Though Kaguya managed to bide her time and make short mental preparations, she still felt uneasy. This kind of quick preparation and fast response situation wasn't her style at all; it was mostly the President's thing!
However, Kaguya was too proud of herself to admit that and would avoid thinking from his point of view. Instead, she just kept racking her brain, adding layer upon layer of plans, even if most of them were full of holes overlaid on a shaky foundation.
Her head was steaming hot and her nerves felt numb. The sugar overload was getting into her. She sincerely prayed that her body can keep up because there was a small risk of a condition.
Sugar crash!
For some people, their insulin production is so rapid and immense that taking a large amount of sugar at once, such as eating a large meal or sweet food and drink, can cause hypoglycemia. Instead of adding more sugar in the blood, it takes more sugar out of the blood vessel and stores it in the liver.
Kaguya didn't really have such a medical condition, that she remembered, but it was best to be wary. Just in case.
Best case scenario, slight anxiety and dizziness. Worst-case scenario, seizure!
As such, she decided to meditate as soon as everyone entered the Fujiwara Family limo.
Regardless of religious connotation, Meditation is essentially a state of deep, relaxed focus of the mind. With meditation, even the subconscious functions of the body could be controlled, to a degree.
For example, Buddhist monks were known to be able to fast for days to weeks just by meditating, slowing down their body functions to a barely alive state. Of course, Kaguya's comprehension of the deep mind wasn't that amazing, but her foundation was completely solid.
Inside her mindscape, all the Kaguya persona fused into one being who sat cross-legged and closed her eyes.
The faint sound of conversation from her friends slowly turned down into faint echoes.
Kaguya shut her mind completely!
"Kaguya-san's asleep?" Chika mumbled, "She must be more tired than she had shown."
"It's the end of the school year, no student council would remain idle." Komachi said, "To be honest, Komachi is a bit tired as well. I fell asleep during the helicopter ride from Chiba."
Chika looked deeply to Kei, and then she noticed faint black lines underneath her eyes. Looking at her like this, she resembled her older brother even more than usual.
...was Chika the only one completely refreshed today?
Despite looking like an airhead with unpredictable behavior, Chika had an extreme sense of scheduling and discipline. She would study just enough to maintain her grades, play enough not to get bored, and always get proper good sleep unless there were unusual circumstances.
Always punctual, that's what aspiring an politician should be!
Though her workload was massive, she finished it just in time today. As she understood, everyone else finished it a day earlier than her, which would be yesterday. In other words, she spent twice as much time as everyone else working, but with far less intensity.
Maybe that was why she didn't feel tired at all.
After she had the dinner yesterday with Hachiman, she experienced a long and comfortable, dreamless sleep. Maybe the shock and tension her father experienced was amusing enough that Chika forgot her own worries.
It was a really nice dinner, when Chika came home late she was expecting to eat alone. It was a good thing she forced Hachiman to escort her with his bike. The fact that her father came home early was unexpected, but Chika was glad it wasn't a disaster.
Of course, Chika knew very well that he wouldn't leave the boy alone after that brazen display of guts. However, once her father checked Hachiman's background, hopefully, he could rest easy.
There was only one problem in this precarious situation.
Ryuju Momo.
Ryuju Momo was Hachiman's classmate, probably the only one he was close with. They had met before Chika had even gotten to know Hachiman after the election, and were already friends -sort of- by that point.
Last year, Momo was the treasurer of the Student Council before she retired at the end of Winter. Hachiman and Momo's positions in their respective groups gave them all the excuses they needed to spend time together.
Outside school, too. In fact, Chika used to think they were dating. But as Chika got to know Hachiman, she knew one thing: Hachiman didn't lie. When he said there was no relationship then there was no relationship.
Hachiman never looked too deep and misunderstood. No matter how much Chika teased him, Hachiman was always in control and never took it the wrong way. Sometimes it annoyed Chika, but at the same time, she was glad that unlike other boys he wouldn't take her kindness the wrong way.
But would everyone else understand? What about her father?
"Komachi-chan, do you know who called you here?"
