Facing the greatest threat of them all, Ishigami contemplates about his life, its wars, and especially its love. There's also more trouble on the horizon…
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Please enjoy.
Shirogane Miyuki is hot
'See her sweet and not toxic side? What were you thinking Yuu?'
Keeping his promise, a student with a gloomy haircut makes his way to school earlier than usual.
'That was so cringy, she probably laughed the entire night at you…'
Ishigami places his hands on his head and begins to scream internally.
'And what if I read all her actions wrong? What if she never was into me in the first place? Her sudden interest for video games and her warming up to me could've been because of another guy, or it could be just a phase, or something entirely different.'
He begins to pull on his hair and becomes visibly nervous as he closes in on the school. The flood of emotions causes the treasurer to fall into his depressed mood, contemplating about life, and its harshness.
'Why did I bail yesterday, anyway? It would've been more rational to just wait for her answer… Because you're a coward. Why didn't I hug her back? It would've been easier to confess to her… Because you lack determination. Why does Iino complicate everything lately? It would be so much easier to just go back to our usual relationship… … You know that answer already, don't you?'
An unexpected outburst startles the people around him.
"It's because I love her."
Realising the gazes of at least three people, he starts to walk faster, wishing for them to just disappear. His face is entirely red, and he forgets the reason why he's nervous in the first place, until he arrives at the school gate, where someone is waiting for him.
Leaning on a wall, similar to yesterday, the small figure seems to have expected the boy's arrival. Facing him now, she confronts him with her decision.
But all of this is water under the bridge now. It happened two weeks ago. Why would anyone care about that now?
~ The present day ~
"President, Kaguya, those both are at it again!"
An overstrained secretary of the Student Council of Shuchiin Academy is crying to her superiors and pointing at the cause for her distress.
Iino and Ishigami are fighting. There's no clear indication for what happened between them. They're cursing, blaming, and yelling at each other, but it's nothing out of the ordinary. The only thing different is that the brunette seems to be more aggressive than usual.
Not out of worry, but more of convenience, Shinomiya and Shirogane decide to intervene.
"What is the reason for this?"
An almost annoyed female voice disrupts the harmonious brawl. The unequal pair looks at the vice-president fuelled by anger.
"It's this little idiot who can't leave me alone!"
"That's only because you started to play video games again. We have work to do, you big moron!"
Shirogane scratches his head, thinking about the situation and how to satisfy both, in order to restore peace.
"Of course, you're right Iino. The student council's work is very important, so we need to maintain focussed during it."
Placing her hands on her hips, Iino smirks at Ishigami in an all-powerful manner. The later one avoids her gaze.
"But the student council is also a place for all students to feel at ease. And besides that, aren't you two behind that already? Didn't you let him play games every now and then, before?"
'Miyuki will surely be a great future father!'
Now the tables have turned. The treasurer grins back at the embarrassed auditor, since his best friend's logical arguments cannot be countered.
"What is it? Got nothing to say, Iino-san?"
The blue-haired boy feels like teasing her might be the correct way of handling this situation, but the short girl isn't thinking of backing down. She plays dirty now.
"I don't mind you playing Mario Kart or something alike. But these games, Ishigami, are downright insulting for our reputation and women in general."
She's holding up his Nintendo Switch, letting the other three members in on his latest interests. It's a Visual Novel about girls falling for the reader. With the exception of the brunette, everyone in the room becomes flustered.
"I-is this one of these e-ero…"
Shinomiya is covering her face to avoid making contact with anyone.
"Hentai!"
The pinkette isn't sure if she should look at the treasurer to insult him, or if she should address the game.
"Ren'py"
Shirogane Miyuki, the only one who seems to have some profound knowledge in this type of genre, earns a baffled gaze from his guy friend, before turning his head, being elated about that none of the girls give his comment any attention.
"D-don't look at me like that! It's the censored version. There isn't happening anything unbecoming in this game!"
"As if that matters. You brought such an illicit game to this school, and even played it in the holy halls of this prestigious establishment! Don't you have any shame?"
"If you wouldn't have stuck your nose into my private matters, it wouldn't be a topic right now, you control freak!"
"As head of the discipline committee it's my duty to uphold order on the school grounds and the surrounding areas, you ignoramus!"
The fight between them never stopped, the president only made it worse. They now look at each other with fire in their eyes, their faces get closer and closer to each other. The tension can be cut with a knife. It's only a matter of seconds before one of them throws a punch again.
"Enough of this. I already figured out what's really going on here."
