Si vis pacem, para bellum.

If you wish for peace, prepare for war. This is a Latin phrase commonly known and often cited in fiction. Often in a negative way, highlighting fragile peace or forcing good people to commit atrocities.

What these fictions never care about is the peace after the war. The treaty, the reparation, and everything painful must be done to rebuild everything that broke.

In this case, the social rift that opened had to be mended.

It was called a peace treaty, but it was more like Kaguya joining the loser party for reasons that aren't obvious to the hateful idiots. The mass media club girls, who are supporters of Kaguya and friends of Yukino, paint this in the best light possible.

Even today, Kaguya happily enjoyed an open tea time with the members of the Public Service Club.

"In the end, it all ends well," Karen remarked. "And we can enjoy the sight from the sideline."

"I know, right?" Erika nodded. "I always knew that Kaguya-sama is big-hearted."

"Pfft." Hachiman scoffed.

Hachiman's reaction invited weird stares from all the girls. Contemptuously, he said: "She's only remained magnanimous because she won. You think she would accept her defeat with grace?"

Hachiman had known Kaguya for more than nine months. He knew how much of a cheating sore loser she could be. Had Kaguya lost, the meeting afterward would be nowhere as amicable.

"Of course she would." Erika protested. "Hikigaya-san should not say that even though you're part of the student council!"

"That's right!" Karen nodded and huffed. "I can't believe what I'm hearing right now."

"Hikigaya-san, are you sure you didn't say that because you get mad about Yukinoshita-san losing?" Hayasaka teased him. "Could it be that you're nowhere as neutral as you like to present yourself?"

"Let's talk about bias." Hachiman rummaged through his pocket and playfully threw and caught a gacha capsule. "If you know what I mean."

Karen and Erika were unaware of what he meant, but Hayasaka did. Hachiman knew the contest gacha machine was tampered with. And he replaced it right before the contest began.

He was threatening Hayasaka, knowing that she was the prime suspect of potential sabotage. And if Hachiman was being spiteful, he could easily crush whatever schemes in Hayasaka's mind right now.

Still, Hayasaka didn't know Hachiman had that grudge at the time. No wonder he purposely goaded her into betting on the contest result. Kaguya's warning about Hachiman now sounded even more threatening.

"Please don't get mad." Hayasaka grinned. "To be honest, you know I am a little jealous."

Hachiman shuddered and left. "I'm going to the toilet. BRB."

"What's with Hikigaya-san? I have never seen him that cranky." Karen huffed. "Even though he has always been snippy."

"Are you two close with him?" Hayasaka suddenly asked. "It's rare for him to talk with girls outside the student council. I mean, aside from Ryuju-san, since they're super close!"

"We were in the same elective," Erika explained. "So it isn't like we're strangers, but... it is complicated."

"Is it?" Hayasaka grinned in excitement. "That means you're friends with him."

"Yeah, we weren't exactly close friends or classmates, but I guess you can call us his friend."

"But the Hikigaya-san we know has always been fair with everyone." Erika chided. "I hate to admit, maybe we WERE being unreasonable."

"How so?"

"He always said what he wanted, darn the consequences." Karen sighed. "Hayasaka-san likes him, so I assume you know this much? But he's a largely honest person despite his poor attitude. So it hurts me to admit maybe he's into something."

Hikigaya Hachiman isn't just 'onto something'...

As a matter of fact, he was 100% dead on the correct conclusion. Hayasaka, as the esteemed personal valet of Shinomiya Kaguya, knew this more than anyone else!

However, Hayasaka was obligated to defend her Mistress publicly, so she could not confirm it.

"Of course I do." Hayasaka laughed lightly. "After all, that's what makes him charming."

"I feel bad about doubting Kaguya-sama for even a second." Erika dramatically feigned a cry, hands up as if it were a stage drama. Heavenly light draped on her, Hayasaka suddenly sees the seemingly plain and modest girl shine!

"But really, I could not imagine Kaguya-sama being that petty." Erika gritted her teeth.

"True." Karen nodded furiously. "Even if Kaguya-sama was angry, she might not openly show her contempt."

"Well, you two are Kaguya-sama's fanatics, after all. How could you be reasonable about these feelings?" Hayasaka remarked inwardly. "Hojo Karen did guess it correctly, though."