"Yes, it was Momo-san." Komachi said, "Komachi was shocked when a helicopter came to school, teachers thought it was a kidnapping but I recognized that it was one of Momo-san's bodyguards who had come to fetch me. Oniichan never said they would come with a helicopter so I was surprised about that."
"Leave it to Momo-chan not pulling her punches." Chika winced in response, "I'm surprised you know him though."
Besides, rather than an ordinary bodyguard, it must be a high ranking Yakuza member.
"Momo-san and her bodyguard came to visit during New Year. We talked a bit while visiting a shrine and then she left immediately afterward for a family meeting."
Komachi's composure in response to absurdity was amazing, perhaps even more amazing than Hachiman. Any other girl of her age would be shocked when they were put in that kind of situation.
Perhaps the Hikigaya siblings really had a similar personality and outlook, even though they have the opposite attitude. Looking at her like this, Komachi resembled Hachiman a lot!
"But then we came and stole you from Momo-chan, I really feel bad now."
Not at all!
Though they were both amicable toward each other, both Chika and Momo-shared a sense of rivalry.
It wasn't about romance, or at least not in the way most people think. But the truth of the matter was that they both understood that they were competing to get the lion share of Hachiman's company and attention!
Something like stealing the time to spend with the little sister? There was no grudge to be held!
Fujiwara Chika did not have bucketloads of family resources to spent like Momo did. Then let's fight this war for attention with pure, unadulterated wits!
"Well, it seems that Onii-chan and Momo-san had something important to take care off so they sent me off."
Hmm? Did Hachiman say something?
"What do you mean? Did Hachi-nii tell you that?" Kei asked.
"Well yeah, they said it's school-related too."
"But what if they went on a d-d-d-date?!" Kei gasped. Her voice filled with concern, her breath heavy.
Huh? Why did Kei-chan look like she was worried?
"If it was a date would Momo-san bother to pick me up this quick?" Komachi shrugged, "It's more likely that she gave a thought to it and decided it would be better for me to go shopping with you all."
"Speaking of Momo-san..." Kei muttered, "Who is that?"
Everyone looked at Kei oddly.
"Ryuuju Momo was our previous Treasurer, and currently she's the President of the Astronomy club. She's the daughter of the famous Ryuju Group, thus she's also one of the Shuchiin VIP."
"Oh and they're classmates, so Hikki-san is particularly closer with her than with us." Chika said, a mild tone of jealously tingeing her voice.
やはり, 彼らが望む告白は間違っている.
As expected, the Confession they want is wrong
Original Story by: Watari Wataru and Akasaka Aka
Written by: ZeroXSEED, Co-Writer/Editor: GoukaRyuu
Chapter 11 - Kaguya wants to relate...
Hearing Chika's explanation, Kei could only look terrified. "Will he be alright? I heard one of the previous presidents offended the VIP so much that they cannot live in Japan anymore."
"You're too worried, Shirogane-san." Kaguya waved her hand, now that she's wide awake again. "His father just transferred to Cambodia, that's all."
HE WAS DEPORTED!
"Aww, I didn't know it was that fun. I should have joined the group." Chika pouted.
"But Fujiwara-san that's against the rules." Kaguya warned.
SHE WANTS TO JOIN?!
Kei seriously felt out of place in this group. Was this the difference between middle and high school? That big?!
In contrast to her, Komachi looked really happy hearing this, which made Chika curious.
"You look really happy, Komachi-chan. I thought you'd be more worried." Chika pointed.
"That's true! What if something happened to Hachi-nii?!" Kei gasped, "This is yakuza we're talking about!"
"Komachi was happy that Onii-chan seems to have fun." Komachi said, "Komachi was afraid Onii-chan gave up, but I'm glad he's enjoying his own youth this way."
Gave up?
"What do you mean gave up, Hikigaya-san?" Kaguya asked.
"Well, something happened in Middle school and I'm not sure what. But Oniichan, who was already socially reserved, went into total seclusion to study hard. He said he wanted to enter the best school possible, so one of our relatives suggested he try to get the Shuchiin Scholarship."
