Hot Chocolate and Memos
Yuu Ishigami was laid out on the green sofa. His feet were kicked up and rested on the armchair without a worry in the world. Not like there was mid year exams coming next week or anything.
Schuchiin Academy's biggest delinquent was too busy on his Nintendo Switch to even remotely care.
His teeth were gnawing on the sucker in frustration. The black hair was covering his one eye while the other was fixed on the screen.
His fingers were rapidly hammering the buttons. Almost there…He was so close to beating the boss.
A hand reached out and plucked the handheld straight out of his hands.
"Lazer Death Beam!" He proclaimed.
Kaguya Shinomiya gracefully walked away with the now confiscated machine. "My oh my, video games at this time of the school curriculum, aren't you ashamed Ishigami kun?"
He had a blank expression. Should I be? " I mean not really no."
Kaguya's nose was pretentiously in the air. "Well you certainly should be. You represent the student council. A stain on you is stain on us all."
"I was planning on cramming the last night no big deal. I'm still top 200!"
In a school that only enrolled the country's one percenters and a handful through scholarships, for Kaguya, it certainly was
This is a real problem…Kaguya thought biting her fingernail. If a student council member does bad then it'll come to the school boards attention. We'll get audited, disbanded and then I won't be able to see my Miyuki again!
She cleared her throat. "This won't do at all… Another joint study session must be in order! We need to compare notes, make revisions!"
Oh hell to the no! "Or you can just give me my Nintendo Switch and I'll be on my way."
Kaguya smiled and held it behind her back. "Boys and their toys. I think I'll be keeping this until exams are over. Be a good boy and you'll get it back."
An evil look on her face as a sinister violin played. " .Piece."
Scary….
Yuu Ishigami sighed as he opened the door. "We're home."
He held the door so that Kaguya could enter. She carried her leather case (which he is certain costs more than his entire annual allowance) in both her hands as she elegantly walked into the apartment. Her eyes closed contently.
Come to think of it wasn't there news about Yandere girl that killed a guy in these type of penthouse complexes. She stabbed him a million place apparently.
"My oh my what a cosy place…"
Maybe he should hide the knives…
"My room is here!" He stammered for a it before taking the lead. It wouldn't have been such a huge ordeal had this not been the very first time he brought a girl to his house.
The two sat around the table with paper strewn around in all directions. Ishigami clicked the pen. "You mean there."
Kaguya sat next to him. "Uh huh."
"Then you move it by…" He scribbled on the paper.
She sighed and groaned at the answer. This isn't going anywhere. "No, this is hopeless ugh!"
She laid down defeated on the floor. It was getting darker and they've going back and forth for hours now. Insanity truly was doing the same thing and expecting different results.
"Sorry I know I am."
Kaguya felt a pang in her chest. No wonder she had the title of Ice Princess. "No, not you. I don't mean it like I that. It's just that…"
She couldn't give her motives for helping him.
"Nah, it's fine. It's the truth. I let everyone down. I let myself down. You should give up on me. I am a lost cause." He said it in such a non-chalant tone, as if the words just rolled naturally off his tongue.
She stared at the ceiling. Not only was other people hard on him, he was already kicking himself to the curb too. It wasn't easy being the son of a big shot toy store.
"I mean…" His one eye that was hidden behind the bang was gazing toward Shinomiya. The pen was still clicking. "You've probably heard everything about me already and had a good look at my file so no need to bore you with the details."
Yuu certainly didn't want to divulge further on why it was such a bad idea to involve herself in his life.
He was indeed very observant. His keen sense to the finer of details led to him becoming treasurer of their council. However, his greatest strength is also what got him into trouble in the first place.
"Well of course I did. I'd be a horrific vice president councillor if I hadn't!" Kaguya replied, sitting in an upright position again. "But I'm not ignorant either. These types of red slates on a person's record only tell one side. You refused to make any defence at your very own disciplinary hearing."
"Would it really matter, Shinomiya? At the end we all come to the same general consensus."
"And you think I concern myself with the opinion of commoners?"
He was sure the study session was suggested at his place so no one could see the two of them together. Maybe a rich girl from a well established family didn't want to associate and sully her name by being around him.
