi twitch.

"Should she do anything disturbing, you have my word that you can use any proportional approach to stop her." Daichi firmly told Hachiman. "Should she cross the line, I will deal with her myself. Harshly."

"I'm home!" The heavy and hostile atmosphere was dispersed when another woman came. "Oh, we have a guest? Good evening."

Hachiman looked at her, then at Chika and Daichi.

The woman has a stark physical resemblance with all the Fujiwara sisters... except for her relatively modest chest and neck-length hair. It wasn't flat, but it was below average for her age.

"Oh."

"You were thinking something rude just now, weren't you?" Chika slapped him with a paper fan. "Anyway, this is Hikigaya Hachiman, a friend in the student council. He is helping me study this week! Hikki-san, this is my mother."

"I see! So you're the famed Hikki-san. My name is Maho. Fujiwara Maho." She bowed a couple times. "I don't know how you persuaded her, but thanks for instilling the value of hard work on my lazy daughter."

"Uh, that was a little too much," Hachiman said while Chika fumed hard. "Actually, Secretary Fujiwara was the one who asked me for help. She definitely had the drive to push herself even without me around."

"Is that so?" Maho blinked.

"IT IS TRUE!" Chika shouted and left angrily.

Apparently, the mother had even less faith in Chika than the father, which says a lot. At least Daichi did not question Chika's motivation and reason to study hard.

"Well, he helped to identify her strength and how to study efficiently." Daichi coughed. "So I am somewhat thankful."

"Are you that confident about it, Hikigaya-kun?" Maho questioned. Her eyes gazed at him like those of a hawk. "To be honest, I've hired several tutors in the past, and they all gave up."

"I would only say what I know and refuse to say what I don't know for sure." Hachiman gave a half-committed answer because he was annoyed. "As for the tutor you hire, perhaps they're too rigid and unwilling to think outside the box."

"Define," Maho demanded.

"You can't put a round peg in a square hole," Hachiman said. "If everything the school taught is enough, there's no need for cram school and private tutoring. There's no such thing as ultimate problem solver."

"Everyone has the best way to study something," Daichi defended Hachiman. "It's just that Chika-san hasn't found most of them."

"I see." Maho softened. "That's rational."

The Fujiwara parents sure aren't the most welcoming. But Maho, at least, wasn't as upfront about her suspicion. However, it seems that she is even more stubborn than her husband.

But Hachiman is alright with that.

"How about you, Hikigaya-kun? You're an external student. How do you find a way to enroll in Shuchiin? Although it is open to the public, few are willing to tackle the challenge. Especially without inside sponsors."

"In my third year of middle school, I began to study seriously. So I could enter any elite high school. Originally, I planned to enter Soubu Municipal High." Hachiman said.

"Soubu High." Maho checked her phone. "It's Chiba's #1 elite high school and #27 nationally. Not bad."

It was a far cry from Shuchiin Academy but prestigious on its own. Everyone who studied at Soubu High is considered an elite students in Chiba.

"But a close friend of my father tried to sponsor me to get into Shuchiin. Should I fail to earn scholarships, he probably would end up paying for my tuition." Hachiman said. "But I said I would not enroll without securing scholarships anyway. I'd rather not have someone outside family paying for my tuition."

"And this person is..."

"President of the Saionji Conglomerate Group." Hachiman uncharacteristically grinned. "They have known each other since they were young."

Hachiman saw Daichi's face turned ashen white while Maho's eyes bulged out in shock.

At that time, Daichi was arrogant. He thought he could get away with everything because the Fujiwara family had money and power... how wrong he was.

Not only did Hachiman run roughshod all over his spying, but even the Hikigaya parents had begun to retrace everything.

Japan had a nebulous relationship with private detective agencies. The line between legitimate investigation and stalking can be thin. Doubly so about the internet footprints and public records. To say nothing of secret information that could be obtained via internal connection (a breach of corporate trust) or outright data theft...

As far as Daichi is concerned, that last part is actually the sore point in his mind. The Hikigaya family had a nearly spotless public record, and the in-depth information was buried in a place many detectives were unwilling to touch.

In hindsight? That might have saved Daichi's bacon should a legal battle ensue. Because there IS such a person behind Hachiman's father. Someone even he could not recklessly offend.

When Chika returned, she gave Daichi and Maho a bowl of pasta ramen. "Here, you must be hungry."

"Hmm? Ramen?" However, Daichi noticed when he took a small slurp after he prayed. "This is pasta."

Then Daichi remembered Chika said Hachiman preferred Italian food. Did they change it into a ramen?

"It's delicious, though," Maho remarked. "Albeit unique."

"I know. Right?" Chika giddily nodded. "The Chef really pulled out a miracle on this one. I'm glad he listened to Hikki-san."

?

"What did you tell him, Hikigaya-kun?" Maho asked.

"How to turn pasta into ramen without ruining the taste." Hachiman lightly answered. "It also takes skill and innate knowledge to pull it off. He did it much better than I ever could."

"Oh."

The husband and wife felt Hachiman did that for Chika because they knew what the second daughter liked to eat. Sometimes, she would even go to a ramen shop AFTER the dinner...

Maho always chastised Chika whenever she did it, but it wasn't like she was at home often enough to catch her. Which leaves Daichi to pick up the slack.

It's not like Daichi is too worried about her gaining weight and losing her prettiness. No, he's just worried she would ruin her health that way. Not only the calories. But the loads of sodium commonly used in commercial ramen stalls worried Daichi.

Needless to say, wheat pasta is also slightly healthier than genuine ramen noodles. So Daichi could only grudgingly be thankful.

This boy is too sneaky.

Daichi was surprised that Hachiman resisted Toyomi so vehemently, to the point of humiliating her. Daichi was all too aware of her eldest daughter's body count, something he was truly ashamed of.

"What do you think of Toyomi-san, Hikigaya-kun?"

"Scary." Hachiman openly told him. "Should anyone let their guard down, they'll be swallowed whole. I'm not an exception. And I feel unsafe around her."

Ah.

Daichi doesn't know whether to laugh or cry. Chika seemed to be satisfied with the outcome, at least. He knew she still loved her big sister dearly, but that didn't mean she approved of her behavior.

Especially seducing her crush.

"Excuse me, I'm going to the toilet." Hachiman stood up and left the study.

やはり, 彼らが望む告白は間違っている - 藤原編

As expected, the Confession they want is wrong - Fujiwara Chapter.



Original Story by: Watari Wataru and Akasaka Aka​

Side Chapter 03 - Fujiwara-san wants to listen

Daichi took a deep breath and sighed as if an invisible burden had been lifted off his shoulders. Somehow, even though he went out of his way to corner this boy, he had always been the one who ended up intimidated.

He hated it. Hachiman's words made him feel powerless because they were objectively true. And unlike many adults who behaved similarly, Daichi's conscience is too strong to ignore the truth.

"Toyomi-san is here?" Maho asked. "And what happened? Seems like everyone is on edge."

Chika told Maho the things that happened to her when they were studying, all the way to the moment Hachiman put Toyomi in a literal corner of shame. Chika even had pictures on her phone to prove it.

Maho was so furious that had it not for Daichi holding her, she was about to kick the bedroom door open!

"I will make sure that girl understands!" Maho screamed.

"Please be patient," Daichi begged.

"To be honest, I don't dislike Nee-san at all," Chika said. "But at this rate, Hikki-san will end up making enemies of half the household."

"That's a little too much." Daichi scoffed.

"Right? What exactly is the problem." Maho frowned. "It is normal for us to be worried."

"He felt so uncomfortable and restless," Chika said. "As if he was always watched. He always looked as if everyone was ready to stab him when he was not looking. He feels unwelcome here, and as someone who asked him to come, it was awful for me as a host."

Daichi twitched.

"I mean, we have a CCTV system. But most of the time, the stations are empty." Chika remarked. "...Right?"

Fujiwara Chika dreams of being a Prime Minister. But she also has an unusual hobby. That being a self-proclaimed detective. She liked mysteries and had a sharp sense, even if her clumsiness, inability to focus, and gullibility got in her way.

This time, her mind was focused. Daichi is in danger.

"Right. The CCTV." Maho coughed. "What about it?"

"I have no clue what you're talking about, Chika-san." Daichi feigned ignorance. "But after what happened today, I can understand his feelings. This boy valued silence like no one I've seen before."

That was a lie.

If Daichi truly cared for Hachiman's feelings, he wouldn't be so on guard and watch his every move. Indeed, he didn't even bother to check on Shirogane Miyuki when he spent a night or two here.

Because Chika did not fancy him as a boy in the slightest. Shirogane Miyuki is not a threat.

Although Hachiman had been a great help in motivating Chika so far, it only made Daichi even more uneasy. Perhaps Chika was right, and he wanted Hachiman not to come at all.

But in that case... it would ruin Chika's hard-earned motivation and good mood. And Daichi would slap himself should that happen. He could not forgive himself if he let his insecurity ruin his daughter's largely positive development.

"Hikki-san absolutely values personal space. That's why he reacted to Nee-san violently."

Daichi furrowed his eyebrows.

"He's like this at school, too?" Daichi questioned.

"Very much." Chika nodded. "If the girls teased him too much and he felt harassed, he'll just hit them with a slipper."

"Have you got hit?"

"All too often." Chika winced.

Maho and Daichi don't like the sound of that.

"But I will try to behave as much as I can from now on." Chika's face suddenly grew darker. "It would be a shame if he refused to come because everyone refuses to behave. Right, Father and Mother?"

Busted.

Daichi knows his daughter's temperament. And right now, Chika looks so much more like her mother. An angry Chika would have a temper tantrum, but this was not one of them. An angry Chika, who is calm and focused, terrifies Daichi more.

Their expression was way too alike. And as much as Daichi tends to appear as a strict Asian father figure, his wife is even more rigid and scarier.

As Daichi looked at Maho, she was equally unsettled. She knew that Chika was also on the edge. They could only push her around so far before she blew up.

The current Fujiwara Chika is basically a walking landmine.

"I think your mother understood," Daichi gently said. "Be sure to remind Moeka-chan to behave as well."

"I will." Chika's face brightened again, with a radiant smile that would make boys melt.

Daichi had been thinking about it for a while. If Hachiman wanted to ruin everything, he could've just told Chika the spying incident. From what Daichi saw, he kept the lid shut, which Daichi was thankful for.

God knows what her reaction would be if Chika ever found out.

In other words, Hachiman has the perfect blackmail material that he hasn't used, so Daichi can't be too zealous about his treatment of him. He was sure his wife would agree.