Had Kaguya lost, she would not show her contempt in public. She'd throw temper tantrums in private, most likely under Hayasaka's watch. And how much Hayasaka would suffer from that? A lot. A whole lot!

"Really?" Hayasaka feigned innocence. "I mean, we're classmates, but we were not close. I can't say I know Shinomiya-san well."

"You're so lucky!" The two fangirls whined. "I wish I was in the same class as her!"

"Well, I wish I'm in the same class as Hikigaya-san!" Hayasaka cheekily stuck her tongue and winked.

"That would be a problem." Hachiman suddenly came back with two girls in tow. "Your friends came."

"Ah."

"But Hikigaya-san... do you really think Kaguya-sama will be resentful if she had lost?" Karen decided to confront him.

"You two are close friends with Shijo Maki." Hachiman bluntly responded. "You know the answer to that question."

Erika and Karen grimaced, suddenly slapped with the reality. It wasn't as if they were oblivious. In fact, they knew about it more than anything. After all, they ARE close friends with Shijo Maki.

And the relationships between them were exceedingly hostile.

They knew each other and hung out since they were in Shuchiin Middle. They were blinded by their devotion to Kaguya and selectively ignored the contradiction in their hearts.

"In fairness, it can be attributed to the hostilities between the two families." Hayasaka's face darkened, but her mischievous smile remained. "Maybe they were forced to act like that out of family pride."

"That is true." Karen blinked. "Still, as of now, they've been very civil."

"Resentment doesn't last unless nurtured." Hachiman sat down again around the table where the group gathered. "Shinomiya is petty, but it's not like she would hate Yukinoshita forever unless there are other circumstances."

"You may not know this, but the relationship between Miyuki and Shinomiya was terrible early on," Hachiman told them. "After all, Miyuki's rise in exam rank changed the whole social dynamics of our alumni. Of course, Shinomiya Kaguya would be affected."

"Oh."

That actually makes sense.

"But they're good partners now," Hachiman smirked. "Don't you think the same thing would happen with Yukinoshita?"

"True!" Karen and Erika nodded in agreement. "I know we can trust you, Hikigaya-san."

"You girls only hear what you want, so let me say this. Shinomiya Kaguya is arrogant, proud, and petty. But she respects people based on their merit and not their gender, wealth, or social status. If you made a fool of yourself by seeking her attention, you're nothing more than a weed to her, but if you prove your worth, she will acknowledge you."

As he said this, everyone noticed how his face softened considerably. This was something of a rarity. Or better yet, it never happened publicly and was only spread by rumor.

But the way he smiled was unusually gentle and handsome. Even Karen and Erika felt their heart raced a bit.

Is this what people call gap Moe?! Hayasaka closed her eyes, trying to compose herself.

"Ah, I forgot. I was about to go to the toilet." Hachiman grimaced and ran away. "See you in the Council, Hayasaka."

"Whoa, that smile is quite a dangerous one." Erika blushed and rubbed her head. "Come on, that's just unfair."

"Hikigaya-san can really smile like that." Karen closed her mouth. "Don't tell me he had feelings for Kagu-"

"He didn't." Hayasaka slipped a bit, which caused the girls to look at her strangely.

The girls squeezed their eyes at her with suspicion. Although she was telling the truth, the timing caused her to look like she was jealous of Kaguya instead!

But she will use that misunderstanding to her advantage.

"Their relationships aren't that good with each other, but Hikigaya-san was honest, and Shinomiya-san respected him for his abilities." Hayasaka frantically waved her hand, her face flushed and sweaty. "Naturally, they worked together well."

That was a lie! Hayasaka knew that Hachiman and Kaguya rarely were on the same page on anything. It gets to the point where whenever they agree with something, Miyuki actually feels jealous.

"Ai-chan, you should not be too deeply infatuated. If he chased you away, you'd be heartbroken." Suruga Subaru patted Hayasaka's shoulder.

"Still, girls who fell in love really become prettier." Hinokuchi Mirin remarked. "I thought that was a myth."

"Really? Is that so?" Hayasaka laughed. "Please don't be mean!"

"We're being real with you, Ai-chan!" Mirin hugged her and rubbed their cheek together.