"My oh my Ishigami, that's quite shallow if I do say so myself. I'm shocked and appalled." She said in such a calm demeanour.
"I like to think I am an excellent judge of character. You're lazy and you are incredibly inconsiderate towards the feelings of others over your preconceived notions and past experiences But that's it really. I never sense any malice in you."
"I see someone who is hurt." Kaguya melancholically reflected. "Who wants to reach out to someone but choses not to because they are scared, scared of getting hurt again."
"Truth is you can't stop how people view you, but even if it's only and you alone who knows the truth. Does that really matter?"
"You're the one who needs to live with yourself after all. Ishigami you are the one who has to sleep with your conscience. You stood up for a girl and proven yourself to be far more eligible boyfriend material. If she can't realize that she is being manipulated, well, then that's her trashy prerogative."
"Ishigami kun if I may be so bold." It was rhetorical. She was going to continue regardless. "You'll just have to believe in yourself."
Ishigami clicked the pen. Believe in myself? He couldn't help but chuckle. What an odd concept. "I wouldn't even know where to begin."
She cupped his cheeks. "You start off by forgiving yourself. You're innocent, carry yourself like a man does."
"Second, even if they're not sorry, you forgive and forget them. They're not worthy of being held rent free in your mind. Don't let them waste your time anymore than they already have."
Her eyes were as passionate as the colour they were. Those red ruby orbs were hypnotizing. It felt like he could disappear in them.
She tilted his chin up so she could get closer. "And most importantly, learn to love yourself."
Kaguya chan was the very last person he expected this comfort from. "You are amazing Shinomiya san. You know, when you're not terrifying."
"Well of course, I am a Shinomiya, a household name worth hundreds of trillions of yen, so it only makes sense for me to be." Her hand was complacently on her chest.
Kaguya pointed at him. "Ishigami kun, you're about to endure studying in the harshest of environments! Through hell and high water, I shall mold an ideal student out of you! All your critics shall tremble from all the inconsistencies and irregularities or my name won't be Kaguya Shinomiya!"
It was spoken with such strong conviction. The girl pointed to herself with such boasting confidence.
And who was he to reject Kaguya Shinomiya? Seriously. She did have his Nintendo Switch after all…
He reluctantly agreed but only because he wanted to get it back before Wind of The Zela 2 came out.
Deep down, he liked the self-gratifying notion of humbling his haters too. It was just the cherry on top.
How hard could it be?
Kaguya was in her school clothes in a cold refrigerator butchery. It was an abattoir owned by her family. She blew a whistle as Ishigami with duck taped fists started punching a piece of meat that hanged on the conveyor belt.
It was raining like hell while Ishigami was jogging with a trash bag over him while a limousine was trailing in front of him.
"How the hell is all this supposed to make me better at studying!"
Kaguya opened the limousine window. "Suffering builds character!"
Ishigami slept with his pillow in his arm while scratching his exposed stomach.
BBOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOPPPPPPPP!
Kaguya stood by the edge of the bed with an air horn at hand. The sudden jerk reaction sent him rolling off his bed and onto the hard floor.
"It's quarter to six. Get to studying toot sweet!" Kaguya showcased her French.
"But the sun isn't even out yet!" His words were muffled against the ground.
It was so dark on account of daylight saving that he had to turn his lamplight by the desk. Kaguya walked back and forth behind him like a military drill Sergeant. A large ruler was in her hands. She looked over his shoulder.
Ishigami was busy nodding off, his eyes were getting heavy. His head was about to hit the papers until Kaguya slammed the ruler across the desk.
"Those equations won't do itself!"
Ishigami was taking refuge in the men's bathroom. He was reading a doujin of his favourite girl from his favourite anime. Finally some peace and quit!
Or so he thought.
Kaguya kicked the bathroom stall open. Ishigami tried to pull his shirt to his knees. "Excuse me!"
She pulled the magazine out of his hands and replaced it with an English textbook on his lap. "You're excused. I shall be confiscating this lewd half elf book for the time being. You'll get it back later."
"Get out!" Ishigami shrieked.
