"Hayasaka!!"
Behind the school building, Hayasaka Ai was just enjoying a crepe she bought from the cafeteria when someone suddenly crashed into her, smashing the cream all over her face.
Looking down, it was none other than Shinomiya Kaguya who had just stormed out of the student council office.
"What's wrong, Kaguya-sama?"
"Hayasaka, I was bullied…"
"That's rare. Who at this school would dare bully you…?"
"It was Takamine Rinji."
"..."
Looking at the frustrated Kaguya resting in her arms, Hayasaka didn't know what to say.
"This Takamine Rinji is too much! He made me completely lose face in front of the president. It's just…"
"Even if you tell me, I can't do anything about it."
"No, you can do something."
Kaguya placed both hands on Hayasaka's shoulders, eyes unusually serious.
"You go talk to him. He'll definitely listen to you."
"…Are you serious?"
"Of course! If this keeps up, my image in the president's eyes will keep going down!" Kaguya said anxiously.
Although Shirogane Miyuki's impression of her hadn't changed much since Takamine joined the council, Kaguya didn't know that. She just felt that if Takamine kept clashing with her, her whole plan to get Miyuki to confess might never come true.
"…Then, Kaguya-sama, let's think this through." Hayasaka wiped the cream off her face. "No one at school knows I'm your personal maid, right?"
"Right."
"Then how should I even approach him? Should I reveal our relationship?"
"Well…"
No one, not even Takamine Rinji, knew Hayasaka Ai was Kaguya's personal attendant. To the public, they were just classmates. At most, Takamine knew Hayasaka's family worked for the Shinomiya Conglomerate, and they'd known each other as kids. That was it. And he wasn't the type to go digging for more—he wasn't that free.
"If Rinji finds out I'm your maid, what do you think will happen?"
"Then…"
Kaguya paused and thought.
If he finds out Hayasaka has been helping her from the shadows, covering for her and doing the dirty work…
Knowing Takamine's personality…
He would definitely pull a gun on her.
'The woman I once liked is being used as a servant by the Shinomiya family?! Are you people not done dying yet?!'
"That's exactly what he'd say!!"
In that moment, Kaguya was once again reminded of the very real danger to her life.
She had gotten too used to Takamine Rinji acting like a normal student. She had almost forgotten he was the man who once, at age twelve, stormed her family estate with a gun.
"Besides, even if I do go talk to him, in what capacity should I do so?"
At that, Hayasaka lowered her head and muttered, "Back then… I turned him down personally. What right do I have to tell him anything now? Why would he listen to a girl who once rejected him?"
"…Sorry, I didn't think it through."
"It's fine."
Hayasaka gently hugged Kaguya's shoulders in comfort, and Kaguya rested her head against Hayasaka's chest.
Only when they were alone could they show this kind of closeness. Since elementary school, Hayasaka had kept a low profile, always hiding their true relationship.
Suddenly, Hayasaka caught a glimpse of someone approaching. Without thinking, she shoved Kaguya forward.
"Ah!?"
Kaguya stumbled away and nearly fell—until a hand caught her.
"Ah… thank you."
She turned around to thank the person… and saw the last face she wanted to see.
"Ta—Takamine Rinji!?"
It was Takamine Rinji who caught her. On his way to the cafeteria after leaving the student council office, he had walked around the school building and saw everything.
"Shinomiya-san…"
Takamine's eyes grew sharp and cold. That killing aura in his gaze made Kaguya shiver.
"W-what is it?"
Kaguya tried to maintain a calm smile, but her heart was pounding.
'Did he see? Did he realize Hayasaka is my attendant? I'm done for!!'
"I saw everything just now…"
'He really saw it!! What do I say? Just say we're good friends? Will he buy that!?'
"You…"
Takamine stared into her eyes and said with chilling indifference:
"You damn bastard… you just did something insanely enviable."
Kaguya: "…"
Hayasaka: "…"
He really had no filter for his envy, jealousy, and resentment.
But thankfully, he didn't seem to notice Hayasaka's real identity, which relieved Kaguya.
"Oh my, Hayasaka and I are classmates. Isn't it normal for girls to be affectionate?"
"…Much as I hate to admit it, I can't argue with that."
"Yep, some things just can't be helped."
"..."
Seeing the vein pop on Takamine's forehead, Kaguya felt oddly satisfied.
Serves him right for embarrassing her earlier.
"Tch."
Takamine couldn't say anything back. Clicking his tongue, he turned to leave.
But just as he passed by Hayasaka, she suddenly stepped forward, grabbed his collar, and pulled his head into her chest.
"Eh—eeeeeeeeh!?"
As a sheltered young lady, Kaguya was so stunned by Hayasaka's boldness that her face turned red and she covered her mouth in shock.
Takamine was also startled out of his wits.
"Alright, now you don't have to be jealous."
Hayasaka let go of his collar.
Takamine covered his nose and chuckled bitterly, "You really have gotten a lot bolder."
"People change."
…
After chatting a bit more, Takamine went off to the cafeteria. Hayasaka and Kaguya walked together in the opposite direction.
"Hayasaka… just now…"
"It's nothing worth fussing over."
Hayasaka's normally blank face actually wore a rare smile.
"Looks like what happened four years ago didn't completely ruin my chances."
"Eh?"