...they haven't really talked about that, have they? Daichi knew that his wife understood it from the uneasiness on her face.

...

"So, speaking of Toyomi-san." Maho continued the train of conversation as soon as Hachiman returned. "She wasn't always like this. But looking back, I have difficulty finding where we did wrong."

Hachiman said. "If we were talking more vague and broad concepts like abandonment, neglect, abuse, smothering, and so on, it is easier. But few parents could tell when exactly things went wrong. To find the turning point where their child changed overnight."

"Because most children don't change overnight. So trying to pinpoint past mistakes is a waste of time." Chika added as she put her hands on Hachiman's shoulders. "We changed whimsically over time, sometimes without realizing it ourselves. Unlike adults who consciously have to push themselves to change."

...Honestly? Daichi and Maho were peeved that they looked so good in that pose. Thankfully, Hachiman slapped her hands away within seconds. Looks like Chika was not lying. Hachiman really values personal space.

But their words weren't incorrect. Children, by definition, grow up and change over time. It is said that a person's mental growth only settled around thirty years old.

"It reminds me of something," Hachiman said. "The story of an acquaintance."

"A story?" Chika asked. "Sounds interesting!"

"There were two sisters, two years apart. The big sister is always lovable, outgoing, and a bit of a bully. The little sister has always been weak and quiet." Hachiman began retelling the story. "The big sister has always been the face of the family. Everyone praised her for achievement and loved her for her beauty and personality."

"The little sister is nothing more than a wallflower. She was bullied and ostracized at school for being outstanding yet asocial. No matter how she tried to achieve something, people kept comparing her to her big sister. In the end, she has always been alone. Left behind and forgotten."

The story is honestly not that specific. Japan, for the most part, still believes in strict familial hierarchy. The man before the woman. Older before younger. The older one gets more privileges in exchange for more responsibilities. While the younger one is ignored as long as they don't make an embarrassment of the family name.

"The little sister, in her loneliness and isolation, became cold and hateful. But she realized she could not bear to commit evil and tarnish her proud family's name. Her heart was too pure, and her moral was too strong. So she seeks a different path to commit revenge." Hachiman continued, his voice full of awe and respect.

"She decided to avoid retracing the path her big sister climbed. She went to a different school, bigger and better than the one her big sister went to."

"She aimed to change the world and erase all forms of injustice. To ensure the nail that sticks out does not get hammered. She aimed to prove to her bullies and doubters that she could beat the odds. She surpassed her big sister in every way conceivable."

"If her big sister is the beautiful moon, the little sister is the sun. Unimaginably distant, yet immensely imposing. Her parents know this, and they were too spooked to try and rein her back. Their conscience is eaten alive by their past sins. Their unfair treatment and neglect. They could not even boast about her without dying inside."

"But the most important is not the honor and glory she earned. By leaving her sister's shadow and the burden of family legacy, the little sister can prove herself and find true companionship. Because her name is no longer special." Hachiman warmly smiled. "She found happiness in self-exile."

"...What happened with the big sister?" Chika asked, suspenseful.

"Wasting her time in a mediocre college, realizing that her past achievements as a high school student matter little, and the people surrounding her don't care about her, only her family name. But now she couldn't even bully her little sister because the little sister is the superior sister." Hachiman scoffed.

All the Fujiwara family members became silent.

"Whatever moral message you take from this story is up to you." Hachiman finished the retelling at the same time he packed his bag.

"What is your take, Hikki-san?"

"The past is full of regret, and the future is uncertain. You don't have to surpass your past self or be afraid of failing to achieve your future goal. For me, doing my best in my present is all I wanted." Hachiman carried his bag. "Because dreams betray many, but hard work betrays no one."

In other words, it does not matter that the little sister is more successful. The big sister's fleeting days of decay are a hell of her own making. This is what Hachiman believed.

Daichi remembered the first time he talked with Hachiman about Toyomi and his fear of Chika.

"But Secretary Fujiwara isn't her older sister."

Hachiman said in full conviction, even though he had never known Toyomi, because he knew Fujiwara Chika and believed she would never be led astray as long as she held onto her dream to become a Prime Minister.

Hachiman had faith in Chika, something the parents did not have.

"I'll have to wrap this up early, Secretary Fujiwara." Hachiman bowed at them politely. "Thank you for the hospitality, everyone. I most likely won't be able to make it tomorrow."

Fujiwara Daichi and Maho felt like they got stabbed in the heart. Although they appear cordial, they were anything but. Hachiman was correct. Not only did the CCTV network do something more than simple recording, but the housekeeping staff were there to observe his actions, too.

In other words, the entire household members, except for the Fujiwara sisters, were enemies.

Chika ended up being the one who saw him leaving at the entrance.

"Sorry, things get so chaotic that you feel uncomfortable." Chika sighed.

"You misunderstood," Hachiman told Chika. "I'm going home early for a different reason. Also, tomorrow I have something important to do. Not because I don't want to come."

"Really?" Chika asked in disbelief.

"If you have time, we can study on Thursday afternoon, too," Hachiman said. "Since I plan to go out with Komachi in the morning, I might have some free time later."

"Hmm, I see." Chika nodded. "Then I'll mail you again."

"To be honest, I am envious," Hachiman told Chika. "Despite the various disagreements and conflicts, the Fujiwara family is extremely close with each other. My family is different. We all operate on the same wavelength and understand each other, yet cold and uncaring toward each other."

The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. Chika often wished she had Hachiman's near-absolute freedom, but if the price is losing the love and care of her family...

Is it worth trading?

"You still on unspoken terms with your father?" Chika asked.

"Nah, things are certainly improving," Hachiman replied. "Father has been fumbling to reconnect with me since the spring vacation. And my relationship with my mother wasn't poor, just distant."

"That's why you agreed to go with them to Hiroshima!" Chika clapped in realization.

"You bet it."

He wouldn't agree to go if Hachiman was still mad at his father. Although Hachiman is stubborn, he's not heartless. If Hachiman's father had been genuine in his attempts to apologize, Hachiman would return the sentiment.

"Although I am uncomfortable with your parents' suspicion, I can perfectly understand them. Whether it was their emotional distress or their rational reasoning for doing so." Hachiman told Chika. "Don't be too hard on them."

"I can't," Chika said. "Hikki-san had been nothing but helpful and nice to me. If they still want me to see them as a loving family, they better treat you well as my guest."

"Your choice." Hachiman scoffed. "Just don't regret it."

"Also..." Chika hesitated to ask, but she asked anyway. "The little sister in the story, was it someone in Shuchiin? And are you close with her?"

The way he spoke about the little sister, his eyes were full of admiration, and his voice was colored with reverence, which made Chika super jealous.

"First of all, yes." Hachiman nodded. "Secondly, no, we're not exactly close friends. We don't meet all that often. Not anymore."

"I see." Chika sighed in relief. "For a second, I thought you were talking about a secret girlfriend or something."

Hachiman burst out laughing.

"Crazy talk." Hachiman wore his helmet. "See you later."

"Mmmh." Chika happily waved. "Be careful."

As Hachiman's bike disappeared in the evening street, Chika's smile turned into a frown.

Today was really a disaster!

 

[ZeroXSEED]

Si vis pacem, para bellum.

If you wish for peace, prepare for war. A Latin phrase commonly known and often cited in fiction. Often in a negative way, highlighting fragile peace or forcing good people to commit atrocities.

What these stories never care about is the peace after the war. The treaty, the reparation, and everything painful that must be done to rebuild everything that broke.

In this case, the social rifts that were opened have to be mended too.

It was called a peace treaty, but it was more like Kaguya joining the losing party for reasons that weren't obvious to the hateful idiots. The Mass Media Club girls, who were supporters of Kaguya and friends of Yukino, painted this in the best light possible.

Even today, Kaguya happily enjoyed an open tea time with the members of the Public Service Club.

"In the end, it all ends well." Karen remarked. "And we can enjoy this sight from the sidelines."

"I know, right?" Erika nodded. "I always knew that Kaguya-sama was big-hearted."

"Pfft." Hachiman scoffed.

Hachiman's reaction invited weird stares from all the girls. Contemptuously, he said: "She's only remained magnanimous because she won. You think she would accept her defeat with grace?"

Hachiman had known Kaguya for more than nine months. He knew how much of a cheating, sore loser she could be. Had Kaguya lost, the meeting afterward would be nowhere near as amicable.

"Of course she would." Erika protested. "Hikigaya-san should not say that, even if you are part of the student council!"

"That's right!" Karen nodded and huffed. "I can't believe what I'm hearing right now."

"Hikigaya-san, are you sure you didn't say that because you got mad about Yukinoshita-san losing?" Hayasaka teased him. "Could it be that you're nowhere near as neutral as you like to present yourself as?"

"Let's talk about bias." Hachiman rummaged through his pocket and playfully tossed up and caught a gacha capsule. "If you know what I mean."

Karen and Erika were unaware of what he meant, but Hayasaka was all to conscious of his meaning. Hachiman knew the contest gacha machine had been tampered with, and he had replaced it right before the contest began.

He was threatening Hayasaka, knowing that she was the prime suspect of potential sabotage. And if Hachiman was being spiteful, he could easily crush whatever schemes were running in Hayasaka's mind right now.

Still, Hayasaka didn't know Hachiman had that grudge at the time. No wonder he purposely goaded her into betting on the contest result. Kaguya's warning about Hachiman now sounded even more threatening.

"Please don't get mad." Hayasaka grinned. "To be honest, you know I am a little jealous."

Hachiman shuddered and left. "I'm going to the toilet. BRB."

"What's with Hikigaya-san? I have never seen him that cranky." Karen huffed. "Even though he has always been snippy."

"Are you two close with him?" Hayasaka suddenly asked. "It's rare for him to talk with girls outside the student council. I mean, aside from Ryuju-san, since they're super close!"

"We were in the same elective." Erika explained. "So it isn't like we're strangers, but... it's complicated."

"Is it?" Hayasaka grinned in excitement. "That means you're friends with him."

"Yeah, we weren't exactly close friends or classmates, but I guess you can call us his friends."

"But the Hikigaya-san we know has always been fair with everyone." Erika chided. "I hate to admit it, but maybe we WERE being unreasonable."

"How so?"

"He always said what he wanted, damn the consequences." Karen sighed. "Hayasaka-san likes him, so I assume you know this much? But he's a largely honest person in spite of his poor attitude. So it hurts me to admit, maybe he's onto something."

Hikigaya Hachiman wasn't just "onto something"...

As a matter of fact, he was 100% dead on the correct conclusion. Hayasaka, as the esteemed personal valet of Shinomiya Kaguya, knew this more than anyone else!