Komachi closed her eyes, reminiscing, "Our parents were skeptical, but amazingly, Onii-chan passed. And then he met Miyuki-nii, and that's how I managed to know Kei-chan as well. After meeting Miyuki-nii, Onii-chan became a lot more hardworking and started to enjoy a social life. That's why I've always been grateful toward Miyuki-nii."
For saving Hachiman from a lonely high school life, that is.
"Komachi should give your brother more credit." Kei said seriously, "Hachi-nii is hard working despite his cold attitude. He's not wishy-washy when he makes a decision, and he never lies."
"What are you talking about, Kei-chan?" Komachi shrugged dismissively, "I love Onii-chan and all, but he's so lazy. He always throws around excuses and he's too gullible. I'm always afraid he'll end up with a no good woman in Shuchiin. Worse yet, if he leeches on them in return and becomes useless."
For some reason, Chika shrunk and felt like her heart had been torn to pieces. Kaguya squinted her eyes, wondering if Komachi had said that on purpose.
To put it simply, there was no good woman around Hikigaya Hachiman! Kaguya knew Momo for half a year, which was more than enough, and she knew Chika for even longer than that.
Momo and Chika both toyed with Hachiman all the time!
And Kaguya wouldn't consider Hachiman gullible. He knew perfectly well he was being taken advantage of after all. As for Hachiman being a leech? Kaguya shuddered. It sounded perfectly like him!
Even Kaguya, who disliked him, knew as much!
Thankfully, the same couldn't be said about Miyuki. Miyuki might be a cheapskate and shameless at times, but when it came to the whimsical nature of girls' he was always extremely prideful and wouldn't bend over. Even Chika respected him very much!
It was part of the reason why it was so difficult for Kaguya to make him admit defeat and confess. But maybe, a game can only be considered high level if the target is also strong!
Miyuki didn't hang out with girls often, for some reason Kaguya felt glad about that.
However, Kaguya had the feeling that maybe Kei was attracted to Hachiman despite all his flaws.
"W-well at least he won't nag around, bothering everyone, and lie a lot like Onii-chan does." Kei huffed, "He really had no principles."
"I wish Onii-chan would nag on me more. Even today he ignored my arrival just like that...he's also a slob and doesn't like to actually keep up a good appearance."
"What do you mean he doesn't have principles, Shirogane-san?" Kaguya asked Kei.
"Like, he said we should not give each other presents on Christmas or Birthdays because it's a waste of money." Kei pouted, "But he secretly steals my wallet and puts a thousand yen note in it. Then he pretends he had nothing to do with it."
Isn't that a good thing?!
Kaguya was actually confused. Kaguya blinked, and then looked at Komachi who looked like she had long given up arguing about this particular incident.
Still, that was just how the President was.
Kaguya began to understand what they were talking about.
Just like she always felt envious of people who had a younger sibling, these girls also felt envious of each other's brother. It was simply human nature, what was that again?
The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence?
It was natural for people to wish for things they didn't have and overlook the value of the things they actually possessed.
Kei was irritated by her brother. Komachi looked down on her brother. For Komachi and Kei both, they idolized the other big brother, the one they didn't have.
That platonic admiration and familial envy turned into a romantic crush because both of them were at that point in their puberty. Komachi had a crush on Miyuki, just like Kei had a crush on Hachiman. But both stemmed from their dissatisfaction with their own big brother's presence.
As for Kaguya...
It wasn't that Kaguya's relationship with her older siblings was bad. But sometimes she wondered, if she had had an actual little sister, would their relationship be this close?
The closest thing to that would be Hayasaka, who was raised as her valet and future subordinate. But all things considered, their actual relationship was more like twin sisters than anything.
Kaguya didn't have the energy to think anymore so she shut down her mind again.
Accounting heavy traffic, it took more than half an hour for the limo to reach Odaiba. After that short conversation, it wasn't just Kaguya who fell asleep, but pretty much everyone. Even Chika who was wide awake beforehand.
It was the driver who woke them up when they arrived at the parking area of Aqua City, Odaiba. Their main destination, Shimamura Odaiba, was located on the fourth floor of the large Shopping Center building.
