Heartbeats and Illusions

The election was over.

Iino Miko had shown extraordinary resolve, her charm and leadership qualities shining brightly. Yet, her overly strict policy proposals were too rigid for the majority of the students to embrace. On the other hand, Isshiki Iroha's relaxed and somewhat lackluster policies failed to resonate with Shuchiin's vibrant student body.

After more than 30 minutes of heated debate, Natsukawa Kanade had managed to steadily outmaneuver Isshiki, causing her support to dwindle and eventually knocking her out of the running. Victory for Kanade was unsurprising but not without its close calls.

"But that was way too close for comfort," Natsukawa murmured as he studied the final vote tally posted on the wall.

Iino Miko, who had been trailing far behind at the start, had surged to second place after delivering her impassioned speech. She came within a hair's breadth of overtaking Kanade, losing by just a few dozen votes.

It was hard to tell how much of her rise could be attributed to the Pure College Party's influence, but one thing was clear: her effort and sincerity had struck a chord with many. If not for the achievements of Kanade's student council over the past few years, the election could have easily swung in her favor.

Kanade let out a deep sigh. "It's a bit disheartening, isn't it? For all our work, Iino and her tiny campaign team managed to gain this much ground."

Yet, Kanade wasn't one to wallow in self-pity. His strategic mind had already formulated a plan. If someone like Iino had the potential to challenge his position, it would be far wiser to bring her onto his side rather than risk facing her as an opponent in the future.

"Alright," Kanade decided. "She's coming into the student council. Whether it's to harness her talents or neutralize her as a future threat, it's a necessary move."

Kanade glanced over at Ishigami Yu, who was standing nearby with an air of detached amusement. "What do you think, Ishigami? Should we invite Iino Miko to join the student council?"

Ishigami blinked, clearly taken aback. "Wait, are you serious, President?"

"Completely. Judging by her performance today, she's more than qualified, don't you think?"

"It's not about qualifications..." Ishigami's expression grew uneasy. "I just hope you know what you're getting into."

Kanade tilted his head, puzzled but unfazed. In his mind, Iino was just a diligent and uptight underclassman—a personality type he was confident he could manage. Surely, with the right approach, she'd be easy enough to work with.

"Well, I'll handle it. You just focus on showing up on time tomorrow," Kanade said with a smirk. "The student council has work to do."

"Sure, sure," Ishigami muttered, though his tone carried a hint of foreboding.

Kanade found Iino Miko near the courtyard, chatting animatedly with Daibutsu Koba. A small group of students had gathered around them, laughing and exchanging words of encouragement. Rather than interrupt, Kanade chose to wait, observing the dynamic from a distance.

When the crowd finally dispersed, Iino and Daibutsu noticed Kanade standing nearby and approached him hesitantly.

"President Natsukawa," Iino greeted, her tone polite but tinged with wariness.

Kanade wasted no time. Extending a hand toward her, he said, "Let me get straight to the point. I'd like you to join the student council."

The bluntness of his proposal left Iino momentarily speechless. She exchanged a glance with Daibutsu, who arched an eyebrow but said nothing.

"You've got potential," Kanade continued, his tone firm yet encouraging. "If you're serious about becoming student council president one day, this is the best place to gain experience. What do you say?"

Iino's expression betrayed a mix of excitement and hesitation. Before she could respond, Daibutsu interjected with a grin. "Sounds tempting, doesn't it, Miko? But you should think it over."

"I-I've never been asked to join the student council before," Iino stammered. "Can I... have some time to decide?"

"Of course," Kanade replied, his voice warm. "Take the night to think about it. If you're interested, come by the student council room tomorrow morning. I'll welcome you with open arms."

He paused, turning to Daibutsu. "That goes for you too. The student council could use someone with your energy."

Daibutsu laughed. "Thanks for the offer, but I'll pass. I'm just here to cheer for Yako."