However, Hayasaka was obligated to defend her Mistress publicly, so she could not confirm it.

"Of course I do." Hayasaka laughed lightly. "After all, that's what makes him charming."

"I feel bad about doubting Kaguya-sama for even a second." Erika dramatically feigned a cry, hands up as if it were a stage drama. Heavenly light draped on her, Hayasaka could suddenly see the seemingly plain and modest girl shine!

"But really, I could not imagine Kaguya-sama being that petty." Erika gritted her teeth.

"True." Karen nodded furiously. "Even if Kaguya-sama was angry, she might not openly show her contempt."

"Well, you two are Kaguya-sama fanatics, after all. How could you be reasonable about those feelings?" Hayasaka remarked inwardly. "Hojo Karen did guess it correctly, though."

Had Kaguya lost, she would not show her contempt in public. She'd throw temper tantrums in private, most likely under Hayasaka's watch. And how much would Hayasaka suffer from that? A lot. A whole lot!

"Really?" Hayasaka feigned innocence. "I mean, we're classmates, but we were not close. I can't say I know Shinomiya-san well."

"You're so lucky!" The two fangirls whined. "I wish I was in the same class as her!"

"Well, I wish I'm in the same class as Hikigaya-san!" Hayasaka cheekily stuck her tongue out and winked.

"That would be a problem." Hachiman suddenly came back with two girls in tow. "Your friends came."

"Ah."

"But Hikigaya-san... do you really think Kaguya-sama would have been resentful if she had lost?" Karen decided to confront him.

"You two are close friends with Shijo Maki." Hachiman bluntly responded. "You know the answer to that question."

Erika and Karen grimaced, suddenly slapped with reality. It wasn't as if they were oblivious. In fact, they knew about it more than anything. After all, they WERE close friends with Shijo Maki.

And the relationship between Kaguya and Maki was exceedingly hostile.

They knew each other and hung out since they were in Shuchiin Middle. They were blinded by their devotion to Kaguya and selectively ignored the contradiction in their hearts.

"In fairness, it can be attributed to the hostilities between the two families." Hayasaka's face darkened, but her mischievous smile remained. "Maybe they were forced to act like that out of family pride."

"That is true." Karen blinked. "Still, as of now, they've been very civil."

"Resentment doesn't last unless nurtured." Hachiman sat down again across the table from where the group gathered. "Shinomiya is petty, but it's not like she would hate Yukinoshita forever, unless there were other circumstances."

"You may not know this, but the relationship between Miyuki and Shinomiya was terrible early on." Hachiman told them. "After all, Miyuki's rise in exam rank changed the whole social dynamic of our alumni. Of course, Shinomiya Kaguya would be effected."

"Oh."

That actually made sense.

"But they're good partners now," Hachiman smirked. "Don't you think the same thing would happen with Yukinoshita?"

"True!" Karen and Erika nodded in agreement. "I knew we could trust you, Hikigaya-san."

"You girls only hear what you want, so let me say this. Shinomiya Kaguya is arrogant, proud, and petty. But she respects people based on their merit and not their gender, wealth, or social status. If you made a fool of yourself by seeking her attention, you're nothing more than a weed to her, but if you prove your worth, she will acknowledge you."

As he said this, everyone noticed how his face softened considerably. This was something of a rarity, or better yet, it never happened publicly and was only even known about because of the spread of rumors.

But the way he smiled was unusually gentle and handsome. Even Karen and Erika felt their hearts race a bit.

Is this what people call gap moe?! Hayasaka closed her eyes, trying to compose herself.

"Ah, I forgot. I was about to go to the toilet." Hachiman grimaced and ran away. "See you in the Council, Hayasaka."

"Whoa, that smile is quite a dangerous one." Erika blushed and rubbed her head. "Come on, that's just unfair."

"Hikigaya-san can really smile like that." Karen closed her mouth. "Don't tell me he had feelings for Kagu-"

"He didn't." Hayasaka slipped a bit, which caused the girls to look at her strangely.

The girls squinted their eyes at her with suspicion. Although she was telling the truth, the timing caused her to look like she was jealous of Kaguya instead!

But she would use that misunderstanding to her advantage.

"Their relationship wasn't that good with each other, but Hikigaya-san was honest, and Shinomiya-san respected him for his abilities." Hayasaka frantically waved her hand, her face flushed and sweaty. "Naturally, they worked together well."

That was a lie! Hayasaka knew that Hachiman and Kaguya rarely were on the same page on anything. It got to the point where whenever they agreed on something, Miyuki actually felt jealous.

"Ai-chan, you should not be too deeply infatuated. If he chased you away, you'd be heartbroken." Suruga Subaru patted Hayasaka's shoulder.

"Still, girls who fall in love really become prettier." Hinokuchi Mirin remarked. "I thought that was a myth."

"Really? Is that so?" Hayasaka laughed. "Please don't be mean!"

"We're being real with you, Ai-chan!" Mirin hugged her, rubbing her cheek against Hayasaka's.

Hinokuchi Mirin was the daughter of the President of a famous advertising company. She had neck-long dark blue hair tied into a ponytail with long bangs drooping to the sides of her cheeks.

Suruga Subaru was the daughter of the President of a big IT company in Japan. She had thick, silky black hair that extended just under her shoulders. Her front bang was braided to the left side of her temple, a unique take on the otherwise generic style.

To the outsiders, they would appear to be Hayasaka's close friends. They also happened to be Kaguya's classmates.

"Don't worry, I know my boundaries." Hayasaka suddenly turned calm, and everyone noticed the shift in her expression. Gone was the image of a cheerful gal girl the moment she did that.

"Right now, Hikigaya-san isn't ready to go out with anyone. It is not like I'm desperate to date him. Just spending time with him is already fun enough."

"You should value yourself more. No one deserves to get friend-zoned." Subaru shook her head.

Hayasaka Ai lied as naturally as she breathed.

All this time, it was no secret that she showed affection toward Hachiman. She did this from the beginning when she decided to try and successfully join the Student Council. Even Kaguya sometimes thought Hayasaka was being genuine about it, but it was all a facade.

Nevertheless, her efforts had been rewarded. Almost everyone in school thought Hayasaka has a one-sided attraction toward Hachiman, reinforced by his responses to her teasing.

However, because Hayasaka had always been a low-key student, her gossip with Hachiman hadn't been as popular as Chika's or Momo's. That was why Hachiman's actions during the contest day shocked many.

Even when teasing a close female friend, Hachiman would never appear seductive like that. It had been known that Hachiman was allergic to physical intimacy, too. How he suddenly put his arm around Hayasaka's back and shoulder was almost uncharacteristic.

Maybe it wasn't as hopelessly one-sided as it appears! Those people thought. And that was how Hayasaka got her own spotlight.

...

However, contrary to the merry atmosphere of the girls, the situation with the boys couldn't be more grim. It was why Hachiman still had a foul mood.

Finding Shirogane Miyuki sulking on his desk, only to leave as soon as he was done, was jarring.

Before, he always did it slowly while chatting with Kaguya. It was their best excuse to spend time together under the pretense of work. Hachiman never cared about this since he always finished his share quickly.

Hikigaya Hachiman loathed paperwork, which is why he was relieved when Hayasaka took his old job as the General Affairs Manager, effectively splitting his workload between them.

"Oh, for fuck's sake." Momo groaned when she didn't find Miyuki. "Is he gone, Hachiman?"

"Yep." Hachiman nodded. "As soon as he finished."

"Sheesh." Momo sighed. "Looking it this way, this might be my fault."

"Is it really?" Hachiman rhetorically asked. "I'm glad you learned some conscience, but this time I think it would be rather misplaced to blame yourself like this."

Momo squirmed. She was glad that Hachiman was no longer mad at her, especially after she honestly apologized. But now she realized how fair Hachiman treated his friends and how he held onto that principle as if his life depended on it.

Hachiman never showed an ounce of a grudge after they reconciled. Even though people still gossiped about him and Yukino, and he was still working with the VIPs to deal with the fallout.

It made her even more embarrassed than before.

As for how it all began, it started last year.

"Oh dear." The President remarked at a gloomy Shirogane Miyuki. "What's the matter, General Affairs Manager Shirogane Miyuki? That's quite a dark expression you have there."

"Listen to this, Prez." Ryuju Momo carelessly put her feet on the edge of the table. If she raised them any higher, her panties would be for everyone to see. However, she paid no attention to this because no one in the school actually thought of her as a girl. "Apparently, he's been getting the cold shoulder from that Shinomiya girl and got depressed. Stupid shit, I tell ya."

"What do you mean by that?" Shirogane Miyuki asked in disbelief. Of course, he was depressed!

"It's all over when you let people look down on ya." Momo pointed at his face. "The same goes for boys and girls! Once she looks down on ya, it's game over!"

"Yer a student council member, yer smart and don't look half bad. But yer a goddamn pushover, and look at where it's got ya?"

"Come to think of it. Was my accent ever that thick?" Momo asked as she recalled it again

"Early on, I think." Hachiman said as he tossed her a jar of kvass. Ryuju Momo had considerably softened since they got to know each other. Even her Yakuza accent had disappeared!

"I said to him...." Momo continued.

"If ya act like the type a guy women fall for, no one will look down on ya. Ya'll never get a girl without bluffing a bit."

Taking this to heart, Shirogane Miyuki confronted Kaguya and openly challenged her. At first, Kaguya had brushed him off coldly, until Miyuki said the forbidden words.

"Are you afraid of losing?" Miyuki glared at her. His gaze was only heightened by the thick, darkened bags under his eyes. Kaguya was so shocked that Miyuki could never forget her being that taken aback.

"You're quite a clown." Kaguya frowned. "State your name."

The bluff worked, again, and again, and again.

Until it didn't.

Because Kaguya had found someone else.

"A bluff is a bluff. A lie doesn't become true just because you start to believe it." Miyuki had dejectedly told Momo today.

"If it wasn't for my stunt, this would never have happened." Momo sighed. "Shinomiya will never become interested in Yukinoshita."

"...Are you dumb or what?" Hachiman asked. "Shinomiya was interested in Yukinoshita because she was jealous that people started to gossip about Yukinoshita and Miyuki."

"That's true, but it doesn't matter anymore."

"It does." Hachiman said. "It's because those two retards are unwilling to admit their feelings and because of that they are unable to believe that the other shares the same feelings."

"Then what we should do?"

Like it or not, Momo considered Miyuki a close friend. Now that she had started to sort her emotions out properly, she felt the need to help him in a way that wouldn't worsen the situation. And she was afraid that she would make another mistake.

