After witnessing Shinichi's performance in the current student council and ensuring that he seems to be living better than before, everyone in the former student council went back to their respective homes.
Kaguya and Chika stood at the school gate, using an umbrella to shield themselves from the bright sky. Although they were supposed to be picked up by a driver, it hadn't arrived yet. After bidding farewell to Iino, who was walking to school, and Shirogane, who was about to leave on his bicycle, they started chatting while waiting for the bus.
"Fujiwara-san, may I ask something?" Since leaving the student council room, Kaguya had an unresolved issue bothering her, and now she finally asked Chika.
"Don't you feel uncomfortable seeing how close Asada-kun is to those girls?" Not only that, she even foolishly helped other girls and pushed them towards someone else.
Kaguya didn't quite understand this. Even if she didn't replace herself, just seeing Shinichi and a few women being affectionate from the other side of the sofa, she felt worthless to both Hayasaka and Chika. How could someone so shameless and unfaithful be liked by many women?
And why, even though Chika liked him a lot, could she do something more selfless than swallowing her jealousy?
If the person standing there was Shirogane Miyuki, Kaguya would never be calm for more than three seconds. Either she would reclaim Shirogane or call the assistant killer team and do something irrational.
"Kaguya-san, do you think I should feel uncomfortable?"
Surprisingly, Chika turned to her with a smile, even a bit proud in her tone.
Kaguya confused, nodded hesitantly. "It doesn't make sense... if you really like him."
"Of course!" Chika answered without hesitation. "I like Asada-kun the most. I haven't seen him much these past few weeks. It's really uncomfortable!"
As she said that, she lowered her eyes a bit. The sight of a girl in love unable to get any warmth made Kaguya feel quite pressured.
She couldn't help but think of the loss and sadness she felt when she didn't meet Shirogane for a few weeks during the summer vacation last year, even though she rarely paid attention to him. Chika's affection for Shinichi was no less important than her love for Shirogane.
In this regard, Kaguya was even more puzzled. Shinichi was clearly her favorite. Why didn't Chika declare war on her love rival now or proudly claim that she was the future winner?
This was totally unlike Chika's character.
"Kaguya-san, if you think so, it means Asada-kun and the others will think the same way."
Unexpectedly, Chika answered Kaguya with an unexpectedly rational tone.
"Although the girls might not know my feelings for Asada-kun yet... But now, as long as Asada-kun can understand, everything will be fine."
"Understand what?" Kaguya looked to the side of her face. Chika always laughed and joked but never seriously, liked to cry and laugh at the same time. One couldn't help but suspect that she had replaced her brain with something strange. Now, Chika looked very mature.
Staring at the sky, Chika spoke softly, and her voice was clear in Kaguya's ears.
"Understand that I'm doing this for him. As long as I keep helping him, hiding my jealous reactions, and understanding him like a senior who cares a lot about her junior, but unconsciously... Let him know that I'm actually forcing myself. I just don't want to make him uncomfortable, so I keep my distance from him in front of others, and I get along with those girls. If this goes on..."
Her voice stopped here, and she turned around, her eyes meeting Kaguya's as she showed a sly smile.
"Even if he can't like me more, the accumulated guilt and heartache will trap him."
Chika jumped into the water in front of her with determination.
"Hmph, you can't leave me again~"
After all, the most difficult thing to repay is a debt of gratitude, so this would basically make him follow her words!
Speaking so casually, Chika chuckled a few more times.
Kaguya stared at her as if she were stunned and unresponsive. After a while, she slowly expressed complicated emotions.
"As expected of a political family, it seems I have underestimated you, Fujiwara-san... I thought your slightly unorthodox thoughts and malicious intentions would only be used for things that benefit you, but I didn't expect you to use them in love like this."
"Kaguya-san, love is something good for you!" Chika corrected her seriously.
Kaguya sighed softly and smiled helplessly.
Although it sounded beautiful, the word "love" was always accompanied by sacrifice, and there was no equal exchange.
"Even so, there are people who have worked hard for it, pouring time and energy into it, until it becomes so generous that they themselves cannot recognize it."
Chika blinked her large eyes and tapped the umbrella handle.
"Kaguya-san, from which famous novel is this famous quote?"
Kaguya's face froze, and she coughed due to embarrassment. "Maybe it circulates on the Internet... I haven't read any famous novels."
"Kaguya-san, you're here again~"
Chika's laughter mixed with Kaguya's helpless voice.
"By the way, Fujiwara-san."
"Huh? What's up?"
Out of curiosity and somewhat worried as a good friend, Kaguya reluctantly asked.
"We've all witnessed Asada-kun's acting skills, not to mention his observational skills that are on par with Ishigami-kun. If someday your acting abilities are clear to him, have you ever thought about how to deal with it?"
Chika asked back with a puzzled expression: "Acting?"
Kaguya tried to explain more in detail: "He's the one hiding all reactions but showing his flaws for him to find..."
"Ah, that!" Chika waved her hand.
"That's not acting."
Kaguya murmured, "It's not acting... Which part?"
Chika just answered lightly.
"All of it!"
Coincidentally, a simple black car stopped in front of the school gate. Chika ran forward, opened the car door, returned to Kaguya, and said with a smile.
"Although it feels uncomfortable, Asada-kun seems very happy, so it's okay! Even if the cause is not mine, I will feel very happy."
"Just now, I realized that this is what it feels like to fall in love with someone... Oh, I can't portray more complex feelings than what's described in books!"
"See you tomorrow, Kaguya-san!"
Leaving with an untarnished smile despite the rain, she closed the car door in front of Kaguya's eyes, and the car drove away.
"...See you tomorrow."
After a long silence, Kaguya bowed her head and sighed softly.
"Falling in love really changes many people..."
Fortunately, the person liked by many was a good and dedicated person! Very different from a certain junior!
Thinking so happily, not long after, Kaguya's pickup truck arrived.
In the back seat, Hayasaka calmly opened the car door, with a towel and a hairdryer already prepared in her hands, just to prevent Kaguya from getting wet and catching a cold.
"Kaguya-sama, please get in quickly."
"Hayasaka, let me tell you something. Don't be surprised when you hear it..."
△
Student council room.
Watching Chika and the former student council members leave, Ichika restrained her smile, touching her chin with a slightly serious expression.
"Hmm, something isn't right..."
Her eyes narrowed, and a dangerous light flashed in them.
She knew it was time to reveal some real facts to certain people.