Chapter 31: Let's Get to Know Each Other

(4/5)

Sitting in the back row of the classroom, Ren paused slightly as he watched the two transfer students introduce themselves to the class.

"Shinomiya Kaguya… Hayasaka Ai…"

"I didn't expect them to show up so soon."

He had expected one of the diary holders to eventually make an appearance.

But to directly transfer into his school?

This was too blatant.

Ren had thought the diary holders would approach him cautiously, testing the waters before revealing anything.

But this? This wasn't subtle, it was a head-on confrontation.

He couldn't figure out what kind of strategy this was.

After all, no one else would be as foolish as he had been, testing the diary's rules by exposing their identity outright.

"So, are the rules for diary holders different from mine?"

That seemed like the most plausible explanation.

But even if their rules were different, why was Shinomiya Kaguya one of the holders?

He remembered Kaguya as someone confined within the golden cage of the Shinomiya family, a sheltered girl with little freedom.

If she had merely come to observe the school on a whim, he could have understood.

But openly transferring like this? Would the Shinomiya family even allow it?

Although his memory of the Shinomiya family dynamics was from sixteen years ago, he distinctly remembered that Kaguya Shinomiya didn't have this much freedom.

"So, what's the situation now?"

He couldn't understand it, but it didn't stop him from observing.

The new transfer students were undeniably eye-catching.

As soon as class ended, Kaguya and Hayasaka were surrounded by a group of curious girls.

Kaguya, with her aloof demeanor, maintained the elegant composure of a noble lady, speaking politely but always keeping others at arm's length.

Her mannerisms weren't rude, but the invisible barrier she erected around herself made her feel unapproachable.

Hayasaka, on the other hand, was much livelier and quickly warmed up to the girls in the class.

"Hayasaka, do you know Shinomiya?" someone eventually asked.

Hayasaka smiled and answered without hesitation, "I'm actually Miss Kaguya's maid."

"Maid?!"

The word stunned everyone around her, boys and girls alike.

The students all turned to look at Kaguya, who was sitting by the window. While they had only been speculating about her earlier, Hayasaka's statement confirmed their guesses.

"She really does seem like a noble lady, her cold temperament, the distance she keeps from others…"

"Miss Kaguya doesn't mean to seem distant," Hayasaka clarified with a calm smile. "It's just that her upbringing has always been strict. It's a habit of self-protection, not a lack of kindness."

"So that's it…"

Hayasaka's explanation made sense to everyone.

Kaguya came across as a noblewoman who had grown up in a world of caution and etiquette. It wasn't that she deliberately kept people at a distance; it was simply the result of her upbringing.

"It's like she was raised as a 'canary in a cage,' always trained to be cautious of others," Hayasaka continued, her voice calm and measured. "Because of her family's expectations, Miss Kaguya sometimes struggles to understand others' emotions, which can lead to misunderstandings."

Hearing this, the surrounding students nodded in understanding.

They couldn't fault her for her upbringing, she was, after all, the daughter of a powerful family.

Her refined manners and distant aura fit perfectly with their idea of a true young lady, someone akin to a delicate flower blooming high on a mountaintop.

"It's not arrogance," Hayasaka concluded. "It's just the way she's always been taught to behave."

While some people might label such behavior as "young lady syndrome" when displayed by ordinary girls, in Kaguya's case, it wasn't an act. It was a direct result of her family's "crisis education."

Ren, sitting quietly at the back of the classroom, noted Hayasaka's explanation with interest.

"She's not hiding her role as a maid but openly admitting it?"

"This maid is… intriguing."

Hayasaka's directness had revealed a lot about their situation, and Ren silently took it all in.

"But judging by this, it doesn't seem like they're planning to approach me anytime soon."

He decided not to dwell on it and instead packed up his things. Quietly, he left the classroom without drawing any attention.

For now, his priority was confirming the whereabouts of Ran and Sonoko.

--

"Bang!"

Just as Ren turned a corner, a sudden collision made him stagger backward.

He looked down to find a girl sitting on the ground, rubbing her sore backside.

"Suzuki Sonoko?"

Ren recognized her instantly.

"Was she running because of Kaguya?"

Before he could say anything, Sonoko stretched out her hand toward him.