"Nothing." Hachiman said. "Other than distracting him, nothing. This is Miyuki's ordeal to overcome."

If he couldn't overcome this, their relationship would fall apart.

"As long as he harbors that deep insecurity, they will never go anywhere." Hachiman snorted. "And you made Shinomiya happy, did you not?"

"Huh? All I did was find her a new distraction." Momo furrowed her eyebrows in confusion.

"You think so? But Shinomiya needed Yukinoshita more than anything." Hachiman laughed as he opened his own jar of kvass. "Those idiots, I swear to God."

Even though Kaguya was the one who felt jealous and insecure, Miyuki was the one who ended up feeling cuckolded.

Ironic.

"Still, is there nothing we can do?"

"Sure there is." Hachiman told her. "I'm saving that trump card for later, though."

---

やはり, 彼らが望む告白は間違っている. S2
As expected, the Confession they want is wrong S2

Original Story by: Watari Wataru and Akasaka Aka
Written by: @ZeroXSEED, Co-written by: @GoukaRyuu​

---

Fortunately, Kaguya was nowhere near that dense. Not when she was in her best emotional state, anyhow.

Kaguya felt it was weird that Miyuki looked so listless and stressed out over the last few days, to the point where his fake eye bags became real. Her inner desire considered this a good thing, but it wasn't like she had no heart.

She wondered what was plaguing the President.

It made her concerned. Worried, even.

"What if his health has gotten worse?"

"President, are you alright?" Kaguya offered him a cup of coffee. "You don't look good these days. Are you tired? Perhaps you're sick? You shouldn't push yourself too much."

"No." Miyuki frantically smiled. "I'm alright. Just a lot of things on my mind, that's all."

"..."

Kaguya had never seen him this flustered. Miyuki was a master of bluffing. Kaguya used to be annoyed that she couldn't catch him off guard.

Miyuki always skillfully escaped her traps, even without Hachiman's intervention. Although Kaguya blamed Hachiman, Miyuki was by no means helpless.

She had never seen him this weak and vulnerable. Not since their first meeting last year.

Come to think of it, the old Kaguya would have never noticed. No, the old Kaguya would not have cared that Miyuki was in distress.

"Are you sure?" Kaguya asked. "If there's anything I could do to help..."

"It's fine." Miyuki blurted out in response. "I just need to find a way to sleep better."

That was a lie.

In all honestly, part of Miyuki wanted to talk this through with Kaguya. He wanted to ask her to spend more time in the council. For them to spend time together.

But he couldn't.

If he did, that meant he had lost the War of Love.

All of those times he had spent building up his image would have been for nothing. So, instead he steeled up his resolve to never show any hint of weakness to Kaguya.

It didn't matter that Kaguya had been so spoiled and selfish recently. He had to be the strong one. He had to be the bigger person.

Otherwise, she too would-

"Please tell me honestly. Even if it's something I can do a little-" Kaguya insisted.

"It is fine, Shinomiya." Miyuki raised his voice slightly.

It was very subtle, but as someone who paid attention to him whenever they spent time together, Kaguya was very sensitive to the changes in the President's behavior.

Miyuki had never raised his voice to Kaguya like that before. Not unless he was trying to bluff his way out of something.

"...I see." Kaguya nodded. "I'm sorry for being intrusive."

And just like that, she left.

Shirogane Miyuki had inadvertently driven her away.

"I am the absolute worst." Miyuki thought to himself.

...

On the other side of the door, Kaguya took a deep breath and sighed. Then she decided to go home.

Where did things go wrong?

Kaguya thought that she could show at least this much concern. She thought she could, in some way, cheer him up. But it looked like it wouldn't be easy.

"What should I do, Hayasaka?" She asked her trusted valet. "Is this karma because I ignored him back then?"

When Kaguya was so heartbroken and jealous about Yukinoshita stealing her exam ranking and getting closer to Miyuki, Kaguya ignored Miyuki's attempts to cheer her up. Even Hayasaka called it a wasted opportunity and called Kaguya a terrible woman for it.

It wasn't like she didn't feel a shred of guilt. It was her selfish side burying it. Because all ends well for Kaguya.

Not only was the whole misunderstanding resolved, but Kaguya finally found someone, the person she had yearned for all these years. Even if that person turned out to be someone completely different...

"That's true." Hayasaka bluntly told Kaguya. "If only you weren't so self-centered."

"I am the absolute worst." Kaguya bit her lip. "I have never felt this stupid."

"Well..."

Hayasaka was about to open her mouth but decided not to. Hachiman had told Hayasaka to never directly interfere with the affairs between Miyuki and Kaguya.

Especially leaking the fact that they liked each other romantically.

"I think it would be best to stay around more often." Hayasaka told Kaguya. "President did try his best to cheer you up. It would be unfair for you to give up after a single failure."

"I guess you're right. But what should I do?"

"Just be there. Act like nothing has happened. The more you pressure the President, the harder he will reject you." Hayasaka cheekily explained. "Over time, things will go back to normal. As long as you stay."

Hayasaka wondered if it was the right thing to say. She was sick of the status quo. But this matter had to be handled delicately. She was sure that Hachiman felt the same way.

"I see." Kaguya nodded.

Hayasaka turned out to be correct. At first, Miyuki was weirded out. "You didn't go for tea time?"

"They're handling a case right now, so my presence would be intrusive." Kaguya smiled.

That was a lie.

While it was not like the Public Service Club was never short of jobs, they still put some time in to rest and discuss things. That's when Kaguya usually hung out with them.

Just for today, it is alright. Kaguya thought to herself.

One day, two days, three days.

After three days, Miyuki recovered. His fake eyebags returned, entirely made of makeup, making him more handsome than ever. His skin was lustrous, and his expression invigorated.

Just as Hayasaka said, things went back to normal.

And this left Kaguya unsettled.

Shirogane Miyuki was a weird man.

Part of Kaguya felt immense pride, knowing that just her presence alone could bring Miyuki out of his funk. But part of her still clung to that question.

Why?

Obviously, because he likes me.

To Kaguya, that was the only rational answer. Otherwise, would he be so distressed about her lack of presence?

The old Kaguya would be overjoyed with this realization, knowing that she was only one step away from undeniable victory. Yet part of her became more and more uneasy.

What if she was wrong, and it was something else?

What if... her presence had no special meaning?

Such a feeling of dread began to haunt Kaguya. The more she thought Miyuki might like her, the more she feared it was not the case.

"So it was like this..."

"Oh, that... right."

"Shinomiya, are you alright?" Miyuki asked.

"I'm fine." Kaguya grinned. "What was that again?"

Naturally, Miyuki noticed this. And interpreted it in the worst way possible. As long as they clung to their mutual insecurities, it was just a time bomb waiting to explode.

And so Hikigaya Hachiman jumped in through the window again.

"Hikigaya-san, do you REALLY have to do that?" Kaguya shouted at him.

"Oh, Shinomiya. Fancy seeing you here." Hachiman sarcastically replied. "Didn't have tea with Yukinoshita today?"

"Everyone keeps asking the same question. Are you under the impression that I'm a woman who always bothers others as much as I want to?"

I mean, that isn't exactly wrong. Hayasaka thought to herself as she listened intently behind the door to the council room.

"Are you not? Glad that's the case." Hachiman chuckled. "I'd thought you'd grown bored of us."

"That would never happen." Kaguya was so mad that she shouted at Hachiman and slammed the table. She was so nervous and surprised that she could not hide her temper.

It actually made Miyuki go agape.

"I see." Hachiman scoffed.

"Because this place is important to me." Kaguya suddenly blushed. "...Of course, I'm the Vice-President, after all."

"It was all out of obligation?"

"Not at all."

"I'm glad that is the case." Hachiman shrugged. "We were kind of worried ourselves."

"...."

Did Hachiman really think Kaguya would leave them for the Public Service Club?

"I guess you misunderstood." Kaguya sighed. "While hanging with Yukinoshita-san is pleasant, it's different than being here with everyone."

"Whoa, I'm late." Chika burst out of the door. "I'm sorry for that!"

"Oh, come on, at least Ishigami had an excuse," Hachiman remarked. "He's patrolling with the Disciplinary Committee, don't you know?"

"Whoa? Voluntarily?" Chika asked in disbelief. Ishigami was so lazy that sometimes it was hard to get him to do something he was not obliged to do. But he volunteered to patrol?

"He learned from the best." Hachiman smugly said.

"Whoa, now that you have a direct junior, you've really grown cocky!" Chika seethed hard. "Meanwhile, Miko-chan's grown increasingly less respectful of me! This is unfair!"

"I can't see why that is my problem. Maybe look in a mirror, Fujiwara-san." Hachiman responded.

"You guys, why are you fighting over the smallest thing!" Miyuki reflexively tried to mediate. "And Hachiman, don't provoke her for no reason."

"I do whatever I want to do, Miyuki." Hachiman grinned. "Can't you do the same?"

Miyuki was about to open his mouth. But he decided not to. Hachiman was right. He'd been holding back and feeling helpless just because he felt jealous.

Unlike Hachiman, Miyuki had no courage. No, it was because Hachiman decided he had nothing to lose by being himself. Miyuki felt the opposite, he had everything to lose.

Hachiman called him out in front of everyone because Miyuki was too stubborn to admit it.

But not just that. Hachiman also provoked Kaguya so she could get her true feelings across. Otherwise, Kaguya would keep her guard up.

He was never more thankful for having such a good friend. Without Hachiman being a blunt asshole, their misunderstandings would keep piling up.

But still, a small part of Miyuki wondered...

How long would he have to rely on Hachiman? Did Kaguya think the same?

"Hi-ki-ga-ya-san~!"

"Not again." Hachiman scowled.

That was when Hayasaka burst in, throwing even more chaos into the room by being clingy to Hachiman, causing Chika to get jealous. Then Miko and Ishigami returned, dropping the things in their hand out of shock and disgust.

As indescribably chaotic shenanigans unfolded in the background, Miyuki couldn't help but shake his head.

"You deserved it, bastard." Miyuki snorted. "Do you prefer it this way, Shinomiya? Unlike the Public Service Club, we're far from the most refined people."

Kaguya smiled.

"If things were different just because I left for a few days, I'd be saddened," Kaguya told him. "At the end of the day, this is where I belong."

"True. I'm happy that you think of us that way." Miyuki nodded. "Welcome back."

Chika was quiet for a second and let Hachiman go. Although she was never the most sensitive girl, she was not blind enough to miss the change in the mood. Miyuki's mood had been bad recently, and Kaguya had been distant.