Hinokuchi Mirin was the daughter of the President of a famous advertising company. She had neck-long dark blue hair tied into a ponytail with long bangs drooping to the sides of her cheeks.

Suruga Subaru was the daughter of the President of a big IT company in Japan. She had thick, silky black hair that extended just under her shoulders. Her front bang was braided to the left side of her temple, a unique take on the otherwise generic style.

To the outsiders, they would appear to be Hayasaka's close friends. They also happened to be Kaguya's classmate.

"Don't worry, I know my boundaries." Hayasaka suddenly turned calm, and everyone noticed the shift in her expression. Gone was the image of a cheerful gal girl the moment she did that.

"Right now, Hikigaya-san isn't ready to go out with everyone. It is not like I'm desperate to date him. Just spending time with him is already fun enough."

"You should value yourself more. No one deserves to get friend-zoned." Subaru shook her head.

Hayasaka Ai lied as naturally as she breathed.

All this time, it was no secret that she showed affection toward Hachiman. She did this from the beginning when she decided to try and successfully join the Student Council. Even Kaguya sometimes thought Hayasaka was being genuine about it, but it was all a facade.

Nevertheless, her effort had been rewarded. Almost everyone in school thinks Hayasaka has a one-sided attraction toward Hachiman, reinforced by his response to her teasing.

However, because Hayasaka had always been a low-key student, her gossip with Hachiman hadn't been as popular as Chika's or Momo's. That's why Hachiman's action during the contest day shocked many.

Even when teasing a close female friend, Hachiman would never appear seductive like that. It has been known that Hachiman is allergic to physical intimacy, too. How he suddenly put his arm around Hayasaka's back and shoulder was almost uncharacteristic.

Maybe it wasn't as hopelessly one-sided as it appears! These people thought. And that's how Hayasaka got her spotlight.

...

However, contrary to the merry atmosphere of the girls, the situation with the boys couldn't be more grim. Why Hachiman still had a foul mood.

Finding Shirogane Miyuki sulking on his desk, only to leave as soon as he was done, was jarring.

Before, he always did it slowly while chatting with Kaguya. It was their best excuse to spend time together under the pretense of work. Hachiman never cared about this since he always finished his share quickly.

Hikigaya Hachiman loathes paperwork, which is why he was relieved when Hayasaka took his old job as the General Affairs Manager, effectively splitting his workload among each other.

"Oh, for fuck's sake." Momo groaned when she didn't find Miyuki. "Is he gone, Hachiman?"

"Yep." Hachiman nodded. "As soon as he finished."

"Sheesh." Momo sighed. "Looking it this way, this might be my fault."

"Is it really?" Hachiman rhetorically asked. "I'm glad you learned some conscience, but this one, I think it was rather misplaced to blame yourself like this."

Momo squirmed. She was glad that Hachiman was no longer mad at her, especially after she honestly apologized. But now she realized how fair Hachiman treated his friends and how he held onto that principle as his life depended on it.

Hachiman never showed an ounce of a grudge after they reconciled. Even though people still gossipped about him and Yukino, and still working with the VIPs to deal with the fallout.

It made her even more embarrassed than before.

As for how it all began, it started last year.

"Oh dear." The President remarked at gloomy Shirogane Miyuki. "What's the matter, General Affairs Manager Shirogane Miyuki? That was quite a dark expression you have there."

"Listen to this, Prez." Ryuju Momo carelessly put her feet on the edge of the table. If she raised it any higher, her panties would be for everyone to see. However, she pays no attention to this because no one in this school actually thinks of her as a girl. "Apparently, he's been getting the cold shoulder from that Shinomiya girl and got depressed. Stupid shit, I tell ya."

"What do you mean because of that?" Shirogane Miyuki asked in disbelief. Of course, he was depressed!

"It's all over when you let people look down on ya." Momo pointed his face. "The same goes for boys and girls! Once she looks down on ya, it's game over!"

"Yer a student council member, yer smart and didn't look half bad. But yer a goddamn pushover, and look at where it gets ya?"

"Come to think of it. Were my accent ever that thick?" Momo asked as she recalled it again

"Early on, I think," Hachiman said as he threw her a jar of kvass. Ryuju Momo had considerably softened since they got to know each other. Even her Yakuza accent disappeared!

"I said to him..." Momo continued.