Kaguya proudly strode out of the men's bathroom. She placed her jet black hair behind her ear. The magazine was tucked under her arm.
"Ah Ino-chan, no need to fret! I shall dispose of this in the safe."
Miko just stood there dumbfounded while Ishigami's cries were still heard inside the men's room,
"Ehhhhhh what do you mean you don't understand!? What part is still giving you trouble!?"
Ishigami's sleep deprived eyes had red circles around them. "Oh I don't know just about….EVERYTHING!"
The desperation and lack of sleep was finally getting to her. Kaguya started weeping uncomfortably. "Oh Miyuki! Miyuki! Miyuki! I am trying!"
She cried in her folded arms. Ishigami finally reached his breaking point too. He started to cry aswell.
It was past midnight. Kaguya eventually fell asleep in the same position that she cried herself in. Her mental state was so deteriorated that she talked in her sleep.
"Hehe Shirogane you did all this for me? Isn't that adorable." Kaguya had a smile.
Meanwhile, Ishigami threw a blanket on her back to keep her warm. He tied a red bandanna around his head. He had a new resolve in the fatigued dizziness. "Let's do this!"
Ishigami sat back down alongside sleeping beauty and continued to read through the work.
Kaguya poked Ishigami's face. He had fallen asleep and she just woke up from a power nap. In Shinomiya's hands were two mugs of steaming hot chocolate.
He wiped the drool off the corner of his mouth. He thankfully took it. One sip and he could preserve a bit longer.
As they drank, Ishigami had explained to Shinomiya about his newfound discovery. Kaguya smiled. He was finally starting to get a better grasp at the subject.
So there was light at the end of the tunnel….
His stomach growled. Ishigami was hungry.
A world-renowned top chef was at the door. A bento was ready as a parcel. She had some of the finest and most exotic delegacy on speed dial.
Kaguya fed Ishigami while he composed more notes. He took a bite but never took eyes off the paper. It was a variation of seafood and wagyu beef cutlets, a heavy meal for 2AM in the morning but certainly filling for any skinny nihilistic teen hard at studying.
She had a piece of puffer fish held by expensive chopsticks. Ishigami blissfully unaware chewed on it.
It was late the afternoon at Schuchiin Academy's library. An orange hue light pierced through the windows.
Kaguya and Ishigami were still at school, working hard. Dozens of books were stacked on top of each other.
He wrote essays, chemistry components and math solutions much faster. Ishigami made sure he wasn't slouched over so he'd avoid getting an earful from the stern Kaguya.
Shinomiya stood in an attractive grey teacher outfit. The top part was very conservative but her skirt wasn't. She showed her smooth milky legs while walking in high heels. Her red-rimmed glasses were shining by the sun's reflection.
"Ishigami kun.." It was said in a serious tone.
"Yeah?"
"You're improving a lot. Good job." She gave him a smile in addition to the positive reinforcement.
Exam day was slowly coming but the outlook was looking better. Back again at his apartment, Ishigami and Kaguya sat and discussed their work notes much more civilized.
He turned the page to a wiener dog he drew. It took forever to calm Kaguya down from the belly laughs.
Kaguya and Ishigami jogged with great effort to what felt like a thousand steps. Both were tired but pushed themselves to great new heights, gasping for breath. Finally they reached the top. Triumphantly they raised their fist in a Rocky Balboa fashion.
Kaguya was nervously fidgeting by the fountain. Today was the day the exam results were coming out and plagued to the wall outside for everybody to see.
The fate of the student council now rested in Ishigami's hands. Oh Miyuki. She can't-couldn't bear the thought of having to live school days without him.
Ishigami came walking by calmly, headphones turned on full blast and hands tucked in his pockets.
"Moment of truth.." He might not have shown it as the girl he was talking to, but deep down, Ishigami wanted to vomit from the stress or maybe he was finally succumbing to that puffer fish.
Kaguya and Ishigami's eyes were strolling up and down together on the list, looking for his name. The former didn't even bother to look for her own results.
100: Ishigami, Yuu
Her hands dug into his shoulder into his shoulder. She was shaking from…..anger? He could feel the terrifying presence looming over him. it was a haunting dark purple aura.