She thought she would say something but decided there was no need to do that. She smiled and returned to trying to yank Hachiman out of Hayasaka's grip with all her strength.

Hachiman disappeared like a ninja, leaving his gakuran in the two girls' grip. Then he pulled out a pair of slippers and smacked them both flying.

"Hikigaya-senpai! Don't be violent toward girls." Miko chastised him.

"They deserved it." Hachiman huffed. "Right, Ishigami!"

"LASER DEATH BEAM!" Ishigami screamed in rage and made an Ultraman pose. Hachiman blinked in confusion, not realizing that Ishigami was jealous of the attention Hachiman got from the girls.

It was as if things were heading back to normalcy.

...For a while.

"We have a transfer student today." The Homeroom teacher said. "Please come in, Shijou Mikado-kun."

---

Chapter 31 - Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum

 

[ZeroXSEED]

Shijo Mikado!

This handsome yet modest-looking red-haired young man was beyond simple eye candy. In addition to being the sole heir to the Shojo group, a conglomerate group rivaling that of the Shinomiyas, Mikado Shijo had also placed first in the mock National Exams last year, beating Shirogane Miyuki.

If one were to look inside Miyuki's wretched hive of a half-bedroom, you would find a single piece of paper with letters written on it: "Beat Shijo Mikado!"

Fear, anger, jealousy. The turbulent feelings of Shirogane Miyuki had turned into that of an obsession. Obsession to beat Mikado so he could at last achieve academic perfection.

Only that way, then... Miyuki could...

Yet, in a twist of fate, he ended up in Shuchiin High. He transferred after leading his non-name school soccer team to the National Championship of the Prince Takamado Cup.

Family status, athleticism, and academics. This seemingly unrivaled figure could be said to deserve the nickname Emperor.

Why?

Why had he come here?

"I never expected him to come here. Mid-semester even." Someone commented. "Was it because of his defeat in the Prince Takamado Cup?"

Defeat? Shijo Mikado had been defeated?! Who had defeated him? Who dared?!

"What do you mean he was defeated?" Miyuki asked.

"You see? His team was the prime dark horse of the championship." The student explained. "A no-name private school, not worth talking about. His team rose so fast it was like a miracle had happened."

"All because of his drive and leadership, he brought his team to the national stage." The boy gritted his teeth. "He lost in the semifinals to the Soubu High Soccer Team. Soubu won the cup shortly after."

"What? Soubu Municipal High in Chiba?" Miyuki grimaced.

"Huh, President is aware of it?"

"We didn't expect you to know about it."

"Of course I do." Miyuki explained. "Hachiman's little sister plans to enroll there."

"Whoa, the little sister of PR Manager Hikigaya?"

"But I never knew they had such a strong team." Miyuki rubbed his chin. "They're also a college preparatory school like us."

Soubu Municipal High was hardly comparable to Shuchiin Private Elite Academy. However, it was still a top college preparation school in Japan. It was considered the best High School in Chiba Prefecture.

Indeed, Hachiman had actually made it his second choice after Shuchiin.

"They've always had a strong team." Shindo from the Soccer Club suddenly chimed in. "Still... Shijo Mikado's team was considered unstoppable... he was considered a genius who would stop at nothing until he got the ball inside the goal."

"Until that guy appeared. Their newly appointed Captain, the Demon Prince of Soubu... thinking about him makes me shiver with fear."

What a scary guy. Shindou was hardly weak as a player himself. And he was known to be fearless.

But not only did he fear Mikado, but that mysterious person who beat him...

Miyuki wondered what kind of person could crush Mikado's momentum like that. All this time, in his mind, the image of Mikado was perfect. Miyuki almost felt his belief shatter, especially when he saw Mikado talking with Kaguya.

Danger!

No matter what, this person is a danger!

They were distant relatives, with the Shijo being a foreign offshoot of the Shinomiya clan. However, the relationship between the two clans was exceedingly hostile.

All of these changes could be attributed to the person known as Yukinoshita Yukino. The hidden ice queen of Shuchiin!

After their contest day, Kaguya seemed to grow closer to the hostile Shijo Maki. This was because Shijo Maki was one of Yukino's closest friends, and Kaguya wanted to get closer to Yukino. Naturally, Kaguya had to suck it up, discard her pride, and cope with Maki's presence.

Usually, Maki would try to throw a barb in Kaguya's direction. However, Yukino always snarked back her direction with the finest counterattacks known to humankind, defending Kaguya. Therefore, Maki was forced to be less abusive. At least when the three were together.

Her sense of fairness had earned her a reputation in Shuchiin in a way that mirrored Hachiman's rise to power.

Miyuki could only feel mild relief when Kaguya openly beelined to approach him. "Good afternoon, President."

"Right, Shinomiya." Miyuki grimaced. "He just transferred into my class. Do you two know each other?"

"I supposed you could say that, since we met as children." Kaguya flicked her hair. "Though if you ask if we're close..."

That answer wasn't helping at all. If anything, that mischievous expression was grating. It was clear that Kaguya had said it to provoke him. Miyuki could not show her even a hint of weakness. Otherwise...

"Oh, are you jealous that we have known each other for a long time?" Kaguya made a mocking expression. "How cute."

Miyuki would never let that happen!

"I see." Miyuki coldly huffed as he turned his back toward her and left with his lunchbox. "See you later."

He had let his jealousy and emotional dependence get the best of him last week. These feelings were nothing but the weakness of his mind. Never let your weakness be shown in front of Kaguya.

Otherwise, she will look down on you!

All this time, Miyuki had truly believed it. And for the most part, he was not wrong to think that way. Kaguya, in the past, was ruthless and antisocial.

Never again.

Unfortunately, Kaguya couldn't be more misunderstood than today.

As Miyuki's broad and athletic shoulders became more and more distant, Kaguya could not help but break apart inside. She was only teasing him a little, but for him to give her the cold shoulder...

Kaguya thought she had made a grave mistake!

She planned to find a suitable opportunit so they could have lunch together, though, of course, she was still too prideful to ask him outright. In her usual form, Kaguya would try to abuse opportunities and use other people to achieve her goal.

"Ehh? Miyuki isn't coming with us?" Chika asked.

"That seems to be the case." Kaguya tried her best to hide her disappointment and anxiety.

"Mmm, strange," Chika mumbled. "Hayasaka-san, do you want to have lunch with us?"

"Nah, I'm having lunch in the cafeteria," Hayasaka said as she waved her hand, with Mirin and Subaru in tow. "See you later in the Council."

Most people saw that Hayasaka looked awfully cheerful, but Kaguya knew just how done Hayasaka was with her antics. Kaguya had learned nothing from the last week and the week before. This was the end of June. If she maintained this pace, their Summer would be wasted for nothing.

"You've already done enough. Don't yield." The cold and rational Kaguya told her panicked, lovestruck side.

The rational part of Kaguya thought it was too hasty and reckless to give up now. After all, she still had her pride to maintain. And if Miyuki could get mad at such simple teasing, was he worth it?

Objectively, Kaguya had done nothing wrong. This belief was immutable and could never be revised.

Shinomiya Kaguya was a complicated person. She was all too aware of her unpleasant personality, but she could not reject it. She needed that personality to survive the hellhole of the Shinomiya household.

Kaguya was slightly eased when Hayasaka whispered to her. "It's not entirely your fault. Just leave him be."

?

Kaguya widened her eyes at Hayasaka, but she wordlessly smiled and left.

It was not entirely Kaguya's fault? This meant Hayasaka didn't fully blame her. Still, after the grueling June, from the exams to the tense aftermath, Hayasaka almost always chastised Kaguya for something.

This time, Hayasaka was specific about it not being her fault. Not entirely, anyway. It was still a weakness on Miyuki's part that caused him to get mad.

While the cold side of Kaguya smugly acknowledged it, part of her was even more concerned.

Just leave him be.

Right.

Kaguya decided to do just that.

---

やはり, 彼らが望む告白は間違っている. S2
As expected, the Confession they want is wrong S2

Original Story by: Watari Wataru and Akasaka Aka
Written by: @ZeroXSEED, Co-written by: @GoukaRyuu​

---

Chapter 32 - The boys wanted to be loved, part 1

---

What Kaguya had gotten wrong was Miyuki wasn't mad at her. In any other circumstance involving other people, Miyuki would never feel so shaken. Kaguya had few classmates or other students she was close with, and fewer than half were men. In fact, Miyuki knew at least one.

That would be Hikigaya Hachiman.

A few months ago, Miyuki would even express his jealousy toward Hachiman. Until he understood very well that the chances of romance blooming between Hachiman and Kaguya was next to zero.

Although they understood and cared about each other enough to be considered friends, they couldn't stand each other's presence for long stretches of time.

However, Shijo Mikado was an outlier. Shijo Mikado was nominally Kaguya's childhood friend. Although the relationships between the Shinomiyas and Shijos was awful, the family feud didn't bleed into the relatively younger children.

In other words, the risk of Shijo Mikado becoming a suitor for Kaguya was not zero. Worse, because this compunded the fact that Miyuki already considered him a rival in academics.

Miyuki was being crushed under the weight of his own insecurity and sighed.

Only to be shocked when he found a guy crying his heart out.

"Wha..."

Miyuki vaguely recalled this guy from his class, though his memories were jumbled. He remembered this guy looking different than he was now.

"Is that you, Tanuma?" Miyuki asked.

Tanuma Tsubasa, early in March and before they became second years, came to consult with Shirogane Miyuki. Tsubasa had a girl he liked. That girl was also a classmate of Miyuki: Kashiwagi Nagisa.

Back then, Tsubasa looked meek and weedy. Tsubasa right now had dyed his hair, cutting it in a more aggressive, spiky way and was at least as fit as the average high school student should be. He even left his white shirt unbuttoned.

Yet, he was crying soundly.

"What happened?"

"I was rejected." Tsubasa bawled. "Kashiwagi-san rejected me."

"Ah..."

Miyuki was expecting a worst-case scenario. It turned out to be THE worst scenario.

"She rejected you?" Miyuki winced.

"I tried my best to change myself to become her ideal man. I found out that her type isn't the soft kind. She prefers someone brave, carefree, and perhaps even a bit rebellious. The past me was far from that. I was not ready to confess."

"I tried my best." Tsubasa continued. "I really tried my best, and now that I gathered the courage to confess, I was rejected."

This was Shirogane Miyuki's fault.

Miyuki and Hachiman had had a heated debate about how to solve it. Hachiman thought that Tsubasa had to give up and seek someone else. Miyuki insisted that Tsubasa needed to change himself and appeal to her.