"Hey, help me up! My butt hurts too much—I can't stand up."

Without a word, Ren reached out and helped her to her feet.

"Hiss!"

Sonoko winced as she pressed her hand against her lower back.

"I really need to stop running so fast…" she muttered, half complaining, half laughing at herself.

"Sorry about that. I wasn't watching where I was going," she added, bowing slightly.

"…It's fine," Ren replied, shaking his head.

He had expected her to complain, but she apologized instead.

Ren stepped aside, intending to continue on his way.

But just as he took a step, Sonoko moved in front of him again.

"Hey… classmate, can we get to know each other?"

"???"

The sudden question left Ren momentarily stunned.

Was she… hitting on him?

"Suzuki-san…"

"Oh, so you know me? That's great!" Sonoko interrupted with a bright smile. "Let's exchange contact info! You know, so we can get to know each other better."

Her enthusiasm was so unexpected that Ren found himself complying before he even realized it.

"Amamiya Ren," he said, watching as she saved his name in her phone.

"Got it! Let's stay in touch, Amamiya Ren," Sonoko said cheerfully. "I'll see you later, I have to go find that 'ice queen' Shinomiya now!"

And with that, she rushed back into the classroom.

Ren stood there for a moment, staring at the contact information newly saved in his phone.

"Suzuki Sonoko is… a fiery one," he murmured to himself.

Then he glanced back at the classroom, where Sonoko was already chatting animatedly with Shinomiya Kaguya.

"Still, a girl like her is kind of… charming," Ren thought, a small smile playing at the corner of his lips.

Her straightforwardness and boldness were refreshing, and he couldn't help but think she was surprisingly cute in her own way.

Chapter 32: Date Invitation

(5/5)

"Shinomiya!"

Sonoko approached Kaguya with a loud voice that immediately drowned out all other chatter in the classroom.

"Why did you suddenly transfer to Teitan?"

"Why? Am I not allowed to transfer here, or does Teitan High School fall under the Suzuki family's domain?"

"Tsk, I never said anything like that."

Although the Suzuki family's industry was deeply tied to education, Teitan High School wasn't part of their holdings.

And Sonoko had no interest in studying at one of her family's schools either.

After all, attending a school managed by her family would mean being under her parents' watchful eyes all the time.

Why subject herself to that kind of scrutiny when she could enjoy her freedom elsewhere?

"Weren't you doing fine in Shuchiin? Why leave your territory to come here of all places?"

"I just wanted a change of scenery."

"Hmm… something about this seems off."

Sonoko's instincts were sharp.

"It was already strange enough when you showed up at Tropical Land over the weekend and were linked to Sanzenin. Now, you've taken over a major position in your family, yet you're suddenly transferring schools?"

It was a gut feeling, but Sonoko couldn't shake the sense that Kaguya was up to something.

Her sudden transfer didn't sit right with her, and Sonoko couldn't help but feel like there was a hidden motive behind it all.

"So, are you here to interrogate me?"

"Not really. I just have a strong feeling you'll bring trouble wherever you go."

Sonoko crossed her arms, her tone becoming more direct.

"From what I know about you, you'd never willingly leave your comfort zone. Someone must've forced you out."

"…This woman is sharper than she looks," Kaguya thought, her expression remaining calm despite the implications of Sonoko's words.

Even though Sonoko hadn't outright said who might be behind Kaguya's transfer, her deduction was unsettlingly close to the truth.

"So, what's your conclusion, Miss Suzuki?"

"Hmph~"

Sonoko smirked, her tone laced with sarcasm.

"It's exactly as I thought. There's no way someone as icy and calculating as you would leave your cushy environment without a reason."

"You can play dumb all you want, but sooner or later, I'll figure out why you're here."

"And the reason you're working with that arrogant Sanzenin kid."

With that, she turned and left the classroom, her sharp observation leaving Kaguya momentarily speechless.

Sonoko's tentative conclusion was clear.

Kaguya's transfer had a purpose, and that purpose was likely tied to her mysterious cooperation with Sanzenin.

Whatever their plan was, Sonoko knew it hadn't been Kaguya's decision to transfer, someone else had pulled the strings.