Kaguya looked like a small child recently out of her crib, her eyes squeezed half-shut in confusion. It wasn't that she didn't know what the situation in a typical shopping center was like, but experiencing it firsthand was a first.
But then she felt embarrassed and shook her head.
"Should we go immediately?" Kaguya muttered to no one.
"Nah, if that's the case we'll end up carrying around shopping bags all day long." Komachi remarked, "Let's put shopping aside and have fun."
Kaguya jumped a bit, she didn't feel Komachi's presence at all, even though she had always been sharp on her senses. Yet, Komachi's steps were extremely light and soundless, she was barely there and anyone who wasn't paying attention would not notice her.
It wasn't just the way she walked, but also the way she stood and talked, she would purposely get close to someone and talk to them in low voice.
To other people, it might seem that she was being shy, but Kaguya doubted it. With how hyperactive she had been, she was definitely trying to hide.
But from what?
Did the Hikigaya family descend from a ninja clan?!
This is bad. I'm trying to get close to little sister Shirogane-san, but at this rate I'll end up paying more attention to Hikigaya-san's sister instead!
With the way Komachi acted, she was practically invisible compared to Kaguya, Kei, and Chika. It was like she relegated herself into the role of an extra. And it made Kaguya anxious.
Because that's exactly how Hachiman would behave during the Student Council's public activities too.
Hachiman stood out when he was alone or with another member, but when it came to the entire student council showing up together in public, Hachiman would seamlessly blend in, as if he was nothing more than Shirogane Miyuki's shadow.
As much as possible, Kaguya would like to separate Kei and Komachi, who looked like they were joined at the hip!
Make no mistake, Kaguya actually felt that Komachi was someone that could become a great ally. Someone that she didn't need to avoid. But at the same time, Komachi yearned for Miyuki, and Kaguya couldn't accept that!
Kaguya never knew why, until now. She had always been confident, and, as the most likely someone to get confessed to by him, she never once felt her position threatened.
For the first time, her confidence wavered.
But, before she even realized it, Kaguya had gotten herself lost.
"Ahhh, now I've done it."
Since the Shinomiya bodyguards were spread out all over the mall to secure the place, Kaguya would have an easy time finding them again, but she couldn't believe she was distracted enough for such a grave mistake to happen.
Perhaps Kaguya really was physically tired. She was just forcing her body and mind to go. It was when she was about to ask Hayasaka that she bumped into someone familiar.
The girl was taller than her by a little bit, though a bit more slender. Her shiny black hair reached all the way to under her waist, let free like a silky curtain.
"Yukinoshita-san?"
"Ah, Vice President."
It was none other than Yukinoshita Yukino.
"Are you waiting for someone?" Kaguya asked.
"Yes, I was waiting for Kashiwagi-san and the others. They said they'd like to shop for casual clothes for spring vacation." Yukino said, "What about you?"
"I went separately from my friends," Kaguya said, half-lying. "We're supposed to meet in Shimamura later."
Not like Kaguya wasn't saying the truth either, Shimamura was supposed to be their last destination.
"Shimamura?"
"Well yes, do you know anything about it?"
"To be honest, I have no clue." Yukino answered straightforwardly, "Or just how to pick clothes in general since my taste is a bit..."
Indeed, Kaguya noticed how lavishly dressed Yukino look, the brand of the coat she wore wasn't any less expensive than what Kaguya was wearing at the moment. However, Yukino contrasted it with the fact that her casual clothes were rather plain and simple compared to other girls who were roaming around the mall.
With a beige, one-piece dress under a teal cardigan, Yukino actually looked a little homely!
"I mean other than the quality of material and stitching how I am supposed to judge?" Yukino said as she stretched the shoulder part of a cheap shirt obliviously.
Well isn't this awkward? But to be honest, Kaguya was a bit amazed at how truthful Yukino was about it. Kaguya herself was completely clueless about fashion since it was always Hayasaka who picked her clothes for her.
Kaguya would never admit such a shameful fact on her own. That would be improper!