"Why did you get rejected?" Miyuki's face darkened. "Did she at least give a reason?"

If it was because Tsubasa wasn't good enough... then... Miyuki was not sure how he would be able to face him anymore.

"She said she had someone else she liked." Tsubasa wiped his tears, finally able to calm down. "They met during Golden Week, and she was smitten with him ever since. Although, at that time, they weren't close enough for her to be serious, he was supposed to transfer to Shuchiin."

"Wait." Miyuki tried to do his math. "Was that person Shijo Mikado?!"

"..."

Tsubasa's eyes were bloodshot.

"I mean, think about it. That guy transferred to our class so suddenly. Everyone had been talking about him." Miyuki pointed out.

"Right." Tsubasa rubbed his eyes again and huffed. "The timing makes so much sense."

"AAAAAGH!"

They heard a scream from behind and noticed a panicked Mikado screaming his lungs out. "There's no way that's what happened!"

Miyuki and Tsubasa were collectively agape from shock and almost stumbled off the pavement they sat on.

"Ah, I'm sorry for surprising you." Mikado winced in realization and politely bowed. "I just noticed the two of you while searching for someone else. We're classmates, right? Besides, I've also known Tsubasa-kun for a long time."

"Right. I didn't think we were that close, Mikado-san." Tsubasa suspiciously responded. Although he was shaken and intimidated.

"Ah, actually, my sister..." Mikado was about to say something but felt a spike of murderous intent and changed his wording. "I mean. You've been my twin sister's friend since you were both kids."

"Ah, that is true." Tsubasa said, now that he was less guarded. "After all, you're Maki-san's twin brother."

"Is that the case?" Miyuki questioned.

"Yeah, I'm not that close with her, but I also knew Kashiwagi Nagisa for quite a long while, so it's not like we just met." Mikado hurriedly explained. "Nagisa-san said she met him during Golden Week, right? So that guy can't be me!"

"Right." Miyuki realized. "So it was a different guy? Is he transferring, too?"

"Yes. I know this guy to some degree." Mikado elaborated. "That was also the person who crushed my dream to win the National Championship."

Miyuki twitched.

"The Captain of the Soubu High Soccer Club?" Miyuki barked in disbelief. "Are you serious?!"

"I can't think of anyone else." Mikado shrugged. "The timing of it is very particular. It is also possible that Nagisa-san had seen him for a long while because of the Prince Takamado Cup and fell in love that way."

The world sure is small. Hearing this, Tsubasa was about to cry again!

"To be honest? I was trying to find him, but he's nowhere to be seen." Mikado explained further as he sat down beside Tsubasa. "But I'm glad I stumbled on you two somehow."

That was not a lie!

Since his arrival to Shuchiin this morning, his heart had been uneasy. Although he was so close to what could be considered a perfect male entity, all it caused was people to feel intimidated. Boys envied him, while the girls only saw him from afar.

It was hard to forget when Miyuki glared at him in class, full of hate and disdain. That's why Mikado tried to give up finding a friend in class and tried to seek out other transfer students.

"My name is Shijo Mikado." He offered his hand. "Please take care of me."

"We already know each other, but let's make it formal." Tsubasa grasped his outstretched hand. "Tanuma Tsubasa."

"Shirogane Miyuki, President of the Shuchiin High Student Council." Miyuki cautiously exchanged a handshake as well.

"You're THE Shirogane Miyuki?!"

What the fuck is that reaction?

"What?"

"The one who always scores first place in the National Mock Exam!" Mikado excitedly explained. "I always feel amazed every time they'd show the scores, and you always placed first without fail."

"Hold on a second." Miyuki defensively help up his hand to stop the other boy. "Weren't you the one who beat me last year? I always found it suspicious that your name never came up again! Why are you trying to be humble now?"

"No, you misunderstand!" Mikado flailed. "That one time I placed first, I was studying to near death so that my parents would let me do as I wanted in high school. In this case, I wanted to focus on soccer."

"And if I want to focus on soccer, I couldn't give my all in the Mock Exam. That's why I never joined again."

Huh?

"Compared to that, someone like you who always participated, winning first place every time. That's amazing!"

Mikado suddenly turned gloomy and lowered his head. "...Saying that... my team's spirit was completely crushed in the match against Soubu High. As it is, they have no chance to win the Nationals now."

Mikado was forced to give up because his team could not keep up anymore.

"That guy and I... we're both equally good, I think." Mikado sadly smiled. "But if we're talking average player skill, Soubu left us outmatched."

Huh.

Now that Miyuki heard it, it made so much sense. If there was someone anywhere close in skill to Mikado, then it meant the rest of the team needed to carry their own weight.

But Mikado's team was too weak to stand on their own. And they collapsed under pressure from the superior soccer team.

A team was only as strong as the weakest member. Hachiman always said this., which was why he hated sports based on teamwork.

"So... how did that guy come here anyway?" Tsubasa raised his hand, confused. "Can't be because... he also likes Kashiwagi-san?"

"Nah. It was because of me." Mikado suddenly blushed. "I was distraught when my team lost their will to fight, and I showed him my worst side. So he said he would take responsibility for me."

If the girls heard this, their imaginations would soar sky-high into the stratosphere. Unfortunately, Tsubasa and Miyuki weren't impressed.

It was like they were looking at living garbage!

"Hey, I didn't ask him to come!" Mikado clarified. "But to be honest, I am relieved that he did. Besides, he also knows someone else here... I mean..."

Mikado coughed and flustered. Miyuki found his behavior weird, but if he was being honest, Mikado sounded like an awkward but well-meaning guy. Perhaps Miyuki was being too harsh on him.

"Well, I am sorry to hear about your loss." Miyuki smiled.

Tsubasa patted Mikado's shoulder. "There are times when, no matter how hard you try... Lady Luck fails you."

"...I'm sorry about your rejection." Mikado clenched his fist and patted Tsubasa's back with his free hand. "Stay strong, Tsubasa-kun."

To be honest, Miyuki understood that. Even so... he felt he couldn't accept it.

"In the end, Hachiman turned out to be right." Miyuki looked at the cloudy sky. "No, he is always correct in his judgment. That's why everyone trusts him."

"I'm sorry that it ended like this, Tanuma." Miyuki earnestly smiled at Tsubasa, but he could not hide his pain. "It was my fault that you missed your chance."

"That's not... it was my choice to..."

Tsubasa tried to deny it, but it would not change the fact that Tsubasa decided to follow Miyuki's suggestion to change himself. Hachiman also warned Tsubasa that Nagisa's kindness and care toward Tsubasa was not romantic.

A nice girl is always kind to everyone. To Hikigaya Hachiman, this was the immutable truth.

It was always Miyuki Shirogane's fault.

...

"At the end of the day, romance is all about timing." Yukino firmly said. "Once you miss that timing, it is hard to grasp another chance."

As she said this, she was hiding somewhere close by with none other than Shijo Maki, watching the guys wallowing in collective despair. Kaguya and Hayasaka were standing behind them.

The girls could not hear what the boys were talking about, but they could vaguely guess that Miyuki and Mikado were trying to console the heartbroken Tsubasa.

Yukino was talking about Tsubasa's rejection by Nagisa. However, everyone there knew the subtext about her fling with Hachiman last year. How they grew close over the inital three months of their first year, only to then grew distant over a single Summer.

And since then, their paths had separated, only meeting once or twice a month, both proverbially and literally. The love story that could have bloomed between the two of them had died just as it had started budding, never to fully grow and blossom.

"I don't want to say this, but objectively speaking, this is the best time for you to confess to him, Shijou-san." Hayasaka told the red-haired girl. "Tanuma-kun right now is at his weakest, so the chances of him accepting are high."

Of course, rely on Hayasaka to scheme even in the direst of circumstances.

"There's no way I would do that." Maki contemptuously seethed. "I am not some evil woman who'll exploit a man's weakness and insecurity to get what I want!"

Although Maki didn't say this about anyone in particular, Kaguya felt like she had gotten stabbed through her heart. After all, she always tried her best to exploit Shirogane Miyuki's weaknesses.

"...I will try to confess right now." Maki manically grinned. "So I can heal his wounds, just like he healed my heart back then!"

Give it back! My precious conscience! Kaguya screamed inside.

Yukino sighed. Sometimes, she thought Maki had a very bipolar attitude. It worried her a lot.

"You're not going to stop her, Yukinoshita-san?" Kaguya asked. "I'm not even sure what to say."

"No. Maki-san might be foolish at times. And even do some insane things occasionally, but, I think she is doing the right thing here." Yukino told Kaguya. "Who's to say Tanuma-kun won't fall for someone else once his wounds have healed? Maki-san should not miss this opportunity and end up regretting it twice."

"What do you think the possibility of her succeeding is?" Kaguya nodded and rubbed her chin, thoughtfully.

"Tanuma-kun has been oblivious to her feelings all these years. He might never see Maki-san as girlfriend material... but..."

Yukino hesitated to continue, so after a moment Hayasaka helpfully took over.

"As long as she makes him aware of her feelings, now that Kashiwagi-san's place in his heart has began to crumble... the possibility is not insignificant." Hayasaka raised her hands. "Human relationships change all the time, no?"

"That way, Tanuma-kun will think about Shijo-san. And perhaps reconsider their relationship based on his newfound insight. Besides, he just got rejected. What does he have to lose by accepting? His mental fortitude was hardly the best." Hayasaka cheerfully pointed out. "Just my opinion, the chances of Shijo-san being accepted are quite high."

"That actually makes a lot of sense." Both Yukino and Kaguya said at the same time.

Those two shared the exact same brain cell. A particularly prodigious cell, granted.

"But really, the girls around me have such bad taste in men." Yukino dejectedly said. "Nagisa-san fell for that guy and Maki-san for Tanuma-kun... heavens."

"In my opinion, your taste wasn't much better." Kaguya bluntly commented. Just thinking about falling in love with Hachiman made Kaguya feel ill.

Yukino cringed hard. "I'm afraid it is hard to refute that. My taste might be even more rotten."

"You got over him, did you not?" Kaguya tried her best to cheer Yukino up. "I'm sure there will be a better guy somewhere. Someone that fits you well."

"All I can assure you is that person would not be President Shirogane Miyuki." Yukino scoffed and left. "You don't have to be so worried, Shinomiya-san."

Kaguya's jaw dropped. Not just that, it was like she was about to lose bowel control at any second.

Yukino KNEW?!

"I'm not sure what you're trying to imply, Yukinoshita-san." Kaguya coughed, still in denial. "Is President Shirogane not good enough for you?"