Have mercy Shinomiya! He pleaded.
"Ishigami kun you…"
He shut his eyes, accepting his fate.
"You moved up nearly 100 spots! That's amazing! You did great!"
Ishigami stood there dumbfounded while Kaguya jumped up and down from joy. "YES! YES! YES! YES!"
I can't believe it.
"We did it…" He spoke.
A wave of relief hit him hard. Days of blood, sweat and tears finally paid off.
"WE REALLY DID IT!" He screamed. His hands pumped in the air in victory.
He could finally face the girl he feared, the girl who suffered with him, who believed in him.
All the students looked at the two who made all the commotion. Kaguya did not care. She was a Shinomiya after all.
A flower sprouted out off her hair. "AHHHHH! Thank you! Thank you! The student council is saved! Now me and Miyuki will be together!"
A part of him knew all along. Her ruby eyes sparkled. Ishigami smiled.
"Shinomiya I did my part. Now it is time you do yours.,."
A fire, a fierce determination in his eyes. "Confess to the president!"
Kaguya's heart was travelling a gazillion miles per hour. "I don't know Ishigami kun?"
He held her hands. "Do you love him?"
She nodded frantically.
A smile, a genuine smile from her for the first time. "Then go, you're a Shinomiya aren't you? Take initiative!"
The girl with the red hair ribbon bowed. While flustered, Kaguya Shinomiya had the encouragement she so desperately needed. She ran of to the council room, only to stop halfway by the fountain.
Kaguya looked back to Ishigami. She was pondering something. But so many people are there. "Oh what the heck!"
Kaguya Shinomiya marched straight back to Ishigami. The student council girl grabbed him his jacket's collar and pulled him down. She stood on her toes.
Ishigami felt Kaguya's soft lips grazing his cheek. It felt like his blood froze to a stand still. Everyone gasped in their presence and asked another if they had seen this right.
Those pink lips withdrew away from the cheek. Kaguya hugged him tightly. "I'm proud of you!"
She left him with the reward in his hands. He slowly touched his cheek she had kissed. It was warm. Kaguya was certainly the furthest thing from an Ice Princess.
Everyone gossiped. One thing was certain, a Shinomiya isn't afraid to go against the grain and is accustomed to controversy.
Alls well that ends well. Ishigami was playing with his Nintendo Switch on his way out of the school gate.
He was dogging enemies left and right in Darkened Souls with no self-awareness with what's going on around him.
Then it dawned on him.
(The Godfather's Theme)
Ishigami was in a tuxedo. Hundreds of people were also dressed formally; they danced with classic music playing in the background.
Kaguya wore a long black silk dress that showed her right leg. She had a dead black fox pelt around her neck and long gloves that reached to her elbows.
She grabbed him by the jaw and told him. "I know you're the rat Ishigami."
Kaguya planted a big kiss before taking her leave. Just like she did on the school grounds.
She wasn't happy with me. Ishigami thought in his overly paranoid mind. She was marking me for death.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH"
Narrarator: Kiss of Death!
Narrarator: Today's results: Kaguya and Ishigami wins.
Shinomiya was able to confess her love to Shirogane. The two started dating after. However, the school and Shinomiya's family didn't approve their relationship. Kaguya was at her happiest and so was Miyuki so they couldn't care less.
Ishigami was unable to get past his fear for Kaguya. He slept with a night light on that night should she come back and finish the job.
Ishigami and Shinomiya continued their studying sessions. Maybe it was the Stockholm syndrome or masochism talking but he still needed her. Sometimes, Shirogane would join in and together the power couple would help Ishigami attain the 75th spot the next semester.
The new and improved Ishigami gained the attention of Miko. His hair was combed back and his eyes were sparkling. She found herself being swooped off her feet by him, no matter how much she denied it herself.
During the millionth argument Miko and Ishigami just grabbed one another and kissed in the heat of the moment. They argued some more then on who kissed who. Eventually it lead to fights on who love who the most.
The End.
Author's Note: My first and definitely not my last Love Is War story. More to come!
A favourite\review to show your support would be greatly appreciated. Although it's not mandatory. You reading it is more than sustainable for me! Much love!
Aidan.