Heartbeats and Illusions

Hope you had a nice weekend.

I came down with something so mine wasn't as fun.

We got around 80+ stones, 4 extra chapters. Keep the stones coming, thank you for the support.

Good day.

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Natsukawa Kanade tapped his phone screen with a growing sense of frustration. He'd already sent multiple messages to Kaguya Shinomiya, but her replies were conspicuously absent. Was she deliberately ignoring him? Or perhaps she was genuinely preoccupied? Either way, he was left with no choice but to seek her out in person.

As he navigated the hallway toward her classroom, his determination was interrupted by an unexpected figure stepping into his path.

"Are you... Hayasaka Ai?" Kanade asked, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

Standing before him was a blonde girl dressed like a trendy socialite. Her confident stride and stylish appearance seemed out of place in this context. Kanade squinted, his instincts hinting at something familiar. When she approached him with a request to talk, his first impulse was to decline—after all, he had urgent business with Kaguya. But then it struck him: this girl resembled Kaguya's maid, Hayasaka Ai.

"It's me," the girl confirmed with a nod, dispelling any doubts. Her tone was casual, but her piercing gaze betrayed a depth of awareness.

Kanade tilted his head slightly, puzzled. "What's this about?"

This was their first formal encounter despite his long association with Kaguya. Hayasaka Ai was Kaguya's personal maid and confidante, yet her presence here felt strangely personal. Surely, this must involve Kaguya. But why hadn't Kaguya come to him directly?

"Let's talk somewhere quieter," Hayasaka suggested.

After a brief pause, Kanade relented. "Alright."

He followed her to a secluded corner of the school grounds. Once they were out of earshot, Hayasaka's demeanor shifted. The trendy facade melted away, revealing a more composed and serious version of herself.

"Miss Kaguya hasn't been in the best mood lately…" Hayasaka began, her voice steady but distant. She maintained a formal tone while keeping a noticeable gap between them, as if intentionally erecting an invisible wall.

Kanade raised an eyebrow. "Not in a good mood?"

This was surprising news. Kaguya Shinomiya was many things—stoic, calculating, sometimes even intimidating—but visibly upset was rarely one of them. And yet, here was Hayasaka, standing in front of him, bringing up her mistress's emotional state.

Kanade mulled over the information. What exactly was expected of him in this situation? His first instinct was to offer a practical solution.

"Should we contact Fujiwara?" he suggested. "I heard that shopping can cheer girls up."

Hayasaka Ai gave him a long, skeptical look. Her expression seemed to scream, Is this guy serious?

"It's not about shopping," she said with a sigh, though her inner thoughts betrayed a more colorful commentary: Adjusting Miss Kaguya's mood is clearly your responsibility! Don't play dumb!

Still, Hayasaka remained composed. "Master Natsukawa," she began, lowering her gaze slightly, "I hope you can be more honest and... kinder to the young lady." Her voice was calm but carried an unmistakable weight of sincerity.

"Honest, huh?" Kanade echoed, his tone contemplative.

He realized, with some embarrassment, that Hayasaka's request wasn't entirely unwarranted. His interactions with Kaguya often veered toward the childish. He enjoyed teasing her, provoking her, and crafting elaborate schemes just to see how she'd react. It was like he'd reverted to the behavior of a grade-schooler trying to get a girl's attention.

Looking back, his antics probably came across as immature—or worse, insensitive.

"You're right," Kanade admitted with a sigh. "I've been too caught up in my own games. I'll try to do better."

His voice was soft, tinged with guilt. The realization that even Kaguya's maid felt compelled to intervene made him reflect on his actions. Had he unknowingly hurt Kaguya's feelings?

"I'll go talk to her myself," Kanade added, determination hardening in his tone.

Hayasaka blinked in surprise. She had expected resistance, perhaps even negotiation. Instead, Natsukawa Kanade had agreed without hesitation.

"...Don't you have anything else to say?" she ventured, her curiosity getting the better of her.

Kanade furrowed his brow, genuinely puzzled. "Anything else? Like what?"

"Something... more specific," Hayasaka hinted.

Kanade pondered for a moment before replying weakly, "Take good care of Miss Kaguya?"