"There's definitely something going on," Sonoko muttered as she exited the classroom.

Just as she stepped into the hallway, her eyes fell on a familiar figure.

It was the boy she had bumped into earlier.

A gentle breeze blew through the open window, lifting his bangs slightly and revealing his face.

Behind the thick lenses of his glasses was a mature, handsome face, its subtle charm more apparent now in the natural light.

"Delicious!"

As someone who prided herself on her taste in appearances, Sonoko silently rated him.

Shinichi had always been her gold standard, scoring a solid nine out of ten. But she deducted a point because of his obsessive love for mysteries.

The boy in front of her, however, had a "hidden" charm that boosted his score significantly.

While his outward appearance might only score a six at first glance, the hidden depth in his expression easily added three points, making him a solid nine.

"I never noticed we had someone like this at school…"

"Why are these quiet types always the ones with hidden charm?"

She couldn't explain why, but she felt intrigued by him.

If it weren't for the circumstances today, she'd already have invited him out to hang out and get to know each other better.

For now, though, she had to let it go.

Sonoko took a deep breath, gathered herself, and walked over to the boy.

"Amamiya, are you free this weekend?"

"Eh?"

"Let's go on a date. What do you think?"

"Date…"

Ren blinked in surprise. "I don't go out much except for work."

"Do you have a part-time job this weekend?"

He pulled out his phone and checked his schedule.

"No, I don't."

"Then spend the day with me. What do you say?"

"…I'm not very good at talking."

"I figured as much," Sonoko said with a grin. "But dating is about spending time together. The more time we spend, the easier it'll be to talk."

"So, how about it?"

What could he say to that?

"If you don't find it boring…"

Sonoko's smile grew brighter.

"Then it's settled. I'll handle all the planning. Just follow my lead this weekend."

"Okay."

"Great! I'll contact you the day before to finalize everything."

With their plans made, Sonoko turned and walked away.

As soon as she turned her back, she couldn't suppress her excitement.

"Ahhh~ This is my first date with Amamiya, the boy with hidden charm!"

"My taste is as sharp as ever!"

Meanwhile, Ren remained in the hallway, gazing out the window as Sonoko disappeared into the classroom.

"Well, it's pretty clear now that Sonoko doesn't have the diary."

The next step would be confirming Ran's situation.

But a date?

Ren glanced at the sky, watching the clouds drift by, and let out a sigh.

"Dating, huh? How does that even work?"

"I've never been on one before…"

"…Actually, I've never even been asked out before."

Ren had a clear sense of self-awareness.

He wasn't someone who stood out in a crowd. Quiet, reserved, and filled with inner thoughts, he lacked the social experience to handle situations like this.

Especially when it came to interacting with girls he had just met.

In his sixteen years of life, nothing like this had ever happened to him.

"This is way more stressful than working."

Still, his diary required daily entries, and having new experiences might lead to better rewards.

"Maybe spending time with Sonoko will help me learn more. That wouldn't be so bad."

The only problem was his tendency to clam up in conversations.

"Honestly, dating sounds more exhausting than a full shift at work."

But for now, he reasoned that a first date would likely just be casual, maybe a simple outing.

Though, in a place like Beika City, weekends were rarely uneventful.

Chapter 33: Stories Are Just Stories

It was after school.

Ren walked home, following his usual routine.

But just as he arrived at his apartment building, a luxury car pulled up and parked out front.

Two people stepped out.

It wasn't a surprise—they weren't strangers, after all.

Given that they had recently transferred to Teitan High School, their visit here was expected. Their purpose for coming today was obvious.

"Good evening, Amamiya san."

Kaguya greeted him, her demeanor as composed and polite as it was at school, perhaps even more so.

"Good evening, Shinomiya," Ren replied calmly. "I expected someone to test me eventually, but I didn't think the testers would just walk right in."

"I guess the rules for the diary's holders must be different from mine."

That much was clear.

It wouldn't make sense for the rules governing the one who writes the diary to be the same as those for those who read it.

Ren wasn't fond of standing around outside talking.

"Let's head upstairs. We can talk there."

"Yes."

The three of them entered Ren's apartment.

As soon as the door opened, a cool breeze greeted them.