But maybe she can always spin it.
"I mean that's a given, we Shuchiin elites have no experience in this at all," Kaguya said confidently, "Unless it's something like a boutique, perhaps."
Yukino rolled her eyes curiously, "Is that so? I'm under the impression that Kashiwagi-san and others love hanging out in places like this either way."
Busted.
"But maybe you're right, our standards might have been different than most schoolgirls."
"That might be true." Kaguya nodded, calm as ever.
Kaguya was screaming inside! From one unexpected situation to another, Kaguya's brain was under constant stress trying to formulate plans, only to be thwarted yet again by unexpected circumstances!
"But even so, I came here anyway." Yukino said, "Because today is a good chance to learn something new."
Kaguya was agape for a moment.
When she looked at Yukino at school, she thought she was looking at a reflection. They weren't from the same class, from different clubs, and they never really talked much. Yet, Kaguya had a feeling that they could relate to each other because of similar circumstances and upbringing.
Yukinoshita Yukino, and Shinomiya Kaguya, they were both proud and project the image of perfect girls. But looking at her now, it seemed that Kaguya was mistaken.
Yukino wasn't afraid of leaving her weakness bare.
"Yukinoshita-san." Kaguya suddenly asked, "By learning you mean..."
"I'd like to know what it's like when girls hang out, and what kind of clothes they like to wear during certain seasons. I don't really have a lot of friends, so chances like this don't come all that often."
Yukino could say such a thing so lightly with a smile too. Kaguya wondered, is there an inch of shame left on Yukinoshita Yukino? Or maybe...Kaguya was the one who was too twisted in the first place.
"Don't you feel it better if you study it beforehand?" Kaguya's eyes grew cold and distant, "That way, you know what to talk about with others without fumbling around and making mistakes and embarrassing yourself."
That was certainly what had happened with Kaguya just before. She was caught in the whirlwind pace of Chika and Komachi and unable to fit in. And as a result she was unable to connect with Kei, wasting a once in a lifetime chance.
Kaguya absolutely hated it. That without plan, she always got dragged by people around her. Whether it's Chika, President, or that thrice-cursed Hikigaya.
"Mistakes are bound to happen to anyone no matter how much you prepare." Yukino said, "But if you don't change yourself and the way you think, then your problem will never go away."
It was as if something snapped inside Kaguya's mind.
Somehow, she was staring at herself inside a mirror, her hair was let down like Yukino's, but hers...it was rather off, it was not at all appealing. It was beautiful, healthy, and amazing beyond belief. Yet all Kaguya could feel, was a sense of dread.
And Kaguya began to lift the back part of her hair, and tied it into a ponytail, before folding it in such a way that it looked neater, before adding a cute silk ribbon as a compliment.
Only then did Kaguya's frozen time of solitude begin to crack and shatter. And before she realized, she was no longer alone.
That's right.
Kaguya realized that...however slowly, she knew that for things to move forward, she must change herself.
All is fair in love and war. Even if she must submit. Even if she has to bear the shame...she will have to win this war for a confession. No matter the cost.
With newfound confidence, Kaguya smiled back, "Thank you for the advice, Yukinoshita-san."
Yukino blinked and then smiled back. "Likewise."
Kaguya's phone rang. A glance showed Chika's name on the screen, so she answered it. However, before Kaguya could speak she was bombarded by Chika verbally. "[Kaguya-san, where are you wandering off to? Nevermind, I found you.]"
Kaguya noticed Chika, Komachi, and Kei in the distance, and waved at them. "Looks like my company is here."
"I see, then goodbye," Yukino said.
Kaguya stopped her feet when they're just a little distant, "...Yukinoshita-san, do you prefer coffee or tea?"
That was an odd question, but Yukino replied regardless, "I prefer green tea."
"I see." Kaguya hummed, "I prefer red tea."
Yukino blinked in confusion, "I see."
"Please excuse me," Kaguya said as she continued walking back to her group.
Yukino tilted her head. What was that about? However, her pondering did not last long when her friends also called out to her.
~To be Continued Next Chapter~