Heartbeats and Illusions

"Hayasaka… wuwu… the president saw me naked! Wuwu…"

In the student council lounge, Shinomiya Kaguya, the ever-composed ice queen, had been reduced to a sobbing mess. Tears streamed down her flushed cheeks as she buried her face in her hands, lamenting her plight to her trusted confidante, Hayasaka Ai.

Hayasaka, ever the picture of calm, sat beside her young lady with an expressionless face. "Yes, yes, young lady, it's all right," she said in a tone so deadpan it bordered on sarcasm. "Your figure isn't exactly remarkable. Perhaps Master Natsukawa doesn't care at all and will forget about it the next second."

Kaguya froze mid-sob, her tears momentarily forgotten. "My… my figure isn't remarkable?" she repeated, her voice trembling as her mind conjured an unbidden comparison.

She thought of her dear friend, Fujiwara Chika. That one night they'd spent together flashed vividly in her mind—Chika, with her carefree demeanor and overwhelming presence, had nearly smothered her when they'd shared a futon. She was about the same height as Kaguya, yet somehow felt so much larger.

"Too much useless fat," Kaguya muttered, her expression darkening as she imagined Chika's enviable proportions. "Both in front… and behind…"

The tears came flooding back, now tinged with despair. "Waaaah! Why do big chests even exist?!"

Hayasaka pinched the bridge of her nose, visibly restraining herself. "If you keep wailing like this," she said, her tone sharp enough to slice through Kaguya's self-pity, "Master Natsukawa might pass by and think you're some kind of ghost haunting the lounge. He might even come in to investigate."

"Absolutely not!" Kaguya's reaction was instant, her mortification palpable.

To have her private photo accidentally revealed was already bad enough, but if Kanade were to see her crying like this? She could already picture it:

Kaguya-san must like me so much to cry over this… How adorable.~

No. Absolutely not. She couldn't bear to hear such a thing come out of his mouth!

"Hayasaka," Kaguya said, her tone suddenly serious as she grabbed her maid's hand. "Is there some kind of tool that can erase a person's memories for a while?"

"...Miss Kaguya," Hayasaka replied, giving her a long, tired look. "I'm just an ordinary maid, not some blue robotic cat with a pocket full of gadgets. Please stop making such absurd requests."

"Ugh, you're no help at all…" Kaguya grumbled, crossing her arms in frustration.

Hayasaka sighed and decided to try another approach. "Honestly, young lady, it's just a photo of you in pajamas. It's not as though it's some scandalous personal experience. Besides, only Master Natsukawa saw it. Who knows? It might even spark his imagination a little."

Kaguya's cheeks turned crimson at the suggestion. "Hayasaka! Don't say such shameless things!"

But the truth of Hayasaka's words struck a chord. The photo, after all, had been carefully selected. It had been just revealing enough to hint at her charm while remaining tasteful and dignified—a perfect balance.

Still, the thought that her private appearance had been seen by Kanade made her want to curl up into a ball and disappear.

"Easy for you to say," Kaguya retorted, clutching her arms tighter around herself. "It's not like you have ever been seen naked!"

"Miss, you're the only one who would care," Hayasaka replied without missing a beat. "I wouldn't hesitate for a moment."

The maid's confident tone made Kaguya narrow her eyes suspiciously. "I don't believe you," she muttered.

In truth, Hayasaka didn't care much about whether Kanade saw her in such a state. She was confident that, unlike her young lady, she would never appear as flustered or useless.

Kaguya, however, was unconvinced. Her lips pursed into a pout as she recalled a previous incident where Hayasaka had promised to help her get closer to the president but had ultimately failed to deliver.

"Hayasaka, do you think the president sees me as some kind of frivolous girl? Someone who just… flirts with others for fun?"

"Don't worry, young lady. Master Natsukawa will simply think you're an adorable fool who can't even operate a smartphone." Hayasaka Ai's tone was casual, but her expression carried the faintest trace of exasperation.

It wasn't a baseless complaint. In truth, Kaguya Shinomiya was a complete novice when it came to modern technology, a fact Natsukawa Kanade must have been well aware of by now. The only reason she had begrudgingly upgraded her trusty old flip phone to a smartphone was so she could add Kanade on LINE. Even the series of actions she'd fumbled through earlier had been painstakingly taught to her by Hayasaka, who had explicitly instructed her not to touch anything unnecessary.

Hayasaka knew all this better than anyone. After all, she was the one orchestrating this entire "coincidental" interaction. With meticulous precision, she had predicted both Kanade's and Kaguya's reactions. This wasn't just a maid's intuition; it was strategy born of necessity.

If drastic measures weren't taken, Hayasaka suspected that, given Kaguya's personality and painfully slow progress, her mistress might graduate high school without ever solidifying a true relationship with Kanade.

And that was simply unacceptable.

This resolve had only grown stronger after Hayasaka had uncovered an unexpected and startling truth—that the person Master Natsukawa truly liked wasn't Kaguya but... her. The realization was a heavy one, one that had sent ripples through her carefully maintained composure.

Still, Hayasaka Ai was nothing if not loyal. For her, Shinomiya Kaguya wasn't just her master; she was like an older sister, someone she deeply admired and cherished. Until Kaguya found happiness, Hayasaka could never allow herself to pursue her own.

But oh, how that resolve tested her.

Every time Hayasaka aided Kaguya in her attempts to win over Kanade, it felt like carving into her own heart. The very idea of helping the person she cared about chase after someone who might have reciprocated her own feelings made her stomach churn.

"How long can I keep this up?" she mused bitterly.

When she hadn't known the truth, everything had been simpler. She could support Kaguya with unwavering dedication. Now, every action she took felt like an act of betrayal—towards Kanade, towards herself.

Still, there was no other choice. Kaguya was the priority. Unless… unless Kaguya truly couldn't win Kanade's heart, Hayasaka would remain steadfast. But if that day ever came…

No. She shook her head inwardly, dispelling the thought before it could take root.

"...Hayasaka?" Kaguya's voice snapped her back to reality.

"Ah? Yes, young lady. What do you need?" Hayasaka replied, masking her inner turmoil with her usual composure.

"You've been acting strange lately. Are you sure you've been getting enough rest?" Kaguya's concern was genuine, her tone softening for a moment before she transitioned to the matter at hand.

"Speaking of which, Hayasaka," Kaguya began, her gaze narrowing suspiciously. "How did you know what happened earlier? I don't recall mentioning it to you."

Caught off guard but unflinching, Hayasaka smoothly replied, "I saw the photo on your phone when I came to get you, and I pieced the rest together."

"Really? Then… what about the strange photo that appeared?"

"That was caused by your improper operation," Hayasaka said, her expression deadpan.

"Are you sure?" Kaguya pressed, her brow furrowing.

"Positive."

For a moment, Kaguya scrutinized her maid, wondering if Hayasaka was teasing her. But no, she trusted Hayasaka implicitly. Her loyal maid would never do anything to betray her trust.

"Very well," Kaguya said with a determined nod. "No matter what, I must abandon my hesitation and keep pursuing Kanade!"

Her eyes sparkled with resolve, her mind already envisioning a future where Natsukawa Kanade, the ever-elusive enigma, would finally confess his love to her with unwavering devotion.

"One day," she vowed, her lips curling into a confident smile, "he'll be mine. Absolutely!"

A soft, mischievous laugh escaped her lips, brimming with the unshakable arrogance and romantic determination that only Kaguya Shinomiya could muster.

Meanwhile, Hayasaka watched from the sidelines, her usual stoic expression concealing the storm brewing within her heart.