Heartbeats and Illusions

Time flowed steadily, and the dark veil of night gave way to the first light of dawn.

By the time the sun hung high in the sky, the Student Union Room at Shuchiin Academy was already bustling. Amidst the quiet hum of activity, Natsukawa Kanade, as always, sat at the main seat, diligently tending to the day's affairs.

With the upcoming student council elections just a week away, there was no shortage of work. Preparing for the transition, finalizing the handover notes, and ensuring everything would run smoothly for the incoming council—it was all a mountain of responsibility. Kanade was efficient, yes, but even he couldn't help but find the meticulous documentation process tedious.

Still, he knew better than to be careless. Elections weren't won with complacency.

"Shinomiya," Kanade called, looking up from his paperwork, "Could you hand me the list of this year's candidates?"

He wasn't one to obsess over competition, but the phrase "know your enemy" lingered in his mind. A last-minute review wouldn't hurt, even if he outwardly played it cool.

"Of course, President," Kaguya Shinomiya replied with a serene smile that betrayed none of her internal scheming.

Finally, her chance had come!

For an entire week, the president had been distant, almost as if avoiding her. Her trusted maid and confidante, Hayasaka, had refused to divulge any details about the mysterious conversation Kanade and Hayasaka had shared at the bookstore on Monday. Kaguya's curiosity burned fiercely—what had they talked about? Was it about her?

And what of Hayasaka's promise to support her relationship with the president? That traitor hadn't lifted a finger to help!

But no matter. Kaguya was not one to sulk. Today, she would take matters into her own hands. By the end of this day, she would conquer the president's heart—or at least get one step closer.

The battle strategy was set. Victory was non-negotiable.

"President, here's the list you requested," Kaguya said, walking over with the elegance of a heroine in a period drama. She handed him a neatly prepared list of candidates.

And then, as if by accident, she let an eraser slip from her hand. The small object fell onto the desk with a soft thud, its surface adorned with Kanade's name written in delicate penmanship.

Perfect!

Her movements were flawless, executed with the precision of a warrior's strike. She had practiced this very moment over and over, rehearsing it like an actress in her first leading role. Kaguya Shinomiya never left anything to chance.

The plan was simple. The president would pick up the eraser, notice the inscription, and perhaps—just perhaps—his stoic demeanor would crack. Then, she would act shy, her rehearsed blush perfectly timed, her gaze flitting away at just the right moment.

With her heart pounding, Kaguya returned to her seat, a financial report in hand as a prop. She pretended to review it, though her eyes never left Kanade.

Would he notice the eraser?

Kanade continued his work, his pen gliding across the paper. He shifted one sheet aside and began writing on another. Then another. And another.

Seconds felt like hours. The flowers in her imagination were wilting. How long would it take him to notice?

Finally, Kanade paused, his gaze sweeping across the desk.

Kaguya's breath hitched. Yes! He's looking for it!

Her heart pounded louder as his hand moved closer to the eraser. Inch by inch, he reached for it, fingers grazing its edge.

And then, without even glancing at the inscription, Kanade picked it up, used it to erase a stray mark on his paper, and promptly tossed it aside.

He hadn't even looked at it.

Kaguya froze, her meticulously crafted plan crumbling before her eyes. She clenched her fists beneath the desk. Surely he was at least curious about how the eraser had appeared there? Surely—

"Ahem, President," Kaguya said, clearing her throat to draw his attention. If subtlety had failed, then boldness would have to do. "That eraser..."

Her voice trailed off as she tried to guide him toward the revelation.

Kanade glanced at her, his expression calm and unbothered. "Oh, is it yours? Thanks, I'll borrow it for now."

Kaguya blinked.

That wasn't the point! Borrow it if you must, but at least notice the inscription first!

She bit her lip. Fine. If Plan A had failed, then it was time to move on to Plan B.

