Storm of Confessions

Is this plan really impossible?Not entirely.

At first, Hayasaka Ai had instinctively rejected Kaguya's suggestion as absurd.But the more she thought about it, the more it started to make sense.

If she truly wanted Sakurai Saki to accept her feelings—besides abandoning all shame and pinning him against a wall for another forceful kiss—she really couldn't think of any better option.

But doing that again…She would lose all her face as a girl!

Did she even have the guts to try?No. She didn't. It was far too difficult.

The courage she'd mustered last time had been her limit.She had stockpiled that bravery for an entire year, and it was all spent that one Thursday evening.A complete coward!

Confessing wasn't just about feelings—it heavily depended on timing, atmosphere, and location.

To put it simply:If a girl confessed in a crowded, noisy ramen shop—...okay, no one would actually confess in a ramen shop, but still, hypothetically—And another girl confessed during a romantic fireworks display, under the night sky, with sparks lighting up their faces at the end of a dreamy date...

Which confession would you accept?

Everyone would choose the latter. Obviously.

That's why Hayasaka had decided.She wouldn't confess anymore. She had already done it—multiple times—with no response.

It was time to flip the script.

Make Sakurai Saki confess instead.

So, for the first time, Hayasaka accepted Kaguya Shinomiya's suggestion.She'd create a fake suitor for herself.

And that suitor… would be herself.

As a skilled intelligence operative, Hayasaka Ai had complete confidence in her disguises.She wore many masks:The spicy gyaru image she used at schoolThe elegant maid persona of the Shinomiya householdHer true self in privateAll of them were easily interchangeable.

Becoming a boy—or at least looking like one—was child's play for her.Disguising herself was second nature.

— — — —

After the final PE class in the afternoon—

Sakurai Saki watched curiously as Hayasaka Ai hurriedly packed her things and left the classroom.

Usually, she'd stay behind and chat with her friends.This was unusual.

He couldn't help but think about that love letter from this morning.Though he had a part-time tutoring job today and couldn't dwell on it too long, he still felt a quiet unease building in his chest.

Was it jealousy?

No. Not jealousy.

...Possessiveness, maybe?

'If I get the chance, maybe I should go take a look,' he thought, slinging his schoolbag over his shoulder.

First, though, he decided to stop by the Student Council Room.

On the way, Sakurai Saki tried not to look like he was tracking Hayasaka Ai—but in his head, he was already building excuses.

He wasn't being weird.He was just... worried. Yeah. Worried she might trip or something.At least, that's what he kept telling himself.

He relaxed slightly when he saw Hayasaka walk into the changing room.

Maybe she forgot something from PE?

Inside the Student Council Room—

"Hmm? Sakurai-senpai? You're here early today~"

The first one there was Ishigami Yu.

He hadn't joined any clubs, and lately, he claimed he wanted to shrink his social circle to just the Student Council.Not that he had many friends to begin with...

Maybe this change was a step forward?

"I came to drink some coffee. You want some?" Sakurai asked, setting his bag down.

"No thanks, I've got this."Ishigami raised a can of soda from the coffee table.

Sakurai nodded and walked over to the coffee maker.

"By the way, Sakurai-senpai," Ishigami called out, "you and Miyuki-senpai are pretty close, right? Have you ever thought about calling him by his first name?"

He'd wanted to ask this for a while.

Like how he referred to Shirogane as just Miyuki—a casual nickname, using his given name.

"I've always called him that," Sakurai answered without looking back.

In Japan, close friends usually refer to each other by their given names.Although he and Shirogane Miyuki were close, Sakurai had been using his first name for over half a year—so changing it now would just feel unnatural.

"Is that the reason with Fujiwara-senpai too?"Ishigami's eyes gleamed with mischief.

"No, I just feel kind of embarrassed to call her Chika," Sakurai admitted.He trusted Ishigami not to spread gossip.