For a single-person apartment, this was typical, though the chill in the air was noticeably sharp.

"It's so cold," Hayasaka muttered, visibly shivering.

"That's normal here," Ren said casually as he walked inside and switched on the air conditioner.

"In Beika City, it's pretty easy to rent a spacious, well-decorated place for cheap. All you need is a bit of courage and maybe a strong constitution."

"Why's that?"

"Because most of these kinds of apartments have… issues."

"Issues?"

"For instance, the temperature might stay unnaturally low."

He turned to face them, his voice calm but laced with meaning.

"And if you ever experience something like that… well, it might mean there's something… unclean lingering around."

"!?"

Both Kaguya and Hayasaka froze, their expressions immediately shifting to caution.

They understood exactly what he was implying and they realized what kind of place this might be.

"Amamiya, are you really okay living in a place like this?" Kaguya asked, her tone slightly uneasy.

"If necessary, I could arrange a safer place for you to live."

"There's no need for that," Ren replied, shaking his head as he set the remote control down.

It was clear Kaguya genuinely wanted to help solve his housing issue, but he didn't feel it was necessary.

"I've lived here for a year already."

"And?"

"Well, the spirits here seem to get along with me just fine."

"…." Spirits?"

Kaguya and Hayasaka exchanged a look, their expressions stiffening.

"Besides, our schedules don't overlap much, and the diary seems to offer me some level of protection."

"That does make sense," Kaguya admitted. "Something as unusual as the diary probably has safeguards in place for its owner."

"But that protection might not apply to us as mere diary holders," she added thoughtfully.

"Let's get to the point," Ren said, turning the conversation back to them. "You didn't just come here to test me or the diary's rules, right?"

"What else do you want? Do you want to hear your own story?"

"…My story? I can do that?"

Kaguya seemed genuinely surprised.

"Of course."

"I still remember parts of your story," Ren replied, "but if you want details about Kudo Shinichi, I probably won't recall much."

He wasn't trying to be evasive, he just felt the need to set expectations.

"Also, you might not be familiar with the kind of stories I'm talking about."

"If it gets too personal, don't hold it against me for sharing."

"Of course not," Kaguya promised, taking a deep breath and fixing her gaze on him. Her expression turned serious.

"Amamiya, what's my story?"

"It's not difficult to explain," Ren said calmly. "You'll understand just by hearing the title of it."

"Kaguya-sama: Love is War ~ The Geniuses' War of Love and Brains."

"!?"

Hearing the title, Kaguya's composure shattered, her expression nearly collapsing.

"Pfft!"

Standing behind her, Hayasaka couldn't hold back her laughter.

Just from the title alone, she could tell this was a romance story, probably one filled with awkwardness and pride on both sides.

"Amamiya-san, I don't have a lover," Kaguya said, trying to regain her composure.

"Well, like I said, the story might not have started yet," Ren replied with a shrug. "But if you think about it, Shinomiya-san, there must be someone in the student council with… certain feelings toward you, right?"

"…Yes."

Kaguya didn't deny it.

She might have been a girl raised in isolation, but she wasn't so oblivious as to miss the signs of others' affection.

"Shirogane Miyuki."

"Since last year, he's been trying to get my attention."

"Competing with me academically, running against me in the student council elections, everything he's done has been to make me notice him."

"Unfortunately…"

Kaguya shook her head, a hint of regret flashing in her eyes.

"I don't have the freedom to choose love."

"Because of my upbringing, I was taught to never prioritize feelings like that."

"So it's a family issue," Ren noted.

Her answer didn't surprise him.

The Kaguya sitting before him was a far cry from the love-obsessed version of her depicted in the original story.

This Kaguya was someone shaped by her family's rigid expectations, a girl who understood the intricacies of her world far too well.

That understanding had made her intentionally distance herself from things like love.

Ren could already imagine how Shirogane Miyuki, the protagonist of the original story had tried to win her over this past year, only to be met with deliberate indifference.

"It's not just a family issue," Kaguya continued.

"No matter how mismatched the circumstances, a 'princess' is never paired with a commoner. Even if the Shinomiya family were to fall, this principle would remain the same."

"That's always been my role, to be the princess in the tower."

