"We're finally done…"

After much time and effort spent editing, the members of the mass media club that were knew how to edit videos (that is, just Karen and Kogane) had completed the project. Karen merely smiled at the exhausted expression on Kogane's face.

"I'm just surprised that you didn't turn it into an IshiMiko manifesto."

"Nah, I already got chewed out by Kose-senpai…"

Karen gave a half smile at this.

"Don't tell her I said this, but I'm just glad you managed to talk her out of making it into a Kaguya-sama promotional video. Then again, it was thanks to her miso that we got through this in one piece, right?"

Kogane sighed, giving a shrug.

"I'd rather she not look down on people like us…"

An innocent look formed on Karen's face as she thought to herself:

Well, it's mostly thanks to me that she thinks of ship trash in the way she does…

"I-in any case, I think that what you're doing is ok! Just don't go too wild with your art or anything, alright?"

Kogane gave a laugh, waving her hand dismissively.

"Oh, don't worry! I wouldn't do something as crazy as making doujins of them!"

The sting of betrayal was not a feeling unfamiliar to Karen, but it stung nonetheless. Looking to change the topic, she began flipping through the club calendar before landing on a particular page.

"A-anyways the culture festival's a ways off, but it's also our next big event. Got any plans?"

Kogane's eyes lit up as she pressed her fingertips together, sitting up straight.

"Yeah! We haven't talked about it a whole lot, but the council's got a whole bunch planned! We're trying to go for another 2-day festival, but this time with more organization so the clubs aren't scrambling for last-minute activities for the second day! And the atmosphere's gonna be absolutely perfect for romance, even if the president doesn't want it to be."

Karen nodded along.

"Yep. Indeed, the life of a ship trash is one where one gives up their own romantic fulfillment for the sake of witnessing-"

"Oh, but I'll make sure to save some time for Takeno, of course."

Karen blinked twice, taking a moment to process what she had just heard.

"Who… is Takeno?"

Kogane raised an eyebrow, taking on a matter-of-fact tone as she said:

"I haven't told you? He's my boyfriend."

###

I wonder why she threw me out after that…

Opening the door to the student council room, Kogane saw Iino notice her before clapping her hands together.

"Alright! Now that everyone's here, I have an announcement to make."

Everyone stopped what they were doing, turning to face Iino as she said:

"I have decided that, due to the exams and the fact that the culture festival comes directly after, the student council will be suspending all activities from now until the exams are over. Are there any objections?"

Takeno shrugged.

"I would personally prefer to maintain activity within the student council while focusing on schoolwork, but I suppose that it's understandable, especially given that you guys are second years. I don't really mind either way, but if it'll give the rest of you some extra time to prep, then I don't see why not."

He's lying. Ever since Kogane beat him in the last exams, Takeno has been tirelessly toiling away on his testwork, not wasting even a moment to catch his breath! Despite his academic prowess, he has been beaten by someone who doesn't even study! While everyone around him views him as a one-upping asshole who constantly shoves his grades down their throats, for Takeno, the title of "First in his class" was a pillar that validated his existence! He has to do better than the people born with everything in their favour or else he'll always be stuck in their shadows! Imagine how sore his neck would be from looking up at them!

Takeno is a man of immense respect who would never dare to question someone he believes smarter than him. But even so, the shame of losing twice in a row to someone whose main activity during exam season is rereading their entire manga library would be far too much to bear!

"I-I'll start drafting up a schedule! I'll cram in a few hours of math, and history, and classic Japanese- ah, I don't have enough time! Then again, who really needs sleep anyways?"

Everyone in the room flashed him a concerned look except for Mitama who simply smiled.

"That's our president for you! Always looking out for her council!"

Iino gave a quick nod, a smug grin appearing on her face.

"Yep! I could get as good grades as I want, but I thought it would be good to help you guys foster healthy studying habits!"

