Heartbeats and Illusions

After parting ways with Hayasaka Ai, it didn't take long for Natsukawa Kanade to locate Shinomiya Kaguya. She was still in her classroom, apparently not planning to go anywhere.

Kanade approached the door, stopping a girl who was leaving. "Excuse me, could you call Shinomiya-san for me?" he asked politely.

The girl nodded, and soon her voice rang out, loud enough for the entire class to hear. "Shinomiya-san, the president wants to see you about something!"

The atmosphere in the classroom shifted in an instant.

"The president? Is this his first time coming here?"

"Why is he looking for Shinomiya-san specifically?"

"Could it be…?"

"Yes! Maybe it's that!"

The hushed murmurs quickly grew into a lively buzz, with speculative whispers flying around like cherry blossoms in a spring breeze. Shinomiya Kaguya, sitting primly at her desk, felt her face grow hotter by the second.

How could her thin skin possibly withstand this? She hurriedly lowered her head, trying to hide her reddening cheeks, and stood up.

"President," she said softly as she stepped into the hallway, her voice trembling just slightly, "what… what do you want to talk about?"

Kaguya's mind was already spiraling. She knew Hayasaka had gone to see Natsukawa Kanade earlier to "gather intelligence," but how had things escalated so quickly? Had Hayasaka somehow convinced Kanade to come all the way here?

No way…

Had Hayasaka told him about her feelings? Had she outright said that Kaguya liked him?

The whispers from her classmates earlier replayed in her mind like a poorly edited montage.

Could it be… is this really happening?

"Well, it's more of a personal matter," Kanade said with a slight nod. His tone was casual, but Kaguya's heart skipped a beat.

Even though he was here to ask for her help with a cheering speech, Kanade couldn't deny that it was, ultimately, his personal request. If she refused, so be it—he wouldn't hold it against her.

But Kaguya wasn't hearing any of that. Her head was filled with the implications of Kanade showing up at her classroom.

"Let's find somewhere quieter to talk," Kanade suggested, glancing around at the growing number of curious onlookers. If she rejected him here, the scene might become tomorrow morning's headline: "Former Vice President Publicly Refused by the Former President!"

Or worse, rumors could spiral into bizarre directions. A nonexistent love triangle? A public falling out? Kanade could already picture the absurd headlines.

He enjoyed watching drama unfold as much as anyone, but being the subject of it was a different story.

"Can you give me… give me a moment?" Kaguya stammered, clearly flustered.

Kanade nodded and told her he'd be waiting on the playground. Originally, he'd thought of heading to the student council room, but the key had already been returned to the grade director. The playground, relatively empty on such a hot day, seemed like the next best option.

As Kanade walked away, Kaguya returned to her classroom. Her movements were light, almost buoyant, though she was immediately surrounded by her classmates.

"Shinomiya-san, was that the one?"

"It must be! It has to be!"

"Come on, Shinomiya-san! This is your moment!"

Despite their relentless teasing, Kaguya's face remained flushed, and her heart thudded in her chest. She tried to wave off their assumptions with awkward protests. "He… he probably just wanted to talk about something else. Maybe it's about work… or something!"

Her words betrayed her, though. The tiny, almost imperceptible smile tugging at her lips told another story entirely. Deep down, she couldn't suppress the excitement bubbling up inside her.

It has to be a confession!

Why else would he have come all the way to her classroom? Her mind began spinning with possibilities. How would she respond? Should she play it coy?

"Yes, I'd be delighted!"

No, too eager.

"Well, since you're asking so earnestly, I suppose I could consider it."

No, too condescending!

In the end, she decided to just go with the flow and see how the moment unfolded. Unable to contain her anticipation, she sent Hayasaka a quick text:

"Hayasaka, you're amazing! The president is about to confess to me!"

The "Read" notification appeared almost instantly, followed by Hayasaka's reply:

"Huh???"