"If ya act like the guy women fall for, no one will look down on ya. Ya'll never get a girl without bluffing a bit."

Taking this to heart, Shirogane Miyuki confronted Kaguya and openly challenged her. At first, Kaguya brushed him off coldly until Miyuki said the forbidden word.

"Are you afraid of losing?" Miyuki glared at her. His gaze was only heightened by the thick, darkened bags under his eyes. Kaguya was so shocked that Miyuki could never forget her being taken aback.

"You're quite a clown." Kaguya frowned. "State your name."

The bluff worked, again, again and again.

Until it doesn't.

Because Kaguya had found someone else.

"A bluff is a bluff. A lie doesn't become true just because you started to believe." Miyuki dejectedly told Momo today.

"If it wasn't for my stunt, this would not happen." Momo sighed. "Shinomiya will never become interested in Yukinoshita."

"...Are you dumb or what?" Hachiman asked. "Shinomiya was interested in Yukinoshita because she was jealous that people started to gossip about Yukinoshita and Miyuki."

"That's true, but it does not matter anymore."

"It does," Hachiman said. "It's because these two retards are unwilling to admit their feelings that they are unable to believe that the others shared the same feeling."

"Then what we should do?"

Like it or not, Momo considered Miyuki a close friend. Now that she started to sort her emotions properly, she felt the need to help him in a way that wouldn't worsen the situation. And she was afraid that she could make another mistake.

"Nothing," Hachiman said. "Other than distracting him, nothing. This is Miyuki's ordeal to overcome."

If he cannot overcome this, their relationship will fall apart.

"As long as he harbored that deep insecurity, they will never go anywhere." Hachiman snorted. "And you made Shinomiya happy, did you not?"

"Huh? All I did was find her a new distraction." Momo furrowed her eyebrows in confusion.

"You think so, but Shinomiya needed Yukinoshita more than anything." Hachiman laughed as he opened his own jar of kvass. "These idiots, I swear to God."

Even though Kaguya was the one who felt jealous and insecure, Miyuki was the one who ended up feeling cuckolded.

Ironic.

"Still, is there nothing we could do?"

"Sure there is," Hachiman told her. "I'm saving that trump card for later, though."


やはり, 彼らが望む告白は間違っている. S2

As expected, the Confession they want is wrong S2

Original Story by: Watari Wataru and Akasaka Aka
Written by: ZeroXSEED, Co-written by: GoukaRyuu


Fortunately, Kaguya is nowhere that dense. Not when she was in her best emotional state, anyhow.

Kaguya felt it weird that Miyuki looked so listless and stressed out in the last few days, to the point where his fake eye bags became real. Her inner desire considered this a good thing, but it wasn't like she had no heart.

She wondered what plagued the President.

It made her concerned. Worried, even.

"What if his health got worse?"

"President, are you alright?" Kaguya offered him a cup of coffee. "You don't look good these days. Are you tired? Perhaps you're sick? You shouldn't push yourself too much."

"No." Miyuki frantically smiled. "I'm alright. Just a lot of things in my mind, that's all."

"..."

Kaguya had never seen him this flustered. Miyuki was a master of bluffing. Kaguya used to be annoyed that she couldn't catch him off guard.

Miyuki always skilfully escaped her trap, even without Hachiman's intervention. Although Kaguya blamed Hachiman, Miyuki was by no means helpless.

She had never seen him this weak and vulnerable. Not since their first meeting last year.

Come to think of it, the old Kaguya would have never noticed. No, the old Kaguya would not care that Miyuki was in distress.

"Are you sure?" Kaguya asked. "If there's anything I could help..."

"It's fine." Miyuki blurted. "I just need to find a way to sleep better."

That was a lie.

In all honestly, part of Miyuki wanted to say it to Kaguya. He wanted to ask her to spend more time in the council. For them to spend time together.

But he couldn't.

If he did, that means he lost the war of love.

All these times he spent building up his image would have been all for nothing. So he steeled up his resolve to never show any hint of weakness to Kaguya.

It does not matter that Kaguya has been so spoiled and selfish recently. He has to be the strong one. He has to be the bigger person.

Otherwise, she too will-

"Please tell me honestly. Even if it's something I can do a little-" Kaguya insisted.

"It is fine, Shinomiya." Miyuki raised his voice slightly.