She's lying. Her decision to suspend student council activities has about as much altruism as a child complimenting their parents when the ice cream truck comes along. Aiming for first place, Iino couldn't afford to spare a single thought for anyone else. As a member of the public morals committee, Iino is constantly policing how others behave for the sake of preserving the academic environment of Shuchi'in academy. However, if a leader cannot be superior to their follower, then that person does not deserve to lead! Every second of Iino's 20-hour-long day is spent diligently toiling away because if she didn't do at least this much, how could she demand the same from those around her?

"In any case, try not to burn yourselves out. If anyone needs tips for relaxing, I'm sure that Fujiwara-senpai will happily lend you some help if you're nice to her!"

"That is, if you stroke her ego enough."

And as Iino said nothing in response, the rest of the student council filed out of the room leaving her and Ishigami alone.

Watching intently as Ishigami picked up his bag, a calculating grin started to grow on Iino's face, her fingers interlocking as she went over her thoughts one last time.

I haven't had too much spare time, but I'd bet that Ishigami hasn't been giving me any thought whatsoever after the sports festival. Honestly, you've gotten soft. If you think that you won't have to work to keep up after I praised you a little, you have a lot to learn.

Laughing to herself a little, Iino started humming as she slowly opened her bag, taking out her textbooks and walking up to the table that Ishigami was sitting at.

Step 1 of my plan is already complete. Since I didn't make any previous indications of suspending student council activities, there's no way that Ishigami has any plans right now! Knowing Ishigami, he'll either start going straight home or start studying right here in the council home, but seeing as he's taking out his textbooks, that part's already decided.

Iino's expression started darkening, her smile taking on a more sinister tone and as she sat across from Ishigami, one thought played through her mind:

She had him in her clutches.

"You know, I've been having some trouble with English lately, so maybe we should-"

"Kaguya-senpai? Yeah, turns out I've got time today after all."

Wait what?

Ishgami… hadn't misheard, right? Surely, someone like Iino wouldn't directly ask anyone, even him to study together, right? And that rapidly souring look on her face didn't have anything to do with what he'd just said, right?

Who am I kidding?! This is all my fault!

"W-wait, Iino, I-"

By the time he'd managed to utter a single word, the door had already slammed behind Iino, the only hint of her having been there being the notes she'd forgotten to pick up from the table across Ishigami.

"Bah…"

The one time that Iino actually takes the initiative just happened to be the time he'd actually been taking his exams more than 90% seriously. Though, to be fair, it didn't really matter what day Iino had decided to take action since he'd been studying with Kaguya every single day.

I thought that she wouldn't be that aggressive! After all, if she had a 0% chance of asking me out, then I wouldn't have to worry about what I'm multiplying it by!

"Having trouble there?"

It had been an entire quarter since Kaguya had stepped foot in this room, yet one couldn't help but feel as though this was the place where she belonged. Instantly opening the tea cupboard that had thus far been unused by the 68th council, she got to brewing as she awaited a response from Ishigami.

"Well?"

"Not gonna let it go, huh?"

Well, he had been hanging his head and bashing his head against the sofa when she'd walked in, but that was understandable! Probably!

Collecting himself Ishigami gave a dismissive wave as he slumped forward and opened his workbook.

"It's nothing. Just might've accidentally pissed off Iino."

"Are you sure that that's all?"

Ishigami's eyes narrowed at Kaguya's innocent expression before leaning back, injecting more confidence in his voice.

"Nothing gets past you, huh? Still, it's not like I owe you details or anythi- wait, wait, wait! I can talk about this!"

Ishigami wasn't sure how one could look so intimidating while simply opening a can of sardines, but he supposed that Kaguya never really did lose her scary streak. Sitting across from him, Kaguya simply continued smiling as she set the tea tray and the sardines between them, saying:

"It was a joke. I was going to have you eat those whether or not you chose to divulge that information."

"So, I don't get a choice either way?"

Still, it wasn't as if he hated it. After all, Kaguya's tea was always first class and sardines had truly started to grow on him over the past year. And plus-

"For your information, it's 'tanθ=sinθ/cosθ', not 'sinθ=tanθ/cosθ'."