Her answer was painfully rational.

She understood the gap between herself and others all too well.

Even if someone tried their hardest, they would never meet the Shinomiya family's standards.

Knowing that, she had chosen to avoid such relationships entirely.

"So, it seems like stories are just stories," Ren concluded.

"There's always some deviation between fiction and reality."

"…And now?"

"What if you had the freedom to choose now?"

Kaguya shook her head again.

"After learning what my 'story' is supposed to be, I can't immerse myself in it."

"This might just be my own stubbornness as the protagonist of that story."

"I, Shinomiya Kaguya, refuse to let myself be controlled by someone else's narrative."

"That's a shame," Ren said softly.

He decided it was best not to mention the more private parts of her story.

If Kaguya had already made her choice, then the story truly was just a story and not her destiny.

Chapter 34: The Fairy Tale Within the Story Unfolds

In truth, the story of Kaguya. and Shirogane Miyuki is a good one, especially the early parts. The back-and-forth testing and battle of wits between the protagonists make for a highly entertaining dynamic.

Ren remembered enjoying the initial chapters immensely when he first read them.

However, since the real Kaguya had already made her decision, there was no need to dwell on the topic further.

He chose his words carefully.

"Amamiya!"

Hayasaka suddenly raised her hand, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"What happens between Miss Kaguya and the male protagonist in the original story?"

"Hayasaka!"

Kaguya shot her a sharp glare, her tone icy with warning.

Yet Hayasaka's curiosity refused to be quelled.

Ren shook his head slightly, a small sigh escaping him.

"There's no conclusion. Shinomiya-san just said she didn't want to be controlled by the narrative."

"Her decisions and actions altered the trajectory of her future."

"But if you ask me, I think her upbringing, her family education was the real reason for the divergence from the original story."

"Oh? And why is that?" Hayasaka tilted her head, intrigued.

"Strict family education. A mindset that prioritizes the family's benefit above all else. A lack of freedom. Those factors shaped Shinomiya-san into someone who can calmly evaluate both herself and others."

"Although the original story was quite entertaining, with the male and female protagonists constantly engaging in amusing antics, it's important to note…"

Ren paused before continuing, "In comedic stories, there are always so-called 'clowns.'"

With that, he stopped talking, leaving his point implied but unsaid.

Kaguya didn't need him to elaborate further. She understood what he meant.

In comedic stories, the protagonists are often portrayed as "clowns" whose exaggerated actions are designed to amuse the audience.

"'Clowns' naturally behave in a way that provokes laughter from their audience. Otherwise, how would the story remain entertaining?"

"Hey~ So Miss Kaguya was the clown of the story?" Hayasaka's curiosity only grew stronger.

"Amamiya, could you explain that part in more detail?"

Ren glanced at Kaguya, whose expression had darkened considerably.

He couldn't help but think Hayasaka's curiosity might land her in trouble later.

"Miss Kaguya, isn't this a good opportunity to understand what you might have become if you had chosen differently?" Hayasaka teased, unfazed by her employer's growing irritation.

"Besides, isn't Miss Kaguya at least a little curious?"

"…Hayasaka, we'll discuss this when we get home," Kaguya said through clenched teeth, her fists trembling in restraint.

At that moment, she truly wished she could freeze Hayasaka into an ice sculpture.

But as much as she tried to suppress it, her curiosity about her own story was undeniable.

No matter how much she claimed she wouldn't follow someone else's narrative, the desire to know what had been planned for her lingered in the back of her mind.

Taking a deep breath, she finally gave in.

"Amamiya-san, I admit… I'm a little curious about the story."

"Could you tell me about it?"

"Of course."

"But I feel like you're walking straight into the fire," Amamiya thought.

Still, there was a certain amusement in watching someone actively seek out details they knew would embarrass them.

"Well then," he began. "I'll try to summarize your trajectory in the original story."

"First, there's the version of you known as 'Ice Kaguya.'"

"In that state, you're guarded against anyone who isn't part of your inner circle. You're like a hedgehog bristling with sharp needles, keeping everyone at a distance."

"Then, something happens—you realize your feelings for the male protagonist. That leads to the second phase: 'Love-Brained Kaguya.'"