It was very subtle, but as someone who paid attention to him whenever they spent time together, Kaguya was very sensitive to the changes in the President's behavior.

Miyuki never raised his voice to Kaguya like that. Not unless he tried to bluff his way out.

"...I see." Kaguya nodded. "I'm sorry for being intrusive."

And just like that, she left.

Shirogane Miyuki inadvertently drove her away.

"I am the absolute worst." Miyuki thought to himself.

...

Behind the wall, Kaguya took a deep breath and sighed. Then she decided to go home.

Where did things go wrong?

Kaguya thought that she could show at least this much concern. She thought she could, in some way, cheer him up. But it looks like it would not be easy.

"What should I do, Hayasaka?" She asked her trusted valet. "Is this karma because I ignored him back then?"

When Kaguya was so heartbroken and jealous about Yukinoshita stealing her exam rank and getting closer to Miyuki, Kaguya ignored Miyuki's attempt to cheer her up. Even Hayasakacalled it a wasted opportunity and called Kaguya a terrible woman for it.

It wasn't like she didn't feel a shred of guilt. It was her selfish side burying it. Because all ends well for Kaguya.

Not only was the whole misunderstanding resolved, but Kaguya finally found someone, the person she yearned for all these years. Even if that person turned out to be someone completely different...

"That's true." Hayasaka bluntly told Kaguya. "If only you weren't so self-centered."

"I am the absolutely worst." Kaguya bit her lips. "I never feel this stupid."

"Well..."

Hayasaka was about to open her mouth but decided not to. Hachiman had told Hayasaka to never directly interfere with the affairs between Miyuki and Kaguya.

But especially leaking the fact that they liked each other romantically.

"I think it would be best to stay around more often," Hayasaka told Kaguya. "President did try his best to cheer you up. It would be unfair for you to give up after a single failure."

"I guess you're right. But what should I do?"

"Just be there, act like nothing happened. The more you pressure the President, the harder he will reject you." Hayasaka cheekily pointed. "Over time, things will go back to normal. As long as you stay."

Hayasaka wondered if it was the right thing to say. She was sick of the status quo. But this matter had to be handled delicately. She was sure that Hachiman felt the same way.

"I see." Kaguya nodded.

Hayasaka turned out to be correct. At first, Miyuki was weirded out. "You didn't go for a tea time?"

"They're handling a case right now, so my presence would be intrusive." Kaguya smiled.

That was a lie.

While it was not like the Public Service Club was never short of jobs, they still put some time to rest and discuss things. That's when Kaguya usually hangs out with them.

Just for today, it is alright. Kaguya thought to herself.

One day, two days, three days.

After three days, Miyuki recovered. His fake eyebags returned, entirely made of makeup, making him more handsome than ever. His skin is lustrous, and his expression is invigorated.

Just like what Hayasaka said, things went back to normal.

And this left Kaguya unsettled.

Shirogane Miyuki was a weird man.

Part of Kaguya felt immense pride, knowing that just her presence around could bring Miyuki out of his funk. But part of her still clung to that question.

Why?

Obviously, because he liked me.

To Kaguya, that was the only rational answer. Otherwise, would he be so distressed about her lack of presence?

The old Kaguya would be overjoyed with this realization, knowing that she was only one step to undeniable victory. Yet part of her became more and more uneasy.

What if she was wrong, and it was something else?

What if... her presence had no meaning?

Such a feeling of dread began to haunt Kaguya. The more she thought Miyuki might like her, the more she feared it was not the case.

"So it was like this..."

"Oh, that... right."

"Shinomiya, are you alright?" Miyuki asked.

"I'm fine." Kaguya grinned. "What was that again?"

Naturally, Miyuki noticed this. And interpreted it in the worst way possible. As long as they clung to their mutual insecurity, it was just a time bomb waiting to explode.

And so Hikigaya Hachiman jumped up the window again.

"Hikigaya-san, do you REALLY have to do that?" Kaguya called him out.

"Oh, Shinomiya. Fancy to see you here." Hachiman sarcastically said. "Didn't have a tea time with Yukinoshita today?"

"Everyone keeps asking the same question. Are you under the impression that I'm a woman who always bothers others as much as I want to?"