On the Playground

The summer sun blazed overhead, making the playground an ideal spot for quiet conversations. Most students had retreated indoors, leaving only a few club members practicing in the distance. Kanade stood near the edge, watching some boys kick a soccer ball around as he waited.

It didn't take long for Kaguya to arrive, though something about her appearance caught him off guard.

"Shinomiya-san…?" he murmured under his breath, blinking in surprise.

There was something different about her. Her usually reserved aura seemed replaced by an air of youthful charm. Was it makeup? Or maybe… was it her smile? She radiated a softness that felt almost foreign compared to her usual demeanor.

Is this… really Shinomiya Kaguya?

Before he could question it further, he noticed a small entourage trailing behind her. Classmates, no doubt. Were they here to witness what they assumed would be a confession?

Good grief…

"President, have you been waiting long?" Kaguya asked, her tone uncharacteristically light and cheerful. Her smile was radiant, almost dazzling, and it caught Kanade completely off guard.

Who is this girl, and what has she done with Shinomiya Kaguya?

Natsukawa Kanade was certain that the girl standing before him was Shinomiya Kaguya, but in this moment, she felt like an entirely different person. Her demeanor was soft, her smile enchanting, and the way she leaned slightly closer made his heart race.

Kanade rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "Uh, Shinomiya, are you… feeling okay?"

"I'm perfectly fine," she replied brightly, stepping closer—much closer than usual. Her cheerful demeanor only deepened his confusion.

"B-But you said you had something to talk about, right?" she prompted, still smiling.

So close...

Kanade couldn't help but notice the faint blush on her cheeks, the delicate curve of her lashes, and the way her lips curved in a subtle smile. The faint, floral scent wafting from her made his thoughts scatter, and he instinctively took a small step back to regain composure.

Focus, Kanade! he chastised himself.

"Well, uh... I'll get straight to the point." Kanade inhaled deeply, steeling himself. "I want to ask if you—"

Kaguya's eyes sparkled as she waited, her expression one of curiosity and hope.

But Kanade faltered. Words caught in his throat, and his carefully rehearsed lines unraveled. His gaze flicked to the nearby bushes, where he knew a group of classmates were hiding, peering out at them. His heart pounded as if it was trying to beat its way out of his chest.

What was happening to him? He'd spoken to Fujiwara Chika earlier without an ounce of nervousness. Why now, of all times, did he feel like a clumsy idiot?

"President?" Kaguya's voice brought him back, her soft inquiry tinged with concern.

The gentle breeze rustled the leaves of the locust trees above them, sending a few petals drifting down. One landed delicately on Kaguya's hair, framing her like a scene from a shoujo manga.

Kanade pressed a hand to his chest, willing himself to calm down. Finally, he exhaled sharply and made his decision.

"Shinomiya..." His voice wavered but remained firm. "I'd like to ask you to continue being my vice president."

There. He'd said it.

Kaguya blinked, her expression shifting in an instant. "..."

Kanade quickly added, "I know it's a lot to ask. You're no longer obligated to help with student council matters. If you don't want to, I completely understand—"

"President."

"Yes!" Kanade straightened up, startled by her sudden interjection.

"I'd love to."

"...What?"

"Whether it's as vice president or for anything else, my answer is the same: Yes, I'd love to."

Her smile softened, radiating warmth that made Kanade's heart skip a beat.

"...Oh." Kanade blinked, momentarily stunned.

"But," she continued, stepping just a bit closer, "as a reward... could you hold my hand?"

"Uh..."

"The president won't?" Kaguya tilted her head, her tone teasing.

Kanade scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. "It's not that I don't want to... but if we do that, people might misunderstand." His gaze darted toward their onlookers.

"I don't mind," Kaguya replied, her voice unwavering.

"...Well, if it's just for a moment..."

Before he could finish, Kaguya stepped forward and gently slipped her hand into his, intertwining their fingers.

"The president's hands are so big," she murmured, her tone tinged with wonder.

Kanade froze. Her hands were soft, warm, and... how had this simple gesture turned into something so heart-stopping?