"Understood," Kanade said, nodding. "Well then, I won't take up any more of your time. I look forward to your answer tomorrow, Iino-san."

With the invitation extended, Natsukawa Kanade decided to leave Iino Miko to her thoughts. Persuasion could wait—there was someone far more deserving of his attention right now: Kaguya Shinomiya, the unsung hero of his election victory.

Thanks to a message from Hayasaka Ai, Kanade learned that Kaguya had come down with a sudden "stomach illness." Naturally, this was likely stress-induced—brought on, no doubt, by his slightly impulsive tactics during the campaign. She was resting in the health room, and it was only fitting that he pay her a visit.

As Kanade approached the health room, Hayasaka's cryptic phrasing about Kaguya's condition replayed in his mind. "She's fine, just… dramatic as always," Hayasaka had said. That sounded about right.

Quietly, Kanade slid the door open, careful not to disturb Kaguya if she was still asleep. Sure enough, she lay on the bed, her elegant features relaxed in repose. He planned to wait for her to wake up and deliver his heartfelt thanks personally.

Or so he thought.

His ears perked up at the sound of a voice—a distinctly familiar voice—murmuring from the bed.

"Why didn't the president come to visit me…" Kaguya's voice was soft, tinged with disappointment.

Kanade froze.

"I collapsed! Shouldn't he have come to see me, no matter the circumstances? Could it be… he doesn't intend to keep me in the student council anymore?"

"Master Natsukawa did invite you to continue as vice president last time," came Hayasaka Ai's calm, almost exasperated reply.

"That's only because he hasn't realized my true colors yet!" Kaguya exclaimed, her voice rising slightly. "He might know I was secretly plotting against the other candidates…"

"Plotting?" Hayasaka asked, her tone neutral but with an undertone of amusement.

"The president clearly said it wasn't necessary, but I still went ahead and rallied support from several clubs, merging their votes into a bloc… Maybe he's found out that the election committee was, well, influenced by me!"

Hayasaka's voice deadpanned. "That's… quite a lot."

"Of course it is! If I didn't do something, the results could've been disastrous!" Kaguya declared with fiery determination. Then, her voice softened with a tinge of self-loathing. "But at the end of the day, I'm just a terrible woman who resorts to underhanded methods. No one would want someone like that in the student council..."

Her voice cracked slightly, rising in pitch. "This is no longer a hopeless situation—it's beyond hopeless! Too much, too much!!!"

Kanade, still standing by the door, felt a bead of sweat roll down his temple. She's going all out, huh…?

"And as if that wasn't enough," Kaguya continued, "the president took the votes I worked so hard to secure and used them like they were nothing! Doesn't that mean he thinks my efforts are meaningless?!"

There was a dramatic pause before she burst out, "It's like a wife who works tirelessly day and night to earn money, only for her useless husband to waste it on eating, drinking, and partying!"

"…Who's the wife in this analogy?" Hayasaka asked, raising an eyebrow.

"It's just too much! The president is too cruel!!!" Kaguya exclaimed, tears almost audible in her voice.

Hayasaka sighed, clearly at her wit's end. "If you have so much to say, why not just talk to the man himself?"

"W-What?!" Kaguya stammered, her voice now a mix of panic and embarrassment.

Hayasaka, ever unbothered, simply pointed toward the doorway. Kaguya followed the direction of her finger, and her eyes landed on Kanade, who was standing there, looking thoroughly awkward.

"Uh…" Kanade began, his voice slightly strained. "Sorry… I didn't mean to eavesdrop…"

Kaguya's face turned bright red, and she bolted upright from the bed. "P-President! H-How long have you been standing there?!"

Kanade scratched the back of his neck, offering a sheepish smile. "Long enough to realize I owe you an apology and a lot of gratitude."

Hayasaka, still seated by Kaguya's bedside, smirked knowingly. "Well, this just got interesting."

Kaguya buried her face in her hands, groaning. "Too much… This is just too much…"