"Yeah, calling a guy by his first name is fine," Ishigami agreed."But calling a girl by her first name feels super embarrassing... Not that I even have female friends to call like that."

His voice trailed off sadly at the end.

"There are so many couples in Shuchiin Academy recently," Ishigami grumbled."Sakurai-senpai, have you noticed?"

"Every time I see couples flirting in public, I just want to blast them with my 'Go Die Go Die Ray'!"

Sakurai returned from the kitchen, setting two steaming mugs on the coffee table.

"Go Die Go Die Ray??"Sakurai Saki raised an eyebrow.What the hell kind of name was that?

"A ray that makes couples break up the moment it hits them,"Ishigami Yu explained with a completely deadpan expression.

"Sakurai-senpai, don't you think couples are too annoying? Always clinging to each other, being all lovey-dovey like the world's their personal romance stage. You even see them during lunch in the cafeteria!"

...That's way too dark, Ishigami-kun.Sakurai Saki nearly choked on his coffee.

Sure, even he had his moments of muttering silent curses when in a bad mood, but at least he pretended to be nice on the outside. He wouldn't go around saying couples should die.

"Holding hands and going, 'Oh~ your hands are so warm,'"Ishigami mimicked with a shiver of disgust."But Sakurai-senpai, it's almost summer now… why are they even saying that?!"

He mumbled angrily like someone truly traumatized by public displays of affection.

Clearly, Ishigami had been force-fed too much dog food recently. Everywhere he turned, couples were showing off their happiness like it was contagious. It was driving him mad.

Sakurai took a slow sip of his coffee and muttered,"Looks like the Disciplinary Committee isn't doing their job properly."

Was that Iino Miko girl even doing her rounds?

Technically, the Disciplinary Committee was supposed to patrol every noon and after school, cracking down on students violating rules—particularly those engaged in "impure heterosexual relationships," as they so grandly phrased it.

But nobody really took that seriously.Except for Miko Iino.

She took everything seriously. Too seriously.Stubborn to the core, but... that was also what made her kind of cute.

Of all the juniors Sakurai had come across this year, his favorite was definitely little Miko.In terms of "plaything rankings," she might've even surpassed Fujiwara Chika by now.

"The Disciplinary Committee, huh..."Ishigami seemed to recall a familiar, uptight face in his mind.

Iino Miko.Same class, overly traditional, and a long-time member of the Disciplinary Committee since junior high.

Naturally, she brought her enthusiasm with her to high school too.

Though... her views were downright ancient.She once suggested that all boys should shave their heads and girls should wear braided hair with skirts ten centimeters below the knee.

If you didn't know better, you'd think she time-traveled straight from the Showa era.

— — —

Second Year, Class A.

Kaguya Shinomiya finished packing her bag.

It was time to head to the Student Council Room—her battlefield for the day.

She had already finalized today's operation plan with Hayasaka Ai during lunch.The fake confession would take place soon, and all Hayasaka had to do was be seen by Sakurai with a "suitor." No real acting, no actual dialogue necessary.

Simple. Elegant.

'Fufufu~ It's a flawless strategy.'

— — —

First Floor, Girls' Changing Room.

Inside the locker area, Hayasaka Ai adjusted her uniform—today, it was the boys' version.

After confirming the coast was clear, she fastened the wig in place and stepped out, her transformation complete.

She'd practiced this disguise countless times. It felt second nature.

She took a step forward—

And that's when it happened.

From around the corner, a small figure appeared, eyes wide, finger pointing.

"Hey! You! Male student!!"The voice was sharp, loud, and furious.

"Why did you just come out of the girls' changing room!? STOP RIGHT THERE! YOU'RE VIOLATING SCHOOL DISCIPLINE!!"

Iino Miko had never expected this day to come.She'd dreamed of catching some perverted delinquent red-handed. And now, fate had delivered her this exact scene during patrol.

A boy.Emerging.From the girls' locker room.

Oh. My. God.This was terrible.

No.This was unforgivable.

She had to take immediate action!