"Come to think of it, President," she began, standing and walking toward his desk with deliberate grace, "our term is almost over. This might be our last week working together."

Kanade nodded without looking up, his attention still on his work. "Yeah, it's been busy."

Kaguya smiled, though her eyes glimmered with determination. "It's been quite a journey. It's worth cherishing these memories, don't you think?"

Then, as if struck by inspiration, she added, "Oh, that reminds me. I have a group photo of the entire council. Would you like to see it, President? Perhaps you could keep it as a memento."

Her voice was soft yet suggestive, carefully baiting him into paying attention.

This wasn't just an innocent suggestion. The so-called group photo was merely a smokescreen. The real target was, of course, the president himself. Or rather, his photo.

Given how rare it was to find individual pictures of Natsukawa Kanade, Kaguya had been forced to improvise. With Hayasaka's technological prowess, she'd carefully edited the president out of the group photo, creating a handsome, solitary portrait.

Her plan was foolproof.

She imagined it vividly: Kanade, caught off guard, would notice the photo and shyly ask why she had it. She would blush, stammering a confession that would surely lead to a romantic turning point. It was the perfect setup!

"Let's see…" Natsukawa Kanade leaned slightly forward, glancing at the phone she held out.

Kaguya's breath hitched as she watched his face intently. The decisive moment had arrived!

"Hmm, it's pretty nice."

With a quick nod, Kanade looked back down at his papers. The entire exchange had lasted less than a heartbeat.

"President!" Kaguya exclaimed, her composure slipping ever so slightly. "At least look at it properly before commenting!"

Kanade sighed, clearly more interested in his work than indulging her. But, under her insistence, he raised his head once more, sparing the phone another glance. This time, his brow furrowed slightly before he coughed into his hand and said in a measured tone, "Shinomiya, I know you're a confident person, but… this kind of photo… maybe you should just enjoy it privately?"

"Eh?"

Kaguya froze. This wasn't part of the script.

What does he mean by that? she thought, her mind racing. Shouldn't he ask why I have his photo? Shouldn't he be blushing, flustered, maybe even charmed? Why is he suggesting I keep it to myself?

Doubt crept into her thoughts. Was it possible the president had no feelings for her at all? But Hayasaka had assured her he must feel something. Could there be a problem with the photo itself?

Suddenly uneasy, Kaguya turned the phone toward herself. Her eyes widened in absolute horror.

The photo wasn't the edited portrait of Natsukawa Kanade she had painstakingly prepared. Instead, it was an image of her. She was sitting on her bed, her posture casual, her collar slightly open—an entirely inappropriate level of intimacy for a young lady of her stature.

"Ah…"

Her entire body stiffened. Then, like a boiling kettle, steam seemed to pour from her as her face turned a deep, fiery red.

"I… I will… um…" Kaguya stammered incoherently, her usual poise crumbling into a heap of embarrassment.

"Shinomiya! Calm down!" Kanade exclaimed, standing up in alarm. He waved his hands in an attempt to defuse the situation. "I didn't see anything! I swear, I didn't see it clearly!"

But his words only added fuel to the inferno that was Kaguya's mortification. She could barely form coherent sounds, reduced to a series of frantic kuchi kuchi noises as metaphorical steam billowed from her ears.

And then, as if on cue, the door to the student union room swung open.

A blonde girl in a perfectly pressed maid uniform stepped inside, her expression serene yet efficient.

"Good afternoon, Master Kanade," Hayasaka said, bowing slightly. "I'm here to retrieve Miss Kaguya. Please, don't worry yourself."

In one swift motion, she moved to Kaguya's side, expertly scooping up the utterly out-of-service young lady.

Hayasaka turned back toward Kanade, her tone professional as always. "I apologize for the inconvenience. Please continue your work. I wish you a productive day, Master Kanade. Goodbye."

With that, she carried the steaming Kaguya out of the room, leaving Kanade standing there, utterly bewildered.

"…"