After breaking up, my ex asked me to win her back

"Enemy?"

Kagura Hikaru found it strange.

Because Kiryu Hina rarely used such a word.

Or rather, she never used such a word to describe others.

Even when facing Ayakoji Chiyoko, a nemesis with a deep-seated grudge, and not just heavy sins, she would at most call her "a stubborn opponent."

This stemmed from an innate arrogance, the biggest difference between Kiryu Hina and everyone else.

It wasn't about looks, grades, or abilities.

It was about looking down on people, on society.

Her perspective had always been superior to others.

The reason you couldn't see it now was that she had decided to wear a mask, existing as the perfect Student Council President.

In Kagura Hikaru's memory, in the memory of the students who had attended Bunkyo Public Middle School, Kiryu Hina was a gloomy, arrogant, and impolite person, like a rain woman.

A rain woman, wherever she went, it rained; an unwelcome woman.

Kiryu Hina was once like that.

Yet, even that former self would not use the word "enemy."

Perhaps the reason was her fondness for the history of war.

Studying war had made her realize that the word "enemy" should not be used lightly.

Only those who must be put to death, who had to be killed no matter what, who you had to fight against selflessly, without regard to oneself—such people could be called enemies.

Saijo Mari was her enemy.

Kiryu Hina indeed had said that.

"To say 'enemy' might be an exaggeration," Kiryu Hina said with a smile, "because I don't consider her an enemy. It's her unilateral view of me as an enemy, so I have no choice but to see her as one too. That's how the chain of hatred starts."

"So, why?"

"Why does she consider me an enemy?"
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"No, why are you telling me this?"

"Ah~ Ah~ so cold, it seems Classmate Kagura Hikaru is such a cold person, not caring about me at all. Could it be that with President Ayakoji as your new sweetheart, you have grown tired of me?"

She started acting again.

The normally pristine image contrasted hugely at this moment, like a proper and serious girl suddenly turning into a punk girl sticking out her tongue and swearing at people.

Even if it was acting, it was enough to make one's glasses shatter.

She transcended the concept of gap moe, reaching a level of 'gap terror,' a contrast so extreme it was terrifying.

Such a troublesome coquettish character doesn't suit you at all!

Look at Hosaka Yui behind her; she was so shocked that she dropped her glasses.

"It's not that I don't care, but worrying is useless, or rather, there's simply no need,"

Kagura Hikaru held his arms, along with files and funds in his embrace, "A Sports Committee President with no impressionable attributes is hardly a troublesome guy for you."

He didn't believe Saijo Mari could be more challenging than Ayakoji Chiyoko, and Kiryu Hina could easily suppress the latter, so there was no reason for her to be timid around other students.

"Classmate Kagura, have you heard this Chinese proverb— 'An upright official finds it hard to settle domestic disputes'?"

"Yes, I have. It refers to even a fair official having trouble discerning the truths of domestic arguments."

"Now, please replace 'upright official' in the proverb with me, and 'domestic disputes' with Saijo Mari and Ando Naoto."

"Wait, why does the name Ando Naoto appear here?"

"Don't be in a rush, Classmate Kagura, This is what I'm about to explain."

What Kiryu Hina was about to say, simply put, was this —

Before the spring break at the graduation festival, she had rejected Ando Naoto's confession, and as a result, she became enemies with Saijo Mari.

The reason it turned out this way also stemmed from a simple fact.

Saijo Mari was secretly in love with Ando Naoto.

And it was a deep affection, the kind that involved an intense, unrequited love.

Indeed, after Kiryu Hina took office, she immediately left that term's Student Council, and the reason had become quite clear.

Because she had been keeping an eye on Ando Naoto, she saw through to whom his feelings were directed. Not wanting to witness this scene up close, Saijo Mari decisively chose to leave.

No, it should be called resolute.

If she had continued to stay in the Student Council, she could have at least spent that year still interacting with Ando Naoto.

An ordinary girl would have done just that.

But she didn't. Resolutely, decisively, she left.

"Moreover, she didn't contact Ando Naoto at all that year, completely cutting him off." Kiryu Hina crossed her arms in front of her chest, smiling, "Don't you think that's quite terrifying in a girl."

If you're talking about terrifying, you're the terrifying one.

Kagura Hikaru thought to himself.

However, he could understand why she would say that.

Rather than terrifying, it was Saijo Mari's self-control that was astonishing.

But if that's the case, and they had completely cut off their relationship, why would Saijo Mari still....

It seemed the answer was also quite clear.

She still harbored feelings for Ando Naoto.

"When I rejected the former Vice President's confession, you were there too, weren't you?" Kiryu Hina said with a laugh, "It was a public event; many people were watching, but I made Ando Naoto lose face there. If you were the object of his secret affection, what would you think?"

"Kiryu Hina is a despicable woman."

"Hahaha, that comment wasn't heartfelt, was it?"

"Of course not." Kagura Hikaru said without a hint of guilt on his face.

"Well, never mind." Kiryu Hina shrugged, "Anyway, that's what happened. In front of others, we might still pretend to act officially, but privately, she has more than once shown her true face to me."

"So, back to the initial question, why are you telling me this?"

"That's even simpler."

If it's so simple, then you should have explained it clearly in the beginning.

This retort, Kagura Hikaru was unable to voice in time.

When he saw a mysterious smile appearing on Kiryu Hina's face, he decided not to say it.

Whenever she smiled like that, someone was definitely going to have a bad time.

"Saijo Mari, she is undoubtedly my enemy. But for you and Ayakoji Chiyoko, she is also related, as you both are also rivals. Hence, on this matter, we can find common ground."

"Rivals, what do you mean?"

"Saijo Mari, she's also going to run for the Student Council President, and moreover, she's a formidable candidate."

She didn't give Kagura Hikaru much time to think, patting Hosaka Yui's shoulder as a reminder, stepping out of the meeting room door.

"Inform Ayakoji Chiyoko about this. Is it better to continue opposing me and benefit a third party, or to kick the obstacle out of the way first—she knows how to choose."

With those final words, Kiryu Hina left.