"In this phase, your thoughts revolve around one thing, getting the male protagonist to confess his feelings for you."

"Why? Because, in your mind, 'love is war.'"

"In a war, the first person to confess is the one who loses. That belief becomes your guiding principle, and you make it your mission to manipulate the situation so that the male protagonist confesses first."

Ren's tone remained calm, but his words carried an undeniable sense of irony.

"Of course, the male protagonist holds the same belief. He sees himself as inferior and believes that in order to maintain his dignity in love, you must confess to him instead."

"So, the two of you engage in a prolonged battle of wits, each determined not to be the first to admit your feelings."

"It's absurd and convoluted, but that's exactly what makes the story so funny."

"Ice Kaguya… Love-Brained Kaguya…"

Kaguya's face turned red with embarrassment as she dug her toes into the ground, trying to process everything Ren was saying.

Even the concept of "love as war" sounded uncomfortably like something she might have thought of.

"It's too idealistic," Kaguya finally muttered, her embarrassment giving way to a more critical perspective.

"The story doesn't account for the pressures of the Shinomiya family."

"If I acted so self-centeredly, it would only be a matter of time before the Shinomiya family intervened. And when they did, I doubt the protagonists in the story would end up with a happy ending."

"According to the story, though, it does have a happy ending, doesn't it?"

"To reach that ending, there must have been upheaval within the Shinomiya family, right?"

"That's correct," Amamiya confirmed. "The Shijo family made a move, which destabilized the Shinomiya family."

"…I thought as much," Kaguya said with a sigh.

She wasn't surprised by this revelation.

The Shijo family had long been eager to weaken the Shinomiya family, so it was only natural for them to seize any opportunity to attack.

In reality, Kaguya had already uncovered significant internal corruption within her family's ranks. She had no doubt that the Shijo family had been gathering similar information for years, waiting for the right moment to strike.

"I can imagine how it would play out," Kaguya said.

"With the Shinomiya family in turmoil, my eldest brother would see me as a tool to stabilize the situation, likely by arranging a political marriage with the Shijo family."

"You're absolutely correct."

Hearing this, Kaguya could only shake her head.

"What a reckless scenario. The idea of fighting the Shinomiya family head-on while also trying to rescue me? It's the kind of thing that only works in fiction."

"In real life, the male protagonist wouldn't stand a chance. If my brother called the police, he'd be arrested immediately."

"Stories like that only succeed because they're stories."

"Then what about your friends?" Ren asked.

"My friends…?"

"Fujiwara Chika, for instance. Or the maid beside you," he added, glancing at Hayasaka.

"To give you an example," he said with a smirk, "after the story ended, Fujiwara Chika ended up running for office in a political election and she won by a landslide."

"…" That's ridiculous," Kaguya said, her voice flat.

She wanted to laugh, but the thought of Chika holding a political position was too unsettling to be amusing.

It might sound like a joke, but something about it felt eerily plausible and that made it even harder to process.

Chapter 35: We Are Mutually Beneficial

"It's really hard for me to imagine Fujiwara sitting in that position," Kaguya said, her tone filled with disbelief.

To her, Fujiwara's defining characteristic was "chaos."

It was nearly impossible to predict her thought process. No matter the situation, Fujiwara's unpredictable behavior always threw everyone off balance.

"But since you transferred here, do you think she'll follow you?"

"I don't know."

"Then let me rephrase. If Fujiwara Chika does transfer here, will you be happy about it?"

"…I think I would."

Despite Fujiwara's constant chaos, Kaguya admitted that she would be happy.

In her limited social circle, Fujiwara was one of her few friends.

If Fujiwara transferred to Teitan High School for her, she would undoubtedly be happy.

"Then it seems like you have the best relationship with her," Ren observed.

Kaguya's response, after a moment of consideration, was honest and deliberate. It confirmed that she truly regarded Fujiwara as a friend.

Ren wasn't surprised.

Fujiwara was one of Kaguya's closest friends, someone who had earned her trust despite their contrasting personalities.

"Shinomiya, I think Fujiwara will find you sooner or later."

"You might want to prepare yourself for that possibility in advance."

"I understand," Kaguya replied, nodding slightly.