"I admire his spirit in his strive to be a model student. But beyond that, I have no particular fondness for Shirogane Miyuki."

"I... I see."

At that moment, Hayasaka understood that Yukino and Hachiman's growing relationship back then wasn't a coincidence. And for some reason, it bothered her a lot.

Looking back, she saw Maki, had just bluntly confessed to Tsubasa in front of a shocked Miyuki and Mikado.

Even today, the atmosphere of Shuchiin High was changing yet again.

"I wonder what Hikigaya-san is doing right now." Hayasaka looked at her phone. Specifically, the clock.

And so, the lunch break came to a close.

 

[ZeroXSEED]

"I always hate nice girls."
"Just greetings with them will get them on your mind."
"Start texting each other, and your heart will be set a flutter."
"If they call you, you're pretty much done for. Enjoy staring at your log, grinning like a fool. However, don't be fooled. That's what they call kindness. If you're nice to me, you're also nice to everyone else."
"End up with that kind of expectation, and you'll always end up with that misunderstanding."
"To a nice girl, you're not special. You're just like everyone else."

• Hikigaya Hachiman

Ishigami Yuu thought Hachiman was being edgy. It was so bad that Miyuki still made fun of Hachiman occasionally. Of course, Miyuki would get punished with a barrage of snark that destroyed his self-esteem, but that was beside the point.

Yuu always wondered if this was why Hachiman could be so carefree, even though he was surrounded by girls that each had varying degrees of romantic interest toward him.

Hayasaka-senpai was the most obvious and vocal about her interest in him. The cheerful gal girl was not shy. Quite the opposite, she was very outgoing. However, Hachiman refused to treat her seriously. He would vehemently reject her advances at every opportunity.

Though, in fairness, Yuu thought Hayasaka wasn't serious and committed enough. If he was in Hachiman's position, he, too, would doubt the authenticity of Hayasaka Ai's feelings.

The second girl was Fujiwara Chika. Yuu didn't have an outstanding opinion of her as a senior figure because she was clumsy and self-centered, lied constantly, and always got other involved with her problems. However, Chika was generally kind and never treated Yuu poorly unless he snarked at her, so he didn't hate her as a person.

Chika often flirted with Hachiman in varying degrees of intimacy. Sometimes even physically. But, she treated it casually, insisting that she and Hachiman were close friends, nothing more.

Outside the Student Council, there was also the former treasurer, Ryuju Momo. Of the three, she was the closest emotionally to Hachiman. They were practically glued to the hip, like actual siblings.

Recently, however, their relationship had become turbulent. They had been fighting on and off. Everyone also noticed that not only did Momo become more feminine, but also generally gentler as a person. There was a strange tension and awkwardness between her and Hachiman that had been not been there before.

The three girls were ambiguous and suspicious in their own way. Looking at it from an outsider's perspective like this, Yuu couldn't blame Hachiman for denying that he had a harem of some sort.

"Are you, perhaps, retarded?" Those were Hachiman's words to someone voicing that idea out loud to him.

But, looking at the weird scene before him, Yuu was convinced Hachiman had a point.

"As it turns out, Hachiman was not wrong. Not in the slightest." Miyuki ominously clasped his hands together in front of his face. "Not only did Kashiwagi not see you as a love interest, but Shijo Maki had been in love with you for a long time."

"Mikado-san, are you sure you only knew about this recently?" Tsubasa anxiously asked the red-haired guy who was sitting around the same table with them.

"I did have my suspicions, but I'm as surprised as you are." Mikado explained. "I've always thought she had gotten a childhood crush on someone, but I never thought she would have kept those embers alive for so long. And soo passionately at that."

"So, how do you plan to respond, Tanuma?" Miyuki asked.

"To be honest, I feel a bit touched." Tsubasa wryly said with a flushed face. "But I feel that if I just accept it thoughtlessly, I'd be trash."

"Somehow, I honestly doubt she feels that way." Mikado expressed a horrified face. "After all, she confessed to you the moment she knew you'd been rejected."

Miyuki's tense face was full of calculation, and he nodded. "I believe she did this because she wanted to rewrite Kashiwagi-san's presence in your heart."

Tsubasa slammed his face into the table. "I don't know what to think or feel anymore."

"Clever girl." Miyuki and Mikado simultaneously remarked.

By confessing to Tsubasa in his weakest state, Maki could slip inside the cracks in his heart and offer him a brief sense of relief. However, it was much harder for him to brush her confession aside.

Wicked, but, all is fair in love and war. It would have been kind and considerate for Maki to wait until Tsubasa had sorted out his feelings. But, it would have also been stupid on her part. Sometimes, you need to be selfish to win.

"Ara? So many boys here. What a surprise. Why are you here instead of in the main office?"

Chika was surprised to see new faces on the Student Council's lower floor. The building's first floor was generally unused. There was barely anything except the simplest form of furniture there.

"We figured it was a bit impolite to use the office for gossip." Mikado politely replied. "Ah, by the way, have we not been acquainted? I'm sure we're in the same class."

"My name is Fujiwara Chika!" Chika offered a brief handshake. "Nice to know you, Shijo-san. You're Shijo Maki-san's twin brother, right?"

"Yes. And I presume you're the daughter of Minister Fujiwara Daichi."

"That is correct." Chika nodded. "What are you gossiping about, anyway?"

"So, anyway..." Miyuki hesitated to drag her in, fearing the potential chaos. "Tanuma, do you mind sharing? It's fine to keep it between the boys."

"Ehh? Why am I always been the one excluded? Kaguya-san disappeared after we got our lunch yesterday!" Chika whined.

Yuu could not say he was envious. He preferred not to get dragged into things. So he decided to leave.

Only for Chika to yank his collar and force him to sit down. "No. You stay, too."

This is why he didn't respect her as his senior. Chika was way too spontaneous and self-centered.

"To be honest, I'm fine," Tsubasa told Chika. "So anyway, Maki-san confessed to me yesterday."

"Woah! Really? Congratulations!"

"Hold on. Tanuma hasn't really decided what to do about it." Miyuki stopped her, thinking she misunderstood. But she flicked his forehead instead.

"Tsk. Miyuki-kun, you sure has no sense of romance in your mind." Chika chided. "No matter the response, a confession is a precious gift to accept."

"Right. I agree with that." Miyuki calmed down. "That's why we're thinking about it seriously now."

"Is that the case? Then let me help with it." Chika said. "Let's all move to the second floor. There's way too little privacy here. And we can have some tea while we're at it!"

Yuu was surprised to see Chika being so considerate... until he saw her disgustingly perverted face. Clearly, she was thirsty for gossip, and would, therefore, make herself comfortable listening.

"Women." He thought.

Well, Ishigami Yuu just wanted to play games in peace. So going upstairs would be helpful. And so, after getting settled in the office, the boys began to tell Chika the story from the beginning, which took a while.

Yuu, already knowing the story, played his portable console on mute.

"I see." Chika nodded as she wore her favorite detective hat and cape (Miyuki didn't know where she stored the things). "Objectively speaking, Hikigaya-san was dead-on about his analysis. As expected of him."

"Right?" Miyuki said sorrowfully. "If only I hadn't been so overconfident."

It was rare for Miyuki to openly show a moment of weakness like this. Even Chika was taken aback. He must have felt super guilty about it.

"Well, I can safely say overconfidence has bit me in the backside many times, so I can relate." Chika winced. "But here is the thing, do you think love is ever rational?"

"Hmmm..." The boys scrunched up their faces. They were seriously thinking.

"Is it not normal for someone to fall in love with another because of something?" Miyuki argued with a rhetorical question. "Physical appeal, wealth, power, personality."

"There is always a logical reason for someone to fall in love." Mikado spoke up in agreement.

"Right. After all, I fell in love with Kashiwagi-san because she's kind and cute. Was it wrong for me to feel that way?" Tsubasa asked.

"Of course, it wasn't." Chika crossed her wrists. "There's no such thing as the wrong kind of love. So, let us flip the scenario: what if someone had something you disliked more than what you liked about them? Could you confidently say you wouldn't fall for them? And if you fell for them, would it be rational?"

"Uhhh..."

The boys were a bit hesitant.

Yuu could arrogantly say he would fall out of love quickly. But he had never fallen in love, so he could never be sure. But he knew love changed how a person would see and perceive things.

"The answer is you can't." Chika slammed the table. "Love is a feeling of attraction that transcends rationality and transactionality. This is not something a monster of logic like Hikigaya-san can understand."

"No. I say Hikigaya-san understands this but is unwilling to admit it." Chika corrected herself. "You've heard how he talks about Yukinoshita-san," here she looked directly at Miyuki and Yuu, "but how does he act around her?"

"Hachiman isn't someone who lies often, so he always says what he thinks. He talks a lot of shit about Yukinoshita, believe me." Miyuki rubbed his chin in understanding. "But for someone who seems to loath her so much, he sure is comfortable being around her."

Chika smugly grinned. "That's what love is. To like someone no matter how many things you dislike about a person."

Yuu did not miss the slight pain in Chika's face. It was just a split-second moment, but he noticed.

"Love and friendship goes hand in hand. The point is, you can't really predict love based on mathematics." Chika concluded. "Just because you know that liking someone will be painful doesn't mean you can stop liking them."

"You're right." Tsubasa sighed. "Even right now, even after being rejected and knowing she likes someone else, I still like Kashiwagi-san."

"But can you say honestly you could reject Maki-san right away?"

"No." Tsubasa shook his head and was about to cry. "I'm the worst."

"Hardly. You're just being too considerate of others, Tanuma-kun." Chika patted his arm. "To be a man who can stand proudly, you need to be more selfish."

"So, here is my suggestion on how to respond to Maki-san." Chika proposed. "First, you tell her to give you some time to move on and think about her feelings. Maki-san has liked you for so many years. Her feelings won't fade easily. She can and will wait for your answer."

"Second, once you are ready, you start dating her with a condition, if you find that you can't move on and start liking her you should quickly break things off." Chika said.

"How can you say that?" Tsubasa asked in disbelief.

"Many might call you a jerk for it, but Maki-san openly offered herself as a rebound. She, too, will accept it."

Miyuki noticed the shift in Mikado's mood. No matter how distant they were, would Mikado accept it? Miyuki felt unsettled that Chika, of all people, could propose such a cruel idea.

But it wasn't like what Chika said was wrong. In fact, many people did just that. Relationships form and break within a two or three-week period. 'Normal' people all do it that way.

This group of dateless virgins weren't the 'normal' ones.

"It all comes down to your intentions." Chika said. "No lies, no pretense. If you truly care about Maki-san's feelings, answer them honestly. Even if it hurts either of you, no one will be betrayed."