-she was quite adept at spotting when he'd gotten stuck. It was hard for Ishigami to recall the last time he'd studied with a friend, let alone someone who was as helpful as Kaguya.

"I was wondering why all my solutions were screwed up… Oh, by the way, senpai, you forgot your 'let' statement for that solution."

Kaguya blinked twice in surprise before correcting herself, eliciting a cheeky grin.

"Hah? Looks like even the great daughter of the Shinomiyas can mess up every now and then."

Kaguya rolled her eyes.

"I suppose that it would be unfortunate to lose marks on things such as these when I understand the material."

"Yeah, it would be a shame if mistakes like that were what made it so you never scored higher than-"

Judging by Kaguya's expression, it was probably for the best that he didn't finish that sentence. Completing questions in silence for another 10 minutes, Ishigami noticed a certain trinket hanging off of Kaguya's bag.

"A sun and moon? What's that, a present from Miyuki-senpai? Or Fujiwara?"

It was a small wonder that the mere mention of anything remotely having to do with Miyuki sent a smile straight to Kaguya's face. She sighed and smiled as if reminiscing on a memory from ages ago, saying:

"It's from Miyuki. Recently, I have not been able to visit quite as often as we would like due to our studies, but he got me this keychain to remind me that, even if we're apart in distance and time, we're still connected by virtue of living under the same sun, moon and stars! Isn't that romantic?~"

"…At least you guys are on the same wavelength."

It was hard not to be happy for a couple so plainly meant for one another, yet a part of Ishigami couldn't help but feel a twinge of annoyance at her exuberance.

"Anyways, you get him something?"

At that, Kaguya's smile faltered somewhat, a bit of sweat pooling in her forehead as she completed several more problems in her workbook, finally saying:

"Well… Hayasaka has taken the liberty of helping me learn how to cook so that Miyuki doesn't have to prepare all the meals when I visit, but…"

"Judging by your face, it didn't go well?"

A brief quiet and several more pages of questions completed, Kaguya simply asked:

"Do you know where I can find a good stove and install it in someone's house without them knowing?"

"You do know that that's breaking and entering, right?"

Ishigami couldn't help but stifle a laugh as he continued:

"Still. That bad, huh?"

"I'd get my chefs to prepare food for us, but it would get cold by the time my flight's arrived! Plus, he hates displays of my family and I feel like a home-cooked meal would be more heartfelt, right?"

"You're just talking about how you feel when he cooks for you, right?"

"Is there a problem?"

"You damned sap. Can you look over this commentary I wrote?"

"Of course, after you tell me why Iino appeared to be in such a bad mood as I walked past her in the halls."

In a flash, the lovestruck look on Kaguya's face had been entirely replaced by the expression of a hunter trapping its prey. While he and Iino may have experience in the arts of subtle manipulations and machinations, they were still no match for the pioneers of the craft.

"You really aren't gonna let that go?"

"No, and I suggest that you tell me sooner rather than later. Besides, it is very likely that I have the capability of aiding you in the fixing of whatever mistake you have caused."

"Why would you assume- never mind."

Whether he'd been found out for changing his games' languages back to Japanese, or if he'd neglected one specific subject in his studies, no matter what it was that Ishigami tried to hide, Kaguya would always find out one way or another, and every time, she would always give him that knowing smile of an older sibling who has just found their younger brother's hand in the cookie jar. Normally it was a welcome aid that motivated Ishigami to fully devote himself to his studies during exam season, and seeing as that was the reality of the situation…

Surely, nothing bad would come out of just telling her, right?

And so, closing his book, Ishigami slumped over, hands on his cheeks as he finally conceded.

Result of today's battle: Kaguya wins.

To be continued! That's right, I'm actually trying to start working on this fic again! See y'all next week! Or the week after! Or later!

Again though, if there's actually anyone still around, I'd just like to thank you for sticking around and I hope that you'll enjoy the exam arc of Ishigami-sama wants to be confessed to!