Hayasaka Ai's eye twitched. That's it?

This wasn't how she'd envisioned this conversation unfolding. She'd prepared herself for resistance, for bargaining, for something. After all, Natsukawa Kanade had a reputation for being a cunning and calculated flirt. She had even considered recording the conversation as leverage in case he made inappropriate demands.

But here he was, offering nothing but a vague sentiment about taking care of Kaguya.

Could it be... he's not the scumbag I thought he was? Hayasaka wondered, doubt creeping into her thoughts.

She scrutinized Kanade's expression. There was no trace of arrogance, no hidden agenda. His sincerity left her both relieved and slightly irritated. How was she supposed to navigate this unexpected turn of events?

Could it be that he had no feelings for her at all? Hayasaka Ai's thoughts churned in confusion.

But then why did he see through my disguise and confess his love to me that day? She clenched her fists subtly. That confession had thrown her off balance, but even more surprising was his persistence afterward. Or, rather, his lack of it. It wasn't as though he'd vanished from her and Kaguya's orbit entirely, but his actions suggested a strange kind of indifference.

Maybe he's given up? Hayasaka speculated. If Natsukawa Kanade had indeed moved on, that might explain his lack of attention toward Kaguya lately.

This should have been a good thing. If Kanade wasn't chasing after her mistress anymore, then Kaguya wouldn't have to deal with his teasing, his provocations, or the elaborate mind games that left her flustered and frustrated.

But… is it really a good thing?

The nagging thought crept in uninvited. If Kanade truly no longer cared, what would happen to Kaguya? The young lady had been strangely unsettled recently, and Hayasaka could see the signs. What if this emotional distance only worsened her condition? Could Kaguya, with her immense pride and guarded heart, spiral into something far more destructive?

Wait… could this all be part of his plan?

A cold shiver ran through Hayasaka. What if Kanade had anticipated Kaguya's reaction? What if he was deliberately using this emotional withdrawal to draw her out, forcing her to confront her feelings?

How cruel.

Hayasaka's expression darkened. This kind of manipulation was unforgivable. If this was Kanade's idea of courtship, then he was absolutely unfit for her mistress. Someone had to intervene before Kaguya was pulled even deeper into this web of emotional turmoil.

If it means protecting the young lady, I'll do whatever it takes. Even if it means sacrificing myself.

Taking a deep breath, Hayasaka Ai forced herself to calm down. With her composure restored, she looked at Kanade and put on a carefully measured expression. "Master Natsukawa," she began, her tone soft and calculated, "are you free this weekend? I think we should—"

"Sorry, I'm busy this weekend," Kanade interrupted flatly.

"...Eh?" For a moment, Hayasaka's calm facade cracked.

He didn't even let her finish. She blinked in disbelief, her thoughts scrambling to process his words.

"I already made plans with some friends," Kanade continued, his tone casual but firm. "If there's something important, let's talk another time."

Hayasaka stared at him, speechless. Did he just brush her off so effortlessly?

She had been prepared for resistance. Perhaps he'd demand an explanation or propose an alternative. Heck, she'd even braced herself for some underhanded condition, the kind of scheming she had come to associate with him. But this? This straightforward, matter-of-fact rejection?

Unbelievable.

Kanade's indifference stung more than she cared to admit. His expression didn't even carry the usual smugness or teasing edge. It was as if her attempt to bait him into some kind of engagement didn't even register on his radar.

"..."

Hayasaka struggled to maintain her composure. The silence stretched uncomfortably between them.

So, that's it? After all this time, nothing? No hidden schemes, no subtle traps?

Her thoughts spiraled into chaos. The implications were both confusing and maddening. Was Kanade truly this unbothered? If so, how could she ever predict his next move?

No wonder Kaguya was so distressed. Dealing with Natsukawa Kanade was like playing an endless game of shogi against an opponent who refused to follow the rules.

Miss Kaguya, how do you even handle this guy?

"Understood," Hayasaka finally managed, her voice barely above a whisper. Her carefully constructed plans had crumbled, leaving her no choice but to retreat. For now.

As Kanade turned and walked away, Hayasaka could only watch, her mind spinning with questions.

Just what is his game?