Strangely enough it's the pinkette's voice that breaks the silence. Equipped with her trusty hat, she conducts research around the two squabblers. It's the infamous love detective at work again. Even though this displeasures the neutral party, it's still better to listen to her than to let their underclassmen return to smashing their heads in.
"Then please enlighten us, Fujiwara."
Shirogane looks at her with absolute zero faith in her abilities.
"Hehehe… those two are heads over heels in love with another."
This accusation breaks something within the supposed couple. They look at the other one's eye in shock, before turning to their senpais.
"As if I would want anything from such a disloyal girl. She even knows what NTR is, and her boyfriend would probably end up being cheated on."
"Ishigami's trash. He couldn't even look a real girl in the eyes and tell her how much he loves her. What would I do with such a guy?"
Shirogane remembers the auditor's words about her ideal boyfriend.
'He must be there for her always and understands how she feels… She's quite the spoiled brat and we're talking about Ishigami here, so…'
His girlfriend thinks of the treasurer's words and recalls his struggle to cope with the situation around Koyasu's break-up with her former boyfriend.
'He would be the jealous type. And Iino is easily flattered, especially by boys, so…'
The couple shrugs and answers simultaneously.
"You are on the completely wrong track here, Fujiwara."
"Yes, even for her stupidity, she's grasping now."
"I hate to beat a person who's in such a sorry state, but I gave to agree with Ishigami for once."
In order for their kouhais to stop fighting, it seems like a sacrifice is necessary. Shinomiya and Shirogane happily agree on throwing Fujiwara under the bus, after bringing up such a preposterous idea. What kind of couple behaves like they do? She deserves it.
They walk past the three, letting the harassment continue, so they could start their daily routine. The vice-president is preparing tea for her boyfriend. And the president is going over documents, peeking at his girlfriend every now and then.
'He… he is looking at me right now, is he not?"
The black-haired girl gets self-conscious. She's aware of his gazes. Her hands get shaky.
'Might he be thinking about stuff that happens in those kinds of games…?'
Making her way to his desk, she trips. Realising this, the blonde jumps up from his chair and catches his beloved. Now holding her in his arms, their eyes meet. Having been in these situations for more than few times now, Shinomiya pecks her lips, expecting her partner to kiss her. The other student council members might be around, but they're busy with bullying or being bullied.
It's the tender, loud, and agonising scream of her lover disrupting previous assumption.
"HOOOOOOOOOOT!"
'I-is he thinking of me?'
She blushes even deeper. It was no surprise to her, that he thought of her as cute, that he admired her, that he loved her with burning passion. But his steaming confession, in front of people so close to her, lets her mind run wild.
He almost yanks her up, forcing her to stand on her own feet, and begins to open his pants und undresses them. This causes the evermore glowing vice-president to avoid him completely.
'He was thinking of these kinds of situations those games provoke! I knew it! But how do I react his advances. Fujiwara-san, Iino-san and Ishigami-kun are still here. I have to stop this immediately. This is way to improper, even for a maturing boy… Although…'
This kind of behaviour has startled the former mentioned three, with the brunette hiding behind her clipboard, the secretary smirking and making fun of Shirogane's underwear, and the fellow male student to be the only one actually worrying about the president.
"Are you okay, Myuu? Do you need help?"
Shinomiya is shocked by this offer. Her eyes dart towards Ishigami, who is hurrying over with outmost haste. Being faced with the burning passion of two man, she backs off, stumbles, and lands on Shirogane's chair.
"No, no, no, no. I am not ready for this kind of stuff, Miyuki!"
The youngest council member gives her a confused look, before attending to his best friend.
"Wait! What are you doing, Ishigami-kun?!"
The red-eyed girl observes him, going on his knees to rub on the thigh of her boyfriend with his sleeve. She immediately gets jealous and thinks of a way to dispose of the man she considered to be a brother for almost a year now. Jolting up, she has a clearer view of the situation. Shinomiya realises that her beloved partner has a wide, red mark on his right leg. It's soaked. Inspecting the floor beneath him reveals a spilled teacup, leaving stains on the carpet and his trousers. He breathes through his teeth, not out of arousal but pain.
She burnt him.
"I'm so sorry, President! I'll get the nurse!"
"I need something to cool his wound, Fujiwara-senpai and some bandages, Iino!"
"On it!"
"Don't command me around, Ishigami."
The female members leave the room, assigned with a task to fulfil, while the blonde tries to remain calm and collected.