I mean, that wasn't exactly wrong. Hayasaka was listening intently behind the door to the council room.

"Are you not? Glad that's the case." Hachiman chuckled. "I'd have thought you grew bored of us."

"That would never happen." Kaguya was so mad that she shouted at Hachiman and slammed the table. She was so nervous and surprised that she could not hide her temper.

It actually made Miyuki agape.

"I see." Hachiman scoffed.

"Because this place is important to me." Kaguya suddenly blushed. "...Of course, I'm the Vice-President, after all."

"It was all out of obligation?"

"Not at all."

"I'm glad that is the case." Hachiman shrugged. "We're kind of worried ourselves."

"..."

Did Hachiman really think Kaguya would leave them for the Public Service Club?

"I guess you misunderstood." Kaguya sighed. "While hanging with Yukinoshita-san is pleasant, it's different than being here with everyone."

"Whoa, I'm late." Chika burst out of the door. "I'm sorry for that!"

"Oh, come on, at least Ishigami had an excuse," Hachiman remarked. "He's patrolling with the Disciplinary Committee, don't you know?"

"Whoa? Voluntarily?" Chika asked in disbelief. Ishigami was so lazy that sometimes it was hard to get him to do something he was not obliged to do. But he volunteered to patrol?

"He learned from the best." Hachiman smugly said.

"Whoa, now you have a direct junior, you really grew cocky!" Chika seethed hard. "Meanwhile, Miko-chan grew increasingly less respectful to me! This is unfair!"

"I can't see why that is my problem. Maybe look at a mirror, Fujiwara-san." Hachiman responded.

"You guys, why are you fighting over the smallest thing!" Miyuki reflexively tried to mediate. "And Hachiman, don't provoke her for no reason."

"I do whatever I want to do, Miyuki." Hachiman grinned. "Can't you do the same?"

Miyuki was about to open his mouth. But he decided not to. Hachiman was right. Miyuki had been holding back and feeling helpless just because he felt jealous.

Unlike Hachiman, Miyuki has no courage. No, it was because Hachiman decided he had nothing to lose by being himself. Miyuki had everything to lose.

Hachiman called him out in front of everyone because Miyuki was too stubborn to admit.

But not just that. Hachiman also provoked Kaguya so she could get her true feelings across. Otherwise, Kaguya will keep her guard up.

He was never more thankful for having such a good friend. Without Hachiman being a blunt asshole, their misunderstanding will keep piling up.

But still, a small part of Miyuki wondered...

How long will he have to rely on Hachiman? Did Kaguya think the same?

"Hi-ki-ga-ya-san~!"

"Not again." Hachiman scowled.

That was when Hayasaka came in, throwing even more chaos by being clingy to Hachiman, causing Chika to get jealous. Then Miko and Ishigami returned, dropping the things in their hand out of shock and disgust.

As indescribably chaotic shenanigans unfolded in the background, Miyuki could not help but shake his head.

"You deserved it, bastard." Miyuki snorted. "Do you prefer it this way, Shinomiya? Unlike the Public Service Club, we're far from the most refined people."

Kaguya smiled.

"If things are different just because I left for a few days, I'd be saddened," Kaguya told him. "At the end of the day, this is where I belong."

"True. I'm happy that you think of us that way." Miyuki nodded. "Welcome back."

Chika was quiet for a second and let Hachiman go. Although she was never the most sensitive girl, she was not blind enough to miss the change in the mood. Miyuki's mood had been bad recently, and Kaguya had been distant.

Chika thought she would say something but decided there was no need to do that. She smiled and tried to yank Hachiman out of Hayasaka's grip with all her strength.

Hachiman disappeared like a ninja, leaving his gakuran in the two girls' grip. Then he pulled a pair of slippers and smacked them both flying.

"Hikigaya-senpai! Don't be violent toward girls." Miko chastised him.

"They deserved it." Hachiman huffed. "Right, Ishigami!"

"LASER DEATH BEAM!" Ishigami screamed in rage and made an Ultraman pose. Hachiman blinked in confusion, not realizing that Ishigami was jealous of the attention Hachiman got from the girls.

It was as if things were heading back to normalcy.

...For a while.

"We have a transfer student today." The Homeroom teacher said. "Please come in, Shijou Mikado-kun."


Chapter 31 - Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum