Whether it was just his imagination or not, Takamine could always sense a strong atmosphere of rivalry in the student council office.
And that aura came from Kaguya Shinomiya and Miyuki Shirogane—it was like their competitive energy was clashing mid-air.
Fujiwara Chika didn't seem to be involved at all, her cheerful face showing zero concern about the upcoming midterms.
"Takamine, are you sure you're not studying? If your scores are too low, you might not get promoted to second year," Shirogane said, slightly concerned.
If Takamine were in the same year, Shirogane would've wanted him to fail to secure his own top spot. But Takamine was a first-year, so their rankings didn't overlap.
At this stage, Shirogane was genuinely worried about his advancement.
"It's fine," Takamine waved him off. "Just skim through things three days before the exam."
"You sure?"
"Of course."
Then Takamine's eyes sharpened slightly.
"Actually, there's something about me you guys don't know."
"Something we don't know…?"
"What is it?"
The three members leaned in, especially Kaguya—she had long wanted to uncover the background of this guy she couldn't find any info on.
"The truth is…"
"You are…?"
"A genius," Takamine declared.
"Eh?"
"A genius…?"
Shirogane and Kaguya were baffled.
"AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Fujiwara burst out laughing, walking over and patting Takamine's shoulder repeatedly.
"Who calls themselves a genius? Hahaha! You're too cute, Takamine-kun~"
"Shut up."
Takamine swatted her hand away again, speaking seriously: "You don't understand. Even I'm scared of my own talent."
"AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA…"
"Fujiwara-san, are you laughing because you don't believe me?"
"Actually," Fujiwara suddenly changed her expression, speaking solemnly. "I'm a genius too."
"Huh?"
Takamine eyed Fujiwara carefully.
Cute face, pink hair, and that inexplicable black bow… paired with her usual scatterbrained behavior, it was hard to believe she was a genius.
"Fujiwara-san is really talented," Kaguya smiled. "She won a national gold medal in piano back in middle school."
"Ehehe… Kaguya is amazing too—she holds ranks in tea ceremony, flower arrangement, martial arts, and archery."
"And Takamine-kun? Do you have any proof you're a genius?"
Watching Kaguya and Fujiwara flatter each other, Takamine realized he didn't have any honors worth showing.
But then he remembered something…
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a silver pocket watch on a chain.
"I earned this when I was eleven."
"Oh, what a refined pocket watch."
"What award is it?"
"…Forget it. You wouldn't get it." Takamine sighed and put it away. "Not worth explaining."
"One thing though, Takamine-kun," Kaguya smiled elegantly. "As a student council member, you shouldn't bomb the midterms. At least match Fujiwara's level."
"Fujiwara…"
Takamine glanced over at Chika.
To be honest, her expression didn't scream 'studious'.
"What's her rank?"
"She's currently ranked 96th in her year," Kaguya said. "President is 1st. I'm 2nd."
"Oh, so you're always just behind him, huh?"
"…"
Kaguya's brow twitched slightly, though her face maintained its graceful smile. "Well, exams can be unpredictable. No one always wins..."
"Then have you ever beaten him?"
"Well…"
"So never, huh? Sounds more like a consistent loser than an underdog."
"…"
Kaguya's brow twitched again. Talking to this guy was infuriating.
"I don't really care about ranks. As long as I perform to my real level, that's fine," she said with a composed smile.
Another lie.
While she wasn't obsessed with winning, losing to Shirogane time and again gnawed at her pride. She'd been burning the midnight oil for the past half-month just to one day surpass him.
"That sounds like what someone would say to comfort themselves after failing!"
"…"
This guy seriously knew how to get under people's skin!
Kaguya decided to go on the offensive.
"Takamine-kun, perhaps you should worry about yourself. Having a failing treasurer would really damage the student council's reputation."
She smiled coldly, staring Takamine down.
"Or… is it that you've actually been studying every night during your suspension, pretending to be a slacker just to mislead us?"
That kind of thing did happen—people who acted lazy on the outside while secretly grinding hard behind the scenes. It was a sneaky tactic.
"...What, Shinomiya-san, are you looking down on me?" Takamine narrowed his eyes.
"Of course not~ If a fellow council member does well, I'd be genuinely happy."
Another lie.
She wanted this bastard who raised her blood pressure to fail more than anyone.
"So you're saying I'm secretly studying—what about you? Have you been secretly studying?"
"Of course not—"
"Dare to make a cursed vow?"
"Huh?"
Takamine Rinji raised his hand and said, "If I secretly reviewed during this one-month suspension, may I never get a girlfriend in my life."
"Huh?"
"Your turn, Shinomiya-san." Takamine looked at the dumbfounded Shinomiya Kaguya. "Why don't you vow: 'If I secretly studied in the past two weeks, may I never get a boyfriend in my life?'"
"…"
'Damn, pulling that move? You really are something, Takamine Rinji!'
It was a vicious move, cornering someone completely.
Of course, Takamine didn't actually know whether Shinomiya Kaguya had secretly reviewed or not. He was just instinctively counterattacking, but it pushed her to the edge.