A few minutes pass. Ishigami and Shirogane were looking at each other for a while now. There was nothing said during that time. The kouhai still on his knees ascertaining the damage Shinomiya caused and relieving the pain to the best of his abilities, while the upperclassman plays it off cool. This entire situation is unpleasant. The only other guy in the council is tending to his burn. But it's still better than having Iino or Fujiwara in his place… right?
"Briefs, huh?"
"Yeah, why?"
"No particular reason."
Only seconds after that remark, Fujiwara bursts in followed Shinomiya and Iino with the nurse. This causes Ishigami to stand up and let the male nurse take care of the burn. The two girls of same age inspect the procedure with interest, meanwhile bragging with their contributions to help their leader.
"I hope I wasn't too late, Miyuki!"
"I brought water to cool it down."
"Yeah, I know, thank you Fujiwara, Kaguya."
Leaving both with a wide smile, one out of pride, the other one out of embarrassment, the president has other worries than their desire for praise.
"Seems like the bandages arrived with the nurse, and not the person given the task to."
Analytical as always, the gloomy student criticises his classmate, earning a harsh gaze.
"It's not like they're lying around randomly, idiot!"
"You should know where the first aid kits are, moron!"
"I checked them, but all of them are incomplete, you stupid…!"
"Isn't the purpose of the disciplinary committee to check and keep everything in order, you little…!"
They're still fighting.
Fujiwara Chika opens their mouths
As nature goes the younger generation gets in a fight, while the older one takes care of each other. The nurse treated and bandaged Shirogane's injury by now, leaving the scene utterly shocked by the display. Shinomiya is getting closer and closer to her lover, wanting to make up for the damage she caused; the president himself, might not be immune to her seduction but isn't in the mood to get lovey-dovey; Iino and Ishigami are at it again; and Fujiwara is just shaking her head, as if all hope is already lost.
Analysing the situation herself, looking from left to right, standing in the middle of the chaos, she arrives at a conclusion.
'It's like day and night in here, on one side we have a canoodling couple, and on the other side it's havoc. Even I'm too afraid to interfere this time…'
The voice of reason emits from the most unlikely source.
'This is getting out of hand. I need to do something! I can't lose Kaguya any more to the president, and at the same time I need to help my underclassmen here, so it's time for a distraction!'
The voice falls silent.
"I'm not giving it up, everyone! I will prove it to all of you! I'm not a madwoman!"
Jumping on the table between the sofas, it looks like the pinkette is about to give a speech.
"Not a madwoman? That ship has sailed when I became a member of the stucon."
"This is school property, Fujiwara-san. Get down there at once!"
"She's never changing, isn't she?"
"Boo!"
Shakingly getting down from her high horse and table, she won't let her former courage go to waste.
'But I already distracted them.'
There is still something on her mind, she couldn't let slide. And to achieve her goal, she uses her well-known strategy.
'Right!'
"I challenge all of you to a duel!"
All of the remaining four members tilt their heads slightly, not understanding what's going on.
"You don't even have cards to do so, neither do-"
"I'm not talking about a card game! It's a simple game, that will still overstrain your brain, Ishigami-kun."
"Count me in, you stupid cow. I'm gonna wreck you."
"I don't know if I'm in any condition to play-"
"Don't worry president. We just need to talk for this one. You all probably know 'Never have I ever'. I invented the ultimate battle of wits for this game."
Earning annoyed glances from everyone in the room, the secretary gets to the point quickly, while pushing her index fingers together.
"Basically, it's about soloing out a player with a 'Never have I ever'-question, in order to create a ranking. After the game, the first place gets to ask the last one a question which they must answer honestly. That also applies to the second and fourth place in our case."
The last part was made up. But Fujiwara wanted to conceal her true objective here.
To everyone's surprise it's her best friend that takes her side.
"Well, we do not have anything better to do, right?"
"Agreed, it would distract me from the pain."
The approval of the couple let the blue-eyed girl feel a warmth around her heart, she didn't feel even once on that day before.
The auditor just nods.
"Just raise your hand, if you disagree with the statement, and if the questioner gets singled out, they also lose except if there's only two left."
Everyone takes a seat, Shirogane resting in his chair, facing Shinomiya and Ishigami on the couch, which oppose Fujiwara and Iino, who's still embarrassed by the lack of pants on the president's legs. The pinkette begins with a devious smile directed at her male kouhai.
"Never have I ever had a crush on an older girl before."
Widening his eyes, he knows it's over. He should've figured that everything coming out of the mouth of this disgusting evildoer was planned from the beginning. Reluctantly, he raises his hand. His being the only one means that he's out. The overall reaction is moderate, everyone knows this 'secret' already. Only some disdaining gazes are directed at the teasing girl. Especially, Iino seems to be upset by this.