"That's right." Mikado suddenly lost his smile. "I believe you can treat her well, Tsubasa-kun. I don't mind if you accept her like this, even if I preferred you to think about it more first."

"Mikado-san..." Tsubasa was touched. "Thank you."

"But if you do nasty things with her before you feel settled properly, I will have you castrated and deported." Mikado grinned.

"...." Everyone was deathly silent.

"Isn't that a bit much?" Miyuki winced and tried to mediate. "Surely someone as kind as Tanuma would not..."

Besides, he's spineless. What would he do? Force her?

"You don't understand. It is my sister that I don't trust." Mikado was panicking. "A baby trap is absolutely on the table here. Besides, do you know this guy's family's history?"

"What?" Tsubasa blinked.

"Your grandfather had your father at seventeen. Your father had you at seventeen." Mikado pointed out. "The third time is the charm, so I WILL have you warned in advance."

Tsubasa was quiet as he tried to process everything.

"...You're right." Tsubasa looked so dead inside. "I... I will do my best to resist."

Mikado shivered. "My sister is a bit weird, so think about how you'll answer her feelings."

"Noted."

"Just in case, anyway, get as much protection as possible." Miyuki handed Tsubasa a box.

"..." Tsubasa froze.

"IS THAT A BOX OF CONDOMS?!" Ishigami jolted.

"AHH!" Chika, Mikado, and Tsubasa all freaked out. "WHERE DID YOU GET THOSE FROM?!"

"Please calm down, they're not mine. Ryuju left them here for whatever reason. Not sure where she got them or why, but I'm too embarrassed to dispose of them or take them out of the office." Miyuki scratched his head. "So I've had them hidden in the cupboard."

"Ish, Momo-san sure can be unpredictable." Chika was so disgusted she kept poking the box with her trusty paper fan. "I didn't know they came in boxes this big."

"Well, they're usually sold in smaller retail packs of 3, 5, or 12." Ishigami bluntly explained. "They're in plain sight but embarrassing to look at. I have never seen such a bulky pack of them in my life."

"Then Tanuma can have it. Just in case." Miyuki shrugged.

---

]やはり, 彼らが望む告白は間違っている. S2
As expected, the Confession they want is wrong S2

Original Story by: Watari Wataru and Akasaka Aka
Written by: @ZeroXSEED, Co-written by: @GoukaRyuu​

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Chapter 33 - The boys wanted to be loved, part 2

---

And so, the boys went to do their own business and scattered, leaving Miyuki, Yuu, and Chika in the office. However, Miyuki decided that he probably had to do contingency work for once in Hachiman's place and keep the school peaceful.

Then Iino Miko arrived, joining the stragglers.

"Fujiwara-senpai, I'm kind of amazed." Yuu suddenly said as they compiled the documents together. "You're quite insightful when it comes to romance."

"Am I? Happy to hear that from Ishigami-kun, of all people."

What do you mean 'of all people'?

"But really, thanks for the compliment."

"Likewise."

"I think it is normal for someone to be observant like that." Chika closed her eyes. "When you get obsessed, you have tunnel vision and can't see the big picture."

"When you get obsessed... you have a tunnel vision." Miko repeated, thoughtful.

"Because I am not emotionally involved, I could judge the situation objectively. If I had an emotional investment in this argument, I might not be as reliable as you see me today."

Hmmm.

"What about you, Ishigami-kun? Do you have love troubles? Let this Onee-san solve it for you." Chika patted her chest proudly.

Ishigami couldn't say he had love trouble. But he was thinking about things that had happened since his enrollment here. That nagging, weird feeling from someone she recently became close with.

"Do you think Hikigaya-senpai was right about his prejudice against nice girls?"

When asked about that, Chika physically paused.

"What was that about prejudice?" Miko curiously asked.

"He said that if nice girls are kind to you, they're kind to everyone else. So you're not special and should never take their kindness the wrong way." Yuu explained. "Don't fall in love just because someone is nice to you."

"Why? Do you agree with him?" Miko asked.

"I don't know." Yuu told her. "To be honest, part of me agreed, and part of me disagreed."

"I see." Chika laughed. "Then we have the same opinion."

"Really?"

"When Hikigaya-san said that if a girl is nice to him, she is nice to everyone else, that is true. Think about his abrasive temperament. Do you think anyone would treat him nicely without natural friendliness?"

Woah, she really roasted him.

"Well, you're not wrong." Miko winced.

"Indeed." Yuu nodded.

"I believe he is right about that part. But here is the thing." Chika wiggled her finger. "Do you think a nice girl would treat the person she liked just like she did everyone else?"

"I don't think so." Yuu postulated. "I don't know how she would treat that person, but if she wanted to show affection, she would do things differently."

"If it's me, I'll try to be nicer to him, but..." Miko blushed. "I don't know, maybe I'd be too embarrassed."

Miko didn't want to admit it, but she could imagine being harsher on a boy she liked.

"Bingo." Chika gave two thumbs up. "No matter what, that special person is special to her. Although it takes effort and willpower to show your affection, it's natural to show that person is different from others."

"In this sense, Hikigaya-san is completely wrong about his deduction whenever it involves himself. Komachi-chan, his little sister, said he would never notice unless you said it to his face."

"That makes sense." Miko and Yuu nodded.

"Oh well," Chika said. "I'm off to the tabletop club."

When the two were left to their own devices, a strange, awkward quietness formed between Yuu and Miko. Most of their early relationship had been turbulent due to Yuu's rebellious behavior and her anally strict enforcement.

Yuu had since reformed and only did what he wanted in the student council office. This annoyed Miko, but they had an agreement.

"Hey." Miko suddenly approached him as Yuu was playing on his portable console.

Uh oh. Yuu thought.

"Do you think Fujiwara-senpai..."

"She likes Hikigaya-senpai." Yuu helpfully finished for her as he resumed playing. "Romantically."

"Figures. Since when did you realize it?" Miko sat beside him.

"Just now," Yuu said. "I've had my suspicions, but think about how Fujiwara-senpai reframes everything with her words."

"She said something about objectivity because she wasn't emotionally involved," Miko recalled. "Does this not refer to Hikigaya-senpai as well?"

"Indeed it does." Yuu nodded.

"Because, Hikigaya-senpai is prejudiced, he was unable to distinguish how different her actions are towards him when compared to everyone else." Miko concluded. "Hikigaya-senpai wasn't able to recognize that she liked him because they were emotionally close."

"True, but was it just prejudice or..." Yuu finished playing and shut down his game. "He might have a traumatic experience involving nice girls."

"Ah."

Miko honestly could tell. Hachiman never saw her as a potential love interest. That's why he was always openly kind to her. Instead, despite being close to Chika and Momo, he was always guarded. And let's not forget his reaction to Hayasaka Ai's open approach.

"Although Hikigaya-senpai is willing to be friends with girls, he completely shuts his heart to the idea of dating." Miko widened her eyes. "Because he's afraid to open his heart again, lest he get hurt."

"Right." Yuu thought he understood how Hachiman could be so composed in front of girls, something Yuu struggled with a lot.

"Are you rooting for her?" Miko huffed. "I'm sure I will be."

"Why?"

"Because his two other suitors are much worse." Miko blew up. "Hayasaka-senpai is so clingy and shameless. It makes for a bad example for the other students! And Ryuju-senpai is an actual delinquent! Can you imagine what disaster would happen if they started dating?"

Oh yes, of course. Why would Ishigami Yuu guess differently? Miko always idolized Fujiwara Chika. Though Chika was not without her flaws, in Miko's eyes she was still the best out of the three.

"So?" Miko loomed over him glaring questioningly.

"Eh," Yuu shrugged. "I have no strong opinion one way or the other."

Miko chided him, but at the same time, her face softened. Both of them had been victims of malicious gossip, so they were apprehensive about gossiping about people close to them.

"Fair enough." She sighed. "What about you? Something bugging you lately?"

"Our classmates have been a little nicer to me, and the weird thing is that it's actually made me uncomfortable." Yuu sighed. "Even though I always wanted this to happen."

"That's the power of reputation." Miko grinned. "Not only have you been absolved because Ogino apologized, but you haven't done anything bad since you entered Shuchiin. Plus, you've been helping us in the Disciplinary Committee. Some people will look at you in a better light."

"In a way, could you find a better way to do an image change?" Miko looked at him and smiled brightly. "If you keep this up, I wouldn't have to scold you anymore."

Ah, human minds really are fickle. But Iino Miko was not wrong. Although Yuu's reason for helping the Disciplinary Committee was to ensure Miko didn't go too far.

(And he wanted to disturb all the lovey-dovey couples at school out of jealousy, so it wasn't exactly a noble intention on his part.)

But still, actions speak louder than words. Even Miko was becoming nicer. That was proof. Yuu didn't think his personality had changed in the slightest, yet people's behavior toward him had changed.

That was also how Yuu viewed the people around him. The moment they showed him a different side of themselves, the more it surprised him.

He shouldn't have been so surprised though. Humans aren't flat-faced creatures; even the most one-dimensional person had nuances. Yuu was chained down by the actions of his past into a monotonous prison imposed on himself, and the Student Council were the ones that had freed him.

"Thanks." Ishigami Yuu, for the first time in front of her, earnestly smiled back.

Miko blushed a bit and coughed. "Nevertheless, it is annoying for me to see you being such a slob in the Student Council just because it's technically outside school jurisdiction, so I'll leave."

As Miko went outside, she slapped her own face. It was weird to realize it now, but had Ishigami Yuu always been handsome? In fact, he might very well be one of the most gorgeous boys in the first year.

But, since he was always hunched over and didn't take care care of his appearance, no one could see it.

"Oh, come on, you're in high school and still weak to superficial things." Miko huffed. "There is more to a person than just their looks."

Miko was still waiting for her fated white prince to arrive.

Elsewhere...

Hayasaka's phone rang, and she excused herself to answer it.

"Mother? It's rare for you to call this early." Hayasaka answered with unbridled happiness.

"[Please don't be surprised, but... is Hikigaya-kun with you right now]?"

"No? I haven't seen him for most of the day, before lunchtime, actually."

"[Figures, please don't be too shocked. Actually, Hikigaya-kun's father was...]"

In the Tabletop Game Club room, Chika dropped her phone with a horrified face.

Meanwhile, Momo stood up so quickly that her chair toppled over. Her face was furious, and it terrorized the rest of the Stargazing Club members.

"Hikigaya-kun's father was stabbed." The collective parents told their kids. "And was sent to ER two hours ago."