Ren shifted his attention to a different topic. He had been curious about Kaguya's sudden transfer.

"So, Shinomiya, does this mean you've managed to free yourself from the Shinomiya family's constraints?"

"No. I'm not free. I'm in control."

Her voice was calm, as if she had already accepted this reality.

"I gained control of the Shinomiya family through the power I obtained."

"Through power?"

Ren paused to consider her words before shaking his head slightly.

"I'm just an ordinary person, so I don't fully understand how deep the family's influence runs."

"But I do know that it's incredibly difficult to escape the control of a family as powerful as yours, even with extraordinary power."

"Even if the diary gave you that power, it wouldn't be enough to completely escape their influence."

"Unless… you chose to use your 'power' violently against the Shinomiya family."

"Now, Shinomiya, would you be willing to go that far?"

"…"

Kaguya fell silent.

Her lack of response was answer enough.

Ren nodded slightly, as if confirming his own thoughts.

"So, no matter what, even if you've gained power, you're still holding back to some degree."

"You've just obtained this power, and you haven't fully mastered it yet. It's only natural that you wouldn't resort to violence so easily."

"In that case, I assume the control you gained over the Shinomiya family wasn't through sheer force."

A girl who had only recently acquired power wouldn't be ready to act violently against her own family, unless she had endured years of abuse or had an antisocial personality.

But Kaguya wasn't that type of person. Naturally, she would hesitate.

"…"

Kaguya's continued silence confirmed his reasoning.

Ren decided not to push further. Instead, he pulled a 500-yen coin from his pocket, flicking it into the air before catching it in his palm.

"This is a test for me, isn't it?" he asked.

"…And if it is, would that make you angry?" Kaguya countered cautiously.

"Not at all. But that's not because I'm particularly open-minded, I'm just a lazy person," Ren said with a faint smile, shaking his head.

"You have the diary. Testing me and the diary's rules is only natural. You're in the same position as I am."

"In fact, I tested you and the diary first. So really, we're no different."

Testing was inevitable, and there was no reason to blame anyone for it.

"You were able to transfer from Shuchiin because someone helped you gain control over the Shinomiya family. In exchange, you came to Teitan to contact me and conduct these tests, right?"

"…That's correct," Kaguya admitted with a soft sigh.

Ren chuckled lightly, flicking the coin in his hand again and catching it effortlessly.

"Trying to uncover the diary's mysteries is certainly interesting," he said.

"Shinomiya, do you have any hints about the person who helped you? Or maybe their surname? If I know their name, they might be part of a story I remember."

Kaguya thought for a moment before replying.

"Their surname is Sanzenin."

"Sanzenin…"

Ren's eyes lit up in recognition. He couldn't help but laugh.

"So it was Sanzenin Nagi all along."

"Yes. If it's Nagi, then her grandfather certainly has the means to fully control the Shinomiya family."

Ren's thoughts drifted back to a little girl he had seen at Tropical Land, a girl with long purple hair dressed in a kimono.

Suddenly, everything clicked.

"I see now."

"That little girl with purple hair… I felt like I'd seen her somewhere before."

"Saginomiya Isumi."

"But the version of her in the story is a bit different from the one I saw in reality."

Ren smiled faintly, chalking up his initial failure to recognize her to the passage of time.

Sixteen years had dulled his memory, and details that once seemed vivid had long since faded.

"Memory fades over time," he muttered.

"I'll include this part in my diary later."

"But for now, I assume they're staying in Beika City. Do you think they'll come here eventually?"

"I can't say for sure," Kaguya replied, shaking her head slightly.

"We're all still testing the diary. We haven't yet confirmed whether those who read the diary need to interact with you to gain anything substantial."

"That's fair."

Ren nodded in understanding.

The diary's rewards were tempting enough to push people into action. If testing revealed that interacting with him was necessary for rewards, it wouldn't be surprising for Nagi to transfer schools as well.

"Well, I'll make sure to write a detailed entry in today's diary."

"After reading it, you should be able to confirm more of the situation."

"Understood," Kaguya said, nodding once again. This had been her primary purpose for coming today.

"Thank you, Amamiya san."

"You're welcome. We're mutually beneficial, after all."

...

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