'This could become a problem.'
With a grin, putting a hand over her mouth to keep her from laughing, Fujiwara musters the first loser, not noticing the thoughts of the people around her.
"Too easy. Okay, next question. Since I won this round, I can continue.
Never have I ever wanted to feel the embrace of a guy."
'It's better to let the others also ask questions, so they don't think I'm cheating. All I have to do is to get in first place.'
Without any surprises the other two girls raise their hands with flushed faces. Confident in her victory nonetheless, she turns around.
"Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat!? Why do you want to be hold by a guy, pres?!"
"Isn't the game called 'Never have I ever'?"
"Yeah, still?"
"Hehe, you're pretty heartless, Fujiwara-senpai."
"Shut up, otaku-trash! What's the meaning of this?"
All of this is too much input for the girls, because they focus too much on present or most recent relationships.
'Miyuki wants to be with a man?'
'Why does Ishigami understand this so well?'
"Are the two of you secret lovers, or something?!"
This possibility earns the respective boy a harsh glare from the girl they're facing. To prevent further misunderstandings, Shirogane yells out the true meaning behind his words.
"It's my father! When I was younger, he was the only parental figure I had, so I obviously wanted to be consoled by him from time to time!"
"Pushing Myuu this far… You're even more heartless than I thought, Fujiwara-senpai. To explain oneself usually isn't part of this game. Even if I'm an otaku or trash, I'm not condemning someone who loves his father. This is a depth I haven't reached."
Ishigami looks at the second loser in a derogatory manner. The pinkette's spirit is broken beyond repair. She lost and made a fool of herself. How rare!
The vice-president is swooning over the soft side of her boyfriend. Only Iino remains concentrated.
"Next question. Never have I ever wanted to not become president of the student council during high school!"
Shirogane and Shinomiya are surprised by the short girl's motivation to continue this game, but the flaws become apparent. If you know your opponents it's actually pretty easy to win, unless you're completely daft.
The black-haired girl raises her hand as the only one, letting the brunette smile brightly. Even if it's a guaranteed victory, it's still something to be celebrated for Iino.
'This little troublemaker… interrupting my pure thoughts of the president. Inexcusable. Right after I started to understand him and his family relations better.'
Being oblivious to the rage of her senpai, only the gloomy boy noticing and fearing it, the chair of the disciplinary committee asks another question.
"Never have I ever thought about having found my ideal partner in life."
The president's hand raises up as if it's launched like a rocket. He has a faint glow around his cheeks and his nose, though. This shifts the mood in the room considerably.
'Or maybe I will get her promoted to become student council president even before the next period, so I can spend Miyuki's remaining time here with him together. She is such a smart and kind girl. What could go wrong? Such a good girl!'
The 'good girl' is grinning arrogantly at blue-haired boy, who's just looking as annoyed as ever while sighing loudly. The president is actually very happy about being in second place, in a game that he technically couldn't win since he never got to ask a question. His girlfriend is also fine with ending up neither as loser nor as winner since the game was rigged from the start. She's actually kind of enjoying that her best friend lost, despite her advantage.
It's the two losers who are preparing for their demise, full-knowingly that the defeat they had faced are only the tip of the iceberg. Shirogane's frustration over the secretary and Iino's general enjoyment seeing the treasurer suffer, makes them smile at each other for one last time, as if their transfer to the death row was imminent.
"So, Fujiwara. I always wondered how you can keep this ribbon in your hair. Does it work like a clip or something?"
She starts to cry.
"How can you ask me something so private? Do you really want to take the only reason for me still being relevant away from me? My last secret? And that because of a piece of clothing? Shouldn't I just strip completely naked at this point? Is this, what you want, pres? Me having no happiness left in my life? You perverted animal, filthy lecher!"
Her accusations hit the blonde like arrows, every shot diminishes his already battered health bar.
"Just answer his question already, you ribbon for a brain."
"You started this game, but you can't live with the consequences?"
"Weak…"
The guilt-trip failed, resulting in the secretary caving in.
"I-it's actually a p-part of my hair."
"But you took it off in front of me once."
"So what? My ribbon is kind of similar to the hat of this one character from a manga, called Jo-"
"We're not doing another of these references, understood?"
Ishigami seems serious.
"Then let us proceed with your question, Iino-san."
The vice-president seems to have calmed down from her recent mood switches, and addresses the short girl. Meanwhile the last place takes a deep breath in and out, concentrating on the situation.
'Well, considering the question Myuu threw at that individual, I doubt Iino's will be more serious. It's also a good thing that she's the one asking and not someone else, so that it stays a sec-'
"W-which of these girls do you like the most?"
The only good message here is that the youngest council member wasn't drinking anything, otherwise he would've spilled it all over the table. While coughing, he tries to regain his composure, processing the auditor's question once more.
'Which of these girls I like the most?'
He looks at the flustered questioner, not knowing what to make of her behaviour. Ishigami can't look at any of the other girls, since that might indicate a preference, his only hope is his best friend, who seemed to expect something like this, looking in a completely other direction than his kouhai. Only some whistling is missing. Shirogane got burned twice today, he won't let Iino do this to him as well. As so often, the gloomy boy has to look after himself, receiving no emotional support.
'Is this really what she wants? Didn't she object at first? Didn't you want to win this game, in order to prevent such a situation… or did I miss something? It's true, someday the truth comes to light either way, so it's better to look forward and face it head on. Sorry, for misunderstanding that, Iino.'
Now seemingly understanding the struggle of the short girl, his previous nervousness still remains, but he's able to give her a subtle smile, quite to the confusion of the former mentioned.
"You, of course."
Not being able to direct his gaze at anything but her, out of embarrassment and anxiety, the brunette also feels her heart racing, unable to break their eye contact. Her mouth stands wide open, not knowing what to say.
"Wha…."
Shinomiya turns away and Shirogane is glad to be not too close to the happening. Both feel like they're intruding in someone's personal space. There is one shameless exception, though.
"Did you just confess to Miko-chan, Ishigami-kun?"
Realising that they are not alone, the auditor takes her clipboard and hides behind it, giving off some weird giggles. The treasurer on the other hand is annoyed by the secretary's interference.
"Isn't this what you were after? Revealing us both to be dating?"
"You two are already dating!?"
Completely oblivious to her previous statements, the pinkette is bewildered by his declaration of love.
"So, that's what you meant by having it 'sorted out' with her, Ishigami?"
Shirogane is referring to a text from two weeks ago, in which the he asked the treasurer about the situation between him and the brunette.
"Wait? None of you noticed that?"
While Fujiwara and the president look at each other, not sure how to react, their peer speaks up.
"Now that you mention it… Even though both of you continued to fight, the quality of your work increased. And your cooperation, too."
"So, all of those fights, your bickering, and the bad moods were just an act?"
Both of them slowly nod.
Their upperclassmen feel stupid. The flags had been there all this time, but no-one took the time to put one and one together. They even knew about Iino's feelings for months now.
"So, the entire fight about this game was just for show?"
"Huh? No, that one was real."
"What now!?"
"Yeah, Ishigami. What now? Do those girls in this game mean more to you than I do?"
Exhausted, the centre of attention lets his head hang. His girlfriend really takes an issue with his dating sims.
Not knowing how to continue due to his social anxiety, and nobody wanting to butt in, fearing the fury of the discipline committee chairwoman, the short girl decides rows back. It's obvious to the treasurer that she's happy about his open confession, but she's also angry with him because of it.
With tears in her eyes, more out of bashfulness than anything else, the brunette gets back to her original worry.
"My question wasn't directed to girls in the student council, you know? I was asking about the girls in the game, but I let your answer slide this time…"
Hearing those words, all around her feel like they're on another planet.
'He just openly admitted his feelings for you, you ungrateful brat.'
'Some things are better kept a secret; poor Ishigami.'
'I want to die.'
'Oh, Miko-chan… Wait…'
"Why did you even keep your relationship a secret from us?"
"Because we didn't want you to mess it up, Fujiwara-senpai."
No depression in the world would hinder her male kouhai to be as blunt towards her as always. Even if that isn't the true reason, it gets her to shut up.
After a few seconds of utmost silence which felt like minutes with everyone looking around awkwardly, Ishigami stands up, walks over to the president's desk and excuses himself.
"I will never play a dating sim in this room again, so I'm going home."
"Um… alright but take Iino and your console with you. Both caused enough problems for one day."
Keeping her grip on his gaming console while the former cheering club member is trying to snatch it from her, the girlfriend is forced to accompany her boyfriend.
"She's not my luggage!"
"I'm not his pet!"
Today's battle results:
Fujiwara's (and technically Iino's) victory
Next time: What happened two weeks ago and where is this heading?
Thank you so much for reading.
Well, I hope you laughed a few times here and there. I always appreciate constructive criticism, and if you have some interesting remarks, let me know in the comments.
Have a nice day and evening!
